6 Great Benefits of Saffron

If you thought vanilla powder was expensive, you’re in for a shock with saffron. Considered the 24-karat gold of spices, saffron is one of the world’s most precious and expensive spices. It has a rich history that goes back millenniums and has been used by pharaohs, kings, and chefs alike for culinary, aesthetic, and medicinal purposes. Despite the many tales that have been told about the spice, you might still not fathom why anyone would spend $5,000 for a pound...

Health Benefits of Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng)

What is eleuthero? Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus or Acanthopanax senticosus) also known as Siberian ginseng, is an ancient medicinal plant native to Japan, Korea, and northern China. It is a small, woody shrub that produces round, blueberry-like fruits. Also known as Siberian ginseng, archeological evidence suggests that eleuthero was first used in traditional Chinese medicine more than 2,000 years ago. Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) is a distant relative of the “true” ginseng family, which includes American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and Korean ginseng...

Ashwagandha: Health Benefits, Uses, Side Effects

There are more than 1,200 medicinal herbs in Ayurvedic medicine. Extracts and spices collected from roots, flowers, barks, fruits, and seeds can be used by themselves or combined with other herbs to target different body functions. Ashwagandha is one of the most famous herbs in Ayurvedic medicine, and it is used for several types of diseases and ailments. In the Ayurvedic medicine system, Ashwagandha is considered a Rasayana, or an herb that promotes longevity, memory, and general physical and mental...

Turmeric for Breast Cancer Prevention – What the Science Says

Natural Treatment and Preventive for Cancer You may know turmeric as the spice that gives curries and other dishes their characteristic orange-yellow hue. Dried, grounded turmeric has an earthy-bitter taste that pairs well with other pungent spices like ginger, cinnamon, and coriander. In raw form, turmeric roots look strikingly similar to fresh ginger, albeit smaller and almost neon orange inside. The main biochemical and therapeutic ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, a powerful polyphenol shown to support health on many levels. Polyphenols are...

Sage Benefits – Improving Memory and Information Processing

The herbs and spices you use to flavor your food are also packed with powerful antioxidants that help fortify your body’s natural defenses and fight free radical damage. One of those powerful herbs is sage, an evergreen shrub part of the mint family. Sage is highly aromatic and has a characteristic earthy flavor that brings warmth and subtle citrus notes to dishes. There are over 900 species of sage types worldwide; other names include Salvia officinalis, garden sage, salvia, white...

Andrographis: Uses, Benefits and Effects

Andrographis Benefits What is Andrographis? Andrographis (Andrographis Paniculata) is a small evergreen plant native to Sri Lanka, India, and several Southeast Asian countries. It is commonly known as green chiretta and sometimes referred to as “Indian echinacea” or the “king of bitters.” Andrographis has been used in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat a variety of health ailments ranging from mild stomach aches to low-grade fever and inflammation. It has a strong bitter taste and...