Your ancestors knew a powerful core is the secret to a strong life. Maintaining a healthy liver, heart, and circulatory system gives you the core protection needed to deal with modern challenges.

The Core Armor Story

The merchant could see for miles down what passed as a road through the empty, treeless land. “At least there’s no place for bandits to hide.” he thought to himself, seeking some comfort. The life of a traveling merchant was hard…endless miles through bad weather, poor food, dealing with thieves hidden behind either masks or smiles… Yep, it wasn’t a job for the weak. He had been traveling this route for years and had picked up a few tricks along the way. Among the wares in his wagon was a small, waterproof barrel containing his secret, protective mixture of herbs developed over the many miles and many days.

His travels brought him into contact with numerous people, among which were some powerful herbalists. From these wise men and women came a blend of berries, seeds, roots, and flowers that worked together as an armor for his core – his liver, heart, and circulatory system were kept strong which in turn gave him the constitution needed for his challenging life.

Ahead he could see a faint haze of green and smiled. An oasis waited at the end of the day’s long journey. Few knew about this one and fewer still had the strength to reach it. But doing so gave him an edge on his competition. That oasis gave the bold just enough fresh water to cut across the desert instead of the longer route hugging the mountain foothills…hopefully. Judging from the deep, distant green color, it looked like there was plenty of water available this time. It would enable him to reach the next city well before other caravans and reap the rewards of being first.

The merchant flexed strong hands and smiled. His life was stressful but rewarding. He knew what was needed to protect himself and that gave a confidence to take calculated risks. The wagon wheels rolled on.

Some things never change. Life is hard, regardless of if ancient or modern. It’s even harder when you aren’t ready for it. Your body is a powerful machine, capable of astounding feats, but to do so requires that all sub-systems are functioning at peak efficiency. Of these, the liver’s removal of toxins and the heart’s ability to move critical components are the two most critical systems. Protecting and maintaining them fundamentally supports everything else. Failure of the liver led to obvious weaknesses and signs of inner corruption. Failure of the heart led to an even quicker fall. The healers of the tribe who could protect the heart, liver, and circulatory system were treasured.

A change occurred several hundred years ago. Science replaced experience. Chemists learned to create strange molecules, pure powders and liquids believed to be better than crude plant extracts at helping the human body. Purity gave repeatability which gave confidence…even at the loss of some effectiveness or an increase in odd side effects. There were some amazing creations…and many that would be considered failures when judged honestly. Yet during this age of scientific pride, some of the scientists rejected the new and devoted their studies to the old, the ancient. The plants that had once healed the tribe were carefully teased apart, studying the powers of the individual molecules they contained, studying the miracles of which they were capable. In this quest for understanding the components a universal truth was discovered…alone is weak, together is strong. No one molecule could be found that when used alone gave the benefits of using the entire leaf, flower, or root.

The Liver Pill’s Components

MILK THISTLE SEED EXTRACT The earliest recorded use of milk thistle for the liver are found in the writings of the Roman Legion physician, pharmacologist, and botanist Pedanius Dioscorides, who wrote the medicinal text De Materia Medica over two thousand years ago. His knowledge of this and many other plants had been passed down to him, healer to healer, from the dawn of prehistory. Living during the times of Emperor Nero and his fellow Romans wild indulgences, issues of the liver were a primary concern. The power of milk thistle seeds is still used today. Science has found little better than the extract of compounds referred to as silymarin to treat liver issues even as extreme as mushroom poisoning that targets the liver for quick destruction.

Silymarin: Silybins A&B, silychristin, and silydianin are just some of the complex mixture of flavonolignan molecules collectively referred to as silymarin. Human studies show these compounds stimulate the regrowth of lost liver cells, speed up the liver’s own detoxification mechanisms, inhibit cellular growth of certain cancers including prostate, breast, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and head/neck tumors.*(1) They also have been found to increase the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy drugs.*(1) Because of the molecular structure of silymarins they may be an antagonist for cytosolic estrogen receptor beta. This may increase estrogen levels in a manner which has been found to help with the memory loss due to Alzheimer’s.*(2) This molecular structure also limits the silymarin’s solubility in water. To be made bioavailable, it needs to be combined with fats and oils.

