For thousands of years, the gum resin of the mukul myrrh tree has been part of the traditional Indian medicine, Ayurveda, to treat obesity and arthritis.  Today, a modern purified extract called gugulipid has been found to be even more effective than some prescription medicines for lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.

Gugulipid comes from the gummy resin of the small and thorny mukul myrrh tree that is native to India.  The resin itself was used in ancient traditional medicine and was called gum guggul or “guggulu”.  Guggulu, but contains many toxic compounds, but fortunately, Indian pharmacologists devised a way to extract the active, beneficial compounds in the resin.  The result is the herbal extract called gugulipid.

The active ingredients in this herbal medicine are called guggulsterones and appear to affect the way your body metabolizes cholesterol and stout.  These ingredients also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

High cholesterol has no obvious symptoms but it is a risk factor for disorders that do have symptoms such as angina and when you have high blood cholesterol levels, you have an increased chance of developing coronary heart disease. When blood cholesterol levels are very high, it may appear as yellow nodules under the skin of the elbows and knees or under the eyes.  Cholesterol is a fatlike substance that circulates through your blood and on its own it isn’t harmful.  When doctors test for high blood cholesterol levels, they usually focus on two types of cholesterol:  LDL, which is the terrible cholesterol and can block arteries and cause heart attacks and HDL, which is the excellent cholesterol that helps to clear away cholesterol before it can build up in arteries.  A high level of LDL and a low level of HDL suggests that you are at a risk of a heart attack and your medical practitioner will place you on a strict diet along with cholesterol medication.

Genetic factors do play a role in affecting cholesterol levels, but in many people high levels are linked to a diet that is rich in saturated stout and cholesterol.  Both saturated stout and cholesterol are found in beef, butter and whole-milk dairy products.  The risks are increased when you are overweight, smoking and do not get enough exercise.

In a study of 61 patients with high cholesterol levels, 31 were given gugulipid and 30 were given a placebo.  After 24 weeks, the patients who were taking the placebo showed no decrease in their LDL cholesterol levels and the 31 patients who were taking gugulipid, showed a 13 percent drop in the LDL levels and a 12 percent drop in triglycerides.

In particular, it is the guggulsterones in guglipid that stimulates the liver to break down harmful LDL cholesterol and increases the levels of the protective cholesterol HDL.  A 24 percent drop in total cholesterol levels was found in a study done in India in which 205 people participated. They all took gugulipid herbal supplements and followed a low-stout diet. Another study was done comparing the efficacy of gugulipid with that of a prescription cholesterol-lowering medication.  Total cholesterol levels dropped by 11 percent in patients who were using gugulipd and a drop of 10 percent was seen in the group taking the prescription medicine.  In addition, the levels of HDL were increased in the group who took the gugulipid supplements.

Gugulipid has been shown to prevent the formation of artery-clogging plaque and can even help to reverse existing plaque build-up.  This herbal medicine also inhibits blood platelets from banding together and thereby protects against blood clots, which can often trigger heart attacks as well.

Guggulsterones (the active compounds in gugulipid) have the same anti-inflammatory action as that of ibuprofen and is useful in treating arthritis and its painful symptoms.  

More research is needed, but recently guglipid has shown promise as a weight-loss supplement by increasing the way your body burns kilojoules.  Gugulipid stimulates the production of thyroid hormones and assists with the reduction of stout around the abdomen, which is generally associated with a risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Never take the crude gum gugul or guggulu, which can cause skin rashes, diarrea, stomach pain and a loss of appetite.

Side effects are very rare with this herbal medicine, but mild nausea, flatulence and hiccups have been reported.  As gugulipid inhibits blood platelets from binding together, care should be taken by people who are using blood-thinning medication such as Warfarin.

Pregnant women should not use gugulipd.  Consult your medical practitioner before taking gugulipid herbal supplements if you suffer from liver disease, diarrea or inflammatory bowel disease.

To lower your cholesterol, take a supplement which supplies 25 mg of guggulsterones per dose, three times a day.

You can take guglipid herbal supplements with or without meals.

Tags: myrrh tree, toxic compounds, coronary heart disease, high cholesterol, Traditional medicine

Gotu kola is a favourite food of elephants and because elephants are notoriously long-lived animals, it might have led people to believe that it can prolong life.  Although research has not proven that it can indeed prolong your life, studies have found that this herbal medicine have vital health benefits.

