Our Ingredients

Psyllium Husks (Plantago ovata)

Psyllium husks, consisting of the ripe seeds or epidermis of Plantago ovata, grow in India, Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, northern Africa, Spain, and the Canary Islands. It is cultivated in India and neighboring countries as well as in Brazil and Arizona. Psyllium seed husks are mainly used to helpconstipation and irritable bowel movement.*

Flax Seed (Linum usitatissimum)

Flax is cultivated worldwide for its many uses. The dry, ripe seeds of the flax plant are used medicinally. There are over 200 species of annual and perennial plants in the flax genus. Flax seed is used to help bowel conditions such as chronic constipation, irritable colon, diverticulitis, and colons damaged by the overuse and abuse of commercial laxatives.*

Fennel Seed (Foeniculum vulgare)

A relative of parsley and carrots, fennel originated in the Mediterranean region, where it can still be found growing wild. Today it is cultivated as a seed-bearing plant in temperate climates in both Europe and Asia. It is most often used medicinally for gastrointestinal complaints, flatulence, and in cases of poor appetite.*

Papaya Fruit (Carica papaya)

Papaya is a fruit native to eastern Central America and was cultivated long before the arrival of the Europeans. Since the 1800s, papaya has been grown in all tropical regions, with Hawaii and South Africa now the main exporters.1 An excellent source of antioxidants, papayas also contain not only vitamin E, but also more vitamin A than carrots and more vitamin C than oranges. Papaya fruit is also an excellent source of calcium, potassium, iron, B vitamins, and proteins.*

Grapefruit Pectin (Citrus x paradisi)

Grapefruit contains pectin, which is a soluble fiber derived from the pulp and peel of the fruit that forms a gel-like substance in the intestinal tract. Grapefruit pectin appears to be hypercholesterolemic, helping to lower cholesterol levels.*

Slippery Elm Bark (Ulmus rubra)

Native to the eastern and central United States and eastern Canada, slippery elm is most commonly found in the Appalachian Mountains. The inner bark of the slippery elm tree contains the medicinal qualities which make it a useful remedy for indigestion, colds, sore throats, and skin wounds.*

Marshmallow Root (Althea officinalis)

Marshmallow may have originated in Europe and central Asia and has probably been used by humans for thousands of years; pollen from a related species was found in 60,000-year-old Neanderthal grave. Today, it grows much throughout Europe and in many regions of North America. The part used medicinally is the root.*

Rhubarb Root (Rheum officinale/palmatum)

Rheum palmatum, the easier of the rhubarb species to locate for medicinal purposes, is a plant native to western China and eastern Tibet; Rheum officinale is currently cultivated only in gardens in temperate regions of the world. There is also Rheum rhababrarum and R. rhapositum, which are garden varieties used mainly in cooking. Only rhubarb's taproot is used medicinally and it must be at least three years old, though it is suggested that roots six to ten years old are actually most effective.*

Guar Gum (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba)

Guar gum originated from India, Australia, South Africa and the United State, and is native to the Indian subcontinent. The entire plant can be used medicinally. Guar gum is particularly useful for regulating digestion and in cases of diarrhea. A bulking agent, it is also useful in promoting a feeling of satiety.*

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

Indigenous to the Mediterranean, this plant is now cultivated throughout the world. The entire flowering plant can be used medicinally, as can the germinating seeds. Alfalfa alkalizes the body and aids in its detoxification, acts as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory and antifungal agent, balances healthy blood sugar and promotes pituitary gland function.*

Peppermint Leaf (Mentha peperita)

First identified in England in 1696, peppermint is a common medicinal herb. Only the leaves are used medicinally; they are often used in pharmaceutical and herbal products. Peppermint increases the acidity of the stomach, thereby aiding digestion. It has a slight anesthetizing effect on the mucous membranes and the gastrointestinal tract.*

Uva Ursi Leaf (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

Grown in northern Europe, the Alps, northern Asia and North America, uva ursi can be found in light, dry pine and larch forests, in dwarf-shrub areas, in bogs, and in the mountains among dwarf pines. Only the leaves - finely chopped or coarsely ground - are used for medicinal purposes.*

Stevia Leaf (Stevia rebaudiana)

Also known as “honey leaf,” this herb is native to South America and Asia, is up to forty times sweeter than sugar, and has been used for centuries. The most commonly used calorie-free sweetener in Japan, in the United States it is considered an herbal product. Refining the leaf of this plant results in an extract called stevioside, which is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar; both stevia and stevioside are safe for use and are commonly turned to by many people, especially those managing blood-sugar levels.*

Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Native to southeast Europe and southwest Asia, licorice grows wild throughout many European nations and the Middle East. Only its roots - fresh or dried - are used medicinally. It is most often used to treat mucous membrane inflammation and to soothe coughs. Licorice has anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, expectorant, antiplatelet, antifungal, and antibacterial properties.*

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis/capensis/vera)

From its origin in eastern and southern Africa, Aloe has migrated to America. Today it is primarily grown in subtropical areas of the United States and the West Indies. The leaves of the aloe plant contain its medicinal substances, which are used as a strong laxative and wound healer. Probably best known for its ability to help heal burns, Aloe is also a potent laxative, easily stimulating the colon.*