The 55 Best Herbal Remedies

Best Herbal Remedies

Not long ago, American herbalists had to rely on folklore and anecdote. There was little clinical data on herbs, and what did exist was mostly published in German. But researchers (and translators ha!e been busy of late, and we now ha!e proof that herbs are !iable treatments for many ailments. "#erbs won$t replace pharmaceuticals, but the research shows that%for many conditions%herbs work well, are cheaper than drugs and cause fewer side effects,& says 'ary #ardy, '.(., medical director of the integrati!e medicine program at )edars*+inai 'edical )enter in ,os Angeles. "#erbs aren$t -uite mainstream, but they$re mo!ing in that direction. .atients are interested in them, and doctors are increasingly familiar with herb research. "Twenty years ago, there was no integrati!e program at )edars*+inai& she adds. "Now there is. That says something& #ere, then, are the pro!en, // best herbal treatments. +tick to the dose specified in the studies or on the product label. 0hen making teas, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of herb per cup of boiling water, steeped for 13 minutes. Tell your physician about any herbs you plan on using, especially if you$re pregnant or nursing, ha!e a chronic medical condition or take medication regularly.

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(1 Aloe Vera for Burns +ometimes studies tell us what we already know. Aloe !era is the herb for minor burns, a fact that was

confirmed most recently in the 4ournal of the 'edical Association of Thailand. 5eep a potted aloe on your kitchen sill6 it re-uires no care beyond weekly watering. 7or minor burns, snip off a thick leaf and slit it open6 scoop out the gel from the inner leaf and apply to the burn. (2 Black Cohosh for Menopause The Algon-uin 8ndians used black cohosh to treat gynecological ills, and it was a key part of ,ydia 9. .inkham$s :egetable )ompound, sold in the 1;<3s to treat "female complaints and weaknesses.& 8n a recent German study on menopausal hot flashes, sub=ects were gi!en estrogen, a :alium*like tran-uili>er or black cohosh (?emifemin, two tablets twice a day . The herb, which is an option for women who can$t take estrogen, worked best. "The !ast ma=ority of studies show benefit,& says 'ark Blumenthal, executi!e director of the American Botanical )ouncil. (@ Boswellia for Arthritis and Joint In uries (id the three wise men suffer aches and pains from their long camel rideA ,uckily, they had frankincense, aka boswellia, a traditional Ayur!edic medicine for arthritis and =oint in=uries. 8n a study published in Alternati!e and )omplementary Therapies, 9gyptian researchers ga!e people with osteoarthritis of the knee boswellia and turmeric or a placebo. After three months, the herb group showed significantly greater relief from knee swelling. (B Chamomile for !i"esti#e $roblems ")hamomile tea, perhaps the best*known herbal tisane, is widely employed as a digesti!e remedy throughout 9urope, and its therapeutic use is well documented,& says (a!id #offman, author of 'edical #erbalism. This herb relaxes spasms of the smooth muscles and counters inflammation in the gut lining6 it also has antiseptic and !asodilatory effects. Allergic reactions are possible, especially if you$re sensiti!e to ragweed. (/ Chaste Tree for $remenstrual %&ndrome 8t won$t preser!e !irginity, but chaste tree has hormonal effects that minimi>e monthly symptoms. 0hen 1,C@B German .'+ sufferers took chaste tree, D@ percent reported benefit. 8n tests against two other popular treatments, !itamin EB.sub.CF and .ro>ac, the herb worked as well as the drug and better than the !itamin. ")haste tree is the best herb for .'+,& says 4ames A. (uke, .h.(., author of The Green .harmacy. "8t$s safe and the studies are con!incing. "4ust be patientG 8t can take three months to experience benefit. +ome women report stomach distress, headache and increased menstrual flow. (C Coffee for Athletic %tamina The caffeine in coffee or tea stimulates not only alertness (and =itters and insomnia , but also athletic performance. 5orean researchers at the 8nstitute for 9lderly #ealth in +eoul asked athletes to ride stationary cycles until they felt exhausted%before and after drinking the e-ui!alent of one tall +tarbucks coffee. After their =a!a break, they were able to ride significantly longer. (< Coffee for $ain Relief Anacin and 9xcedrin claim that their "extra ingredient& pro!ides greater pain relief. 0hat is itA )affeine. 'any reports, including one in the Archi!es of 8nternal 'edicine, ha!e shown that adding about C/ milligrams of caffeine to aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen increases pain relief by around B3 percent. )affeine blocks pain perception, has pain*relie!ing action, and ele!ates mood, which also helps minimi>e pain. Next time you ha!e a headache, wash down your fa!orite pain pill with coffee or tea for more relief. (; Coffee as a !econ"estant in Colds' (lu and Asthma )affeine opens narrowed bronchial tubes, according to 4oe and Teresa Graedon, authors of The .eople$s .harmacy. According to a report in the Annals of 9pidemiology, the odds of experiencing current asthma symptoms were reduced 2D percent for sub=ects who drank coffee on a regular basis when compared with non*coffee drinkers.

