It is responsible for hormone secretion, and controls the other glands that produce hormones. Occasionally, the pituitary gland can develop benign tumors. These tumors usually are asymptomatic, but may require medicinal treatme...
Cerebral edema refers to swelling of the brain caused by an excess of water. If left untreated, it can cause severe brain damage or even death. Some medicinal herbs have been found to help reduce cerebral edema. However, it is ...
Getting up and walking around actually helps relieve discomfort. The exact cause is unknown, but it can be related to pregnancy, neuropathy or even iron deficiency. It can also cause insomnia. Some herbal remedies may help alle...
Since ancient times, herbs have played a major role in both cooking and as herbal remedies. For example, the Ebers papyrus dating from 1550 BC mentions 22 medicinal preparations using garlic, according to Ernest Small of the Ca...
Because IC has no conventional medical cure and causes painful spasms and urinary frequency, many women turn to herbal medicine for relief. While alternative practitioners may recommend a number of herbs to treat IC, ask your d...
In 2009, herbal supplement sales totaled $5,030,000,000 in the U.S. alone, according to the American Botanical Council. Consult your physician before adding herbs to your daily regimen.
Chickweed is a medicinal herb prepared from the Stellaria media plant. The young stalks of this plant are commonly used as salad greens, particularly in Asian countries, such as Japan and Korea. Chickweed is rich in flavonoids ...
In today's world, many of the latest and greatest skin care products can contain a very old remedy: herbs. While herbs have been used for a variety of reasons for many years, it has been only recently that scientists, researche...
Medicinal herbs and herbal remedies have been used for health purposes throughout history. Formerly the province of traditional healers, medicinal herbs and herbal remedies are available in tablets, capsules and powders in a gr...
Ancient Chinese healers recommended horsetail as a treatment for arthritis, wound infections, diarrhea and hemorrhoids. It also contains a diuretic chemical called equisetonin, which may help flush excess fluid from your body, ...
Many people take herbs to treat colds and allergies and to boost their immune system.
Many plants have antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral compounds. It is helpful to understand the cause of your symptoms and potential fo...
Two prominent risk factors for this condition are age and a family history of the condition. Medicinal herbs may help slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, although you should first talk with your health care provider ab...
As with all alternative and complementary medicine, if you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications on a regular basis, you should consult with your primary health care provider before using herbs for medicin...
The main components of blood include red cells, which carry oxygen, white cells, which fight infection and clean up debris, and plasma, which carries nutrients and hormones. Lack of red blood cells is known as anemia. The term,...
The National Sleep Foundation recommends adults sleep for seven to nine hours per night. Stress, illnesses, household responsibilities and work concerns, however, may make this difficult to achieve. Herbs taken before bedtime ...
Anxiety is a common reaction to stressful situations, reports the National Institute of Mental Health. A little anxiety is not necessarily a bad thing. However, if you become excessively anxious, you may notice a decline in you...
Inflammation has been shown to contribute to the development of diabetes and these related conditions. Evidence available in 2011 suggests that certain medicinal plants possess hypoglycemic, or sugar-lowering, properties due to...
Some plants contain parts that may be used medicinally as both a spice and an herb. Dr. Michael Murray, a naturopathic doctor, herbal medicine expert and author of "The Healing Power of Herbs," states that more and more researc...
While botanists, herbalist healers, cultural anthropologists and chefs may disagree on the exact definition of medicinal herbs, they can all appreciate the plants for their culinary uses and nutritional value. Ounce for ounce, ...
From chamomile and milk thistle to echinacea, the list of herbs that are traditionally used for medicinal purposes is vast and varied. In order to get the freshest medicinal herbs possible without paying health food store price...
Its most characteristic symptom is chronic, widespread body pain. However, the pain of fibromyalgia is often accompanied by other diverse and troubling symptoms, including depression, fatigue, headaches and cognitive dysfuncti...
Pycnogenol is a substance extracted from the bark of pine tree species such as Pinus pinaster and Pinus maritima. Pycnogenol is used as a medicinal herb to treat circulatory and inflammatory conditions, and its effects are attr...
Nearly 40 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies every year, and herbs can provide an effective defense. Mark Blumenthal, executive director of the American Botanical Council, says that plants are superior to syntheti...
There are three principle types of lung disease: airway diseases, lung tissue diseases and pulmonary circulation diseases. Before taking medicinal herbs to improve your lung health, talk with your doctor about possible side eff...
