Ingredients & Process — How We Make It
Transparency First
Four Ingredients. One Intentional Formula.
We believe you have the right to know exactly what you're putting into your body. Here's every ingredient, where it comes from, and why it's in our formula.
The Full Ingredient List
HalfMoon Labs Papaya Leaf + Sorghum Bicolor Supplement — Complete Ingredient Disclosure
Why These Two Plants?
Papaya Leaf (Carica papaya)
Papaya is one of the world's most studied tropical plants, but the leaf — not the fruit — is where the most relevant botanical compounds are concentrated. Papaya leaf is rich in carpaine, pseudocarpaine, flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol), chlorogenic acid, and papain enzyme.
It has been used in West African, Caribbean, and Southeast Asian traditional medicine for circulatory and blood wellness for generations. Multiple peer-reviewed studies have examined its properties in the context of blood cell morphology, with observations of significant interest to researchers.
We use the whole leaf extract — not an isolated fraction — prepared using the traditional fermentation method consistent with how it has been used historically and how it performed best in published research.
Sorghum Bicolor (Leaf Sheath)
Sorghum bicolor is a plant with one of the longest documented histories in traditional blood wellness — specifically in Yoruba medicine in Nigeria, where it forms the backbone of the preparation known as Niprisan or Nicosan. It has been studied in registered clinical trials (ClinicalTrials.gov) and has been used in West Africa as a traditional remedy for blood health for generations.
Its unique phytochemical profile — particularly its 3-deoxyanthocyanidins (3-DXAs) and apigeninidin — is not found in common polyphenol sources like blueberries or red wine. These compounds have shown potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory studies.
We use the leaf sheath extract — the part of the plant with the highest concentration of relevant phytochemicals — fermented using our proprietary process.
Our Proprietary Fermentation Process
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Sourced & Combined
Fresh botanicals sourced and combined with purified water
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Proprietary Fermentation
Our proprietary fermentation transforms the compounds and increases bioavailability
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Quality-Checked & Bottled
Peak-activity extract is quality-checked, bottled, labeled, and shipped
Why our process? The published research that informs our formula specifically found that properly fermented extracts showed the highest antisickling activity among all preparation methods tested. We don't add more time or less time — we follow what the science observed.
Made to Order, Every Time
We do not mass-produce and warehouse our supplement. Every order triggers a fresh production batch. This adds 4–6 weeks to your delivery time, but it means your bottle is at peak potency when it arrives — not sitting in a distribution center for six months. We think that's worth it. You deserve fresh.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.