SOY

This fact sheet provides basic information about soy—uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Soy, a plant in the pea family, has been common in Asian diets for thousands of years. It is found in modern American diets as a food or food additive. Soybeans, the high-protein seeds of the soy plant, contain isoflavones-compounds similar to the female hormone estrogen. The following information highlights what is known about soy when used by adults for health purposes.

What It Is Used For

People use soy products to prevent or treat a variety of health conditions, including high cholesterol levels, menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, osteoporosis, memory problems, high blood pressure, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.

How It Is Used

• Soy is available in dietary supplements, in forms such as tablets and capsules. Soy supplements may contain isoflavones or soy protein or both.
• Soybeans can be cooked and eaten or used to make tofu, soy milk, and other foods. Also, soy is sometimes used as an additive in various processed foods, including baked goods, cheese, and pasta.

What the Science Says

• Research suggests that daily intake of soy protein may slightly lower levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol.
• Some studies suggest that soy isoflavone supplements may reduce hot flashes in women after menopause. However, the results have been inconsistent.
• There is not enough scientific evidence to determine whether soy supplements are effective for any other health uses.
• NCCAM is supporting ongoing studies of soy, including its effects on women's arteries and bones after menopause.

Side Effects and Cautions

• Soy is considered safe for most people when used as a food or when taken for short periods as a dietary supplement.
• Minor stomach and bowel problems such as nausea, bloating, and constipation are possible.
• Allergic reactions such as breathing problems and rash can occur in rare cases.
• The safety of long-term use of soy isoflavones has not been established. Evidence is mixed on whether using isoflavone supplements, over time, can increase the risk of endometrial hyperplasia (a thickening of the lining of the uterus that can lead to cancer). Studies show no effect of dietary soy on risk for endometrial hyperplasia.
• Soy's possible role in breast cancer risk is uncertain. Until more is known about soy's effect on estrogen levels, women who have or who are at increased risk of developing breast cancer or other hormone-sensitive conditions (such as ovarian or uterine cancer) should be particularly careful about using soy and should discuss it with their health care providers.
• Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Green TEA

This fact sheet provides basic information about green tea—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. All types of tea (green, black, and oolong) are produced from the Camellia sinensis plant using different methods. Fresh leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant are steamed to produce green tea.

What It Is Used For

• Green tea and green tea extracts, such as its component EGCG, have been used to prevent and treat a variety of cancers, including breast, stomach, and skin cancers.
• Green tea and green tea extracts have also been used for improving mental alertness, aiding in weight loss, lowering cholesterol levels, and protecting skin from sun damage.

How It Is Used

Green tea is usually brewed and drunk as a beverage. Green tea extracts can be taken in capsules and are sometimes used in skin products.

What the Science Says

• Laboratory studies suggest that green tea may help protect against or slow the growth of certain cancers, but studies in people have shown mixed results.
• Some evidence suggests that the use of green tea preparations improves mental alertness, most likely because of its caffeine content. There are not enough reliable data to determine whether green tea can aid in weight loss, lower blood cholesterol levels, or protect the skin from sun damage.
• NCCAM is supporting studies to learn more about the components in green tea and their effects on conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Side Effects and Cautions

• Green tea is safe for most adults when used in moderate amounts.
• There have been some case reports of liver problems in people taking concentrated green tea extracts. This problem does not seem to be connected with green tea infusions or beverages. Although these cases are very rare and the evidence is not definitive, experts suggest that concentrated green tea extracts be taken with food, and that people should discontinue use and consult a heath care practitioner if they have a liver disorder or develop symptoms of liver trouble, such as abdominal pain, dark urine, or jaundice.
• Green tea and green tea extracts contain caffeine. Caffeine can cause insomnia, anxiety, irritability, upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, or frequent urination in some people.
• Green tea contains small amounts of vitamin K, which can make anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin, less effective.
• Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

LAVENDER

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herbA plant or part of a plant used for its flavor, scent, or potential therapeutic properties. Includes flowers, leaves, bark, fruit, seeds, stems, and roots. lavender—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region. It was used in ancient Egypt as part of the process for mummifying bodies. Lavender's use as a bath additive originated in Persia, Greece, and Rome. The herb's name comes from the Latin lavare, which means "to wash."

