Blue Heron

by Integrative Therapeutics, Inc.

How Does It Work?

Blue Heron is a combination of all-natural fibers and herbs that promote healthy elimination, and absorb and eliminate toxins, thereby improving colon health.† The balanced blend of dietary fiber, nutritional herbs, and probiotic microflora found in Blue Heron was formulated for convenient, effective and gentle intestinal support.† Blue Heron also includes an Ayurvedic combination of amla fruit, belleric myrobalan fruit, and chebulic myrobalan fruit, known as Triphala, to promote optimal digestive function.†

Dietary fiber is the edible parts of plants, or similar carbohydrates, that are resistant to digestion and absorption in the small intestine. Dietary fiber passes through the stomach and small intestine to the large intestine, where it undergoes complete or partial fermentation by colonic bacteria. This fermentation produces important short-chain fatty acids that are used as fuel for the enterocytes (cells lining the intestine). Dietary fiber plays many important roles in health, including serving as a bulking agent, thereby aiding elimination and supporting regular bowel movements and healthy detoxification.†1,2 Dietary fiber also supports healthy growth of probiotic microflora in the intestines.†2 In addition, dietary fiber has been studied for its support of immune function.†3-5

The following chart highlights the benefits of each of the ingredients in Blue Heron:

Flaxseed: Flaxseed is a source of omega-3 fatty acids and lignans. It can absorb up to 8 times its weight in water and enhances intestinal peristalsis, thereby promoting healthy bowel function.†6

Psyllium : Psyllium is a superior detoxification and laxation fiber. A rich source of concentrated soluble fiber, psyllium has been shown to absorb up to 14 times its weight in water and has more reabsorption ability than any other bowel-supporting fiber.†7 Psyllium husk supports healthy intestinal lubrication for ease in elimination.†8,9

Rice : Rice bran is a rich source of gamma-oryzanol, which has been shown to have protective effects on stomach tissue.†10 In a clinical trial, 78 percent of people receiving 300 mg of gamma-oryzanol per day rated it as “moderately” to “extremely” effective.†11 Studies have also shown that bran promotes comfortable elimination.†12

Dried Plum : Dried plums are a mainstay folk remedy for supporting healthy bowel elimination.† They are a source of essential vitamins and minerals, dietary fibers, and a number of potent antioxidant compounds. In one study, dried plum was shown to provide protective effects for colon health.†14

Fenugreek:Fenugreek is a demulcent herb, meaning it soothes mucous membranes.†15 Its seeds contain approximately 40 percent of mucilage fibers. Fenugreek has been studied for its protective effects on the gastrointestinal lining.†15,16

Slippery Elm: Slippery elm bark has antioxidant effects and has been studied for its support of bowel health.†17 The texture of slippery elm bark is mucilaginous, making it an excellent colon demulcent and emollient.†17

Marshmallow: Marshmallow root has been studied for its support of colon mucosa.†18 Because of its mucilaginous (moist, sticky) properties, marshmallow has long been used to soothe occasionally irritated mucosal tissue, which lines the stomach and intestines; it also helps facilitate comfortable elimination.†18,19

Triphala: Triphala is an ancient Ayurvedic herbal blend consisting of amla, belleric myrobalan, and chebulic myrobalan fruits. The combination has long been used to promote healthy digestion, aid in detoxification, and improve immune responses.†20,21

One animal model study found that triphala helped prevent occasional loose stools; administration increased stool weight and lengthened intestinal transit time.†20 Triphala has also been shown to support healthy balance of a wide-range of gut microflora.†22,23

Probiotics : Probiotics are live, active microflora that are non-toxic and do not cause disease (non-pathogenic). Because probiotics do not permanently colonize in the body, they need to be ingested regularly for their health-promoting effects to persist.†24,25

Probiotics have been shown to provide a wide-variety of benefits for the body’s detoxification processes, digestive function, and immune responses.†24 By restoring healthy intestinal flora balance, probiotics help stimulate intestinal peristalsis, promote comfortable bowel movements, and reduce symptoms of gas, bloating and occasional constipation, and loose stools.†24-27

Papain : Papain is a proteolytic, or protein-digesting enzyme; it catalyzes the hydrolysis of proteins and peptides with preferential cleavage at bonds containing arginine, lysine, and glycine residues.†28 It also supports body’s natural anti-inflammatory response.†29

