Significance
of Sutherlandia
African Red Tea Sutherlandia Pro formulation is a product
that has been carefully designed to strengthen and support the immune
system thereby enhancing the body’s ability to ward off illness
and mitigate the effects of stress, be it mental or physiological.
Sutherlandia has application in the treatment of all
conditions that are associated with impaired immune function, stress
or general debility of the body. It strengthens the body's natural immune
response, supports the healing system and accelerates the recovery process.
The full botanical name of Sutherlandia is Sutherlandia
frutescens subspecies microphylla elite SUM.2g™ chemotype.
It has been commonly referred to as: Kankerbos (Afrikaans) and Cancer
Bush (English).
Another traditional name is Phetola which means it
changes - meaning that the plant changes the course of many illnesses
towards a favorable outcome. (This is similar to the European concept
of an alterative.)
Sutherlandia enjoys a long history as a highly valued
component of African Traditional Medicine for:
- Colds and flu
- Asthma and bronchitis
- Mild to moderate hypertension
- Digestive disorders, peptic ulcers, gastrititus and reflux oesophagitis
- Hot flashes and irritability in menopause
- Type 2 diabetes
- Viral hepatitis
- General immune system support and longevity
Sutherlandia frutescens is regarded as the
most significant and multi-purpose of the medicinal plants in Southern
Africa. It powerfully assists the body to mobilize its own resources
(the immune system) to cope with physical and mental stresses, and is
therefore, correctly speaking, an adaptogen (in the class of herbs such
as Astragalus, Ginseng, and Ashwagandha) and has even been referred
to as African Ginseng.
In fact, Sutherlandia is considered the African adaptogen
par excellence. It is a herb with a profound effect on the body-mind-energy
system, maintaining and optimizing physical, mental and emotional wellness,
and it is as if Nature has combined, in a single plant, the immune stimulating
benefits of Echinacea, the adapatogenic effects of Panax Ginseng and
the energy of Ashwagandha.
Sutherlandia
Formulation (including co-factors)
2 Size "0" Vegetarian Capsules (a daily dose) supply:
| Sutherlandia frutescens microphylla |
300 |
mg |
| L-Arginine (free base) |
100 |
mg |
| Vitamin B6 (from Pyridoxine hydrochloride 12mg) |
10 |
mg |
| Zinc (from Zinc L-monomethionine 25mg) |
5 |
mg |
| Selenium (from Se-methylseleno-L-cysteine 120µg) |
50 |
µg |
Chemistry
and Pharmacology
Sutherlandia
African Red Tea has two products that contain Sutherlandia frutescens.
They are our pure Sutherlandia
frutescens vege-capsuled Sutherlandia, also known as African Ginseng™,
and our this product, the Adaptogenic Immunomodulator Sutherlandia Formulation,
a combination products whose key ingredient is Sutherlandia frutescens.
These products share product information. For the sake of avoiding unnecessary
repetition of information, the information pertaining to Sutherlandia
for both these products is found on the African Red Tea Sutherlandia product page, and not here.
L-Arginine
The second ingredient, L-Arginine, is an amino acid present
in the proteins of all life forms. It is classified as a semi-essential,
or conditionally essential, amino acid. This means that under normal
circumstances the body can synthesize sufficient L-Arginine to meet
physiological demands. However, there are conditions, such as prolonged
exposure to a highly stressful environment (whether physiological or
mental), where the body cannot keep up. These put an increased demand
on the body for the synthesis of L-Arginine. Specifically, Arginine
is important in the formation of polyamines, molecules that newly formed
B cells and T cells require during their rapid growth and proliferation
in the early stages of an infection. Arginine also promotes wound healing
and regeneration of the liver. The form of Arginine used in this formulation
is L-Arginine (L is the natural form), free form and freebase for high
bio-availability and rapid absorption into the bloodstream.
Vitamin B6
The third ingredient, Vitamin B6, is pyridoxine hydrochloride,
which is both stable and bioavailable. Pyridoxine, or Vitamin B6 is
a water-soluble B-complex vitamin necessary for the proper function
of over 70 different enzymes that participate in amino acid metabolism.
