Tag: herbal remedies

Reprinted from Science – Matt Simon

Today, cannabis continues its slow march toward nationwide decriminalization with voters deciding whether to allow recreational use in Michigan and North Dakota, and for medical purposes in Utah and Missouri. As states keep chipping away at federal prohibition, more consumers will gain access, sure—but so will more researchers who can more easily study this astonishingly complex and still mysterious plant.

At the top of the list of mysteries is how a galaxy of compounds in the plant combine to produce a galaxy of medical (and, of course, recreational) effects. For example, THC feels different when combined it with cannabidiol, or CBD, another naturally occurring compound in cannabis, but the reasons aren’t fully known. It’s called the entourage effect: THC, like a rock star, only reaches its full potential when it rolls with a crew, consisting of hundreds of other compounds in the plant that scientists know about so far.

But the problem with researching a schedule I drug is that the government doesn’t want you to do it. Yet as more states go legal, cannabis continues to climb out of the scientific dark ages. Because it’s not just about giving people a comfortable high, but about developing cannabis into drugs that could treat a massive range of ills.

First, some cannabis basics. THC and CBD are cannabinoids, which means they bind to receptors in the human body’s endocannabinoid system, specifically the CB1 and CB2 receptors. Researchers only discovered the endocannabinoid system in the early 1990s, but it appears to regulate things like mood and immune function.

You may have noticed that cannabis’ effects can differ wildly from experience to experience. Eat a weed brownie, for instance, and the THC goes straight to your liver, where it’s metabolized into 11-hydroxy-THC. That metabolite “has five times the activity at the CB1 receptor, the psychoactive one, as THC itself,” says Jeff Raber, CEO of the Werc Shop, a cannabis lab in California.

That’s why it’s so easy to overdo it with edibles. When you smoke cannabis, the THC at first skips the liver and goes straight to your bloodstream. It’s about five times less potent that way than if you eat cannabis, meaning that chowing down on 10 milligrams of THC is roughly equal to smoking 50 milligrams of the stuff.

Mode of ingestion, then, is a big consideration in the cannabis experience. But so too are factors beyond your control. “We’re pretty aware that the endocannabinoid system is not a static picture throughout the day,” says Raber. “Why it changes, what causes those changes—those are other levels of complicated questions.” Cannabis might hit you differently during the day than at night, and can also depend on your mood or whether you’ve eaten.

But that’s not all. THC also interacts with other cannabinoids in your system, and it has a complicated relationship with CBD in particular. Anecdotally, cannabis users have reported that CBD can modulate the psychoactive effects of THC—think of it sort of like an antidote to the paranoia and anxiety that comes with being too high. That might be part of the reason edibles can feel so powerful: If you eat a brownie loaded with just THC, you aren’t getting the CBD you would if you smoked regular old flower. (Not that some manufacturers aren’t also adding CBD to their edibles. CBD is so hot right now, but it’s hard to find flower with high CBD. Cultivators have over the decades bred highly intoxicating, THC-rich strains at the expense of CBD.)

With cannabis growing more legitimate as a medicine, researchers are finally putting hard data to these anecdotal reports. They’re beginning to understand how CBD might modulate the often unwelcome effects of THC.

Consider the drug Marinol, a synthetic form of THC available since the 1980s. It’s a good appetite stimulant, but it’s also good at getting patients high and paranoid. “When you just stimulate the CB1 receptor with this pure molecule, it’s very intoxicating and patients don’t tolerate it very well,” says Adie Wilson-Poe, who researches cannabis for pain management at Washington University in St. Louis.

However, give patients a drug like Sativex—which combines THC with CBD—or even pure cannabis flower or extracts, and they tolerate it much better. “We specifically see that CBD protects against the paranoia and anxiety and the racing heart that THC produces,” Wilson-Poe says.

It all comes back to the psychoactive CB1 receptor. THC is an agonist that fits nicely into CB1, activating it. “CBD can’t do that at the CB1, but it does sort of sit in the pocket,” says Wilson-Poe. “It can compete with THC for the spot in the receptor.” Which means that if you take CBD with THC, there may be fewer receptors available for the THC to activate, thus modulating the psychoactive effects, like paranoia.

“But that’s probably not the whole story,” Wilson-Poe says, “because CBD has at least 14 distinct mechanisms of action in the central nervous system. So it does a little bit of something at a whole bunch of places, and we probably can’t attribute the anti-paranoia or anti-anxiety effects just to CB1 occupancy.”