(D Cranberr& for )rinar&*Tract Infection )ranberry pre!ents bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall long enough to cause an infection. 7innish researchers di!ided 1/3 recurrent HT8 sufferers into three groups. Ine drank cranberry =uice (/3 milliliters a day . Another took ,actobacillus. The third took nothing. After six months, @C percent of the no*treatment group and @D percent of the ,actobacillus group reported at least one recurrence. If the =uice drinkers, only 1C percent had recurrences. Ither options are dried cranberries ()raisins and cranberry*extract capsules. "8 recommend cranberry for HT8,& (uke says. "But if you drink the =uice, you ha!e to drink a lot. 8t$s usually easier to munch on the dried berries or take capsules.& (13 +chinacea for Colds and (lu The root of this daisy*like flower re!s up the immune system. According to an analysis by Hni!ersity of 0isconsin researchers, in eight of nine studies e!aluating echinacea for upper*respiratory infections, the herb reduced symptoms and accelerated reco!ery compared with placebos. "As soon as 8 feel a cold coming on, 8 take it%and my cold is mild and brief,& says (uke. 9chinacea is a!ailable in teas and capsules, though most herbalists prefer tinctures. ,i-uid echinacea products may cause temporary, harmless numbing or tingling of the tongue6 minor stomach upset is possible with tinctures. To manage your cold and flu symptoms while the 9chinacea kicks in, you can use an IT) medication. 0hile these medicines won$t cure or shorten the duration of your illness, they can help get you back on your feet again. (11 +#enin" $rimrose ,il for -owerin" Cholesterol 9!ening primrose seeds contain an oil with a high concentration of compounds rarely found in plantsG essential fatty acids, specifically gamma*linolenic acid. 8n one study, reported in The ?e!iew of Natural .roducts, <D people with high cholesterol took B grams of 9famol e!ery day for three months (which pro!ides about @23 mg of G,A , and their a!erage cholesterol le!el fell @1./ percent. The suggested dose for e!ening primrose oil starts at 1*gram gelcaps twice or three times a day. #igh cholesterol re-uires professional care, so consult your physician about G,A. (12 +#enin" $rimrose ,il for Rheumatoid Arthritis The 97As in 9.I are also a powerful anti*inflammatory. Hni!ersity of .ennsyl!ania researchers ga!e @< arthritis sufferers borage oil (which contains G,A or a placebo, The placebo had no effect, but the herb group reported B/ percent less pain with no side effects. Ither studies utili>ing G,A obtained similar results. ?heumatoid arthritis re-uires professional care, so consult your physician about G,A. (1@ (e#erfew for Mi"raine $re#ention British scientists at the Hni!ersity of 9xeter analy>ed six studies of fe!erfew, concluding that the herb significantly reduces the fre-uency of migraine occurrence. "8n my experience,& (uke says, "fe!erfew pre!ents migraines in about two*thirds of those who use it consistently.& (osage is generally /3 to 1/3 mg per day of powdered lea!es. (1B (la.seed for Menopausal !iscomfort +afety concerns ha!e reduced the number of women on hormone replacement therapy, but flaxseed is rich in phytoestrogens (plant estrogens that can take the heat out of hot flashes. At ,a!al Hni!ersity in Juebec, )anada, researchers ga!e 2/ menopausal women #?T or flaxseed (1.B ounces per day, mixed into food . After six months, flaxseed relie!ed hot flashes as effecti!ely as #?T. (1/ (la.seed for ,steoporosis Because flaxseed is a natural hormone replacement therapy, it also mimics #?T$s bone*preser!ing ability. Iklahoma +tate researchers ga!e a placebo or flaxseed (1.@ ounces per day to @; postmenopausal women for 1B weeks, and measured blood and urine for markers of bone loss and regrowth. The flaxseed group showed decreased bone resorption and calcium excretion, indicating reduced bone loss.

