the 55 best herbal remedies

7/27/2019 The 55 Best Herbal Remedies

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-55-best-herbal-remedies 1/9

The 55 Best Herbal RemediesBest Herbal Remedies

Not long ago, American herbalists had to rely on folklore and anecdote. There was little clinical data onherbs, and what did exist was mostly published in German. But researchers (and translators ha!e been

busy of late, and we now ha!e proof that herbs are !iable treatments for many ailments.

"#erbs won$t replace pharmaceuticals, but the research shows that%for many conditions%herbs work

well, are cheaper than drugs and cause fewer side effects,& says 'ary #ardy, '.., medical director ofthe integrati!e medicine program at )edars*+inai 'edical )enter in os Angeles. "#erbs aren$t -uite

mainstream, but they$re mo!ing in that direction. atients are interested in them, and doctors are

increasingly familiar with herb research.

"Twenty years ago, there was no integrati!e program at )edars*+inai& she adds. "Now there is. Thatsays something& #ere, then, are the pro!en, // best herbal treatments. +tick to the dose specified in the

studies or on the product label. 0hen making teas, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of herb per cup of boilingwater, steeped for 13 minutes. Tell your physician about any herbs you plan on using, especially ifyou$re pregnant or nursing, ha!e a chronic medical condition or take medication regularly.

Object1

(1 Aloe Vera for Burns

+ometimes studies tell us what we already know. Aloe !era is the herb for minor burns, a fact that was



confirmed most recently in the 4ournal of the 'edical Association of Thailand. 5eep a potted aloe on

your kitchen sill6 it re-uires no care beyond weekly watering. 7or minor burns, snip off a thick leaf and

slit it open6 scoop out the gel from the inner leaf and apply to the burn.

(2 Black Cohosh for Menopause

The Algon-uin 8ndians used black cohosh to treat gynecological ills, and it was a key part of ydia 9.

inkham$s :egetable )ompound, sold in the 1;<3s to treat "female complaints and weaknesses.& 8n a

recent German study on menopausal hot flashes, sub=ects were gi!en estrogen, a :alium*liketran-uili>er or black cohosh (?emifemin, two tablets twice a day. The herb, which is an option forwomen who can$t take estrogen, worked best. "The !ast ma=ority of studies show benefit,& says 'ark

Blumenthal, executi!e director of the American Botanical )ouncil.

(@ Boswellia for Arthritis and Joint Inuries

id the three wise men suffer aches and pains from their long camel ride uckily, they hadfrankincense, aka boswellia, a traditional Ayur!edic medicine for arthritis and =oint in=uries. 8n a study

published in Alternati!e and )omplementary Therapies, 9gyptian researchers ga!e people with

osteoarthritis of the knee boswellia and turmeric or a placebo. After three months, the herb groupshowed significantly greater relief from knee swelling.

( Chamomile for !i"esti#e $roblems")hamomile tea, perhaps the best*known herbal tisane, is widely employed as a digesti!e remedy

throughout 9urope, and its therapeutic use is well documented,& says a!id #offman, author of'edical #erbalism. This herb relaxes spasms of the smooth muscles and counters inflammation in the

gut lining6 it also has antiseptic and !asodilatory effects. Allergic reactions are possible, especially if

you$re sensiti!e to ragweed.

(/ Chaste Tree for $remenstrual %&ndrome

8t won$t preser!e !irginity, but chaste tree has hormonal effects that minimi>e monthly symptoms.

0hen 1,C@ German '+ sufferers took chaste tree, D@ percent reported benefit. 8n tests against two

other popular treatments, !itamin EB.sub.CF and ro>ac, the herb worked as well as the drug and betterthan the !itamin. ")haste tree is the best herb for '+,& says 4ames A. uke, h.., author of The

Green harmacy. "8t$s safe and the studies are con!incing. "4ust be patient 8t can take three months toexperience benefit. +ome women report stomach distress, headache and increased menstrual flow.

(C Coffee for Athletic %tamina

The caffeine in coffee or tea stimulates not only alertness (and =itters and insomnia, but also athletic

performance. 5orean researchers at the 8nstitute for 9lderly #ealth in +eoul asked athletes to ride

stationary cycles until they felt exhausted%before and after drinking the e-ui!alent of one tall +tarbuckscoffee. After their =a!a break, they were able to ride significantly longer.

