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Results 861-880 of 3153

NatMed
Tansy
Tansy is a plant. Despite serious safety concerns, the parts of the tansy plant that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. Tansy is used for digestive tract problems including stomach and intestinal ulcers, certain gallbladder conditions, migraines, nerve pain, joint pain, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using tansy might also cause toxic effects. Be careful not to confuse tansy with tansy ragwort (Senecio species) and other plants generically referred to as "tansy."
NatMed
Bay Leaf
Bay leaf is an herb that is commonly used in cooking. It comes from the bay tree (Laurus nobilis), which is commonly found in the Mediterranean region. Bay leaf is also used in folk medicine. Chemicals in bay leaf might affect blood sugar and cholesterol levels. People use bay leaf for diabetes, common cold, high cholesterol, asthma, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Summer Savory
Summer savory is a plant. The leaves and stem are used to make medicine. People take summer savory for cough, stomach pain, gas (flatulence), diarrhea, loss of appetite, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In foods, summer savory is used as a culinary spice. The oil is used as a flavoring agent.
NatMed
Storax
Storax is an oily resin (balsam) from Liquidambar orientalis or Liquidambar styraciflua tree trunks. The wood secretes storax when the bark is damaged. Storax contains chemicals that might have antibacterial effects and reduce swelling. It's obtained by scoring the outer tree bark, then boiling the inner bark in water, and then pressing the inner bark in cold water. People use storax for stomach pain, eczema, common cold, cough, diarrhea, epilepsy, wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Don't confuse storax with other products that are also commonly called liquid amber, including succinate and St. John's wort. These are not the same.
NatMed
Stevia
Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is a bushy shrub native to northeast Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. It's best known as a natural sweetener. Stevia contains chemicals that are 200-300 times sweeter than sucrose sugar. People take stevia for obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In the US, stevia leaves and extracts are available as supplements, but are not approved for use as sweeteners. Rebaudioside A (also called rebiana), one of the chemicals in stevia, is approved as a food sweetener.
NatMed
Spanish Origanum Oil
Spanish origanum oil comes from a plant called Thymus capitatus and also from various species of an herb called Origanum. People use Spanish origanum oil for infections, burns, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In foods and beverages, Spanish origanum oil is used as a flavoring. In manufacturing, it is used as a fragrance in soaps, cosmetics, and perfumes.
NatMed
Shiitake Mushroom
Shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) is a type of edible fungus. It's native to Japan and China, and contains a chemical called lentinan. Shiitake mushrooms are the second most commonly eaten mushrooms in the world. Lentinan and other chemicals in shiitake mushrooms might stimulate the immune system. People use shiitake mushroom or an extract called AHCC for HIV/AIDS, common cold, flu, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using shiitake mushroom for COVID-19.
NatMed
Sweet Gale
Sweet gale (Myrica gale) is an herb. The leaves, branches, and wax are sometimes used to make medicine. Sweet gale contains ingredients that might help reduce skin redness and swelling (inflammation) and have a drying (astringent) effect on the tissues. People use sweet gale for conditions such as intestinal worms and itching, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using sweet gale can also be unsafe.
NatMed
Senega
Senega is a plant. The root is used to make medicine. Senega is used for decline in memory and thinking skills that occurs normally with age, asthma, swelling (inflammation) of the throat, nose, and chest, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Some experts warn that senega may interfere with the body's response against COVID-19. There is no strong data to support this warning. But there is also no good data to support using senega for COVID-19. Follow healthy lifestyle choices and proven prevention methods instead.
NatMed
Ground Pine
Ground pine is a small plant with narrow leaves that are used to make medicine. It is not a member of the pine family, but it resembles a pine seedling and gives off a pine-like smell when crushed. People take ground pine for gout, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the common cold, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Some people apply ground pine directly to the skin for wound healing.
NatMed
Great Plantain
Great plantain (Plantago major) is a plant with broad leaves native to Europe and Asia. It now grows worldwide as a weed. It's also used as medicine. Great plantain contains chemicals that might help decrease pain and swelling, decrease mucous, and open airways. It might also help kill bacteria and fungi. People use great plantain for cough, mouth sores, obesity, abnormal menstrual bleeding, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Don't confuse great plantain with other plants also known as plantain, such as Asian water plantain, black psyllium, blond psyllium, buckhorn plantain, or buck's-horn plantain. These are not the same.
NatMed
Greater Celandine
Greater celandine is a plant. The dried above-ground parts, root, and rhizome (underground stem) are used to make medicine. Don't confuse greater celandine with lesser celandine (Family: Ranunculus ficaria). People use greater celandine for conditions such as cancer, problems with the digestive tract, liver and gallbladder disorders, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using greater celandine can also be unsafe.
NatMed
Sassafras
Sassafras is a plant. The root bark is used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, people use sassafras for many conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In beverages and candy, sassafras was used in the past to flavor root beer. It was also used as a tea. But sassafras tea contains a lot of safrole, the chemical in sassafras that makes it poisonous. One cup of tea made with 2.5 grams of sassafras contains about 200 mg of safrole. This is about 4.5 times the dose that researchers think is poisonous. So, in 1976, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruled that sassafras could no longer be sold as sassafras tea.
NatMed
Greater Burnet
Greater burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) is a plant commonly found in Europe and Asia. The roots are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Greater burnet might work as a drying agent to help stop bleeding. Some ingredients in greater burnet might also help reduce wrinkles and improve wound healing. People use greater burnet for aging skin, varicose veins, wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Gravel Root
Gravel root is an herb. The bulb, root, and parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. Despite safety concerns, people use gravel root for conditions such as bladder infections, kidney stones, arthritis pain, fever, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
African Wild Potato
African wild potato is a plant. Although the root of the plant resembles a potato, it is not in the same family as the potato. The root of the plant is used to make medicine. African wild potato is used for urinary tract infections (UTIs), enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), prostate cancer, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
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 (Galium odoratum) is a plant native to Europe, Iran, Siberia, and Northern Africa. Its leaves and flowers are used as medicine. Sweet woodruff contains chemicals that might help heal wounds and burns. People use sweet woodruff for high blood pressure, insomnia, migraine headache, wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
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.