(1C /arlic as an Antibiotic 7rom ancient times through 0orld 0ar 8, garlic has been used to treat the wounded. (uring the 1D23s, researchers at +ando> .harmaceuticals in +wit>erland isolated garlic$s antibiotic compound, alliin, which has no medicinal !alue until the herb is chewed, chopped or crushed. Then an en>yme transforms alliin into a powerful antibiotic called allicin. 'odern antibiotics are more potent and easier to take (=ust try chewing a do>en raw clo!es , but if you$re concerned about ulcers, use more garlic in your diet. ?esearchers at the Hni!ersity of 0ashington ha!e shown that garlic kills #. pylori, the bacteria that cause ulcers. ?aw garlic has the most antibiotic potency, but garlic still has benefits when cooked. "8 use lots of garlic in cooking,& (uke says, "for reasons of taste and health.& (1< /arlic for Cholesterol Control ?esearchers at New Kork 'edical )ollege in :alhalla analy>ed fi!e studies and found that one*half to one clo!e of garlic per day reduces cholesterol by D percent. 8f you$d rather not eat fresh garlic e!ery day, garlic supplements, including "deodori>ed& brands. ha!e a similar effect. (+upplements with pro!en benefit include 5wai and 5!olic. "Garlic doesn$t work as well as the statin drugs,& says Blumenthal, "so if your numbers are really high, you may need medication. But if your cholesterol s =ust mildly ele!ated or if it$s normal and you want to keep it that way, garlic definitely helps.& Garlic can impair blood clotting6 if you notice increased bruising, stop taking it. and consult your physician. (1; /arlic for Cancer $re#ention Garlic reduces the risk of se!eral cancers. 8n the long*term 8owa 0omen$s #ealth +tudy. researchers followed B1,;@< middle*aged women. +ub=ects who ate the most garlic had the lowest risk of colon cancer. A few clo!es a week cut risk by @2 percent and greater intake decreased risk e!en more 0hile fruit and !egetable consumption in general helps pre!ent cancel in this study, garlic yielded the greatest pre!enti!e benefit of all the plant foods analy>ed. Ither studies ha!e shown that garlic helps lower risk for prostate and bladder cancers. (1D /in"er for Motion %ickness 8n ancient )hina, sailors chewed ginger root to pre!ent motion sickness and modern studies ha!e confirmed that ginger pre!ents nausea and !omiting. (anish scientists at +!endborg #ospital obser!ed ;3 na!al cadets in hea!y seas and found that those who took ginger experienced <2 percent less seasickness than a placebo group. Take a 1*gram capsule of powdered ginger root about an hour before you embark, and another e!ery two hours or as needed (without exceeding 13 grams a day during a =ourney, Ginger$s only side effect is occasional minor heartburn. "t use ginger myself.& (uke says, "8t works for me.& (23 /in"er for Mornin" %ickness +peaking of nausea, ginger also assists in pre!enting morning sickness. 8n a stud$. published in Ibstetrics and Gynecology, researchers at Thailand$s )hiang 'ai Hni!ersity ga!e <3 nausea*plagued pregnant women ginger powder (1 gram a day or a placebo. 8n the latter group, 2; percent reported relief But in the ginger group, the figure was ;; percent, use the dose gi!en in the study, or brew a tea using 2 teaspoons of freshly grated root per cup of boiling water. (21 /ink"o for Al0heimer1s !isease The big study was published in 1DD< in the =ournal of the American 'edical AssociationG ?esearchers n a multicenter study ga!e 232 people with Al>heimer$s either a placebo or ginkgo extract (123 mg a day . A year later, the ginkgo group retained more mental function, and subse-uent studies ha!e corroborated this finding. Ginkgo 8mpro!es blood flow around the body%including through the brain. 8t$s safe. but it has anticoagulant properties, so increased bruising is possible. (22 /ink"o for Mental Acuit& Beyond its benefits for Al>heimer$s, four recent studies show that ginkgo impro!es mental function in

