The last verifiable statistics from the Republic of Georgia show that there are almost 23,000 Georgians over the age of 100 based on a population of only 3.2 million people. One of the key reasons for their longevity is Rhododendron caucasicum, the ingredient in Alpine Tea. Grown at 10,000 to 30,000 foot elevations in the Caucasian Mountains, Rhododendron caucasicum (also known as "snow rose") contains polyphenolics, including flavonoids and proanthocyanidins. Thirty years of research indicate that the phenylpropanoids in Rhododendron improve physical abilities, increase activity of the cardiovascular system, and increase blood supply to the muscles and especially to the brain. Rhododendron caucasicum increases resistance of the brain to imbalances due to chemical, physical, and biological reasons. It also is an antibacterial while allowing the good probiotics to thrive. It acts as a detoxicant, is highly P-vitamin active, protecting against capillary fragility, and is an excellent free-radical scavenger. Studies have demonstrated that Rhododendron caucasicum inhibits or abolishes the activity of the enzyme hyaluronidase, known to be an initiator of colon cancer.

Clinical research has been ongoing as to the medicinal uses of this alpine plant. Prof. Dimitry M. Rossiyski, M.D., Meritorious Science Worker at the Soviet Medical Academy of Science, conducted a double-blind placebo study on seventy test subjects diagnosed with circulatory insufficiency and atherosclerosis, some with high blood pressure and evidence of past heart attacks. A 30 mg/day dose of Rhododendron extract over a 15-day period resulted in the subjects experiencing a lowered blood pressure, improvement in coronary circulation, decrease of serum cholesterol, and elimination of pain in the chest area. Subsequent studies at the First Central Moscow Hospital showed similar results on heart patients suffering from hardening of the arteries. Doctors Avraamova and Galperin performed clinical studies at the Moscow State Hospital on 24 males and 36 females ages 18-65 diagnosed with mitral valve insufficiency (prolapse). Improvements were obvious in the patients taking Rhododendron extract over those who did not receive it. The average hearts in those receiving the extract were lowered from 90 to 70 beats per minute and systolic blood pressure was lowered from 177 to 160 mm Hg (Rossiysky 1954).

Again, studies at the First Central Moscow Hospital revealed that when 50 mg of Rhododendron caucasicum diluted in water was given to 170 volunteers suffering from severe gout, the average discharge of uric acid increased 55-60 percent and pain was relieved in a few hours. The Georgian Academy of Sciences gave 50 to 100 mg per day of the snow rose to 114 patients hospitalized for depression. The results showed a marked decrease in depressive symptoms in 93 of the patients. Similar results were achieved by the Moscow State Hospital study, indicating improvement of 162 patients with severe depression.

One of the key benefits for anti-aging is Rhododendron caucasicum's inhibition of hyaluronidase activity and its subsequent benefit to osteoarthritis patients. One theory regarding the cause of arthritis is that it may appear because of the abnormal release of the enzyme hyaluronidase from the cartilage cells. This leads to cartilage breakdown and destruction of the joint. Perhaps its inhibition of hyaluronidase activity is the key to arthritis prevention.

Rhododendron is also highly antibacterial, perhaps due to the presence of the well-known antibacterial compounds chlorogenic and caffeic acids that are known to exist in this plant. Tests conclude that it is more effective than either grape seed or pine bark as an antibacterial proanthocyanidin. In a 24-hour test of 12,000 Staphylococcus aureus bacteria thriving in solution, all were totally eliminated by Rhododendron, but 300 colonies were still surviving in the grape seed petri dish, and 370 in the pine bark solution.

Rhododendron caucasicum is a unique plant among all other species of Rhododendron and is considered safe for human consumption. It is reported that some Rhododendrons, mainly the flowers, contain grayanotoxins, which are not soluble in water and can be harmful. Therefore, do not just go out to your garden and harvest your backyard Rhododendron! The snow rose has been used in foreign hospitals to treat heart disease, arthritis, gout, high cholesterol, blood pressure problems, depression, neuroses and psychoses, and concentration problems. Along with a strong regime of probiotic supplementation and maintaining a healthy mineral balance in your body, taking Rhododendron caucasicum may give your body the tools it needs to achieve the level of longevity enjoyed by the elder Georgians.

