(Cayaponia ficifolia - 70mg per serving)

Despite a staggeringly bitter taste, Tayuya has found wide use by indigenous South Americans, Africans and Indonesians all the way back into the deep fog of prehistory.

In 1991, many of Tayuya’s useful properties were scientifically validated in a study entitled Superoxide Scavenging Properties of Flavonoids in a Non-enzymic System. There were shown to be phytonutnients (Saponins and others), which are unique and potent antioxidants.

In related activity, Tayuya is being used by athletes to help remove lactic acid accumulations, greatly reducing the swelling and pain of over - exercised muscles. As far as I am personally concerned, being a 45 - year - old alpine snow skier, understanding the significance of this benefit, makes this the one most exciting feature mentioned in this newsletter.

Japanese researchers are investigating Tayuya’s “significant inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus (related to chronic fatigue syndrome).” Others are employing it to relieve emotional exhaustion and depression, while yet others are focusing on its ability to ease excess stomach acid and reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

It is used by Amazonia’s indigenous people in cases of snake bite, and now, logically, by city dwellers as a general blood purifier.

One of Tayuya’s favored anti-inflammatory uses is to relieve rheumatism.