Glycyrrhiza glabra: Evidence-Based Uses, Recommended Dosage, Side Effects, and Interactions
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has a long record in traditional medicine and modern products alike—from soothing lozenges and digestive teas to cosmetic gels for sensitive skin. Its signature constituents, glycyrrhizin (a sweet-tasting saponin) and its active metabolite glycyrrhetinic acid, help explain both its benefits and its risks. Topically, licorice derivatives can calm visible redness and support barrier comfort. Orally,...
Glycyrrhizic acid: Digestive Relief, Cough Soothing, Daily Limits, and Safety Precautions
Glycyrrhizic acid—often listed on labels as glycyrrhizin or ammonium glycyrrhizate—is the signature sweet compound in licorice root. It is hundreds of times sweeter than sucrose, and it is found in herbal teas, cough syrups and lozenges, candies, traditional formulas, and some cosmetic and oral care products. Interest in glycyrrhizic acid spans soothing effects for the throat and stomach, flavoring...
Gnetum gnemon extract: Uric Acid Support, Metabolic Benefits, How to Use, and Side Effects
Gnetum gnemon—better known as melinjo in Southeast Asia—is a food plant whose seeds, skins, and leaves have long been eaten and brewed. Modern extracts concentrate its stilbenoid polyphenols, especially gnetin C (a dimer of resveratrol), alongside related glucosides. Interest in Gnetum gnemon seed extract has grown because it appears to influence uric acid handling, adiponectin biology, and markers tied...
Goa powder: Evidence-Based Benefits for Plaque Psoriasis, Application Steps, Dosing, and Safety
Goa powder—also known as araroba powder—is a botanical preparation historically used on stubborn skin plaques. Its activity comes from chrysarobin, a natural anthracene derivative that calms overactive skin cell turnover. Today, pure Goa powder is uncommon outside specialist or historical contexts; modern dermatology favors the synthetic analog anthralin (dithranol), which delivers similar effects with standardized strength and better control....
Goat colostrum: Immune Benefits, Gut Support, How to Use, Dosage, and Safety
: Benefits, Properties, Uses, Dosage, and Side Effects Explained Goat colostrum is the first milk goats produce in the hours after birth. It’s naturally concentrated with immune proteins (like IgG and lactoferrin), growth factors, and bioactive peptides that help newborn kids survive—and these same compounds are the reason adults are curious about colostrum as a supplement. Early research (mostly with...
Goat placenta extract: Skin Hydration Benefits, Uses for Beauty and Wellness, Dosage, and Risks
Goat placenta extract sits at the intersection of traditional remedies and modern “nutricosmetics.” Marketed for skin hydration, elasticity, and overall vitality, it is made from the afterbirth of goats and processed into powders, capsules, liquids, or topical serums. Placental tissues naturally contain peptides, amino acids, and growth-factor–like molecules. While these features sound promising, the actual human evidence for goat-derived...
Goat whey protein: Benefits for Recovery, How Much per Day, Meal Timing, and Risks
Goat whey protein is a fast-digesting, high-quality protein derived from the liquid by-product of goat cheese making. It concentrates essential amino acids—especially leucine—that drive muscle protein synthesis, support recovery after exercise, and help preserve lean mass during weight loss or aging. Compared with cow-derived whey, goat whey tends to be easier to tolerate for some people and offers a...
Goat’s rue: Metabolic Properties, Best Ways to Take It, Dosage Examples, and Safety Considerations
Goat’s rue (Galega officinalis) is a traditional European herb used for two main reasons today: supporting milk supply during breastfeeding and assisting metabolic balance. Its leaves and flowering tops contain guanidine derivatives—most notably galegine—that can lower blood glucose in laboratory settings. Modern interest also stems from history: research on goat’s rue guided the eventual development of metformin, a first-line...
Goji berry extract: Evidence-Based Benefits for Vision and Immunity, How Much to Take, and Safety Considerations
Goji berry extract is a concentrated preparation from the fruit of Lycium barbarum or Lycium chinense, long used in East Asian food and herbal traditions. Modern extracts typically focus on two families of actives: Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) and carotenoids—especially zeaxanthin dipalmitate—linked to antioxidant, immune, and vision-supportive effects. Unlike dried berries or juice, standardized extracts deliver a predictable amount...
Golden ragwort: What It Is, Claimed Benefits, How to Take It, and Safety Considerations
Golden ragwort (Packera aurea, formerly Senecio aureus) is a spring-blooming wildflower native to eastern North America. In folk medicine it was brewed or tinctured for menstrual discomfort, childbirth support, and minor wounds. Today it’s more often planted for pollinators than taken as a supplement—and for good reason. Like many members of the ragwort tribe (Senecioneae), golden ragwort naturally produces...
Goldenrod: Urinary Tract Support, Evidence, Dosage, and Side Effects
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.), especially European goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea), is a traditional herbal remedy most often used to support urinary tract comfort. Herbalists value it for mild diuretic action (helping you pass more urine), soothing properties for bladder irritation, and supportive use during kidney stone prevention plans. Some people also use goldenrod topically for minor aches or skin care, and...
Goldthread benefits and berberine science: metabolic support, digestive uses, dosage, and safety explained
Goldthread (chiefly the rhizome of Coptis species, often sold as the TCM herb Huang Lian) is a powerfully bitter botanical prized for calming “heat” and dampness in traditional medicine—usually code for irritated, inflamed, or infected tissues. Modern analysis points to protoberberine alkaloids—especially berberine—as its signature compounds. These have been studied for antimicrobial action in the gut, support for metabolic...
