Saw Palmetto
Plant Part Used Berry Introduction Many middle age men contend with benign enlargement of the prostate. While conventional drugs can offer treatment of the disorder, one natural remedy, saw palmetto, may rival them in effectiveness. A standardized extract is derived from the berry of the saw palmetto. Interactions and Depletions Interactions Alpha-1-adrenergic blocking agents Dosage […]
Grapefruit Seed
Plant Part Used Seed and pulp extract. Introduction Grapefruit seed extract is used widely in the industrial, agricultural and cosmetic industries. Most of these uses center on grapefruit seed’s disinfectant properties. As a dietary supplement, grapefruit seed has been used as an antifungal and as an antibacterial. It may also be useful for restoring the […]
Bitter Melon
Plant Part Used Fruit Introduction While bitter melon or karela fruit has long been used in South America and the Orient as a food source, it also serves many medicinal purposes. Scientists have turned their focus on the beneficial properties of the fruit in diabetes and conditions related to diabetes, as well as HIV and […]
Gymnema
Plant Part Used Leaf Introduction Gymnema is a rain forest vine found in Central and Southern India and has a long tradition in the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes. The Indian name is Gurmar, which means, “sugar destroyer.” Its use has been documented in Ayurvedic medical texts for over 2000 years in the […]
Schisandra
Plant Part Used Berry Introduction Use of the schisandra berry dates back centuries when Chinese medical practitioners found it useful for support of the kidneys and as a sedative. In Russia, schisandra has been used to increase the body’s natural ability to fight off disease and stresses from chemical, physical, mental and environmental sources. Interactions […]
Lemon Balm/Melissa
Plant Part Used Leaf Introduction Melissa is commonly used in Europe as a tea, liquid extract, and topical preparation. Ancient Greeks and Romans used melissa in surgical dressings for wounds and in preparations to treat venomous or infectious bites and stings such as with dogs and scorpions. Today, melissa’s primary use involves the treatment of […]
Black Cohosh
Plant Part Used Root/rhizome Introduction Black cohosh has made a name for itself in many parts of the world. The hairy roots of this plant have been used in Chinese medicine for centuries as a remedy for conditions such as headache, non-eruptive measles, gingivitis, and other disorders. Native Americans used it as a remedy for […]
Hawthorn
Plant Part Used Flower, leaf, and berry Introduction Historically, hawthorn was used by Roman physicians as a heart drug in the first century A.D. The literature from that period focuses on its symbolic use of hawthorn for religious rites and political ceremonies. During the Middle Ages, hawthorn was used for the treatment of “dropsy,” or […]
Shiitake Mushroom
Plant Part Used Fruiting body and mycelium. Introduction Shiitake has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years as a medicinal agent. Shiitake mushroom grows on the trunks or stumps of trees. The medicinal part used is the mycelia or immature growing stage of the mushroom. Recent attention has been placed on shiitake […]
Olive Leaf
Plant Part Used Leaf Introduction Olive trees are widely cultivated throughout Mediterranean countries as a source of olives and olive oil. The trees products have been traditionally used not only in foods, but in health conditions including malaria, infections, cardiovascular diseases, and for general well-being. Modern scientific studies may back up many of these traditional […]