(< Coffee for $ain Relief

Anacin and 9xcedrin claim that their "extra ingredient& pro!ides greater pain relief. 0hat is it

)affeine. 'any reports, including one in the Archi!es of 8nternal 'edicine, ha!e shown that adding

about C/ milligrams of caffeine to aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen increases pain relief by around3 percent. )affeine blocks pain perception, has pain*relie!ing action, and ele!ates mood, which also

helps minimi>e pain. Next time you ha!e a headache, wash down your fa!orite pain pill with coffee or

tea for more relief.

(; Coffee as a !econ"estant in Colds' (lu and Asthma

)affeine opens narrowed bronchial tubes, according to 4oe and Teresa Graedon, authors of The

eople$s harmacy. According to a report in the Annals of 9pidemiology, the odds of experiencing

current asthma symptoms were reduced 2D percent for sub=ects who drank coffee on a regular basiswhen compared with non*coffee drinkers.



(D Cranberr& for )rinar&*Tract Infection

)ranberry pre!ents bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall long enough to cause an infection.

7innish researchers di!ided 1/3 recurrent HT8 sufferers into three groups. Ine drank cranberry =uice

(/3 milliliters a day. Another took actobacillus. The third took nothing. After six months, @C percentof the no*treatment group and @D percent of the actobacillus group reported at least one recurrence. If

the =uice drinkers, only 1C percent had recurrences. Ither options are dried cranberries ()raisins and

cranberry*extract capsules. "8 recommend cranberry for HT8,& uke says. "But if you drink the =uice,you ha!e to drink a lot. 8t$s usually easier to munch on the dried berries or take capsules.&

(13 +chinacea for Colds and (lu

The root of this daisy*like flower re!s up the immune system. According to an analysis by Hni!ersity

of 0isconsin researchers, in eight of nine studies e!aluating echinacea for upper*respiratory infections,the herb reduced symptoms and accelerated reco!ery compared with placebos. "As soon as 8 feel a cold

coming on, 8 take it%and my cold is mild and brief,& says uke. 9chinacea is a!ailable in teas and

capsules, though most herbalists prefer tinctures. i-uid echinacea products may cause temporary,harmless numbing or tingling of the tongue6 minor stomach upset is possible with tinctures. To manage

your cold and flu symptoms while the 9chinacea kicks in, you can use an IT) medication. 0hile these

medicines won$t cure or shorten the duration of your illness, they can help get you back on your feet

again.

(11 +#enin" $rimrose ,il for -owerin" Cholesterol

9!ening primrose seeds contain an oil with a high concentration of compounds rarely found in plants

essential fatty acids, specifically gamma*linolenic acid. 8n one study, reported in The ?e!iew of Naturalroducts, <D people with high cholesterol took grams of 9famol e!ery day for three months (which

pro!ides about @23 mg of GA, and their a!erage cholesterol le!el fell @1./ percent. The suggested

dose for e!ening primrose oil starts at 1*gram gelcaps twice or three times a day. #igh cholesterol

re-uires professional care, so consult your physician about GA.

(12 +#enin" $rimrose ,il for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The 97As in 9I are also a powerful anti*inflammatory. Hni!ersity of ennsyl!ania researchers ga!e

@< arthritis sufferers borage oil (which contains GA or a placebo, The placebo had no effect, but theherb group reported / percent less pain with no side effects. Ither studies utili>ing GA obtainedsimilar results. ?heumatoid arthritis re-uires professional care, so consult your physician about GA.

(1@ (e#erfew for Mi"raine $re#ention

British scientists at the Hni!ersity of 9xeter analy>ed six studies of fe!erfew, concluding that the herb

significantly reduces the fre-uency of migraine occurrence. "8n my experience,& uke says, "fe!erfew pre!ents migraines in about two*thirds of those who use it consistently.& osage is generally /3 to 1/3

mg per day of powdered lea!es.

(1 (la.seed for Menopausal !iscomfort

+afety concerns ha!e reduced the number of women on hormone replacement therapy, but flaxseed isrich in phytoestrogens (plant estrogens that can take the heat out of hot flashes. At a!al Hni!ersity in

Juebec, )anada, researchers ga!e 2/ menopausal women #?T or flaxseed (1. ounces per day, mixed

into food. After six months, flaxseed relie!ed hot flashes as effecti!ely as #?T.

