Vitamins & Supplements

Does Elderberry Cause “Cytokine Storms” in COVID Patients?

By Kristen Schepker, Assistant Editor

Elderberry is a staple in many natural medicine toolkits, especially during cold and flu season. Many people are now turning to it as a preventive or therapeutic treatment for COVID-19. It may have some merit in this context, but recent reports that the beloved botanical can set off a storm of hyperinflammation have called its immune-boosting power into question

Climate Change Takes Toll on Herbal Medicine

By Kristen Schepker, Assistant Editor

As global temperatures continue to rise, scientists predict that environmental shifts will impact the ability of medicinal plants to grow and thrive in affected regions. Botanists across the world are shining light on the ways that climate change could fundamentally alter the practice of holistic medicine.

Botanicals Can Ease the Silent Suffering of Incontinence

By Kristen Schepker, Assistant Editor

Urinary incontinence is far more common than many people realize. Those affected often feel ashamed, and they hide their suffering. Further, the commonly prescribed drugs can cause adverse effects so unpleasant that patients choose to forego treatment. Fortunately, there are alternatives. Several botanical medicines, used in combination, can safely address urinary dysfunction without the concerning side effects.

Six Essentials for Optimal Wintertime Health

By Russell Jaffe, MD, Contrbuting Writer

With shorter days and colder weather, many people have trouble finding the motivation to stay healthy during the winter. The following tips can prepare people for what winter has in store for us, and more.

In New Self-Policing Effort, Herb 
Industry Urges, “Burn, Don’t Return”

By Erik Goldman, Editor in Chief

Leaders in the dietary supplement industry have a sharp new directive for manufacturers who discover adulterants or contaminants in botanical raw materials: “Don’t Return It, Burn It.”

The innovative self-policing policy, launched in October, and supported by all the major herbal industry trade groups, puts direct economic pressure on raw materials suppliers to improve the quality of the ingredients they sell into the US market.

Webinar: Pediatric Immune System Support

By Erik Goldman

VIEW WEBINAR Many of our patients experience daily immune system challenges, and children are no exception!  Stress, busy school & extracurricular schedules, and erratic or poor eating habits can all impact the body’s natural defense mechanisms. On top of that, there’s exposure in schools to a whole new host of germs. Kids’ immune systems really […]

Webinar: Fall & Winter Immune Support Essentials

By Erik Goldman

VIEW WEBINAR The winter season brings many challenges to the immune system. Colder temperatures, drier air, more time in enclosed spaces–not to mention the holidays—can all take their toll. To bolster and support immunity throughout the fall and winter months, it is essential to build a strong foundation of overall health in the weeks leading […]

Encapsulating Quality: How Ingredient and Capsule Choices Impact Supplement Performance

By Barri Sigvertsen, Senior Manager, Global Innovation Marketing, Lonza Consumer Health and Nutrition

One of the many challenges for supplement manufacturers is consistently ensuring that the products they bring to market are safe, innovative, and aligned with practitioner and consumer preferences, while optimizing production efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

That’s no easy feat. From the choice of bioactive ingredients, through the encapsulation or tableting process, and ultimately to the packaging and shipping, there are dozens of decisions to be made. Each choice has a potential impact on overall product quality, stability, and efficacy.

Validation Testing: Insights from Inside the Analytical Lab

By Sarah M. Gannon, Analytical Chemist & Lab Manager, Designs for Health

From the outside looking in, the dietary supplement world can seem like a bewildering place. Many people wonder, “How are all these formulas blended and manufactured? How are the quality and potency being verified?” Sarah Gannon, an analytical chemist at Designs for Health pulls back the curtain.