Herbs - General

Calendula has been used for medicinal purposes since at least the 12th century, primarily as a topical application to boost the healing rate of wounds and prevent infection. Calendula contains high amounts of flavonoids, which are thought to increase the rate of neo-vascularization and deposit hyaluronan, the principal component of the extracellular matrix in cells. […]

Astragalus Uses for Cancer Treatment and as an Immune System Booster There is considerable research on the Astragalus’ ability to support the body’s immune system, particularly in cancer patients. Studies have shown that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy recover faster, have prolonged life expectancy and are better able to withstand the side effects of […]

Shepherd’s purse has been used as a medicinal herb since ancient times and mention of it as an astringent agent can be found in many medieval medical books. During World War I, it was used by soldiers to stop bleeding when other means were not available and inventories of conventional medicine had run out. Pedanius […]

The essential oil of bergamot contains more than 300 compounds including linalyl acetate (30-60 percent), limonene (26-42 percent) and linalol (11-22 percent). Some other constituents are alcohols, sesquiterpenes, alkanes and furocoumarins like bergapten in an amount of 0.30 to 0.39 percent. The herb got its name from the Italian city of Bergamo in Lombardy, Italy, […]

The flavorless arrowroot is used as a non-irritating, nutritious diet for people with certain chronic diseases, during recovery from an illness, or for certain internal irritations including bladder irritation. Arrowroot has been used as an infant formula in place of breast milk or to help the baby adjust after weaning. A jelly made from it […]

The juice made from the agave plant contains estrogen-like isoflavonoid, alkaloids, coumarin and vitamins B1, B2, C, D and K, and provitamin A. Agave americana has antiseptic, wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties, which explains its uses externally as a medicinal herb to treat burns, bruises, minor cuts, injuries and skin irritation caused by insect bites. In Central […]

Hearing loss is a traumatic and life-changing experience that can significantly affect one’s social and personal well-being. The condition can be gradual, which makes it hard to detect until it’s almost too late. Fortunately, both conductive-caused and sensorineural hearing loss can be treated either naturally or artificially. Let’s look at some natural treatment options available […]

Borage contains mucous substances, tannins, saponins, resins, essential oil, potassium, calcium, vitamin C and other substances. The borage leaves contain small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids found to be toxic to the liver. However, the levels of those toxic alkaloids are extremely low. The oil from the seeds is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 […]

Some of the substances found in cranesbill are tannins, gallic acid, starch, pectin, and resin. The root can contain between 12 to 25 percent tannin, with the highest amount just before flowering. The American cranesbill is not the only plant of the genus Geranium that is used in herbal medicine. The European species wood cranesbill […]

The red poppy seeds can be eaten raw or cooked. They have pleasant nutty flavor and can be sprinkled on bread and cakes or added in soups and salads. The seeds are rather small but relatively easy to harvest from the large seed pods. They are completely safe to eat because they do not contain […]