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Dietary Supplements Articles

Herbs, vitamins, and mineral supplements may promote wellness, if you are educated about their proper use. Learn here about herbs, vitamins, and minerals that may help to support your good health.

Herbs for Seasonal Allergies You may call it hay fever, seasonal allergies, allergic rhinitis, or seasonal pollen allergy, but whatever it’s named, it causes the same seasonal misery: sneezing; a red drippy nose; and itchy, watery eyes. more

Astragalus High expectations for this restorative herb. Astragalus, known botanically as Astragalus membranaceus, is a thorny perennial shrub native to the Middle East and eastern Asia. It is now grown in Mongolia, China, Japan, and Korea. more

Black Cohosh for "Power Surges" Menopause is a natural part of a woman's life cycle. It occurs when the ovaries stop producing hormones called estrogens, and monthly periods end. For most women, menopause begins in their mid-40's to mid-50's. more

The New Antioxidant Recommendations In April 2000, the Institute of Medicine released its much-anticipated report on Dietary Reference Intakes for antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and carotenoids. More than 40 scientists from the United States and Canada collaborated on the studies that resulted in the updated recommendations. They reflect a cautious, but open-ended approach to requirement values. more

The Brave New World of Foods with a Function According to surveys, most of us would rather get our vitamins in a tasty food than in a hard-to-swallow pill. This is good news, because many delicious foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains are chock-full of disease-preventing phytochemicals in addition to the well-known vitamins and minerals. Overwhelming scientific evidence indicates that these components of a plant-based diet can reduce the risk of chronic disease. more

Ginkgo Biloba: Promising Preliminaries Sometimes called a "living fossil" the oldest living tree species, Ginkgo biloba, is traceable back 200 million years. A ginkgo tree can live to be one thousand years old. According to herbal researchers, seeds and fruit harvested from the female ginkgo (or maidenhair) tree have been used medicinally in China for thousands of years. These days it’s the ginkgo’s fan-shaped leaves that are most exciting to researchers. more

A Hopeful New Supplement for Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 16 million Americans. It is the leading cause of disability in the United States, and nearly everyone over the age of 75 is affected in at least one joint. more

’Tis the Season for Echinacea! Just a few years ago, when we spoke about medical evidence and herbal remedies, we had to rely on anecdotes and folklore. Thanks to public demand and scientific interest, more and more research is being done on botanical supplements to find out if they really work and if so, how to use them most effectively. This month, we’ll explore what is known, and not yet understood, about echinacea, an herb touted for its ability to reduce the duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms. more

Saw Palmetto for Men’s Prostate Health Native Americans traditionally used the berries of the saw palmetto plant to treat the symptoms of urinary tract problems. According to herb expert Varro Tyler, Professor of Pharmacognosy at Purdue University’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences, from 1905 to 1950, saw palmetto was a widely used "official" drug in the U.S., but was mostly forgotten after World War II. European researchers continued to study the herb and found that an extract of the saw palmetto improved symptoms in people suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). more

Understanding the New Supplement Facts Label Dietary supplement labels are easier to read and understand, thanks to 1994’s Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). Recently enacted Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, as part of the DSHEA law, have made supplements -- and information about them -- much more widely available to consumers. They also put the responsibility onto consumers for obtaining information about the safety and effectiveness of these products. more

Taking Medications and Supplements Safely Medications and supplements, when used properly, can treat diseases, alleviate symptoms, and generally raise the quality of life and health for users in need of them. The key word is "properly." Over the counter (OTC) medicines, prescription medications, and supplements need to be consumed knowledgeably in order to be most effective and to avoid unpleasant or even dangerous side effects. more