Ingredients

Every ingredient we cover, rated for its best-supported use. Open one for the evidence by use, dose ranges and interactions.

Hospital poisoning treatmentActivated charcoalActivated carbon (not a plant)ModerateSame night Second-degree burns (gel)Aloe VeraAloe barbadensis (leaf gel and latex)ModerateAbout a week Photoageing and acne peelsAlpha hydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic)Glycolic, lactic, malic, citric acidsModerate4+ weeks Traditional skin oilApricot kernel (and apricot kernel oil)Prunus armeniaca (kernel, kernel oil)Traditional4+ weeks Blood cholesterol (eaten)Argan oilArgania spinosa (kernel oil)Moderate4+ weeks Modestly lowering cholesterolArtichokeCynara scolymus (leaf extract)Moderate4+ weeks Anxiety and sleepAshwagandhaWithania somnifera (root)Moderate4+ weeks Psoriasis (B12 cream)Avocado oilPersea americana (fruit oil)Limited4+ weeks Short, intense exerciseBaking soda (sodium bicarbonate)Sodium bicarbonate (mineral salt)ModerateSame night Mild cystitis symptomsBearberry (uva ursi)Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (leaf)Limited2–3 days Occlusive for dry skinBeeswaxCera alba / cera flava (bee wax)Traditional2–3 days Exercise performanceBeetroot (juice and powder)Beta vulgaris (root)Moderate2–3 days Oily, acne-prone skinBentonite clayMontmorillonite-rich volcanic clayLimited4+ weeks High blood sugarBerberinePlant alkaloid (barberry, goldenseal)Moderate4+ weeks Cholesterol (fruit extract)BergamotCitrus bergamia (peel oil, fruit)Limited4+ weeks Curcumin absorptionBlack pepper (piperine)Piper nigrum (fruit; active: piperine)LimitedSame night Blood sugar in diabetesBlack seed oilNigella sativa (seed oil)Moderate4+ weeks Migraine preventionButterburPetasites hybridus (root, leaf)Moderate4+ weeks Short-term heartburn reliefCalcium carbonateCalcium carbonate (mineral salt)LimitedSame night Calcium supplement formCalcium phosphateCalcium phosphate (mineral salt, E341)Limited4+ weeks Minor skin inflammationCalendulaCalendula officinalis (flower)LimitedAbout a week Skin care (unproven)Carrot seed oilDaucus carota (seed essential oil)Traditional4+ weeks Occasional constipationCastor oilRicinus communis (seed oil)LimitedSame night Venous insufficiency symptomsCentella (gotu kola)Centella asiatica (aerial parts)Limited4+ weeks Generalised anxiety symptomsChamomileMatricaria chamomilla (flower)Limited4+ weeks Blood sugar (type 2)CinnamonCinnamomum cassia / verum (bark, oil)Limited4+ weeks Kidney stone preventionCitric acidOrganic acid (fermentation or citrus)Moderate4+ weeks Temporary toothache reliefClove oilSyzygium aromaticum (flower bud oil)LimitedSame night Small blood pressure dropCocoa (powder and flavanols)Theobroma cacao (seed powder)Moderate2 weeks Softening dry skinCocoa butterTheobroma cacao (seed fat)Traditional2 weeks Dry skin, mild eczemaCoconut oilCocos nucifera (fruit oil)Moderate2 weeks Heart failure (add-on)Coenzyme Q10Ubiquinone / ubiquinol (body coenzyme)Moderate4+ weeks Knee osteoarthritis painCollagenHydrolysed collagen (cattle, fish)Moderate4+ weeks Preventing recurrent UTIsCranberryVaccinium macrocarpon (fruit)Moderate4+ weeks Knee osteoarthritis painCurcuminCurcuminoid extract of Curcuma longaModerate4+ weeks Preventing recurrent UTIsD-mannoseD-mannose (a simple sugar)Limited4+ weeks Short-term low back painDevil's clawHarpagophytum procumbens (root)Limited4+ weeks Lowering cholesterolDiatomaceous earthFossilised diatom silica (mineral)Traditional2 weeks Preventing coldsEchinaceaEchinacea purpurea/angustifoliaLimitedAbout a week Flu symptom durationElderberrySambucus nigra (ripe fruit, cooked)Limited2–3 days Bronchitis and sinusitis (cineole)Eucalyptus oilEucalyptus globulus (leaf essential oil)ModerateAbout a week Period painFennelFoeniculum vulgare (fruit/seed)Limited4+ weeks Preventing