Superfoods & Herbs

Tribulus terrestris, also known as bindii, is a flowering plant that grows in Africa, Australia, Southern Europe, and Asia, often in dry, sandy environments.Origin of the nameThe name "tribulus" comes from the Greek word for "four-pronged thorn". The plant's seed pods have sharp, horn-like thorns that were historically used as military obstacles (known as caltrops) against cavalry and barefoot enemies – a use completely different from today's.Traditional useThe plant has a long history of use in both Indian and Chinese herbal traditions.Good to knowIsolated cases of stomach upset and acne have been reported with use.Usage1 teaspoon per day mixed in warm water. Our organic tribulus terrestris powder is an example of how it is commonly sold.

Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is an asparagus plant that grows in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, easily recognizable by its many thorny, climbing branches with small white flowers.Meaning of the nameThe name "shatavari" is sometimes translated to "she who has a hundred roots" in Sanskrit, referring to the plant's extensive root system, where the root is used.Historical useThe plant has a long tradition in Ayurvedic medicine in India, where the root is one of the more well-known ingredients in classic herbal formulas.Usage1/2 to 2 teaspoons of powder daily, mixed with water, fruit juice, or milk. Our shatavari powder is an example of how it is typically sold.Good to knowIf you have a known allergy to asparagus, shatavari should be avoided, as the plants are closely related.

Moringa oleifera, sometimes called the "horseradish tree" due to the pungent smell of its root, is a fast-growing evergreen tree that can grow several meters in its first year. The tree is native to the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, but is now also cultivated in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and large parts of Africa and Southeast Asia.A tree used in its entiretyWhat makes moringa unusual is that practically the entire tree can be used – leaves, flowers, pods, seeds, root, and even bark.Traditional useThe leaves, bark, and root have long been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine in South Asia, a tradition that stretches back several thousand years. The seeds have also been used to clarify cloudy water – a practice still observed in parts of Africa and Asia, where crushed moringa seeds are placed in water containers to make particles sediment.As foodThe young, unripe pods – sometimes called "drumsticks" in English due to their drumstick-like shape – are used as a vegetable in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisine, prepared much like green beans. The leaves can be eaten cooked, like spinach, or dried and ground into a fine green powder.What the leaves containThe leaves contain chlorophyll, beta-carotene, vitamin C, polyphenols, and isothiocyanates – groups of substances also found in cruciferous plants like broccoli and kale.Good to knowMoringa should not be used by women who are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding, as certain parts of the plant have traditionally been avoided during pregnancy.UsageDried leaf powder can be mixed with water, juice, tea, or smoothies. Start with a lower dose, such as half a teaspoon, and gradually increase to taste. Store the powder in a cool, dark, and dry place to maintain color and aroma. Our organic moringa powder is an example of how the powder is typically sold.

Maca is a root vegetable from the Andes in Peru, growing at altitudes between 4,000 and 4,500 meters. It has been cultivated as a vegetable for over 2,000 years, making it one of the world's highest-altitude cultivated crops.The Legend of the Inca WarriorsAccording to a frequently retold (and unverified) legend, Inca warriors are said to have eaten maca before battle, a story that has been passed down through centuries and is still recounted in connection with the root.Cultivation at Extreme AltitudeMaca grows under some of the toughest cultivation conditions imaginable – cold wind, thin air, and strong UV radiation – which makes it one of very few crops that can thrive at such altitudes.What Maca ContainsThe root contains vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, and B6, as well as calcium, iron, and phosphorus.UsageTake up to 1 teaspoon of gelatinized maca powder in milk, juice, or a smoothie. Gelatinization is a traditional preparation method that makes the root easier to digest. Our organic maca powder is an example of how it is typically sold.

Triphala is one of the most well-known herbal blends in Ayurveda and consists of three fruits: amalaki, haritaki, and bibhitaki. The name simply means "three fruits" in Sanskrit.The three fruitsAmalaki is sour and is the same fruit known as amla in English. Haritaki has an astringent taste and is considered one of the most widely used herbs in traditional Indian medicine, sometimes called "the king of medicinal plants" in ancient texts. Bibhitaki is a legume from a tree that grows in South Asia.HistoryThe blend is mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts and is one of the most well-known herbal formulas in that tradition, used for centuries.Usage1 teaspoon daily with warm or lukewarm water, often at bedtime according to tradition. Our organic triphala powder is an example of how it is typically sold.

Graviola (Annona muricata), also known as soursop, is a tree that grows naturally in Central America, the West Indies, and tropical parts of Africa.A spiky, exotic fruitThe fruit is large, green, and spiky on the outside, with a white, creamy pulp often described as tasting like a mix of pineapple and strawberry with a slightly sour note.Historical useThe fruit, leaves, and bark have long been used in local traditional medicine in the areas where the tree grows, particularly in Central America and the Caribbean.What graviola containsGraviola contains calcium, zinc, phosphorus, and magnesium, as well as the antioxidant Coenzyme Q10.Good to knowPregnant and breastfeeding women should not use graviola, as certain substances in the fruit have traditionally been avoided during pregnancy.UseDried and ground into powder, graviola is often mixed into smoothies or other beverages.

Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is a tenacious climbing liana that grows wild in the Amazon rainforest, from Mexico down to northern Argentina. Its name comes from the claw-like, hooked thorns on the plant's tendrils, which help it cling to treetops as it climbs towards the light.A liana that can grow up to 30 meters longThe plant is a true climber and can reach impressive lengths as it scales through the different layers of the rainforest.Historical useThe root and bark have a long tradition in folk medicine among indigenous peoples in Peru and neighboring areas of the Amazon.What Cat's Claw containsThe bark contains phytochemicals such as tannins, sterols, glycosides, and alkaloids.Good to knowShould be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and used with caution in cases of bleeding disorders or low blood pressure.UseMix a pinch of the powder with water, juice, or tea, a couple of times a day.

Stinging nettle is one of our most well-known wild plants, notorious for its stinging hairs that cause an itchy, prickly sensation upon contact – a defense mechanism the plant developed against grazing animals. The stinging hairs contain, among other things, formic acid, which is the cause of the skin reaction.The nettle's long history as a fiber plantBefore cotton became common, nettle fiber was used for fabric production in large parts of Europe for centuries. During the First World War, when cotton was scarce due to trade blockades, Germany resumed large-scale cultivation of nettle to produce uniform fabric – an example of how a seemingly worthless weed gained strategic importance.As foodYoung nettle leaves, harvested in spring before the plant flowers, can be cooked much like spinach – cooking eliminates the effect of the stinging hairs. Nettle is traditionally used in soup, as filling in pies, or dried for tea.What nettle containsNettle contains chlorophyll, iron, and several vitamins, as well as amino acids.UsageDried nettle can be brewed as tea – 2 teaspoons to a cup of boiling water, let steep for 5-7 minutes. Nettle powder can also be mixed into muesli, bread dough, or egg batter. Our nettle powder is an example of how the powder is usually sold.

Astragalus, in Mandarin "Huang Qi" ("yellow leader"), is a plant in the pea family with roots from northern and eastern China, Mongolia, and Korea.One of the Ancient HerbsAstragalus is one of the most widely used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine and is mentioned in writings that are several thousand years old, often in combination with other herbs in classic formulas.What Astragalus ContainsThe root contains saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides.Good to KnowShould be avoided by women who are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding.Usage1 teaspoon of organic astragalus powder in tea, a couple of times a day. Our organic astragalus powder is an example of how it is typically sold.