Doctors and patients are undereducated about how to assess the risk of mixing herbal remedies and prescription medication. As the popularity of herbal supplements grows, physicians must be aware of dangerous interactions of the products with drugs used for the regulation of blood pressure, blood clotting, hormones and blood sugar. Herbal, dietary, and energy or… [Continue Reading]
Compounds Found in Parsley Can Slow Cancer Cell Division
May 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A compound called apigenin, that is found in parsley and some vegetables, can slow the development of tumors in a rat model of cancer, new research has shown. While the compound is still to be tested in human patients, scientists hope that the compound may be effective as part of combination anti-cancer therapy. Parsley is… [Continue Reading]
Peppermint Activates “Anti-Pain” Response in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
April 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
New research is helping researchers understand the molecular basis of why peppermint helps relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Scientists have found that peppermint works by activating a pathway that blocks pain sensation, especially those caused by certain foods. University of Adelaide researchers have shown for the first time how peppermint helps to relieve… [Continue Reading]
Parsley Health Benefits
March 16, 2011 By 1 Comment
We’ve all seen parsley: it’s that little green leaf used as a garnish on the side of your plate at fancy restaurants. Are you supposed to eat it? What does it do? Others have used it in recipes while cooking but probably have no idea what nutritional value it actually brings to your food. It… [Continue Reading]
Health Benefits of Coffee
February 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Most adults these days drink coffee. Whether we need some before school or work or throughout the day, we generally use the little energy boost we get from coffee to keep us going. Over the years, there have been countless studies done to figure out the ups and downs of our daily cup (or pot)… [Continue Reading]
Echinacea Makes No Significant Difference For Cold Symptoms
December 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The herbal supplement echinacea is touted as having cold-fighting benefits, but a new study suggests this is not the case. In a randomized blind trial, the most reliable type of clinical study, people with cold symptoms took either echinacea, a placebo, or no pills. There was no significant difference in duration of cold symptoms between… [Continue Reading]
Ginseng Linked to Improved General Health, But Not Better Cognitive Functions
December 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
While taking ginseng can improve some measures of well-being, a new review finds that there is no clear evidence that it can improve your mental abilities. Only five well-designed studies on the effectiveness of the herb have been published. Researchers found that several measures correlated with ginseng use, including improved general health and social relationships,… [Continue Reading]
Astragalus for High Blood Pressure, Hepatitis, Insomnia and Diabetes
January 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Native to China, astragalus has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. In the United States, the herb gained popularity in the 1980s. There are actually over 2,000 species of astragalus; however, the two related species Astragalus membranaceus and Astragalus mongholicus are the ones primarily used for health purposes. Common Names-astragalus, bei qi, huang… [Continue Reading]
Aloe Vera for Burns, Sunburn and Type 2 Diabetes
January 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Aloe vera’s use can be traced back 6,000 years to early Egypt, where the plant was depicted on stone carvings. Known as the “plant of immortality,” aloe was presented as a burial gift to deceased pharaohs. Common Names-aloe vera, aloe, burn plant, lily of the desert, elephant’s gall Latin Names-Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis What Aloe… [Continue Reading]
The Health Benefits of Oregano
September 30, 2008 By 3 Comments
Oregano has been cultivated for both culinary and medicinal effects in the Mediterranean for thousand of years. Oregano (Origanum vulgare ) is a perennial herb of the mint family of plants and is native to northern Europe. In ancient Greek and Roman cultures the herb was regarded as a symbol of joy and happiness, and… [Continue Reading]