This herbal medicine had its origins in India and today still forms an vital part of an ancient healing tradition called Ayurveda.  Ayurveda is defined as providing an integrated approach to preventing and treating illness through lifestyle interventions and natural therapies.   In France, gotu kola has been prescribed since the 1880′s to treat burns and other skin wounds.

This herb with its bright red flowers thrives in hot, swampy areas and grows naturally in India, Madagascar, middle and southern Africa, Australia, China and the southern United States.  The leaves appearance depends on whether it is growing in water (large, fan-shaped leaves) or on dry land (small and thin leaves).  The leaves are the most vital and most commonly used herbal medicine.

Gotu kola is also known as Centella asiatica, talepetrako, Indian pennywort, Indian water navelwort or hydrocotyle.  Although the names are similar, there is no relationship between gotu kola and the kola (or cola) nut, which is used in cola drinks.  Gotu kola is caffeine free and does not act as a stimulant.

Whether you take gotu kola internally or use it externally, there are many benefits to this herbal medicine.  Some of the common uses include treating burns and wounds, building connective tissue, strengthening veins and improving memory.  This herb’s vital compounds are called triterpenes, which appear to enhance the formation of collagen in cartilage, bones and connective tissue.  In addition, these compounds promote healthy blood vessels and help to produce neurotransmitters, which are the chemical messengers of the brain.

Gotu kola promotes the healthy development of connective tissue and prevents the formation of hardened areas.  This is what makes this herbal medicine so vital for treating many skin conditions.  It is used as a therapeutic treatment for burns, keloids (overgrown scar tissue) and helps surgical incisions and skin ulcers to heal quicker. Applying gotu kola topically to psoriasis lesions will aid healing.

This herbal remedy is valuable in treating varicose veins by improving blood flow and strengthening cells in the walls of blood vessels.  Studies conducted show that 80 percent of patients with varicose veins had a substantial improvement.  

Patients with heart disease and high blood pressure show improvement when using gotu kola herbal remedies when compared to patients who took a placebo.

Gotu kola has been used for thousands of years to improve mental alertness.   Ongoing research has shown fantastic benefit in using this herb to boost memory, improve learning capability and most importantly, reversing some of the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease.  In one study, mentally disabled children were found to have better concentration and attention levels after taking this herbal supplement for a period of 12 weeks.  Children and adults who have ADD (attention deficit disorder) will also greatly benefit by using gotu kola herbal remedies.  

As a general herbal therapeutic and herbal tonic, gotu kola will improve circulation and boost your concentration levels, making it simpler for you to retain information.  Students and school children benefit by taking this herbal medicine as they are able to concentrate for longer periods and retain more of the material studied.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Internally or externally, gotu kola has small side effects.  Skin rashes, light sensitivity and headaches are rare side effects, should this occur, reduce the dosage.

Pregnant and lactating women should not use gotu kola.

Taking gotu kola for an extended period of time is not recommended.  After taking the herb for a period of 6-8 weeks, stop taking the supplement for a period of 2 weeks and then continue regular use, following this pattern.

Gotu kola has a mild sedative effect and should therefore not be used in conjunction with prescription sedatives.

When purchasing gotu kola supplements, ensure that it is standardized to contain 10 percent asiaticoside, which is an active ingredient in this herb.  If you are unable to find the standardized extract, substitute 400 to 500 mg of the raw herb for each 200 mg dose.

To treat varicose veins, take 200 mg of the standardized extract three times a day.

For burns and other skin wounds, use 200 mg twice a day until the wounds are healed.

To improve memory, concentration and slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease, take 200 mg standardized extract three times a day.  

Gotu kola can be taken internally or externally with or without meals.  Gotu kola tea can also be applied externally to treat burns and wounds and psoriasis lesions.  You can use both the oral and the topical herbal treatments at the same time.  Make a paste of gotu kola by breaking open a capsule and mixing the dried herb powder in a small amount of water.  This can be applied externally to the skin.

Steep one or two teaspoons of dried gotu kola leaf in a cup of boiled water for 10 to 15 minutes.  Drink one or two cups a day.