people who are cogniti!ely normal, 8n a study published in .hytotherapy ?esearch. @1 health, adults, ages @3 to /D, recei!ed ginkgo (123 to @33 mg a day or a placebo, The herbs significantly impro!ed se!eral measures of memory. Buy a standardi>ed extract and take 123 to 2B3 mg a day. (2@ /ink"o for +rection and -ibido $roblems Ginkgo impro!es blood flow into the genitals. 8n a study published in the 4ournal of Hrology, C3 men with erection problems caused by narrowed arteries and impaired blood flow to the penis were gi!en ginkgo (C3 mg a day 6 after six months, half had regained erection ability. 0hen researchers at the Hni!ersity of #awaii and +tanford Hni!ersity tested Argin'ax, a sexual*enhancement supplement that contains ginkgo, ginseng and ,*arginine, ;3 percent of the male sub=ects had impro!ed erection function, while <B percent of the female sub=ects reported more libido, less dryness and greater fre-uency of orgasm. (2B /ink"o for Anti*!epressant*Induced %e. $roblems An enormous number of Americans take antidepressants, The relief comes at a priceG a substantial risk of libido loss erection impairment, !aginal dryness and inability to reach orgasm. 8n!estigators at the Hni!ersity of )alifornia at +an 7rancisco ga!e ginkgo (23D mg a day to C@ people suffering from antidepressant*induced sex problems. The herb helped D1 percent of the women and <C percent of the men to return to normal sexual function (2/ /ink"o for Altitude %ickness Tra!eling from a low ele!ation up to the mountains often produces symptoms of altitude sickness, such as headache, sluggishness and excessi!e thirst, due to the decrease in a!ailable oxygen. (I!er a few days. the body makes more red blood cells, which boosts oxygenation of the blood. ?esearchers at the #opital de )hamonix in 7rance ga!e BB mountaineers ascending the #imalayas ginkgo (;3 mg twice daily or a placebo. 8n the latter group, ;2 percent de!eloped respiratory problems related to altitude sickness, but among the ginkgo users, the figure was only 1B percent. (2C /insen" for Athletic %tamina 'any athletes take ginseng as part of their training. 8n a study published in )linical Therapy, 8talian researchers ga!e /3 physical education teachers a placebo or ginseng (with some !itamins and minerals , and then had them run on a treadmill, #earts and lungs in the ginseng group worked more efficiently, and those sub=ects$ stamina increased significantly, Ginseng is safe, but it does ha!e anticoagulant action. so increased bruising is possible. (2< /insen" for Immune +nhancement 'any studies show that ginseng re!s up the immune system. +cientists at the Hni!ersity of 'ilan. 8taly, ga!e ginseng (133 mg a day or a placebo to 22< people. A month later. e!eryone recei!ed a flu shot (which does not kill the flu !irus. but rather stimulates the immune system to resist infection . 8n the placebo group, B2 people got the flu, but in the ginseng group, the figure was =ust 1/, demonstrating that ginseng enhanced immune response to the shot. (2; /insen" for !iabetes Ginseng also reduces blood*sugar le!els. 8n a study published in (iabetes )are, @3 sub=ects newly diagnosed with diabetes were gi!en ginseng extract (133 or 233 mg a day or a placebo, with the ginseng groups showing lower blood*sugar le!els. Ither studies concur. (iabetes re-uires professional treatment6 consult your physician about ginseng. (2D /insen" for +rectile !&sfunction According to a re!iew of studies at Kale Hni!ersity, ginseng boosts the body$s synthesis of nitric oxide. As NI increases, so does the likelihood of erection. 8n a report in the 4ournal of Hrology, 5orean researchers ga!e B/ men with erection impairment a placebo or ginseng (D33 mg three times a day . Those taking the herb experienced significant erection impro!ement.

