| Primary Use |
Herb/Supplement Ingredient |
Secondary Use |
Scientific Support |
Key Findings |
Alzheimer's Disease |
Ginkgo Biloba |
Circulation |
Moderate |
Positive results in patients suffering from dementia, potential benefits
in improving general circulation. |
| Antioxidant |
Grape Seed |
|
Strong |
Powerful activity in protecting tissues from free radical damage. |
|
-
SAMe
|
|
- Moderate
|
- Clear effects as a sedative.
-
Improved within 2-4 months
|
| Arthritis & Joints |
Glucosamine |
Osteoarthritis |
Strong |
Numerous double-blind studies show reduced pain and improved mobility
within 1-3 months |
Bacteria |
Goldenseal |
Cold & Flus |
Minimal |
Good for Upper respiratory infections, inflamed mucous membranes,
colds and flu, heartburn, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and skin
infections; also used for ulcers and as a blood purifier and digestive stimulant.
Improved within
1-3 weeks |
Bladder infections |
Cranberry |
Antioxidant |
Minimal |
Some evidence for benefits of strong cranberry juice in acidifying the
urine to prevent bacterial adherence. Long history of use. Improved
within 1-3
weeks |
| Blood Pressure |
Garlic |
Heart health |
Moderate |
A number of double-blind studies show effectiveness in reducing
cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure. Improved within
2-4 months |
Brain health |
Phosphatidylserine (PS) |
Athletic (ergogenic) aid |
Moderate |
Benefits in improving quality of life in demented elderly patients.
Possible suppression of cortisol production in athletes (anti-catabolic effect).
Improved within
2-4 months |
Breast |
Fenugreek |
Diabetes |
Minimal |
Helps
to increase Milk production and enlarge size. |
| Depression |
SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine) |
Osteoarthritis |
Moderate |
Equivalent benefits to standard pain-killers (for arthritis) and tricyclic
anti-depressants (for depression).
Improved within 2-4 months
|
| Stress |
St. John's Wort |
Depression |
Strong |
Numerous double-blind studies show effectiveness in alleviating mild to
moderate depression. Improved within
1-2 months |
| Diabetes |
Alpha-Lipoic Acid |
Antioxidant |
Moderate |
Good benefits in protecting diabetics from nerve damage. |
Diabetes |
Chromium |
Appetite regulation |
Moderate |
Diabetics have increased needs to control blood sugar. Claims for boosting
fat loss are overblown.
Improved within 1-2 months
|
Digestion Aid |
Curcumin (Turmeric) |
Antioxidant |
Minimal |
Possible benefits as a mild anti-inflammatory.
Improved within 1-2 months
|
| Energy |
Coenzyme Q10 |
Heart health |
Moderate |
Good results in patients recovering from heart surgery and congestive
heart failure. Benefits are less clear in healthy subjects.
Improved within 1-2 months
|
Eye health |
Bilberry |
Antioxidant |
Moderate |
Small studies suggest benefits for night vision.
Improved within 3-4 months
|
| Fat oxidation (fat burner) |
Carnitine |
Heart health |
Moderate |
Improves exercise tolerance in subjects with heart ailments.
Improved within 2-3 months
|
Fatigue prevention |
Ginseng |
Mental Acuity |
Moderate |
Several varieties of ginseng exist as "adaptogens" - and
providing varying benefits in preventing fatigue, maintaining blood sugar and combating
stress. |
| Heart health |
Hawthorn |
blood cholesterol |
Moderate |
Possible benefits in controlling heart rhythm and contraction strength in
heart failure.
Improved within 3-4 months
|
Immune system |
-
Echinacea
- Astragalus
|
Cold & Flus |
Moderate |
A number of double-blind studies show effectiveness in reducing the
severity and duration of colds.
Improved within 1-2 weeks
|
| Infections |
Pau d' Arco |
Ulcers |
Moderate |
Pau
d'Arco is helpful in the support of inflammatory diseases, tumors, yeast infection,
anemia, asthma, arteriosclerosis, bronchitis, diabetes, fungal infection, rheumatism, skin
problems, ulcers, chronic degenerative conditions and autoimmune conditions.
Improved within 2-3 months
|
Insomnia |
Valerian |
Anxiety (stress) |
Moderate |
Effective in improving sleep and relieving anxiety in stressful
situations. |
Liver protection |
Milk Thistle |
|
Moderate |
General activity in promoting the liver's function in detoxifying
compounds.
Improved within 1-2 months
|
| Mental Acuity |
Gotu Kola |
Fatigue prevention |
Minimal |
Possible stimulant properties similar to caffeine. |
Menopausal symptoms |
Black Cohosh |
PMS symptoms |
Moderate |
Possible benefits due to estrogenic activity.
Improved within 2-3 months
|
Menopausal symptoms |
Dong Quai |
|
Minimal |
Long history of use as traditional medicine, but no strong scientific
data.
Improved within 2-3 months
|
Migraine headaches |
Feverfew |
Menstrual pain |
Moderate |
Effective as a preventative to migraines. |
Nausea |
Ginger |
Digestive aid |
Moderate |
Effective in relieving nausea induced by pregnancy and motion sickness.
Improved within 1-3 days
|
Osteoarthritis |
Chondroitin Sulfate |
Arthritis
& Joints |
Moderate |
Numerous double-blind studies show reduced pain and improved mobility
within 1-3 months |
PMS symptoms |
Chasteberry (Vitex) |
Menopausal symptoms |
Moderate |
Relieves breast tenderness and menstrual irregularities |
Prostate health |
Saw Palmetto |
Hair loss |
Strong |
Clear benefits in reducing symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH -
enlarged prostate) - equivalent to prescription Proscar. Possible benefits in preventing
hair loss - similar to prescription Propecia.
Improved within 2-3 months
|
Skin Problem |
Evening Primrose Oil |
Menopause |
Moderate |
Several small studies show benefits in a number of inflammatory-type
conditions such as arthritis and eczema. Also helpful in Female ailments.
Improved within 2-3 months
|
| Water Retention |
Uva Ursi
(bearberry) |
Bladder infections |
Minimal |
Folklore use not supported by clinical evidence. |