(1/ (la.seed for ,steoporosis

Because flaxseed is a natural hormone replacement therapy, it also mimics #?T$s bone*preser!ing

ability. Iklahoma +tate researchers ga!e a placebo or flaxseed (1.@ ounces per day to @;

postmenopausal women for 1 weeks, and measured blood and urine for markers of bone loss andregrowth. The flaxseed group showed decreased bone resorption and calcium excretion, indicating

reduced bone loss.

http://contac.com/

http://contac.com/



(1C /arlic as an Antibiotic

7rom ancient times through 0orld 0ar 8, garlic has been used to treat the wounded. uring the 1D23s,

researchers at +ando> harmaceuticals in +wit>erland isolated garlic$s antibiotic compound, alliin,

which has no medicinal !alue until the herb is chewed, chopped or crushed. Then an en>ymetransforms alliin into a powerful antibiotic called allicin. 'odern antibiotics are more potent and easier

to take (=ust try chewing a do>en raw clo!es, but if you$re concerned about ulcers, use more garlic in

your diet. ?esearchers at the Hni!ersity of 0ashington ha!e shown that garlic kills #. pylori, the bacteria that cause ulcers. ?aw garlic has the most antibiotic potency, but garlic still has benefits when

cooked. "8 use lots of garlic in cooking,& uke says, "for reasons of taste and health.&

(1< /arlic for Cholesterol Control

?esearchers at New Kork 'edical )ollege in :alhalla analy>ed fi!e studies and found that one*half toone clo!e of garlic per day reduces cholesterol by D percent. 8f you$d rather not eat fresh garlic e!ery

day, garlic supplements, including "deodori>ed& brands. ha!e a similar effect. (+upplements with

pro!en benefit include 5wai and 5!olic. "Garlic doesn$t work as well as the statin drugs,& saysBlumenthal, "so if your numbers are really high, you may need medication. But if your cholesterol s

=ust mildly ele!ated or if it$s normal and you want to keep it that way, garlic definitely helps.& Garlic

can impair blood clotting6 if you notice increased bruising, stop taking it. and consult your physician.

(1; /arlic for Cancer $re#ention

Garlic reduces the risk of se!eral cancers. 8n the long*term 8owa 0omen$s #ealth +tudy. researchers

followed 1,;@< middle*aged women. +ub=ects who ate the most garlic had the lowest risk of colon

cancer. A few clo!es a week cut risk by @2 percent and greater intake decreased risk e!en more 0hilefruit and !egetable consumption in general helps pre!ent cancel in this study, garlic yielded the greatest

pre!enti!e benefit of all the plant foods analy>ed. Ither studies ha!e shown that garlic helps lower risk

for prostate and bladder cancers.

(1D /in"er for Motion %ickness

8n ancient )hina, sailors chewed ginger root to pre!ent motion sickness and modern studies ha!e

confirmed that ginger pre!ents nausea and !omiting. anish scientists at +!endborg #ospital obser!ed

;3 na!al cadets in hea!y seas and found that those who took ginger experienced <2 percent lessseasickness than a placebo group. Take a 1*gram capsule of powdered ginger root about an hour beforeyou embark, and another e!ery two hours or as needed (without exceeding 13 grams a day during a

=ourney, Ginger$s only side effect is occasional minor heartburn. "t use ginger myself.& uke says, "8t

works for me.&

(23 /in"er for Mornin" %ickness

+peaking of nausea, ginger also assists in pre!enting morning sickness. 8n a stud$. published in

Ibstetrics and Gynecology, researchers at Thailand$s )hiang 'ai Hni!ersity ga!e <3 nausea*plagued

pregnant women ginger powder (1 gram a day or a placebo. 8n the latter group, 2; percent reportedrelief But in the ginger group, the figure was ;; percent, use the dose gi!en in the study, or brew a tea

using 2 teaspoons of freshly grated root per cup of boiling water.

(21 /ink"o for Al0heimer1s !isease

The big study was published in 1DD< in the =ournal of the American 'edical Association ?esearchers na multicenter study ga!e 232 people with Al>heimer$s either a placebo or ginkgo extract (123 mg a

day. A year later, the ginkgo group retained more mental function, and subse-uent studies ha!e

corroborated this finding. Ginkgo 8mpro!es blood flow around the body%including through the brain.8t$s safe. but it has anticoagulant properties, so increased bruising is possible.