This information provided by Professor Dr. Zakir Ramazanov, Ph.D., and excerpted from the book The Secrets of Staying Young.

AN ARTICLE BY Carol McKinney Alexander, author of many published articles on natural health products.

This information is about the best probiotic and anti-oxidant of which I've learned during my recent research. Its ingredients are far ahead of ordinary yogurt, as made commercially. Because it is in capsule form, it can easily be swallowed by those who don't like yogurt, and want a product which will give them more pro-biotic or friendly bacteria, along with its amazing anti-oxidant properties.

Kefir Caucasicum is a combination of Kefir grain, which is among the world's first known grains, and a type of yogurt culture derived from Kefir. The end result is a complex, symbiotic mixture of the micro-organisms that indigenous peoples of mid-Eastern countries have been consuming for many centuries. It naturally contains 4 genera and 11 species of probiotic, or friendly, bacteria. It is then freeze-dried at low temperatures, and 2 probiotic growth accelerants are added, recognized as superb. The end result is a complete alcohol and yeast-free Kefir complex in every capsule.

The yogurt which most Americans eat is quite basic. The yogurt manufacturers usually add 2 species of friendly bacteria to milk, along with flavorings, sugar, and small amounts of overcooked fruit. It is then bottled in various shapes of containers, and then allowed to ferment in incubators. This is more of a dessert than anything else. Even the plain yogurt, while a good calcium-rich food, is no match for the actual probiotics, or friendly bacteria, contained in the Kefir Caucasicum. However, there is a use in a healthful diet for both the plain, calcium-rich yogurt, and the Kefir Caucasicum.

The other part of Caucasicum is one which helps to give the product its unique properties and astounding healthful benefits. Rhodogen, a Trademarked Formula, is an unusual extract from the root of an extremely rare variety of plant named Rhododendron Caucasicum. It is also known as the Snow Rose, and usually grows at altitudes above 7,000 ft. on the Caucacus Mountains in the Republic of Georgia. This was once part of the southern border of the Soviet Union. It is not unusual for people to live beyond 100 years of age in that region. About 40 years ago Soviet scientists launched a full scale research project to discover the reason for this longevity.

It was discovered that the Georgian peoples traditionally brewed the roots of their Snow Rose into what they called Alpine Tea and added it to their widely used Kefir culture, which proved to be the key to their longevity. The reasons they did so were three-fold. The Alpine Tea or Rhododendron Caucasicum sweetened the Kefir culture, while protecting it from harmful bacteria, or from turning rancid before it could be eaten. They learned over a long period of time that this tea gave them strength and energy. They also discovered that it protected them from what today we call "free radicals, pathogens, and viruses." But to them it just seemed to ward off many diseases from which their neighbors in surrounding countries were always dying.

The scientists learned that the Rhododendron Caucasicum has many important properties of its own. It improves physical abilities, increases activity of the cardiovascular system, and increases blood supply to muscles and especially to the brain. It also shows tremendous anti-bacterial activity against the harmful bacteria, but allows "friendly" or probiotics, such as are found in Kefir culture, to thrive.

There were many clinical studies and experiments performed over the years in the First Central Moscow Hospital using the Rhododendron Caucasicum alone. These all proved very successful in cases of Heart Disease, Gout, Neuropsychotic (brain) Disease, severe Depression, Capillary fragility, and Detoxicant (increasing discharges of toxins from the body.) The most important discovery, however, was that it was the most tremendously effective ultra-antioxidant or "free radical" scavenger in their experiences.

There are other plant extracts such as pine bark and grape seed, sold under several different product names, which have shown strong anti-oxidant activity. However, they are, by nature, much less effective "free radical" scavengers. Furthermore, the methods of extracting and producing those extracts almost always include the use of organic solvents, which generate highly toxic and powerful "free radicals" themselves, the very things the products were meant to destroy. Much of the scavenging energy of pine bark and grape seed extracts is spent cleaning up the very dangers that they created.

