LATEST HERB NEWS!
St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L., Clusiaceae) is one of the world's best-researched phytomedicines. One criticism from the medical community, however, has been that most of the clinical research on St. John's wort (SJW) has matched it against the tricyclic antidepressants, rather than newer, more commonly used agents. It should be noted that during the time at which most SJW research was conducted, doctors favored the tricyclic antidepressants. Now, physicians claim that in order for research results to be truly meaningful, SJW must be compared with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants.

The latest research on saw palmetto further supports its use as the option of first choice for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, or prostate enlargement). The study was the first American study to evaluate an herbal formula for the treatment of BPH, and provided some intriguing clues about the mechanism of its action (Marks, et al., 2000). Europeans already favor the natural approach for treating this common condition in mature men. In Italy, herbal remedies are used five times as often as synthetic drugs, and in Germany, more than 90 percent of men and their physicians choose natural remedies over synthetics for treating BPH.

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Ginger is a perennial herb that thrives in most parts of southern Asia, Jamaica, Nigeria, and the West Indies. The English botanist William Roscoe gave the plant the name Zingiber officinale in an 1807 publication. The genus Zingiber comprises approximately 85 species of fragrant herbs from East Asia and tropical Australia. The name originates from a Sanskrit word meaning "horn-shaped," in reference to the bulges on the rhizome [underground stems].

The plant has recently been cultivated in Florida, California, and Hawaii. Purple orchid-like flowers grow on the stalks of the wild plant. The most common part of the plant known for its multi-faceted use is the thick tuberous rhizome root that is brown on the outside but a dark yellowish amber hue on the inside.

Ginger yields an essential oil that is steam distilled from the unpeeled, dried and ground root. The scent is somewhat bitterer than the root but when used in aromatherapy the oil mixes well with sandalwood, cedar wood and patchouli, adding a woody-spicy scent to the mix.

Saw palmetto is, according to industry sources that I trust, one species with several different names, including Serenoa repens, Serenoa serrulata, and sabal. The industry is attempted to standardize on the name Serenoa repens, which is the way most research identifies it. Florida is the biggest producer of saw palmetto. Small patches can be found from the southeast coastline of South Carolina and southeastern Georgia to southern Mississippi. But it does not grow naturally in Texas, Mexico, or the Caribbean. It grows in every Florida county, but much of its production centers in South Florida.

Herb Books!!Please Enter The Store HereAnd Boost Your Health Today With A Great Book!

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Herb Books!!
Please Enter The Store Here
And Boost Your Health Today With A Great Book!