(22 /ink"o for Mental Acuit&

Beyond its benefits for Al>heimer$s, four recent studies show that ginkgo impro!es mental function in



people who are cogniti!ely normal, 8n a study published in hytotherapy ?esearch. @1 health, adults,

ages @3 to /D, recei!ed ginkgo (123 to @33 mg a day or a placebo, The herbs significantly impro!ed

se!eral measures of memory. Buy a standardi>ed extract and take 123 to 23 mg a day.

(2@ /ink"o for +rection and -ibido $roblems

Ginkgo impro!es blood flow into the genitals. 8n a study published in the 4ournal of Hrology, C3 men

with erection problems caused by narrowed arteries and impaired blood flow to the penis were gi!en

ginkgo (C3 mg a day6 after six months, half had regained erection ability. 0hen researchers at theHni!ersity of #awaii and +tanford Hni!ersity tested Argin'ax, a sexual*enhancement supplement thatcontains ginkgo, ginseng and *arginine, ;3 percent of the male sub=ects had impro!ed erection

function, while < percent of the female sub=ects reported more libido, less dryness and greater

fre-uency of orgasm.

(2 /ink"o for Anti*!epressant*Induced %e. $roblems

An enormous number of Americans take antidepressants, The relief comes at a price a substantial risk

of libido loss erection impairment, !aginal dryness and inability to reach orgasm. 8n!estigators at the

Hni!ersity of )alifornia at +an 7rancisco ga!e ginkgo (23D mg a day to C@ people suffering fromantidepressant*induced sex problems. The herb helped D1 percent of the women and <C percent of the

men to return to normal sexual function

(2/ /ink"o for Altitude %ickness

Tra!eling from a low ele!ation up to the mountains often produces symptoms of altitude sickness, suchas headache, sluggishness and excessi!e thirst, due to the decrease in a!ailable oxygen. (I!er a few

days. the body makes more red blood cells, which boosts oxygenation of the blood. ?esearchers at the

#opital de )hamonix in 7rance ga!e mountaineers ascending the #imalayas ginkgo (;3 mg twicedaily or a placebo. 8n the latter group, ;2 percent de!eloped respiratory problems related to altitude

sickness, but among the ginkgo users, the figure was only 1 percent.

(2C /insen" for Athletic %tamina

'any athletes take ginseng as part of their training. 8n a study published in )linical Therapy, 8talianresearchers ga!e /3 physical education teachers a placebo or ginseng (with some !itamins and

minerals, and then had them run on a treadmill, #earts and lungs in the ginseng group worked moreefficiently, and those sub=ects$ stamina increased significantly, Ginseng is safe, but it does ha!eanticoagulant action. so increased bruising is possible.

(2< /insen" for Immune +nhancement

'any studies show that ginseng re!s up the immune system. +cientists at the Hni!ersity of 'ilan. 8taly,

ga!e ginseng (133 mg a day or a placebo to 22< people. A month later. e!eryone recei!ed a flu shot(which does not kill the flu !irus. but rather stimulates the immune system to resist infection. 8n the

placebo group, 2 people got the flu, but in the ginseng group, the figure was =ust 1/, demonstrating

that ginseng enhanced immune response to the shot.

(2; /insen" for !iabetes

Ginseng also reduces blood*sugar le!els. 8n a study published in iabetes )are, @3 sub=ects newlydiagnosed with diabetes were gi!en ginseng extract (133 or 233 mg a day or a placebo, with the

ginseng groups showing lower blood*sugar le!els. Ither studies concur. iabetes re-uires professional

treatment6 consult your physician about ginseng.

(2D /insen" for +rectile !&sfunction

According to a re!iew of studies at Kale Hni!ersity, ginseng boosts the body$s synthesis of nitric oxide.

As NI increases, so does the likelihood of erection. 8n a report in the 4ournal of Hrology, 5orean

researchers ga!e / men with erection impairment a placebo or ginseng (D33 mg three times a day.Those taking the herb experienced significant erection impro!ement.



