We're living in a golden age of crappy over-the-counter healthcare products. It's very hard to find a potion or a gizmo that can really be trusted. Labels are sloppy, production is murky, and health claims are iffy. But there's also some really good stuff out there. We're the science guys at Reach BioHealth, and it's our job to crunch the data and write about these ones. That means we can curate for you, and tell you what to buy (and why). Want some trusty caddying? Leave it to us.

Immune support

There is no product that 'boosts' or 'balances' the immune system (which itself isn't one single system to be modulated). But there are products that are immunomodulatory. Beta-glucans in mushrooms and yeast, for example, can stimulate macrophages in response to pathogens. Corticosteroids, like prednisone, can suppress inflammatory cytokines, and help in certain rheumatoid conditions. Interleukins, which can be blocked, appear to function in the symptomology of some autoimmune diseases. Immune response is a galactically complex molecular interaction between cells, tissues, and organs, and no single tablet or potion can regulate it all. That said, from an immunological standpoint, there are things that are good for you.

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Energy

Energy drinks and supplements can take a lot of forms, where ingredients are concerned. Many of the ingredients are of unproven efficacy. The medical literature about them is growing. Datasets are still generally small, and outcomes hard to measure. There does seem to be something behind the concept of 'energy supplement', however. Parsing the data, we find that there are indeed products that do what they say. Have a look below.

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Calm

It's an exciting time in phytochemical treatment of anxiety in its various forms. Clinical trials show undeniable benefits from some plant extracts in mild forms of certain neurological disorders. How much benefit, and which extracts, and why they work are still being unpacked. Literature does support the efficacy and safety of the ingredients in the products we list here. We omit the very promising cannabinoid preparations, one of our scientific foci at Reach BioHealth, only because regulations make them difficult to sell. Otherwise we would.

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Sunscreens

Photoprotection consists of physical barriers to reflect and scatter light and chemical barriers that absorb light. These latter include antioxidants, osmolytes, and DNA repair enzymes, which help to limit skin damage by disturbing the photochemical cascade that occurs with UV sunlight. To understand more, read above, in our library of Clinical Science.

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Skincare supplements

Supplementation of micronutrients is now known to be crucial in reinforcement of the skin's healthy barrier function. Specific ingredients, which we outline in Clinical Research above, present protective effects in UV radiation, and positive influence on some inflammatory diseases, like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Read through it, and have a look at what we offer below.

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What all the best caddies insist on

  • Clear labelling

    Vague or absent contents listing is a problem in close to 50% of OTC products in the US. We watch for that. We don't caddy for amateurs.

  • Clear benefits

    No hand-waving about 'boosting' or 'improving' things. We want specific claims, based on a reasonable mechanism of action.

  • Evidence

    There needs to be published data about these claims. If we don't find any to put in our Clinical Science attic above, we won't sell the product.

  • Reputation

    The brand better be squeaky. One (verified) whiff of doing something misleading or worse, and we throw the maker out of our caddyshack.