Pyridoxine also aids in maintaining sodium and potassium balance. It
is required by the nervous system, and is needed for normal brain function
and for the synthesis of the nucleic acids RNA and DNA, which contain
the genetic instructions for the reproduction of all cells and for normal
cellular growth. It activates many enzymes and aids in the absorption
of vitamin B12, supports immune system function, and is necessary for
antibody production.
Selenium
The forth ingredient, Selenium, is in the form: Se-methylseleno-L-cysteine
(SeSMC, patent pending). SeSMC or Methylselenocysteine is a selenoamino
acid that is synthesized by vegetables such as garlic and broccoli.
It is a newly developed, bio-available and safe form of the essential
trace mineral nutrient, Selenium. Selenium in the form of Selenocysteine
is an essential component of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione
peroxidase and is also found in several proteins in the body.
The immunological role of Selenium is well documented.
Additionally, adequate Selenium nutrition offers a line of defense against
viral infections and chronic diseases as well. Methylselenocysteine,
in light of its high bioavailability and natural occurrence in food
sources, is the most efficacious Selenium supplement available.
Zinc
The fifth ingredient is Zinc. This is in the form of Zinc L-monomethionine
(U.S. Patent Nos. 4,764,633 and 5,278,329). This is the most bioavailable
form of Zinc currently available. In a high proportion of studies, including
those involving the entire range of essential micronutrients, both vitamins
and minerals, Zinc continues to show the most specific and, in many
ways, one of the strongest effects on the functioning of the immune
system of any micronutrient. Zinc has a unique role in thymus dependent
T-cell mediated immune response.
Zinc's immunomodulatory effects may be accounted for
by its membrane-stabilization effect, which affects signaling processes
involved, in cell-mediated immunity. Another role of zinc is in the
maintenance of the integrity of biological membranes resulting in their
protection against oxidative injury. Zinc has immunomodulatory activity
and antioxidant activity. Zinc also has putative, antiviral, fertility-enhancing
and retinoprotective properties.
Clinical
and Supplement Uses
Preliminary scientific research, published peer-reviewed
scientific research, and clinical experience suggests that the key phytochemicals
in select chemotypes of Sutherlandia varieties are:
- Immunomodulatory
- Anti-inflammatory
- Vaso-dilatory
- Analgesic
- Anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial
Dosage
2 Capsules per day. Sutherlandia can be used in conjunction
with Sceletium.
Side Effects
In keeping with World Health Organization guidelines
for the assessment of herbal medicines, Sutherlandia is generally regarded
as safe on the basis of its long history of safe use in South Africa.
It is one of the few medicinal plants on the world
market that has been formally studied for safety, in this case, in Vervet
monkeys. The Medical Research Council of South Africa tested elite chemotype
Sutherlandia dried leaf powder for safety in 2001. The study was part
of a Medical Research Council Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) process
to establish a "clinical platform" to assess the safety and
efficacy of promising South African indigenous medicinal plants.
No toxicity was apparent in any variable studied by
the MRC.
Contraindications
None documented at this time.
Raw
Materials
All Sutherlandia frutescens subsp. microphylla that
is used in African Red Tea products is tested for quality and is kept within
strict specifications. A strict phytochemical profile is kept and adheared
to, in the interests of consistent product quality, and to prevent environmental
damage, we use only organically cultivated plant material that has been
selected from natural strains of plants with typical phytochemical profile.
An elite chemotype (called SUM.2g™) of Sutherlandia
frutescens Microphylla subspecies has been developed, where specific
phytochemical compounds, and including amino acids, are assayed and
quantified and it is this plant material that is used for our Sutherlandia
products.
Sutherlandia frutescens subspecies microphylla is also
the form of Sutherlandia that was used in the Medical Research Council
Safety Study.
Summary
As you can see from the summaries of each of the 5 components
that make up the African Red Tea Sutherlandia Pro formulation, the components
chosen all have similar, related, complementary and synergistic effects
in the body-mind-emotional-energy system.
The effects of Sutherlandia are particularly profound
and subjectively noticeable, and with the support of the other 4 nutritional
co-factors, this product will also be a highly effective Quality of
Life and overall Wellness supplement.
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