Online Dermatology Courses & CME Training

Free Sign Up

Learn

Delve into dermatology diseases with new approaches from conventional to complementary care.

Topics

Explore a broad spectrum of dermatological conditions and topics to enhance your practice.

Training Programs

Expert led instruction for every level of patient care.

Conferences

Gain practical insights and meet new colleagues.

Hover over a conference to view recordings.

Community Directory NatMed

Join Us

The largest integrative dermatology community.

Results 741-760 of 3153

NatMed
Pumpkin
Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) is a plant native to South America that now grows worldwide. The seed and its oil are used to make medicine. The chemicals in pumpkin seed can increase urination, which might help relieve bladder and prostate discomfort. Some chemicals might also reduce swelling in the prostate. The pumpkin fruit and seed are commonly used in foods. People commonly use pumpkin for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It is also used for balding, UTIs, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses.
NatMed
Allspice
Allspice (Pimenta dioica) is a tree. The unripe berries and leaves are used as a spice. They are also sometimes used as medicine. Allspice contains a chemical called eugenol, which is thought to have some beneficial effects for pain and infection. People use allspice for many conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Potato
Potato is a plant. The fleshy part of the root (potato) is commonly eaten as a vegetable. Potato is also used to make medicine. People use potatoes for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, indigestion (dyspepsia), and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In foods, potato is eaten, used as a source of starch, and fermented into alcohol.
NatMed
Deer Velvet
Deer velvet covers the growing bone and cartilage that becomes deer antlers. It's sometimes used as medicine in Western countries. Deer velvet contains multiple substances including the female sex hormones estrone and estradiol. It also contains substances that might help cells grow and function. People use deer velvet for athletic performance, high blood pressure, increasing sexual desire, asthma, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is a chemical found in the body. Glucosamine supplements are sold as glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride, and N-acetyl glucosamine. Glucosamine is used by the body to make other chemicals that build tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and the fluid that surrounds joints. Joints are cushioned by the fluid and cartilage around them. Taking glucosamine might increase the cartilage and fluid around joints and/or help prevent their breakdown. People commonly use glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride for osteoarthritis. Glucosamine is also used for joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses.
NatMed
Podophyllum
Podophyllum (Podophyllum hexandrum) is a plant. The entire plant is poisonous except for the ripe fruit. The plant resin (podophyllin) is used on the skin. The podophyllum resin comes from the plant rhizome (root). It contains antioxidants and also toxic chemicals. People use the podophyllum resin (podophyllin) for the removal of warts, including plantar warts and genital warts, and corns. It is also used for white patches on the tongue in people with weakened immune systems (hairy leukoplakia), and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses. Don't confuse podophyllum with European mandrake or bryonia. These are not the same.
NatMed
Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA)
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fatty acid. It's found in various plant seed oils such as borage oil and evening primrose oil. Omega-6 fatty acids such as GLA are found everywhere in the body. They help with the function of all cells. The body converts GLA to substances that have anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. People use GLA for eczema, asthma, arthritis, high blood pressure, nerve pain related to diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses. Don't confuse GLA with black currant, borage, or evening primrose oil. These seeds contain GLA but are not the same. Also don't confuse GLA with other omega-6 fatty acids or other sources of omega-6 fatty acids such as flaxseed oil.
NatMed
RNA and DNA
RNA (ribonucleic acid) and DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) are chemical compounds that are made by the body. They can also be made in a laboratory. RNA and DNA are sometimes used as medicine. People take RNA and DNA for conditions such as athletic performance, stomach and intestine problems, immune system problems, aging, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Propionyl-L-Carnitine
Propionyl-L-carnitine is a chemical naturally made in the body. It’s related to two other compounds called L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine. Propionyl-L-carnitine helps the body produce energy. It’s important for heart function, muscle movement, and many other body processes. It also seems to help increase circulation. People use propionyl-L-carnitine for chest pain, heart disease, heart failure, athletic performance, chronic fatigue, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses. Don't confuse propionyl-L-carnitine with acetyl-L-carnitine or L-carnitine. These are not the same.
