http://www.herbs.org/herbnews Herb News and Views Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:24:33 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en For over 25 years, the Herb Research Foundation has been helping to educate the world about herbs. In celebration of our 25th birthday, we are launching Herb News, the first of its kind blog for everyone interested in herbs and other substances used in natural healthcare. Here you will find ... http://www.herbs.org/herbnews/2009/02/23/welcome/ Especially during the winter months people want to help support their immune function.  Incorporating Reishi mushrooms into your diet or taking in capsule form are a wonderful way to help support your immune system. Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst. (Lingzhi or Reishi) has been used for a long time in China to ... http://www.herbs.org/herbnews/2010/03/10/cellular-and-molecular-mechanisms-of-immuno-modulation-by-ganoderma-lucidum-reishi/ The following article examines the use of the herb, Ginger as as safe and effective remedy for many conditions. Ginger has been used safely for thousands of years in cooking, and medicinally in folk and home remedies. Advanced technology enables the validation of these traditional experiences. The National Center for Complementary ... http://www.herbs.org/herbnews/2010/03/09/ginger-an-ancient-remedy-and-modern-miracle-drug/ The following article gives another reason to make sure our vitamin D intake is sufficient. BACKGROUND: The role of vitamin D in the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes is well known within the field of dermatology. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the role that vitamin D and the vitamin D receptor ... http://www.herbs.org/herbnews/2010/02/27/does-d-matter-the-role-of-vitamin-d-in-hair-disorders-and-hair-follicle-cycling/ Who would have thought the lowly raisin could have such health benefits? Oral diseases, including dental caries, periodontal disease, and tooth loss, affect the majority of the population and can affect a person's overall health. Raisins contain polyphenols, flavonoids, and high levels of iron that may benefit human health. However, their ... http://www.herbs.org/herbnews/2010/02/15/grape-products-and-oral-health/ In a recent BBC article (hat tip to Ed Smith of Herb Pharm for noting this) Prince Charles is quoted as saying "herbal medicine must be regulated." Here in the United States, we often hear legislators and especially FDA officials calling for stricter regulation of herbal products and other dietary ... http://www.herbs.org/herbnews/2010/02/11/prince-charles-calls-for-uk-to-regulate-herbals-is-it-because-of-eu-politics/ The following article gives information on the usefulness of Chamomile in the possible treatment of inflammatory conditions and cancer. Inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) has been implicated in the process of inflammation and carcinogenesis. Chamomile has long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In this study we aimed to ... http://www.herbs.org/herbnews/2010/02/09/chamomile-a-novel-and-selective-cox-2-inhibitor-with-anti-inflammatory-activity/ The following review article shows the importance of B6 levels and the role that this vitamin plays in anemia during pregnancy. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia in pregnancy. Pregnant women with anemia are, in general, exclusively treated with iron supplementation. We observed that several pregnant women with ... http://www.herbs.org/herbnews/2010/01/28/vitamin-b6-deficiency-and-anemia-in-pregnancy/ The following review article supports the usefulness of cranberries in the prevention of urinary tract infections. BACKGROUND: Cranberries (particularly in the form of cranberry juice) have been used widely for several decades for the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The aim of this review is to assess the ... http://www.herbs.org/herbnews/2010/01/21/cranberries-for-preventing-urinary-tract-infections/ Hawthorn or Crataegus has a long history of use for heart conditions.  After reviewing many studies the consistent conclusion was Hathorn has benefits when treating a variety of conditions of the heart. Crataegus (hawthorn) has long been used as a folk medicine all around the world. Most of the studies with Crataegus ... http://www.herbs.org/herbnews/2010/01/20/crataegus-tanacetifolia-leaf-extract-prevents-l-name-induced-hypertension-in-rats-a-morphological-study/