FLAXSEED Like milk thistle, the earliest signs of flaxseed are from ago along the Mediterranean sea. 30,000 years ago it was being cultivated in the Syrian portion of Fertile Crescent for food, fabric (linen), and to make dye from its small, blue flowers. Because of its many uses it had spread to farming communities throughout Europe 5,000 years ago. Flaxseeds are a great source of dietary fiber, protein, and minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese, thiamin, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. More importantly, they’re also loaded with the beneficial oil phosphatidylcholine, a subclass of and omega-3 fatty acids.

Phosphatidylcholines: Consisting of two long carbon chains connected to a nitrogen/oxygen/phosphorous moiety, this phospholipid is a major part of cellular membranes inside and on the surface of human cells. More importantly, it can wrap around other long carbon-chain molecules, separating them from each other for increased bioavailability.* Being an omega-3 fatty acid, there are is much research on the powerful supportive properties of this and several other flaxseed oils for the brain, heart, & cardiovascular system, diabetes, and cancer suppression.*(3)

In the brain, flaxseed oils can play a role in the proper pre- and post-natal brain development.*(3) Later on it has been found to help modulate behavior and mood, especially depression, hyperactivity, and poor spatial memory.*(3)

Flaxseed has been shown to lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by reducing the amount of harmful buildup of bad lipids and overall inflammation in blood vessels.*(3)

Tumor growth in breast cancers was slowed and potentially even prevented by taking 25g of flaxseed daily.*(3) The lignans found in flaxseed are nonsteroidal phytoestrogens. Once they enter the human digestive system demethylation followed by dehydrogenation occurs converting them into enterolactones. At this stage they enter the blood from the large intestine. Studies have shown increased concentration of enterolactones give a protective effect against breast, colon, prostate, stomach, and lung cancers.*(3)

ROSEMARY EXTRACT One weakness of seed oils are their susceptibility to oxidation, reducing their benefits. Normally processed foods with high oil contents have synthetic preservative chemicals such as butylated hydroxytoluene added to stop the oils’ reactions with oxygen. These chemicals were not part of the ancestral medicine man’s kit and we believe they shouldn’t be today, either. Flaxseed does contain its own antioxidants to help prevent change but to truly ensure protection of The Liver Pill’s whole, ground flaxseed from oxidation a potent antioxidant extracted from rosemary has been added to the capsule.*(4) To our knowledge we are the only supplement maker using this natural antioxidant.

BURDOCK ROOT Another ancient plant described by Dioscorides, burdock was initially found wild across Europe and Asia where its long, thick taproots have been used as food and as a source of medicine. Like so many “weeds” it has successfully migrated to and colonized North America. Here, its aspect as a food was lost but it continued to serve herbalists up into the 19^th Century in maintaining the different systems of the human body. Active compounds of burdock roots include polysaccharides, and two special lignans called arctiin and arctigenin.

Arctiin & Arctigenin: These multi-phenolic molecules are the focus of burdock root pharmacological powers. While they exert effects across various human organs and systems, the liver is of key interest. Studies have shown these two compounds speed up the overall functioning of the liver in regard to its job of breaking down and removing toxins.* This improved action is accomplished by “decongesting” and reducing inflammation in this critical organ, allowing it to perform as it is supposed to.*(5)

The enzyme PPARG regulates fatty acid storage and glucose metabolism. Burdock root arctiin and arctgenin may down-regulate PPARG, thereby reducing storage fat storage in the body.*(6)

The anti-inflammatory effects of arctiin and arctgenin also show therapeutic effects against infections, certain metabolic disorders, and even on central nervous system issues.*(6) Both chronic and acute inflammation of organs and tissues can lead to cellular degradation. Modulation of the body’s immune/inflammation response by reducing over-production of cytokines is just one of several mechanisms known to arise from arctiin and arctgenin.* These compounds can also affect the body’s nitric oxide levels.*(4) Studies suggest the neuro-protective effects of these compounds can cross the blood-brain barrier, and so can reduce neuron inflammations combined as well as scavenge free radicals inside the brain, offering neuroprotective effects.*

The excesses of life that were once limited to the top echelon of the tribe are now common throughout the entire nation. Our bodies weren’t prepared for the luxuries life gives us…well, luxuries compared to life thousands of years ago. The demands of our liver are great, thankfully the great plants we evolved using are still available to those wise enough to harness them.

