Welcome to the herbal cafe!

Insider's Report

We bring you items from the Journal of the American Botanical Council and the Herb Research Foundation. We search through relevant books and periodicals, draw on insights from internationally respected herbalists, pick up odd and unusual factoids and glean important news from web sites off the beaten path – Information that we hope you’ll find interesting and valuable.

Disclaimer:
By reading this material, you agree not to hold the compilers liable for any errors or omissions. The data was gathered randomly and for personal interest only. Always consult your primary care physician or practitioner before proceeding on any course of action.

Liquid Advice. Drink green tea; it helps burn off calories. In one study, two to three cups daily burned off 80 calories... (USA Weekend, "Eat Smart," December 14-16, 2001)
A Swedish study published in April of 1999 suggests that green tea inhibits the proliferation of new blood vessels, which fuel the growth of tumors. Previous research has shown that green tea, black tea or both can also help check the formation of certain carcinogenic compounds; disrupt several tumor-promoting enzymes; kill or at least slow down the growth of actual cancer cells while leaving normal cells from turning cancerous, mainly by shielding their DNA from oxidative damage, according to one theory." (Consumer Reports Nov. 1999)
Drinking tea may protect against severe atheroclerosis(the building up of cholesterol in the arteries,) according to a study in Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers from the Netherlands studied 3,454 people over age 55 who were free of cardiovascular disease. People who drank one to two cups of tea a day had a 46% lowered risk of severe atherosclerosis and people who drank four cups a day had lowered their risk by 69%. (Excerpt from article in "Focus on Healthy Aging" Feb. 2000)
In a study of mountain climbers on a Himalayan expedition, extract of Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgoaceae), was significantly more effective than placebo in preventing acute altitude sicknessand cold-related vascular problems (Roncin et al., 1996.) HerbalGram 46, 1999, pg. 20.
Male readers will be pleased to know that the Journal of the American Medical Association recently published a favorable review on saw palmetto (Serenoa repens, Arecaceae) for relieving the uncomfortable urinary symptoms of benign prostaic hyperplasia.In this review of 18 studies, the authors concluded that saw palmetto was more effective than placebo and just as effective as the standard drug finasteride in relieving the symptoms of moderate BPH (Wilt et al., 1998.) (HerbalGram 21, 1999, pg. 21.)
…Rather uncomplicated seaweed therapy seems to help relieve many of the presenting symptoms of thyroid dysfunction…"Botanicals for thyroid function and dysfunction," Ryan Drum PHD, A.H.G. (excerpt from 7/00 article at http://www.planetherbs.com/)
"…You might find that your physician is already taking herbs himself…" Robert Schiller, MD, chairman of family medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. (1998 MSNBC article by Linda Carroll)
The most important new anticancer drug, paclitaxel® or taxol®, comes from the bark of the Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia), a tree growing wild in the northwestern U.S. and western Canada. Since its introduction in 1993, it has gained a prominent place in the treatment of patients with ovarian and breast cancers. HerbalGram 47, 1999, pg. 54.