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Medicinal Herbs & Plants used in ISL
Herbal Products
Hoodia Gordonii
Hoodia is a genus of 13 species in the flowering plant family
Apocynaceae, under the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. They are stem
succulents, described as "cactiform" because of their remarkable
similarity to the unrelated cactus family. They can reach up to 1m high
and have large flowers, often with flesh colour and strong smell.
Many Hoodia species are protected plants, typical of the Namib Desert,
ranging from Central Namibia to southern Angola, especially in plains
and rocky areas. Common names include "Bushman's Hat" and "Queen of the
Namib". The indigenous Bushmen call this plant Xhoba.
Uses
The use of Hoodia has long been known by the indigenous populations of
Southern Africa, who infrequently use these plants for treating
indigestion and small infections.
In 1977, the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) isolated the ingredient in hoodia - now known as P57 -
which is responsible for its appetite-suppressant effect.
Silybum Marianum
Blessed Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
is a milk thistle, a plant of the Asteraceae family. It is a fairly
typical thistle with red to purple flowers and shiny pale green leaves
with white veins. Originally a native of Southern Europe through to
Asia, it is now found throughout the world. The medicinal parts of the
plant are the ripe seeds.
Uses
In herbalism, it is used in cases of liver diseases (cirrhosis, jaundice
and hepatitis) and gallbladder disease, and is claimed to protect the
liver against poisons
Taraxacum Officinalis
 Dandelion are
species of herbaceous plants in the genus Taraxacum and family
Asteraceae. The name dandelion is usually given to the flowers that
these species have, the 'flowers' are morphologically a flower head
consisting of many tiny flowers called florets. The dandelion is native
to Europe and Asia, and has spread to many other places. In northern
areas and places where the dandelion is not native, it reproduces
asexually.
Uses
Dandelion root is believed to stimulate digestive functions. Sold in
most health food stores, often in a mixture, it is considered an
excellent cleansing tonic for the liver.
Schisandra
 Schisandra
(Magnolia Vine) is a genus of shrub commonly grown in gardens. It is a
hardy deciduous climber which thrives in virtually any soil; its
preferred position is on a sheltered shady wall. It may be propagated by
taking cuttings of half-matured shoots in August. Species include S.
chinensis, S. glaucescens, S. rubriflora and S. rubrifolia.
Uses
In traditional Chinese medicine it is
used as a remedy for many ailments: to resist infections, increase skin
health, and combat insomnia, coughing, and thirst.
Psyillium Husk
 Psyllium seed
husks, also known as ispaghula or simply as psyllium, are portions of
the seeds of the plant Plantago psyllium or Plantago ovata.
Uses
Psyllium husks are used to relieve constipation, irritable bowel
syndrome, diverticular disease, and diarrhea. They are used as a regular
dietary supplement to improve and maintain regular GI transit. Some
recent research is also showing them to be promising in lowering
cholesterol and controlling diabetes.
Withania Somnifera
 Ashwagandha (Withania
somnifera), also known as Indian ginseng, Winter cherry, Ajagandha,
Kanaje Hindi and Samm Al Ferakh, is a plant in Solanaceae or nightshade
family.
It grows as a stout shrub that reaches a height of 170cm. Like the
tomato which belongs to the same family, ashwagandha bears yellow
flowers and red fruit, though its fruit is berry-like in size and shape.
Ashwagandha grows prolifically in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Uses
In Ayurveda ashwaganda is considered a rasayana herb, an herb that works
on a nonspecific basis to increase health and longevity. This herb is
also considered an adaptogen which is a nontoxic herb that works on a
nonspecific basis to normalize physiological function, working on the
HPA axis and the neuroendocrine system. The roots and berries of the
plant are used in herbal medicine.
Passiflora Incarnata
 Passion flower
(Passiflora; syn. Disemma Labill.) is a genus of about 500 species of
flowering plants in the family Passifloraceae. They are mostly vines,
with some being shrubs, and a few species being herbaceous.
Uses
Traditionally, the fresh or dried whole plant has been used as a herbal
medicine to treat nervous anxiety and insomnia.
Valeriana Officinalis
 Valerian (Valeriana
officinalis, Valerianaceae) is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with
heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers. This "sweet" smell is
quite overpowering when the flower is placed into a vase. The flowers
are in bloom from June to September. Valerian was used as a perfume in
the sixteenth century.