migraineFeverfewTanacetum parthenium (leaf)Limited4+ weeks Knee osteoarthritis (oral extract)Frankincense (Boswellia)Boswellia spp. (resin oil or extract)Limited4+ weeks Pregnancy nauseaGingerZingiber officinale (rhizome)ModerateSame night Mild dementia symptomsGinkgoGinkgo biloba (leaf extract)Limited4+ weeks General fatigueGinsengPanax ginseng (root)Limited4+ weeks Dry skin (xerosis)Glycerin (glycerol)Glycerol (E 422), a polyol humectantModerateAbout a week Blood pressureGrape seed extractVitis vinifera (seed)Limited4+ weeks Antimicrobial useGrapefruit seed extractCitrus paradisi seed (often adulterated)TraditionalAbout a week Light facial moisturiserGrapeseed oilVitis vinifera (seed oil)Limited2 weeks Small LDL reductionGreen Tea ExtractCamellia sinensis (leaf extract)Moderate4+ weeks Alertness and reaction timeGuaranaPaullinia cupana (seed)LimitedSame night Modestly lowering blood pressureHibiscusHibiscus sabdariffa (calyces)Limited4+ weeks Everyday stressHoly basil (tulsi)Ocimum tenuiflorum (leaf)Limited4+ weeks Cough in childrenHoneyBee product (Apis mellifera)ModerateSame night Sleep, with valerianHopsHumulus lupulus (female cone)Limited2 weeks Mild diuretic effectHorsetailEquisetum arvense (aerial parts)Limited2–3 days Skin hydration, topicalHyaluronic acidHyaluronan (glycosaminoglycan)Moderate4+ weeks Hair conditioningHydrolysed wheat proteinTriticum aestivum (gluten, hydrolysed)TraditionalSame night Fluoride-free caries preventionHydroxyapatite (in toothpaste)Calcium phosphate mineral (nano/micro)Moderate2 weeks Preventing gestational diabetesInositolMyo- and D-chiro-inositol (cyclitol)Moderate4+ weeks Mild acne (clay mask)Jojoba oilSimmondsia chinensis (seed wax ester)Limited4+ weeks Short-term diarrhoeaKaolin clayHydrated aluminium silicate (clay)ModerateSame night Short-term anxietyKavaPiper methysticum (root)Limited2 weeks Weight loss (not shown)KelpLaminaria, Fucus and other brown kelpLimited4+ weeks Attention and reaction timeL-TheanineAmino acid from tea (Camellia sinensis)ModerateSame night Anxiety (oral oil capsules)LavenderLavandula angustifolia (flower, oil)Moderate2 weeks Mild anxietyLemon BalmMelissa officinalis (leaf)LimitedAbout a week Nausea (inhaled scent)Lemon essential oilCitrus limon (peel essential oil)Limited2–3 days Dandruff (hair tonic)LemongrassCymbopogon citratus (leaf and oil)LimitedAbout a week Indigestion and heartburnLiquorice rootGlycyrrhiza glabra (root)Limited2 weeks Migraine preventionMagnesium citrateMagnesium citrate (mineral salt)Moderate4+ weeks Poor sleepMagnesium glycinateMagnesium bisglycinate (mineral chelate)Limited4+ weeks Occasional constipationMagnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia)Magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2, mineral)ModerateSame night Memory and thinkingMagnesium L-threonateMagnesium L-threonate (mineral salt)Limited4+ weeks Fibromyalgia painMagnesium malateMagnesium malate (mineral salt)Limited4+ weeks Dry cough, throat irritationMarshmallow rootAlthaea officinalis (root)LimitedSame night Jet lagMelatoninHormone, usually made syntheticallyModerateSame night Breast milk supplyMoringaMoringa oleifera (leaf)LimitedAbout a week Fewer COPD flare-upsNAC (N-acetylcysteine)Acetylcysteine (amino acid derivative)Moderate4+ weeks Anxiety (inhaled)Neroli oilCitrus aurantium (bitter orange blossom)LimitedSame night Prostate urinary symptomsNettleUrtica dioica (root and leaf)Limited4+ weeks Lowering LDL cholesterolOatsAvena sativa (grain)Strong4+ weeks Heart health (diet)Olive oilOlea europaea (fruit oil)Moderate4+ weeks Lowering triglyceridesOmega-3Fish or algal oil (EPA and DHA)Strong4+ weeks Dental anxiety (aroma)Orange essential oilCitrus sinensis (sweet orange peel oil)LimitedSame night Healing small surgical woundsOregano oilOriganum vulgare (leaf and flower