The Blood Pressure Pill Components

HAWTHORN BERRY The Roman Legion physician Dioscorides was the first to write of using hawthorns to maintain the circulatory system but usage likely stretches back to the earliest tribal healers of not just Europe but also Asia and the American continents. There are many species of hawthorns around the world, each having the same properties. Their fruit, leaves, and berries were all used, based on what was available through the seasons, to increase overall blood flow without needing the heart to pump with greater force. Hawthorn accomplishes this through multiple mechanisms. Ingesting it causes nitric oxide concentrations to increase which relaxes blood vessel, making them more flexible.*(1) Powerful flavonoid and anthocyanidin antioxidants help prevent cholesterol from adhering to blood vessel walls as well as reducing oxidative damage to the heart itself.*(2) Open, relaxed, unclogged vessels reduces the pressure needed by the heart needs to pump blood.

ROSELLE HIBISCUS This deep red member of the mallow family evolved on the central and west African plains, quickly moving into India. Like most mallows, many parts of this tall, stately shrub are edible but its use in maintaining proper blood pressure is what really caused it to spread among tribal healers. The key component of roselle are its deep red calyces, the protective sheaths around the flower buds. This is where the heart-supporting anthocyanidin compounds are richest. Like with similar compounds in hawthorn, these help destroy bad lipids that create vessel-clogging plaque.*(3) Because of the rich genetic diversity of modern humans, having two different types of anthocyanidins is more likely to accomplish this goal.

GINGER ROOT Ginger may be a perfect example of “Let food be thy medicine”. 5,000 years ago it was already deeply rooted in both Indian and Chinese culture. Its unique flavor was a key spice in many foods while at the same time its rich collection of compounds made it a medicinal favorite. Science supports ginger’s claims of immuno-modulatory, anti-tumorigenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-lipidemic, anti-emetic, and antioxidative properties.*(4) Compounds in this root are also capable of relaxing blood vessels by interfering with the voltage-dependent channels triggered by calcium to constrict arteries, veins, and capillaries.*(5) This is a different vessel relaxation mechanism than what occurs from increasing the body’s nitric oxide concentration.

The combination of hawthorn, roselle, and hibiscus work together in The Blood Pressure Pill to support multiple aspects of the circulatory system.* The doses of the individual components were set to give your body the proper amount of the plant’s compounds without excess or under-representation. Ideally, this is used in conjunction with lifestyle changes of better diet and more movement. Until then, the combination of ancient wisdom and modern science comes together, unearthing the ancestral secrets used to maintain the tribe’s health. You are part of this tribe!

The Liver Pill Scientific References

(1) Milk Thistle Seed https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK65780/

(2) Milk Thistle Seed https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11064-018-2481-3

(3) Flaxseed https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6567199/

(4) Rosemary Antioxidant https://www.nutexa.com/en/2017/11/16/functions-rosemary-extract-food-labeling/ 

(5) Arctiin & Arctigenin https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29579707/

(6) Burdock Root https://www.nature.com/articles/aps201832

The Blood Pressure Pill Scientific References

(1) Hawthorn https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223994482_Effect_of_hawthorn_standardized_extract_on_flow_mediated_dilation_in_prehypertensive_and_mildly_hypertensive_adults_A_randomized_controlled_cross-over_trial

(2) Hawthorn https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11257463/

(3) Roselle https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20018807/

(4) Ginger https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17950516/?from_term=ginger+blood+pressure&from_pos=7

(5) Ginger https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15613983/?from_term=ginger+blood+pressure&from_pos=6