ദശ പുഷ്പങ്ങള്‍

ഔഷധമായി ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന പത്തു ‌കേരളീയ നാട്ടുചെടികളാണു ദശപുഷ്പങ്ങള്‍ എന്നറിയപ്പെടുന്നത്. പൂക്കളെന്നാണു അറിയപ്പെടുന്നതെങ്കിലും ഇവയുടെ ഇലകള്‍ക്കാണു പ്രധാന്യം. കേരളത്തിലെ തൊടികളിലെങ്ങും കാണുന്ന ഈ പത്തു‌ ചെടികള്‍ക്കും നാട്ടുവൈദ്യത്തിലും, ആയുര്‍ വേദ ചികിത്സയിലും വളരെ പ്രാധാന്യമുണ്ടു്. അതുപോലെ ഇവയെല്ലാം മംഗളകാരികളായ ചെടികളാണെന്നാണു‌ വിശ്വാസം. ഹൈന്ദവ ദേവപൂജയ്ക്കും, സ്ത്രീകള്‍ക്കു തലയില്‍  ചൂടുവാനും ദശപുഷ്പങ്ങള്‍ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നു.

ദശ പുഷ്പങ്ങള്‍    താഴെ പറയുന്നവ ആണ്:

    * വിഷ്ണുക്രാന്തി (കൃഷ്ണക്രാന്തി),
    * കറുക,
    * മുയല്‍ ചെവിയന്‍ 
    * തിരുതാളി,
    * ചെറുള,
    * നിലപ്പന
    * കയ്യോന്നി(കൈതോന്നി, കയ്യുണ്ണി ),
    * പൂവാംകുറുന്തൽ (പൂവാംകുറുന്നില),
    * മുക്കുറ്റി,
    * ഉഴിഞ്ഞ

ഇന്ദ്രവല്ലി ,കേശരാജ, ഭാർഗവി, ഹരികോന്തിജം, ഭദ്രാ, ജലപുഷ്പ, സംഭാരീ, സഹദേവി, ലക്ഷ്മണ, താലപത്രിക എന്നിങ്ങനെ സംസ്കൃതനാമങ്ങളുമുണ്ടു്.

കർക്കിടക മാസത്തിൽ ദശപുഷ്പം ചൂടുന്നതു രോഗശമനത്തിനും പാപപരിഹാരത്തിനും നല്ലതാണെന്നാണു ഹൈന്ദവർക്കിടയിലുള്ള‌ വിശ്വാസം. കർക്കിടക കഞ്ഞിയിൽ ദശപുഷ്പങ്ങൾ ഒഴിച്ചുകൂടാനാവാത്ത ഘടകമാണു്‌. കർക്കിടകത്തിൽ ശീവോതിക്ക്‌ -വെക്കുന്നതിലും ദശപുഷ്പങ്ങൾ പ്രധാന ഇനമാണു്‌.

ഹൈന്ദവ ഉത്സവദിനമായ ധനുമാസത്തിലെ തിരുവാതിരനാളിൽ സ്ത്രീകൾ ഉപവാസമനുഷ്ഠിച്ച ശേഷം പാതിരാവിൽ കുളിക്കുന്നതിനു മുൻപ്‌ ദശപുഷ്പം ചൂടുന്നു. തിരുവാതിര ദിവസം സുമംഗലികൾ തലയിൽ ചൂടുന്നു. തിരുവാതിരവ്രതകാലത്ത്‌ ഐശ്വര്യത്തിനും, ഭർത്താവിന്റെ ആയുരാരോഗ്യത്തിനും വേണ്ടിയാണു സ്ത്രീകൾ ദശപുഷ്പം ചൂടുന്നതു്. കറുക, ചെറൂള എന്നിവ ഹൈന്ദവ ആചാരപ്രകാരം മരണാനന്തരക്രിയകളായ ബലിതർപ്പണ കർമ്മങ്ങൾക്കു്‌ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നു.

സുഖചികിത്സയുടെ കാലമായ കർക്കിടകമാസത്തിൽ ദശപുഷ്പങ്ങളാണു പ്രധാനമായും ചികിത്സയ്ക്കുപയോഗിക്കുന്നത്‌.


കറുക

ശാസ്ത്രീയ നാമം: സൈനോഡോൺ ഡാക്‌ടൈളോൺ ദേവത: ആദിത്യൻ, ഫലപ്രാപ്തി: ആധിവ്യാധിശമനം. (ബ്രഹ്മാവ്‌ ആണ്‌ ദേവത എന്ന്‌ ചിലയിടങ്ങളിൽ കാണുന്നു)

ഗണപതിഹോമത്തിനും, മാലകെട്ടുന്നതിനും, ബലിയിടുന്നതിനും സാധാരണ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന കറുക, നിലം പറ്റി വളരുന്ന പുൽച്ചെടിയാണ്‌. ബുദ്ധിവികാസം ഉണ്ടാകാത്ത കുട്ടികൾക്ക്‌ കറുകനീര്‌ വളരെ ഫലപ്രദമാണ്‌. നട്ടെല്ലിനും തലച്ചോറിനും, ഞരമ്പുകൾക്കും ഉണ്ടാകുന്ന എല്ലാ രോഗങ്ങൾക്കും കറുകനീർ സിദ്ധൌഷധമാണ്‌. മുലപ്പാൽ വർദ്ധിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിനും, ബുദ്ധിശക്തിക്കും ഓർമ്മശക്തിയ്ക്കും ഉത്തമമായ കറുക ആധിവ്യാധി നാശം ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്നു. തണ്ടിന്റെ നിറത്തിനനുസരിച്ച്‌ നീലക്കറുകയും വെള്ളക്കറുകയും ഉണ്ട്‌. അമിതമായ രക്ത പ്രവാഹം നിർത്താനും, കഫ-പിത്ത രോഗങ്ങൾക്കും കറുക ഉപയോഗിക്കാം.

സംസ്കൃതത്തിൽ ശതപർവിക, ദുവ, ഭാർഗവി എന്നൊക്കെ അറിയപ്പെടുന്നു.

