Research
Firstly, I would recommend you do your own research – to search for yourself, type ‘Phytotherapy’ into Pubmed. For a specific herb, type the first part of the latin name (e.g. Curcuma). Last time I checked there were over 20,000 research papers related to herbal medicine available.
For a slightly easier route into looking at research try Herbmed, who have 20 of their monographs publically available.
PLEASE NOTE: There is extensive information about research under the INFO tab.
I’ve put some links below to give you a taster of some of the positive emerging research there is concerning herbs.
- For a discussion of research related issues, follow this link.
- Garlic a useful agent against diarrhoea causing organisms.
- Many roles for Tumeric (Curcuma).
- A number of herbs useful in Alzheimer’s disease.
- Herbs of use in Benign Prostrate Hyperplasia.
- Strong pre-clinical evidence the Milk thistle protects the liver
- Hawthorn potentially useful in congestive heart failure.
- Rosemary and Lavender oil inhalation have effect on cognitive function.
- Initial evidence that calendula may be useful in radiation induced skin reactions.
- Peppermint may be treatment of first choice in IBS.
- Small trial indicates nettle sting useful in arthritis
- Various herbs in allergic rhinitis.
- Willow, devil’s claw and chilli peper potentially useful in back pain.
- Ginkgo potentially useful in dementia.
- Chinese herbal mixes could be useful in eczema.
- Review of St. John’s Wort in depression.
- Gymnema of potential use in diabetes.
- ‘Anticancer drugs from mother nature’
- Thyme and primrose root useful for acute bronchitis.
- Artemisa annua provides useful medication for malaria.
- A unique trial looking at the whole package of herbal treatment for menopause.
You will find many of the reviews end with ‘herb has great potential and some good evidence of efficacy, but more research needed’. This is is case with much herbal medicine, and I feel it is just a matter of time for the well designed trials to accumulate useful results.
You may also frequently find ‘there is insufficient evidence to recommend….’ It’s important to realise that this doesn’t mean something is ineffective, simply that there not have enough good quality research data to satisfy the statistical models for medical research. It would perhaps be clearer it they stated ‘there is not yet sufficient evidence….’ !
Such data will take decades to accumulate – Medical Herbalists operate by combining the valuable evidence base of traditional knowledge, experience and research which is available.