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By Greg Arnold, April 29, 2004, Abstracted from “The Time-Tested
Herbs” in the September/October Issue of Herbs For Health Magazine
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If you look hard enough, you will find it: something in nature that can help treat whatever ailment you may have. From digestive problems to burns to menopause, there is an herb out there for almost every condition. Of the countless herbs out there, these four herbs definitely deserve consideration:
ALOE. Aloe vera has gained its reputation by treating minor wounds and burns by inhibiting inflammation and swelling while also helping stimulate the formation of new skin cells. A recent study has also suggested aloe’s useful in treating ulcerative colitis,1 an inflammatory bowel disorder.
TURMERIC. Turmeric, the Indian herb that gives curry blend its natural color, has been used mostly as an arthritis herb because of its strong Cox-2 inhibitor properties. Recent studies have started to broaden the potential uses of this anti-inflammatory herb, such as in helping prevent atherosclerosis,2 another condition brought on by inflammation.
GARLIC. Perhaps the most storied herb there is, garlic’s active ingredient, allicin, has consistently proven itself to be a potent antibiotic.3 The news is very refreshing in today’s day and age of prescription antibiotic overuse and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Garlic has also been researched as a anti-cancer food.4
BLACK COHOSH. Black Cohosh’s effect on menopausal symptoms has been controversial but these studies have had significant flaws.5 The one double-blind placebo-controlled trial that studied black cohosh was performed in Germany in 1987. The effects of black cohosh (8 mg per day) versus estrogen (0.625 mg conjugated estrogen) and placebo were studied in 80 postmenopausal women.
The women in the black cohosh group had a statistically significant improvement in menopausal vasomotor symptoms and vaginal epithelium after 12 weeks.5 Along with menopausal symptoms, black cohosh has also shown potential as a possible deterrent against breast cancer.6
References:
1 Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral aloe vera gel for active ulcerative colitis. Alimentary and Pharmacologic Therapy 2004; 19(7): 739-47
2 Mesa MD. Oral administration of a turmeric extract inhibits erythrocyte and liver microsome membrane oxidation in rabbits fed with an atherogenic diet. Nutrition 2003; 19(9): 800-4
3 Shadkchan Y. Efficacy of allicin, the reactive molecule of garlic, in inhibiting Aspergillus spp. in vitro, and in a murine model of disseminated aspergillosis. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2004 Mar 24 [Epub ahead of print]
4 Hirsch K. Effect of purified allicin, the major ingredient of freshly crushed garlic, on cancer cell proliferation. Nutrition and Cancer. 2000; 38(2): 245-54
5 Morelli V. Alternative Therapies for Traditional Disease States: Menopause. American Family Physician 2002;66:129-34
6 Einbond LF. Growth inhibitory activity of extracts and purified components of black cohosh on human breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 2004; 83(3): 221-31
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