Glossary

Amino acid : Building block of proteins.

Botanical : a synonym for "herb."

Clinical trials : Research studies in which a treatment or therapy is tested in people to see whether it is safe and effective.

Depression : An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. The symptoms of depression often include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or pessimism; and changes in sleep, appetite, and thinking.

Enzymes : Proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body.

Glandular : Dietary ingredients or supplements that are made from the glands of animals.

Heavy metals : A class of metals that, in chemical terms, have a density at least five times that of water. They are widely used in industry. A few examples of heavy metals that are toxic and have contaminated some dietary supplements are lead, arsenic, and mercury.

Herb : A plant or plant part that is used for its flavor, scent, and/or therapeutic properties.

Peer reviewed : Reviewed before publication by a group of experts in the same field.

Testimonials : Information provided by individuals who claim to have been helped or cured by a particular product. The information provided lacks the necessary elements to be evaluated in a rigorous and scientific manner and is not used in the scientific literature.