(@3 /insen" for -ow %perm Count

At the Hni!ersity of ?ome, 8taly, researchers ga!e ginseng ( grams a day to @3 men suffering from

low sperm counts. Three months later, the sub=ects$ counts almost doubled, from an a!erage of 1/

millionLml to 2D millionLml.

(@1 /oldenseal for !i"esti#e*Tract Infections

Goldenseal, an herbal antibiotic, is often marketed in combination with echinacea as a treatment for

infections, but it is effecti!e only in the digesti!e tract, not for colds or flu. At the Hni!ersity of 8llinoisin )hicago, researchers tested goldenseal against #. pylori, the bacteria that cause ulcers, and the herbinhibited bacterial growth. 7or G8 infections (ulcer, food poisoning, infectious diarrhea, etc., ask your

doctor about using goldenseal in addition to medical therapies.

(@2 Hawthorn for Con"esti#e Heart (ailure

8n heart failure, the heart keeps beating, =ust not as forcefully as it should6 people with the condition become exhausted from minor exertion. 'any studies show that hawthorn stimulates fatigued hearts to

beat more normally. 8n a study published in hytomedicine, German researchers ga!e hawthorn (23

mg a day or a placebo to 3 people with heart failure. Three months later, the hawthorn group was ableto exercise significantly longer. "0e re!iewed much of the published research on hawthorn recently,&

Blumenthal says, "and 1@ of 1 studies showed benefit in heart failure.&

(@@ Hibiscus for H&pertension

#ibiscus is the trumpet*shaped, tropical flower that puts the color in ?ed Minger tea. A report in the4ournal of 9thnopharmacology found that 12 days of drinking hibiscus tea (2 teaspoons per cup of

boiling water se!eral times a day lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 11 percent. #igh

blood pressure re-uires professional care6 ask your doctor about adding hibiscus to your treatment plan.

(@ Horse Chestnut for Varicose Veins

"'ainstream medicine offers only support hose and surgery,& says Blumenthal, "but standardi>ed horse

chestnut seed extract has shown efficacy in most clinical trials.& At the Hni!ersity of #eidelberg,

Germany, 23 sufferers of newly !isible !aricose !eins were treated with compression stockings orhorse chestnut (/3 mg aescin twice a day. After 12 weeks, both groups reported e-ual relief. Iff the

tree, horse chestnuts are poisonous, but commercial extracts are detoxified and safe.

(@/ Horsetail for %kin Healin"

Before steel wool and abrasi!e cleansers, this herb helped scour pots and pans. Today it$s used to healthe skin. A +panish study published in ?e!ista de 9nfermeria showed that horsetail speeds the healing

of wounds6 it$s also used in skin*care products.

(@C -a#ender for An.iet&

a!ender flowers are an age*old remedy for anxiety. British researchers at the Hni!ersity of0ol!erhampton had women add la!ender oil or a placebo to their bath water. Bathing by itself is

calming, but in this study, a bath infused with la!ender oil significantly reduced anger, frustration and

negati!ity. Hse a handful of la!ender flowers, or buy la!ender oil and add se!eral drops to your bath.

8ngesting la!ender oil is toxic6 keep it away from children.

(@< -emon Balm for Rela.ation

The 1<th*century 9nglish herbalist Nicholas )ulpeper wrote that lemon balm dri!es away all

melancholy. That$s an o!erstatement, but science has shown that lemon balm is tran-uili>ing. The herband its oil ha!e been used in Al>heimer$s care units to calm those who are agitated. To decompress

after a tough day, try a cup of lemon*balm tea6 for extra benefit, mix with chamomile.

(@; -emon Balm for Herpes

emon balm has anti!iral action. As reported in hytomedicine, German researchers ga!e CC people in



the early stages of herpes simplex labialis outbreaks lemon*balm cream or a placebo. The herb group

had milder outbreaks that healed faster. emon balm is the acti!e ingredient in the herpes treatment

#erpalie!e. "8f you ha!e herpes,& uke says, "drink lemon*balm tea. 8f you ha!e an outbreak, apply

lemon balm to the sore.&

(@D -icorice for %ore Throat

8n a study in the 4ournal of Alternati!e and )omplementary 'edicine, researchers ga!e either a placebo

or Throat )oat, a licorice tea from Traditional 'edicinals, to C3 sore*throat sufferers to C times a dayfor se!en days6 the tea tipplers reported significantly less pain on swallowing. Add a teaspoon ofchopped or powdered root to a be!erage tea, and feel relief almost immediately.

