meet new friends | aka: ingredients

gymnema sylvestre leaf  | aka: gurmar
🌿 Has been used in ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years and is known to have sugar balancing properties that is currently being researched. In hindi it is called gurmar, which translates to “sugar destroyer.”
🌿 Contains saponins and tannins that help fight inflammation, and is used to treat malaria, snakebites, obesity, urinary tract issues, and diabetes. Rumor has it that it can reduce the capacity to taste sweetness, thus making sweet foods less captivating.
 
bitter melon fruit | aka: ku gua
🌿 Belongs to the squash family, and has properties that act like insulin, thus aids in maintaining already healthy blood sugar levels. It’s also used to stimulate digestion, improve immune function, and summer heat syndromes.
🌿 Contains vitamins c, a, e, b1, b2, b3, calcium, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, iron, potassium, and antioxidants. Used for a variety of issues including stomach issues, skin conditions, gout, obesity, and painful menstruation.

blackberry fruit  | aka: shah toot
🌿 A member of the rosaceae family, these sour and sweet beauties are high in antioxidants. Packed with phenolic acids, flavonoids, and flavonols. In ancient Greece, physicians commonly prescribed them to treat gout.
🌿 Has vitamins a, b1, b2, b3, c, and k, manganese, calcium, and soluble and insoluble fiber! High fiber helps with regulating bowel movements, slowing the rate of sugar absorption, and aids in creating healthy gut bacteria.

fenugreek seed  | aka: hu lu ba
🌿 A member of the leguminosae family and native to the Mediterranean area. Commonly used in both traditional Chinese and Indian medicinal practices. It is often used to flavor imitation maple syrup due to its distinct sweet taste.
🌿 A yang tonic that dispels cold and damp, and warms the kidneys; fortifying primal yang. It is used to treat metabolic conditions, menstrual cramps, high cholesterol, digestive issues, lactation issues in nursing mothers, and as an appetite stimulant.

milk thistle | aka: silybum marianum
🌿 Native to the Mediterranean with a long history of medicinal use. An approved herb by the german commission e monographs, where most modern-day research on milk thistle has been done.
 🌿 Contains plant compounds like silymarin that are known to have antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, it is known for its liver supporting functions and an ability to help address type-2 diabetes.
🌿 Known as da ji in traditional Chinese medicine, it has the functions of dispersing stagnation, relieving jaundice, promoting urination, dispelling cold, stimulates circulation of qi, and benefits the skin.

white mulberry fruit  | aka: sang shen
🌿 Belongs to the moraceae family and are related to figs. Considered an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and contains iron, vitamins e and k, calcium, copper, and carotene.
🌿 In t.c.m. they are used to tonify the blood, nourish yin, generate fluids, and lubricates the intestines. They are cold in nature and help to drain excess heat from the body. They are included in formulas to treat diabetes, dizziness, tinnitus, constipation, and premature grey hair.

cassia (cinnamon) bark  | aka: rou gui
🌿 Cinnamon is a popular spice all around the globe, but the bark and inner bark have medicinal properties all their own. In t.c.m. (traditional Chinese medicine) it warms and tonify’s yang, disperses cold and promotes the movement of blood. It specifically tonify’s kidney yang and the fire at the gate of vitality.
🌿 It stimulates the circulatory system and has a reputation of helping to reduce insulin resistance, thus aiding in lowering blood sugar levels. The mechanisms for this are still being studied around the globe.
🌿 Rou gui reduces inflammation, addresses chronic digestive issues, and is used in t.c.m. formulas to treat raynaud’s, dysmenorrhea, irregular periods, and polycystic ovary syndrome.