Common weed helps treat herpes, study finds

(NaturalNews) Tansy, a flowering plant that has long been used as a folk remedy to treat fevers, rheumatism, and other conditions, may now have another known health benefit. According to a recent study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research , antiviral compounds naturally present in tansy show effectiveness in treating the herpes virus. Dr. Solomon Habtemariam from the University of Greenwich in the UK and Professor Francisco Parra from the Universidad de Oviedo in Spain together set out to research the medicinal properties of tansy and verify the plant’s efficacy. They not only observed the plant to be a powerful antiviral, but they also identified which substances are responsible for this effect. “Our research focused on the antiviral properties of tansy, especially the potential treatment it may represent for herpes,” said Parra. “[W]e found that tansy does contain known antiviral agents including 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-DCQA) as well as axillarin, which contributes to its antiherpetic effect,” adding that the multiple antiherpetic agents present in tansy work together to fight viruses. A 2008 study out of Morocco found that tansy, also known more properly as Tanacetum vulgare, is effective at treating hypertension and promoting rapid relaxation. And a 2006 study explains that tansy leaves have also been commonly used in folk medicine as a effective diuretic. Other known uses for tansy include treating nervousness, fatigue, head ailments, mental irritability, ear ringing, stomach pains, digestive problems, and respiratory ailments. Tansy extracts also kill internal parasites and works as an effective insect repellant. Certain compounds in tansy are highly toxic, however. Ingesting tansy oil can cause liver and digestive tract problems, for instance, when not used correctly. Be sure to consult your physician before undertaking any protocol involving tansy. Sources for this story include: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/w-ofr022211.php http://www.webhomeopath.com/homeopathy/homeopathic-remedies/homeopathy-remedy-Tanacetum_Vulgare.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18760343 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17113735

Birch bark nutrient prevents obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol

(NaturalNews) Researchers from the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBC) in China have identified a powerful compound in birch bark called betulin that helps lower cholesterol and prevent both diabetes and obesity. And betulin works particularly better than the statin drug lovastatin at lowering cholesterol, except without the harmful side effects. Dr. Bao-Liang Song and his colleagues from SIBC tested the effects of betulin and found that it specifically targets the genes responsible for making harmful blood fats like triglycerides by effectively lowering their activity and protecting against disease. And since the compound is “abundant in birch bark,” it has the potential to revolutionize the way blood fat levels are managed. Concerning cholesterol levels, betulin was shown to lower lipid levels more effectively than lovastatin. And insulin-wise, betulin helps keep artery walls free and clear of build-ups and blockages, also known as atherosclerosis. Long used as an herbal remedy, betulin has been investigated for many other medicinal purposes as well: -The medicinal mushroom Chaga, for example, is rich in betulinic acid. And the betulin is recognized as one of the mushroom’s many anti-cancer compounds (http://www.naturalnews.com/024869_Daniel_Vitalis_mushrooms_medicinal.html). -A study out of the University of Latvia found that betulin helps lower inflammation (http://www.privatemdlabs.com/blood-testing-news/Heart_Health_and_Cholesterol/Ingredient-in-birch-bark-may-improve-cholesterol-levels—$800323971.php). -A 2003 study out of Russia found that betulin is a powerful antiviral nutrient (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VSC-48XH7DR-D&_user=10&_coverDate=07/31/2003&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1599076185&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=5a5b3402fe293d465b6b46ea560e07c2&searchtype=a). Despite the fact that some reports have falsely identified betulin as a “drug”, the compound is really nothing more than a natural phytonutrient that birch trees themselves use as a natural protective “medicine”. Betulin is nothing like the pharmaceutical drugs sold at pharmacies; when formulated as an extract, it is a simple herbal supplement like the many others sold at health food stores. Sources for this story include: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/221167/Tree-bark-drug-could-battle-heart-disease

Fight prostate cancer with pomegranates

(NaturalNews) Researchers from the University of California, Riverside, have identified yet another medicinal use for the pomegranate. According to Manuela Martins-Green, a professor of cell biology and author of the recent study, certain pomegranate compounds work to fight prostate cancer cells and prevent them from growing and spreading throughout the body. The findings support earlier work that has also identified the anti-cancer properties of pomegranates. In order for prostate cancer cells to take hold and spread, they need a steady supply of testosterone. But in the presence of phenylpropanoids, hydrobenzoic acids, flavones and conjugated fatty acids — four specific types of compounds found in pomegranates — prostate cancer cells are unable to interact with the hormone and spread. These same compounds prevent prostate and other cancers from spreading to the bones, and they even cause existing cancer cells to die. In a previous prostate cancer study, researchers also noted that the ellagitannins in pomegranates work not only to slow the growth of cancer cells in general, but also to induce cancer cell death (http://www.naturalnews.com/022495.html). “Because the genes and proteins involved in the movement of prostate cancer cells are essentially the same as those involved in the movement of other types of cancer cells, the same … components of the juice could have a much broader impact in cancer treatment,” explained Martins-Green. The findings were presented at the 50th annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology in Philadelphia. They add to the growing body of evidence about the powerful medicinal qualities of pomegranates that include their ability to prevent and treat infections, inflammation, high cholesterol, tissue damage, heart disease, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, and cancer (http://www.naturalnews.com/pomegranate.html). Sources for this story include: http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/pomegranate-juice-compounds-specifically-identified-fight-prostate-cancer

Mistletoe As A Medicinal Herb

People have always been looking for cures for the problems they had. In almost all ancient cultures, medicinal plants have had an important role, either in a medical or in another sense. Throughout the course of human history, the knowledge of medicinal plants and their applications, expanded over time, so that today, there is already [...]

Boosting Your Metabolism With Medicinal Herbs

Various medicinal plants and supplements based on them have been praised for being a effective and simple way to slow down the human metabolism. However, people often get confused over what is actually meant by slowing down one’s metabolism. Since the wanted effect is to lose excessive body weight, boosting one’s metabolism means that your [...]

Growing Your Own Natural Remedies

Growing medicinal herbs can be a great and interesting hobby, that can even gradually turn in a business if one starts to grow these natural remedies in somewhat larger quantities. The science and art of the process related to growing medicinal plants has been researched for a long time, so you probably wont have any [...]

Chestnuts As Natural Herbal Remedies

Wild chestnut is one of the medicinal plants that come in large size, in form of trees that can grow up to a height of about 20 to 30 meters. It is a large, thick, and leafy tree. The bark of the wild chestnut is cracked and is brown colored. On relatively thick branches, in [...]

Common Ivy As A Natural Remedy

Hedera helix (Common Ivy) is one of the medicinal herbs native to most of Europe, from Ireland northeast to southern Scandinavia, south to Spain, and east to Ukraine and also northern Turkey in southwestern Asia. The northern and eastern limits are at about the -2°C winter isotherm, while to the west and southwest, it is [...]

Lavender As A Medicinal Plant

People have always been looking for different treatment methods for the various problems and conditions they might have had. In almost all ancient cultures, medicinal herbs have had an important role, either in a medical or in another sense. One of the medicinal herbs that are today most often used, and most well known is [...]

Forever Young With The Help Of Medicinal Herbs

There are certain medicinal plants that can help slower the aging process of the human body. One of these herbs is known as ginseng. However, ginseng by itself does not carry al the medicinal properties. There is also a specific species of fungi that grows in symbiosis with the mentioned medicinal herb, and which actually [...]

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