(3 Milk Thistle for -i#er Health

+ilymarin in milk thistle seeds has a remarkable ability to protect the li!er. This herb has been shown to

help treat hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis, and it$s been found more effecti!e than traditional medicineat treating "deathcap& mushroom poisoning. "8n our analysis,& Blumenthal says,& 1D of 21 studies

support milk thistle seed extract for li!er conditions.& Because most drugs are metaboli>ed through the

li!er, many herbalists recommend silymarin for anyone who takes li!er*taxing medication.

(1 $apa&a for Herniated !isks

apaya has been used by )aribbean 8ndians to treat skin wounds and infections and by the 4apanese totreat digesti!e disorders. 8n 1D;2, the 7ood and rug Administration appro!ed in=ections of the papaya

en>yme chymopapain to dissol!e cellular debris in herniated or slipped !ertebral disks in the back.Allergic reactions are possible.

(2 $eppermint for Indi"estion

8n ancient Greece, people chewed a sprig of mint after feasts to settle the stomach, a tradition that

e!ol!ed into our after*dinner mints. German researchers ga!e 11; adults with persistent indigestion astandard drug (cisapride or twice*daily capsules of enteric*coated peppermint oil (D3 mg and caraway

oil (/3 mg, another traditional stomach soother. (The enteric coating allows the capsules to sur!i!e

stomach acid and release their oil in the small intestine, where non*heartburn indigestion de!elops.7our weeks later, the drug and the herb blend produced the same relief. 8f you use herbal oils, do not

exceed the recommended dose, and keep them away from children. Kou also can brew a pepperminttea, and add a teaspoon of chopped caraway to meals. "0hen 8 get indigestion,& uke says, "8 go to thegarden, pick some peppermint, chew some lea!es, and make tea. 8t works for me.&

(@ $eppermint for Irritable Bowel %&ndrome

8B+ in!ol!es persistent abdominal cramps, bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea or constipation. British

researchers at the Hni!ersity of 9xeter analy>ed fi!e studies of peppermint oil as a treatment, and foundthat it pro!ided benefit. (+ee the pre!ious item for options and cautions.

( $s&llium for !iarrhea and Constipation

syllium is a tiny seed that contains mucilage, a soluble fiber that swells on exposure to water. 7or

diarrhea, psyllium can absorb excess fluid in the gut. 7or constipation, psyllium adds bulk to stool,

which presses on the colon wall and triggers the ner!es that produce the urge to go. Kou may find psyllium at health*food stores, but it$s easiest to take 'etamucil, which is psyllium with fla!oring.

0hen using psyllium, drink plenty of water. Allergic reactions are possible.

(/ Red $epper for $ain Relief

)apsaicin, the compound that gi!es red pepper (cayenne its fiery fla!or, is a potent topical pain

relie!er, according to the #andbook of Nonprescription rugs. 0hen rubbed on the skin, it causes mild

superficial burning. But that sensation desensiti>es nearby pain ner!es, and soothes pain in deeper

tissues. )apsaicin is the acti!e ingredient in se!eral o!er*the*counter pain*relie!ing creams, such as)apsin, Mostrix and ain*.



(C %t2 John1s 3ort for !epression

7or mild depression, +t. 4ohn$s wort often works as well as ro>ac and Moloft, but with fewer side

effects. "0e recently concluded a comprehensi!e re!iew of the scientific literature on +t. 4ohn$s wort,

and 21 of 2@ studies support it for mild*to*moderate depression,& says Blumenthal. +tudies showing benefits ha!e used C33 to 1,;33 mg a day6 most ha!e used D33 mg a day. +tomach upset is possible,

and +t. 4ohn$s wort interacts with many drugs, including possibly reducing the effecti!eness of birth*

control pills. epression re-uires professional care6 ask your physician about +t. 4ohn$s wort.(< %aw $almetto for Beni"n $rostate +nlar"ement

8n a study published in the =ournal The rostate, saw palmetto extract (@2*3 mg was compared with

finasteride in 1,3D; men with prostate symptoms. After 2 weeks, both treatments were e-ually

effecti!e, but the herb caused fewer side effects. ?esearchers at the 'inneapolis :eterans Affairs'edical )enter analy>ed 1; studies and found saw palmetto to be effecti!e for prostate symptoms.

