Psoriasis, a common but still not fully understood disorder of the skin, occurs in about 2-3 percent of the American population. In this condition, the skin cells can divide up to 1000x faster than normal, leading to the scales and “placquing” that is typical of this condition. Coleus (Coleus forskohlii) is a herb that has traditionally been used to help manage psoriasis. One of its consituents, forskolin, has been shown to help normalize the highly imbalanced cAMP/cGMP ratio present in… Continue reading →

Renowned for its beauty and association with tropical paradise, Hibiscus flowers are also the primary ingredient in many herbal teas. They’ve traditionally been used to help reduce fevers and for their mild diuretic and laxative properties, and a recent study has shown that Hibiscus tea may also help to lower blood pressure. (3 cups a day) The leaves and flowers of Hibiscus are widely used for their skin-softening properties. They can also be ground into a fine powder and mixed… Continue reading →

Turmeric is one of those amazing foods that does double duty, going from the kitchen to the medicine chest in one easy step. As well as lending its unique flavor and telltale color to curries, Turmeric is simply one of nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatories. It is especially helpful for arthritis. A recent (2006) study in ‘Arthritis & Rheumatism’ confirmed that Turmeric effectively reduced joint inflammation. Curcumin, one of the thousands of constituents in Turmeric, inhibits COX-2 activity. COX-2 is an… Continue reading →

Fellows, are you getting up more than a couple of times a night to pee? Having difficulty getting the flow started (hesitancy), or feel like your bladder isn’t emptying completely? These are common signs of an enlarged prostate,* and are often associated with a condition called “benign prostatic hypertrophy” (BPH). BPH frequently occurs as a man gets older, due to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is basically a more active form of testosterone, and it causes the prostate cells… Continue reading →