Nina Wagner

A botanical is any plant valued for its medicinal or therapeutic properties. Botanical medicines can be derived from either the roots or the aerial parts, such as flowers, bark, seeds and leaves. All herbal supplements and phytomedicines are botanical products. For much of human history, botanicals were the only medicines available. There are well-developed botanical healing traditions in many parts of the world; these include Ayurveda, TCM, Native American healing traditions, and many others. The efficacy of these herbal approaches is underscored by the many pharmaceuticals that are derived from traditional medicinal plants.

Historically, herbal remedies consisted of whole plants or parts of plants, often blended for synergistic effect. However, contemporary research and methods have led to the creation of standardized extracts, which are herbal extracts processed in such a way that the active healing compounds appear at a defined level in the finished botanical product. Botanical supplements are marketed in a variety of forms, including tinctures, extracts, capsules and tablets.

Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional medicinal system of the Indian subcontinent, comparable to TCM in China. This five-thousand-year-old system, thought to be the oldest in the world, holistically combines yoga, meditation, diet and herbal remedies. Spices are of particular importance, and their use is both culinary and medicinal.

Weight loss and diet supplements can work in many ways—by enhancing fat burning, suppressing appetite, increasing metabolic function, and increasing digestive efficacy.

One critical supplement for weight loss is CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), which is clinically proven to reduce body fat, particularly in the abdominal area, by improving the body’s sensitivity to insulin. The mineral chromium aids appetite control by combating sugar cravings. Digestive enzymes such as bromelain and papain can help the body digest foods fully, getting the optimum nutrition from food consumed.

Several herbs also show promise in weight management. Extracts of green tea contain epigallo-catechin gallate (EGCG) and caffeine, which may speed up metabolism, while studies suggest cayenne reduces appetite and increases metabolism of dietary fats. Extracts of crape-myrtle, such as glucosol, work by blocking the sugar rise associated with eating high-GI foods, thus preventing body-fat storage.
Vitamins also have clinical efficacy in supporting weight loss. One recent study showed that increased supplementation of calcium and vitamin D had significant effects on weight loss.

Conventional synthetic fabrics, battings, and fibers usually are derived from nonrenewable petrochemicals, which don’t biodegrade and are difficult to recycle. These include polyester, nylon, acetate, and acrylic. Some natural plant fibers, derived from sustainable materials without the use of petrochemicals, are fully renewable and biodegradable. Natural textiles include cotton, hemp, bamboo, and tencel—wood pulp harvested from sustainably farmed trees.

Also known as eco-friendly or environmentally friendly, the term green applies to products, services, and policies intended to protect the environment, or at least inflict minimal harm. Sustainability is a growing global concern that works to balance the demand on the Earth’s resources with the available supply—and seeks alternative solutions if resources are being tapped out.

Whether young, middle aged, or mature, women care deeply about their health and the health of their families and loved ones. Women make the majority of shopping decisions for their families.

Men constitute a growing sector of the natural products lifestyle; and with researchers now estimating that men do 40 percent of all grocery shopping, they are also becoming an increasingly influential shopping demographic.

Home is a place of residence for an individual, a family, and perhaps pets. A growing number of Americans are interested in making sure their homes are as free of toxic chemicals, or green, as possible—partly in response to news about the pervasiveness of toxic pollutants in our food, our water, and the products we use on our bodies and in our homes.

More people are cooking at home, for health and financial reasons—and more of them are choosing organic produce, meats, dairy products, and packaged foods. Read more on how to make your home a healthy one.

A gift is something offered to another person without the expectation of receiving anything in return. Products commonly given for special occasions like birthdays and other holidays include home accessories, food, toys, clothing, personal care items, and accessories, all of which are often given with cards.