Long valued for its culinary zing, turmeric also contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds. New data suggest that it could be an ally in treating certain types of lymphoma, and also that it reduces “bad” cholesterol.
Named for Pegasus, the flying horse of Greek myth, Sea Buckthorn plant (Hippophae rhamnoides) has been mainstay of traditional medicine in Eastern Europe and Asia for centuries. Its orange berries are very rich in Omega 7 fatty acids as well as vitamin E and other compounds speed the healing and support the integrity of the skin and other mucous membranes. It may have an important role in treating irritable bowel syndrome and other gut problems.
Stress, sleeplessness and weight gain are inter-related and self-reinforcing problems that wreak havoc on an individual’s health. Researchers are starting to understand how these problems are connected. The good news is, a combination of two Chinese herbs, Magnolia and Phellodendron, can safely and effectively break the metabolic cycles that drive these conditions.
The idea of pregnant women taking herbal medicines makes a lot of physicians nervous. Dr. Paul Saunders believes the fear is largely unfounded. Herbs, like Viburnum, Mitchella, Rubus, Aletris, and Melissa, can safely mitigate many different health challenges during pregnancy and lactation.
Filipinos call it Ampalaya. Chinese people call it Ku Gua. In India it is called Karela. Your diabetic patients may soon be calling it “good news.”
As the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes continues to rise, so have the number of new natural products aimed at helping diabetics and people with insulin resistance maintain better glycemic control. Several of these products are showing real promise in the management of these difficult conditions.
There are solid clinical trials supporting a number of botanical medicines for the treatment of arthritis, low back pain, and other chronic pain conditions. This growing body of literature includes several direct comparisons between herbs and Vioxx or other pharmaceuticals. Following are reviews of data on the most promising herbs for chronic pain, arthritis, and inflammatory conditions.
There are few human clinical studies of adaptogenic herbs in the English language medical literature, and few groups in the US have attempted to corroborate the nearly 40 years of work done in Russia, China and Eastern Europe. Following are a handful of significant studies in English:
The notion of herbal “health tonics” may seem like a quaint and dubious relic of the early 1900’s, conjuring up images of fast-talking hucksters selling patent medicines from the backs of their wagons as they rolled through frontier towns.
Physicians wishing to expand their knowledge of botanical medicine will get a lift forward this Spring, with the publication of the American Botanical Council’s ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs. The new compendium on 29 common medicinal herbs is the nucleus of a home study course approved for 13.5 hours of CME credit by the Texas Medical Association. NDs can also obtain credits.
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