All herb, botanical and natural healthcare posts
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This article from The Epicurean Digest lays out some great practical information about using turmeric as an anti-inflammatory. We love seeing this kind of science-based dosage and usage info that helps people get the most out of herbal health care. How: Always with fresh ground black pepper (see below why) and some fat or […]
A new look at research on African medicinal plants (Journal of Ethnopharmacology, December 2015) takes a long look at the plants garnering the most attention and the deficit of research focused on African plants. More research is needed, they conclude, “…to promote the commercialization of African plants.” The focus was on international commerce (not necessarily local popularity) […]
Here’s an important new resource on toxic plants in the home and garden. This is a well-researched online source of information that can help you keep your children and pets safe while enjoying the dozens of house plants and garden plants that are known to be safe. From the guide: While plants and flowers are a […]
Briefly noted. An article about mycotoxins in herbs and spices lists some of the top spices of 2013 Spices and herbs have been used since ancient times as flavour and aroma enhancers, colourants, preservatives and traditional medicines. There are more than thirty spices and herbs of global economic and culinary importance. Among the spices, black […]
This scientific article is about the health protective effects of some common spices. The abstract below is a great reminder of the overall subject of health benefits in food beyond nutrition. Clin Nutr Res. 2015 Oct;4(4):209-15. doi: 10.7762/cnr.2015.4.4.209. Epub 2015 Oct 31.Anti-carcinogenic and Anti-bacterial Properties of Selected Spices: Implications in Oral Health.Ganjre A1, Kathariya R2, […]
The Scientific World Journal recently published a review article addressing the two ‘faces’ of the Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus or vinca rosea): lovely garden ornamental and important medicinal plant. With a long history of both ornamental use in gardens and medicinal use in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, the periwinkle exemplifies the advantages of exploring […]
We are currently reviewing research on Crila, (Crinum latifolium). The plant, in the Amaryllis family, occurs in Vietnam, India, China, Thailand and other nearby Asian countries. In Traditional Medicine, it has been used for urinary and gynecological conditions. The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has reported on two studies, for which we received official Ministry of Health […]
A new study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association notes the somewhat alarming increase in opiate overdose mortality, mostly from legal, prescription opiates such as OxyContin. A group of medical doctors and scientists led by Marcus Bachhuber, MD from the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center looked at the association between opioid (synthetic opiates) overdose […]
Discovery of 3 New Penicillin Compounds with Clinically Relevant Antibacterial Activity According to a recent study from Germany, researchers have isolated three new penicillin-like compounds with clinically relevant antibacterial activity – known as penialidins 1-3 – from the fungus Penicillium growing within the leaves of a medicinal plant from Cameroon. The plant, Garcinia nobilis (syn. […]
According to a recent study from Iran, stinging nettle leaves (Urtica dioica) and walnut leaves (Juglans regia) may have potential in antidiabetic therapy. Diabetes affects over 100 million people worldwide. This disease condition causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise, because people with diabetes either do not make enough insulin or are unable to use […]
