Wood Vinegar
Source: Ubame Oak (Quercus Phillyraeoides)
Ubame Oak, Quercus phillyraeoides, is placed in the furnace and heated up to 250 degrees Celsius. The smoke is then condensed into the vinegar. The next step is to filter the vinegar at least 5 times, to obtain maximum purity. It is then stored for 6 months to mature. The middle layer of the vinegar is then filtered off and used in the finished product.

To obtain the powder, the vinegar is then again heated, condensed, and then dried with a special drying machine before our quality inspection is performed. This process yields a very high concentrate extract with an extremely high level of purity.

Wood vinegar is known to be able to improve our blood circulation. This improved circulation can lead to relief from fatigue, headache, double vision, blood pressure, arthritis, and many other similar symptoms.

Bamboo Vinegar
Source: Arrow Bamboo (Pseudosasa Japonica)
Arrow bamboo, Pseudosasa Japonica, is placed into the furnace and is heated up to 250 degrees Celsius. The smoke is then condensed into the vinegar. The next step is to filter the vinegar at least 5 times, to obtain purity. As with the wood vinegar it is then stored for 6 months to reach maturity. The middle layer of this vinegar is again used in the finished product.

To obtain the powder, the vinegar is then again heated, condensed, and then dried with a special drying machine before our quality inspection is performed. This process yields a very high concentrate extract with an extremely high level of purity.

Bamboo vinegar is said to have double the effect of the wood vinegar. This is due to its rarity. Bamboo vinegar costs almost twice as much as wood vinegar to manufacture.

Chitosan
Source: Shell of a crab
Chitosan is the result of the biomass research; it is extracted from the shell of a 'crab shrimp' and added to the Sap Sheet. Chitosan products have been used now for over 30 years by water companies to trap toxins, grease, heavy metals, and oils. It is the second most plentiful fibre, after cellulose. Chitosan products are also used extensively by the medical profession due to their remarkable ability to promote wound healing to injuries such as burns and skin inflammation.

Extensive studies have also been carried out to determine its fat binding properties. The results found it to lower LDL, bad cholesterol by 6%, and enhance the HDL, good cholesterol by 10%. It has also been successfully marketed as a weight loss supplement.

Dokudami
Source: Houttuynia cordata
This plant is native to Japan, Java and Nepal, and is found at altitudes of over 6200 feet. It has been proved to contain a variety of flavoids, flavonoid glycosides (afzerin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin) and pyridine alkaloids. Its essential oil was found to consist mainly of decanal (capry aldehyd), dodecanal (lauryl aldehyd) and 2-hendecanon (methyl nonyl ketone). It has been recognized for generations for its strong absorption properties.

Loquat Leaf
Source: Loquat leaf (Eriobotrya Japonica)
There is over 3000 years of history behind 'muxibustion therapies' and this leaf has been used extensively in Buddhist medicine for centuries. In India, it is widely used to treat many conditions, resulting in it being crowned the king of all herbal medicines.

The Loquat leaf contains malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, tannate, carotene, vitamins A, B and C. Its leaves and kernel contain amygdalin, otherwise known as vitamin B17, or laetrile. It is known because of its ability to promote the secretion of body fluids and it also has antitussive, expectorant, antiemetic properties.

Vitamin C
Source: Orange
It has long been known that human beings do not produce ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Therefore, we need to have a regular intake of this vitamin to maintain optimum health.

Vegetable Fiber
Source: Corn (corn fiber)
Vegetable fibre is used to prolong the lifetime of the sap sheet. Its fibre prevents ingredients from hardening due to factors such as humidity.

Tourmaline
Source: Tourmaline (semi precious) stone
Tourmaline is a very popular gemstone and collectors mineral. It exists in all colours, and the multicoloured stones are unsurpassed in splendour. Tourmaline is both pyroelectric and piezoelectric. If a specimen is put under pressure, or a temperature change, it will generate an electrical charge.

Tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese word Turamali, which was given to mixtures of unidentified gem gravels in Ceylon, now known Sri Lanka. Tourmaline exerts a cleansing and liberating energy upon our entire nervous system, promoting a clearing and stabilizing effect. Tourmaline is best known as one of the only minerals to emit far infrared heat and negative ions. For further reading on far infrared and negative ions, please visit.

Amethyst
Source: Amethyst stone
Cool and relaxing, amethyst is a stone of psychic power. It helps promote meditation, peace, tranquillity and a oneness with your spirituality. It enhances and strengthens the powers of the bearer and helps to attune with the higher self, dispelling fears, heightening intuition and helping to embrace your own intuitive wisdom.

In ancient times it was said to be protection against poison. Amethyst, similar to Tourmaline, is a negative ion, which exerts a cleansing and liberating energy upon our entire nervous system, promoting a clearing and stabilizing effect. Amethyst is also said to be a stone of sobriety, and can help the user become free of addictive tendencies.

A mixture of Amethyst and Tourmaline in our Sap Sheets or Detox Pads is referred to as Powdered Stones.