വിഷ്ണുക്രാന്തി

ശാസ്ത്രീയ നാമം: ഇവോൾവുലസ്‌ അൾസിനോയിഡ്‌സ്‌
ദേവത: ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണൻ, ഫലപ്രാപ്തി: വൈഷ്ണേവ പാദലബ്ധി. (ചന്ദ്രൻ ആണ്‌ ദേവത എന്ന്‌ ചിലയിടങ്ങളിൽ കാണുന്നു.)
ജ്വര ചികിത്സയ്ക്ക്‌ ഈ സസ്യം ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നു. പനിയുള്ളപ്പോൾ ഇടിച്ചു പിഴിഞ്ഞ നീര്‌ രണ്ടോ, മൂന്നോ ടീസ്പൂൺ കൊടുത്താൽ ആശ്വാസം കിട്ടും. ബുദ്ധിമാന്ദ്യം, ഓർമ്മക്കുറവ്‌ എന്നിവയ്ക്ക്‌ സിദ്ധൌഷധം. രക്തശുദ്ധിക്കും, തലമുടി വർദ്ധിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിനും പറ്റിയ ഔഷധമാണിത്‌. നിലത്ത്‌ പടരുന്ന ഈ ചെടിയുടെ പൂക്കൾക്ക്‌ നീല നിറമാണ്‌ . ബുദ്ധിശക്തി വർദ്ധിപ്പിക്കാനും തലമുടി തഴച്ചു വളരാനും ഈ സസ്യം വിശേഷപ്പെട്ടതാണ്‌ .
സംസ്കൃതത്തിൽ നീല പുഷ്‌പം , ഹരികോന്തിജ എന്നു പേര്‌. കൃഷ്ണക്രാന്തി എന്നും പേരുണ്ട്‌


തിരുതാളി

ശാസ്‌ത്രീയ നാമം: ഇപോമോയിയ സെപിയാറിയ

ശ്രീഭഗവതി ദേവത - ഐശ്വര്യം ഫലപ്രാപ്‌തി ശിവൻ ആണ്‌ ദേവത എന്ന്‌ ചിലയിടങ്ങളിൽ കാണുന്നു
സ്ക്രീകൾക്കുണ്ടാകുന്ന വന്ധ്യതയ്ക്കും, ഗർഭപാത്ര സംബന്ധമായ അസുഖങ്ങൾക്കും അത്യുത്തമം. ഈ വള്ളിച്ചെടിയിൽ പിങ്ക്‌ നിറത്തിലുള്ള പൂക്കളാണുള്ളത്‌. വന്ധ്യത , പിത്ത രോഗങ്ങൾ എന്നിവയ്ക്ക്‌ തിരുതാളി മരുന്നാണ്‌. ഇന്ത്യയിൽ മിക്ക സ്ഥലങ്ങളിലും കാണുന്നു. ചുട്ടിത്തിരുതാളി എന്നും ചിലഭാഗങ്ങളിൽ ഈ ചെടി അറിയപ്പെടുന്നു, ഇലയുടെ മദ്ധ്യഭാഗത്തുള്ള അടയാളമാണ് ഈ പേരിന് കാരണം.

സംസ്കൃതത്തിൽ ലക്ഷ്‌മണ എന്ന്‌ പേര്‌.

നിലപ്പന

ശാസ്‌ത്രീയ നാമം :കർക്കുലിഗൊ ഓർക്കിയോയിഡെസ്‌
ഭൂമിദേവി ദേവത - വിവേകം ഫലപ്രാപ്‌തി - ശ്രീദേവി ആണ്‌ ദേവത എന്ന്‌ ചിലയിടങ്ങളിൽ കാണുന്നു
ആയുർവേദം ഇത്‌ വാജീകരണത്തിന്‌ ഉപയോഗപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു. മഞ്ഞപ്പിത്തത്തിന്‌മരുന്നായും ഇത്‌ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നു.ആർത്തവസംബന്ധമായ രോഗങ്ങൾക്കും, വേദന, അമിത രക്തസ്രാവം മുതലയാവയ്ക്കും അത്യുത്തമം. യോനീരോഗങ്ങൾക്കും മൂത്രചുടിച്ചിലിനും നല്ല ഔഷധമാണ്‌.

താലമൂലി, താലപത്രിക വരാഗി എന്നീ പേരുകളിൽ സംസ്കൃതത്തിൽ അറിയപ്പെടുന്ന ഈ സസ്യത്തിന്‌ ഹിന്ദിയിൽ മുസ്‌ലി എന്ന്‌ പേർ. . നെൽപാത എന്നും പേരുണ്ട്‌ .

പൂവാംകുരുന്നില

ശാസ്‌ത്രീയ നാമം: വെർണോനിയ സിനെറിയ
ബ്രഹ്മാവ്‌ ദേവത - ദാരിദ്ര്യനാശം ഫലപ്രാപ്‌തി സരസ്വതിആണ്‌ ദേവത എന്ന്‌ ചിലയിടങ്ങളിൽ കാണുന്നു
ശരീരതാപം കുറയ്ക്കാനും, മൂത്രപ്രവാഹം സുഗമമാക്കുവാനും, വിഷം കളയുന്നതിന്നും രക്ത ശുദ്ധിയ്ക്കും നല്ലത്‌. രക്തശുദ്ധീകരണം,പനി,തേൾ വിഷം എന്നിവയ്ക്ക്‌ ഔഷധമാണ്‌.

പൂവാംകുറുന്തൽ എന്നും പേരുണ്ട്‌ -സംസ്കൃതത്തിൽ സഹദേവീ ശാസ്‌ത്രീയ നാമം: വെർണോനിയ സിനെറിയ


പൂവാംകുറുന്തൽ എന്നും പേരുണ്ട്‌ -സംസ്കൃതത്തിൽ സഹദേവീ ശാസ്‌ത്രീയ നാമം: വെർണോനിയ സിനെറിയ

ഉഴിഞ്ഞ

ശാസ്‌ത്ര നാമം:കാർഡിയോസ്‌ പെർമം ഹലികാകാബം'
യമൻ ദേവത - ഇഷ്ടസിദ്ധി ഫലപ്രാപ്‌തി വരുണൻ ആണ്‌ ദേവത എന്ന്‌ ചിലയിടങ്ങളിൽ കാണുന്നു
മുടി കൊഴിച്ചിൽ, നീര്‌, വാതം, പനി എന്നിവയ്ക്ക്‌ പ്രതിവിധിയാണ്‌. സുഖപ്രസവത്തിന്‌ ഉത്തമം. മുടി കൊഴിച്ചിൽ, നീര്‌, വാതം, പനി എന്നിവയ്ക്ക്‌ പ്രതിവിധിയാണ്‌.

