The Benefits of Lemongrass Extract

The Benefits of Lemongrass Extract

Lemongrass, or Cymbopogon citratus, is a tall, aromatic perennial grass native to tropical Asia. The freshly cut and dried leaves of the plant have been used traditionally as a flavoring agent. The volatile oils of the plants contain a chemical called citral, which gives it medicinal value. Lemongrass supplements are available as capsules, powders, liquid extracts and oils. The individual recommended dose varies depending on your age and overall health. Talk to a doctor before using lemongrass extract for medicinal purposes.

Cancer

Lemongrass extracts can induce apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in some cancer cell lines, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. However, these benefits have not been studied in actual patients and more research is needed before lemongrass extracts can be used in cancer treatment, says MSKCC. An animal study published in the journal “Carcinogenesis” also points out that lemongrass extracts can prevent DNA changes and thereby lower the risk of colon cancer in laboratory animals.

Does Olive Leaf Extract Kill Good Bacteria in the Intestine?

Does Olive Leaf Extract Kill Good Bacteria in the Intestine?

Olive leaf extract is a type of herb that may provide some health benefits, although more research is necessary to determine this. There is some indication that olive leaf extract provides some antimicrobial activity, which may give it the ability to destroy certain types of bacteria, including the good bacteria that reside in your intestines. Talk to your doctor before taking olive leaf extract to treat a medical condition, especially if you are pregnant or nursing.

Intestinal Bacteria

Your intestines contain hundreds of different types of bacteria that help to make up the intestinal flora in your digestive tract. While some bacteria can be potentially dangerous, most intestinal bacteria are beneficial organisms that perform essential functions. In healthy digestive tracts, the beneficial bacteria keep the harmful ones in check. Antibiotics can upset this delicate balance, killing both the good and bad bacteria within your body, including those inside your intestines. By destroying the beneficial bacteria, medications with antibiotic properties can increase your risk of colitis and antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

The Best Fat Burning Green Tea Pills

The Best Fat Burning Green Tea Pills

National Public Radio reports that as of 2010, 72 million adults are considered obese within the United States and more than 60 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese. Being overweight and obese may not only be aesthetically unappealing to some, but carrying extra body fat leads to serious health consequences, some of which are life threatening. Because of this, many turn to natural supplements to assist in shedding pounds. Green tea pills are among the most popular of these supplements, and while a plethora of manufacturers release green tea products, not all are effective or safe.

Green Tea Active Compounds

Six polyphenols, which are known as catechins, compose green tea. These include gallaogatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, catechin, apigallocatechin gallate and epicatechin. Apigallocatechin gallate, also known as ECGC, is the most studied and potentially the most effective out of these compounds. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports these catechin compounds contain a higher concentration of antioxidants than vitamin C. Other active constituents within green tea include alkaloids, which are known to provide this herb with its stimulating effects.

How to Make Scented Massage Oil With Almond Extract

How to Make Scented Massage Oil With Almond Extract

Massages help relieve tension, loosen sore muscles and eliminate toxins from the body. You can make the experience even more enjoyable by using a massage oil sweetened with almond extract. Not to be confused with the culinary version, this almond extract (also known as sweet almond oil) is a carrier oil. Carrier oils are derived from seeds and nuts and when mixed with botanically based essential oils, create aromatic fusions used by masseurs. Making your own personal almond massage oil takes no time at all with a few easy-to-find ingredients and little know how.

Step 1

Pour six ounces of almond extract into a dark brown or blue glass bottle. The dark color of the bottle keeps the oil from spoiling over time by shutting out light.

Step 2

Squeeze the inflatable rubber end of an eyedropper and dip into an essential oil. Release the rubber, sucking the oil up into the tube.

Step 3

Dispense 8 drops of the essential oil into the bottle with the almond extract. Mix the potion well with a wooden orange stick.

Benefits of Rose Hips Liquid Extract

Benefits of Rose Hips Liquid Extract

Rose hips are the fruits produced by nearly 3,000 species of ornamentals that comprise the Rosaceae family, including the common rose. Traditionally, rose hips are valued for their scent and flavor, which is somewhat similar in taste to cranberries. Rose hip liquid extract is made by slow-simmering the hips in water to yield a concentrate. Since rose hips are exceptionally nutritious, there may be several benefits of adding rose hips liquid extract to foods and beverages.

Nutritional Content

According to the Drugs.com online database, rose hips contain high levels of vitamin C. However, some rose hip preparations, including liquid extracts, may vary considerably in their vitamin C content depending on how they are processed. Other nutrients found in rose hips include vitamins D, E and K, as well as several B vitamins. Additional compounds include tannins, malic acid, citric acid, carotenoids, polyphenols, pectin and vanillin, the same agent found in vanilla and coffee beans.

Effects of Licorice Extract

Effects of Licorice Extract

Licorice is an herb that is also known by the scientific name, Glycyrrhiza glabra. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), it has been used for centuries in both Eastern and Western medical practices to treat numerous ailments, from respiratory problems to stomach problems. Licorice extract is a concentrated product of the licorice plant, available in liquid or powdered root form. While licorice can have medicinal benefits, it can also produce negative side effects that you, as a potential licorice extract user, should be aware of.

