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Energy Rescue: Formula Design Philosophy and Ingredient Breakdown
Why did we make this product?
Each of these ingredients has its own role, but no product had been formulated around "multi-layered protection during alcohol metabolism."
After working with Korea's health supplement supply chain, pharmacist Larry Chuang found that Hovenia dulcis (Japanese raisin tree) had already become a household-name liver-care ingredient in Korea. Hovenia dulcis extract drinks are everywhere in convenience stores, and Korea's KFDA has officially approved its functional claim of "helping with alcohol-induced liver damage."
In Taiwan, however, the ingredient was almost unknown.
The original idea behind Energy Rescue was to bring the research on Hovenia dulcis to the Taiwanese market and pair it with a B-complex formula, creating a functional supplement designed specifically for people whose work involves a lot of business drinking.
Core Formula Logic
The Energy Rescue formula is built on one core idea: alcohol doesn't harm the body through a single pathway, so protection shouldn't rely on a single ingredient either.
Hovenia dulcis extract
The key active compound in Hovenia dulcis is dihydromyricetin (DHM), which has built up a considerable body of preclinical evidence in international research in recent years. The protective pathways identified so far include:
Neuroprotection: A study by Shen et al. 2012 at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that DHM acts on GABA-A receptors in the brain to reduce alcohol's excessive depressant effect on the nervous system, lessening the behavioral signs of acute alcohol intoxication.
Maintaining liver metabolism: Research by Silva et al. 2020 showed that DHM can activate the AMPK signaling pathway in the liver and maintain NAD+ levels, helping the liver keep up normal fat processing and energy metabolism under the stress of metabolizing alcohol.
Anti-inflammatory action: A study by Silva et al. 2023 found that DHM significantly reduced the expression of multiple pro-inflammatory factors triggered by alcohol, providing protection in the early stages of alcohol-related liver injury.
We chose Hovenia dulcis as the main ingredient, rather than the turmeric or milk thistle more commonly seen on the market, precisely because its protective mechanism works "through multiple pathways at once." It doesn't do just one thing; it builds lines of defense at the neurological, metabolic and inflammatory levels simultaneously.
B-Complex Formula
Alcohol metabolism uses up large amounts of B vitamins, especially B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin). B3 is a key building block for NAD+, and NAD+ is an essential coenzyme in the enzyme reactions that metabolize alcohol.
Almost everyone who drinks regularly over the long term has some degree of B-vitamin deficiency. The reason Energy Rescue pairs Hovenia dulcis with a B-complex formula is to make sure the body's basic supply of coenzymes doesn't run out when it is under the stress of metabolizing alcohol.
Hovenia dulcis "reduces the damage," and the B-complex vitamins "keep things running." Their roles don't overlap, but each covers for the other.
Suggested Use
Take 30-60 minutes before the drinking starts.
The reason comes from the logic of the study designs: in most experiments, DHM was given before alcohol exposure. If one of its main protective mechanisms is to occupy the GABA-A receptors in advance, it needs to be in place before alcohol reaches the brain.
Tips: eat something before taking it (don't take it on an empty stomach), drink water in between drinks, and make a point of replenishing fluids and electrolytes the next day.
Quality and Safety
Made in a GMP-certified facility
- SGS third-party testing (heavy metals, plasticizers, microorganisms)
Covered by product liability insurance
- Ingredients comply with the food safety regulations of Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare
Further Reading
To dig deeper into the science on Hovenia dulcis and DHM's multiple protective mechanisms, see pharmacist Larry Chuang's feature articles on Vocus:
What is Hovenia dulcis, and does it really help the liver? A pharmacist reviews the literature to give you a clear picture → [Liver Care Isn't Just Turmeric and B-Complex: A Pharmacist Introduces Hovenia dulcis, Sold in Every Korean Convenience Store] (in Chinese)
Does taking B-complex before drinking help? A pharmacist's survival guide to business drinking → [Vocus article] (in Chinese)
- References
- Shen Y, et al. (2012). Dihydromyricetin As a Novel Anti-Alcohol Intoxication Medication. J Neurosci, 32(1):390–401.
- Silva J, et al. (2020). Dihydromyricetin Protects the Liver via Changes in Lipid Metabolism and Enhanced Ethanol Metabolism. Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 44(5):1046–1060.
- Silva J, et al. (2023). Dihydromyricetin supplementation improves ethanol-induced lipid accumulation and inflammation. Front Nutr, 10:1201007.
This article is general health information and is not a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. If you have a medical condition or take medication, please consult a healthcare professional first.
