Ayurveda
: Certain less-known facts about top healing herbs
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Although herbs have been used since ages for healing, scientists are finally
beginning to discover amazing new facts, such as their abilities to reduce
arthritis, destroy cancer cells, and help in managing blood sugar and
cholesterol levels. Herbs and other natural remedies, when taken under expert
supervision, are as effective as conventional medications, often without any
negative side effects. Here are few of the top healers, with their newly
discovered attributes, which not many of us are aware of.
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Turmeric: The role of turmeric in treating indigestion, ulcerative colitis,
rheumatoid arthritis, common cold, toothache, colic, pre and post surgery
health, flatulence, jaundice, menstrual difficulties and bruises is well known.
Less-known fact: It has been found to also prevent Colon Cancer and Alzheimer’s
disease. A clinical trial performed by the Johns Hopkins University School of
Medicine in 2006 found that the presence of ˜curcumin, a powerful
anti-inflammatory compound, helps shrink any pre-cancerous lesions (polyps),
when take together with small amounts of quercetin, a powerful anti-oxidant
found in apples, onions and cabbage. The average number of polyps dropped by
more than 60 percent, while those that remained, shrunk in size by more than 50
percent. Another 2006 study published in the Journal of Alzheirmer disease
revealed that researchers noticed that curcumin clears the brain of any
plaques, a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.
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Cinnamon: Cinnamon has a beneficial effect on your blood sugar levels. It also
slows down the rate at which the stomach empties the food, and also reduces
gastric emptying rate. Less-known fact: It also helps lower cholesterol. A
study conducted by researchers at the US Department of Agriculture in 2003,
discovered that 60 people with type 2 diabetes, when given one gram of cinnamon
per day, for a 40-day period, experienced considerable reduction in their blood
sugar levels, total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides.
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Rosemary: This well-known herb has gone way beyond being a flavor-enhancer and
use in cosmetics. It is now a well known aid for a range of ailments, including
digestive disorders, headaches, stomach upsets, is a mild diuretic. Less-known
fact: It is a proven anti-cancerous agent. Rosemary extract helps prevent
carcinogens that enter the body from binding with DNA, the first step in tumour
formation. When researchers at the University of Illinois, fed rosemary
extracts to rats, who were exposed to dimethylbezanthracene, a carcinogen which
causes breast cancer (both DNA damage and tumours decreased). The scientists
are yet to perform human research, but according to the study lead, Keith W
Singletary, Rosemary has lot of cancer-protective potential.
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Ginger: It is a well-known fact that ginger averts nausea, prevents stomach
upsets, motion sickness and chemotherapy-related nausea. Less-known fact:
Ginger has now proven to help reduce Blood Pressure, Cancer risk and Arthritis
pain. Ginger regulates blood flow, which lowers blood pressure, and its
anti-inflammatory properties help reduce arthritis. When ginger extract was
administered to 124 patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee, during
a study conducted at the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University
of Miami, all 124 patients reported decrease in pain. During another study by
the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, in 2006, it was found
that gingers anti-inflammatory powers helped in killing ovarian cancer cells,
in the same intense manner or better than chemotherapy. The chemo-preventive
action of the plant could be due to its ability to induce apoptosis in cancer
cells, the researchers felt.
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Basil: Being the usual home-grown plant, we are aware about the effectiveness
of basil in reducing stress, relieving indigestion, headaches, for treatment of
coughs, intestinal disorders and skin diseases. Less-known fact: It inhibits
Breast Cancer. According to Pratima Nangia-Makker, a researcher at the Barbara
Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, a tea made of the holy basil, helped in
shrinking tumours, reduced their blood supply, and stopped their spread, first
in test tubes, and then in mice.
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Garlic: Garlic is a well-known addition in folklore medicines, known to prevent
everything from the cold, flu and gastritis to plague. It is also known to
prevent blood clots, and for its anti-viral, anti-bacterial and
anti-inflammatory properties. Less-known fact: Garlic contains about 70 active
phyto-chemicals, including allicin, which according to studies have known to
decrease high BP by as much as 30 points. Garlic is also known to prevent
strokes by reducing arterial blockages, as per the clinical study at UCLA.
Also, the level of homocysteine, a chemical causing plaque in the body, dropped
by 12 percent in patients.
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