References Wardlaw GM, Insel PM. Soluble and Insoluble Fibers. In: Perspectives in Nutrition, 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 1993:79. The Definition of Dietary Fiber. American Association of Cereal Chemists. Available at: http://www.aaccnet.org/news/pdfs/DFDef.pdf. Accessed December 10, 2007. Felippe CR, Calder PC, Vecchia MC, et al. Fatty acid composition of lymphocytes and macrophages from rats fed fiber-rich diets: a comparison between oat bran- and wheat bran-enriched diets. Lipids. 1997;32:587-591. Garritson BK, Nikaein A, Peters GN, Gorman MA, King CC, Kiepa GU. Effect of major dietary modifications on immune system in patients with breast cancer: a pilot study. Cancer Pract. 1995;3:239-246. Lim BO, Yamada K, Nonaka M, et al. Dietary fibers modulate indices of intestinal immune function in rats. J Nutr. 1997;127(5):663-667. Fleming T., ed. Flax. In: PDR® for Herbal Medicines. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2000: 328-332. Nick GL. Psylium. In: Clinical Purification: A Complete Treatment and Reference Manual. Brookfield, Wis: Longevity Through Prevention Books; 2001: 183-190. Leng-Peschlow E. Plantago ovata seeds as dietary fibre supplement: physiological and metabolic effect in rats. Br J Nutr.1991 Sep;66(2):331-49. Marlett JA, Kajs TM, Fischer MH. An unfermented gel component of psyllium seed husk promotes laxation as a lubricant in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;72:784-9. Ichimaru Y, Moriyama M, Ichimaru M, Gomita Y. Effects of gamma-oryzanol on gastric lesions and small intestinal propulsive activity in mice. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi. 1984;84(6):537-42. Maruyama K, Kashiwazaki K, Toyama K, Tsuchiya M. Usefulness of Hi-Z fine granule (gamma Oryzanol) for the treatment of autonomic instability in gastrointestinal system. Shinyaku To Rinsho. 1976;25:124. Hebden JM, Blackshaw E, D’Amato M, Perkins AC, Spiller RC. Abnormalities of GI transit in bloated irritable bowel syndrome: effect of bran on transit and symptoms. Am J Gastroenterol. 2002 Sep;97(9):2315-20. Kayano S, Kikuzaki H, Yamada NF, Aoki A, Kasamatsu K, Yamasaki Y, Ikami T, Suzuki T, Mitani T, Nakatani N. Antioxidant properties of prunes (Prunus domestica L.) and their constituents. Biofactors. 2004;21(1-4):309-13. Yang Y, Gallaher DD. Effect of dried plums on colon cancer risk factors in rats. Nutr Cancer. 2005;53(1):117-25. Basch E, Ulbricht C, Kuo G, Szapary P, Smith M. Therapeutic applications of fenugreek. Altern Med Rev. 2003;8:20-7. Pandian RS, Anuradha CV, Viswanathan P. Gastroprotective effect of fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum graecum) on experimental gastric ulcer in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;81:393-7. Fleming T., ed. Slippery elm. In: PDR® for Herbal Medicines. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2000:697. Basch E, Ulbricht C, Hammerness P, Vora M. Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis L.) monograph. J Herb Pharmacother. 2003;3(3):71-81. Fleming T., ed. Marshmallow. In: PDR® for Herbal Medicines. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2000: 505-506. Biradar YS, Singh R, Sharma K, Dhalwal K, Bodhankar SL, Khandelwal KR. Evaluation of anti-diarrhoeal property and acute toxicity of Triphala Mashi, and Ayurvedic formulation. J Herb Pharmacother. 2007;7(3-4):203-12. Srikumar R, Jeya Parthasarathy N, Sheela Devi R. Immunomodulatory activity of triphala on neutrophil functions. Biol Pharm Bull. 2005 Aug;28(8):1398-403. Biradar YS, Jagatap S, Khandelwal KR, Singhania SS. Exploring of antimicrobial activity of Triphala Mashi-an Ayurvedic formulation. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008 Mar;5(1):107-13. Srikumar R, Parthasarathy NJ, Shankar EM, Manikandan S, Vijayakumar R, Thangaraj R, Vijayananth K, Sheeladevi R, Rao UA. Evaluation of the growth inhibitory activities of Triphala against common bacterial isolates from HIV infected patients. Phytother Res. 2007 May;21(5):476-80. Macfarlane GT, Cummings JH. Probiotics and prebiotics: can regulating the activities of intestinal bacteria benefit health? BMJ. 1999;318:999-1003. Gismondo MR, Drago L, Lombardi A. Review of probiotics available to modify gastrointestinal flora. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 1999;12:287-292. Bennett A, Eley KG. Intestinal pH and propulsion: an explanation of diarrhoea in lactase deficiency and laxation by lactulose. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1976;28:192-195. Gismondo MR, Drago L, Lombardi A. Review of probiotics available to modify gastrointestinal flora. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 1999;12:287-292. Papain. Medical Dictionary. Available at www.mercksource.com. Accessed June 28, 2006. Rakhimov MR. Anti-inflammatory activity of domestic papain. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2001 Jul-Aug;64(4):48-9.