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Results 921-940 of 3152

NatMed
Citronella oil
Citronella oil is made from citronella grass. Sri Lanka citronella oil comes from Cymbopogon nardus. Java citronella oil comes from Cymbopogon winterianus. Citronella grass is native to tropical areas. The essential oil is made through a process called steam distillation. During this process, steam is passed through the grass to pull out the oil. People most commonly use citronella oil as a mosquito repellent on the skin. It's also used for other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Don't confuse citronella oil with lemongrass or stone root. These are not the same.
NatMed
Chlorophyllin
Chlorophyllin is a chemical that is made from chlorophyll. It is sometimes used as medicine. Due to its green color, it is also used as a coloring for foods. Chlorophyllin seems to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It might also stop the body from absorbing certain chemicals that can increase a person's risk for cancer. Some people use chlorophyllin for body odor, urinary odor, reducing the smell of bowel movements, bad breath, cancer, acne, and skin wrinkles from sun damage, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Chitosan
Chitosan is a sugar that comes from the outer skeleton of shellfish, including crab, lobster, and shrimp. It's used as medicine and in drug manufacturing. Chitosan is a fibrous substance that might reduce how much fat and cholesterol the body absorbs from foods. It also helps blood clot when applied to wounds. People use chitosan for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, wound healing, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.
NatMed
Chirata
Chirata (Swertia chirayita) is a plant known for its bitter taste. It's native to the Himalayan region and traditionally used as medicine. Chirata contains chemicals that may fight some bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It might also have effects that lower blood sugar. People use chirata for asthma, diabetes, hepatitis, upset stomach, high blood pressure, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Chickweed
Chickweed (Stellaria media) is a wild plant. It's eaten as food and also made into a tea. The tea has been traditionally used as medicine. The chickweed leaf contains flavonols, including quercetin and rutin. It also contains small amounts of vitamin C. People use chickweed for diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Chaulmoogra
Chaulmoogra is an herb. People use the seed to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, people put chaulmoogra powder, oil, emulsion, or ointment on the skin to treat skin problems including psoriasis and eczema. Chaulmoogra is given intravenously (by IV) for leprosy. This is not surprising since the first drugs used for treating leprosy used chemicals found in chaulmoogra seeds.
NatMed
Zizyphus
Zizyphus (Ziziphus jujuba) is a thorny shrub. The fruit is edible and looks similar to a date. It's rich in fiber, vitamin C, B vitamins, and fatty acids. Zizyphus contains chemicals that might lower sugar and fat levels in the blood, and also cause sleepiness. People use zizyphus for constipation, diabetes, aging skin, high cholesterol, insomnia, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Jojoba
Jojoba is a shrub that is grows in dry regions of northern Mexico and the southwestern US. Jojoba oil and wax are produced from the seeds and used for medicine. Jojoba is applied directly to the skin for acne, psoriasis, sunburn, and chapped skin. It is also used topically to encourage the regrowth of hair in people who are balding. In manufacturing, jojoba is used as an ingredient in shampoo; lipstick; makeup; cleansing products; and in face, hand, and body lotions.
NatMed
Jasmine
Jasmine is a plant. The flower is used to make medicine. Jasmine has been used for liver disease (hepatitis), pain due to liver scarring (cirrhosis), and abdominal pain due to severe diarrhea (dysentery). It is also used to prevent stroke, to cause relaxation (as a sedative), to heighten sexual desire (as an aphrodisiac), and in cancer treatment. Jasmine is used on the skin to reduce the amount of breast milk, for skin diseases, and to speed up wound healing. Jasmine is inhaled to improve mood, reduce stress, and reduce food cravings. In foods, jasmine is used to flavor beverages, frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked goods, gelatins, and puddings. In manufacturing, jasmine is used to add fragrance to creams, lotions, and perfumes. Don't confuse jasmine with plants known as gardenia or gelsemium.