Common Names--lavender, English lavender, garden lavender

Latin Names--Lavandula angustifolia

What It Is Used For

• Historically, lavender was used as an antiseptic and for mental health purposes.
• Today, the herb is used for conditions such as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and depression.
• Lavender is also used for headache, upset stomach, and hair loss.

How It Is Used

• Lavender is most commonly used in aromatherapyA therapy in which the scent of essential oils from flowers, herbs, and trees is inhaled to promote health and well-being., in which the scent of the essential oil from the flowers is inhaled.
• The essential oil can also be diluted with another oil and applied to the skin.
• Dried lavender flowers can be used to make teas or liquid extracts that can be taken by mouth.

What the Science Says

• There is little scientific evidence of lavender's effectiveness for most health uses.
• Small studies on lavender for anxiety show mixed results.
• Some preliminary results indicate that lavender oil, combined with oils from other herbs, may help with hair loss from a condition called alopecia areata.

GINSENG

Ginseng and the Chinese go a long way back - over 5,000 years, in fact. The name ginseng is derived from two Chinese words meaning 'man plant' because of its likeness to the human form. Ancient healers believed the herb could help the mind and body achieve a healthy balance.




Medicinal uses and health benefits
Ginseng has been claimed to have many health benefits, including lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels, protecting against stress and enhancing strength.
Ginseng is also said to increase resistance to diabetes, cancer, heart disease and various infections by improving the body's immune system.

The more popular types of ginseng used today are Panax ginseng and Siberian ginseng.

Panax ginseng is used primarily to improve psychological function, physical performance, immune function and conditions associated with diabetes. It is said to promote Yang energy by improving blood circulation, revitalising energy and aids recovery from illness.

Panax ginseng is recommended by traditional herbalists to protect against heart and other cardiovascular diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine also prescribes Panax ginseng to treat diabetes.

Research has shown that Panax ginseng improves the release of insulin from the pancreas and lowers blood sugar levels. It also has antioxidant properties and increases immune system activity, which makes it a good herbal support for those suffering from cancer, AIDS and other chronic conditions that impair the immune system.

American and Asian ginseng are also said to slow the progression of Alzheimer's, and improve memory and behaviour.

Siberian ginseng is usually given to maintain good health rather than treating ailments.
Siberian Ginseng is reputed to have a normalising effect and bringing the body back into balance. It may help protect the body from the debilitating effects of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery.

It also contains remarkable compounds that favourably affect the adrenal glands, the small glands that rest above the kidneys and secrete stress-fighting hormones.

Siberian ginseng is popular for invigorating and fortifying the body. By supporting healthy uterine function, it is said to be useful in preventing female infertility. Siberian ginseng may also increase mental alertness, particularly in the early stages of mental deterioration.

Precautions
No known medical conditions preclude the use of ginseng, but people with heart and circulation problems should use it with care. Caution is also advised if you have hypertension, since overuse of the herb can cause an increase in blood pressure. Because of its effects on blood sugar, people with diabetes should be cautious as well.
When considering the use of ginseng, consultation with a health care professional is advised.

Chamomile

Chamomile or camomile (from Greek, chamaimēlon, meaning "earth-apple") is a common name for several plants. The word, a combination of (chamai) "on the ground" + (mēlon) "apple", derives from their applelike scent. It has been used as a dye to produce a green color.


The MedlinePlus database maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine lists over 100 separate ailments and conditions which chamomile has been traditionally used to treat or which are backed by untested scientific theory. Of these, cardiovascular conditions, common cold, diarrhea in children, eczema, gastrointestinal conditions, hemorrhagic cystitis (bladder irritation with bleeding), hemorrhoids, infantile colic, mucositis from cancer treatment (mouth ulcers/irritation), quality of life in cancer patients, skin inflammation, sleep aid, vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina), and wound healing are called out as areas in which there may be some promising research. However, no medicinal or therapeutic use of chamomile in extract, ointment or infusion have been sufficiently studied to recommend.