Tags: skin ulcers, Dietary supplements, high blood pressure, skin wounds, red flowers

Green Tea has been consumed throughout the ages in India, China, Japan and Thailand.

In traditional medicine, Green Tea was used as a diuretic and to promote longevity. In modern times, Green Tea is used as a powerful anti-oxidant, ridding the body of harmful chemicals.

The leaves from the tea plant is first steamed and then rolled and dried. Steaming the leaves kill enzymes which would promote fermenting. The lack of fermenting gives Green Tea its unique flavour and preserves the naturally present anti-oxidants.

The Green Tea plant (Camellia sinensis) grows throughout Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Studies have shown that the rate of certain types of cancer is lower among people who drink Green Tea, including breast, stomach and skin cancers.

Green Tea’s main anti-oxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin-gallate) may be one of the most powerful anticancer compounds ever learned. This component of Green Tea protects cells against hurt, but remarkably does not hurt healthy cells.

Further benefits of Green Tea’s anti-oxidant properties include the prevention of coronary artery disease and the lowering of cholesterol.

Traditionally, Green Tea was used to control blood sugar in the body.

Green Tea is used to help in weight loss as it boosts the metabolism and burns stout. Many herbal weight loss products contain extracts of Green Tea.

Inflammation associated with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis may be reduced with the use of Green Tea.

Green Tea also contains fluoride which inhibits tooth decay.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

People who are sensitive to caffeine should take care when drinking Green Tea as it contains about 40mg of caffeine per cup.

As Green Tea contains such a high dose of caffeine, pregnant and lactating women should limit their consumption.

Green Tea and aspirin should not be taken together as both have anti-coagulant properties and can cause bleeding. Green Tea contains Vitamin K, which influences blood clotting and should not be taken if you are using blood thinning medication such as Warfarin.

Oral contraceptives increase the amount of time that caffeine stays in the body and could increase its stimulating properties.

If at any time you experience nausea, dizziness, tremors and heart palpitations after drinking Green Tea, you should limit your consumption.

You can get the benefits of Green Tea in capsule or tablet form, or by drinking several cups of Green Tea every day.

A sufficient dosage is 240 to 320mg of polyphenols (anti-oxidant.)

Take Green Tea supplements at meals with a full glass of water. Freshly brewed Green Tea can be taken on its own or with meals.

Tags: anticancer compounds, india china japan, skin cancers, Hospitality Recreation, green tea

Fennel (foeniculum vulgare latin ) is a tall perennial herb native to the Mediterranean. It has a sweet licorice taste, and is widely used in Mediterranean cuisine. The seeds and leaves are used.

It has a long history of use as a carminative, a term that means that it helps the body expel gas, and also brilliant for weight-loss aid.

The seeds have been eaten during lent and fasts to stave off hunger in traditional medicine.

There is also a long history, dating back to the Chinese and Hindus who used it as a cure for snake bites.

It is a medicinal and culinary herb, very brilliant in flavoring food and other medicines. The seed is used as a spice to flavor fish, duck, lamb, potatoes, breads, and pastries.

This is a excellent remedy for gas, acid stomach, gout, cramps, colic, spasm, increase the flow of urine, increase menstrual flow, and help to manage blood sugar levels, wind, irritable bowel, kidneys, spleen, liver, lungs, and suppressing appetite. The tea makes an brilliant eye wash.

Chewing the seeds after meals can stimulate digestion and relieve symptoms of bloating and stomach pains plus, they serve as an brilliant natural mouth freshener.

The seeds also ground and made into tea is believed to be excellent for snake bites and insect bites.

Do not wash the fresh herb until you are ready to use it, then rinse it well with cold water. The fresh herb can last for up to 8 days when properly stored and refrigerated.

It is available in capsule and powder form.

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Tags: irritable bowel, blood sugar levels, insect bites, snake bites, Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Q: I recently heard about supplements and other products that can reduce or reverse gray hair. Is there any truth in these products or are they bogus? Thanks for any input.

Answer:

There is no scientific evidence that any diet, herb, supplement, or product can reduce or reverse gray hair, but, there are some underlying conditions that may result in premature gray and some ancient approaches you might be interested in.

