The Power of Plants: The All-Important Liver and The Plug
By Kameryn Powell
The Plug is a 100% plant-based drink geared toward recovery, boosting your immune system, helping to detox your liver, promote health, and so much more. There are 13 ingredients that make up The Plug, and most have been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. In the past, The Plug’s plants, such as purslane and oriental raisin tree, have been used in herbal teas to treat non-communicable diseases (Chandrasekara & Shahidi, 2018).
Each of these plants serve a specific purpose and combining them can be very helpful in addressing common health concerns, but all were chosen for their liver benefits.
The plants, flowers, and fruits in The Plug
The plants, flowers, and fruits in The Plug, and plants in general, have beneficial properties when used in drinks like tea. Plants have bioactive compounds that contribute to health and “render a myriad of biological effects, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-thrombotic and anti- aging effects, among others'' (Chandrasekara & Shahidi, 2018
Flowers have a proven history of maintaining health in all areas. If you’re more concerned with supporting your liver health, here are a few of the plants within The Plug that have been found to specifically support your liver health: oriental raisin tree (aka DHM), dandelion, and pueraria lobata ohwi (aka kudzu). Although not mentioned in this article, licorice root and morus alba also have great liver benefits, which are also part of The Plug’s proprietary herbal blend.
The Plug is a 100% plant-based drink geared toward recovery, boosting your immune system, helping to detox your liver, promote health, and so much more. There are 13 ingredients that make up The Plug, and most have been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. In the past, The Plug’s plants, such as purslane and oriental raisin tree, have been used in herbal teas to treat non-communicable diseases (Chandrasekara & Shahidi, 2018).
Each of these plants serve a specific purpose and combining them can be very helpful in addressing common health concerns, but all were chosen for their liver benefits.
The Plug is a 100% plant-based drink geared toward recovery, boosting your immune system, helping to detox your liver, promote health, and so much more. There are 13 ingredients that make up The Plug, and most have been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. In the past, The Plug’s plants, such as purslane and oriental raisin tree, have been used in herbal teas to treat non-communicable diseases (Chandrasekara & Shahidi, 2018).
Each of these plants serve a specific purpose and combining them can be very helpful in addressing common health concerns, but all were chosen for their liver benefits.
The plants, flowers, and fruits in The Plug
The plants, flowers, and fruits in The Plug, and plants in general, have beneficial properties when used in drinks like tea. Plants have bioactive compounds that contribute to health and “render a myriad of biological effects, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-thrombotic and anti- aging effects, among others'' (Chandrasekara & Shahidi, 2018
Flowers have a proven history of maintaining health in all areas. If you’re more concerned with supporting your liver health, here are a few of the plants within The Plug that have been found to specifically support your liver health: oriental raisin tree (aka DHM), dandelion, and pueraria lobata ohwi (aka kudzu). Although not mentioned in this article, licorice root and morus alba also have great liver benefits, which are also part of The Plug’s proprietary herbal blend.
DHM: Liver Protector
Oriental Raisin Tree, also known as dihydromyricetin, AKA DHM, is a great ingredient to support liver health. Used in China for 500 years to deal with liver issues, it is derived from the fruit of the Japanese raisin tree that grows in Southeast Asia, Korea, and Japan. When looking specifically into alcohol-related liver issues, Dr. Jing Liang, a research professor of clinical pharmacy says that DHM, “activates a cascade of mechanisms that erase alcohol from the body very quickly” (news.usc.edu). The less alcohol in your system affecting your liver, the better your liver will perform. This plant can also be used as a dietary supplement to protect the organ from long-term issues and liver damage.
Thanks to a study done on mice by three research professors at the of Southern California, we know that DHM assists the liver in making enzymes that break down alcohol quickly and keep fats from building. Your liver’s metabolism is less likely to be impacted and if you drink often, this severely slows the process of weight gain and liver diseases. Formaldehyde, an organic compound, is created when we drink alcohol and is what causes hangover feelings the next day like headaches, dizziness, and nausea (Noted Hangover Remedy Has Added Benefit of Protecting the Liver, 2020). In their studies, fellow research professors Joshua Silva, Jing Liang, and Daryl Davies (the director of the Alcohol and Brain Research Laboratory at University of Southern California) have concluded that using DHM can help the liver perform “long enough for the person to get help and stop their bad drinking habit” (Noted Hangover Remedy Has Added Benefit of Protecting the Liver, 2020)
DHM is not a miracle cure, but it can definitely help the body process alcohol quicker and keep those annoying hangover symptoms at bay.
