Butcher’s broom, or Ruscus aculeatus, is an evergreen like shrub with a long history of use in Europe for promoting circulatory system health. Among other benefits, butcher’s broom helps tighten blood vessels and capillaries, which has generated interest for use against varicose veins. It’s also been shown to relieve fluid retention and other symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency. (more…)
Centella asiatica, also known as gotu kola, is a parsley-like plant that's native to much of southeast Asia. Gotu kola has long been a staple of both Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese Medicine and is beneficial for the circulatory system. It improves the flow of blood while strengthening the veins and capillaries. Research suggests it has a positive effect on circulatory system inefficiencies. (more…)
Some of the world’s best therapeutic plants are found throughout the rainforests of South America. One in particular, Pfaffia paniculata, better known as suma, is a ground vine whose root has been used for centuries to promote health. In Portuguese, Suma Root is called “para tudo” which means “for everything”. The name is likely in reference to use it being used to improve various ailments including fatigue, anxiety, erectile malaise, and stress. [1] (more…)
There is a popular expression in Brazil: until a father is 60, the son is his; after that, the son belongs to catuaba. No, catuaba is not a fertility god, catuaba is actually a small, flowering tree that’s native to the Amazon. Hundreds of years ago, Brazil’s native Tupi tribe discovered that catuaba bark has aphrodisiac qualities. Drinking catuaba tea to spawn erotic dreams and boost libido became a part of their culture. Now, catuaba is one of the most popular Amazonian aphrodisiac plants in the world and is included […]
The climate atop the Peruvian Andes is a harsh one, few plants, and few people, can survive the environment. However, there is one vigorous plant, Lepidium meyenii, more popularly known as Peruvian ginseng or maca, that thrives at the 4000-meter altitude. Its vitality in this remote region may explain why maca root’s use in Peru as an aphrodisiac and fertility enhancer extends hundreds, if not thousands, of years back into Peru’s history. (more…)
