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Herbs were the first 'drugs' and primary medicine used by man.
Medicine men and folk healers learnt the medicinal use of herbs and animal matter by observing their effects on humans. Medicine has since come a long way from such simple trial and error.
Here are some common health supplements used in Western alternative medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and some significant related research findings. null
Gingko
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| File photo: Pharmanex |
Gingko biloba is a popular herbal supplement widely promoted as a memory enhancer.
Last month, The New York Times reported that new research suggests a daily dose of gingko biloba may help prevent brain damage after a stroke.
The findings, published online in the medical journal Stroke, have been shown only in mice but researchers said the studies supported theories that the herb may help stroke patients.
St John's wort
This plant has been traditionally used to treat anxiety, depression and mental disorders.
Last month, it was reported that an analysis of previous studies found that St John's wort can effectively treat symptoms of major depression.
Extracts of the herb tested in different trials were better than placebos and as effective as standard anti-depressants with fewer side effects, the researchers reported in the Cochrane Reviews, a medical and scientific studies journal.
Fish oils
Fish oils are a source of omega-3 fatty acids and are thought to be beneficial for the heart.
Studies on fish oil therapy have had mixed results. In September, The New York Times reported that a clinical trial in Australia, published last year in The Journal Of Developmental And Behavioral Pediatrics, found improvements in parents' ratings of their children's hyperactivity and inattention but no difference in teachers' assessments.
Meanwhile, an Oxford-Durham study in Britain, published in the journal Pediatrics in 2005, reported remarkable improvements in reading and spelling among children treated with omega-3 fatty acids.
It is important to buy only purified pharmaceutical-grade fish oil to minimise the risk of mercury contamination.
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