Turmeric is a perennial plant, botanically related to ginger that is native to India,China and Indonesia. It is a component of curry powder and prepared mustard. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine and in Indian (Ayurvedic) medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used to treat digestive disturbance, menstrual difficulties, pain and protecting […]

A six-month double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 23 individuals with mild multiple sclerosis (MS) was performed at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine. Physicians noted better performance on neuropsychological tests by patients who took Ginkgo biloba compared to those who took an inactive placebo. Past studies have shown that Ginkgo slows mental

A study appearing in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology (2000;46:97-103) looked at the effect boswellia had on cancer growth in female wistar rats. The rats were injected with C6 tumor cells in the right caudate nucleus (brain). The animals were divided into four groups, a control group and three groups receiving varying concentrations of boswellic acids.

Research appearing in the European Journal of Medical Research (November 17, 1998;3(11):511-514) tested the effect of an extract from the herb Boswellia serrata on patients with asthma. Subjects in the study were 17 women and 23 men between the ages of 18 and 75 years of age. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study lasted six weeks. In

Berberis vulgaris As an herbal remedy, Berberis has been used for centuries and by many cultures. It has been used by the Native Americans, European hebalists, the Chinese and by Ayurvedic physicians in India. It has been used to treat peptic ulcers, liver problems, gall bladder problems and diarrhea. As an herb, it is a

Astragalus is important in Chinese folk medicine. It enhances the metal element of Chinese philosophy, which has to do with the body’s defenses. It has been used to treat infections of the mucous membranes, especially the urinary and respiratory tracts. It is commonly combined with ginseng to prevent winter colds and viruses. It may be

Research appearing in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism (November 2001;44(11):2531-2538) tested ginger and its ability to reduce pain in subjects with arthritis. The study involved 262 subjects (98 males and 164 females with a mean age around 65 years). The subjects all had arthritis of the knee. The subjects were given either a standardized extract

In a study “Efficacy and Tolerability of a Standardized Willow Bark Extract in Patients With Osteoarthritis: Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double Blind Clinical Trial,” Schmid B, Ludtke R, et al, Z Rheumatol (2000;59:314-320), willow bark extract was compared to placebo in a group of arthritis patients. In the study, 39 subjects were given willow bark extract (standardized

According to a study on mice from Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine, antioxidants in green tea may protect from rheumatoid arthritis and reduce the severity of the symptoms. The study was published in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.” Antioxidants in green tea, known as polyphenols, may protect the body from

What exactly is epigallocatechin-3-gallate? It is also called EGCG, and it is a compound found in green tea. Research appearing in the September 21, 2005 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience studied the effect of EGCG on the brains of mice genetically programmed to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The mice were given EGCG injections every day