NatMed
Yew
Yew is an evergreen tree. People use the bark, branch tips, and needles to make medicine. Paclitaxel (Taxol), a prescription drug for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer, originally came from the bark of the yew tree. But now paclitaxel is made in a lab. Despite serious safety concerns, yew is used for promoting menstruation and causing abortion, treating certain parasite infections, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any of these uses.
NatMed
Black Pepper
Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is one of the most commonly used spices in the world. It contains a chemical called piperine, which seems to kill bacteria. Piperine might also kill fungi and parasites, and help the body absorb some drugs. Black pepper and white pepper both come from the same plant species, but they are made differently. Black pepper is made by cooking the dried unripe fruit. White pepper is made by cooking and drying the ripe seeds. People take black pepper by mouth for hay fever, asthma, upset stomach, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Agar
Agar is a plant. People use it to make medicine. In Japan agar is called "kanten," and it is the main ingredient in "the kanten plan" or "the kanten diet." People use agar for obesity, diabetes, constipation, yellowing of the skin in infants (neonatal jaundice), and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In dentistry, agar is used to make dental impressions. In manufacturing processes, agar is used as an ingredient in emulsions, suspensions, gels, and certain suppositories.
NatMed
Turtlehead
Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) is a plant. The parts of the plant that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. People use turtlehead to empty the bowels, but there is no good scientific evidence to support this use.
NatMed
Barley
Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a common grain that is high in fiber. It's consumed in foods and used to brew alcoholic beverages worldwide. The fiber in barley might lower cholesterol, blood sugar, and insulin levels. It also seems to slow stomach emptying which could keep blood sugar stable and help to control appetite. People use barley for heart disease and high cholesterol. It is also used for colon cancer, diabetes, diarrhea, high blood pressure, obesity, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Colocynth
Colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis) is a plant that grows in East Asia. Its fruit looks like a small watermelon and contains chemicals that are unsafe. Colocynth contains chemicals called cucurbitacins. These chemicals are very irritating to the stomach and intestines. Despite serious safety concerns, people use colocynth for diabetes, high cholesterol, liver disease, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Due to safety concerns, colocynth was banned by the US FDA in 1991.
NatMed
Calotropis
Calotropis is a plant. People use the bark and root bark for medicine. People use calotropis for conditions such as digestive disorders, toothache, cramps, joint pain, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using calotropis is unsafe, especially in high doses.
NatMed
Black Root
Black root is a plant. It grows in the US and Canada and has a bitter and nauseating taste. People use the underground stem (rhizome) and the root as medicine. Black root is used for ongoing constipation and disorders of the liver and gallbladder. It is also used to cause vomiting.
NatMed
Bitter Melon
Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is a vine originally from India and other Asian countries. It has been traditionally used to treat diabetes. Bitter melon contains a chemical that acts like insulin to help reduce blood sugar levels. People commonly use bitter melon for diabetes, osteoarthritis, athletic performance, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Bitter melon is sometimes called bitter gourd. Don't confuse this with Ivy gourd, which is a different plant.
NatMed
5-HTP
5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) can be converted to serotonin in the body. It is often used for depression. It has less evidence for insomnia and anxiety. 5-HTP is a chemical byproduct of the protein building block L-tryptophan. It is produced commercially from the seeds of an African plant known as Griffonia simplicifolia. 5-HTP works in the brain and central nervous system by increasing the production of the chemical serotonin. Serotonin can affect sleep, appetite, temperature, sexual behavior, and pain sensation. Since 5-HTP increases serotonin levels, it is used for conditions in which serotonin is believed to play an important role. These include depression, anxiety, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
NatMed
Parsley
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is an herb native to the Mediterranean that is grown worldwide. It's widely used in foods and also as medicine. Parsley contains vitamins B1, B2, C, and K. Oils extracted from parsley contain chemicals that might help stimulate the appetite, improve digestion, and have laxative effects. People use parsley for constipation, diabetes, dark skin patches on the face (melasma), kidney stones, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Don't confuse parsley with similarly named fool's parsley or parsley piert. These are not the same.