The Power of Plants: Why is The Plug Plant-Based?

For centuries, communities and cultures all around the world have had access to the power of plants and have incorporated them within their medicinal and health-based practices. These practices, ranging from spiritual to recreational, have provided context and content for historians for decades. There is a vast array of knowledge that we can gain from our global ancestors that may provide us with a historical reference of plant-based knowledge. In the realm of global awareness, appreciation, and acceptance, we can use what has been found in other cultures to support not only liver function but our overall health. It’s apparent that plant-based medicine can lead humans toward success in their livelihood. 

The Very Beginning

How long have humans used botanical supplements within our history? Archeologists have found medicinal plant use, such as opium, ephedra, and cannabis in excavations as far as 60,000 years ago (1). It is believed that since the beginning of human evolution, plants have been used to heal both mental and physical injuries. These ancient societies have mimicked modern clinical trial type behaviors to see what healing properties these may have within our bodies. 

Using plants as medicine has been linked to shamanism, or spiritual medicinal leaders. Records on shamanism span back to 1500 BC, and have been shown to document the uses of over 300 medicinal plants (1). These plant-based practices have been considered to have not only therapeutic properties, but they have also been found useful for practices of pharmacology that are still used within medicinal practices today. While many modern pharmaceuticals utilize the benefits of synthetic compounds, many of these compounds have been standardized based on the natural structures of plants (1). In today’s world, you can easily find an influx of synthetic material found within supplements that is created to mimic the structure and function of a plant-based compound; however, these alternatives lack the natural structure of plant-based medicine that can be found within The Plug’s proprietary formula.

Pueraria Lobata

One of these ingredients within The Plug is Pueraria lobata, a plant better known as kudzu. It has been said that kudzu can not only treat health conditions such as diabetes but also reduce liver intoxication after alcohol consumption (2). These effects have been found across stories from multiple different sections of history. Similarly, this plant has been found to drastically decrease triglyceride (fat) levels and the volume of cholesterol in the liver, both of which may lead to fatty liver disease, regardless of whether an individual consistently consumes alcohol or not (2). 

Artemisia Herb

Another plant compound found within The Plug is artemisia herb, which has been said to provide multiple effects within the blood, liver, and overall body (3):

● Antioxidants 

● Anti-inflammatory 

● Antiviral

● Choleretic

● Antifibrotic 

● Antitumor

Artemisia herb has also been found to reduce lipid overproduction within the liver and decrease liver inflammation within other medicinal sources (4). All of these effects reduce the likelihood that an individual will experience hepatic fibrosis, or extra connective tissue, within the liver. Yet further research has provided evidence that this plant proves itself as a promising treatment in protecting and recovering a damaged liver while continuing to support the liver’s continued health. Records about plant medicine have dated back over 5,000 years, despite the length of time these practices have been found in archeological digs. While there is a heavy focus on westernized and conventional medicine within the United States, many other countries utilize these plant-based medicinal practices that are still sought after today. 

Herbal Medicine vs. the FDA

Despite this increase in westernized medicine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has only approved 1,200 drugs since 1950, while herbs and herbal-based products have continued to provide themselves as valuable health resources for centuries (6). These herbal medicines have also reached a surge in popularity within the past 40 years; when looking at research from pharmaceutical companies across the globe, it’s evident that these organizations are beginning to reconsider their use and functionality within product drug testing, development, and discovery (5). Walking into any doctor’s office within the United States, it’s possible that patients will receive an herbal suggestion in lieu of a classic prescription that has been found to elicit similar effects within the body. 

When considering the impact of Chinese Herbal Medicine on the world’s pharmacy, it’s apparent that rhubarb, angelica, velvet, poria, taurine, ginseng, and cinnamon have been used far and wide across multiple cultures throughout human history (6). These herbal medicines have been shown to provide neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anticancer effects while also reducing symptoms found within the common cold (6). Plant-based products that have been found within Chinese Herbal Medicine have spanned into the American health system and found their way into over the shelf medications within the past 20 years. 

Chinese Herbal Medicine has found 11,146 species that provide medicinal benefits within the human body (6). This collection of plant species has provided up to one million separate formulas that may be used within a medical context and 5,000 formulas that are currently used within a clinical setting (6). 

Considering the implication and power of plants throughout the entire span of human history, it’s clear that plant healing and mankind’s livelihood have gone hand-in-hand throughout the course of evolution. From sources such as written documents, fossils or monuments, and original plant medicines that are still used today, there is a benefit in continuing to use plants to increase human health in the present and future (7). 

Our Formula

By learning and considering the power of plants, The Plug has crafted a formula that combines improved well-being with long-term liver support. Each ingredient, such as Pueraria lobata and artemisia herb, has been selected based on its potential to protect against potential harmful effects and damages that may target the liver each and every day. Utilizing both modern science and traditional medicine, The Plug’s mission is to support everyone’s health through the power of plants. 

These plants have been found to nourish life outcomes in regards to the liver’s function, which is necessary for humans to have a long, happy, and healthy life. If you are concerned with your liver function and want to ensure your body can get rid of harmful toxins, we suggest that you reach out to your primary care physician regarding your liver health and take on The Plug as your liver’s sidekick! Let’s become more proactive about our health in 2025 – life is too short to think otherwise!

Bibliography 

1. McKenna D. How Long Have Humans Used Botanicals? [Internet]. University of Minnesota. Available from: https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-long-have-humans-used-botanicals 

2. Liu J, Shi YC, Lee DYW. Applications of Pueraria lobata in treating diabetics and reducing alcohol drinking. Chinese Herbal Medicines [Internet]. 2019 Apr;11(2):141-149. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chmed.2019.04.004  

3. Jang E, Kim BJ, Lee KT, Inn KS, Lee JH. A Survey of Therapeutic Effects of Artemisia capillaris in Liver Diseases. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine [Internet]. 2015 Aug 20. Available from:. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/728137 

4. Kim KE, Ko KH, Heo RW, Yi CO, Shin HJ, Kim JY, et al. Artemisia annua Leaf Extract Attenuates Hepatic Steatosis and Inflammation in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice. Journal of Medicinal Food [Internet]. 2016 Mar;19(3):290-299. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2015.3527 

5. Park CY, Choi E, Yang HJ, Ho SH, Park SJ, Park KM, et al. Efficacy of Artemisia annua L. extract for recovery of acute liver failure. Food Science & Nutrition [Internet]. 2020 June 5;8(7):3738-3749. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.1662 

6. Pan SY, Litscher G, Gao SH, Zhou SF, Yu ZL, Chen HQ, et al. Historical Perspective of Traditional Indigenous Medical Practices: The Current Renaissance and Conservation of Herbal Resources. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine [Internet]. 2014 Apr 27;2014:525340. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4020364/#:~:text=Although%20written%20reco%20rds%20about%20medicinal,ago%20in%20Iraq%20and%208%2C000 

7. Petrovska BB. Historical review of medicinal plants’ usage. Pharmacognosy Reviews [Internet]. 2012 Jan-Jun;6(11):1-5. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3358962/