Herbs & Alternative Medicine

Also known as part of complementary and alternative medicine, herbal medicine is not usually standard medical care. When it comes to treating cancer, people are often willing to try a multitude of...

Some medicine you have to take contains chemicals which leave a residue in your mouth that cause you to taste things as if you were eating something metallic. This is known as "Dysgeusia." This...

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a plant that has been used in traditional medicine since ancient times. Native to the eastern part of North America, it is also cultivated in certain...

Almonds are a type of nut that grows on trees, which were originally cultivated from the Middle East. Oil derived from almonds is used in cooking as well as in herbal medicine to treat a number of...

Also known as reishi, Japanese lingzhi is a type of fungus native to Asia. Japanese lingzhi is often used as medicine by herbalists and is available in a number of weight-loss supplements.

Horesetail is a common name for the Equisetum arvense fern, which gets its name from its distinctive tall, bushy shape that gives the plant the appearance of a horse's tail. The horsetail fern has...

Yu Jin is the Chinese name for turmeric root tuber. Yu Jin's pharmaceutical name is Tuber Curcumae. It is an herb used in cooking and in alternative Chinese medicine.

Hydrangea (scientific name Hydrangea arborescens hydrangeaceae) is a shrub that can grow up to 10 feet tall. Herbologists use many parts of this plant, especially the root, for treating a variety...

Today, a herbal remedy is called alternative medicine. Alternative medicine means treatment that is not practiced in a hospital setting. Chinese and Japanese herbs have been used to treat pain for...

Herbal medications, along with vitamins and minerals, are considered dietary supplements by the U.S Food ad Drug Administration (FDA). The use of herbal medicine is part of the most common...

Menopause is a natural biological process now considered a transition that can begin in your 30s, 40s or 50s. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is called the "second spring." There are different...

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on the beliefs and practices of the Chinese culture. It has been developed and employed over thousands of years, using herbal medicine, acupuncture,...

Rehmannia is an herb that is used in traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, for the treatment of menopause and other conditions, according to botanical.com. It is usually used in conjunction with...

Also called bee glue, beeswax acid, hive dross and Russian penicillin, propolis is a resin-type substance produced by bees. The substance has many uses in alternative medicine.

Most people believe the myth that marijuana is a harmful drug with no medicinal value. According to a 1999 study conducted by the Institute of Medicine, the harmful affects of marijuana are in the...

Yellow root is the single member of the genus Xanthoriza, and is a subshrub (a short, woody shrub). It is used in different traditional medicines as an herb.

Essential elements in many types of cooking, herbs also have health benefits. If you want access to the freshest herbs, growing your own herb garden can't be beat.

Oil of oregano is a very valuable substance used in the practice of alternative medicine. It does, however, have some negative side effects. These effects are most often noted when the oil of...

Curcumin is a constituent of the turmeric herb. Turmeric is a rhizome that belongs to the ginger family. Turmeric and curcumin have been studied through laboratory tests and animal research.

Muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology (although unrelated to kinesiology) is a diagnostic procedure sometimes used in alternative medicine. It is based on the idea that the body has an...

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lungs that can cause some serious coughing. With bronchitis the bronchial tubes which brings air into the lungs get infected and inflammed. This can cause...

Burdock is a plant whose parts are used as an herbal nutritional supplement. Some people have used this herb to treat diabetes, hair loss and arthritis. The health benefits of burdock have not...

Recurring sores can be an irritating and embarrassing problem. An enigma to solve with medication, sores happen for a variety of reasons and can indicate an underlying chronic health problem....

Black elderberry extract is used as an herbal medicine, as an antioxidant, immunity system booster and to treat bacterial and viral infections.

The use of herbs to maintain good health is a principal part of Chinese medicine. Literature on herbal medicine dates back 2,000 years and describes thousands of medicinal ingredients. The healing...

