Before the introduction of modern medicine, spices were often used to treat common aliments. Doctors were not only expensive, but few and far between. Some cultures, such as the Native American Cherokee only used plants as medicine. For example,...
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 through standards set...
The use of medicinal plants is not new. In fact, if you take aspirin or drink green tea, you are using medicinal plants. According to the Rainforest Information Centre, approximately one-quarter of the drugs used today were derived from rainforest...
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 drugs, but most of...
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 shrubs. Medicinal...
Kava is a member of the pepper family. It grows naturally on the Pacific Ocean islands. The stem of the plant is used for medicinal purposes. Kava should only be taken with medical supervision because it can cause some serious side effects...
While medicinal plants are often overlooked in Western culture, other societies place great value on their healing powers. Recently, nutrition has gained a great deal of attention, with foods such as ginger, green tea, walnuts and other plants...
Stevia, with the scientific name of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, is an herb native to Bolivia. It is 300 times as sweet as sugar. Its best-known medicinal quality is based on what it lacks--calories. This makes stevia valuable in treating obesity...
Many of our medicines and treatments are plant-based products that come from medicinal plants. There are several folklore remedies in which berries, leaves, roots, bark or flowers are consumed or processed to relieve an ailment. The majority of...
Holy basil is a medicinal herb that has been used in Europe and Asia for many centuries. In Sanskrit, the herb is known as tulsi. Holy basil is not to be confused with culinary basil, a closely related plant. Before taking holy basil or any other...
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 to chemical...
Many plants possess medicinal qualities and are used in dietary supplements. Some are folklore remedies and others have been cultivated for use in office and hospital settings. The effectiveness of these supplements is not always backed by...
Medicinal plants and herbal remedies have a long history of use that dates back thousands of years. Many of today's pharmaceutical drugs are based on herbal remedies. Clinical trials of these medicinal herbs separate the facts from the fiction,...
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 researchers are discovering...
Bergamot, a pleasant-smelling citrus fruit, has been used for centuries as a medicine, perfume and spice. Oil of bergamot gives Earl Gray tea its characteristic scent and flavor; it also possesses powerful medicinal properties. Bergamot oil may be...
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 researched to this day....
Blackberries are an abundant and widespread, vine-growing fruit in North America. Prized for the sweet and tart berries, blackberries also have properties that make them useful for medicinal purposes. Blackberries contain gallic acid and tannin...
Alzheimer's disease is a type of progressive dementia that affects your cognitive abilities and your behavior. The National Center for Biotechnology Information states that Alzheimer's disease is characterized by memory problems, language...
Menopause signals the end of a woman's ability to bear children, and in the years preceding her last menstrual period, she may experience symptoms as her hormones fluctuate. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the traditional way doctors treat...
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 effects of the cancer. The...
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, form the basis of...
The National Institutes of Health reports on its medical review page, MedlinePlus, that toothpastes and mouthwashes often include menthol as an ingredient. Menthol, a chemical compound, is part of the the monoterpenol functional group....
Aloe africana, aloe ferox and aloe mucilage, are all synonyms for aloe vera. For thousands of years, the transparent gel found inside the aloe vera plant has been used to treat everything from burns to constipation. It has a number of medicinal...
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. Among the most popular...
Damiana is a medicinal shrub of the Turneraceae plant family that is native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The leaves of this herb are used for therapeutic purposes, usually in the form of tea blends, fluid extracts or supplement...
Chinese medicinal herbs have been used for thousands of years and many people believe in their benefits. Clinical trials and laboratory testing have put some of these herbs to the test for effectiveness. Before using any herbal remedy or medicinal...
Burdock is a weed that is a member of the daisy family. It has purple flowers and burrs that stick to clothing. In some areas of Asia and Europe, people eat burdock root as a vegetable, but it also has medicinal properties and has been used for...
The fennel plant is related to other seed-bearing herbs, including cumin, dill and anise. Fennel produces aromatic seeds that have a sweet, black licorice flavor. The seeds are often chewed as a medicinal treatment. The seeds and other segments of...
The borage plant, scientific name Borago officinalis, is an attractive annual to plant in your garden--the bright blue flowers are shaped like stars and attract honey bees. Borage flowers are edible, and the seeds derived from the plant are...
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