oil)Limited2 weeks Anxiety before proceduresPassionflowerPassiflora incarnata (aerial parts)Limited2 weeks Irritable bowel symptomsPeppermintMentha x piperita (oil, leaf)Moderate2 weeks Fine lines and wrinklesPeptides (in skincare)Short amino-acid chains (cosmetic)Limited4+ weeks Antibiotic-associated diarrhoeaProbiotics (Lactobacillus)Live bacteria (Lactobacillus species)Moderate2 weeks Cold sores (topical)PropolisBee propolis (resin from beehives)Limited2–3 days ConstipationPsylliumPlantago ovata (seed husk)Strong4+ weeks Small blood pressure dropQuercetinPlant flavonoid (isolated compound)Moderate4+ weeks Skin moisturiser (unproven)Red raspberry seed oilRubus idaeus (seed oil)Traditional2 weeks Lowering LDL cholesterolRed yeast riceRice fermented with Monascus purpureusStrong4+ weeks Stress-related fatigueRhodiolaRhodiola rosea (root and rhizome)Limited4+ weeks Cholesterol and oxidative markersRooibosAspalathus linearis (leaf, as tea)Limited4+ weeks Post-surgical scar rednessRosehip oilRosa canina and relatives (seed oil)Limited4+ weeks Pattern hair lossRosemary oilSalvia rosmarinus (leaf essential oil)Limited4+ weeks Menopausal symptomsRoyal jellyHoney bee secretion (Apis mellifera)Limited4+ weeks Mild to moderate low moodSaffronCrocus sativus (stigma)Moderate4+ weeks Inflammatory skin conditionsSandalwood oilSantalum album (heartwood essential oil)Limited2 weeks Enlarged prostate symptomsSaw palmettoSerenoa repens (fruit)Limited4+ weeks Minerals (small amounts)Sea mossChondrus crispus and other red seaweedsTraditional4+ weeks Nasal saline rinsingSea saltSodium chloride from evaporated seawaterLimitedAbout a week Short-term constipationSennaSenna alexandrina (leaf, pod)ModerateSame night Dry skin (emollient)Shea butterVitellaria paradoxa (nut fat)Limited2 weeks Wound dressings (silk fibroin)Silk amino acids (silk protein)Silkworm (Bombyx mori) silk proteinLimited2 weeks Mild anxiety and moodSkullcapScutellaria lateriflora (aerial parts)Limited2 weeks Sore throat, gut upsetSlippery elmUlmus rubra (inner bark)TraditionalAbout a week Cholesterol and blood fatsSpirulinaArthrospira platensis (blue-green algae)Moderate4+ weeks Mild to moderate depressionSt John's wortHypericum perforatum (aerial parts)Moderate4+ weeks Blood pressure and insulin markersStrawberry (fruit and extract)Fragaria x ananassa (fruit)Limited4+ weeks Dry skin, skin barrierSunflower oilHelianthus annuus (seed oil)Limited4+ weeks Dry skin, stretch-mark itchSweet almond oilPrunus dulcis (seed oil)Limited2 weeks Strength recovery after exerciseTart CherryPrunus cerasus (Montmorency fruit)LimitedAbout a week Mild to moderate acneTea tree oilMelaleuca alternifolia (leaf oil)Moderate4+ weeks Mineral sunscreen filterTitanium dioxideTitanium dioxide (TiO2, mineral)ModerateSame night Knee osteoarthritis painTurmericCurcuma longa (rhizome)Limited4+ weeks Subjective sleep qualityValerianValeriana officinalis (root)Limited2 weeks Skin barrier and woundsVitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)Pantothenic acid; dexpanthenol (topical)ModerateAbout a week Correcting deficiency (scurvy)Vitamin CAscorbic acid (water-soluble vitamin)Strong4+ weeks Fatty liver disease (NASH)Vitamin ETocopherols (fat-soluble vitamin)Moderate4+ weeks Post-meal blood sugarWhite mulberry leafMorus alba (leaf)ModerateSame night Low back pain flare-upsWillow barkSalix spp. (bark), e.g. S. albaModerateAbout a week Minor skin inflammationWitch hazelHamamelis virginiana (leaf, bark, twig)LimitedAbout a week Children's ear infectionsXylitolSugar alcohol (from birch, corn)Moderate4+ weeks Blood sugar in prediabetesYerba mateIlex paraguariensis (leaf)Limited4+ weeks Mineral sunscreenZinc oxideZinc oxide (ZnO, mineral)Moderate2–3 days Underarm odour controlZinc ricinoleateZinc salt of ricinoleic acid (castor)TraditionalSame night