Travel Health Support

Digestion

To support healthy digestion, I always turn to bitters first. I have often said “If I could only do one thing for most people it would be to give them Bitters.” Bitters not only enhance overall digestion, they promote absorption and proper elimination.  It is important to use the “right” bitters as they are not all the same.  Some bitters are cooling, others are warming, and a combination of the two is most effective. Non-alkaloidal bitters promote digestion and are more effective than alkaloidal bitters for this process. Bitter formulas with different flavor profiles and actions allow for greater specificity to address each person’s unique digestive issues.

• Original Bitters – the classic balanced formula. It contains Angelica root, Orange Peel, Dandelion Root, Gentian with a hint of the carminative Peppermint.
• Spiced Bitters – This bitter formula has a Chai-like flavor profile. It is very useful for people with gas, bloating, dyspepsia, as well as helping to maintain healthy blood sugar levels already within normal ranges. 
• Old World Bitters– Classic European herbs with a Hops flavor note. This formula works well for people who have intestinal or GI discomfort, as well as stress-induced GI issues.
• Bitter Roots– Earthy and grounding flavor notes for those preferring a hardy bitter that supports healthy liver, gallbladder, and bowel function.

Sleep

While herbs cannot take the place of adequate good-quality sleep, they can help improve sleep quality and help your body withstand anxiety that so often impacts sleep. 

I formulated Serenity Compound™ to help reduce an excessive stress response. It includes the nervines Fresh Milky Oat, which helps restore the emotional foundation in people who become emotionally labile and overreact to minor problems, and Skullcap, which is useful for nervousness. Chamomile helps with stress-induced GI problems, sleeplessness, and agitation. Linden flower is used in Europe for irritability. The fifth ingredient is Eleuthero, a mild non-stimulating adaptogen which helps to re-regulate endocrine, nervous system and immune function.

My Calm Adapt™ formula is devised for people who cannot relax. It helps provide a serene, calm mindset, reducing agita­tion, irritability, and nervousness. Sleep qual­ity and mental focus are improved. This combines calming adaptogens (Ashwagandha, Reishi, Schisandra) with nervines (Oat and Linden flower). Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, immune amphoteric, and mild analge­sic. Reishi is a nervine, immune amphoteric, mild adaptogen, and cardiotonic herb used for bad dreams, insomnia, and other stress-induced conditions. Schisandra is calming and helps with mental focus. Fresh Oat and Linden flower are herbs that support a healthy emotional foundation. 

The Herbalist & Alchemist Stress Support Kit: contains four best-selling herbal formulas to promote balance of every-day stress: Serenity Compound™ - support for stress, Tension Relief™ - supports a calm mind, Daily Adapt™ - promotes energy and balances stress, and Phytocalm™ - promotes restful sleep.  

Immune Support

Many people inaccurately believe that any immune support herb stimulates immune function, but in reality, sometimes the immune function is too stimulated. Let’s look at the different components of immune function and the herbs that are right for influencing them.

Some herbs, such as Echinacea, Elderberry or Elderflower, Hyssop, Andrographis, Isatis, and Yarrow, among others, stimulate the surface immune system. These herbs are primarily used to treat Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) calls blood heat, wind heat, or damp heat.

Then there is the Internal (Specific) immune response, which has two main components: 

-Cell mediated, which includes the T lymphocytes (Th1 T lymphocytes, T helper cells, T suppressor cells, T cytotoxic cells and Lymphokines).  Reishi (Ganoderma), Usnea, Myrrh, Garlic, Lomatium, and Chinese Honeysuckle flower are the common herbs that support cell mediated immune response.

- Herbs that support humoral (immune globulin) mediated response, include Elderberry, Echinacea, Holy Basil, and Thyme.

Herbs that balance excess normal immune response without being immuno-suppressive include Turmeric, Gotu Kola, Dan Shen, Baikal Skullcap, Bupleurum, and Boswellia.

The endocrine immune response is an interface between the gut, nervous system, and immune system and works via the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) Axis. Many adaptogens have a significant effect here, such as Ashwagandha, Asian or American Ginseng, Schisandra, Eleuthero, Cordyceps, and Rhodiola. Some herbs such as Maitake, Reishi, Astragalus, Schisandra, Ashwagandha, Licorice, and Cat’s Claw act as immune amphoterics, helping  to nourish and strengthen the immune system, promoting immune competence, and effective self-regulatory capacity.