It might help to first know why we get gray hair. Hair color is produced by tiny hair pigment cells within our hair follicles called melanocytes. As we age, the activity of these melanocytes gradually declines until they stop making pigment. New hairs grown in without pigment, resulting in gray hair.

Each one of us has a genetically determined time when we will get gray hair. Although nothing can stop hair from turning gray, there are some conditions that can cause hair to gray earlier or more quickly than normal. Thyroid disorders. Conditions such as Grave’s disease, Hashimoto’s disease, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism have been linked with premature gray hair.

Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. It can be due to a diet low in vitamin B12, which is found mainly in meat, eggs, and milk. It can also occur if the stomach can’t absorb vitamin B12, due to surgery involving the stomach or small intestine (such as gastric bypass surgery), diseases that affect the small intestine, such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, fish tapeworms, or small intestine bacterial overgrowth, or a lack of protein called intrinsic factor due to an autoimmune reaction or a genetic defect.

Vitiligo. A condition in which your skin loses melanocytes, resulting in very light patches of skin and possibly premature gray hair.
Early menopause

Smoking. Cigarette smoking has been linked to premature gray hair. Addressing these underlying conditions, in some cases, may help to prevent hair from going premature gray.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, premature gray hair reflects an underlying disturbance.

Hair, according to TCM, reflects the quality of blood and the strength of the kidneys. The kidneys and blood have a broader role in TCM than they do in Western physiology.

Foods that are thought to strengthen the blood and kidneys are: Hijiki seaweed
Blackstrap molasses
Black sesame seeds
Nettles
Wheat grass
ChlorophyllKeep in mind though that consuming excessive amounts of these foods is not recommended. For example, excessive amounts of iodine (from seaweed) may increase the risk of developing thyroid problems, which itself is a cause of premature gray hair.

Foods to avoid, according to TCM, are excessive meat, dairy, and salt

Many commercial products that claim to restore hair’s natural color contain herbs that are used in TCM to strengthen the kidneys and blood. The most well loved is a herb called He Shou Wu, also called Polygonum multiflorum or Fo-Ti.

The name He Shou Wu means “black-haired Mr. He” in Chinese. This name refers to a legend of an older villager named Mr. He who took this herb and restored his black hair, youthful appearance and vitality.

He Shou Wu isn’t right for everyone with grey hair, say TCM practitioners, which is why a consultation is recommended. If used improperly, it is thought to lead to emotional ailments such as rage or depression. For more information about He Shou Wu, read the He Shou Wu / Fo-Ti Fact Sheet.

In ayurveda, hair is associated with an imbalance in the pitta constitutional type. An imbalance in the vata constitutional type, aggravated by stress, is also associated with premature greying.

A herb that is used in Ayurveda for gray hair is called bringaraja, translated as “king of the hair”. It is taken by mouth to support the liver and kidney energies, but, there aren’t any studies on the safety or effectiveness of this herb. It is also an ingredient in Ayurvedic hair oils and tonics, which are applied topically to the scalp.

Another well loved Ayurvedic herb is called amla. It is used for inflammatory conditions, to strengthen eyes, and to address prematurely gray hair.

Tags: autoimmune reaction, Grave's disease, premature gray hair, herb supplement, traditional Chinese medicine

According to folklore, natural aphrodisiacs may help to raise libido and increase desire. They’re being used by an increasing number of people to give their sex lives a boost.

But some of them may cause side effects or interact with medications and others haven’t been proven. Here are the facts about 10 well loved aphrodisiac herbs and supplements.

Ginseng is one of the bestselling herbs in the United States. In much of Asia, ginseng is prized as a revitalizer for the whole body, partly due to the human-like shape of the root. For more information about ginseng, read the Ginseng Fact Sheet. According to folklore, horny goat weed’s reputed aphrodisiac qualities were learned when a Chinese goat herder noticed increased sexual activity in his flock[ after they ingested the weed. For more information about horny goat weed, read the Horny Goat Weed Fact Sheet. Fo-ti is also called he shou wu, which means "black-haired Mr. He" in Chinese.

