Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common bacterial infection among patients in intensive care units (ICUs). For patients placed on a ventilator, the risk for nosocomial pneumonia and mortality is higher than for other patients. The use of anti-bacterial mouthwashes is recommended to prevent the occurrence of VAP. Among the available mouthwashes, chlorhexidine is highly effective … Continue reading Echinacea Mouthwash More Effective than Chlorhexidine in Decreasing Oral Microbial Load in Intubated Patients
Month: November 2018
Food as Medicine: Anise (Pimpinella anisum, Apiaceae)
Anise or aniseed (Pimpinella anisum, Apiaceae) is an herbaceous annual that grows to almost a meter (3.3 feet) in height.1,2 The lower leaves of the plant are dark green, heart-shaped, and shallowly lobed, while the upper leaves are feathery. In the summer, the plant produces small, white flowers in an umbrella-shaped head, and, in the fall, these flowers produce aromatic … Continue reading Food as Medicine: Anise (Pimpinella anisum, Apiaceae)
Clinical Safety of Ephedrine Alkaloid-free Ephedra Herb Extract (EFE)
Ephedra (Ephedra sinica, E. equisetina, and E. intermedia; Ephedraceae) herb (primarily stem tissue) is used in Japanese Traditional Medicine (Kampo) formulations. Ephedra herb is defined in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia as stem material containing ˃0.7% ephedrine alkaloids (ephedrine and pseudoephedrine). Ephedrine alkaloids (EAs) are thought to be responsible for the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antitussive, and diaphoretic effects of … Continue reading Clinical Safety of Ephedrine Alkaloid-free Ephedra Herb Extract (EFE)
Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program Publishes Cranberry Laboratory Guidance Document
New publication evaluates analytical methods to authenticate cranberry fruit materials and detect adulteration with anthocyanin- or proanthocyanidin-rich extracts from other plant species AUSTIN, Texas (November 15, 2018) — The ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) announces the publication of a new Laboratory Guidance Document (LGD) on cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon). Cranberry-derived dietary supplements and beverages are … Continue reading Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program Publishes Cranberry Laboratory Guidance Document
Food as Medicine: Date (Phoenix dactylifera, Arecaceae)
The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, Arecaceae) has been cultivated for more than 5,000 years.1 Because of this long history of use and cultivation, the exact origin of the date palm is difficult to pinpoint. Dates have been harvested for centuries in northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and have played a large role in the economies … Continue reading Food as Medicine: Date (Phoenix dactylifera, Arecaceae)
Efficacy of a Mixture of Beeswax, Olive Oil, and Alkanet for Burn Injuries
Severe burns have high rates of morbidity and mortality and require long-term hospitalization. Such burns cause intense pain and can lead to significant changes in physical appearance. In folk medicine, Beeswax (Cera Alba), olive (Olea europaea, Oleaceae) fruit oil, and alkanet (Alkanna tinctoria, Boraginaceae) root are used to treat burns. Beeswax and olive oil have reported … Continue reading Efficacy of a Mixture of Beeswax, Olive Oil, and Alkanet for Burn Injuries
Ginseng Aggregate Data Analyses Show Evidence of Modest yet Significant Benefit for Improving Fasting Blood Glucose
Diabetes is a global epidemic, and ginseng (Panax spp., Araliaceae) is a popular complementary and alternative medicine that has shown promise in type 2 diabetes. However, systematic reviews of ginseng's effects on blood glucose parameters have not been conclusive. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of ginseng on glycemic … Continue reading Ginseng Aggregate Data Analyses Show Evidence of Modest yet Significant Benefit for Improving Fasting Blood Glucose
Let’s Create Some Herbal Remedies – When Cold and Flu Season Arrives.
These two recipes are prepared as teas but are not taken in your tea cup – they help with the discomfort of flu season in other ways.
Winter Inhalation
This traditional herbal steam helps open your sinuses, discourages bacterial and viral growth, and reduces pain and inflammation. Remember to stay a comfortable distance from the steaming pot to avoid burning your face.
8 – 12 teaspoons fresh or 4 teaspoons dried eucalyptus leaf {Eucalyptus globulus}
2 – 3 tablespoons fresh or 1 tablespoon dried peppermint leaf
2 – 3 tablespoons fresh or 1 tablespoon dried thyme herb
3 cups purified water
Essential oils of the herbs above {optional}
Place the eucalyptus, peppermint, thyme, and water in a saucepan and stir to thoroughly combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and uncover. Drape a large towel…
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Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Compounds of Mexican Propolis
Propolis is made by bees from a combination of plant resins, wax, and saliva. It is used in the hive as a building material, disinfectant, and embalming agent. Propolis has many reported health benefits for humans, due to its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Multiple factors impact the composition of propolis, including location, the season … Continue reading Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Compounds of Mexican Propolis
Antidiabetic Phytochemicals from Bushy Bulbine
Bushy bulbine (Bulbine abyssinica, Asphodelaceae) is a succulent perennial herb that grows in several regions of southeast Africa. It is used in traditional medicine to treat rheumatism, infections, dysentery, and other conditions. In South Africa, a whole-plant decoction is used in the management of diabetes. Bushy bulbine extracts are rich in polyphenols with demonstrated antioxidant … Continue reading Antidiabetic Phytochemicals from Bushy Bulbine
