The first thing you should realize about herbs and supplements is that they are mainly used for preventative medicine rather than curative medicine. Herbs can be used to treat/prevent almost any health problem, but the main reasons I use them are longevity/energy/defense. Many of the ones I take fall into several of those categories. Here is a list of what I take and a brief description of why. Also I have no credentials other than experience and personal research.

There are a few things you should read about first.

Adaptogens are any herb which has a non-specific tonic effect over the whole body. (mind/body/sprit) They help you to adapt to changing situations and better deal with stress. They help with energy and stamina and have no side effects. They are like super herbs and most cultures have at least one. Here is a list of some adaptogens

Although oxygen is a necessary element of life, it creates something-called free radicals. Free radicals bounce around our cells and blood stream causing damage to everything they touch. Free radicals are the main cause of aging and degenerative disease. After death your body is flooded with free radicals. Anti-oxidants are free radical scavengers. That means they scavenge the blood in search of free radicals and neutralize them once there found. It is important to take a variety because they work in different parts of the body in different ways.  

In the morning

It’s just common sense that everyone should take a multi-vitamin every day. Try to get one with all the trace minerals and the complete anti-oxidant group. Any good multi-vitamin contains zinc and selenium, which are important anti-oxidants.

Co Q10 is an enzyme that is created by your body naturally, but in less amounts as you age. It is a good anti-oxidant and also helps produce energy on a cellular level. It is best to take this in a powder or liquid form, preferably with vitamin E. I take 100 Mg cocktail every morning which includes 400 mg of Hawthorne berries. (Hawthorne is good for the heart)

This is one of two powerful anti-oxidants that your body produces itself. I take 2000 units twice a day. You can encourage your body to make more of this naturally by taking milk thistle extract.

This is a catalyst which enhances the actions of other anti-oxidants. I take 30mg twice a day.

This is an herb from china which is believed to boost your immune system by increasing its activity. I have also noticed this herb included in a lot of generic energy formulas, like the ones you find in gas stations. I don’t take this herb all the time, only if I feel a clod start to come on or during the flu season. When I do take it I take 75 mg twice a day.

This herb is good for a couple of reasons. First it has great anti-oxidant properties, and also it helps increase blood flow to the brain. It is said to help memory and mental clarity. I also feel that it helps me to be more alert and more able to focus on tasks or instructions. I take it in capsules which include 400mg of whole herb and 40 mg of extract, twice a day. I've read that Ginkgo should be avoided if you take aspirin on a daily basis.

This is mostly taken to promote healthy eye function. It contains a lot of blue and purple pigments witch are supposed to be good for the eyes and circulation. It is also supposed to stimulate to growth of new capillaries, being good for any microcirculatory problem. I really haven't noticed any difference in my eye site or function. I take it for its anti-oxidant properties, and anything witch stimulates circulation is good, because it helps deliver oxygen throughout the body.

One of the most popular herbs, Im sure you read something on it already. I take it because of its adaptogen properties and for circulation. There are different kinds of ginseng. Chinese/american/asain (panax) are one kind, there is also siberian. Ginseng stimulates your blood vessels to dilate; thus letting more blood through, it also increases the oxygen content of your blood. I take 900mg of siberian, and 500 mg of panax twice a day.

I take a formula twice daily which contains 100mg of each of the following mushrooms, Shiitake/Maitake/ and Reishi. Reishi is the one I went looking for when I found this formula. Reishi mushroom is an adaptogen, with strong anti-oxidant activity. It is said to help with blood pressure (hyper or hypo) and cholesterol levels. I consider this one of the more important supplements that I take.

This is a nice formula that I found dirt-cheap at the local dollar store. It’s made by Celestial seasonings and contains all the vitamin anti-oxidants plus the following. 200mcg selenium, selenium is a mineral. 30mg turmeric, turmeric is a tonic herb said to help with defense and healing as well as longevity. 20mg green tea extract. Green tea is good for you for the same reason red wine is. They are both rich with bioflavonoids and polyphenols witch are excellent anti-oxidants. This formula also has 15mg alpha lipoic acid and 10mg CoQ10 which I already covered.

This contains guranna, bee pollen, royal jelly and chinese ginseng

Lunch time

Garlic provides nourishment for the circulatory, immune and urinary systems. It aids in supporting with normal circulation, nourishing stomach tissues, maintaining normal blood pressure and aids the body's natural ability to resist disease. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and fungicide and also possesses mild anti-oxidant properties. It is often called the natural protector. Whenever I feel a cold coming on I double the amount of garlic I take, which is 400mg extract. I don’t like the de-odorized garlic because I don’t trust the process used to remove the odor.

Grape seed is an excellent anti-oxidant. It is shown to be 20 times more effective than vitamin C at neutralizing free radicals. Grape seed is used to make Proanthocyanidins which is considered to be one of the most powerful anti-oxidants. ( Proanthocyanidins is also derived from pine bark) Grape seed also helps with circulation, and complexion, and has anti-inflammatory effects, which is good for arthritis. I take 50mg a day.

Melatonin is a super anti-oxidant. It is said to be the most important supplement in fighting aging. It is also a good sleep aid. I take it with several other energizing herbs so I don’t worry about the sedative effect it has. Melatonin may also help the immune system and help to prevent tumors and cataract growth. I take 300mcg twice daily.

Shizandra is an herb from china with many great benefits. Chinese herbalists believed that it helped balance the Ying and yang, creating a homeo-stasis between your organs and systems. It has excellent antioxidant properties, and helps to create a smooth, clear complexion. I consider this to be another of the more important herbs that I take. I take 10 drops of extract twice a day.

This is another herb which I only take when Im feeling sick. It is supposed to be great for the immune system, as well as preventing cancer. If you choose to take this herb all the time, you should do it on a three-day on/three day off cycle, because your body gets used to it.

I take cranberry to clean my urinary tract. It makes your urinary walls slick which helps to prevent infection. It is also high in vitamin C. I take 100mg a day.

This herb was used in the west Indies and china as a youth preserver. It is supposed to be good for mental clarity and healing. It has free radical scavengers and aphrodisiac properties. This herb can cause you to become sensitive to sunlight. I take 10 drops of extract twice daily.

Something else you should consider when shopping for herbs is extract VS whole herb. When a company decides to make an extract they must first pin point the substance in the herb which they believe to have beneficial properties. Sometimes the active substance will change with new research. When you buy something that is labeled whole herb then you are getting the leaves/roots/stems/buds of the plant instead of the extract. When buying extracts you should try to get a non-alcohol cold press extract standardized down to a .24%.

Also be careful where you go to buy your supplements. Most private owned and a lot of chain franchises charge way too much. If you shop around you should find a store that sells them for about 1/3 what GNC charges.