(; Tea for Heart Health

Tea, particularly green tea, has rocketed to prominence as an herbal medicine. 8t$s high in antioxidants,

which help pre!ent heart disease. 8n a study published in the Archi!es of 8nternal 'edicine, utchresearchers followed @,/ residents of ?otterdam. )ompared with those who drank no tea, those who

drank two cups a day had C percent less risk of heart attack, while those who drank four cups a day

en=oyed CD percent lower risk. rinking tea also impro!es sur!i!al odds after heart attack.

(D Tea for Cancer $re#ention

?esearchers at the Hni!ersity of +outhern )alifornia sur!eyed /31 Asian women with breast cancer and

/D who were cancer*free. Those who were cancer*free drank the most green tea6 as consumption rose,

risk fell. Also, 4apanese researchers reported in )ancer etters that breast*cancer sur!i!ors who drankthree or more cups a day reduced the risk of recurrence. Green tea also appears to protect against

cancers of the colon, rectum, and pancreas. 'ost research has used green tea.

(/3 Tea for Bad Breath and /um !isease

7orget breath mints. 8nstead, researchers at the Hni!ersity of 8llinois )ollege of entistry in )hicagosuggest a cup of tea (black or green, which contains compounds that stop the growth of bacteria that

cause bad breath. An added benefit Tea helps pre!ent gum disease, the main cause of adult tooth loss.

(/1 Tea Tree ,il for Athlete1s (oot

Tea tree isn$t tea6 it$s an Australian plant with an antifungal, antiseptic oil. 8n a study published in theAustralasian 4ournal of ermatology, researchers had people with athlete$s foot apply tea tree oil (/3

percent concentration or a placebo. After four weeks, @1 percent of the placebo group and C percent

of the tea tree contingent were cured. harmaceutical ointments work faster, but tea tree oil is clearlyeffecti!e. "Apply it with a J*tip twice a day,& uke says.

(/2 Tea Tree ,il for !andruff

As reported in the 4ournal of the American Academy of ermatology, Australian researchers studied

12C people with dandruff, which is caused by a skin fungus. +ub=ects were gi!en either an ordinary

shampoo or one containing / percent tea tree oil. After four weeks, flaking was reduced 11 percent inthe plain*shampoo group, but 1 percent in those who used tea tree oil. 8t$s not a miracle cure, but if

your dandruff shampoo isn$t working as well as you$d like, add a drop or two of tea tree oil each time

you shampoo.

(/@ Turmeric for Arthritis and Joint Inuries

)urcumin, the yellow pigment in this 8ndian spice, is an anti*inflammatory. 8n combination with

boswellia, it treats osteoarthritis, according to in!estigators at 8ndia$s )entral rug ?esearch 8nstitute.

Hse turmeric or yellow curries in cooking. "8 de!eloped a recipe called OArthritis +oup,$& uke says,"containing lots of anti*inflammatory herbs. The recipe also calls for 2 tablespoons of turmeric.& 0hen



taking capsules, follow label directions.

(/ Valerian for Insomnia

+tudies ha!e shown that !alerian aids sleep, often as well as pharmaceutical sedati!es and without

being addicti!e. 8n a study published in the 9uropean 4ournal of 'edical ?esearch, in!estigators ga!e232 insomniacs !alerian or a :alium*like tran-uili>er. After six weeks, both treatments were e-ually

effecti!e. "?esearch strongly supports that !alerian works,& Blumenthal says. "8t$s been used widely

and safely for hundreds of years.& Note 8t takes a week or more to begin noticing benefit. Also, raw!alerian root smells and tastes terrible ("like funky socks,& Blumenthal says, so pills are more palatable.

(// 3hite 3illow Bark for Back $ain

0hite willow bark contains salicin, a close chemical relati!e of aspirin. According to a German study

of /1 people with low back pain, 23 mg a day of willow bark worked better than con!entionaltherapeutic options. ike aspirin, willow bark can cause stomach distress, and it shouldn$t be gi!en to

children.

* +ee more at httpLLwww.herbalremediesinfo.comLbest*herbal*remedies.htmlPsthash.;@DeCAN.dpuf

the 55 best herbal remedies

Documents