High Blood Pressure

One of the effects of licorice extract can be high blood pressure. A study published in the March–April 2000 edition of the “American Journal of Nephrology” reports that licorice, even in small doses, can cause hypertensive encephalopathy, which is high blood pressure accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, visual problems and headache.

Hormone Imbalance

The National Institutes of Health report that licorice has an effect on the levels of hormones in the body. Hormones that are out of balance can cause serious side effects. One of these negative effects is an electrolyte imbalance, which can affect the body’s level of sodium and potassium, causing swelling and fluid retention, and can contribute to high blood pressure. 

An electrolyte imbalance can also cause arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, heart failure, kidney damage and muscle weakness. Licorice extract can also affect a woman’s levels of estrogen, which can cause a change in the menstrual cycle.

Grape Seed & Varicose Veins

Grape Seed & Varicose Veins

Grapes have been used in folk medicine since the time of the ancient Greeks to treat a wide variety of health problems from bleeding and inflammation to cancer and smallpox. Clinical research is finding grapes and grape seed extract contain potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may verify some claims for the fruit’s ability to promote healthy blood vessels and treat varicose veins.

Identification

Varicose veins are the most common vein disorder, affecting 60 percent of Americans, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, although they’re more likely to affect women. Symptoms include unsightly dark blue blood vessels in the legs and feet, an aching or burning feeling your lower legs and swelling in the ankles and feet. Varicose veins are caused when veins become enlarged and twisted due to aging or pregnancy and prevent blood from moving effectively, even flowing backward and pooling in your veins. Complications can include blood clots and skin ulcers.

The Uses of Peppermint Extract

The Uses of Peppermint Extract

Peppermint is a medicinal and edible herb with the scientific name Mentha piperita. According to The Cook’s Thesaurus, extracts are flavoring agents made by dissolving a flavored compound in alcohol. Since peppermint extract is made directly from peppermint leaves, it has many of the same properties and applications as the raw herb. The primary chemical in peppermint extract responsible for its medicinal properties and flavors is menthol, an organic alcohol.

Digestive Disorders

The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends peppermint for indigestion, saying, “peppermint calms the muscles of the stomach and improves the flow of bile, which the body uses to digest fats.” It also suggests that peppermint can allow gas to pass through the intestine, which helps to relieve gas cramping, and that sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome may get relief from peppermint extract.

Cold Symptoms

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) notes that there is evidence that peppermint extract oils can be used to relieve headache if applied to the temples. It further states that “menthol … is sometimes included in inhaled preparations for nasal congestion, including ‘rubs’ that are applied to the skin and inhaled.” Peppermint extract, therefore, may be useful in clearing the sinuses.

Chasteberry Extract for Fibroids

Chasteberry Extract for Fibroids

Chasteberry is an herb that is also known as Vitex agnus-castus. The plant is a deciduous shrub that is native to Mediterranean, European and Central Asian countries. Vitex has slender leaves and dark purple berries that have a long historical and medicinal use in ancient Greek and Roman times. Monks commonly ingested this herb during the Middle Ages to help suppress sexual desire, which led to the inception of its more common name–chasteberry or chaste tree. Consult with your health care provider prior to using chasteberry for fibroids.

Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are benign–non-cancerous–tumors that are made up of muscle cells and tissue that coagulate and grow in and around your uterine walls. Although the cause of fibroid growth is not known, it may be hormonally linked, especially in cases of excess estrogen. Common symptoms may include heavy menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods, a sensation of abdominal fullness, frequent urination, painful intercourse, low back pain, and reproductive problems such as infertility or multiple miscarriages. Medical treatment for fibroids involves prescription medications or surgery. However, some herbs like chasteberry may help to inhibit fibroid growth, although there is not enough evidence to support these claims, says Medline Plus.

Can Grapefruit Seed Extract Help Treat a Sinus Infection?

Can Grapefruit Seed Extract Help Treat a Sinus Infection?

A sinus infection is typically caused by the common cold, allergies or nasal obstruction, according to MedlinePlus. Grapefruit seed extract has been used to treat various conditions because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Talk with you doctor before using grapefruit seed extract to treat sinusitis.

Background

Sinus tissue is lined with mucus membranes that help to keep the nasal passages moist. When the soft tissue becomes irritated, it increases blood flow and mucus production. The swollen sinuses trap mucus in the nasal cavities, creating an environment — warm, stagnate and moist — for the growth of viruses, bacteria and fungi. The swollen sinus cavities block the normal drainage of discharge through the nostrils, placing excessive pressure in the head.

Symptoms

Sinus infection symptoms include nasal discharge, ear pain, sore throat, bad breath, fever, fatigue, post-nasal drip and sinus pressure pain, according to MayoClinic.com. Post-nasal drip is the constant dripping of excess mucus in the back of the throat that leads to coughing, throat irritation and bad breath. Sinus pressure pain might be felt in the teeth, behind the eyes, in the ears and in the forehead. Sinus headaches are a dull, throbbing pain that is typically worse when you wake up and improve throughout the day.