സംസ്കൃതത്തിൽ ഇന്ദ്ര വല്ലിയെന്ന്‌ പേര്‌. .


മുക്കുറ്റി

ശാസ്‌ത്രീയ നാമം: ബയോഫിറ്റം സെൻസിറ്റിവം.
ശ്രീപാർവതി ദേവത - ഭർതൃപുത്രസൗഖ്യം ഫലപ്രാപ്‌തി വിഷ്ണുആണ്‌ ദേവത എന്ന്‌ ചിലയിടങ്ങളിൽ കാണുന്നു
ശരീരത്തിനകത്തെ രക്തസ്രാവം, അർശസ്‌ മതുലായവയ്ക്ക്‌ അത്യുത്തമം. പ്രസവം കഴിഞ്ഞാൽ മുക്കുറ്റി ഇടിച്ചു പിഴിഞ്ഞ നീര്‌ കഴിക്കുന്നത്‌ നല്ലതാണ്‌. മുറിവുകൾ ഉണങ്ങുന്നതിന്‌ പുറത്ത്‌ ലേപനമായി ഉപയോഗിക്കാം. അകത്തു കഴിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യാം. സമൂലം തേനിൽ ചേർത്തു കഴിച്ചാൽ ചുമ, കഫക്കെട്ട്‌ മുതലായവ ശമിക്കും. വയറളിക്കം, വ്രണങ്ങൾ കരിയുന്നതിന്‌ എന്നിവയ്ക്ക്‌ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നു.

സംസ്കൃതത്തിൽ ജലപുഷ്‌പം .

കയ്യൂണ്യം

ശാസ്‌ത്രീയ നാമം:എക്ലിപ്റ്റ ആൽബ
ശിവൻ ദേവത - പഞ്ചപാതകനാശം ഫലപ്രാപ്‌തി ഇന്ദ്രൻ ആണ്‌ ദേവത എന്ന്‌ ചിലയിടങ്ങളിൽ കാണുന്നു
ഈർപ്പമുള്ള സ്ഥലങ്ങളിൽ തഴച്ചു വളരുന്ന ഈ സസ്യം കാഴ്ചശക്തി വർദ്ധിപ്പിക്കാനനും ഉപകരിക്കും. വാതസംബന്ധമായ സർവ്വരോഗങ്ങൾക്കും അത്യുത്തമം. മുടി തഴച്ചുവളരാൻ എണ്ണ കാച്ചി ഉപയോഗിക്കാം. കാഴ്ച വർദ്ധന, കഫരോഗ ശമനത്തിന് ഫലപ്രദം. . സംസ്കൃതത്തിൽ കേശ രാജ, കുന്തള വർദ്ധിനി എന്നീ പേരുകളിൽ അറിയപ്പെടുന്നു കൈതോന്നി)

ചെറൂള

ശാസ്‌ത്രീയ നാമം: എർവ ലനേറ്റ
യമധർമ്മൻ ദേവത - ആയുസ്സ്‌ ഫലപ്രാപ്‌തി
ശരീരത്തിലെ വിഷാംശങ്ങളെ പുറത്തു കളയുന്നതിനനും, വൃക്കരോഗങ്ങൾ തടയുന്നതിനും ഫലപ്രദം. രക്തസ്രാവം, കൃമിശല്യം, മൂത്രക്കല്ല്‌ എന്നിവയ്ക്ക്‌ ഉത്തമം. മൂത്രാശയ രോഗങ്ങൾക്ക്‌ മരുന്നായി ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നു.

സംസ്കൃതത്തിൽ ഭദ്ര , ഭദൃക






മുയല്‍ ചെവിയന്‍

ശാസ്‌ത്രീയ നാമം: എമിലിയാ സോങ്കിഫോളിയാ
കാമൻ ദേവത - സൗന്ദര്യം ഫലപ്രാപ്‌തി
പരമശിവൻ ആണ്‌ ദേവത എന്ന്‌ ചിലയിടങ്ങളിൽ കാണുന്നു
മുയലിന്റെ ചെവിയോട്‌ സാദൃശ്യമുള്ള ഇലകളുള്ളതിനാലാണ്‌ ഈ പേര്‌ വീണത്‌. തൊണ്ടസംബന്ധമായ സർവ്വ രോഗങ്ങൾക്കും നല്ലത്‌. നേത്രകുളിർമയ്ക്കും, രക്താർശസ്‌ കുറയ്ക്കുന്നതിനും ഫലപ്രദം. നേത്രരോഗങ്ങൾ, ടോൺസിലൈറ്റിസ്‌, പനി തുടങ്ങിയ രോഗങ്ങൾക്ക്‌ ഔഷധമാണ്‌.

സംസ്കൃതത്തിൽചിത്രപചിത്ര, സംഭാരി എന്നാണ്‌ പേര്‌.




Neem (ആര്യവേപ്പ് )

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Pakistan, growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Other vernacular names include Neem (Hindi, Urdu and Bengali), Nimm (Punjabi), Arya Veppu (Malayalam), Azad Dirakht (Persian), Nimba (Sanskrit and Marathi), DogonYaro (in some Nigerian languages), Margosa, Neeb (Arabic), Nimtree, Vepu, Vempu, Vepa (Telugu), Bevu (Kannada), Kohomba (Sinhala), Vembu (Tamil), Tamar (Burmese), sầu đâu, xoan Ấn Độ (Vietnamese), Paraiso (Spanish), and Indian Lilac (English). In East Africa it is also known as Muarubaini (Swahili), which means the tree of the 40, as it is said to treat 40 different diseases.


Neem is a fast-growing tree that can reach a height of 15–20 m (about 50–65 feet), rarely to 35–40 m (115–131 feet). It is evergreen, but in severe drought it may shed most or nearly all of its leaves. The branches are wide spread. The fairly dense crown is roundish or oval and may reach the diameter of 15–20 m in old, free-standing specimens.

Uses

In India, the tree is variously known as "Sacred Tree," "Heal All," "Nature's Drugstore," "Village Pharmacy" and "Panacea for all diseases." Products made from neem tree have been used in India for over two millennia for their medicinal properties: Neem products have been observed to be anthelmintic, antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, contraceptive and sedative.
Neem products are also used in selectively controlling pests in plants. It is considered a major component in Ayurvedic medicine and is particularly prescribed for skin disease.