(@3 /insen" for -ow %perm Count At the Hni!ersity of ?ome, 8taly, researchers ga!e ginseng (B grams a day to @3 men suffering from low sperm counts. Three months later, the sub=ects$ counts almost doubled, from an a!erage of 1/ millionLml to 2D millionLml. (@1 /oldenseal for !i"esti#e*Tract Infections Goldenseal, an herbal antibiotic, is often marketed in combination with echinacea as a treatment for infections, but it is effecti!e only in the digesti!e tract, not for colds or flu. At the Hni!ersity of 8llinois in )hicago, researchers tested goldenseal against #. pylori, the bacteria that cause ulcers, and the herb inhibited bacterial growth. 7or G8 infections (ulcer, food poisoning, infectious diarrhea, etc. , ask your doctor about using goldenseal in addition to medical therapies. (@2 Hawthorn for Con"esti#e Heart (ailure 8n heart failure, the heart keeps beating, =ust not as forcefully as it should6 people with the condition become exhausted from minor exertion. 'any studies show that hawthorn stimulates fatigued hearts to beat more normally. 8n a study published in .hytomedicine, German researchers ga!e hawthorn (2B3 mg a day or a placebo to B3 people with heart failure. Three months later, the hawthorn group was able to exercise significantly longer. "0e re!iewed much of the published research on hawthorn recently,& Blumenthal says, "and 1@ of 1B studies showed benefit in heart failure.& (@@ Hibiscus for H&pertension #ibiscus is the trumpet*shaped, tropical flower that puts the color in ?ed Minger tea. A report in the 4ournal of 9thnopharmacology found that 12 days of drinking hibiscus tea (2 teaspoons per cup of boiling water se!eral times a day lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 11 percent. #igh blood pressure re-uires professional care6 ask your doctor about adding hibiscus to your treatment plan. (@B Horse Chestnut for Varicose Veins "'ainstream medicine offers only support hose and surgery,& says Blumenthal, "but standardi>ed horse chestnut seed extract has shown efficacy in most clinical trials.& At the Hni!ersity of #eidelberg, Germany, 2B3 sufferers of newly !isible !aricose !eins were treated with compression stockings or horse chestnut (/3 mg aescin twice a day . After 12 weeks, both groups reported e-ual relief. Iff the tree, horse chestnuts are poisonous, but commercial extracts are detoxified and safe. (@/ Horsetail for %kin Healin" Before steel wool and abrasi!e cleansers, this herb helped scour pots and pans. Today it$s used to heal the skin. A +panish study published in ?e!ista de 9nfermeria showed that horsetail speeds the healing of wounds6 it$s also used in skin*care products. (@C -a#ender for An.iet& ,a!ender flowers are an age*old remedy for anxiety. British researchers at the Hni!ersity of 0ol!erhampton had women add la!ender oil or a placebo to their bath water. Bathing by itself is calming, but in this study, a bath infused with la!ender oil significantly reduced anger, frustration and negati!ity. Hse a handful of la!ender flowers, or buy la!ender oil and add se!eral drops to your bath. 8ngesting la!ender oil is toxic6 keep it away from children. (@< -emon Balm for Rela.ation The 1<th*century 9nglish herbalist Nicholas )ulpeper wrote that lemon balm dri!es away all melancholy. That$s an o!erstatement, but science has shown that lemon balm is tran-uili>ing. The herb and its oil ha!e been used in Al>heimer$s care units to calm those who are agitated. To decompress after a tough day, try a cup of lemon*balm tea6 for extra benefit, mix with chamomile. (@; -emon Balm for Herpes ,emon balm has anti!iral action. As reported in .hytomedicine, German researchers ga!e CC people in