Agaricus
Source: Agaricus mushroom (Hime Matsutake)
Agaricus Blazei Murrill (Hime-matsutake) is a newly discovered species of mushroom that is attracting the attention of many scientists around the world. Artificial cultivation of this mushroom was achieved for the first time by the Iwaide Fungology Institute, by Dr. Inosuke Iwaide, a professor at Tokyo and Mie Universities, after much trial and error.

This mushroom was presented by professors Hitoshi Ito, Keishiro Shimura and Sensuke Naruse, of the mushroom research group at Mie University medical school, as the highlight at the " 39th General Meeting of Japanese Cancer Academy" in 1980, and is still attracting scientific attention today. Agaricus Blazei Murrill is known to have an anticancer effect and promotes homeostasis. It is also known to be able to relieve diabetes and allergic diseases.

Grapefruit
Source: Grapefruit extract
Grapefruit contains pectin, a soluble fibre, which reduces the rate of entry of carbohydrates into your bloodstream, thereby, lowering insulin secretion. Grapefruit and other citrus fruits also protect against cancer. In Japanese studies, grapefruit extract stopped tumour growth after it was injected under the skin of mice. The researchers concluded that the humble grapefruit is a 'remarkable anti-mutagen', a substance that reverses cellular changes that eventually lead to the division and growth of cancer cells.

Grapefruit used in the sap sheet can also be used for aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the use of scent items for the harmony and well-being of the body, mind, and spirit. It has both physical and psychological benefits and is used as a holistic treatment. The scent of grapefruit promotes feminine properties; soothes, cleanses and tones; benefits nervous system; uplifts the spirit and helps maintain self-confidence.

Lavender
Source: Lavender extract
The Lavender extract relaxes, soothes, restores and balances the nervous system; excellent for refreshing tired muscles, feet and head and useful during the cold season.

Cayenne
Source: Chili peppers
Cayenne pepper, also called Capsicum frutescens, is a stimulating herb made from the dried pods of the chilli pepper and is well known for its pungent taste and smell. Cayenne is a popular spice used in many different regional styles of cooking, but it has also been used medicinally for thousands of years. Cayenne is often referred to as chilli, which is the Aztec name for cayenne pepper.

The main medicinal properties of cayenne are derived from a chemical called capsaicin. Capsaicin is the ingredient which gives peppers their HEAT. A pepper's capsaicin content ranges from 0-1.5%. Peppers are measured according to heat units. The degree of heat determines the peppers' usage and value. Generally, the hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains. In addition to adding heat to the pepper, capsaicin acts to reduce platelet stickiness and relieve pain. Other constituents of cayenne are vitamins E, vitamin C and carotenoids.

Today, cayenne is used worldwide to treat a variety of health conditions, including poor circulation, weak digestion, heart disease, chronic pain, sore throats, headaches and toothache.

Milk Thistle
Source: Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum)
Milk thistle (Silybum Marianum) has been used as a tonic herb for the liver for over 2000 years. The plant itself can be found in Northern Japan, Europe and Northern Africa. Milk thistle is best known as a producer of liver protector known as silymarin; a group of milk thistle flavonoids - silybinin, silychristin, silydianin and isosilybinin.

Silymarin may prevent liver infection and dysfunction suitable for recovering alcoholics. It also reduces damage to liver cells caused by chronic use of certain prescription drugs. The silybin component of sillymarin has been related to cholesterol-lowering effects.

Sylimarin may also help prevent or alleviate gallstones and inflammatory conditions (psoriasis). German Commission E approved the use of milk thistle for liver damage, inflammatory liver disease, and cirrhosis.

Green Tea
Source: Green Tea
Our green tea is directly harvested from the green tea plantation here in the Shizuoka province.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), found in green tea, is at least 100 more times more effective than vitamin C, and 25 times more effective than vitamin E at protecting cells and DNA from damage believed to be linked to cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses. This antioxidant has twice the benefits of resveratrol, which can be found in red wine.

Recent studies also suggest that the green tea catechins are also directly related to reductions in body fat. Weight is gained as excessive sugars and fats are stored in the body as �fat� cells. Green tea catechins can help prevent obesity by inhibiting the movement of glucose within the fat cells. The Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), contained in the green tea, has been found to be especially effective in fighting this increasingly alarming battle against excessive weight gain.

Dextrin
Source: Corn flour
Dextrin is a product of starch hydrolysis, a carbohydrate having the same general molecular structure as starch but with a smaller and less complex molecule with adhesive properties. Its presence is necessary in our Sap Sheets as a filler, and also to bind other ingredients together. Beware of claims for Sap Sheet made without dextrin, as this is misleading. Without dextrin, Sap Sheets will not work, like a car running without tires. However, keeping the amount of dextrin low in the Sap Sheet is the best way to achieve optimum results. Sap sheets with high amounts of dextrin, and with low amounts of vinegar, gives less benefit and poor results, although the smell of the vinegar is less pungent.