Atractyhis (A. macrocephala), also known as the Chinese thistle daisy, is a bittersweet, tonic herb. It acts mainly on the digestive system. It is a diuretic, lowers blood sugar levels, and controls bacterial infections. It has been used in Chinese medicine since at least 659 AD, when it was mentioned in the Tang Materia Medica. It is also used for glaucoma and night blindness.

Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellerica) fruit is the ingredient in Triphala which best controls kapha.

Cascara Sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana) is a bitter, astringent, cooling herb which must be dried for more than one year before use. Small doses have a restoring/stimulating effect, while medium doses exhibit laxative and detoxicant actions. It is good for a hard swollen abdomen, constipation, bursting headache, and febrile and inflammatory digestive conditions. Cascara sagrada also affects gallbladder, liver, and stomach life-force energies, helping with swelling and pain, flatulence, indigestion, appetite loss, jaundice, and bad breath. Cascara sagrada bark forms a transition between two main types of laxatives. The first causes bowel movement by stimulating the colon directly. The second type, choleretic laxatives, causes bowel movement by increasing bile flow and quality. Cascara sagrada does some of both. While the herb affects chronic stagnant life forces in the intestines, it is also a liver-opening remedy which helps with renal detoxification and alleviating constipation, irregular bowel movement, and general toxicosis.

Chinese Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis syn. G. viscida) is a sweet, tonic herb called Gan Cao in China. The grandfather of all Chinese herbs, and most widely used, this root has emerged as both an immune enhancer and an immune activator. Chinese practice emphasizes the treatment of deficient nutrient absorption (Chi deficiency) of the spleen with licorice root. Since this root stands alone in its ability to intensify any other herb that is combined with it, licorice becomes a systemic enhancer of the effective functions of other remedies. Besides licorice’s anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic effects, its protective and detoxicant action on liver cells makes it effective for use in ridding the body of toxic waste. Chinese licorice treats all 12 meridians or organ systems of the body and serves as an important temperer to a variety of toxic plants and their extracted alkaloids, such as coffee (caffeine), tobacco (nicotine), and other drugs. The Chinese theme of licorice revitalizing the center or middle burning space is evidenced as it promotes balance by relieving abdominal pain and congestion while it benefits the functions of the abdominal organs. Also called the Great Detoxifier, Chinese licorice protects and promotes gastrointestinal functions and especially nutrient absorption. It is also held in high esteem for its ability to clean the meridians and allow Chi to flow smoothly.

Cinnamon bark (C. verum) is a pungent, sweet, warming herb that stimulates circulation, relieves spasms, lowers blood pressure, and controls infection. It is taken for diarrhea, nausea, colds, hypertension, arthritis, and candidiasis.

Cloves (Eugenia caryophyllata), the flower buds of an evergreen found all around the Indian Ocean, are a spicy, warming, stimulant herb. Strongly antiseptic, cloves are used internally for gastroenteritis, nausea, hiccups, impotence, intestinal parasites, and to stimulate uterine contractions. Externally, cloves are effective on toothache and insect bites. The Chinese regard this herb mainly as a kidney tonic.

Cnicus root (C. benedictus), also known as blessed thistle, is a very bitter, antiseptic, antibiotic herb that acts mainly as a digestive tonic and an expectorant. It is taken for anorexia, and poor appetite, flatulence and diarrhea. Blessed thistle lowers fever, stimulates lactation, checks bleeding and generally encourages healing.

Coptis (C. chinensis), also called mishmi bitter or Chinese goldthread, is a low, moisture-loving perennial distributed throughout the northern temperate regions. First mentioned in Chinese medical tests circa 200 AD, goldthread contains a number of alkaloids, notably berberine. Coptis root was used by Native American tribes to treat mouth ulcers, and was listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia as a treatment for inflammations of the eyes and mouth. Coptis is a bitter, pungent, cooling herb with analgesic and anesthetic effects. It controls bacterial and viral infections, relaxes spasms, lowers fever, and stimulates circulation.

Cypress (cupressus sempervirens) is an evergreen whose astringent fruit eases circulation and is useful in the treatment of excess fluid conditions. Its antispasmodic qualities help reduce cough spasms.

Dates (Phoenix dactyhifera) have been cultivated as a staple food crop for over 5000 years and there are over 800 recorded uses of the plant, from rope and baskets to liquors and oil. The sweet fruit, which contains vitamin B6 and has a slight laxative action, is used as a binder in Renew. The essence of the date palm is to rejuvenate the body on a cellular level, helping to distribute life force throughout the organism; the plant’s clinical effects are especially pronounced in those who age too fast, or who are fearful of aging.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a sweet, pungent aromatic, warming root that improves digestive and liver function, controls nausea, stimulates circulation, and relaxes spasms.

