Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Tronix on 25/02/2005 02:55:01
-
Hiya fellow scientists. Anyone have any formal proof of the beneficial effects of herbal tonics, teas, and drinks, or could point me to some clincal test results? I have used herbs before and it has seemed to work. Anybody else use herbs? thanks
Important quotes from important people
"Hey my chocolate bar melted!" Percy L. Spencer
-
I'd ask ylide, the chemist formerly known as Cannabinoid, about herb use !
"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
- Groucho Marx
-
Off the top of my head, the only documented benefits of herbal teas (green teas especially) is due to their containing high levels of antioxidants, which can aid in preventing heart disease and cancer. There is probably research that I am not aware of but that's the big one. Some other herbs have minor effects like stress reduction or bowel regulation but I don't believe much of that is truly researched and documented.
There's the nutritional benefit, too....many herbal teas give us our minerals and trace elements that we wouldn't normally get in the quantities we require in the typical American or British diet.
This message brought to you by The Council of People Who Are Sick of Seeing More People
-
Herbal medicine is in the folklore category. That means some of it is true, and some of it is untrue, but none of it is scientific. If you like to use herbals, be aware that some herbs are quite powerful and do have serious effects on your body. As an example, my mother gave me an herbal oil for constipation as a child. It was quite effective. The oil was made from the bean of the castor plant, which contains ricin, an incredibly potent toxin.
An herb from the foxglove plant was widely used for chest pains years ago. We now know it as the heart medicine digitalis. The list goes on and on. Herbs can be very powerful medicine, and must be used with care. Also, do not mix herbs with other medications, as side effects can be deadly.
-
http://coffeetea.about.com/library/herbs/blherbs.htm
BellaDonna
-
this reply is 4 years late, but it takes time to collect the info
[;)]
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.folklore.herbs/browse_thread/thread/d00449e0e41b3348#
==Anti-cancer citations from journals==
# Analytical Biochemistry : Analytical Biochemistry, Methods in the
Biological Sciences, emphasizes methods in the biological and
biochemical sciences.
# Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy : Biomedicine and pharmacotherapy is
one of the few journals at the forefront of fundamental and technical
science, biological and medical disciplines, therapeutics and
pathological description.
# Bioresource Technology : The journal publishes original papers,
review articles, case studies and other material for the professional
in the fundamentals, applications and management of bioresource
technology.
# Cancer Letters : CANCER LETTERS is a journal providing rapid
publication of brief articles in the broad area of cancer research.
# Carbohydrate Polymers : Carbohydrate Polymers covers the study and
exploitation of carbohydrate polymers which have current or potential
industrial application in areas such as food, textiles, paper, wood,
adhesives, biodegradables, biorefining, pharmaceuticals, and oil
recovery.
# FEBS Letters : The subject area of FEBS Letters is broad. It covers
biochemistry (including protein chemistry, enzymology, nucleic acid
chemistry, metabolism, and immunochemistry), structural biology,
biophysics, computational biology (genomics, proteomics,
bioinformatics), molecular genetics, molecular biology and molecular
cell biology (signal transduction, intracellular traffic, regulation
of cellular proliferation, cell-cell interactions) and systems
biology.
# Food and Chemical Toxicology : Food and Chemical Toxicology
publishes original research reports and occasional interpretative
reviews on the toxic effects, in animals or humans, of natural or
synthetic chemicals occurring in the human environment.
# Food Chemistry : Food Chemistry publishes original research papers
dealing with the chemistry and biochemistry of foods and raw materials
covering the entire food chain from `farm to fork.'
# Gynecologic Oncology : Gynecologic Oncology, an international
journal, is devoted to the publication of clinical and investigative
articles that concern tumors of the female reproductive tract.
# Journal of Ethnopharmacology : The Journal of Ethnopharmacology is
dedicated to the exchange of information and understandings about
people's use of plants, fungi, animals, microorganisms and minerals
and their biological and pharmacological effects based on the
principles established through international conventions.
# Leukemia Research : Leukemia Research is an international journal
which brings comprehensive and current information to all health care
professionals involved in basic and (or) applied clinical research in
leukemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma and other hematologic
malignancies.
# Microbiological Research : Microbiological Research is devoted to
publishing reports on prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms such
as yeasts, fungi, bacteria, archaea, and protozoa.