This name refers to a legend of an older villager named Mr. He who took fo-ti and restored his black hair, youthful appearance and sexual vitality. For more information about fo-ti, read the Fo-Ti Fact Sheet. L-arginine is not a herb but an amino acid that has numerous functions in the body. It has been used for erectile dysfunction and is often promoted as a Viagra alternative. For more information about L-arginine, read the L-Arginine Fact Sheet. Damiana is a plant native to Mexico and the southern United States. It has been widely used as an aphrodisiac in Mexico for men and women. For more information about damiana, read the Damiana Fact Sheet.

Tribulus terrestris is a herb that has been used in the traditional medicine of China and India for centuries. It was only in the mid-90s when Eastern European Olympic athletes claimed that tribulus contributed to their success that tribulus became known in the North America. For more information about tribulus, read the Tribulus Fact Sheet. ] Tongkat Ali is a tree native to Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. It was dubbed the “Asian Viagra” in a May 1999 report in the New Sunday Times. For more information about tongkat ali, read the Tongkat Ali.

According to folklore, ancient Incan warriors took maca before going off to battle to make them physically strong. But, they were later prohibited from taking it, in order to protect conquered women from their heightened libidos. For more information about maca, read the Maca Fact Sheet. Muira puama, also called “potency wood” is a small Brazilian tree that grows across the Amazon river basin.

It has a long history of use in Brazilian folk medicine as an aphrodisiac. For more information about muira puama, read the Muira Puama Fact Sheet. Yohimbe is an evergreen tree that grows in western Africa in Nigeria, Cameroon, the Congo and Gabon. Yohimbe bark extracts are widely promoted online and in health food stores as a natural aphrodisiac to increase libido and treat erectile dysfunction.

Tags: Turnera diffusa, Amazon river, black hair, Erectile dysfunction, l arginine

More than a third of all Americans have used unconventional therapies and herbal remedies even though they have not proved to be safe or effective. (June 7)

Tags: Health Medical Pharma, unconventional therapies, home remedy, New Thought movement, Alternative medicine

Herbal remedies for depression include St. John‘s wart and rose water. Learn more about herbal treatments for depression with tips from an herbalist in this free video on natural remedies. Expert: Heather Herrington Bio: Heather Herrington is an herbalist with years of experience in treating common ailments with herbs and other natural remedies. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

Tags: herbal treatments, common ailments, herbal remedies, treatments for depression, Heather Herrington Bio

Of our earliest ancestors, the Chinese have made it a point to incorporate nature’s garden into the world of medicine more than any other culture, still adhering to the mindset of the importance of herbs to this day.

Although many cultures have traditionally used seeds and plant parts in their remedies, China has alleviated ailments using herbs since around 5,000 BC. Having amassed this knowledge for thousands of years, the Chinese have mastered the art of cultivating herbs for medicinal purposes and other cultures look to them for insight into how a diagnosis can be treated through the use of herbs.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is heavily relied on throughout the world by everyone from the common consumer to specialists in every field of medicine. The Chinese developed their system of medicine and herbal remedies to cater to the yin and yang principle, where the body should be in perfect balance and herbs deliver harmony to the person taking them.

Instead of treating one symptom, as is commonly done in the Western world of modern medicine Chinese herbal remedies seek to get the body back into a natural state of balance so that healing can occur and any imbalances are eliminated. In conjunction with herbs, the Chinese also incorporate acupuncture, massage, and a healthy diet into the concept of harmony for healing purposes.

One Chinese Emperor is credited with the launch of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Emperor Shen Nong (2697 BC) started personally tasting and testing various plants and their parts to see how it would affect his body and could help others with ailments such as circulation improvements and urinary infections.

Later on in history, Emperor Huang Ti developed what is now the world’s oldest medical textbook, called Nei Ching, which translates into Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine. Many doctors on a global scale still refer to this text today for herbal insight.

Although Western medicine has had an influence over Chinese medicine in the modern world, Traditional Chinese Medicine retains its strong influence as a powerful way to combine herbal treatment and technology.

The Chinese strongly believe that your mind and body must be in sync to avoid illness, which is why they have mental health tied into herbal remedies. Western medicine separates the two into different categories, treating the mind separate from the body. But, Chinese herbal remedies are now being used to treat mental disorders, such as depression in the Western World.

Tags: Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, urinary infections, perfect balance, medicinal purposes, Whole medical systems

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Tags: mind and body, treatment of malaria, herbal gardens, exploring the world, Traditional Korean medicine