Uses
Valerian is used against sleeping disorders, restlessness and anxiety,
and as a muscle relaxant. Valerian seems only to work when taken over
longer periods (several weeks), though many users find that it takes
effect immediately. Some studies have demonstrated that valerian
extracts interact with the GABA and benzodiazepine receptors. Valerian
is also used traditionally to treat gastrointestinal pain and spastic
colitis.
Green Tea
 Green tea is
popular in China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Morocco, and the Middle
East. Recently, it has become more widespread in the West, where
traditionally black tea is consumed.
Uses
A 2006 study published in the September 13 issue of the Journal of the
American Medical Association concluded "Green tea consumption is
associated with reduced mortality due to all causes and due to
cardiovascular disease but not with reduced mortality due to cancer."
The study, conducted by the Tohoku University School of Public Policy in
Japan, followed 40,530 Japanese adults, ages 40-79, with no history of
stroke, coronary heart disease, or cancer at baseline beginning in 1994.
The study followed all participants for up to 11 years for death from
all causes and for up to 7 years for death from a specific cause.
Participants who consumed 5 or more cups of tea per day had a 16 percent
lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 26 percent lower risk of
cardiovascular disease than participants who consumed less than one cup
of tea per day. The study also states, "If green tea does protect humans
against CVD or cancer, it is expected that consumption of this beverage
would substantially contribute to the prolonging of life expectancy,
given that CVD and cancer are the two leading causes of death
worldwide."
Super Citrimax
 Garcinia
gummi-gutta (syn. G. cambogia, G. quaesita), commonly known as Gambooge,
Brindleberry, Brindall berry or Malabar tamarind, Goraka (Sri Lanka) is
a subtropical species of Garcinia native to Indonesia. The yellowish
fruit is pumpkin-shaped.
Uses
In Indian traditional medicine, this species was prescribed for edema,
delayed menstruation, constipation and intestinal parasites. In the form
of precoction, it was also used for rheumatism and bowel complaints. The
extract and rind of Garcinia cambogia is a curry condiment in India.
Extract from this species is a common ingredient in various herbal
appetite suppressant and energy products.
Research taking place in 1965 found that hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is the
principal active compound in the rind and flesh of gambooge fruits. HCA
reduces the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol in vitro (lipogenesis
inhibition).
Vitex Agnus-castus
 Vitex
agnus-castus is widely cultivated in warm temperate and subtropical
regions for its aromatic foliage and flowers. It grows to a height
between 1-5 metres. It requires full sun or partial shade along with
well-drained soil.
Uses
The first recorded use of Hypericum for
medicinal purposes dates back to ancient Greece, and it has been used
ever since. Hypericum was also used by Native Americans internally as an
abortifacient and externally as an anti-inflammatory, astringent, and
antiseptic. The aerial parts of the plant can be cut and dried for later
use in the form of herbal tea, which has long been enjoyed both for its
pleasant, though somewhat bitter, taste and for its medicinal
properties.
It is sometimes used for the treatment of
PMS. It is believed to be an aphrodisiac, hence the name "chaste tree",
and is used as a medicinal plant by many herbalists. The parts used
include the chaste tree's leaves, flowers, and berries. The berries are
considered a tonic herb for both the male and female reproductive
systems. The leaves have the same effect, but to a somewhat lesser
degree. It is used in some supplements for male bodybuilders as a
secondary component, as some studies suggested that it may decrease the
prolactin levels, which, in turn, increases LH (luteinizing hormone)and
testosterone levels. It has been assumed to not have the same effect on
the female hormonal balance, but recent studies contradict this.
Angelica Polymorpha
 Uses
It is used mainly in combination with
other herbals to relieve menstrual cramps, regulate menstrual periods,
and lessen menopausal symptoms.
Like herbals such as black cohosh and red
clover, it was long believed to contain chemicals shaped like the female
hormone, oestrogen.
In traditional Chinese medicine, it is
often included in combination herbal products, which are used to treat
allergies, arthritis, asthma, or high blood pressure. Animal studies of
it have shown it has a slight ability to increase immune system function
by activating certain immune cells and deactivating others. Therefore,
it may help to relieve allergy symptoms.
In addition, laboratory studies have
shown that it has mild anti-inflammatory properties, which may make it
useful in treating arthritis, asthma, and other inflammatory conditions.