Now let me add yet another complication to our growing list of complications: THC and CBD are far from alone in the cannabis plant when it comes to medicinal properties. Those two might be anti-inflammatory, for instance, “but if you were to vaporize a whole flower, you’d be consuming potentially a couple dozen anti-inflammatory molecules at once,” says Wilson-Poe. “In this sense I think of whole-plant cannabis as like a multivitamin for inflammation.” (Because there are so many important compounds at play, some researchers prefer the term ensemble effect over entourage effect. “Entourage” makes it sound like everything is supporting the rock star that is THC, when the reality might be more nuanced.)

There might also be medical applications when you don’t want the entourage effect at work. One of THC’s more famous treatments, for instance, is for lowering eye pressure to treat glaucoma. “We found that it works, and THC does a nice job,” says Indiana University, Bloomington researcher Alex Straiker, who studies cannabinoids. “But it’s actually blocked by CBD. People often think, oh yeah, CBD and THC work together. But in terms of CB1 receptor signaling, they actually oppose each other, or at least CBD opposes THC.” That’s not to say, though, that CBD isn’t having some sort of beneficial effect on its own when it comes to treating glaucoma.

Plus, there are many other kinds of receptors in the endocannabinoid system that these compounds could be targeting. “It’s messy,” Straiker says.

So while CBD seems to mitigate the unfun effects of THC, it also might get in the way of certain medical benefits that THC has to offer. But because there’s seemingly no end to the complexities of cannabis, CBD might also enhance THC’s anti-cancer properties. Research has found that if you apply THC and CBD to cancer cells in the lab, the combination is more effective than THC alone at both inhibiting the growth of those cells and outright killing them. The future of medical cannabis, then, depends in large part on teasing apart the entourage effect—leveraging it in some cases, and maybe breaking up the entourage (or ensemble) when THC or CBD alone is most beneficial.

“We need to understand which constellations of plant chemistry are best suited for which indications and which kinds of patients, and which form of the CB1 receptor you happen to carry, because there are lots of mutations in that gene,” says Wilson-Poe. “So understanding these mechanisms is absolutely crucial for providing these patients with personalized medicine that alleviates their symptoms without producing the unwanted side effects.”

Hate to do this, but we’ve got one last problem. For decades, cannabis users have claimed that different strains of cannabis produce different effects—maybe it makes them sleepy, maybe it gives them energy. And that’s been true even as CBD was largely bred out of cannabis in North America in favor of THC. “Well, if they’re all high THC, it’s got to be from something else,” says Ethan Russo, director of research and development at the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute, who studies the entourage effect. “And that something else is terpenoids.”

Yes, another member of the entourage. Unlike THC and CBD, you can find terpenoids not just in cannabis, but across the plant kingdom. They’re handy little molecules that plants use to ward off insects, and they’re what give cannabis that characteristic smell (same for terpenoids in lemons and pine needles).

And science knows what some terpenoids found in cannabis do pharmacologically in the brain. For example, linalool is one that has sedating and anti-anxiety properties. “So it might make sense that when you combine its anti-anxiety effect with that of cannabidiol [CBD], then they boost each other,” says Russo.

The entourage effect, the ensemble effect—whatever you want to call it, the phenomenon might get more complicated before it gets clearer. But researchers continue to tease apart the chemistry of cannabis, unlocking its true potential as a medicine. Mystery … almost solved.

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Chicory, also known as succory, blue-sailors and ragged-sailors, is a hardy perennial native to Eurasia but was transplanted and now grows naturally throughout North America, south to Florida and west to California. It is common along roadsides and in other wild, untamed areas, especially in limestone soils. All species in the genus Cichorium are native to Eurasia. The words chicory, succory, Cichorium and intybus are all derived from Greek or Latin names for the herb.

Chicory resembles dandelion in its deep taproot and rosette of toothed basal leaves; unlike dandelion, it puts up a stiff, hairy flower stalk clothed sparsely with small, clasping leaves. Stalks may grow 2 to 5 feet tall and branch several times. Stalkless flower heads 1 1/2 inches wide form singly or in twos or threes in the axils of the stem leaves in midsummer. They are clear blue (or, rarely, pink or white) and consist of 16 to 20 strap-like, toothed ray flowers. Blossoms are primarily bee-pollinated and open early in the morning and close about five hours later.