# Peptides : Peptides is an international journal presenting original
contributions on the chemistry, biochemistry, neurochemistry,
endocrinology, gastroenterology, physiology, and pharmacology of
peptides, as well as their neurological, psychological and behavioral
effects.
# Phytomedicine : Phytomedicine is published to attract and
disseminate innovative and expert findings in the fields of
phytopharmacology, phytotherapy and phytotoxicology, as a reference
source for researchers in these fields, and with the aim to set
international standards in their methodology.
# Process Biochemistry : Process Biochemistry is an application–
orientated research journal devoted to reporting advances with
originality and novelty, in the science and technology of the
processes involving bioactive molecules or elements, and living
organisms.
# Steroids : Steroids is an international journal devoted to original
research on all aspects of steroids.
# Trends in Molecular Medicine : Trends in Molecular Medicine's
objective is to facilitate communication between groups of highly
trained professionals with distinct backgrounds and skills, whose
common goals are to understand and explain the molecular basis of
disease with a view to new clinical practice.
===Cited journals===
# Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease : "The purpose of Advances
Chronic Kidney Disease is to provide in-depth, scholarly review
articles about the care and management of persons with early kidney
disease and kidney failure, as well as those at risk for kidney
disease."
# Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry : "Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
provides an international forum for the publication of full original
research papers and critical reviews on molecular interactions in key
biological targets such as receptors, channels, enzymes, nucleotides,
lipids and saccharides."
# Carbohydrate Research : "Since its inception in 1965, Carbohydrate
Research has gained a reputation for its high standard and wide scope
which includes all aspects of carbohydrate chemistry and biochemistry.
Articles published in the journal cover sugars and their derivatives
(also cyclitols, and model compounds for carbohydrate reactions),
oligo- and polysaccharides, nucleosides, nucleotides, and
glycoconjugates."
# European Journal of Cancer and Clinical Oncology : "The European
Journal of Cancer (including EJC Supplements) is the official Journal
of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer
(EORTC), the European CanCer Organisation (ECCO), the European
Association for Cancer Research (EACR), the the European Society of
Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA) and the European School of Oncology
(ESO)."
# European Journal of Pharmacology : "The European Journal of
Pharmacology publishes full-length papers on the mechanisms of action
of chemical substances affecting biological systems. "
# Enzyme and Microbial Technology : "Enzyme and Microbial Technology
is an international, peer-reviewed journal publishing original
research and reviews, of biotechnological significance and novelty, on
basic and applied aspects of the use of enzymes, micro-organisms,
animal cells and plant cells. "
# Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology : "Environmental
Toxicology and Pharmacology publishes the results of studies
concerning toxic and pharmacological effects of (human and veterinary)
drugs and of environmental contaminants in animals and man."
# Fitoterapia : "Fitoterapia is a Journal dedicated to medicinal
plants and to bioactive natural products of plant origin."
# Journal of Ethnopharmacology : "The Official Journal of the
International Society for Ethnopharmacology. The Journal of
Ethnopharmacology is dedicated to the exchange of information and
understandings about people's use of plants, fungi, animals,
microorganisms and minerals and their biological and pharmacological
effects based on the principles established through international
conventions."
# Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
# Maturitas : "The Official Journal of the European Menopause and
Andropause Society (EMAS). Maturitas is an international
multidisciplinary peer reviewed scientific journal of midlife health
and beyond publishing original research, reviews, consensus statements
and guidelines. "
# Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis : "Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. A Sponsored Journal of the
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. This journal is an
international medium directed towards the needs of academic, clinical,
government and industrial analysis by publishing original research
reports and critical reviews on pharmaceutical and biomedical
analysis."
# Life Sciences : "Life Sciences is an international journal
publishing articles that emphasize the molecular, cellular, and
functional basis of therapy. All articles are rigorously reviewed. "
# Pharmacological Research : "Pharmacological Research provides a
rapid information exchange medium for specialists within the
discipline of pharmacology."
-
As I understand it, castor oil does not contain ricin. The process of producing the oil from the seeds gets rid of the toxin.
Herbs are plants. Some plants contain things that are healthy for us, and others contain things that are not. Asking whether herbs are good for you is like asking whether pills are good for you -- it depends on what's in them, and the state of your own health.