Vinpocetine is a derivative of the alkaloid vincarnine (extracted from vinca minor) and is used in many countries in the treatment and prevention of stroke and vascular dementia Although no single mechanism of action has been agreed on for vinpocetine, many activities are known to stem from its use, such as dilating blood vessels, enhancing circulation to the brain, improving oxygen utilization and reducing blood clotting, and inhibiting platelet aggregation

Inflammation is the body's natural defensive response to infection and certain chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis Inflammation, however, produces pain, swelling, and often redness which is why anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen are often recommended to reduce the discomfort

Unless you've been stranded on a desert island, you've no doubt heard of St John's wort, a common herb grown throughout Europe and North America

Cordyceps is a Tibetan mushroom used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for lung protection and reproductive invigoration as well as to balance chi the fundamental "energy of life" In Western terminology, cordyceps is also used as a traditional remedy for ailments of the immune, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and hepatic systems

Androstenedione is the steroid hormone that is a direct precursor to both estrone and testosterone Androstenedione levels peak in a person's mid-20s and decline steadily after age 30

A high dietary vitamin C intake significantly reduces the risk of death from heart attacks and strokes (and other causes, including cancer) in numerous population studies One of the most detailed studies analyzed the vitamin C intake of 11,348 adults over 5 years

The number of asthma sufferers is rapidly rising in the United States, especially in children From 1980 to 1987, the rate of physician-diagnosed asthma in people younger than 20 years of age increased 43 percent from 35 to 50 cases per 1,000

LINOLEIC ACID (CLA) Linoleic acid is found in the diet in vegetable oils, whereas the conjugated variety, CIA, is found primarily in meat and dairy products The form of CLA found most commonly in dietary supplements is manufactured from vegetable oils, such as sunflower oil

Nearly 2,500 years ago, Hippocrates, the "father of modern medicine," embraced the concept, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" Medicinal herbs have been used since time immemorial in all cultures the world over

Chitosan is made from the shells of shellfish and is a type of dietary fiber called an aminopolysaccharide (a combination of sugar and protein) Because of its positive charge, it has the ability to attract and bind to the negatively charged fatty acids in our diet