the early stages of herpes simplex labialis outbreaks lemon*balm cream or a placebo. The herb group had milder outbreaks that healed faster. ,emon balm is the acti!e ingredient in the herpes treatment #erpalie!e. "8f you ha!e herpes,& (uke says, "drink lemon*balm tea. 8f you ha!e an outbreak, apply lemon balm to the sore.& (@D -icorice for %ore Throat 8n a study in the 4ournal of Alternati!e and )omplementary 'edicine, researchers ga!e either a placebo or Throat )oat, a licorice tea from Traditional 'edicinals, to C3 sore*throat sufferers B to C times a day for se!en days6 the tea tipplers reported significantly less pain on swallowing. Add a teaspoon of chopped or powdered root to a be!erage tea, and feel relief almost immediately. (B3 Milk Thistle for -i#er Health +ilymarin in milk thistle seeds has a remarkable ability to protect the li!er. This herb has been shown to help treat hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis, and it$s been found more effecti!e than traditional medicine at treating "deathcap& mushroom poisoning. "8n our analysis,& Blumenthal says,& 1D of 21 studies support milk thistle seed extract for li!er conditions.& Because most drugs are metaboli>ed through the li!er, many herbalists recommend silymarin for anyone who takes li!er*taxing medication. (B1 $apa&a for Herniated !isks .apaya has been used by )aribbean 8ndians to treat skin wounds and infections and by the 4apanese to treat digesti!e disorders. 8n 1D;2, the 7ood and (rug Administration appro!ed in=ections of the papaya en>yme chymopapain to dissol!e cellular debris in herniated or slipped !ertebral disks in the back. Allergic reactions are possible. (B2 $eppermint for Indi"estion 8n ancient Greece, people chewed a sprig of mint after feasts to settle the stomach, a tradition that e!ol!ed into our after*dinner mints. German researchers ga!e 11; adults with persistent indigestion a standard drug (cisapride or twice*daily capsules of enteric*coated peppermint oil (D3 mg and caraway oil (/3 mg , another traditional stomach soother. (The enteric coating allows the capsules to sur!i!e stomach acid and release their oil in the small intestine, where non*heartburn indigestion de!elops. 7our weeks later, the drug and the herb blend produced the same relief. 8f you use herbal oils, do not exceed the recommended dose, and keep them away from children. Kou also can brew a peppermint tea, and add a teaspoon of chopped caraway to meals. "0hen 8 get indigestion,& (uke says, "8 go to the garden, pick some peppermint, chew some lea!es, and make tea. 8t works for me.& (B@ $eppermint for Irritable Bowel %&ndrome 8B+ in!ol!es persistent abdominal cramps, bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea or constipation. British researchers at the Hni!ersity of 9xeter analy>ed fi!e studies of peppermint oil as a treatment, and found that it pro!ided benefit. (+ee the pre!ious item for options and cautions. (BB $s&llium for !iarrhea and Constipation .syllium is a tiny seed that contains mucilage, a soluble fiber that swells on exposure to water. 7or diarrhea, psyllium can absorb excess fluid in the gut. 7or constipation, psyllium adds bulk to stool, which presses on the colon wall and triggers the ner!es that produce the urge to go. Kou may find psyllium at health*food stores, but it$s easiest to take 'etamucil, which is psyllium with fla!oring. 0hen using psyllium, drink plenty of water. Allergic reactions are possible. (B/ Red $epper for $ain Relief )apsaicin, the compound that gi!es red pepper (cayenne its fiery fla!or, is a potent topical pain relie!er, according to the #andbook of Nonprescription (rugs. 0hen rubbed on the skin, it causes mild superficial burning. But that sensation desensiti>es nearby pain ner!es, and soothes pain in deeper tissues. )apsaicin is the acti!e ingredient in se!eral o!er*the*counter pain*relie!ing creams, such as )apsin, Mostrix and .ain*N.

