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herbal medicine

We share traditional, scientific and practical insights written by experienced herbalists and health experts from the world of herbal medicine and natural health

Research seeds

Here we summarise the research behind natural medicines, so we can make herbal science accessible for all. We break down and explain how herbs work through a scientific lens.

Ashwagandha Testosterone And Male Vitality

Ashwagandha: Testosterone and male vitality

This study explores the effects of ashwagandha on fatigue and hormone levels in an...

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Basil Alleviation Of Menopausal Symptoms

Basil: Alleviation of menopausal symptoms

In this triple-blinded, placebo-controlled study, 500mg of basil daily reduced physical and psychological menopausal...

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Milk Thistle Weight Loss Metabolic Health And The Microbiota 1

Milk thistle: Weight loss, metabolic health, and the microbiota

This study explored the use of a milk thistle extract and isolated constituent, silibinin,...

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Pomegranate Improved Liver And Metabolic Health 1

Pomegranate: Improved liver and metabolic health

This eight-week study explored the benefits of pomegranate on liver health in patients with...

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Shatavari Muscle Function In Older Women

Shatavari: Muscle function in older women

This study discovers the effect of shatavari with resistance training on a number of...

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Shatavari: Musculoskeletal health in postmenopausal women

Shatavari: Musculoskeletal health in postmenopausal women

Shatavari has long been used in Ayurveda for female reproductive health. This study explores...

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Herbal Medicine Use Personal And Professional Opinions On Safety And Efficacy

Herbal medicine use: Personal and professional opinions on safety and efficacy

This study investigated the perspectives of healthcare practitioners’ on the use of herbal medicine,...

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Peppermint Parasympathetic Response

Peppermint: Parasympathetic response

Sympathetic and parasympathetic activity shifts in response to certain stimuli. This study explores how...

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Cannabis Stress And Pain Treatment

Cannabis: Stress and pain treatment

In this article, we discuss the effects of a cannabis brand-specific, hemp-derived cannabidiol product...

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Kava Treatment Of Anxiety

Kava: Treatment of anxiety

In this article, we discuss Kava in the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder: a...

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Saffron and ginger Effects on blood pressure and endothelial function in type II diabetics

Saffron and ginger: Effects on blood pressure and endothelial function in type II diabetics

A clinical trial comparing the effects of cinnamon, cardamom, saffron and ginger decocted with...

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Cinnamon Postprandial hyperglycaemia suppression

Cinnamon: Postprandial hyperglycaemia suppression

This randomised single-blinded clinical trial compares the efficacy of cinnamon, in capsules and as...

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Thyme To alleviate asthmatic cough

Thyme: To alleviate asthmatic cough

This research seed explores how coadministration of thyme alongside typical asthma medication can improve...

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Elderberry To ease cold symptoms and speed recovery

Elderberry: Easing cold symptoms and speeding recovery

Here, we present a study on how two-week elderberry supplementation affects the duration of...

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Research seed Saffron for postmenopausal women

Saffron: Happiness in postmenopausal women

In this article, we discuss “The effect of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) herbal tea on happiness...

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Research seed Herbs and spices for blood pressure

Culinary herbs and spices: Blood pressure

In this article, we summarise the study, Herbs and spices at a relatively high...

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Research seed Ginger and aloe vera

Ginger and aloe vera: Dry mouth in diabetes

In this article, we discuss the comparison of the effect of ginger and aloe...

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Research seeds Ginger

Ginger: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in T2DM

In this article, we discuss the “Effects of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) on Non-Alcoholic Fatty...

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Research seeds: Sage, rosemary and lemon balm

Sage, rosemary and lemon balm: Memory

We discuss a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial of a combined extract of rosemary,...

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Plantain (Plantago Major)

Plantain: Pressure ulcer recovery

In this article, we discuss the paper “Clinical and phytochemical studies of Plantago major...

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Research seeds Saffron

Saffron: As antidepressant as fluoxetine

In this article, we discuss the effects of saffron of mild to moderate depression...

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Research seed: Cat's claw

Cat’s claw: Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia

In this article, we discuss the treatment of breast cancer with Cat's claw (Uncaria...

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Research seed passionflower

Passionflower: Anxiety relief

In this article, we discuss “Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: A pilot...

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Mistletoe research seed

Mistletoe: Quality of life in cancer care

In this article, we discuss the “Impact of complementary mistletoe extract treatment on quality...

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Turmeric vs omeprazole for stomach acid relief

Turmeric vs omeprazole for stomach acid relief

Pharmaceutical side effects can be avoided by using effective herbal medicines instead. This article...

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Turmeric and dyspepsia research seed

Turmeric: An alternative to omeprazole for functional dyspepsia

We discuss a study that investigates the Curcumin in Turmeric and proton pump inhibitors...

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research seed cinnamon

Cinnamon: Lowering blood glucose

We discuss a study that investigates the blood glucose lowering effect of cinnamon on...

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Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus)

Lion’s mane: Improving cognitive function

We discuss a study that investigates the improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium...

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research seeds cocoa

Cocoa: Supporting the gut microbiome

We discuss a study that investigates the cocoa polyphenols and gut microbiota interplay: bioavailability,...

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research seeds chilli

Chilli: Capsaicin improves gut microbiota composition

We discuss a study that investigates how healthy subjects differentially respond to dietary capsaicin...

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Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)

Meadowsweet: Anti-inflammatory mechanisms via COX inhibition

We discuss a study that investigates the in vitro and in vivo assessment of...

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Garlic (Allium sativum)

Garlic: Lowering cholesterol and cardiovascular risk

We discuss a study that investigates the effects of time-released garlic powder tablets on...

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Research seeds Lemon balm

Lemon balm: Post-partum pain relief

We discuss a study that investigates the effect of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) in...

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Research seeds Echinacea

Echinacea: Immune stimulation via increased mediator release

We discuss a study that looks at echinacea-induced cytokine production by human macrophages.

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Research seeds Chamomile

Chamomile: Antidepressant in anxiety with comorbid depression

We discuss a study that explores the putative antidepressant effect of chamomile in people...

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Research seeds Calendula

Calendula: Vaginal health

We discuss a study that explores the effect of Calendula officinalis versus metronidazole on...

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Neuroinflammation: An emerging role for herbs and spices?

Sage, rosemary and lemon balm: Supporting memory

We discuss a study that investigates the enhancement of memory with a combined extract...

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Gotu kola (Centella asiatica)

Gotu kola: Improving post-stroke cognitive function

We discuss a study that investigates the effectiveness of Gotu Kola extract in improving...

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Rosehip (Rosa canina)

Rosehip: Joint health and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis

We discuss a study that investigates the standardised powder made from rosehips to see...

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Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Turmeric: Psoriasis, ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis

We discuss a study that collates clinical trial research on turmeric and one of...

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Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

Fenugreek: Reducing blood cholesterol in diabetes

We discuss a study that investigates the effect of fenugreek on the lipid profile...

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Research seeds Psyllium husk

Psyllium husk: Maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis

We discuss a study that investigates the effects of psyllium seeds on patients with...

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