Intensive Immune Support: CV Defense & Acute

Are you intrigued by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)— 
But find yourself daunted by hundreds of plants combined in thousands of preparations? 

We made it easy for you by combining three of the most well-studied plants for supporting the immune system: 

• the fruit of the forsythia 
• the flower of the honeysuckle 
• the root of the Baikal skullcap 

This formula is intended as high intensity support when the immune system needs an extra kick - just consume the liquid herbal supplement three times daily, for three days. Don’t forget get to rest, stay hydrated, and talk to you doctor. 

That’s it.
A super-protector based on an old tradition and verified by the latest scientific methods. 

We’ve been stringent in our sourcing to make sure the plants meet CV Sciences’ strict quality standards: we conduct in house and third party analytical testing to ensure products are free of the heavy metals and other contaminants that can occur in lower quality herbal products. 

The PLANTS 

Forsythia suspensa (Forsythia fruit) 
Forsythia has been used in China for over 4,000 years and is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine. And though we don’t want to venture into the medical claims discovered by modern science, the research on forsythia fruit is as wide-ranging as it is intriguing. One feature we can mention is that forsythia fruit is known as helpful for ‘qi stagnancy’, which in modern parlance might be called ‘the low-energy blahs.’ 

The fruit is a bitter astringent herb that stimulates the heart and nervous system. In the prescriptions of Traditional Chinese Medicine, forsythia fruit exhibits heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. In the 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, 114 Chinese medicinal preparations containing forsythia fruit are listed. The relation between ancient uses and peer-reviewed science is strong 

In modern research, more than 200 compounds have been separated and identified from the fruit of Forsythia suspensa. Lignans and phenylethanoid glycosides are considered as the characteristic constituents of this herb, such as forsythiaside, forsythin, rutin and phillygenin. In its  TCM characteristics, its bitter flavor, slightly cold nature and actions on the lung meridian support its anti-inflammatory effects. 

Lonicera japonica (Honeysuckle flower) 
This classic twining vine of Asia has spread around the world, and the sweet nectar at the bottom of the flower makes it a perennial favorite of schoolchildren.  

The most authoritative book on Traditional Chinese Medicine, Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), first published in 1593, recorded that honeysuckle flower could be applied to clear away the heat-evil, treat swellings and dysentery, protect the body and prolong life. Interestingly, modern science confirmed the last point when it found that the roundworm C. elegans, when given an extract of honeysuckle flower, lived 20% longer. Among the Chinese people, a healthy tonic of honeysuckle has been a popular drink from time immemorial. 

It’s been found to positively modulate the immune system in mice, and one of its major components, chlorogenic acid, has been proven to play an important role in anti-aging and health span promotion.  

More than 200 compounds, such as flavonoids, organic acid, iridoids, saponins and volatile oil, have been identified in honeysuckle flower, and these active ingredients greatly contribute to its excellent function in the clinic. Phenolic acids, especially chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid, are regarded as the main anti-inflammatory active ingredients. The flavonoids act as antioxidants.  

Scutellaria baicalensis (Baikal skullcap root) 
It’s telling that the first Google result for this plant is a report by Sloan Kettering, one of the world’s premier hospitals. When Western doctors are as enthusiastic about a plant as Eastern practitioners, you know there’s fire there. 

One of the 50 fundamental herbs used in TCM, in ancient Chinese language, the character ‘Qin’ means ‘herb for homeostasis’, and ‘Huang’ means yellow color. Today, Baikal skullcap is one of the most commonly collected species in all of China. 

Described medicinally in the earliest systematic summary of Chinese herbal medicine, the Shennong Bencaojing, also known as The Classic of Herbal Medicine, Baikal skullcap root was noted for its beneficial effects on the liver and the lungs. In China, Scutellaria baicalensis is still an important traditional Chinese medicine with the functions of clearing away heat and dampness, purging fire and detoxification. In the most recent edition of the official Chinese Pharmacopoeia, over 180 prescriptions contain Baikal skullcap root.  

So far, over 40 compounds have been isolated and identified from Scutellaria baicalensis, including flavonoids, terpenoids, volatile oils and polysaccharides. The compounds and extracts isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities, including effects on the nervous system, the immune system, the liver and protection from microbes. Widely studied for its protective effects on the brain, it’s even helped to improve the memory of mice in preclinical studies. It’s also an antioxidant often used traditionally against infections.