Haritaki (T.chebula) was first mentioned in Chinese texts in the 11^th century and is known in Tibet as the "king of medicines". The sweet, astringent fruit of this evergreen has tonic, rejuvenative effects on the digestive, respiratory, and nervous systems. It destroys intestinal parasites and controls bleeding and discharges.

Hoelen (Wolfiporia cocos) is a fungus found underground on the roots of hardwoods and conifers. This sweet, sedative herb is used in both Native American and Chinese medicine. It is a diuretic, calms the heart, and inhibits the growth of cancer cells, and it is indicated for many ailments, including urinary dysfunction, insomnia, diarrhea, and abdominal bleeding.

Japanese Parsley root (v. P. crispum) is a bitter, aromatic, diuretic herb rich in vitamins A and C. It is antispasmodic, reduces inflammation, clears toxins, and stimulates the digestion and the uterus. Parsley contains the flavonoid apigenin, an effective antioxidant that also reduces allergic responses.

Kamala (Mallotus philippinensis) is a small evergreen shrub found all over India, the Malay archipelago, and Australia. Its’ fruit is used as a purgative and is also indicated for tapeworms.

Kutaja (Holarrhena antidysenterica) is a deciduous shrub with white flowers and light brown seeds which grows throughout India up to an altitude of 4,000 feet. Its active ingredient is an alkaloid called conessine, which is concentrated in the rough bark. Kutaja has astringent, antidysenteric, anthelmintic, stomachic, febrifugal and tonic properties. It is used in the treatment of amoebic dysentery and diarrhea.

Mandarin Orange (citrus reticulata) is a bitter, spicy, warming herb that stimulates the digestion, lungs, and spleen. It also acts on the liver, gall bladder, and breasts. It is taken internally for indigestion and vomiting, bronchial congestion, and pain in the liver and chest.

Pau d’Arco (Tabebuia impetiginosa) is a bitter, pungent, cooling herb that has long been used medicinally by native South Americans. Also called lapacho, it has a reputation for effectiveness against cancer, inflammatory diseases, chronic degenerative diseases, tumors, ulcers, cysts, fungal infections (especially candidiasis), and skin diseases (notably eczema, herpes, and scabies). Combined with other herbs in our formula, pau d’arco works to clear toxins, resolve congestion, and strengthen the immune system.

Pseudowintera colorata is a member of the magnolia family that grows in New Zealand. Extracts of its leaves, bark and sap are aromatic and stimulant, and are used variously for skin and venereal diseases, diarrhea, stomachache and toothache. Among the 29 active compounds contained in the essential oil are eugenol, a dental analgesic, and the sesqiturpenoid dialdehyde polygodial, which has strong antibiotic activity against Candida albicans.

Rehmannia root (R. glutinosa), also known as Chinese foxglove, is a sweet, cooling herb that controls bleeding. It is among the most important Chinese herbs, and was first mentioned in the literature during the Han dynasty (206 BC-23 AD). It is a diuretic and an antibacterial and is effective in a variety of applications, including fevers, heat rash, hemorrhaging of all kinds, diabetes, and involuntary ejaculation.

Trikatu (root/fruit/stem) is an Ayurvedic remedy for cold conditions. Consisting of piper nigrum, p. longum, and zingiber officinale, trikatu is a stimulant with decongestant, antibiotic and analgesic effects.

Turkey Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) is a bitter, astringent, cooling herb whose written history of medicinal use appears first in northern China, then in Ayurveda on the Indian subcontinent. It later appears in Greece and the Islamic empire, and finally arrived at its modern European and American use. Rarely has any botanical been so widely used by humankind. The art of causing bowel movement, helping flatulence, and remedying weaknesses of the stomach would be inconceivable without it. Rhubarb is so effective for the liver that Galenic (after the Roman physician, Galen ) herbalists called it the Life, Soul and Treacle of the Liver, purging Choler, Phlegm and other liver excesses. This herb greatly aids intestinal cleansing since liver stagnation is so closely linked to intestinal stagnation. Combining rhubarb with other assisting herbs, such as cascara sagrada, helps balance the warming and cooling properties of both herbs.

Vidanga (Embelia ribes burm.) is an important anti-parasitic and anti-fungal herb in the Ayurvedic tradition. Grown from the lower Himalayas to Sri Lanka, vidanga is pungent and astringent, and has stimulant and carminative properties useful for digestive disorders.