From The Green Pharmacy:

[Guest guest]

 

The Green Pharmacy

 

The Green Pharmacy is an excellent new book by James A. Duke, Ph.D.

(Rodale Press, 1997). It has garnered praise from M.D.s and Ph.D.s in

the medical and botanical communities.

 

To quote from the book's jacket, " With A-to-Z entries that include over

120 health conditions, James Duke's The Green Pharmacy is an

authoritative, readable guide to the world of herbal healing. From

traditional folk remedies to groundbreaking laboratory studies, Dr. Duke

provides up-to-date information and age-old folk wisdom about nature's

most potent plants. "

 

What contributes to this valuable book are Dr. Duke's credentials and

experience. He received a Ph.D. in botany from the University of North

Carolina, and did postdoctoral work at Washington University and the

Missouri Botanical Gardens. After doing extensive fieldwork in the

Panamanian rain forest, Dr. Duke joined the U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA), where he spent 30 years studying medicinal plants.

 

This newsletter looks at some of the herbs Dr. Duke discusses in his

book, focussing on his recommendations for preventing and treating a

variety of health conditions.

 

Bilberry

 

BACKGROUND: Bilberry contains flavonoids, many of them anthocyanosides.

One benefit is in connective tissue maintenance. Bilberry also has

antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some of Bilberry's active

components seem to have an affinity for the pigmented epithelium of the

eye's retina.

 

PREVENTION: Bilberry may help prevent the following conditions:

Cataracts-Stroke-Ulcers

 

TREATMENT: Bilberry may be helpful in treating the following conditions:

Angina-Macular degeneration-Menstrual cramps-Varicose veins

 

Garlic

 

BACKGROUND: Garlic contains a number of bioactive substances, including

alliin, allicin, gamma-glutamyl-cysteine, and thiosulfinates. Used for

thousands of years, new research shows that garlic can lower total and

LDL cholesterol, while raising HDL cholesterol. Garlic also reduces

blood platelet aggregation, lowers blood pressure, inhibits

inflammation, inhibits cancer cell formation and proliferation, protects

the liver from some drugs and chemicals, and kills intestinal parasites,

worms, and gram-negative bacteria.

 

PREVENTION: Garlic may help prevent the following conditions:

Anti-aging properties-Cancer-Colds and flu-Heart disease-Stroke

 

TREATMENT: Garlic may be helpful in treating the following conditions:

Allergies-Angina-Arthritis-Bronchitis-Cardiac arrhythmia-Diabetes-Fungal

infections-Headache-High blood pressure-HIV infectionIntermittent

claudication-Lyme disease-Pneumonia-Raynaud's disease-Sinusitis-Sore

throat-Tonsillitis-Tuberculosis-Ulcers-Viral infections-Worms-Yeast-

infections

 

Ginger

 

BACKGROUND: Ginger contains many active ingredients, including

phenylalkylketones (gingerols, shogaols, zingerone) and volatile oils

(zingiberone, bisabolene, camphene, geraniol, linalool, borneol). Ginger

is beneficial for the GI tract, being particularly helpful with nausea,

especially from motion sickness. Ginger is used to treat indigestion and

flatulence, and it has a broad range of action against intestinal

parasites. Other actions include anti-inflammatory properties and

reductions in blood platelet clumping.

 

PREVENTION: Ginger may help prevent the following conditions:

Heart diseaseStroke

 

TREATMENT: Ginger may be helpful in treating the following conditions:

Angina-Arthritis-Bursitis-Colds-Dizziness-High

cholesterol-Indigestion-Intermittent claudication-Kidney

stones-Menstrual cramps-Motion sickness-Nausea-Pain-Raynaud's

disease-Swelling-Tendinitis-Ulcers-Worms

 

Ginkgo biloba

 

BACKGROUND: Ginkgo contains numerous active substances, including

ginkgoflavonglycosides (kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, and

proanthocyanidins) and terpene lactones (ginkgolides and bilobalides).

The main actions of the ginkgoflavonglycosides are as antioxidants and

anti-inflammatory agents. One noted feature of ginkgo is increased blood

flow, especially to the brain.

 

Ginkgo extract is among the leading prescription medicines in both

Germany and France, and worldwide, over 10 million prescriptions are

written for it annually.

 

PREVENTION: Ginkgo may help prevent the following conditions:

Anti-aging properties-Stroke

 

TREATMENT: Ginkgo may be helpful in treating the following conditions:

Allergies-Alzheimer's disease-Headache-Impotence-Intermittent

claudication-Macular degeneration-Raynaud's

disease-Sores-Tinnitus-Vertigo-

 

Milk thistle

 

BACKGROUND: Milk thistle consists of three powerful liver-protective

flavonoids. These flavonoids (silybin, silydianin, and silychristin) are

usually referred to as silymarin.

 

The effects of silymarin are well researched, showing protection against

such hepato-toxins as alcohol, carbon tetrachloride, pesticides, heavy

metals, and acetaminophen overdose. Not only can silymarin protect liver

cells, it can regenerate already damaged ones. Additionally, silymarin

was shown to increase liver, stomach, and intestinal glutathione.

 

PREVENTION: Milk thistle may help prevent the following conditions:

Anti-aging properties-Liver problems

 

TREATMENT: Milk thistle may be helpful in treating the following

conditions:

Gallstones-Liver problems-Psoriasis

 

Turmeric

 

BACKGROUND: Turmeric, a member of the ginger family, contains several

active ingredients, called curcuminoids. The most active component is

curcumin, an orange-yellow volatile oil that includes three

curcuminoids: turmerone, atlantone, and zingiberone.

 

Research shows that turmeric and its curcuminoids have a number of

beneficial properties: (1) good antioxidant activity, comparing well

with vitamin C, vitamin E, and superoxide dismutase; (2)

anti-inflammatory activity that is comparable to steroidal and

nonsteroidal drugs; (3) anticancer properties influencing all the steps

of cancer formation; (4) protects the cardiovascular system by lowering

serum cholesterol and inhibiting platelet aggregation; (5) protects the

liver by several mechanisms; (6) helps with HIV in a number of ways,

including acting as biological response modifiers, resulting in

significant increases in CD-4 and CD-8 counts.

 

PREVENTION: Turmeric may help prevent the following conditions:

Cataracts-Stroke

 

TREATMENT: Turmeric may be helpful in treating the following conditions:

Arthritis-Carpal tunnel syndrome-Gallstones-Gout-Pain- Swelling-Worms

 

 

 

My Web-site: http://community.webtv.net/Yahwist/THEGREATMYSTERY