NatMed
Japanese Mint
Japanese mint (Mentha canadensis) is a plant native to North America and Asia. Its oil comes from its above ground plant parts and is used as medicine. Japanese mint oil contains chemicals that might help fight infections and reduce gas. People sometimes use Japanese mint for gas, indigestion, gallstones, common cold, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Don't confuse Japanese mint with other plants also called mint, such as diviner's sage, English horsemint, peppermint, spearmint, and wild mint. These are not the same.
NatMed
Cardamom
Cardamom is an herb that is often used as a spice in foods. The seeds and the oil from the seeds are sometimes used to make medicine. Cardamom contains chemicals that might kill some bacteria, reduce swelling, and help the immune system. Cardamom is used for diabetes, high cholesterol, build up of fat in the liver in people who drink little or no alcohol (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD), and other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support its use.
NatMed
Calamint
Calamint is a bushy herb. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine and to flavor foods. People use calamint for infection of the airways, insomnia, depression, seizure disorder (epilepsy), gout, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Cassie Absolute
Cassie absolute is an extract of the flower of Acacia farnesiana. It is used for medicine. Cassie absolute is used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), tuberculosis, diarrhea, stomach cancer, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In foods and beverages, cassie absolute is used for flavoring. In manufacturing, cassie absolute is used as a fragrance in perfumes.
NatMed
Andiroba
Andiroba (Carapa guianensis) is a large tree native to South America. The bark and leaf, and oil from the fruit and seed, are sometimes used to make medicine. Andiroba contains chemicals called limonoids. These chemicals seem to repel and kill mosquitoes and other insects. Other chemicals in andiroba might help the skin to heal faster from wounds. Andiroba seed oil is used as a mosquito repellent. Various parts of the plant are used for cough, arthritis, wounds, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Hollyhock
Hollyhock is a plant. The seed, root, stem, leaf, and flower are used as medicine. Hollyhock is used for pain, stomach ulcers, wound healing, diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Bitter Milkwort
Bitter milkwort is a plant. The flowering plant and root are used to make medicine. People take bitter milkwort for airway disorders, cough, and bronchitis, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Don't confuse bitter milkwort (Polygala amara) with asarabacca (Asarum europaeum) or senega (Polygala senega). All three plants are sometimes called snakeroot. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Some experts warn that bitter milkwort 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 bitter milkwort for COVID-19.
NatMed
Aconite
Aconite is a plant in the Aconitum genus that grows in rocky areas in the Northern Hemisphere. Despite containing poisonous chemicals, it's used as medicine. Aconite root contains chemicals that might improve circulation and decrease pain, but it also contains chemicals that can seriously harm the heart, muscles, and nerves. People use aconite for heart failure, asthma, hair loss, diarrhea, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. It is also unsafe. Don't confuse aconite with Dimethylhexylamine (DMHA), which is sometimes incorrectly called "Aconitum kusnezoffi" or "aconite extract." These are not the same.
NatMed
Acerola
Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) is a shrub or small tree. Its fruit is similar to a cherry and is a red color when ripe. It is a rich source of vitamin C. Acerola also contains many minerals and other vitamins, including beta-carotene, lutein, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, folic acid, and pantothenic acid. It's native to Central America, northern South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Acerola is commonly used to prevent vitamin C deficiency. It is also used for the common cold, diarrhea, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses.
NatMed
Aloe
Aloe (aloe vera), is a cactus-like plant that grows in hot, dry climates. The useful parts of aloe are the gel and latex. Aloe gel might help some skin conditions like psoriasis and acne. It also seems to speed up wound healing by improving blood circulation, and might combat certain types of bacteria and fungi. Aloe latex contains chemicals that work as a laxative. Some aloe products are made from the whole crushed leaf, so they contain both gel and latex. People commonly apply aloe gel to the skin for conditions such as sunburn, eczema (atopic dermatitis) dandruff, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Some people take aloe products by mouth for conditions such as obesity, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and many others, but there is also no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
NatMed
Alkanna
Alkanna is a plant. The root and leaves are used to make medicine. People use alkanna for wound healing, burns, diarrhea, and stomach ulcers, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Also, there's concern that using some alkanna products might harm the liver.