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Results 801-820 of 3153

NatMed
Kudzu
Kudzu (Pueraria montana) is a climbing vine native to Asia. It's now an invasive vine in the US. The root, flower, and leaf are used as medicine. Kudzu contains ingredients that might counteract the effects of alcohol. It might also have effects like estrogen. People use kudzu for alcohol use disorder, heart disease, diabetes, menopausal symptoms, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Don't confuse kudzu with arrowroot, arum, cassava, wahoo, or zedoary. These are not the same.
NatMed
Bistort
Bistort is a perennial plant. The root, underground stem (rhizome), and leaves are used to make medicine. Bistort is used for diarrhea, wound healing, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Vanadium
Vanadium is a trace mineral regularly consumed in the diet. It's found in mushrooms, shellfish, black pepper, parsley, grains, and also drinking water. Vanadium might act like insulin or help to increase the effects of insulin. People use vanadium for preventing vanadium deficiency. It is also used for prediabetes, diabetes, athletic performance, cancer, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Coca
Coca (Erythroxylum coca) is a plant. The leaves are sometimes used to make medicinal tea. They are also a source of cocaine, an illegal drug in the US. The cocaine found in coca can cause an increase in brain activity and have numbing (anesthetic) effects. Cocaine is highly addictive. People use coca leaves for fatigue, asthma, altitude sickness, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using coca can also be unsafe.
NatMed
Viburnum opulus
Viburnum opulus is a flowering shrub. Many parts of the plant have been used as medicine. Viburnum opulus is native to Europe and parts of Africa, Asia, and North America. In North America, the bark of the plant has traditionally been used to relieve cramps and is called cramp bark. Viburnum opulus is used for muscle cramps, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney stones, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Partridgeberry
Partridgeberry is an herb. The stem and leaves are used to make medicine. People use partridgeberry for menstrual cramps, childbirth, sore nipples, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any uses. Taking partridgeberry by mouth may also be unsafe.
NatMed
Chondroitin Sulfate
Chondroitin sulfate is a chemical found in human and animal cartilage. It is commonly used by mouth with glucosamine or other ingredients for osteoarthritis. Chondroitin sulfate is one of the building blocks of cartilage. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage in the joints breaks down. Taking chondroitin sulfate might slow this breakdown. It is usually manufactured from animal sources, such as shark and cow cartilage. It can also be made in a lab. Chondroitin sulfate is used for osteoarthritis and cataracts. It is often used together with other ingredients, including manganese ascorbate, hyaluronic acid, collagen peptides, or glucosamine. Chondroitin sulfate is also used for many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Squill
Squill is a plant native to Africa, India, and the Mediterranean. Despite serious safety concerns, the bulbs of the plant are sometimes used to make medicine. Some people use squill for conditions such as asthma, patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), heart disease, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using squill can also be unsafe and may lead to irregular heartbeat and other serious and life-threatening heart problems. In manufacturing, squill is used in pest control as rat poison.
NatMed
Inositol Nicotinate
Inositol nicotinate is a compound made of niacin (vitamin B3) and inositol. Inositol occurs naturally in the body and can also be made in the laboratory. Inositol nicotinate is used for blood circulation problems, including a painful response to cold, especially in the fingers and toes (Raynaud syndrome). It is also used for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Glossy Privet
Glossy privet is a plant. The ripe fruit is used to make medicine. Be careful not to confuse glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum) with other species of privet such as Japanese privet, border privet, Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), common privet, golden privet, and others. Glossy privet is used for promoting growth and darkening of hair, reducing facial dark spots, rapid heartbeat (palpitations), achy joints (rheumatism), swelling, tumors, dizziness (vertigo), common cold, congestion, constipation, deafness, fever, headache, liver disease (hepatitis), trouble sleeping (insomnia), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), promoting youthfulness, and extending lifespan. It is also used to induce sweating, as a tonic, for improving immune function, and for reducing the side effects of cancer treatment (chemotherapy). Glossy privet is also used for blurred vision, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and sore back and knees.
