Some of the most impressive benefits of horsetail include its ability to prevent certain types of cancer, boost immunity, reduce inflammation, increase cognitive function, relieve respiratory issues, soothe the skin, protect bones, promote oral health, detoxify the body, treat diabetes, and aid in hair care.

Horsetail

It’s not that often that you come across a living fossil, but in effect, that is precisely what horsetail is. This is, of course, the common name of Equisetum, which is the last remaining species from the genus of that name. The remaining members of that genus have gone extinct, so this is truly a blast from the past, and has some unique characteristics to go with that great backstory. They are defined by a singular vascular shoot that forms the main stem and the leaves are largely non-photosynthetic. Furthermore, they reproduce via spores, not seeds – a very unusual quality for a plant. Historical records include mentions of horsetail being used for myriad health issues dating back to Greek and Roman times.

Some of the health benefits of balloon flower include its ability to treat respiratory ailments, reduce pain, soothe the digestive tract, prevent certain types of cancer, reduce the severity of allergic reactions, boost the immune system, and eliminate parasites.

Balloon Flower

While the name may sound a bit silly, this common way of referring to Platycodon grandiflorus is due to the unique shape of the flower bud of this herbaceous, perennial, flowering plant. With five striking purple-blue petals and a range almost exclusively in East Asia, this flower has been praised for far more than its unique shape and color. Balloon flowers are some of the few herbal root remedies still used in wide common practice in the world, but its popularity stretches back centuries. The roots of this powerful plant can be dried and crushed into a powder for supplemental forms, or used in salads and various culinary creations in the East. 

The wide range of health effects that can be gained by using balloon flowers in your health regimen are based on the volatile active ingredientsfound in the root, which include betulic acid, saponins, phytosterol, inulin, and glucose. Together, these chemicals, along with some other organic compounds, can act quickly on the body for some measurable effects. Now, let’s take a closer look at the health benefits of balloon flower.

Some of the most impressive health benefits of propolis include its ability to protect the immune system, prevent certain types of cancer, reduce inflammation, lessen allergic reactions, heal wounds, promote circulation, boost eye health, stop cell death, improve cognition, and strengthen bones.

Propolis

Although bees are perhaps most famous for their honey, they also have another valuable tool in their arsenal. Propolis, also commonly known as bee glue, is actually a type of resinous material that bees can collect on their legs from flowers, buds, and other sources of sap. This propolis is then brought back to the hive, where it is essentially used as a glue to fix damage in parts of the hive. While beeswax is generally used for the large-scale construction, this propolis is used continuously to repair their home. For thousands of years, propolis has been acquired and extracted from hives and used in traditional medicines. However, research has shown that humans are not the only ones who understand the value of propolis. Not only does bee glue repair the hive, it also protects against diseases and provides a healthy environment for them to survive.

Many of the applications of propolis for humans rely on those same characteristics. Research is ongoing concerning propolis’ use for many health issues, but thousands of years of traditional use says a lot. Since bees are found throughout the world, many different applications and uses for propolis have been discovered and popularized. With the rise of global information sharing, propolis has once again grown in popularity thanks to its many beneficial qualities. These health benefits are largely attributable to the terpenes, essential oils, antioxidants, organic compounds, and natural acids found in the propolis. Different regions contain different nutrient makeup and flower species, so propolis can vary in combination around the world. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the many health benefits of propolis!

Some of the most important health benefits of buckthorn berry include its ability to reduce inflammation, prevent certain cancers, soothe gastrointestinal issues, heal the skin, lower blood pressure, improving sight, slowing the aging process, and aid the immune system.

Buckthorn Berry

Buckthorn berries are the most valuable part of sea buckthorn plants, which are a part of the Hippophae genus. The most commonly used species of the seven in the genus is Hippophae rhamnoides, which is a deciduous shrub and is found throughout Europe, Mongolia, and parts of China. Depending on where you are in the world, you may know the name of this plant as seaberry or sandthorn, but they’re all quite similar in terms of nutrient composition and physiological characteristics. The branches are stiff and thorny, while the leaves are of a long, thin, silver color. The berries of sea buckthorn, however, are small, orange, and only found on female plants.

These berries are actually considered superfruits due to their unbelievable concentration of nutrients,minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and organic acids, including flavonoids, phenolics, amino acids, and carotenoids. This diverse range of nutrients has also made buckthorn berries extremely versatile in the treatment of various health conditions and illnesses. An extract can be taken from the berries to be used in medicinal treatment, the berries can be consumed directly, or a tea can be made from the leaves, which also contain some of the same nutrient composition. The use of buckthorn berries as an herbal remedy stretches all the way back to Genghis Khan! Now, let’s take a bit of a closer look at the many health benefits of Buckthorn berry.