VitaCol Cleanse & Clear Herba 12+

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Magnesium caprylate: A medium chain fatty acid that has been shown to improve the balance of healthy intestinal microflora and to soothe the gastrointestinal tract. Caprylic acid (as magnesium caprylate) is a natural, highly effective supplement that produces an anti-fungal effect in the body. It is also known to be an efficient way of killing Candida and other fungus and yeast infections, while not inhibiting friendly bacteria. Caprylic acid does not kill yeast, but instead controls yeast overgrowth by interrupting the growth and duplicating processes. It dissolves the membrane of the yeast cells that cause thrush, vaginal yeast infections and jock itch. This helps in reducing the level of intestinal yeasts. Magnesium caprylate is best taken in conjunction with a low yeast and low sugar diet.

Cinnamon: Has anti-spasmodic, anti-microbial, carminative, anti-diarrhoea, an tiw orm and antiseptic properties. Cinnamon bark also helps to counteract flatulence and is widely used for a weak digestive system, vomiting, hyperacidity, to promote secretion of gastric juices, summer diarrhoea, flu and colds. It can also help to suppress the growth of numerous micro-organisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.

Cloves: Cloves contain one of the most powerful germicidal agents in the herb kingdom.

Garlic: Garlic is a broad spectrum antibiotic, capable of fighting infection and killing a wide variety of fungi (more than 60), bacteria (more than 20), viruses, protozoa, p arasites and amoebas. This is largely because of its active constituents, allicin and ajoene. Once garlic is chopped or crushed, allicin is formed. It has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-par asitic activity, which is one of the main reasons that garlic has traditionally been used in ene mas to rid the colon of intestinal p arasites. Ajoene is known to have effective broad-spectrum anti-microbial properties, helpful for preventing yeast infections (Candida albicans) and treating athlete's foot, for example. Studies have shown garlic to be effective against Entamoeba histolytica, H. pylori, Staphylococcus aureus, roundwo rm, tap ewo rm, thre adw orm, h ookwo rm, Giardia lamblia, Trypanosoma, Plasmodium and Leishmania. Garlic has a history of killing par asites and controlling secondary fungal infections, detoxifying while gently stimulating elimination and it even has antioxidant properties to protect against oxidation caused by pa rasite toxins.

Glucomannan: Glucomannan is a water-soluble polysaccharide that is classed as a form of soluble dietary fibre and is usually derived from konjac root. As such, it is widely used for the treatment of constipation, because it can decrease digestive transit time and is viewed as a “bulk-forming laxative”. It is therefore also a cleanse and detoxification agent. Glucomannan has also demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the total cholesterol of obese patients. In healthy men, four weeks of taking 3.9 grams of glucomannan decreased total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure; notably, triglycerides dropped by 23%.

Pumpkin seed: Traditionally, pumpkin seeds have been used as a remedy for par asites, including tap ewor ms and round wor ms. Laboratory studies have now demonstrated that curcurbitin, an amino acid in pumpkin seed, has anti- p aras itic and anti-fun gal activity. Human trials in China show that pumpkin seed is helpful to people suffering from schistosomiasis, a severe pa rasitic disease occurring primarily in Asia and Africa that is transmitted through snails. Other human studies in China and Russia have demonstrated the effectiveness of pumpkin seed against t apewor m infestations.

Chicory root: A rich source of natural chemicals (including tannins) that have become the focus of anti-p arasitic research in recent years. In a study published in "P arasitology Rese arch" in 2011, researchers from Cairo University found that extracts of chicory killed p ara sites when they were tested with the plant in vitro. Taking chicory root extract regularly is considered to have a beneficial effect on intestinal p ara sites in humans, ridding the digestive tract of harmful organisms. The compounds found in chicory root extract are toxic to p aras ites and it is believed that lactones give chicory its anti-p ara sitic attributes.

Fenugreek seed: Fenugreek is a bitter, medicinal herb that is rich in antioxidants and has laxative and anti-pa rasitic effects. It also increases milk flow, stimulates the uterus, soothes irritated tissues, lowers temperature, reduces blood sugar, improves digestion and promotes healing. It stimulates the immune system and helps in removal of toxins from the body through lymph nodes. The seeds (Methi), in particular, are high in lipids, protein, protease inhibitors, alkaloids, mucilaginous fibre, phosphorus, iron, calcium, niacin, vitamin C, selenium and various other nutrients. They have stimulant, anti-p,arasitic, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac, expectorant, hepatoprotective and diaphoretic properties. Plus, it is believed that the seeds reduce fatty tissues, thereby aiding in natural weight loss.

Olive leaf: An excellent anti-microbial against many species of virus and bacteria, olive leaf is a bitter substance produced by the olive tree, but eliminated from olives once they are cured. For around 4,000 years, countries of the Mediterranean, as well as those bordering, have chopped up olive leaves in liquid or salad form to prevent and treat pa rasitic infections. Olive leaf is also effective against fungi, moulds, w orms and harmful bacteria and can be used for yeast infections. It even proved to be superior to quinine for treating malaria, but not as easy to administer, so quinine became the preferred treatment. Research in the 1960s confirmed that olive leaf extract has the ability to counteract the malaria protozoa.