Stomach complications such as stomachache, indigestion and nausea have several causes, ranging from diet, pregnancy or underlying medical conditions. Consuming medicinal herbs to treat stomach ailments is a natural alternative ...
Ayurveda, a system of healing developed over thousands of years, is the traditional system of health care in India. Ayurveda uses a comprehensive array of botanical preparations to treat a wide variety of illnesses based on its...
This blockage restricts the blood flow through the primary arteries supplying oxygen-rich blood to the heart. Herbs can help bolster flood flow and clear artery blockages. Be sure to consult a physician prior to using herbs med...
Medicinal herbs have been an integral part of ancient health practices, such as ayurveda, for centuries. Today, modern medicine recognizes medicinal herbs as alternative and complementary therapies for a host of conditions. Amo...
Datura stramonium, also known as Moonflower or Jimsonweed, is a poisonous weed that grows across most of the United States. Moonflower has been used for centuries as an intoxicant and medicinal herb, according to San Francisco ...
You don't have to look to traditional Chinese medicine or alternative medicine to find medicinal uses of plants. While many may argue about the value of herbal preparations, numerous widely-available conventional drugs are deri...
Using herbs and spices for flavor and taste in foods and for medicinal proposes goes back many centuries. Alternative medical practitioners are strong advocates who use these products for their patients. Mainstream medical prac...
Medicinal herbs are plants that have been used throughout history to treat a variety of wounds, conditions and ailments. Although there is evidence that using medicinal herbs may be helpful in healing or treating a health issue...
It is used for a variety of medicinal purposes. Bayberry is purportedly a stimulant and an astringent used to treat a host of ailments. However, more medical research needs to be done on this versatile herbal plant to assess it...
Chickweed is a common, creeping weed found growing wild all over the world. It's an especially common weed in Europe, says MedicinalHerbInfo.org. However, don't let its humble look fool you. It also has a long history of use as...
Stress is the most common cause of muscle tension. Muscle-relaxing medications and anti-anxiety medications are often used to treat muscle tension, but they can cause unpleasant side effects. To try to avoid the side effects of...
The World Health Organization estimates that about 80 percent of the world's population still relies largely on herbal medicine and traditional therapies. The basis of much of Western medicine can be traced to medicinal plants....
Echoes of Persian, ancient Greek and other Central Asian medicine are also present. Universal energies and elements balanced within the body, according to Buddhist concepts, are said to create good health, where mind-health sup...
Tropical plants and herbs have been used in native and folk medicine for centuries. Scientists have begun to study many of these herbs to validate herbalists' claims and determine their place in modern medicine. Although many h...
Nearly one-third of all Americans use herbal medicine, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center website, but almost everyone uses many of those same herbs everyday in their food. Some medicinal herbs, such as saw ...
Creams that promise to renew and rejuvenate your skin often contain herbal ingredients that have shown skin regeneration properties in laboratory research. Some of the most popular medicinal herbs in wrinkle creams have a reput...
Yet in America, herbs are not used as widely as over-the-counter or prescription medications for medicinal purposes. Americans may want to reconsider the benefits of herbs like feverfew, as they can be very powerful. If you tak...
It is based on the belief that all things are connected, whether living or nonliving, and that disease is the result of an imbalance between the systems of the body or the person's interaction with the universal flow of energy....
Medicinal herbs offer alternative means to treat health conditions and supplement your diet. Unlike vitamins and minerals, herbs are not regulated by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration, or FDA. Rather, you can seek guidance t...
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most widespread liver disease in the U.S., according to Liver Support.com. Certain herbs are purported to help prevent or reverse the development of a fatty liver.
Cultures have used medicinal herbs for centuries, yet many people are hesitant to trust their effectiveness and will only resort to conventional medical treatments. However, there are clinical tests that show some herbs are eff...
Medicinal herbs come from angiosperms, which are flowering plants, and from gymnosperms, which are trees and shrubs. Medicinal herbalists use the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit and bark of the flowering plants, trees and ...
Cysts have walls that seperate them from surrounding tissues, and are generally caused by obstructed ducts. Cysts occasionally need to be removed surgically, otherwise certain herbs can help treat and even dissolve cysts.
Medicinal herbs have been around throughout civilization and have been used to treat a wide variety of conditions. Today, these healing herbs are clinically tested through laboratory trials to check their effectiveness and thei...
Many herbal remedies are found not to be effective for the ailments they are supposed to treat. However, there are some top medicinal herbs that are highly rated for their effectiveness. While allergy and potential side effects...