For at least 5,000 years, people have cultivated chicory for its medicinal benefits. According to the “doctrine of signatures” (a renaissance theory that a plant’s appearance indicates its healing properties) the milky sap of chicory demonstrated its efficacy in promoting milk flow in nursing mothers, or perhaps diminishing it if it were too abundant; it seems to have been prescribed for both conditions. The blue of the blossoms and their tendency to close as if in sleep at noon (in England) suggested the plant’s use in treating inflamed eyes. The bruised leaves have been poulticed on swellings. Root extracts have been used as a diuretic and laxative, and to treat fevers and jaundice. The second-century physician Galen called chicory a “friend of the liver,” and contemporary research has shown that it can increase the flow of bile, which could be helpful in treating gallstones. Laboratory research also has shown root extracts to be antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and slightly sedative. They also slow and weaken the pulse and lower blood sugar. Leaf extracts have similar, though weaker, effects.

The appreciation for chicory as a culinary herb dates back at least to Roman times, and growers over the years have developed dozens of improved cultivars that scarcely resemble the scrawny roadside weed. These include heading chicories such as radicchio; loose-leaf chicory; root chicory, grown either for cooking like parsnips or for roasting to make a coffee substitute; and witloof, or Belgian endive, the roots of which are forced to produce elongated shoots called chicons.

Chicory is used for high blood pressure, heart failure, loss of appetite, upset stomach, constipation, liver and gallbladder disorders, cancer, and rapid heartbeat.

Some people apply a paste of chicory leaves directly to the skin for swelling and inflammation.

In foods, chicory leaves are often eaten like celery, and the roots and leaf buds are boiled and eaten. Chicory is also used as a cooking spice and to flavor foods and beverages. Coffee mixes often include ground chicory to enhance the richness of the coffee.

Just as dandelion, chicory has mild diuretic properties, and since it also promotes the excretion of uric acid it can be used for the treatment of rheumatic disorders, like arthritis and gout.

Extract of the root has been shown to expand the walls of the blood vessels and could, therefore, have some antihypertensive properties.

Traditionally the common doses of the herb are 3 to 5 g/day.

Chicory Coffee: After the roots are dug up they should be thoroughly cleaned and sliced into little cubes. Then they are placed on a rack and placed in an oven and slowly roasted until they are hard and dark brown all the way through. The roasted roots are then ground just like coffee beans.

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Aloe vera is one of the oldest known herbal medicine that can be traced back in ancient Egypt. Aloe vera plant was depicted on stone carvings and in Eber’s papyrus in 16th Century BC, found in burial grounds of deceased pharaohs.

Aloe vera was historically used to heal wounds and treat various skin conditions, Aloe was also taken orally as a laxative. Nowadays, aloe extract is still popularly used as a home remedy for skin problems such as psoriasis, burns, sunburns, insect bites and others. Aloe vera can be found in many skin products such as lotions, gels and sunblocks. Other folkloric uses include treatment of arthritis, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and osteoarthritis.

Aloe Vera is widely used as traditional herbal medicine in China, Japan, Russia, South Africa, the United States, Jamaica, Latin America and India. It is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine for its anti-inflammatory, regenerative, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal and healing properties.

Aloe Vera is traditionally used to treat the following skin conditions

• skin burns,
• scalds,
• scrapes,
• sunburn
• wounds
• psoriasis and others

Aloe Vera juice or the fleshy leaf is applied directly to the affected skin, providing relief and believed to improve healing.

treatment of hair related problems

• Dandruff,
• Thinning and falling hair,
• Baldness.

Fresh Aloe Vera juice or sap are massaged to the affected scalp and let it stay for a few minutes before washing.

Aloe Vera, Herbal Medicine For Conjunctivitis, Stomachic, Hemorrhoids and Diabetes

• Aloe Vera is used in conjunctivitis, Aloe leaf juice is applied to the outer eyelid
• In small doses, Aloe Vera is considered stomachic tonic; in large doses, as purgative.
• For hemorrhoids, Aloe Vera cuticle from its leaves is used as suppository for hemorrhoids
• In some Ariabian regions, Aloe Vera is used to treat diabetes.