MedlinePlus and The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine further caution of rare allergic reactions, atopic dermatitis (skin rash), drowsiness or sedation, the potential to stimulate the uterus, leading to abortion and the unevaluated safety of breastfeeding while taking chamomile. Interactions with other herbs and medicines has not been well studied for chamomile.


The flowering tops of the chamomile plant are used to make teas, liquid extracts, capsules, or tablets. The herb can also be applied to the skin as a cream or an ointment, or used as a mouth rinse.

Herb

A(n) herb is a plant that is valued for flavor, scent, or other qualities. Herbs are used in cooking, as medicines, and for spiritual purposes.

In American English "herb" is normally pronounced /ˈɝːb/, with the initial "h" silent, but in British English the "h" is sounded: /ˈhɝːb/ (see American and British English pronunciation differences).

Uses

Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, or in some cases even spiritual usage. General usage differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs. In medicinal or spiritual use any of the parts of the plant might be considered "herbs", including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, resin, root bark, inner bark (cambium), berries and sometimes the pericarp or other portions of the plant.

Culinary herbs

Culinary use of the term "herb" typically distinguishes between herbs, from the leafy green parts of a plant, and spices, from other parts of the plant, including seeds, berries, bark, root, fruit, and even occasionally dried leaves or roots. Culinary herbs are distinguished from vegetables in that, like spices, they are used in small amounts and provide flavor rather than substance to food.

Some culinary herbs are shrubs (such as rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis), or trees (such as bay laurel, Laurus nobilis) – this contrasts with botanical herbs, which by definition cannot be woody plants. Some plants are used as both a spice and an herb, such as dill seed and dill weed or coriander seeds and coriander leaves.

Medicinal herbs

Plants contain phytochemicals that have effects on the body. There may be some effects even when consumed in the small levels that typify culinary "spicing", and some herbs are toxic in larger quantities. For instance, some types of herbal extract, such as the extract of St. John's-wort (Hypericum perforatum) or of kava (Piper methysticum) can be used for medical purposes to relieve depression and stress. However, large amounts of these herbs may lead to poisoning, and should be used with caution. One herb-like substance, called Shilajit, may actually help lower blood glucose levels which is especially important for those suffering from diabetes. Herbs have long been used as the basis of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, with usage dating as far back as the first century CE.

Some herbs are used not only for culinary and medicinal purposes, but also for recreational purposes; one such herb is cannabis.

Religious herbs

Herbs are used in many religions – such as in Christianity (myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), ague root (Aletris farinosa) and frankincense (Boswellia spp)) and in the partially Christianized Anglo-Saxon pagan Nine Herbs Charm. In Hinduism a form of Basil called Tulsi is worshipped as a goddess for its medicinal value since the Vedic times. Many Hindus have a Tulsi plant in front of their houses.

introducing of Herbaceous plant

A herbaceous plant (or in botanical use, a herb) is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. A herbaceous plant may be annual, biennial or perennial.

Annual herbaceous plants die completely at the end of the growing season or when they have flowered and fruited, and they then grow again from seed.

Herbaceous perennial and biennial plants have stems that die at the end of the growing season, but parts of the plant survive under or close to the ground from season to season (for biennials, until the next growing season, when they flower and die). New growth forms from living tissues remaining on or under the ground, including roots, a caudex (a thickened portion of the stem at ground level) or various types of underground stems, such as bulbs, corms, stolons, rhizomes and tubers. Examples of herbaceous biennials include carrot, parsnip and ragwort; herbaceous perennials include peony, hosta, mint, most ferns and most grasses. By contrast, non-herbaceous perennial plants are woody plants which have stems above ground that remain alive during the dormant season and grow shoots the next year from the above-ground parts – these include trees, shrubs and vines.

Some relatively fast-growing herbaceous plants (especially annuals) are pioneers, or early-successional species. Others form the main vegetation of many stable habitats, occurring for example in the ground layer of forests, or in naturally open habitats such as meadow, saltmarsh or desert.