Posted in Western Herbal Medicine, Nutrients, Chinese & Ayurveda

Herbal preparations have been used from ancient times to obtain effective pain relief. Turmeric and boswellia are well-studied anti-inflammatory compounds gaining in popularity and being used as an adjunct to, but also as an alternative to, conventional treatments for musculoskeletal pain. Symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA), including pain, morning stiffness, joint swelling, limited range of motion, and decreased physical function, typically are treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs...

A new study published Jan. 25 in Nature by researchers from the Salk Institute showed that low levels of the amino acid serine put diabetic mice at risk for developing peripheral neuropathy. The scientists are now using their findings to develop a test that can indicate whether a patient could benefit from serine supplementation. To test this hypothesis, scientists fed mice a serine-free diet combined with either a low-fat or high-fat diet for 12 months. A control group was also part of the ...

Omega-3 fatty acids Omega-3 fatty acids have several health benefits. They help protect your bones and joints, and because they contain anti-inflammatory fats, they can help lower cholesterol.  Those benefits can also help reduce the heart-related side effects caused by chemotherapy and radiation. And because they’re linked to reducing inflammation, they may also lower the risk of cancer recurrence. You can find these healthy essential fats in salmon, trout, tuna and sardines...

Results from a placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, 3-arm clinical trial has shown that evening dosing of melatonin may prolong survival in Non-Small Cells lung cancer patients.  Eighty-four advanced (stage IIIB or IV) NSCLC patients receiving identical dosing of standard etoposide/cisplatin therapy, between the ages of 18 and 80 years. The Study:
Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 arms: Placebo at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. 20 mg melatonin at 8 a.m. and placebo at 8 p.m. Pl...

Elderberry is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in the world. Traditionally, Indigenous people used it to treat fever and rheumatism, while the ancient Egyptians used it to improve their complexions and heal burns.  Elderberry refers to several different varieties of the Sambucus tree, which is a flowering plant belonging to the Adoxaceae family.. The most common type is Sambucus nigra, also known as the European elderberry or black elder. This tree is native to Europe, tho...

Gynaecological cancers encompass all uncontrolled and aberrant cell growth in the female reproductive system, therapeutic interventions are constantly evolving, but there is still a high death rate, significant side effects and medication resistance, making the task of treatment challenging and complex. The essential oil extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa is a promising natural drug, which has excellent biological activity on cancer cells and is to be developed as a new type of anti-...