Ashwagandha, rhodiola, bacopa and ginkgo biloba come from entirely different corners of the world, and each of them has its own colourful history. In Zielona Góra we make natto, and these four plants found their way into one of our supplements. I have gathered here what is known for certain about them: where they come from, what their names mean, and how they entered the medical traditions of India, Scandinavia, Siberia and China.
⚠️ Are you taking anticoagulant medication (for example acenocoumarol or warfarin)? Natto is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin K, which may affect how these medicines work. Consult your diet and supplements with a doctor. See the important legal and medical information.
In short
- Ashwagandha means “horse smell” in Sanskrit, a pillar of Ayurveda for more than three thousand years.
- Rhodiola, the “golden root”, grows in the Arctic and high mountains; the Vikings and the Sami people used it.
- Bacopa (brahmi) is a small bog plant from the warm wetlands of India.
- Ginkgo biloba is a “living fossil”, one of the oldest tree species on Earth.
- In the European Union none of these plants has an authorised health claim (Regulation (EC) 1924/2006), so we describe them from the perspective of history, botany and tradition.
Ashwagandha, the Indian “horse smell”
The name ashwagandha comes from Sanskrit: “ashva” means horse, and “gandha” means smell. The fresh root does indeed smell animal-like, and the Ayurvedic tradition linked the plant to the idea of vigour and endurance. Withania somnifera belongs to the Solanaceae family, the same family as the tomato and the potato, and grows in the dry climate of India and North Africa. Food supplements use a standardised extract of its root.
Bacopa, the water herb of Ayurveda
Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri), known in India as brahmi, is a creeping plant of wetlands and water margins. The name brahmi refers to Brahma, one of the principal figures of Hinduism. In Ayurveda it has accompanied ashwagandha for centuries, and preparations use an extract of the herb.
Rhodiola, the Arctic “golden root”
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) grows where few plants can survive: on the rocky slopes of the Arctic, Siberia and high mountains. The cut root smells of rose, hence the Latin “rosea” and the folk name “rose root”; for its golden hue it is also called the golden root. The Vikings, the Sami people and the inhabitants of Siberia used it. Supplements, as with ashwagandha, use an extract of the root.
Ginkgo biloba, the living fossil
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is one of the oldest tree species on Earth. Its ancestors grew in the age of the dinosaurs, and the species itself has changed very little over millions of years, which is why it is called a “living fossil”. It is the only living representative of its family. The characteristic fan-shaped leaf is divided into two lobes, which is recorded in the name “biloba”. Several ginkgo trees in Hiroshima survived the atomic bomb explosion and put out new shoots the following spring. The leaves of ginkgo biloba have been described in Chinese medicine for centuries, and supplements use a standardised extract.
What “adaptogen” means
The word “adaptogen” appears frequently in connection with these herbs. It is a notion from the tradition of herbal medicine, not a legal category. Plants linked to the idea of the body’s balance in the face of external factors were referred to in this way. In communication about food in the European Union it is not used as a promise of action. What can be described, however, is the origin and history of the plant, and that is precisely what we do above.
Several plants in one capsule
We sometimes combine several plants in one preparation. This is how our food supplement Natto Active came about, combining ashwagandha, ginkgo biloba, bacopa and rhodiola with astaxanthin and B-group vitamins. Astaxanthin is a red pigment from the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis, the same one that gives colour to salmon and flamingos. The base of the whole preparation is our dried natto, that is fermented soy, which we produce in Zielona Góra.
Such a combination is for us a formulation decision, not a declaration of action. The regulatory status of each ingredient in the European Union remains separate.
| Ingredient | Origin | Tradition |
|---|---|---|
| Ashwagandha | Root of Withania somnifera | Ayurveda (India) |
| Bacopa | Herb of Bacopa monnieri | Ayurveda (India) |
| Rhodiola | Root of Rhodiola rosea | Scandinavia and Siberia |
| Ginkgo biloba | Leaves of Ginkgo biloba | Chinese medicine |
| Astaxanthin | Microalga Haematococcus pluvialis | Natural carotenoid |
A description of origin and tradition is not a declaration of action of our preparation. The fact that several plants have ended up in one capsule says only something about the formulation.
See the Natto Active supplement in our shop
Safety and precautions
Supplements with plant extracts are worth using sensibly and in line with the dosing given on the packaging. A few points are especially important here.
Our natto-based preparations contain natural vitamin K2 and nattokinase, so people taking anticoagulant medicines (for example vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin or acenocoumarol) and people with blood clotting disorders should consult consumption with a doctor. People taking any medicines on a permanent basis should be equally careful, because plant ingredients may interact with medicines.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid this type of supplement. Our preparations based on fermented soy contain soy, so they are not intended for people with a soy allergy. A food supplement does not replace a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Summary
Four plants, four entirely different corners of the world: the dry climate of India, the wetlands of brahmi, the Arctic rocks of rhodiola and the prehistoric lineage of ginkgo. What links them is a rich history in medical traditions, and with us they meet in one preparation, Natto Active, on a foundation of dried natto. If you are considering such a supplement, speak with a doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take other medicines.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name ashwagandha mean?
It comes from Sanskrit: “ashva” means horse, and “gandha” means smell. The fresh root smells animal-like, and the Ayurvedic tradition linked the plant to the idea of strength and endurance. Botanically, Withania somnifera belongs to the Solanaceae family, the same family as the tomato and the potato.
Why is rhodiola called the golden root?
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) grows in the Arctic, in Siberia and in high mountains, and its cut root smells of rose, hence “rosea”. For its golden hue and its place in the folk medicine of the Vikings and Siberia it is called the golden root.
Why is ginkgo called a living fossil?
Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo biloba) is one of the oldest tree species, almost unchanged since the age of the dinosaurs and the only living representative of its family. Several ginkgo trees in Hiroshima even survived the atomic bomb explosion and put out new shoots the following spring.
Do these plants have confirmed effects in the European Union?
No. None of them has an authorised health claim in the European Union, so a reliable description is limited to origin, history and tradition, not to effects. The choice of preparation and the decision to supplement are worth discussing with a doctor or pharmacist.
Can ashwagandha be combined with anticoagulant medicines?
Our natto-based preparations contain natural vitamin K2 and nattokinase, so people taking anticoagulant medicines (for example vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin or acenocoumarol) and people with blood clotting disorders should consult consumption with a doctor. In general, anyone taking medicines on a permanent basis should first ask a doctor or pharmacist.
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, text on EUR-Lex
- EU Register on nutrition and health claims, European Commission
Legal and medical note. This article is educational and does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist. The substances described here have no authorised health claims in the European Union (Regulation (EC) 1924/2006), and a food supplement is not a medicine and does not replace a varied diet. Full information is on the Legal and medical information page.
