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Results 961-980 of 2860

NatMed
Grains of Paradise
Grains of paradise is a plant that is related to ginger. The seeds are used as a spice and as medicine. Be careful not to confuse grains of paradise with capsicum. Both are known as grains of paradise. People use grains of paradise for conditions such as diarrhea, heart disease, obesity, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Sweet Woodruff
Sweet woodruff is an herb. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. People sometimes take sweet woodruff by mouth to prevent and treat lung, heart, stomach, liver, gallbladder, and urinary disorders, among many others. Some people apply sweet woodruff directly to the skin for wounds and hemorrhoids. But there is no good scientific research to support the use of sweet woodruff for any of these or other uses. In foods and beverages, sweet woodruff is used as a flavoring. In manufacturing, the extracts of sweet woodruff are used as fragrance in perfumes.
NatMed
Golden Ragwort
Golden ragwort (Senecio aureus) is a plant that is sometimes used to make medicine. Golden ragwort contains chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). Some of these chemicals are toxic and can cause serious liver damage. PAs are in different parts of the plant but are most concentrated in the roots. People traditionally use golden ragwort for irregular or painful menstrual periods and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using golden ragwort can also be unsafe. Don't confuse golden ragwort with similarly named alpine ragwort or tansy ragwort. These are not the same.
NatMed
German Ipecac
German ipecac is a plant. The leaf, root, and underground stem (rhizome) are used to make medicine. Despite safety concerns, people take German ipecac for digestion problems, kidney disorders, fluid retention, and snakebite. They also take it to cause vomiting and sweating. Women take German ipecac to treat painful menstrual periods. Some people apply German ipecac directly to the skin in a warm compress (poultice) for healing swelling and bruising.
NatMed
Germander
Germander is a plant. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, people take germander for stomach and intestinal issues, weight loss, fever, and oral hygiene, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any use. In manufacturing, germander is used as a flavoring in alcoholic beverages.
NatMed
Gamboge
Gamboge is a gum-like substance (resin) from the trunk of the Garcinia hanburyi tree. Don't confuse gamboge with garcinia (Garcinia cambogia). Gamboge is used for cancer, constipation, infections of the intestines by parasites, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using gamboge can also be unsafe. Some gamboge products are "stretched" by adding rice and wheat starches, sand, and vegetable fragments. You can spot these adulterated products because they are usually coarser and harder than pure gamboge.
NatMed
Galbanum
Galbanum (Ferula gummosa) is an herb from Iran, Turkey, and the Mediterranean. A gum-like material, or resin, from its stems is used to make medicine. Galbanum might reduce swelling and help fight certain types of bacteria. People use galbanum for wound healing, cough, digestion problems, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Stinging Nettle
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a plant with pointed leaves and white to yellowish flowers. The root and above ground parts are used for diabetes. The stinging nettle plant is typically 2-4 meters tall. It contains ingredients that might decrease swelling and increase urination. The leaves are sometimes eaten as a cooked vegetable. Stinging nettle is most commonly used for diabetes and osteoarthritis. It is also sometimes used for urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, enlarged prostate, hay fever, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Don't confuse stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) with white dead nettle (Lamium album).
NatMed
Hydrangea
Hydrangea is a shrub. It grows in eastern and north-central parts of the United States. The root and underground stem (rhizome) are used to make medicine. People use hydrangea for bladder infections, prostate infections, enlarged prostate, kidney stones, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Hydrangea might also be unsafe when used in large amounts.
NatMed
Turmeric
Turmeric is a common spice that comes from the root of Curcuma longa. It contains a chemical called curcumin, which might reduce swelling. Turmeric has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavor or color curry powders, mustards, butters, and cheeses. Because curcumin and other chemicals in turmeric might decrease swelling, it is often used to treat conditions that involve pain and inflammation. People commonly use turmeric for osteoarthritis. It is also used for hay fever, depression, high cholesterol, a type of liver disease, and itching, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using turmeric for COVID-19. Don't confuse turmeric with Javanese turmeric root or tree turmeric. Also, don't confuse it with zedoary or goldenseal, which are unrelated plants that are sometimes called turmeric.
NatMed
Tarragon
Tarragon is an herb. The parts of the tarragon plant that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. Some people call tarragon "mugwort". Be careful not to confuse tarragon with another plant called mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). Tarragon is used for indigestion (dyspepsia), poor appetite, nausea and vomiting after surgery, toothache, sleep problems, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In foods and beverages, tarragon is used as a culinary herb. In manufacturing, tarragon is used as a fragrance in soaps and cosmetics.
NatMed
Queen's Delight
Queen’s delight is a plant. The root is used as medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, people take queen’s delight to treat liver disease, gallbladder disorders, skin diseases, constipation, bronchitis, and hoarseness (laryngitis). It is also used to cause vomiting and as a “blood purifier.” Some people apply queen’s delight directly to the affected area to treat skin diseases and hemorrhoids.
NatMed
Iporuru
Iporuru (Alchornea castaneifolia) is a tree native to Africa and the Amazon rainforest. The bark, leaves, and root are sometimes used to make medicine. People take iporuru for joint pain, acute pain, diabetes, airway infections, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any use.
NatMed
Traveler's Joy
Traveler's joy is an herb. The leaves are used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, people take traveler's joy for diseases of the male genitals and migraine headaches. Traveler's joy is sometimes applied directly to the skin for poorly healing wounds and for migraine headaches.
NatMed
Globe Flower
Globe flower is a plant. The whole fresh plant is used to make medicine. Globe flower is used for a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency (scurvy), but there is no good scientific evidence to support this use. Using fresh globe flower can also be unsafe.
NatMed
Buttercup
Buttercup is a plant. People dry the parts that grow above the ground and use them for medicine. Fresh preparations are very irritating and should not be used. Despite safety concerns, buttercup is used for arthritis, nerve pain, skin problems, and swelling (inflammation) of the main airways in the lung (bronchitis), but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Marsh Marigold
Marsh marigold is a plant. People use the flowering parts that grow above the ground to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, people take marsh marigold for pain, menstrual disorders, swollen airways (bronchitis), yellowed skin (jaundice), liver disorders, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Alchemilla
Alchemilla (Alchemilla xanthochlora and Alchemilla vulgarisis) is an herb. The parts of the plant that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. Alchemilla contains chemicals called tannins, which might have drying effects on the skin or in the body. Some people use alchemilla for stomach problems, diarrhea, diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Phenylalanine
Phenylalanine is an amino acid. There are three forms: L-, D-, and DL- phenylalanine. L-phenylalanine is found naturally in foods such as meat and eggs. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. L-phenylalanine is an essential amino acid. It is the only form of phenylalanine found in proteins. D-phenylalanine is not an essential amino acid, and its role in the body is not currently understood. DL-phenylalanine is made in a lab. People use phenylalanine for a disorder that causes white patches to develop on the skin (vitiligo). It is also used for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), chronic pain, aging skin, depression, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
NatMed
Senna
Senna is the fruit (pod) or leaf of the plant Senna alexandrina. It is approved in the US as a laxative for short-term treatment of constipation. Senna contains many chemicals called sennosides. Sennosides irritate the lining of the bowel, which causes a laxative effect. Senna is an FDA-approved over-the-counter (OTC) laxative. It is used to treat constipation and also to clear the bowel before procedures such as colonoscopy. People also use senna for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemorrhoids, weight loss, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.