Arthritis is a debilitating disease of the joints marked by pain, stiffness and inflammation. Although conventional medicine has many treatments to offer for arthritis, some find that alternative...

Alternative medicine is any treatment that is not considered conventional medicine. Herbal alternative medicine that is used in place of conventional medicine is alternative medicine. Herbal...

Herbs and spices have been used as medicine for centuries, and are still the primary medicine in most of the world today. The World Health Organization recently estimated that 80 percent of people...

The term "Ayurveda," which translates into "science of life," is a healthy lifestyle practice that is thousands of years old. It remains a popular alternative form of medicine in Southeast Asia....

Kampo is a Japanese form of herbal medicine that originated in China. It is an integral part of Japanese health care management, and some treatments are even covered by health insurance. It is...

The common cold - though there is no cure, we still get better somehow. Your body's immune system is the only known thing to be able to beat any virus. The best way to beat a cold is by...

Herbs are substances whose leaves, seeds or flowers are utilized for medicine, flavor or scent. Herbs are a natural alternative to prescription drugs for the treatment for various ailments. They...

Elderberry, also known as Sambucus nigra, is a deciduous shrub that bears edible fruits. It displays yellow and white blossoms during the early summer. The berries turn into black or deep blue...

Alternative medicine has existed in the realm of medicine for decades. It has been used by people in the ancient ages in treating a variety of diseases and disorders. It was overshadowed by the...

Before modern medicine, herbs were one of the primary means of treating various ailments around the world. Today, herbs are regaining popularity as an alternative or adjunct to Western medicine. ...

Many people believe that because herbal medicine is natural and mostly unregulated that it is completely safe. However, many herbs contain powerful compounds that can produce a wide variety of...

Herbology, also called herbalism, is the use of plants as medicine. Sometimes minerals, fungi, animal parts, bee products and shells are included in the definition of herbology. Other names for...

It's all over the news. Alternative health care is one of the most rapidly expanding fields in medicine. But what exactly is alternative medicine? Alternative medicine comes in all shapes and...

Garlic was the main ingredient in the folklore vinegar used by the 4 thieves. According to legend, these thieves used garlic vinegar as herbal medicine to protect themselves from a plague. They...

Boswellia, also known as boswellia serrata or boswellia sacra, is a medicinal herb that is used to treat many things, the most common being swelling. Like any medication, boswellia can have side...

Cayenne, or capsicum, is used internally for the circulatory and digestive system. Some of the conditions treated with cayenne are rheumatism, arthritis, chronic nerve pain, arthritis, shingles,...

It is easy to get swept up in the hype and excitement about a new treatment for cancer that promises great results. Herbal remedies and dietary treatments have been around for years and some offer...

Parsley is a common decoration on plates in restaurants. The high chlorophyll content of this herb makes it a natural breath deodorizer. It is also full of vitamin C.

If you have an herb garden, or simply enjoy working with herbs, there are numerous ways to use these herbs at home to make your own medicine. Herbal medicines can be as simple as an herbal tea, or...

Erectile dysfunction is a common problem with many purported solutions. There are many companies offerng pills, salves and magic cures that claim to help achieve a strong erection, but many of...

Medicinal plants form the basis for entire systems of medicine that have helped many people around the world and continue to do so today. Each individual herb has different properties and uses...

According to an ancient legend, Chinese herbal medicine has its roots from Shen Nong, the god of husbandry. Shen Nong poisoned himself 70 times a day taking herbs and substances so that people...

There are many reasons to try a colon cleansing. You must do a colon cleansing before some medical procedures, such as a colonoscopy, and there are some who think that cleansing the colon can help...

Chinese medicine offers a number of alternative herbal remedies for medical conditions. Research into Chinese herbal remedies began over 3,500 years ago. Chinese medicine works on different...

Herbology involves taking herbs and combining them into medicinal herbs to cure or ease an ailment. As long as there has been man, plants have been used to make medicine. The word "herb" is a...