    * All parts of the tree have medicinal properties (seeds, leaves, flowers and bark) and are used for preparing many different medical preparations.
    * Part of the Neem tree can be used as a spermicide 
    * Neem oil is used for preparing cosmetics (soap, shampoo, balms and creams, for example Margo soap), and is useful for skin care such as acne treatment, and keeping skin elasticity. Neem oil has been found to be an effective mosquito repellent.
    * Neem derivatives neutralise nearly 500 pests worldwide, including insects, mites, ticks, and nematodes, by affecting their behaviour and physiology. Neem does not normally kill pests right away, rather it repels them and affects their growth. As neem products are cheap and non-toxic to higher animals and most beneficial insects, they are well-suited for pest control in rural areas.
    * Besides its use in traditional Indian medicine the neem tree is of great importance for its anti-desertification properties and possibly as a good carbon dioxide sink.
    * Practitioners of traditional Indian medicine recommend that patients suffering from chicken pox sleep on neem leaves.
    * Neem gum is used as a bulking agent and for the preparation of special purpose food (for diabetics).
    * Aqueous extracts of neem leaves have demonstrated significant antidiabetic potential.
    * Traditionally, slender neem branches were chewed in order to clean one's teeth. Neem twigs are still collected and sold in markets for this use, and in India one often sees youngsters in the streets chewing on neem twigs.
    * A decoction prepared from neem roots is ingested to relieve fever in traditional Indian medicine.
    * Neem leaf paste is applied to the skin to treat acne.
    * Neem blossoms are used in Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Karnataka to prepare Ugadi pachhadi. Actually, "bevina hoovina gojju" (a type of curry prepared with neem blossoms) is common in Karnataka throughout the year. Dried blossoms are used when fresh blossoms are not available. In Tamilnadu, a rasam (veppam poo rasam) made with neem blossoms is a culinary speciality.

    * A mixture of neem flowers and bella (jaggery or unrefined brown sugar) is prepared and offered to friends and relatives, symbolic of sweet and bitter events in the upcoming new year.

Extract of neem leaves is thought to be helpful as malaria prophylaxis despite the fact that no comprehensive clinical studies are yet available. In several cases, private initiatives in Senegal were successful in preventing malaria . However, major NGOs such as USAID are not supposed to use neem tree extracts unless the medical benefit has been proved with clinical studies.

 Uses in pest and disease control

Neem is deemed very effective in the treatment of scabies, although only preliminary scientific proof, which still has to be corroborated, exists[citation needed], and is recommended for those who are sensitive to permethrin, a known insecticide which might be an irritant. Also, the scabies mite has yet to become resistant to neem, so in persistent cases neem has been shown to be very effective. There is also anecdotal evidence of its effectiveness in treating infestations of head lice in humans. A tea made of boiled neem leaves, sometimes combined with other herbs such as ginger, can be ingested to fight intestinal worms[citation needed].

The oil is also used in sprays against fleas for cats and dogs.



Ginger

Young ginger rhizomes are juicy and fleshy with a very mild taste. They are often pickled in vinegar or sherry as a snack or just cooked as an ingredient in many dishes. They can also be stewed in boiling water to make ginger tea, to which honey is often added; sliced orange or lemon fruit may also be added. Ginger can also be made into candy.

Mature ginger roots are fibrous and nearly dry. The juice from old ginger roots is extremely potent and is often used as a spice in Indian recipes, and is an quintessential ingredient of Chinese Cuisine, Japanese Cuisine and many South Asian cuisines for flavoring dishes such as seafood or goat meat and vegetarian cuisine.

Ginger acts as a useful food preservative.

Fresh ginger can be substituted for ground ginger at a ratio of 6 to 1, although the flavors of fresh and dried ginger are somewhat different. Powdered dry ginger root is typically used as a flavoring for recipes such as gingerbread, cookies, crackers and cake, ginger ale, and ginger beer.

Fresh ginger may be peeled before eating. For longer-term storage, the ginger can be placed in a plastic bag and refrigerated or frozen.

Medicinal use

The medical form of ginger historically was called Jamaica ginger; it was classified as a stimulant and carminative, and used frequently for dyspepsia and colic. It was also frequently employed to disguise the taste of medicines. Ginger is on the FDA's "generally recognized as safe" list, though it does interact with some medications, including warfarin. Ginger is contraindicated in people suffering from gallstones as it promotes the production of bile.Ginger may also decrease pain from arthritis, though studies have been inconsistent, and may have blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties that may make it useful for treating heart disease.

Diarrhea

Ginger compounds are active against a form of diarrhea which is the leading cause of infant death in developing countries. Zingerone is likely to be the active constituent against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin-induced diarrhea.

 Nausea

Ginger has been found effective in multiple studies for treating nausea caused by seasickness, morning sickness and chemotherapy, though ginger was not found superior over a placebo for pre-emptively treating post-operative nausea. Ginger is a safe remedy for nausea relief during pregnancy.[Ginger as a remedy for motion sickness is still a debated issue. The television program Mythbusters performed an experiment using one of their staff who suffered from severe motion sickness. The staff member was placed in a moving device which, without treatment, produced severe nausea. Multiple treatments were administered. None, with the exception of the ginger and the two most common drugs, were successful. The staff member preferred the ginger due to lack of side effects. Several studies over the last 20 years were inconclusive with some studies in favor of the herb and some not. A common thread in these studies is the lack of sufficient participants to yield statistical proof. Another issue is the lack of a known chemical pathway for the supposed relief.



 Folk medicine

A variety of uses are suggested for ginger. Tea brewed from ginger is a folk remedy for colds. Three to four leaves of Tulsi taken along with a piece of ginger on an empty stomach is considered an effective cure for congestion, cough and cold.[citation needed] Ginger ale and ginger beer have been recommended as stomach settlers for generations in countries where the beverages are made, and ginger water was commonly used to avoid heat cramps in the United States. In China, "ginger eggs" (scrambled eggs with finely diced ginger root) is a common home remedy for coughing[citation needed] The Chinese also make a kind of dried ginger candy that is fermented in plum juice and sugared which is also commonly consumed to suppress coughing. Ginger has also been historically used to treat inflammation, which several scientific studies support, though one arthritis trial showed ginger to be no better than a placebo or ibuprofen for treatment of osteoarthritis.Research on rats suggests that ginger may be useful for treating diabetes.

