RAPHACHOLIN
(RAFANI PLUS)
REDISCOVERED SUPPLEMENT FOR LIVER PROBLEMS
by Prof. Dr. Eliza Lamer-Zurawska University of Wroclaw,
School of Medicine
Raphacholin
(Rafani Plus) is a popular herb supplement known on
the pharmaceutical market for many years. It is greatly
appreciated by wide range of patients, particularly
those, who experience several painful and unpleasant
symptoms of digestive disorders.
To prevent and control these unwanted signs of digestive
problems it became necessary to find proper substance,
which would be of plant origin. This substance, in
turn, would help cholepoietic and cholagogic processes
so important in digestion.
Produced in Poland’s Herbapol, Raphacholin (Rafani
Plus) is a successfully created mixture of substances,
well described and documented, that is cholepoietic,
cholagogic, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant.
The components of Raphacholin (Rafani Plus) are root
of Radix raphani nigri, Herba cynarae, Herba abrotani,
Oleum menthae as well as dehydrocholic acid (cholic's
origin). Primary Raphacholin (Rafani Plus) was composed
only with substances found in extract of Radix raphani
nigri (glukosans - izosulphuric compounds that worked
cholepoietic and cholagogic and antibacterial), Oleum
menthae (with a similar spectrum of work) and large
amounts of dehydrocholic acid, known for its effective
cholagogic features (one pill contained equal amounts
of dehydrocholic acid and dry extract of Radix). The
pill was constructed in such a way that it was very
effective in cholepoietic and cholagogic processes
and, in a smaller degree, worked as hepatoprotection.
The product reached great popularity because of its
effectiveness in curing digestive disorders (mainly
in the case of malfunctioning fat digestion) that
were caused by lack of adequate amounts of bile. The
symptoms correlating with these disorders were bloating
and cramps (particularly after heavy foods, reach
in animal fat), nausea, feeling of overfull ness and
constipation or diarrhea. These symptoms are very
common mainly among elderly people; overweight or
people suffering from weak cholepoiesis or patients
that went through the cholecystectomy.
Unpleasant symptoms increased in intensity and frequency
after prolonged periods of treatment with synthetic
medications (chemioterapeutics) or antibiotics. Symptoms
also increased after dealing with toxic substances
like alcohol, heavy metals or bacterial toxins, viral
hepatitis or prolonged stress.
Digestion disorders, caused by inadequate cholepoiesis,
are very common and experienced by many people, particularly
the elderly. Raphacholin (Rafani Plus), therefore,
has a high social value and is becoming a common supplement
to an everyday diet. It regulates digestion of foods
(both animal and even plant origin); particularly
foods described as heavy (including "fast foods"
and from the grill).
There was a need to improve the content of Raphacholin
(Rafani Plus) because of the requirement to use it
on a regular basis in order to stimulate the process
of the digestive system. Dehydrocholic acid is of
animal origin (belongs to organic products). There
is a world's trend to withdraw animal products (for
many reasons, also epidemically) and exchange them
with substances of plant origin. That is why Poland’s
Herbapol introduced the new product, a variation of
Raphacholin (Rafani Plus) therefore naming it Raphacholin
C (Rafani Plus) and AC. These supplements are more
effective; their composition is equivalent than the
first product. These new supplements also contain
two additional ingredients: Artichoke and Herba abortani,
which are antioxidant and antisclerotic.
The new ingredients increased the effectiveness and
attractiveness of Raphacholin (Rafani Plus) in geriatric
treatments as well as in prophylactic of sclerosis
and its side effects (concerning circulatory system).
The composition
of new products: Raphacholin C (Rafani Plus), including
extract of Radix Raphani nigri, is developed from
extract of Artichoke. Raphacholin AC also contains
extract from Herba abrotani. Such a composition allowed
a major decrease (almost in half) in the amounts of
dehydrocholic acid in Raphacholin C (Rafani Plus)
and total elimination of that component in Raphacholin
AC, with remaining good effect as cholepoietic and
cholagogic product. It also gained new necessary features
such as antisclerotic and antioxidant, antibacterial
and antihepatotoxic as well as mild diarrheatic.
The valuable medical properties of new ingredients:
Herba cynarae is derived from Cynara scolymus, a plant
often cultivated in the Mediterranean. After discoveries
of interesting and wanted in modern phitotherapy substances
that worked antisclerotic (mainly fenoacids) in that
plant, Artichoke became well studied plant (clinical
studies proved that active compounds of this plant
caused major decrease in total cholesterol and lipids,
without side effects). Desired
The active ingredients of the Artichoke are mainly
phenol compounds, like mentioned above, phenol acids-
derivative of coffee acid and cinchonic acid- as well
as flavonoids and betasitosterol and other fitosterols.
Those substances are strongly choleretic, cholagogic
and generally antitoxic. They make sugar compounds
simpler to oxidize, they lower cholesterol and triglycerides
levels in the blood and therefore prevent developing
sclerosis of the blood vessels. A variety of Artichoke
extracts are recommended to patients suffering digestive
disorders caused by insufficient amounts of bile as
well as by the malfunctioning of fat digestion processes
such as in arteriosclerosis and diabetes. Artichoke
extracts also contain properties that aid in the regeneration
of liver tissue (hepatoprotective) and act as antidote
to different kinds of toxins causing damage to the
liver. These extracts also increase counter poisoning
properties of the liver to alcohol, including some
heavy metals and uric acid.
Artichoke is also recommended to reduce infection
of gallbladder, after cholecystectomy, cholecystolithiasis,
damage to the liver and as an additional treatment
in other diseases such as malfunctioning of kidneys,
hyperlipoproteinemia or vessel sclerosis and diabetes.
Known for many years for its medical properties, Herba
abrotani is derived from Artemisia abrotanum. Herba
abrotani’s ingredients are hydroksykumarina
(mainly isofraksydyn), poliphenols (phenolacids, flavonoids),
and gentian. All of which improve digestion. Their
features are cholepoietic and cholagogic (mainly because
of the hydroksykumaryn). Gentians, that are part of
the plant, increase secretion of gastric and pancreatic
juices. Poliphenols (flavonoids, katechins, and phenol
acids) are anti-inflammatory creating good environment
to rid the liver’s tissues of unwanted and dangerous
materials.
Indications to use products of Herba abortani are:
insufficient production of bile, cholestagnasis, improper
digestion, low acidity, and as an additional treatment
in the infection of the mucous membranes of the stomach
and intestines.
Therapeutically properties of Raphacholin C (Rafani
Plus) and AC point to a very wide range of usefulness
in a variety of digestive disorders, mainly among
elderly. In this aspect, the new products will have
a chance to become almost "necessary" supplements
to a diet that is rich in animal fat, fried food,
and fast food.
Raphacholin (Rafani Plus) is the product that will
not lessen our concerns in keeping a good diet, but
if we make a dietary lapse, it can aid us in the process
of the proper digestion.