Ground pine: Complete Guide to Benefits, Uses, Dosing, and Side Effects
Ground pine (Lycopodium clavatum), also called running clubmoss, is a creeping evergreen long used in European folk medicine and still sold today in powders, tinctures, and homeopathic pellets. Modern research focuses on two very different things: the plant’s alkaloids (nitrogen-bearing compounds that can inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase) and its pollen-like spores whose tough shells are used as natural microcapsules....
Guaiacum: What It Is, Potential Benefits, Proper Use, Dosage Advice, and Risks
Guaiacum—best known as lignum vitae—comes from small Caribbean and Central American trees whose heartwood yields a dense, aromatic resin. For centuries, this resin was used in folk medicine for joint stiffness, chest congestion, and skin complaints. Today, guaiacum still appears in niche herbal formulas and remains relevant in medicine because its resin powers the classic guaiac fecal occult blood...
Guanidinoacetic acid: Science, Benefits, How to Take It, and Side Effects
Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is the body’s direct precursor to creatine, the high-energy compound that helps muscle and brain cells recycle ATP. Interest in GAA has grown because it can raise creatine availability when dietary intake or endogenous production falls short, and because some people report better tolerance or different effects than with creatine alone. In small human trials, daily...
Guar gum: Digestion, Cholesterol, Blood Sugar Control, Dosage, and Safety Explained
Guar gum is a soluble fiber made from the endosperm of the guar bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba). In kitchens and factories, it thickens, stabilizes, and improves texture at tiny doses. In clinics and wellness routines, it can help normalize bowel function, modestly lower LDL cholesterol, and blunt post-meal glucose spikes when used correctly. Not all guar is the same, though....
Guava leaf extract: Evidence-Based Benefits, Best Uses, Recommended Dosage, and Side Effects
Guava leaf extract comes from the leaves of Psidium guajava, a tropical tree long used in traditional medicine. Today, standardized extracts, teas, and mouthrashes made from the leaves are studied for a few practical health goals: easing acute infectious diarrhea, supporting healthy post-meal blood sugar, and improving gum health. These potential benefits are attributed to a dense mix of...
Guayule: Hypoallergenic Latex Benefits, Real-World Uses, How to Choose, and Safety
Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) is a desert shrub from northern Mexico and the U.S. Southwest that produces a high-performance natural rubber. Unlike traditional latex from Hevea brasiliensis, guayule latex is essentially free of the major proteins that trigger latex allergy, making it a valuable option for medical gloves, barrier films, and other products that need both comfort and safety. The...
Guduchi: Immune Support, Metabolic Effects, Dosage by Goal, and Safety Profile
Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) is a climbing vine long used in Ayurveda for immune balance and resilience. Modern studies explore its potential to support upper-respiratory comfort, metabolic health, and overall vitality by modulating inflammatory signaling and stress responses. The stem is most studied; preparations include standardized extracts, decoctions, and the popular compressed extract “Ghana vati.” While generally well-tolerated in short...
Guggul: What It Is, Proven and Potential Benefits, How to Use It, and Precautions
Guggul is the aromatic gum resin from the tree Commiphora wightii, long used in Ayurveda for metabolic, inflammatory, and skin concerns. Modern supplements usually provide a standardized extract (often called “guggulipid”) that concentrates active sterols known as guggulsterones. Interest in guggul surged because these molecules interact with nuclear receptors that help regulate cholesterol and bile acid balance. Yet the...
Guggulsterone: What It Does, How Much to Take, Interactions, and Side Effects Explained
Guggulsterone is a plant-derived sterol found in the resin of Commiphora wightii (guggul), a small desert tree used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine. Modern research shows that guggulsterone interacts with nuclear receptors in the liver and intestines that regulate bile acids, cholesterol handling, inflammation, and drug metabolism. That makes it an intriguing—yet complex—compound for people looking at metabolic health,...
Gum arabic: Prebiotic Fiber Benefits, How to Use It, Dosage, and Safety
Gum arabic—also called acacia gum—is a natural, water-soluble dietary fiber obtained from the hardened sap of the Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal trees. Long used as a stabilizer and emulsifier in foods and beverages, it has also gained attention as a gentle prebiotic fiber that mixes cleanly into liquids without grit or gel. People choose gum arabic to support...
Gynura procumbens: Metabolic Support, Vascular Health, Dosage, and Safety Explained
Gynura procumbens—often called “longevity spinach,” “Sambung Nyawa,” or “leaves of life”—is a leafy plant traditionally eaten and brewed as tea across Southeast Asia. Its leaves are rich in polyphenols and flavonoids that have drawn attention for potential support in blood sugar, blood pressure, lipids, and inflammation. Early laboratory and animal studies are promising, and a few small human studies...
Fadogia agrestis: Testosterone, Libido, Mechanisms, Dosage, and Safety Explained
Fadogia agrestis is a shrub from West and Central Africa long used in folk medicine for vitality and sexual health. In the last few years it has surged in popularity as a “natural testosterone booster.” What does the science actually show? Most published data come from animal experiments using aqueous stem extracts. These studies suggest effects on sexual behavior,...