Regional medicinal use



A pack of ginger powder,In the West, powdered dried ginger root is made into capsules and sold in pharmacies for medicinal use.

    * In Burma, ginger and a local sweetener made from palm tree juice (Htan nyat) are boiled together and taken to prevent the flu.

    * In China, ginger is included in several traditional preparations. A drink made with sliced ginger cooked in water with brown sugar or a cola is used as a folk medicine for the common cold.

    * In Congo, ginger is crushed and mixed with mango tree sap to make tangawisi juice, which is considered a panacea.

    * In India, ginger is applied as a paste to the temples to relieve headache and consumed when suffering from the common cold, people use ginger for making tea, in food etc. Ginger with lemon and black salt is also used for nausea

    * In Indonesia, ginger ("Jahe" in Indonesian) is used as a herbal preparation to reduce fatigue, reducing "winds" in the blood, prevent and cure rheumatism and controlling poor dietary habits.

    * In the Philippines a traditional health drink called "salabat" is made for breakfast by boiling chopped ginger and adding sugar; it is considered good for a sore throat.

    * In the United States, ginger is used to prevent motion and morning sickness. It is recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration and is sold as an unregulated dietary supplement.

Honey (തേന്‍ )

For at least 2700 years, honey has been used by humans to treat a variety of ailments through topical application, but only recently have the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of honey been chemically explained.

Wound gels that contain antibacterial raw honey and have regulatory approval for wound care are now available to help conventional medicine in the battle against drug resistant strains of bacteria MRSA. As an antimicrobial agent honey may have the potential for treating a variety of ailments. One New Zealand researcher says a particular type of honey (Manuka honey) may be useful in treating MRSA infections.Antibacterial properties of honey are the result of the low water activity causing osmosis, hydrogen peroxide effect,high acidity,and the antibacterial activity of methylglyoxal.

Honey appears to be effective in killing drug-resistant biofilms which are implicated in chronic rhinosinusitis.
  
Osmotic effect

Honey is primarily a saturated mixture of two monosaccharides. This mixture has a low water activity; most of the water molecules are associated with the sugars and few remain available for microorganisms, so it is a poor environment for their growth. If water is mixed with honey, it loses its low water activity, and therefore no longer possesses this antimicrobial property.

 Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is formed in a slow-release manner by the enzyme glucose oxidase present in honey. It becomes active only when honey is diluted, requires oxygen to be available for the reaction (thus it may not work under wound dressings, in wound cavities or in the gut), is active only when the acidity of honey is neutralised by body fluids, can be destroyed by the protein-digesting enzymes present in wound fluids, and is destroyed when honey is exposed to heat and light. Honey chelates and deactivates free iron, which would otherwise catalyze the formation of oxygen free radicals from hydrogen peroxide, leading to inflammation. Also, the antioxidant constituents in honey help clean up oxygen free radicals present.

    C6H12O6 + H2O + O2 → C6H12O7 + H2O2 (glucose oxidase reaction)

When honey is used topically (as, for example, a wound dressing), hydrogen peroxide is produced by dilution of the honey with body fluids. As a result, hydrogen peroxide is released slowly and acts as an antiseptic.

 In diabetic ulcers

Topical honey has been used successfully in a comprehensive treatment of diabetic ulcers when the patient cannot use other topical antibiotics.

 Acidity

The pH of honey is commonly between 3.2 and 4.5.This relatively acidic pH level prevents the growth of many bacteria.

 Methylglyoxal

The non-peroxide antibiotic activity is due to methylglyoxal (MGO) and an unidentified synergistic component. Most honeys contain very low levels of MGO, but manuka honey contains very high levels. The presence of the synergist in manuka honey more than doubles MGO antibacterial activity.

Nutraceutical effects

Antioxidants in honey have even been implicated in reducing the damage done to the colon in colitis. Such claims are consistent with its use in many traditions of folk medicine.

For throats

Honey has also been used for centuries as a treatment for sore throats and coughs, and according to recent research may in fact be as effective as many common cough medicines. It is important to remember however that this is an initial study with a small sample size.

 Other medical applications

Some studies suggest that the topical use of honey may reduce odors, swelling, and scarring when used to treat wounds; it may also prevent the dressing from sticking to the healing wound.

Honey has been shown to be an effective treatment for conjunctivitis in rats.

Though widely believed to alleviate allergies, commercial honey has been shown to be no more effective than placebos in controlled studies of ocular allergies.However, a recent study has shown pollen collected by bees to exert an anti allergenic effect, mediated by an inhibition of IgE immunoglobulin binding to mast cells. This inhibited mast cell degranulation and thus reduced allergic reaction.

Honey mixed with water and vinegar was also used as a vermifuge. The concoction was called Oxymellin.[unreliable source?]

A review in the Cochrane Library suggests that honey could reduce the time it takes for a burn to heal - up to four days sooner in some cases. The review included 19 studies with 2,554 participants. Although the honey treatment healed moderate burns faster than traditional dressings did, the author recommends viewing the findings with caution, since a single researcher performed all of the burn studies.

 Health hazards

Because of the natural presence of botulinum endospores in honey,[children under one year of age should not be given honey. The more developed digestive systems of older children and adults generally destroy the spores. Infants, however, can contract botulism from honey.[69] Medical grade honey can be treated with gamma radiation to reduce the risk of botulinum spores being present. Gamma radiation evidently does not affect honey's antibacterial activity, whether or not the particular honey's antibacterial activity is dependent upon peroxide generation .

Infantile botulism shows geographical variation. In the UK, there have only been six cases reported between 1976 and 2006, yet the USA has much higher rates 1.9 per 100,000 live births, 47.2% of which are in California.Although honey has been implicated as a risk factor for infection, it is household dust that is the major source of spores. Therefore the risk honey poses to infant health is small, if uncertain.

Honey produced from the flowers of oleanders, rhododendrons, mountain laurels, sheep laurel, and azaleas may cause honey intoxication. Symptoms include dizziness, weakness, excessive perspiration, nausea, and vomiting. Less commonly, low blood pressure, shock, heart rhythm irregularities, and convulsions may occur, with rare cases resulting in death. Honey intoxication is more likely when using "natural" unprocessed honey and honey from farmers who may have a small number of hives. Commercial processing, with pooling of honey from numerous sources, generally dilutes any toxins.