The Rhododendron Caucasicum in Fur Change America's Caucasicum is not only a much more effective antioxidant or "free radical" scavenger, but it is also absolutely organic solvent-free, and 100% water soluble.

Also added to the Kefir Caucasicum culture are concentrated minerals from the waters of the Georgian mountains. Each of these ingredients are incredible by themselves, but when all 3 are combined, the final result is the unique product known as Caucasicum.

Because Caucasicum helps to increase the circulation in the legs, it is a valuable Formula to take on a regular basis.

Siberian Rhododendron Caucasicum (S.R.C.), common name: Georgian Snow Rose, is an elegant evergreen shrub inhabiting the mountainous regions of the Caucasian Mountains of Russia at elevations of 10,000 to 13,000 feet. It has a history of regional usage spanning over 400 years. S.R.C. contains a compound that is unique for "fat-control" and antioxidant properties. However, the benefits of this wondrous plant reach far beyond its effective natural weight management in that it is also being used to treat chronic illnesses such as rheumatism, arthritis, high blood pressure and gout. Other S.R.C. physiological benefits include stimulation of body heat and an increase of diaphoresis; which is the secretion then elimination of toxins and waste from your body.

Even today Siberian Rhododendron Caucasicum remains a very popular traditional drink in the Republic of Georgia and is revered as one of the secrets to Georgian longevity.

Why is S.R.C. unique?

Siberian Rhododendron Caucasicum (S.R.C.) is very unique in that there are at least 800 Azaleas/Rhododendron species worldwide, most are toxic and should not be consumed by humans, but clinical trials of S.R.C. have shown it to be safe and effective for human consumption. It is the only known variety to contain its unique phyto-chemical composition. Some of the highly active phenolics in S.R.C. are flavon-glycosides, cafferic acid, anthocyanins, chlorogenic and gallic acids. To assure the necessary quality of efficacy, S.R.C. is only harvested in the spring when the polyphenol compounds are at their highest potential. After spring these very important polyphenols decline rapidly.

The process by which S.R.C. is produced is key to its success in the body. S.R.C. is only produced by high-pressure solvent-free water extraction. Unfortunately, many antioxidant compounds used in nutritional supplements today are extracted using organic solvents, which can aggravate the condition that the antioxidants are trying to alleviate. That is why S.R.C. is only processed through high-pressure water-based filtration.

How does S.R.C. promote fat reduction?

Healthy bodies need certain levels of fat in order to perform properly. These fats, called essential fatty acids (omega-3 & omega-6 fatty acids), when in balance, provide necessary nutrients for the brain, hair, nails, skin, muscles, nerves and a long list of other essential metabolic benefits. Therefore it is not wise to cut out all fat from your diet, but balance fat by blocking excess amounts. S.R.C. acts in the same way as pharmaceuticals drugs (fat-blockers/lipase-inhibitors) in that it safely and selectively blocks lipase activity. Unlike drugs, the clinical trials of S.R.C. have shown that it does not reduce lipase function to a level that can threaten normal metabolic balance yet safely block enough fat to make a difference without the risk of compromising your health. This occurs because the phenolics of S.R.C. specifically inhibit the activity of the lipase-key enzyme in fat metabolism, but does not inhibit the effects of the other enzymes necessary in digestion such as trypsin, pepsin and amylase. The studies show that using S.R.C., three times a day, before meals produced a natural 15-20% decrease in fat assimilation. These tests clearly indicated that S.R.C. is a safe and promising natural alternative to pharmaceutical drugs; which may cause harmful side-effects.

Bottles of S.R.C. contain 60 vegetarian capsules. Recommended dosage is two or more capsules before meals three times per day and may vary according to body weight. Check with your Healthcare provider for your best results.

NOTE: All information was obtained from the book "Effective Natural Stress and Weight Management", Dr. Zakir Ramazanov & Dr. Maria del Mar Bernal Suarez, ATN/Safe Goods Publishing, 1999