by Nate Starling, wellness clerk
For Winter wellness, we are providing an overview of popular immune support nutritional supplements associated with colds and flu.
Wellness Formula
Wellness Formula Herbal Defense Complex. A large and complex formula with vitamin C, zinc, elderberry, echinacea, astragalus, garlic, olive leaf, goldenseal, among many other substances. Very popular; now available in capsule and tablet form.
Wellness Fizz Immune Defense. Differs from Formula as manufacturer’s answer to Airborne with vitamins and minerals plus entire yin chiao formula - though Airborne uses only part of formula. (Yin chiao is among the most well-known and valued formulas from the Chinese herbal medicine tradition.) Available in tangerine or berry flavor.
Wellness Herbal Resistance Liquid. An alcohol-free liquid supplement containing echinacea, goldenseal, yin chiao formula.
Wellness Cold and Flu. A broad-spectrum homeopathic product which matches numerous symptom pictures. Homeopathy works by stimulating your body’s own natural defenses so your body can fight, for example, cold and flu symptoms.
New to our shelves
Wellness ImmuNow. Humic acid is its active ingredient and customers have been asking for it; this organic substance is derived from natural compounds found in humus soil, which, according to quoted research, is “. . . biochemically active and [supports] increased immune function in the body, healthy inflammatory response, and cellular health.” From Ayurvedic traditions of India, ImmuNow delivers this element in a tablet.
Wellness FluGuard. A potent homeopathic formula for influenza symptoms, FluGuard contains the same active ingredient as another very popular remedy, Oscillococcinum, and shares remedies for some of the same symptom pictures with Wellness Cold and Flu above.
Wellness Easy Breathe Respiratory Immune Defense. Stated use: Pelargonium (the active extracted ingredient, a geranium root) “addresses the multiple, interdependent body systems involved with seasonal upper respiratory health," boosting natural immune defenses. Used in South Africa historically, “to decrease and shorten the temporary effects of common seasonal imbalances.”
New Chapter
New Chapter Immunity TakeCare. (Former name: Blockade with Virablock) Now in your co-op by popular demand, it utilizes an extraction process of elderberry that “guarantees potency in every lozenge,” and retains the broad spectrum of “naturally occurring herbal chemistries and key bioactives."
New Chapter’s Popularity: A Note
Strong emphasis on probiotic whole food made with organic ingredients has, over time, earned New Chapter high regard in the industry and with customers. This edited website quote describes their special way of processing:
Supercritical extraction is an advanced process, yielding a superior herbal extract that is highly concentrated - as much as 250 pounds of fresh herb reducing to just one pound of supercritical extract. In addition, this process does not use any chemical solvents at all, so the resulting extract is absolutely free of chemical solvents such as hexane or acetone. The supercritical process also produces an extremely broad representation of the herb’s lipophilic (oils, fatty acids, etc.) constituents - super potent, super pure - with a composition very near to the botanical raw material. The conventional process of extraction often has some chemical solvent residue or has been temperature stressed, which can distort or alter the nature of the delicate plant constituents, or, can create a biologically unstable extract.
The supercritical process, conversely, uses a harmless, natural gas, heats it to some temperature over 31 degrees C (the lower the better to avoid any temperature stress), and the gas is then highly compressed. The compressed gas has the density of a liquid, but is able to penetrate deeply into the plant and dissolve the lipophilic constituents. Then the pressure is carefully released, the gas just harmlessly dissipates into the atmosphere, and all that is left behind is the pure, concentrated extract. No pollution, no heat stress or damage, and no solvent residue. The extract, if done by a fine laboratory or facility, can be a broad, virtually complete representation of the plant’s lipophilic constituents.
New Chapter Host Defense. New Chapter is working to introduce a replacement formula for this very popular organic mushroom immune support product, which to widespread dismay, disappeared from shelves this Fall.
Tricia, assistant wellness manager, can't say enough about Aubrey Organics, particularly the company's soaps. "Sea Buckthorn has a subtle masculine scent, Evening Primrose bar reminds me of old fashioned shaving cream (think Barbasol), and Rosa Mosqueta smells awesome and is great as a facial cleanser."