Wild Yam
 Also known as colic root, wild yam is a twining, tuberous vine
native to North America. It is one of an estimated 600 species of yam in
the genus Dioscorea, many of them wild species that flourish in damp
woodlands and thickets. Wild yam is a perennial, twining vine with pale
brown, knotty, woody cylindrical rootstocks, or tubers. The rootstocks
are crooked, and bear horizontal branches of long creeping runners. The
thin reddish-brown stems grow to a length of over 30 feet. The roots
initially taste starchy, but soon after taste bitter and acrid.
The wild yam plant has clusters of small, drooping greenish-white
and greenish-yellow flowers. The heart-shaped leaves are long and broad
and long-stemmed, with prominent veins. The upper surface of the leaves
is smooth while the underside is downy.
Uses
Wild yam has been used for menstrual cramps and discomfort, rheumatoid
arthritis, stomach cramps and pain from gallstones.
Black Cohosh
 Cimicifuga
racemosa (Black cohosh, Black bugbane or Black snakeroot or Fairy
candle; syn. Actaea racemosa) is a member of the family Ranunculaceae,
native to eastern North America from the extreme south of Ontario south
to central Georgia, and west to Missouri and Arkansas.
It is a glabrous herbaceous perennial plant, growing 0.75-2.5 m
tall. The basal leaves are up to 1 m long and broad, tripinnately
compound, the leaflets with a coarsely toothed margin. The flowers are
produced in late spring and early summer on a tall stem in racemes up to
50 cm long; they have no petals or sepals, only a tight cluster of
55-110 white stamens 5-10 mm long surrounding the white stigma. The
flowers have a distinctly sweet smell. The fruit is a dry follicle 5-10
mm long containing several seeds.
Uses
Black cohosh has been included in herbal compounds or dietary
supplements marketed to women as remedies for the symptoms of
premenstrual tension, menopause and other gynaecological problems.
Citrus Aurantium
 The name "bitter orange" refers to a citrus tree (Citrus aurantium)
and its fruit. Many varieties of bitter oranges are used for their
essential oil, which is used in perfume and as a flavouring. They are
also used in herbal medicine. Other names include sour orange, bigarade
orange and Seville orange.
Uses
The extract of bitter orange (and bitter orange peel) has been used in
dietary supplements as an aid to fat loss and as an appetite
suppressant, although it is not recommended for use in isolation (in
traditional Chinese medicine, it is always prescribed in concert with
other support herbs). Bitter orange contains synephrine, a drug similar
to ephedrine, acting as a stimulant (β3 agonist).
Kava Kava
 Kava (Piper
methysticum) is an ancient crop of the western Pacific. Other names for
kava include ʻawa (Hawaii), 'ava (Samoa), yaqona (Fiji), and sakau (Pohnpei).
The word kava is used to refer both to the plant and the beverage
produced from it.
Uses
The sensations, in order of appearance, are slight tongue and lip
numbing caused by the contraction of the blood vessels in these areas.
Mildly talkative and euphoric behaviour, anxiolytic (calming) effects,
sense of well-being, clear thinking; and relaxed muscles. Sleep is often
restful and there are pronounced periods of sleepiness correlating to
the amount and potency of kava consumed.
Eurycoma Longifolia
 It is a small evergreen tree growing to 15 m tall, with spirally
arranged, pinnate leaves 20-40 cm long with 13-41 leaflets. The flowers
are dioecious, with male and female flowers on different trees; they are
produced in large panicles, each flower with 5-6 very small petals. The
fruit is green ripening dark red, 1-2 cm long and 0.5-1 cm broad.
Uses
Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) has
become popular for its alleged testosterone-enhancing properties. It has
therefore been included in some herbal supplements for bodybuilders.
Historically, it has been used by the folk medicine in its countries of
origin as a libido enhancer and to treat various sexual dysfunctions.
Numerous scientific studies performed by Malaysian scientists suggest
that it enhances sexual characteristics and performance in animal
models.
In Southeast Asia it is used as a post
partum medication, as well as for its antimalarial, antipyretic,
antiulcer, cytotoxic and aphrodisiac properties.
It is important to note that most if not
all of the tests performed to date were by Malaysian scientists.The raw
samples used were from roots of the Malaysian Eurycoma Longifolia
species.
In both animals and humans, the extract
increases muscle mass. The British Journal of Sports Medicine published
the results of a scientific study in 2003, which showed that Eurycoma
longifolia caused increased muscle strength and size when compared to a
placebo. This demonstrates the anabolic properties of this herb. Thanks
to this discovery, a growing number of Asian athletes and body builders
now use the extract as an androgen, to improve muscle size and strength,
and to enhance sports performance.
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