Botanical Blog
Cat’s Claw and Cardiovascular Health & Inflammation
In the U.S., heart disease is the leading cause of death, and a major cause of disability in millions of Americans. Again, Cat’s Claw shines! In various studies, Cat’s Claw has been shown to help reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke, reduce blood pressure, and improve circulation.
Cat’s Claw and Immune Health
The microbiome – the combination of bacteria, fungi, and viruses living in our gut and intestines – is not just about gut health. About 70 percent of our immune response takes place in the microbiome. There, Cat’s Claw’s unique combination of alkaloids and antioxidants enhance the microbiome’s ability to fight harmful pathogens that cause discomfort and prevent optimal digestion, as well as infections.
Cat’s Claw and Gut Health
Traditionally, Cat’s Claw has a long history of use for conditions related to digestion and elimination, including nausea, diarrhea, constipation, ulcers, bloating, and food intolerances. Modern medicine now recognizes that Cat’s Claw’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties make it a transformer of the microbiome, the term used to describe the mix of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in our gut and intestines.
The Journey to Cat’s Claw
Ron and Phyllis Manus also introduced me to the incredible Nicole Maxwell. Nicole was a true pioneer in the effort to recapture traditional knowledge of the medicinal plants of the Amazon River Basin in Peru. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, as Nicole explored the principal tributary rivers, few non-indigenous people aside from botanists cared about these plants. I met Nicole in person only once, but we became friends through our many phone conversations.
Cat's Claw: Nature's Medicine Cabinet: an Introduction
When I’m not feeling well, it’s often a sore throat, a headache, a feeling of discomfort in the gut, or a mix of low energy and mental malaise. Others might have aches or a touch of arthritic pain. But these vague and common symptoms are not likely to send me – or you – running to a doctor, because doctors often just stare blankly, order various tests, and, when the test results come back, end up saying “everything is fine.”
Reconnect—with a Soul Warming, Body Restoring Cup of Tea
Tea drinking is integral to every culture and is so much more than a beverage. A cup of tea in most cultures represents relaxation, connection, and ritual — from the Japanese tea ceremony to the British cuppa. But in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, people worldwide are reconnecting with another aspect of tea.
Love Is in the Air with Royal Maca!
Valentine’s Day is on the way, and love is in the air! At least love is supposed to be in the air! For far too many of us, age, stress, and the environment are wreaking havoc on our hormones and preventing passion! That means there’s never been a better time to consider Maca to rev up your hormones!
A Holiday Message for 2023
We have chosen the king of the Peruvian rainforest as the vehicle for our holiday message—the Yanapuma, or Black Jaguar—who adorns the front cover of a new book of poetry, Poems by Elena de Nazca.
Less Holiday Stress and Blues with Botanicals
Behind the smiling faces in holiday photos, there’s often a very different story. If you’re like me, you’re shopping, decorating, cooking, entertaining, and traveling – and all these demands are on top of working. It’s no surprise that we end up feeling stressed and exhausted.
Abuta: A Botanical Breakthrough for High Blood Sugar
It’s a situation that millions of us experience every year. You’re sitting with your doctor, reviewing the results of your annual bloodwork, when the doctor looks at you with concern and says, “Hmmm, your blood sugar levels look a bit high. You need to cut way back on the sugar.”
I Am Indigenous
My name is Elena Rojas Martinez. My mother was an indigenous woman whose first language was Quechua, a native language of Peru. She did not permit her children to learn to speak her language for fear that we would suffer discrimination from Peruvian society, which was so identified with Spanish culture.
Back to School. Back to Work. Back to Normal?
his fall, most students have left online classes behind, and have returned back to school. Meanwhile, more and more employees are being asked to ditch the Zoom meetings and get back to work – in person – at their offices and workplaces.