NatMed
Bogbean
Bogbean is a plant. The bogbean fruit resembles a small bean and is commonly found in swamps or bogs, which is the reason for its name. People use the bogbean leaf to make medicine. People use bogbean for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), scurvy, loss of appetite, indigestion (dyspepsia), and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In food manufacturing, bogbean is used as a flavoring.
NatMed
Butternut
Butternut is a plant. People use the bark for medicine. Butternut is used for constipation, gallbladder disease, hemorrhoids, skin diseases, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support its use.
NatMed
Honey
Honey is a thick, sweet fluid produced by bees from plant nectars. It is commonly used as a sweetener in food, but should be avoided in infants. Some chemicals in honey might kill certain bacteria and fungus. When applied to the skin, honey might serve as a barrier to moisture and keep skin from sticking to wound dressings. It might also provide nutrients and chemicals that speed wound healing. But honey can become contaminated with germs during production. Although rare, some infants have gotten botulism from taking honey by mouth. People commonly use honey for burns, wound healing, swelling and sores inside the mouth, and cough. It is also used for many other conditions but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these other uses. There is also no good evidence to support using honey for COVID-19. Don't confuse honey with bee pollen, bee venom, or royal jelly, which are other types of bee products.
NatMed
Buckhorn Plantain
Buckhorn plantain is a plant. It grows throughout the world. People use the parts that grow above the ground for medicine. Buckhorn plantain is used for common colds, fever, cough, wound healing, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Don't confuse buckhorn plantain with common plantain (Plantago major). Also, don't mistake digitalis leaves for buckhorn plantain leaves. They look a lot alike. This is a problem because digitalis is unsafe. Be sure to get buckhorn plantain from trusted sources. There have been some reports of buckhorn plantain adulterated with digitalis.
NatMed
Phosphate Salts
Phosphorus is an essential mineral found in many foods. In the diet and body, phosphorus usually binds to other minerals in the form of phosphate salts. Phosphates are involved in cell structure, energy transport and storage, vitamin function, and many other essential processes in the body. Phosphate salts can act as laxatives by causing more fluid to be drawn into the intestines and making the gut push out its contents faster. People use phosphate salts for bowel cleansing, low blood levels of phosphate, constipation, high blood levels of calcium, and heartburn. They are also used for athletic performance, osteoporosis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses.
NatMed
Yucca
Yucca is the common name for more than 40 species of plants in the Yucca genus. They have tough, sword-like leaves and a large spike of whitish flowers. Yucca contains chemicals that might reduce swelling. It might also have antibacterial and antifungal effects. People use yucca for osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, joint pain, migraine headache, diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Don't confuse yucca with cassava. These are not the same.
NatMed
Fenugreek
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an herb similar to clover. The seeds taste similar to maple syrup and are used in foods and medicine. Fenugreek is native to the Mediterranean, Europe, and Asia. Fenugreek seems to slow sugar absorption in the stomach and stimulate insulin. Both of these effects lower blood sugar in people with diabetes. Fenugreek might also improve levels of testosterone and estrogen, helping to improve interest in sex. People commonly use fenugreek for diabetes, menstrual cramps, and sexual problems. It is also used for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
NatMed
Devil's Club
Devil's club is a plant. People use the inner bark of the root and stem for medicine. Devil's club is used for arthritis, cancer, wounds, fever, tuberculosis, stomach trouble, cough, colds, sore throat, diabetes, low blood sugar, and pneumonia. It is also used for emptying the bowels and causing vomiting. Some people apply devil's club directly to the skin for swollen glands, boils, sores, and skin infections. The ashes have been used to treat burns.
NatMed
Coltsfoot
Coltsfoot is a plant. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia. It has been introduced to North America. The leaf, flower, and root are used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, coltsfoot is used for asthma, cough, sore throat, swelling of the airways, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Northern Prickly Ash
Northern prickly ash (Zanthoxylum Americanum) is a woody shrub native to North America. Native American healers used its bark and berries as medicine. Northern prickly ash contains chemicals that might have antifungal effects. People use northern prickly ash for infections, sore throat, toothaches, wounds, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Don't confuse northern prickly ash with ash, Chinese prickly ash, or Hercules club. These are not the same.