Fagonia arabica: Benefits, Research Evidence, How to Use It, Dosage Guidance, and Side Effects
Fagonia arabica is a desert shrub used in traditional systems of medicine across North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Modern laboratory research has begun to map its active compounds—especially flavonoids, phenolic acids, and saponins—and test how its extracts behave in cell systems related to oxidative stress, blood clot breakdown, microbes, and cancer biology. Early studies suggest antioxidant...
Fagonia cretica: Traditional Uses, Modern Research, Safe Dosage, and Potential Risks
Fagonia cretica—often called Dhamasa or Virgin’s Mantle—is a thorny desert herb long used in South Asian and Middle Eastern traditions. Modern lab work has explored its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic actions, especially against breast cancer cell lines, along with possible effects on liver drug-metabolizing enzymes. While these findings are intriguing, clinical evidence in humans remains limited, so expectations should...
Falcarindiol Benefits: How It Works, Proper Use, and Risks
Falcarindiol is a naturally occurring plant compound most abundant in carrots and other members of the Apiaceae family. It belongs to a small group of bioactives called falcarinol-type polyacetylenes that plants make to defend themselves against pests and stress. In people, falcarindiol has drawn attention because it interacts with inflammatory pathways and early steps of tumor formation in preclinical...
Falcarinol: Anti-Inflammatory Properties, Food Sources, Daily Intake, and Safety Risks
Falcarinol is a natural compound most abundant in carrots and other Apiaceae roots. Also called panaxynol, it belongs to a family of plant polyacetylenes that plants use to defend themselves. In recent years, falcarinol has drawn scientific interest for two reasons: it can influence inflammatory pathways and it may help prevent early steps of tumor development when consumed in...
Fava bean extract: L-DOPA Benefits, Proper Use, Dosage, and Safety Risks
Fava bean extract comes from Vicia faba—also called broad beans—and is naturally rich in levodopa (L-DOPA), the direct precursor to dopamine. That single fact explains most of its interest: dopamine shortfalls drive the hallmark motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, and L-DOPA is the medicine doctors have relied on for decades. Sprouted fava tissues and carefully prepared extracts can deliver...
Fava bean protein: Evidence-Based Benefits, How to Take It, Dosage Ranges, and Risks
Fava bean protein is quickly becoming a mainstay in plant-based nutrition. Extracted from Vicia faba (also called broad or faba bean), it delivers concentrated protein with a neutral taste, good mixability, and cooking versatility. Compared with many pulses, fava bean offers a solid essential amino acid profile—especially lysine and the branched-chain amino acids—while its main shortfall is the sulfur...
Fennel extract: Digestive Relief, Menstrual Cramp Support, Safe Dosage, and Risks Explained
Fennel extract comes from the seeds (fruits) of Foeniculum vulgare, a culinary herb long used to settle the stomach and ease cramps. Modern preparations concentrate its aromatic compounds—especially anethole and fenchone—into teas, tinctures, capsules, and essential-oil formulas. People turn to fennel for digestive comfort (gas, bloating), menstrual cramp relief, and, in some trials, symptom relief in irritable bowel syndrome...
Fermented beetroot: Heart Health Benefits, How to Use It, Proper Dosage, and Side Effects
Fermented beetroot—often enjoyed as beet “kvass,” brined slices, or cultured juice—combines the nitric-oxide–supporting potential of beets with the live microbes and organic acids created by lactic acid fermentation. People choose it to support healthy blood pressure, exercise efficiency, and digestive comfort, while also seeking gentler flavor and better shelf stability than raw juice. Fermentation can shift beetroot’s phytonutrient profile...
Fermented black garlic: Cardiovascular Benefits, Proper Dosage, How to Choose Quality, and Safety Explained
Fermented black garlic—garlic aged for weeks under warm, humid conditions until its cloves turn jet black and taste sweet—has moved from chef’s secret to supplement shelf. Compared with raw garlic, it delivers milder flavor, better tolerability, and higher levels of S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC), a water-soluble compound linked to antioxidant and cardiometabolic effects. Early human studies suggest small but meaningful improvements...
Fermented cod liver oil: What It Is, Proven Benefits, Proper Dosage, and Safety Risks Explained
Fermented cod liver oil (FCLO) is a niche variant of cod liver oil made by fermenting livers before extracting the oil. Like regular cod liver oil, it supplies omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) alongside vitamins A and D, but its “fermented” label raises questions about stability, antioxidant content, taste, and safety. Proponents claim fermentation preserves delicate nutrients and...
Fermented cordyceps: Immune Support, Energy and Endurance, Proper Dosage, and Safety Explained
Fermented cordyceps—usually made from Cordyceps militaris grown by submerged fermentation—has surged in popularity for steady levels of cordycepin, adenosine, and polysaccharides. People reach for it to support energy, exercise tolerance, immune balance, and recovery, while appreciating that fermentation can improve consistency compared with wild-harvested fungi. In this guide, you will learn what “fermented cordyceps” actually means, how it may...
Fermented ginseng: Evidence, Dosage Guidelines, Benefits for Energy and Glucose, and Safety
Fermented ginseng is a modern take on a classic adaptogen. By using enzymes or friendly microbes to pre-digest whole ginseng, manufacturers increase the proportion of “minor” ginsenosides—especially compound K—that the body absorbs more readily. The result is a gentler product that often acts faster and may require lower doses than standard red ginseng. People turn to fermented ginseng for...