Aloe vera has several active constituents and most of them have therapeutic implications for disease prevention and treatment through the modulation of various biological and genetic activities. The possible mechanisms of actions of Aloe vera are described as follows:

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DISCLAIMER: It is my belief that this information is true and accurate, however, understand that if you choose to follow what is posted here you do so at your own risk. The author of this article and the management of this website assume no responsibility for your application of this information and, specifically disavow any responsibility for any outcome therefrom.

Common Names:  cinnamon, cinnamon bark, Ceylon cinnamon, cassia cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice that has ancient origins and is popularly used as flavorings, as a condiment and in cooking. Cinnamon is also known to provide various medicinal benefits that include lowering of blood cholesterol, for diabetes. Cinnamon is obtained from the bark of the Cinnamon tree.

There are two popular kinds of Cinnamon, one is the “true Cinnamon” from the Cinnamon tree which is native in Sri Lanka (from the genus Cinnamomum verum) and the other is “Cassia” (Cinnamomum Cassia) which is being commercially cultivated in China, Indonesia, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries. It is widely accepted that Cinnamon from Sri Lanka is of better quality between the two.

Other than for culinary purposes, oil obtained from the cinnamon bark is also popularly used in perfumery. Cinnamon oil is also used in dental and pharmaceutical products. Cinnamon leaf oil has been found to be effective in killing mosquito larvae. In some studies, Cinnamon leaf oil is being proposed for use as an insect repellent.

Because Cinnamon has ancient origins, a broad range of folkloric health remedies have been practiced through the years that can be found in various cultures. While not all of its claimed health benefits are supported by science, a number of scientific studies that were done confirmed that there are indeed some medicinal benefits from Cinnamon.

Oral conditions. Cinnamon has traditionally been used to treat toothache and fight bad breath.

Health tonic. Cinnamon has been used to promote overall health and feeling of well being Some of the folkloric applications of Cinnamon are as follows;

Memory Booster. Cinnamon can improve cognitive function as well as memory.

Blood Purification. Cinnamon helps in removing impurities from the blood, and is often recommended for pimples.

Promotes Healing. Cinnamon helps to stop bleeding, and facilitates the healing process.

Digestive Tonic. Cinnamon aids in digestion and is effective for indigestion, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, diarrhea and flatulence. Cinnamon also relieves acidity and morning sickness.

Respiratory problems. Cinnamon helps in cold, flu, influenza, sore throat.

Menstruation. Cinnamon is effective in providing relief from menstrual cramp and discomfort..

In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Cinnamon is used in the treatment of flatulence, piles, amenorrhea, diarrhea, toothache, amoebiasis, heart diseases, fever, cough, cold, headache and many others.

Anti-Oxidant. Cinnamon is widely believed to be high in anti-oxidants. Regular drinking of Cinnamon tea could be beneficial to oxidative stress related illness in humans,

Diuretic Effects. Cinnamon is diuretic in nature and helps in secretion and discharge of urine.

Aphrodisiac and is believed to arouse sexual desire. It is also believed that cinnamon aids in the secretion of breast milk.

A substance from cinnamon has been isolated and coined as “insulin-potentiating factor” (IPF), while the antidiabetic effects of cinnamon bark have been shown in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Several studies have also revealed that cinnamon extracts lower not only blood glucose but also cholesterol levels.
A study comparing the insulin-potentiating effects of many spices revealed that the aqueous extract of cinnamon was 20-fold higher than the other spices. Methylhydroxychalcone polymer (MHCP) is the purified polymer of hydroxychalcone with the ability to stimulate glucose oxidation. Anderson et al. isolated and characterized the polyphenol type-A polymers from cinnamon and found that these substances act as insulin-like molecules. Following this characterization, a new compound from hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives named naphthalenemethyl ester, which has blood glucose-lowering effects, has been identified, further confirming cinnamon’s antidiabetic effects.

Infections. Cinnamon has anti fungal, antibacterial, antiviral and antiseptic properties, it is effective on external as well as internal infections. It helps in destroying germs in the gall bladder and bacteria in staph infections.

Cancer Prevention. In a study published by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland, cinnamon reduced the growth of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.

Warnings and side effects.

Generally safe. Cinnamon is considered safe for most adults if taken in food amounts or as herbal medicine in recommended dosage.