Toxic honey may also result when bees are proximate to tutu bushes (Coriaria arborea) and the vine hopper insect (Scolypopa australis). Both are found throughout New Zealand. Bees gather honeydew produced by the vine hopper insects feeding on the tutu plant. This introduces the poison tutin into honey.Only a few areas in New Zealand (Coromandel Peninsula, Eastern Bay of Plenty and the Marlborough Sound) frequently produce toxic honey. Symptoms of tutin poisoning include vomiting, delirium, giddiness, increased excitability, stupor, coma, and violent convulsions. To reduce the risk of tutin poisoning, humans should not eat honey taken from feral hives in the risk areas of New Zealand. Since December 2001, New Zealand beekeepers have been required to reduce the risk of producing toxic honey by closely monitoring tutu, vine hopper, and foraging conditions within 3 km of their apiary.

Green Tea

Green tea contains salubrious polyphenols, particularly catechins, the most abundant of which is epigallocatechin gallate. Green tea also contains carotenoids, tocopherols, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), minerals such as chromium, manganese, selenium or zinc, and certain phytochemical compounds. It is a more potent antioxidant than black tea,although black tea has substances which green tea does not such as theaflavin.

In vitro, animal, preliminary observational, and clinical human studies suggest that green tea can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, dental cavities, kidney stones, and cancer, while improving bone density and cognitive function. However, the human studies are inconsistent.

Green tea consumption is associated with reduced heart disease in epidemiological studies. Animal studies have found that it can reduce cholesterol. However, several small, brief human trials found that tea consumption did not reduce cholesterol in humans. In 2003 a randomized clinical trial found that a green tea extract with added theaflavin from black tea reduced cholesterol.

A study performed at Birmingham (UK) University, showed that average fat oxidation rates were 17% higher after ingestion of green tea extract than after ingestion of a placebo.[Similarly the contribution of fat oxidation to total energy expenditure was also significantly higher by a similar percentage following ingestion of green tea extract. This implies that ingestion of green tea extract can not only increase fat oxidation during moderately intensive exercise but also improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in healthy young men.

A recent study looked at the effects of short term green tea consumption on a group of students between the ages of 19–37. Participants were asked not to alter their diet and to drink 4 cups of green tea per day for 14 days. The results showed that short term consumption of commercial green tea reduces systolic and diastolic Blood Pressure, fasting total cholesterol, body fat and body weight. These results suggest a role for green tea in decreasing established potential cardiovascular risk factors. This study also suggests that reductions may be more pronounced in the overweight population where a significant proportion are obese and have a high risk of cardiovascular disease.

In a study performed at the Israel Institute of Technology, it was shown that the main antioxidant polyphenol of green tea extract, EGCG, when fed to mice induced with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, helped to protect brain cells from dying, as well as 'rescuing' already damaged neurons in the brain, a phenomenon called neurorescue or neurorestoration. The findings of the study, led by Dr. Silvia Mandell, were presented at the Fourth International Scientific Symposium on Tea and Human Health in Washington D.C., in 2007. Resulting tests underway in China, under the auspices of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, are being held on early Parkinson's patients.

A study  performed at the National institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana, Slovenia, demonstrated that EGCG from green tea inhibits an essential bacterial enzyme gyrase by binding to the ATP binding site of the B subunit. This activity probably contributes to the antimicrobial activity of green tea extract and may be responsible for the effectiveness of green tea in oral hygiene.

In a recent case-control study of the eating habits of 2,018 women, consumption of mushrooms and green tea was linked to a 90% lower occurrence of breast cancer.

A recent study on rats at the University of Hong Kong, published in the February issue of Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that the catechins in green tea were absorbed by the lens, retina and other parts of the eye. The absorbed catechins reduced oxidative stress in the eye for up to 20 hours, suggesting that green tea may be effective in preventing glaucoma and other diseases of the eye.

Garlic (വെളുത്തുള്ളി)

 Medicinal use

In test tube studies garlic has been found to have antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activity. However, these actions are less clear in humans. Garlic is also claimed to help prevent heart disease (including atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure) and cancer.Animal studies, and some early investigational studies in humans, have suggested possible cardiovascular benefits of garlic. A Czech study found that garlic supplementation reduced accumulation of cholesterol on the vascular walls of animals.Another study had similar results, with garlic supplementation significantly reducing aortic plaque deposits of cholesterol-fed rabbits. Another study showed that supplementation with garlic extract inhibited vascular calcification in human patients with high blood cholesterol.The known vasodilative effect of garlic is possibly caused by catabolism of garlic-derived polysulfides to hydrogen sulfide in red blood cells, a reaction that is dependent on reduced thiols in or on the RBC membrane. Hydrogen sulfide is an endogenous cardioprotective vascular cell-signaling molecule.though these studies showed protective vascular changes in garlic-fed subjects, a randomized clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2007 found that the consumption of garlic in any form did not reduce blood cholesterol levels in patients with moderately high baseline cholesterol levels.
According to the Heart.org, "despite decades of research suggesting that garlic can improve cholesterol profiles, a new NIH-funded trial found absolutely no effects of raw garlic or garlic supplements on LDL, HDL, or triglycerides… The findings underscore the hazards of meta-analyses made up of small, flawed studies and the value of rigorously studying popular herbal remedies."



In 2007, the BBC reported that Allium sativum may have other beneficial properties, such as preventing and fighting the common cold. This assertion has the backing of long tradition in herbal medicine, which has used garlic for hoarseness and coughs.The Cherokee also used it as an expectorant for coughs and croup.

Allium sativum has been found to reduce platelet aggregation and hyperlipidemia.

Garlic is also alleged to help regulate blood sugar levels. Regular and prolonged use of therapeutic amounts of aged garlic extracts lower blood homocysteine levels and has shown to prevent some complications of diabetes mellitus. People taking insulin should not consume medicinal amounts of garlic without consulting a physician.

In 1858, Louis Pasteur observed garlic's antibacterial activity, and it was used as an antiseptic to prevent gangrene during World War I and World War II.[36] More recently, it has been found from a clinical trial that a mouthwash containing 2.5% fresh garlic shows good antimicrobial activity, although the majority of the participants reported an unpleasant taste and halitosis.

In modern naturopathy, garlic is used as a treatment for intestinal worms and other intestinal parasites, both orally and as an anal suppository[citation needed]. Garlic cloves are used as a remedy for infections (especially chest problems), digestive disorders, and fungal infections such as thrush.

