| You're a health-conscious consumer. You're serious | | | | * Provide some protection against Alzheimer's disease |
| about your well-being and you know that taking a daily | | | | * Decrease symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic |
| multi-vitamin will keep you in top form. But when it | | | | fatigue syndrome (CFS) |
| comes to herbs and other supplements -- well, let's be | | | | * Decrease symptoms of attention deficit disorder |
| honest. It's a little hard to be serious about something | | | | (ADD) |
| called gotu kola or kava kava. I'll bet you didn't even | | | | * Reduce symptoms of macular degeneration and |
| know how to pronounce "Pycnogenol" or "echinacea" | | | | retinopathy |
| the first time you saw those names in print. And what | | | | * Act as an immune booster and stimulant by helping |
| about Uva ursi or Ginkgo biloba? Although the names | | | | to destroy invading bacteria and viruses |
| may conjure up images of Dr. Seuss characters, these | | | | Echinacea |
| funny-sounding herbs are powerful supplements. Take | | | | Purple coneflower -- a tall, daisy-like plant that's popular |
| a closer look: | | | | with gardeners because of its tolerance to cold, heat |
| Gotu kola | | | | and drought -- is also one of America's most popular |
| Long used as a spiritual and rejuvenating herb in | | | | herbals: echinacea. Another herbal supplement that |
| Ayurvedic medicine, gotu kola has been referred to as | | | | was first used by Native Americans to treat |
| "food for the brain" because it's said to improve mental | | | | everything from a sore throat to snake bites to |
| clarity, concentration and memory. Don't be confused | | | | toothaches, echinacea (pronounced ECK-in-AY-zhuh) |
| by its name -- gotu kola is not related to the kola nut, | | | | is considered an immune system booster, and may |
| which contains caffeine and acts as a stimulant. Just | | | | also help overcome stress, fatigue or general |
| the opposite, in fact; it has a soothing and relaxing | | | | weakness. If you take echinacea at the beginning of |
| effect on the nervous system, and has been used to | | | | cold-and-flu season it may help boost your immunity |
| alleviate sleep disorders, stress and anxiety. | | | | and guard against your catching a "bug.' And it has an |
| Additionally, researchers have found that it has a | | | | excellent safety record: After hundreds of years of |
| positive effect on the circulatory system. It appears to | | | | use, no toxicity or serious side effects have been |
| improve the flow of blood throughout the body by | | | | reported. |
| strengthening the veins and capillaries. And studies | | | | Uva ursi |
| indicate it's beneficial for healing wounds, and in treating | | | | Also known as bearberry, Uva ursi has a history of |
| phlebitis (an inflammation of the veins), varicose veins | | | | medicinal use that dates back to the 2nd century. It |
| and leg cramps. | | | | has long been used by herbal healers to cure urinary |
| Kava kava | | | | tract infections, and until the discovery of sulfa drugs |
| Like gotu kola, kava kava (or simply, "kava") has a | | | | and antibiotics in this country, Uva ursi was the |
| positive effect on the nervous system. It's been used | | | | treatment of choice for bladder infections. In fact, it is |
| by South Pacific islanders for generations, both in their | | | | still thought to be one of the most effective natural |
| religious ceremonies and as a sedative and muscle | | | | treatment for bladder infections. Research has shown |
| relaxant, but gained the attention of modern alternative | | | | that it is frequently effective when taken at the |
| medical researchers because of its ability to relieve | | | | beginning of an infection, and can occasionally be |
| anxiety, stress, insomnia, tension, PMS, headache, back | | | | effective even after a full-blown infection has set in. |
| pain and panic attacks. Perhaps its biggest advantage, | | | | Gingko biloba |
| however, is that unlike many prescription drugs, kava | | | | Ginkgo biloba is a perfect blend of age-old folk |
| allows the mind to stay alert as the body relaxes. | | | | medicine and modern science. Traditional Chinese |
| (Most users report a sense of warmth and relaxation | | | | medicine practitioners have used it for over 5000 |
| that increases over a span of several hours.) It | | | | years, and today, Western medicine recognizes its |
| produces no known side effects and is not physically | | | | many benefits. As one of the most widely studied |
| addictive. | | | | herbs, Ginkgo biloba is recognized for its positive |
| Pycnogenol | | | | effects on the vascular system. It keeps red blood |
| Pycnogenol (say "pik-NAH-ja-nol") is the registered | | | | cells evenly dispersed, which allows oxygen to be |
| trademark for a natural plant extract derived from the | | | | delivered more efficiently to body tissues, and has |
| bark of the French maritime pine tree. Native | | | | been shown to decrease tissue damage during |
| Americans used pine bark for hundreds of years to | | | | inflammation. |
| combat a variety of ailments, but it wasn't until 1955 | | | | Perhaps its greatest claim to fame, however, is its |
| that a French researcher investigated its properties. | | | | ability to improve blood circulation to the brain. (Proper |
| Today, Pycnogenol is often touted as a "miracle" | | | | circulation allows for optimal brain function.) And |
| supplement. Extensive research has indicated its many | | | | because of its proven effectiveness in improving |
| benefits include its ability to: | | | | circulation, it's an excellent choice to aid any number of |
| * Reduce the risk of circulatory diseases (stroke; | | | | circulatory disorders. Additionally, it is a powerful |
| vascular and heart diseases) | | | | antioxidant -- it protects cells from damage and rids |
| * Strengthen capillary walls | | | | the body of tissue-destroying "free radicals" -- which |
| * Combat joint inflammation | | | | has given it a reputation as an anti-aging herb. |
| * Improve elasticity and flexibility of connective tissue | | | | As always, check with your health care professional |
| * Maintain skin health | | | | before taking an herbal supplement because some |
| * Help the body combat environmental stress | | | | herbs may interact with over-the-counter drugs and/or |
| * Attack free radicals, which may protect against | | | | prescription medications. |
| some forms of cancer | | | | |