Botanical Supplements Archives | Page 2 of 4

November 10, 2021July 27, 2022

Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna): A Potent Ayurvedic Heart Tonic

The stem bark of the Arjuna tree has been valued for heart health since 500 BC. This beautiful and amazing tree is native to central India and lives on average over fifty years. Ayurvedic physicians commonly prescribe the powdered tree bark for alleviating angina, hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions. In research, the bark extract has been shown to have diuretic and hypotensive properties.^[1]

I often use Arjuna in my clinical practice, and combine it with hawthorn leaf, flower, and berry (Crataegus oxycantha); olive leaf (Olea europea); coleus (Coleus forskohli); grape seed extract; green coffee bean; celery seed (Apium graveolens) and rauwolfia (Rauwolfia serpentina). All of these botanicals have been found to have therapeutic benefit in cardiovascular health, and in particular for maintaining healthy blood pressure, tonifying the heart, and improving its function.

September 5, 2021March 8, 2022

Natural Compounds That Help Mitigate the Effects of Statin-Induced Myopathy

Last month, I wrote a post on the widespread use of statin drugs and the dangers associated with them. Statin associated myopathy and mitochondrial impairment are serious and wide-spread side effects of statin drugs.

As I stated previously, I strongly believe that people need to be actively involved in their own health care. This means embracing a healthy Mediterranean diet and lifestyle as well as cultivating a positive attitude. And it also means using appropriate botanical and nutritional support as needed.

March 3, 2021February 8, 2022

The Anti-Infectious Medicinal Properties of Propolis

The Anti-Infectious Medicinal Properties of Propolis

If I had to choose a favorite natural medicine for healing, it would be propolis. I was first introduced to propolis and other bee products like honey, royal jelly, and bee pollen in 1976 while working at my first job at a natural food store in Connecticut. There, I was fortunate to meet Ed Weiss, a wonderful beekeeper and producer of bee products who was known as the “Bee Man.” Ed began his love affair with bees in 1974, and devoted more than four decades to educating people about bees, protecting them, and producing Wilton Gold, an excellent honey. Ed wrote a beekeeper’s handbook called “The Queen and I,” a comprehensive and charming classic now in its third printing. The book describes his love for the bees, opening with “I have been having an affair,” and provides practical information for building a hive and caring for these unique and beneficial creatures. In my four decades of clinical practice, I’ve witnessed the beneficial healing effects of propolis for a wide variety of health conditions—including viral respiratory illnesses.

August 31, 2020February 25, 2022

Synergistic Effects of Herb Extracts and How They Might Assist in Cancer Drug Therapies

In exciting new research, clinical studies for the first time are reporting convincing evidence of the value and credibility of herbal therapeutics in cancer treatments. As an herbalist, botanical medicine has been an essential part of my toolbox for decades as a useful complement to conventional medicine in oncology as well as other chronic diseases, and for general health optimization.

July 20, 2020March 22, 2022

Hope, Wisdom and Science from the Plant Kingdom in the Ongoing Covid Crisis

Viruses are one of the oldest organisms on Earth. They consist simply of a protein envelope and nucleic acids, which renders them unable to replicate outside of a host. Some viruses, such as influenza, can both rearrange compatible genes and mutate on a regular basis in order to remain invisible.[1]

Interestingly, the main benefit of herbs is their working relationship with our own innate ability to ward off pathogens, such as viruses. This in part is what makes herbal medicine so unique. Although herbs provide some direct anti-viral activity, they primarily act in a non-specific, adaptive manner.

April 28, 2020March 28, 2022

Quercetin’s Remarkable Health Benefits

The vibrant colors we observe in plants serve a different role depending on the organism being considered. For the plant itself, the pigments may aid in the absorption of light and photosynthesis, as well as contribute to metabolism and reproduction. For birds and insects, the pigments provide a signal to the availability of food, such as nectar or pollen. For humans, the pigments may provide a clue of the type of health benefits we are likely to incur upon ingestion.