Garlic has been used reasonably successfully in AIDS patients to treat cryptosporidium in an uncontrolled study in China.[40] It has also been used by at least one AIDS patient to treat toxoplasmosis, another protozoal disease.

Garlic supplementation in rats, along with a high protein diet, has been shown to boost testosterone levels.



Adverse effects and Toxicology

Garlic is known for causing halitosis as well as causing sweat to have a pungent 'garlicky' smell which is caused by Allyl methyl sulfide (AMS). AMS is a gas which is absorbed into the blood during the metabolism of garlic; from the blood it travels to the lungs (and from there to the mouth causing bad breath, especially if one belches) and skin where it is exuded through skin pores. Washing the skin with soap is only a partial and imperfect solution to the smell.

Raw garlic is more potent; cooking garlic reduces the effect. The green dry 'folds' in the center of the garlic clove are especially pungent. The sulfur compound allicin, produced by crushing or chewing fresh garlic produces other sulfur compounds: ajoene, allyl sulfides, and vinyldithiins. Aged garlic lacks allicin, but may have some activity due to the presence of S-allylcysteine.

Some people suffer from allergies to garlic and other plants in the allium family. Symptoms can include irritable bowel, diarrhea, mouth and throat ulcerations, nausea, breathing difficulties, and in rare cases anaphylaxis. Garlic-sensitive patients show positive tests to diallyldisulfide, allylpropyldisulfide, allylmercaptan and allicin, all of which are present in garlic. People who suffer from garlic allergies will often be sensitive to many plants in the lily family (liliaceae), including onions, garlic, chives, leeks, shallots, garden lilies, ginger, and bananas.

Aloe vera (കറ്റാര്‍ വാഴ)

uses of Aloe vera (കറ്റാര്‍ വാഴ)

Aloe vera leaves when cut exude two fluids, with differing effects and properties. The yellow/green sap predominantly exuded wherever the green surface of the leaf is cut is an irritant. This contains the latex-like compound, aloin. On the other hand, the transparent fluid exuded by the inner leaf wherever it is cut or crushed, is soothing and said to promote healing.

For successful use of the plant, it is important to ensure that any use employs the appropriate part or parts to suit the purpose.

It is also important to understand and look for this distinction in evaluating any attempt at scientific study of the plant's medical properties. Any study which does not specify which parts of the plant were used, is likely to confuse the issue, rather than to clarify. Any product which does not distinguish these may contain a mixture of both, and therefore would be likely to have compromised usefulness for most purposes where Aloe vera is commonly used.

 
Medicinal uses


Scientific evidence for the cosmetic and therapeutic effectiveness of Aloe vera is limited and when present is typically contradictory.Despite this, the cosmetic and alternative medicine industries regularly make claims regarding the soothing, moisturising and healing properties of Aloe vera, especially via Internet advertising.Aloe vera gel is used as an ingredient in commercially available lotion, yogurt, beverages and some desserts.Aloe vera juice is used for consumption and relief of digestive issues such as heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome. It is common practice for cosmetic companies to add sap or other derivatives from Aloe vera to products such as makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soaps, sunscreens, incense, razors and shampoos. Other uses for extracts of Aloe vera include the dilution of semen for the artificial fertilization of sheep,use as fresh food preservative, and use in water conservation in small farms.

Aloe vera juice for ingestion.

Aloe vera has a long association with herbal medicine, although it is not known when its medical applications were first discovered. Early records of Aloe vera use appear in the Ebers Papyrus from 16th century BCE in both Dioscorides' De Materia Medica and Pliny the Elder's Natural History written in the mid-first century CEalong with the Juliana Anicia Codex produced in 512 CE. Aloe vera is non-toxic, with no known side effects, provided the aloin has been removed by processing. Taking Aloe vera that contains aloin in excess amounts has been associated with various side effects. However, the species is used widely in the traditional herbal medicine of China, Japan, Russia, South Africa, the United States, Jamaica and India.

Aloe vera is alleged to be effective in treatment of wounds.[Evidence on the effects of Aloe vera sap on wound healing, however, is limited and contradictory.[ Some studies, for example, show that Aloe vera promotes the rates of healing,while in contrast, other studies show that wounds to which Aloe vera gel was applied were significantly slower to heal than those treated with conventional medical preparations.A more recent review (2007) concludes that the cumulative evidence supports the use of Aloe vera for the healing of first to second degree burns.In addition to topical use in wound or burn healing, internal intake of Aloe vera has been linked with improved blood glucose levels in diabetics,and with lower blood lipids in hyperlipidaemic patients, but also with acute hepatitis (liver disease).[In other diseases, preliminary studies have suggested oral Aloe vera gel may reduce symptoms and inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis.Compounds extracted from Aloe vera have been used as an immunostimulant that aids in fighting cancers in cats and dogs;[however, this treatment has not been scientifically tested in humans. The injection of Aloe vera extracts to treat cancer has resulted in the deaths of several patients.

Topical application of Aloe vera may be effective for genital herpes and psoriasis.However, it is not effective for the prevention of radiation-induced injuries. Although anecdotally useful, it has not been proven to offer protection from sunburn or suntan.In a double-blind clinical trial the group using an Aloe vera containing dentifrice and the group using a fluoridated dentifrice both demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of gingivitis and plaque.


Aloe vera extracts have antibacterial and antifungal activities. Aloe vera extracts have been shown to inhibit the growth of fungi that cause tinea;however, evidence for control beneath human skin remains to be established. For its anti-fungal properties, Aloe vera is used as a fish tank water conditioner. For bacteria, inner-leaf gel from Aloe vera was shown to inhibit growth of Streptococcus and Shigella species in vitro. In contrast, Aloe vera extracts failed to show antibiotic properties against Xanthomonas species.