They may share the same name, but the medicinal herb plantain bears no relation to the banana-like fruits known as plantains. You've probably seen the decidedly nonexotic plantain herb in meadows and along roadsides, perhaps ev...
Medicinal herbs have been used to treat health conditions for a very long time. They supply the body with valuable nutrients the body may be lacking, and they help the body to heal itself. Some medicinal herbs are used to make ...
Asian medicinal herbs are those heavily relied upon herbal remedies in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Asian society. Traditional Asian herbal remedies have been employed for centuriess to treat a variety of ailments. Tod...
Thailand's herbalists and folk healers have drawn heavily on this southeast Asian country's rich supply of plant substances with reputed medicinal properties. These medicinal herbs, known as "samunphrai" in local Thai dialect, ...
One of the best ways to insure a relaxing experience of putting your children to sleep---and keeping them asleep---is to create a bedtime ritual for them. Herbal essential oils, teas and herbal tinctures and glycerites can help...
South American natives have been using the leaves of the stevia rebaudiana plant as a sweetener for centuries. More recently, scientists have begun studying the plant for its medicinal effects in vitro, on animals and in human ...
Like other Native American tribes, the Blackfoot people used the trees, flowers and plants in their territory to create a variety of herbal remedies that are still in use today--not only by Blackfoot tribe members but also by o...
Today in the United States, it is well known as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Based on their philosophy, Ayurvedic practitioners prevent illness and promote wellness by balancing the body, mind and spirit th...
Fennel is both a culinary herb and a traditional medicinal herb. The plant is believed to have originated in Europe in areas near the Mediterranean Sea. The seeds of the fennel plant are often chewed to soothe the stomach after...
Organic medicinal herbs are some of the very first medicines man ever used. Today there are testing facilities designed to check herbs for their use against medical conditions. Clinical trials have been done on some herbs to de...
There are plants to reduce fever and congestion, ease indigestion, soothe inflammation, relieve pain, prevent disease, lower blood pressure and shorten the duration of infections. Consult your doctor for testing, diagnosis and ...
Many herbal remedies and medicinal plants can be found in North America. Researchers study medicinal herbs to determine their range of effectiveness and how they can complement traditional medications. Some herbal remedies find...
Natural medicinal herbs have been used for thousands of years in every corner of the world. Most of the medicine we take today has been at one time an herbal remedy. Digitalis, the famed heart drug, is nothing more than a refin...
Many of today's pharmaceutical drugs are based on herbal remedies. Clinical trials of these medicinal herbs separate the facts from the fiction, and provide people with new ways to treat and prevent many health issues.
You have many treatment options for cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and alternative therapies such as herbal remedies. Medicinal herbs for cancer aren't meant as a cure, but can offer some relief from effect...
Skin ailments such as eczema, fungal infections, acne and wounds can worsen without treatment. For those seeking a more natural approach to medicine, herbal remedies can address these skin problems. Some herbal remedies have be...
Herbal remedies have long been studied and tested for their effectiveness in regards to health issues. While some have been verified as beneficial (the foxglove plant has been made into the pharmaceutical drug digitalis), other...
Herbs are plant-based substances that are often used in cooking and medicine. The main difference between culinary and medicinal use is dosage, which is generally higher in herbal medicine. The list of medicinally active herbs...
After menopause, a woman's health needs change as her body adjusts to a postmenopausal state. Merck Online Manuals reports that an average woman is postmenopausal for about one-third of her lifetime. Herbal remedies may help re...
Pain can cause different sensations depending on where it occurs in the body, such as the nerves, joints or muscles. While there are many pharmaceutical options for treating pain, some painkillers can be addictive or cause side...
While medications like Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) may be effective in treating joint pain, they can cause side effects ranging from stomach irritation to cardiovascular complications like heart attack and st...
Diabetics need medical supervision, care and advice from a professional health-care practitioner for treatment regarding diet, exercise and medications if necessary. Professional health care providers who advocate alternative m...
As more people turn to alternative medicine, many are reaping the health benefits associated with fresh medicinal herbs. Medicinal herbs have been used for thousands of years, and the value of these herbs continues to be resear...
There are many herbs with medicinal properties, both those used historically before research proved them false and those that science has proven have merit. There are many different herbal supplements on the market, but some ar...
There are several folklore remedies in which berries, leaves, roots, bark or flowers are consumed or processed to relieve an ailment. The majority of those treatments have been tested and deemed unreliable, but a few have turne...
Manufacturers are able to make treatment claims on the labels of their products, which makes it easier for consumers to identify helpful herbs. Once available only from natural food stores or herbalists, herbal supplements with...