Toxicity, Cinnamon especially from the variant Cassia has been found to contain a toxic compound known as Coumarin. High concentration of Coumarin has been found to cause damage to kidney and liver. Cinnamon powders that are bought in supermarkets are from C. Cassia thus moderate use is recommended.

Pregnancy: Large quantities of cinnamon should also be avoided during pregnancy due to the possibility of adverse effects on the uterus.

Breast feeding: While cinnamon has been traditionally used to promote milk production in nursing mothers, there are no sufficient studies that determine it side effects to very young babies. Herbal medication or consuming large amount during nursing discouraged.

Blood Anti Clotting Effect. Cinnamon has an anti-clotting effect on the blood, thus caution should be exercised when it is used in combination with other blood-thinning medications such as aspirin.

Interactions. Anyone that is currently taking medication for controlling blood sugar levels or blood thinners should consult their doctor before using cinnamon as a regular supplement.

Just like in any other herbal medicines, moderation of use is recommended.

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DISCLAIMER: It is my belief that this information is true and accurate, however, understand that if you choose to follow what is posted here you do so at your own risk. The author of this article and the management of this website assume no responsibility for your application of this information and, specifically disavow any responsibility for any outcome therefrom.

Everywhere you click these days, it seems like someone on the internet is talking about cannabidiol—also known as CBD, a chemical compound derived from the cannabis plant. Online retailers market the extract (also known as hemp oil) as a remedy for a variety of ailments, celebrities swear by its healing powers, and the ingredient is popping up in nutritional supplements and beauty products, as well. There’s even a new FDA-approved drug derived from CBD.

Although Marijuana leaves and flowers can be used to get high, CBD  from hemp itself is non-psychoactive—meaning that it doesn’t get you high the way smoking or eating cannabis-related products containing THC (the plant’s psychoactive compound) can.

CBD may have real benefits for people living with chronic pain. There is a recent clinical trial from pharmaceutical company Zynerba  that found that a CBD-derived topical drug provided pain relief to patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.

We don’t have that many good drugs for pain, and we know that CBD has fewer side effects than opioids or even nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which can cause bleeding and cardiovascular problems.

Anecdotally, my internist said ; “I cannot endorse the use of CBD since it is not currently FDA approved. But if a little bit of CBD can make your knees feel better, I’d prefer you take that rather than some other drugs.”

• CBD appears to have anti-inflammatory properties.
• CBD oil is a rich source of fatty acids and other skin-healthy nutrients, and that it may improve hydration and minimize moisture loss
• CBD oil may inhibit the growth of acne.
• CBD has been shown to interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a network in the brain that seems to play a role in social behavior, circadian rhythm,and reward processing—all of which can be atypical in people with autism.
• In terms of solid evidence, the one thing we really know about CBD is that it can be helpful for rare childhood seizure disorders.
• There have been animals studies that show CBD has scientifically proven properties to inhibit cancer cell growth. The mainstream medical community doesn’t recommend CBD products as a remedy for cancer, but when Olivia Newton-John was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2017, she was using CBD oil as a treatment.
• CBD oil has been used to help fight anxiety and panic attacks. It seems to have sort of a calming effect on the brain, although the precise mechanism by which it exerts these effects is not really well understood.

IS CBD LEGAL?

To answer this question, it’s not exactly straightforward.

While it’s true that CBD is legal in all 50 states, there are situations when it isn’t legal. The difference between legal and illegal typically depends on several important factors determined by the state in question. There is, however, one very important factor that is a crucial determinant across all states, and that is where the CBD is derived from–hemp or marijuana.

Now, marijuana and hemp are both members of the cannabis family, so they do share a lot of characteristics. There is, however, a crucial difference between the two–the amount of psychoactive Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) each plant produces. While marijuana can contain up to 30% THC, hemp contains no more than 0.3% THC. In other words, marijuana can get you really high, while hemp has such a low amount of THC, that it would be impossible to get high off it.

Because hemp has no psychoactive effects, the law has no problem with it. Hemp products are completely legal and available in all types of different industries and stores across America.

The best advice I can give is make certain that the CBD oil you get is obtained from a natural/organic source derived from hemp.

DISCLAIMER:

I am not a lawyer and the information above should in no way be interpreted as professional advice or legal counsel.

NOTE: CBD, like any other herbal remedy works differently on each person. For some, improvement will be shown quickly. For some there will be little or no improvement. Dosage should be conservative. Most start out with two drops sublingual application twice daily, (in my case at arising and before bed). Depending on body type and metabolism some literature states you can take up to 24 drops daily.