Plants Used In Medicine

A few herbal remedies have conclusively demonstrated any positive effect on humans, mainly because of inadequate testing. many of the studies mentioned investigations indicate an animal model or in laboratory tests, and therefore can not provide further supporting evidence is weak.
  • Aloe Vera has traditionally been used to treat burns and wounds. systematic review (of 1999) provides that the effectiveness of Aloe Vera in the promotion of wound healing is unclear, while the review at a later time (from 2007) concludes that the accumulated evidence supports the use of Aloe vera to healing of second degree burns to the first .
  • Agaricus blazei mushrooms may prevent some types of cancer.
  • Artichokes (Cynara cardunculus) may reduce cholesterol levels in production, according to laboratory studies and small clinical study.
  • BlackBerry (fig fruticosus) and paper, drew the attention of the cosmetics because it interferes with the metalloproteinases that contribute to the wrinkles of the skin.
  • Black berries (raspberries occidentalis) may have a role in the prevention of oral cancer.
  • Boophone (Boophone disticha) This plant is highly toxic have been used in South Africa traditional medicine for the treatment of mental illness . Research shows that in vitro and in vivo against the reality of depression.
  • Butterbur (Petasites hybridus)
  • Calendula (Calendula officinalis) has been used traditionally for colic and constipation.In animal research and water to extract ethanol from Calendula officinalis flowers have been found to have implications for both spasmolytic and spasmogenic, thereby providing the scientific justification for this traditional use and there was "limited evidence" that calendula cream or ointment is effective in treating rheumatoid radiation.
  • Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) may be effective in the treatment of urinary tract infections in women with recurrent symptoms.
  • Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, Echinacea purpurea) extracts may reduce the length and severity of rhinovirus colds, but that the levels of the appropriate dose, which may be higher than what is available without a prescription, requiring further research.
  • Elderberry (Sambucus gray) may speed the healing of the type A and B influenza. but is likely to be dangerous in case of bird flu because of immunostimulatory effects may aggravate the cytokine cascade.
  • Anise (Chrysanthemum parthenium) is sometimes used to treat migraine headaches. Although many of the reviews of the star anise studies showing the effectiveness of any or are not clear, recent results showed the RTC is more suitable . Allinson is not recommended for pregnant women because it may be dangerous to the fetus.
  • Gawo (Faidherbia innovation), a traditional herbal medicine in West Africa, has shown promise in animal experiments
  • Garlic (Allium sativum) may lower the level of total cholesterol
  • German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) has proved to spasm, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory and some antimutagenic and cholesterol-lowering effects in animal research. In chamomile laboratory proved the properties of anti-bacterial and anti-oxidation, moderate and significant antiplatelet activity, as well as preliminary results against cancer. The volatile oils of chamomile show that the Under-promising antiviral against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV - 2) in the laboratory.
  • Ginger (Zingiber officinale), and administered in capsules of 250 mg for four days, effectively reduced nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in a clinical trial rights.
  • Grapefruit (Naringenin) components may prevent obesity.
  • Green tea (Camellia sinensis) components may prevent the growth of breast cancer cells and can heal wounds faster.
  • Purified extracts from the seeds of Hibiscus sabdariffa may have the effect of high blood pressure, and antibiotics. Test low toxicity except in the case of isolated damage to the testicles of mice after a long time, and excessive consumption.
  • Honey may reduce cholesterol. may be useful in the treatment of wounds.
  • Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), and administered daily as aqueous extract of the new cards, you may lower cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose levels in mice, as well as increased levels of cholesterol. Verbena administration had no effect on levels of triglycerides.
  • Magnolia
  • Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) extracts have been recognized for many centuries as "liver tonics" .. Research suggests that milk thistle extracts both prevent and repair damage to the liver from toxic chemicals and medicines.
  • Nigella sativa (Nigella sativa) has shown therapeutic properties in rats. Mechanism for this purpose, however, is not clear. In vitro studies support antibacterial, antifungal, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and immunological effects alteration.but few studies have randomized double-blind have been published.
  • You can Ocimum gratissimum and tea tree oil can be used to treat acne.
  • Oregano (Origanum vulgare) may be effective against multi-drug-resistant bacteria.
  • Pawpaw can be used as an insecticide (killing lice, worms).
  • Peppermint oil may have benefits for individuals who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome.
  • Phytolacca or Pokeweed is used homeopathic remedy to treat many diseases. It can be applied topically or taken internally. Topical treatments used to treat acne and other diseases. It is used as a treatment for inflammation of the tonsils and swollen glands and weight loss. [Edit]
  • Pomegranate contains the highest proportion of any juice ellagitannins commonly consumed. Punicalagin, is unique of its kind for ellagitannin pomegranate, is the highest molecular weight polyphenols known.Ellagitannins metabolized urolithins of plants in the large intestine, and have been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in mice.
  • Rauvolfia Serpentina, high risk of toxicity if improperly used [edit], and is used widely in India for sleeplessness, anxiety and high blood pressure.
  • Mary (Aspalathus linearis) contains a number of phenolic compounds, including Flavanols, Flavonis, flavanones, flavonols, and dihydrochalcones.Mary has traditionally been used in skin diseases, allergies, asthma and colic in infants. In animal studies with diabetic mice, aspalathin, and sage foundation to improve the balance of glucose by stimulating insulin secretion in beta cells in the pancreas, and the uptake of glucose in the muscle tissue.
  • Rose hips - a small-scale studies indicate that the hips of Rosa canina may provide benefits in the treatment of osteoporosis. Rose hips show anti-COX activity.
  • Salvia lavandulaefolia may improve memory
  • Saw palmetto can be used for BPH. Supported in some studies,failed to confirm in others.
  • Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes) mushrooms are edible, which have reported health benefits, including the prevention of anti-cancer properties. In the Research Laboratory to extract Shiitake hampered the growth of cancer cells through induction of apoptosis. both to extract the water and juice of fresh Shiitake demonstrated antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi that cause diseases in the laboratory.
  • Soybeans and other plants that contain phytoestrogens (plant molecules with estrogen activity) (black cohosh probably has serotonin activity) have some benefits for the treatment of symptoms caused by menopause.
  • St. John's wort, has yielded positive results, proving more effective than placebo for the treatment of mild to moderate depression in some clinical trials to a later, large, controlled trial, however, found St. John's Wort to be no better than placebo in treating depression However, more recent experience has shown positive results or the positive trends that have failed importance.and meta-2004 - analysis concluded that the positive results that can be explained by publication bias but later in the analysis to be more positive. and the Cochrane Database warns that the data on the St. John's Wort to treat depression are conflicting and vague.
  • Stinging nettle in some clinical studies of effective enlarged prostate enign [166] and the pain associated with arthritis.  In laboratory tests showing the actions of anti-inflammatory. In the rodent model, the stinging nettle to reduce LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol.  In another study conducted on rodents, it reduced the accumulation of platelets.
  • Valerian root can be used to treat insomnia. Clinical studies have shown conflicting results, the researchers note that many of the trials of poor quality.