 Helping the body do its work-fighting infections, building muscle, disposing of toxins, and staying alert-is something that can be accomplished by a wide range of products that fall under the general heading of miscellaneous boosters of health. As long as they are derived from natural sources, all can be considered "supplements," although not all are meant to be taken internally. Each year, more of these products are introduced into the market. Some, such as activated charcoal or Epsom salts, are traditional; others, such as melatonin, have only recently been synthesized, and their benefits are still being discovered.
Activated charcoal is pure carbon specially processed to make it highly absorbent of particles and gases in the body's digestive system. Activated charcoal slides through the intestines without being absorbed. It is taken internally to relieve gas pains, reduce flatulence, and absorb and excrete poisons and other toxins from the body. It may also lower blood cholesterol levels. It is best taken an hour before or after nutrient supplements to avoid eliminating them from the body as well. Activated charcoal can be applied externally (add water to the powder to make a paste) to alleviate pain and itching from bites and stings. It is safe and nontoxic. It is available in powder, tablet, capsule, and liquid forms.
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Bentonite is a powdered porous clay that gets its name from an area in Montana near Fort Benton. It is produced by the decomposition of volcanic ash. Bentonite is similar to cosmetic or green clay and can be mixed with water to make a paste that is applied to the skin for its "drawing" and drying powers against stings, poison ivy, and other conditions. Bentonite can also be taken internally to absorb toxins in the intestines if it is produced to meet special formulating standards. It comes in powder and liquid forms. (See Clay.)
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CitriMax is a trademarked derivative of the Asian fruit Garcinia cambogia. CitriMax is rich in the compound (-)hydroxycitric acid (HCA),. Chemically, HCA is similar to citric acid, but it has been shown to help curb appetite and inhibit the production of fats and cholesterol. It is intended for use in health and dietary supplements.
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Clay is the generic term for any finely grained, decomposed rock or volcanic ash with both external and internal medical applications. It can be mixed with water and applied as a paste to relieve insect bites, splinters, rashes, poison ivy, and other skin conditions. If classified as "food grade:' clay can be taken internally to cleanse the intestines after food or chemical poisoning. Some popular forms include cosmetic clay, green clay, and bentonite. It is sold as a powder or liquid. (See Bentonite.)
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Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a liquid solvent that had only industrial uses until the 1960s, when it began to be widely sold in health food stores for its reported inflammation-reducing effects. Rubbed into the skin, it is easily absorbed, causing a distinctive odor on the skin and breath. It is claimed to help treat arthritis and sprains, strains, and bruises. Current federal law prohibits dispensing DMSO without a prescription, and its only federally approved use is for a type of cystitis, for which it is injected. Some states have approved other uses, but generally DMSO is no longer available in health food stores,
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Epsom salts are a white, crystalline product (purified magnesium sulfate) named for the town in England where the substance was first identified some five hundred years ago. It has been a Popular folk remedy ever since. Epsom salts are principally sprinkled in the bath for their relaxing effect, but they've also been used topically for stiff joints and aching muscles. (Make a pack by dissolving salts in hot water, soaking a hand towel, and applying.) They are also taken internally as a laxative. Epsom salts are a powder that is widely available in conventional pharmacies.
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Melatonin is a hormone produced by the tiny pineal gland in the center of the brain. It has been linked to changes in mood, performance, fatigue, sleep patterns, and biological rhythms. Levels in the body are affected by light and darkness, temperature, and other factors. Minute doses of 3 mg or so in pills are now being used to counter the effects of jet lag and to help jet lag sufferers to reset their biological clocks. Taken orally, melatonin is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, metabolized, and eliminated from the body. It comes in tablets.
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Pectin is a water-soluble carbohydrate found in apples, oranges, and other ripe fruit. It is taken in supplement form for its rich fiber content. Like psyllium, it aids digestion and elimination and helps pre vent constipation, diarrhea, and diseases of the colon including cancer. As an additive, it is used by the food and cosmetics industries to thicken jellies, ice cream, and other products. It comes in powder and tablet forms. (See Psyllium.)
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Psyllium is the seeds or husks from the fleawort and other plantain (Plantago ovata, P. psyllium) plants. People take it in supplement form as a concentrated source of water-soluble dietary fiber. It promotes intestinal function and elimination and is often used in laxatives (Metamucil, for instance) to treat constipation, because it speeds transit time and eases bowel movements. Psyllium also adds bulk to stools and treats diarrhea. Since the mucilage in the seed husks absorbs water and forms a gel in the stomach, it gives a sense of fullness and decreases appetite, thus helping to treat obesity. Psyllium slows the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, thus suppressing swings in blood sugar levels and helping to control diabetes. Finally, it may aid in lowering bIood cholesterol levels. The whole seeds or husks should always be taken with liquids It comes in dried and liquid forms. (See Pectin.)
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Pycnogenol is a trademarked plant derivative that is a powerful antioxidant. It is derived from the bark of a pine tree (Pinus maritima) native to France, one of the few plants to yield significant amounts of certain bioflavonoids known as proanthocyanidins. Pycnogenol has been shown to strengthen blood vessels, prevent wrinkling of the skin, retard aging, improve vision, and possibly reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. It is nontoxic and comes in capsules. (See Bioflavonoids under Vitamins and Minerals,)
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Shark cartilage is the semi-tough supporting and connective tissue that serves as a sharks skeleton, purified into a white powder and sold in supplement form. Shark cartilage contains a substance that slows the growth of blood vessels and thus may help inhibit tumors. It may also reduce the pain, inflammation, and joint stiffness of arthritis, alleviate inflammatory bowel disease, and reverse psoriasis. Pregnant women and people who suffer from vascular diseases Should avoid shark cartilage. It comes in capsules.
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Tissue salts are twelve essential mineral Compounds, including iron phosphate, calcium sulfate, and sodium chloride, that homeopaths call, respectively, Ferrum Phosphoricum, Calcarea Sulphurica, and Natrum Muriaticum. They are present in small amounts in healthy human cells. Practitioners prescribe tissue salt remedies, which are prepared similarly to homeopathic remedies, to treat various conditions (colds, headaches, hay fever) that are said to result from imbalances or deficiencies in cell salts. The remedies are sometimes called Schuessler tissue salts after the nineteenth century German chemist who pioneered the field. The salts come in tablets.
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