Gonadorelin for fertility and hormone testing: benefits, pulsatile therapy, dosage, and safety
Gonadorelin is the pharmaceutical form of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), the tiny hypothalamic peptide that naturally triggers the pituitary to release luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Clinically, it’s used in two very different ways: as a single diagnostic dose to test the pituitary’s ability to respond, and as pulsatile therapy delivered by a small pump to restore physiologic...
Gonadotropin: Uses for Fertility, Evidence-Based Dosing, Risks, and Side Effects
Gonadotropins are prescription hormones that directly stimulate the ovaries and testes. In women, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) drive follicle growth and ovulation. In men, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) acts like LH to raise intratesticular testosterone, and FSH supports Sertoli cells for sperm production. Clinically, gonadotropins are used to induce ovulation in anovulatory cycles, optimize oocyte yield...
Gondoic acid: What It Is, Proven Benefits, How to Use, Dosage, and Side Effects
Gondoic acid—also called cis-11-eicosenoic acid or 20:1 (n-9)—is a long-chain, omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acid. It occurs naturally in certain plant oils and nuts, with particularly high levels in jojoba (a “liquid wax” widely used in cosmetics) and trace-to-low levels in edible seed oils such as rapeseed/canola. Interest in gondoic acid has grown because long-chain omega-9 fats can influence cell...
Gongronema latifolium: Evidence-Based Benefits, Preparation Methods, Dosage Guidelines, and Side Effects
Gongronema latifolium is a leafy vine native to West and Central Africa, best known by names like “utazi” (Igbo) and “arokeke” (Yoruba). In kitchens, its pleasantly bitter leaves season soups and stews; in traditional medicine, the plant is used for blood sugar control, digestive comfort, and general vitality. Modern lab and animal research points to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering, and...
Goshajinkigan: Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy Support, Benefits, Dosage, and Risks
Goshajinkigan (pronounced go-sha-jin-kee-gahn), often shortened to GJG, is a classic Kampo (Japanese traditional) herbal formula used to ease nerve-related symptoms such as numbness, tingling, cold sensitivity, and muscle cramps. Modern research has explored GJG most in two areas: diabetic nerve complications and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). The formula blends ten botanicals—including rehmannia, cinnamon bark, poria, and processed aconite root—aimed...
Gossypol: Investigational Uses in Men’s Health and Oncology, Trial Doses, and Adverse Effects
Gossypol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound found in the cotton plant. It has a complex history: once tested as a nonhormonal male contraceptive, later explored as an anticancer agent, and long recognized as a toxin in animal feeds when cottonseed products are not properly processed. That mix of promise and risk makes gossypol unusual. Its potential benefits—temporary suppression...
Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) health benefits, how to use it, dosage, and side effects
Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria), also called ground elder or herb gerard, is a vigorous leafy herb in the carrot family that has been eaten and used in folk medicine across Europe for centuries. Today, interest is rising again because its young leaves are rich in polyphenols and other phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Early laboratory and animal research suggests...
Graminex pollen extract: Uses for Urinary Incontinence and Prostate Symptoms, Dosage Ranges, and Safety Considerations
Graminex® flower pollen extract is a standardized blend of water-soluble and lipid-soluble fractions made from cereal grasses (typically rye, corn, and timothy). It is produced without chemical solvents and has been studied primarily for urinary and pelvic symptoms—most notably chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)–related lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and, more recently, urinary incontinence...
Grape seed extract: Vascular health benefits, how it works, dosage range, and safety
Grape seed extract (GSE) concentrates bioactive polyphenols—especially oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs)—from the tiny seeds of Vitis vinifera. These compounds act as potent antioxidants and appear to support vascular health by improving endothelial function, assisting healthy blood pressure in certain groups, and reducing leg heaviness and swelling in venous problems. Research also explores GSE for lipid balance and oxidative stress, though...
Grape seed oil: Health benefits, how to use it in cooking and skincare, dosage guidance, and safety
Grape seed oil turns a wine-making by-product into a versatile kitchen and skincare staple. Pressed from Vitis vinifera seeds, it’s naturally rich in polyunsaturated fat—primarily linoleic acid (omega-6)—with smaller amounts of oleic acid (omega-9). In the “unsaponifiable” fraction you’ll find tocopherols (vitamin E family) and phytosterols that contribute to antioxidant behavior and skin-barrier support. Refined versions offer a neutral...
Grape skin extract: Antioxidant and vascular support, evidence-based uses, dosage, and side effects
Grape skin extract concentrates the purple-red pigments and protective compounds found in the skins of Vitis vinifera grapes. These include anthocyanins, resveratrol, flavonols, and phenolic acids—molecules studied for vascular support, antioxidant action, and cellular signaling. In supplements, grape skin extract is positioned for heart and metabolic health, healthy blood vessel function, brain performance under stress, and recovery from oxidative...
Grapefruit seed extract: Antimicrobial properties, how to use it, recommended dosage, and side effects
Grapefruit seed extract (often abbreviated GSE) is a citrus-derived supplement promoted for broad antimicrobial and antioxidant support. Manufacturers typically concentrate compounds from the seeds, pulp, and white membranes, then deliver them as liquid drops, capsules, or topical sprays. People reach for GSE to help with skin breakouts, oral and throat hygiene, travelers’ tummy troubles, or to preserve homemade cosmetics....