(BC %t2 John1s 3ort for !epression 7or mild depression, +t. 4ohn$s wort often works as well as .ro>ac and Moloft, but with fewer side effects. "0e recently concluded a comprehensi!e re!iew of the scientific literature on +t. 4ohn$s wort, and 21 of 2@ studies support it for mild*to*moderate depression,& says Blumenthal. +tudies showing benefits ha!e used C33 to 1,;33 mg a day6 most ha!e used D33 mg a day. +tomach upset is possible, and +t. 4ohn$s wort interacts with many drugs, including possibly reducing the effecti!eness of birth* control pills. (epression re-uires professional care6 ask your physician about +t. 4ohn$s wort. (B< %aw $almetto for Beni"n $rostate +nlar"ement 8n a study published in the =ournal The .rostate, saw palmetto extract (@2*3 mg was compared with finasteride in 1,3D; men with prostate symptoms. After 2B weeks, both treatments were e-ually effecti!e, but the herb caused fewer side effects. ?esearchers at the 'inneapolis :eterans Affairs 'edical )enter analy>ed 1; studies and found saw palmetto to be effecti!e for prostate symptoms. (B; Tea for Heart Health Tea, particularly green tea, has rocketed to prominence as an herbal medicine. 8t$s high in antioxidants, which help pre!ent heart disease. 8n a study published in the Archi!es of 8nternal 'edicine, (utch researchers followed @,B/B residents of ?otterdam. )ompared with those who drank no tea, those who drank two cups a day had BC percent less risk of heart attack, while those who drank four cups a day en=oyed CD percent lower risk. (rinking tea also impro!es sur!i!al odds after heart attack. (BD Tea for Cancer $re#ention ?esearchers at the Hni!ersity of +outhern )alifornia sur!eyed /31 Asian women with breast cancer and /DB who were cancer*free. Those who were cancer*free drank the most green tea6 as consumption rose, risk fell. Also, 4apanese researchers reported in )ancer ,etters that breast*cancer sur!i!ors who drank three or more cups a day reduced the risk of recurrence. Green tea also appears to protect against cancers of the colon, rectum, and pancreas. 'ost research has used green tea. (/3 Tea for Bad Breath and /um !isease 7orget breath mints. 8nstead, researchers at the Hni!ersity of 8llinois )ollege of (entistry in )hicago suggest a cup of tea (black or green , which contains compounds that stop the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath. An added benefitG Tea helps pre!ent gum disease, the main cause of adult tooth loss. (/1 Tea Tree ,il for Athlete1s (oot Tea tree isn$t tea6 it$s an Australian plant with an antifungal, antiseptic oil. 8n a study published in the Australasian 4ournal of (ermatology, researchers had people with athlete$s foot apply tea tree oil (/3 percent concentration or a placebo. After four weeks, @1 percent of the placebo group and CB percent of the tea tree contingent were cured. .harmaceutical ointments work faster, but tea tree oil is clearly effecti!e. "Apply it with a J*tip twice a day,& (uke says. (/2 Tea Tree ,il for !andruff As reported in the 4ournal of the American Academy of (ermatology, Australian researchers studied 12C people with dandruff, which is caused by a skin fungus. +ub=ects were gi!en either an ordinary shampoo or one containing / percent tea tree oil. After four weeks, flaking was reduced 11 percent in the plain*shampoo group, but B1 percent in those who used tea tree oil. 8t$s not a miracle cure, but if your dandruff shampoo isn$t working as well as you$d like, add a drop or two of tea tree oil each time you shampoo. (/@ Turmeric for Arthritis and Joint In uries )urcumin, the yellow pigment in this 8ndian spice, is an anti*inflammatory. 8n combination with boswellia, it treats osteoarthritis, according to in!estigators at 8ndia$s )entral (rug ?esearch 8nstitute. Hse turmeric or yellow curries in cooking. "8 de!eloped a recipe called OArthritis +oup,$& (uke says, "containing lots of anti*inflammatory herbs. The recipe also calls for 2 tablespoons of turmeric.& 0hen

taking capsules, follow label directions. (/B Valerian for Insomnia +tudies ha!e shown that !alerian aids sleep, often as well as pharmaceutical sedati!es and without being addicti!e. 8n a study published in the 9uropean 4ournal of 'edical ?esearch, in!estigators ga!e 232 insomniacs !alerian or a :alium*like tran-uili>er. After six weeks, both treatments were e-ually effecti!e. "?esearch strongly supports that !alerian works,& Blumenthal says. "8t$s been used widely and safely for hundreds of years.& NoteG 8t takes a week or more to begin noticing benefit. Also, raw !alerian root smells and tastes terrible ("like funky socks,& Blumenthal says , so pills are more palatable. (// 3hite 3illow Bark for Back $ain 0hite willow bark contains salicin, a close chemical relati!e of aspirin. According to a German study of B/1 people with low back pain, 2B3 mg a day of willow bark worked better than con!entional therapeutic options. ,ike aspirin, willow bark can cause stomach distress, and it shouldn$t be gi!en to children.

* +ee more atG httpGLLwww.herbalremediesinfo.comLbest*herbal*remedies.htmlPsthash.;@De(CAN.dpuf