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DISCLAIMER: It is my belief that this information is true and accurate, however, understand that if you choose to follow what is posted here you do so at your own risk. The author of this article and the management of this website assume no responsibility for your application of this information and, specifically disavow any responsibility for any outcome therefrom.

Milk thistle is popular for its benefits for the liver, like treating alcoholic liver damage and helping liver cells grow after a liver surgery. But thanks to the silymarin in it, milk thistle has also shown promise in controlling diabetes, improving immunity, reducing age-related brain and nerve damage, and fighting several cancers like that of the breast and the skin.

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a tall herb with large purple flowers and small hard seed-like fruits – called achenes – to which milk thistle owes its medicinal properties. Having been in use as a herbal remedy for over 2000 years, milk thistle is now making a comeback as a popular health aid, and with good reason.

If you have hepatitis C or liver inflammation due to a viral infection, milk thistle could be of help. Research states that the silymarin in milk thistle can fight the virus and improve the liver condition. One study noted that regular consumption of silymarin significantly reduced the viral load in participants who didn’t respond to conventional therapy. To add to this, in a few participants, the viral load dwindled to undetectable levels within 14 days after silymarin supplementation. However, several other studies contradict these results. In fact, some state that milk thistle doesn’t work as an antiviral agent and only reduces any inflammation caused by viruses. That doesn’t take away from the fact that milk thistle provides you much-needed relief during this time.

Patients with type 2 diabetes might benefit from consuming milk thistle regularly. A study conducted on diabetes and alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients showed that a 600 gm daily dose of milk thistle seed extract (silymarin) for a period of 6 months significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, mean daily glucose levels, and also insulin resistance. The participants also reported a 100 percent satisfaction rate with the treatment. Besides this, silymarin is also believed to treat diabetic complications such as diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) and diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage).

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DISCLAIMER: It is my belief that this information is true and accurate, however, understand that if you choose to follow what is posted here you do so at your own risk. The author of this article and the management of this website assume no responsibility for your application of this information and, specifically disavow any responsibility for any outcome therefrom.

In April of 2017 I began experiencing difficulty passing urine. I figured no big deal. I was wrong. On April 20th, 2017 my wife found me unconscious on the bathroom floor with heavy breathing. She called the paramedics and I was transported to the local emergency room where it was impossible for them to begin an IV due to low blood pressure. I was in sepsis and the doctors told me a delay of another quarter hour would have resulted in my death. Nothing like smashing headlong into your own mortality to get your attention.

Let it be said that I absolutely hate taking most commercial pharmaceuticals, but I am also not stupid, (stubborn perhaps, but not stupid). The urologist prescribed the generic for “Flowmax” and I have taken it religiously as prescribed. But, being a believer in herbal and natural medicine, I began to investigate other treatments. That’s when my research uncovered Saw Palmetto.

The extract of saw palmetto has been used for centuries in relieving symptoms of prostate enlargement. It is derived from a fan-shaped plant that is native to North America. Experts consider saw palmetto as a gold standard for herbal prostate treatments.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has compiled numerous studies that support the benefits of saw palmetto. Experts agree that saw palmetto contain fatty acids, flavonoids and beta-sitosterol that decrease prostate inflammation. Saw palmetto also alters certain hormone levels that affect prostate size. And unlike other medications, saw palmetto doesn’t change normal prostate-specific androgen levels.

How much saw palmetto should you take? Experts recommend a daily intake of 320 milligrams of saw palmetto split into two doses. It may take 4 to 6 weeks for you to feel its effects.

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DISCLAIMER: It is my belief that this information is true and accurate, however, understand that if you choose to follow what is posted here you do so at your own risk. The author of this article and the management of this website assume no responsibility for your application of this information and, specifically disavow any responsibility for any outcome therefrom.

Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow color.

It has been used in India for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb.

Recently, science has started to back up what Indians have known for a long time — it really does contain compounds with medicinal properties.

These compounds are called curcuminoids, the most important of which is curcumin.

Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.

Unfortunately, curcumin is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. It helps to consume black pepper with it, which contains piperine, a natural substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2,000%.

Curcumin Is a Natural Anti-Inflammatory Compound. It has been used traditionally as an antiseptic to treat cuts, bruises, and even burns.