Dandelion
For most, dandelions are the flowering plants we all played with as kids growing up, but they have been known to work wonders. Their leaves in particular have been shown to decrease the amount of fat that can grow on livers due to heavy drinking. This type of fat is called a lipid. Our bodies need lipids, but too much is unhealthy and can cause liver diseases. Scientists have discovered that dandelion leaves have anti-oxidative qualities that can lower stress on the liver caused by diseases and lower the amount of excess lipids (Link, 2022).
Dandelions can also help the body make more enzymes to fight toxins and decrease chances of getting fatty liver disease both alcohol or non-alcohol related. The liver is a key player in how our bodies process sugar. It stores sugar and releases it to the body parts that need it. If there’s too much sugar in the liver it will be released into the blood, which can result in diabetes. Dandelions can help keep blood sugar low and lowers the risk of contracting diabetes. (Dandelion Information | Mount Sinai - New York, n.d.). Before introducing dandelion into your diet, consult with your healthcare professional to find out if it’s the best option for you.
Pueraria Lobata Ohwi
Pueraria Lobata Ohwi, a Chinese vine plant also known as Kudzu, has been used in traditional medicine. It was mostly used in ancient China to treat high blood pressure, headaches, stiff neck issues, blood sugar control, and cardiovascular problems, but it can be useful in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and decreasing the amount of cholesterol in the liver.
According to the National Library of Medicine, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is when fat accumulates in the organ due to obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (Kneeman et al., 2012) In 1596, the Chinese doctor, herbalist, acupuncturist, and pharmacologist Li Shi-zhen published a book called Compendium of Materia Medica that said kudzu can “reduce liver intoxication induced by alcohol” (Liu et al., 2019).
The Future
There is still a lot of research to be done to prove that these plants can be used in modern-day medicine. There needs to be trials that directly link the plants and these results, but ancient and traditional medicine have shown us that these issues can be resolved by consuming them.
If you want to try any of these plants, be mindful of how they might interfere with any medication, allergies, or preexisting issues. For example, dandelions shouldn’t be eaten if you are allergic to other flowers in the same species such as daisies or marigolds. If you’re unsure if they’re right for you, check in with your healthcare professional before taking supplements!
For thousands of years, these plants have been used to bring people back to a healthy state and improve the function of their livers. They tackled a wide range of problems like headaches, high cholesterol, skin irritation, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, cardiovascular issues, liver cell damage, digestive issues, bone health, eye health, and promotion of a healthy immune system. In addition to assisting with your liver, you may be able to reap these numerous benefits
But best of all, consuming these plants (and The Plug) can help protect you from future liver diseases and toxins. That’s why these ingredients were chosen for The Plug. These plants, flowers, and fruits will help your body do what it’s already supposed to. We’re all about providing you with all-natural ingredients to help you not only get through your day, but succeed in your day. With your liver operating at its optimal state, how could you not? Find out for yourself!
There is still a lot of research to be done to prove that these plants can be used in modern-day medicine. There needs to be trials that directly link the plants and these results, but ancient and traditional medicine have shown us that these issues can be resolved by consuming them.
If you want to try any of these plants, be mindful of how they might interfere with any medication, allergies, or preexisting issues. For example, dandelions shouldn’t be eaten if you are allergic to other flowers in the same species such as daisies or marigolds. If you’re unsure if they’re right for you, check in with your healthcare professional before taking supplements!
For thousands of years, these plants have been used to bring people back to a healthy state and improve the function of their livers. They tackled a wide range of problems like headaches, high cholesterol, skin irritation, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, cardiovascular issues, liver cell damage, digestive issues, bone health, eye health, and promotion of a healthy immune system. In addition to assisting with your liver, you may be able to reap these numerous benefits
But best of all, consuming these plants (and The Plug) can help protect you from future liver diseases and toxins. That’s why these ingredients were chosen for The Plug. These plants, flowers, and fruits will help your body do what it’s already supposed to. We’re all about providing you with all-natural ingredients to help you not only get through your day, but succeed in your day. With your liver operating at its optimal state, how could you not? Find out for yourself!