The immune reservoir is a concept I developed based on the TCM idea of the body’s ability to mount an appropriate response to immunological challenges. While there is not an actual “immune reservoir,” the bone marrow, gut immune system and intestinal microbiome correlate most closely as an anatomical “immune reservoir.”  Nourishing immune herbs such as Reishi, Astragalus, Maitake, Cordyceps, Turkey Tail, Codonopsis, Chaga, and Licorice are effective in strengthening overall immune response.  

H&A Immune support products include:

Immune Adapt™ supports healthy immune function. Based on traditional Chinese Fu Zheng Pei Ben therapy, this formula restores vital energy and balance to the body so that it is better equipped to deal with stress and challenges to the immune system. It is a blend of immune amphoterics and adaptogens to help normalize immune function and support the immune reservoir and endocrine immune response, including Schisandra, Eleuthero, Red and Black Reishi mushrooms, Reishi mycelium, Licorice, Astragalus and the restorative tonic Codonopsis. The tonic herb Bai-Zhu Atractylodes is added to support the TCM stomach and spleen, relieve dampness, and promote healthy immune system activity. 

Ultimate Echinacea™ This is a blend that contains extracts of fresh Echinacea angustifolia root, fresh Echinacea purpurea root and flower, and fresh Echinacea pallida root. Ultimate Echinacea is a superior Echinacea product rich in all the active constituents (isobutylamides/alkamides, echinacoside, polyacetylenes, polyenes, chicoric acid) naturally found in the fresh root, flower, and seed of the three most commonly used species of Purple Coneflower. Echinacea is used to support surface immune response; research has shown that it can increase normal activity in macrophages, NK and T-4 cells, as well as interferon and interleukin production.

VX Immune Support™  is used to support healthy immune function in its specific immune response. This formula contains immune system supporting hydroalcoholic extracts of Elderberry fruit, fresh Hyssop herb, Isatis root, Japanese Honeysuckle flowers, fresh Lemon Balm herb, Lomatium root, and St. John’s wort flowering tops.

Healthy Kids Compound™ This formula combines glycerin extracts of Echinacea root, Elderberry, Lemon Balm herb, and orange extract. Echinacea is a safe and gentle first line support of the surface immune response. Although there are conflicting studies, the better studies show that Echinacea has the ability to increase normal immune response. Contrary to what some books state, Echinacea does not lose effectiveness if taken more than 7-14 days. Lemon Balm is a pleasant tasting member of the mint family that has a long history of use. It is rich in volatile oils as well as rosmarinic and caffeic acids which are powerful antioxidants.

Herbal Relief Botanical Throat Spray™ Extracts of fresh Echinacea angustifolia root, Goldenseal root, Licorice root, Sage herb, Cinnamon bark, fresh Collinsonia whole plant, Myrrh gum resin, Osha root, Propolis resin, essential oils of Cinnamon, Lemon and Peppermint, and vegetable glycerin make up this formula. It provides relief and can be useful for a scratchy throat. The volatile oils and resins found in Sage, Cinnamon, Propolis, Myrrh and Osha, as well as the three essential oils (Cinnamon, Lemon, and Peppermint) reduce throat discomfort. Licorice soothes tissue and relieves dry coughs. Collinsonia is specific for “minister’s throat,” which results from chronic use of the vocal cords. Goldenseal is appropriate for soothing mucous membranes of the throat, mouth, or tongue. Echinacea’s isobutylamides support the surface immune system of the throat.  

Echinacea Goldenseal™ is a blend of two high-quality extracts that support the surface immune system. The combination of Echinacea and Goldenseal formed the basis for many of the early immune support formulas on the market back when Herbalist & Alchemist first began selling products in health food stores. Ours is a proprietary blend of Goldenseal root, Echinacea purpurea flower and Echinacea purpurea root.

Immune Balance Compound™ helps to balance the immune system. A blend of immune-regulatory herbs and immune amphoterics, it contains Reishi mushroom and mycelium, Turmeric rhizome, Ashwagandha root, Huang Qin root, Licorice root, and Unprocessed Rehmannia root. This combination of immuno-supportive herbs is useful for supporting immune balance and a tolerogenic state.

Astragalus/Echinacea Compound™ supports healthy immune function. It combines herbs that support the immune system in its surface, specific, and endocrine immune responses. It contains extracts of Echinacea purpurea root, Andrographis herb, Astragalus root, Eleuthero root, Oregon Grape root and Myrrh resin. Immune supporting herbs Echinacea and Andrographis are paired with the adaptogenic Eleuthero and restorative, lung-soothing Astragalus.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

This blog is intended as an informational guide. The remedies, approaches and techniques described herein are meant to supplement, not be a substitute for, professional medical care or treatment. They should not be used to treat a serious ailment without prior consultation with a qualified health care professional.