Archive for the 'Valerian' Category
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
About 50% of postmenopausal women experience sleep disturbances such as insomnia.
Researchers at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, in Iran, evaluated the effects of valerian extract taken nightly. (more…)
Sleep (Insomnia), Valerian | Comments Off on Effect of valerian on sleep quality
Thursday, October 6th, 2011
Researchers at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, in Tehran, Iran, evaluated valerian — an herb with sedative effects and antispasmodic effects on smooth muscles — on the severity of dysmenorrhea. (more…)
PMS/Dysmenorrhea, Valerian | Comments Off on Valerian for dysmenorrhea
Friday, November 5th, 2010
Evidence for CAM to treat depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been reviewed by researchers at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, in Kenner.
Here’s what we know. (more…)
ADHD, Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Inositol, Jet Lag, Kava, Melatonin, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Passionflower, Saffron, SAMe, Sleep (Insomnia), St. John's Wort, Valerian, Vitamins | Comments Off on Review of CAM for behavioral health
Saturday, July 25th, 2009
Dr. Darrell Hulisz from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio reviews popular herbals.
Let’s focus on safety issues. (more…)
Black/Blue Cohosh, Chamomile, Echinacea, Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Saw Palmetto, St. John's Wort, Valerian | Comments Off on Safety review of popular herbal products
Saturday, July 11th, 2009
 Here’s a report from Spain of a patient who self-medicated with valerian (Valeriana officinalis L) and passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L) while taking lorazepam (Ativan, a benzodiazepine drug). (more…)
CAM Interactions, Passionflower, Sleep (Insomnia), Valerian | Comments Off on Report of a valerian-lorazepam drug interaction
Friday, July 10th, 2009
Before you do, consider these quotes. (more…)
ConsumerLab, NCCAM, Valerian | Comments Off on Thinking of taking valerian to help you sleep?
Sunday, July 5th, 2009
Dr. Darrell Hulisz from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio has written a continuing education article on herbals.
Here are the author’s take-away points, with additional references added. (more…)
Alcoholism/Drug Abuse, Alzheimer's Dementia, Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Asthma/Allergy, Black/Blue Cohosh, Bleeding Disorders, Chamomile, Cochrane Library, Common Cold, DHEA, Diet-Nutrition, Echinacea, Evening Primrose, Fatigue, Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Gout, Heart Disease, Herbals, Huntington's, Menopause, Prostate, Rheumatoid Diseases, Saw Palmetto, Sleep (Insomnia), Sleep Apnea, St. John's Wort, Stress, Sunscreen, Valerian | Comments Off on Key points about commonly used herbals
Saturday, July 4th, 2009
The relationship between supplements and lead levels in blood has been an ongoing project for researchers in Boston.
In this study, researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center report specific herbal supplements are associated with higher blood lead levels among women. (more…)
Ayurveda, Bee Pollen, Black/Blue Cohosh, Chinese Medicine, Consumer Alert, ConsumerLab, Echinacea, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Kava, Pregnancy, St. John's Wort, Valerian | Comments Off on Herbals and lead levels in Americans
Friday, January 9th, 2009
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota have reviewed the evidence and report that most interactions are confined to a relatively small number of drug classes and supplements. (more…)
Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Bleeding Disorders, CAM Interactions, Diabetes Mellitus, Garlic, Ginkgo, Kava, St. John's Wort, Valerian | Comments Off on Drug-supplement interactions in perspective
Friday, January 9th, 2009
OK, you’re scheduled for surgery, and you take herbals.
Does your surgeon know what you take?
Be smart. If you use any of the herbals on this list, tell your surgeon.
(more…)
Berberine (Goldenseal), Bleeding Disorders, Danshen, Dong Quai, Echinacea, Ephedra, Feverfew, Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo, Ginseng, High Blood Pressure, Kava, Licorice, Senna, St. John's Wort, Surgery, Valerian | Comments Off on What not to take before surgery
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
A company called Fashion Sanctuary is removing from the market all Zhen De Shou Fat Loss Capsules sold in 10-count blister cards.
In addition, Balanced Health Products, Inc. is voluntarily recalling Starcaps Diet System Dietary Supplement sold in 30-capsule plastic bottles. (more…)
Chinese Medicine, Consumer Alert, FDA/FTC/CDC, Obesity, Papain, Valerian | Comments Off on FDA warning on 2 weight loss products
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008
Researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia have reviewed the evidence in children and adolescents.
The authors include data from adults, because if they limited the discussion to children and adolescents it would be a very short article.
That’s not a problem here. (more…)
ADHD, Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, CAM Interactions, Children, Ginkgo, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, St. John's Wort, Valerian | Comments Off on CAM for psychiatric disorders in kids
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008
A review published in American Family Physician covers a broad range of herbal and dietary supplements for treating anxiety disorders.
I’ll focus on the best of the lot, kava (Piper methysticum). You can read the rest of the article here. (more…)
Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Cochrane Library, Inositol, Kava, Liver Disease, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, St. John's Wort, Valerian | Comments Off on Compiling the evidence for kava to treat anxiety
Friday, March 28th, 2008
Drs. Kalyanakrishnan Ramakrishnan and Dewey Scheid from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center have published a review of treatment options for sleeplessness.
Melatonin, valerian, and several non-drug treatments are compared to benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine options. (more…)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Melatonin, Relaxation, Sexual Dysfunction, Sleep (Insomnia), Valerian | Comments Off on Comparing treatments for insomnia
Thursday, March 6th, 2008
Here’s a review by researchers at the University of Illinois, Chicago that focuses on the scientific support for the use of herbals in women during menopause. It differs a bit in its conclusions from a more general review posted here recently.
Both reviews list St. John’s wort as the most useful herbal for alleviating mood and anxiety changes during menopause. (more…)
Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Black/Blue Cohosh, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Kava, Menopause, St. John's Wort, Valerian | Comments Off on Herbal options to treat mood and anxiety in menopausal women
Friday, January 4th, 2008
Dr. Philip Hansten from the University of Washington School of Pharmacy has spent more than 30 years chronicling and documenting drug interactions.
In an article in Pharmacy Times, he and Dr. John Horn focus on the risks for people with diabetes or taking blood thinners. (more…)
Cayenne, Chitosan, Chromium, Coenzyme Q10, Cystic Fibrosis, Evening Primrose, Ginger, Prickly Pear, Raspberry Leaf, St. John's Wort, Valerian | Comments Off on Getting specific about CAM-drug interactions
Monday, July 9th, 2007
Patients with the highest risk for sleep disturbance are those with pain, mental illness, limited activity, and overall “poor physical and mental health.” (more…)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Lavender, Melatonin, Sleep (Insomnia), Valerian | Comments Off on What to do about the high prevalence of insomnia