“If this blog helped you out, don’t keep it to yourself—share the link on your socials!” 👍 “Like what you read? Spread the love and share this blog on your social media.” 👍 “Found this useful? Hit share and let your friends know too!” 👍 “If you enjoyed this post, please share the URL with your friends online.” 👍 “Sharing is caring—drop this link on your social media if it helped you.”

Monday, August 11, 2025

Herbal products


Overview

  • Herbal products are preparations derived from plants or plant parts, used for therapeutic, preventive, or health-promoting purposes

  • They may contain whole plants, roots, leaves, seeds, flowers, or extracts, and can be formulated as teas, capsules, tablets, tinctures, essential oils, or topical applications

  • Often categorized as dietary supplements in many countries, meaning they may not undergo the same rigorous approval processes as prescription drugs

  • Utilized in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Unani, and Western herbalism

  • Active constituents can be alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and phenolic compounds

Classification by Therapeutic Use

  • Adaptogens – support stress resistance and recovery (e.g., ginseng, ashwagandha, rhodiola)

  • Anti-inflammatory herbs – reduce inflammation (e.g., turmeric, boswellia, willow bark)

  • Digestive aids – support digestion, reduce bloating (e.g., peppermint, ginger, chamomile)

  • Cardiovascular support – improve circulation, regulate blood pressure (e.g., hawthorn, garlic, ginkgo biloba)

  • Immune modulators – enhance or regulate immune function (e.g., echinacea, astragalus, elderberry)

  • Nervine and mood support herbs – calm the nervous system or support mood (e.g., valerian, passionflower, St. John’s wort)

  • Liver-supporting herbs – hepatoprotective activity (e.g., milk thistle, dandelion root)

  • Urinary tract support – diuretic or anti-infective activity (e.g., cranberry, horsetail)

  • Respiratory support – expectorant or anti-inflammatory for the lungs (e.g., mullein, licorice root)

Common Examples and Uses

  • Turmeric (Curcuma longa) – curcumin as active compound; anti-inflammatory and antioxidant

  • Ginseng (Panax ginseng / Panax quinquefolius) – adaptogen, improves stamina, cognitive function

  • Garlic (Allium sativum) – cardiovascular support, antimicrobial activity

  • Ginkgo biloba – cognitive enhancement, circulatory improvement

  • Echinacea purpurea – immune stimulation, cold prevention

  • Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) – liver protection, antioxidant

  • Peppermint (Mentha piperita) – digestive relief, antispasmodic

  • Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) – sleep aid, anxiolytic

  • Aloe vera – topical for burns, skin healing, internal use for digestion (with caution)

  • Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) – blood sugar regulation, antimicrobial

Safety Considerations

  • Quality control: Variable potency and purity, risk of contamination with heavy metals, pesticides, or adulterants

  • Drug-herb interactions: Some herbs affect CYP450 enzymes or clotting (e.g., St. John’s wort reduces levels of many drugs; ginkgo increases bleeding risk)

  • Toxicity: Some herbs are toxic in high doses (e.g., comfrey contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids; aristolochia is nephrotoxic)

  • Pregnancy and lactation: Many herbs lack safety data or may cause uterine contractions or harm to the fetus

  • Allergic reactions: Possible, especially in individuals allergic to related plant families

Regulation

  • In the US: Regulated as dietary supplements under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) – manufacturers are responsible for safety, labeling, and claims, but FDA approval is not required before marketing

  • In EU: Regulated under Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD) – products must meet quality and safety requirements and have evidence of traditional use

  • In other regions: May be regulated as foods, supplements, or medicines, depending on jurisdiction




Comprehensive Therapeutic Classification of Common Medicinal Herbs

1. Adaptogens (Support Stress Resistance and Recovery)

  • Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) – ginsenosides; improves stamina, cognitive function, immune support

  • Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) – ginsenosides; stress adaptation, immune modulation

  • Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) – withanolides; reduces anxiety, enhances endurance

  • Rhodiola rosea (Rhodiola) – rosavin, salidroside; fatigue reduction, mental performance support

  • Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng) – eleutherosides; increases resilience to stress, supports immunity

  • Schisandra chinensis (Schisandra) – lignans; liver protection, mental clarity, endurance

2. Anti-inflammatory Herbs

  • Curcuma longa (Turmeric) – curcumin; reduces inflammation, antioxidant

  • Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense) – boswellic acids; joint health, anti-inflammatory

  • Salix alba (White willow bark) – salicin; analgesic, antipyretic

  • Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil’s claw) – iridoid glycosides; musculoskeletal pain relief

  • Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice root) – glycyrrhizin; anti-inflammatory, soothing for mucous membranes

3. Digestive Aids

  • Zingiber officinale (Ginger) – gingerols, shogaols; anti-nausea, digestive stimulant

  • Mentha piperita (Peppermint) – menthol; antispasmodic, relieves bloating

  • Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile) – apigenin; calming for digestion, anti-inflammatory

  • Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) – anethole; reduces bloating, mild expectorant

  • Cinnamomum verum / Cinnamomum cassia (Cinnamon) – cinnamaldehyde; digestive aid, antimicrobial

4. Cardiovascular Support

  • Allium sativum (Garlic) – allicin; reduces cholesterol, improves circulation

  • Crataegus monogyna / Crataegus laevigata (Hawthorn) – flavonoids, oligomeric procyanidins; supports heart function

  • Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo) – ginkgolides, flavonoids; enhances circulation, cognitive support

  • Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) – triterpenoids; cardiotonic

  • Camellia sinensis (Green tea) – catechins; antioxidant, supports healthy cholesterol levels

5. Immune Modulators

  • Echinacea purpurea / Echinacea angustifolia – alkylamides; stimulates immune activity

  • Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus) – polysaccharides, saponins; strengthens immune resistance

  • Sambucus nigra (Elderberry) – anthocyanins; antiviral activity, supports immunity

  • Andrographis paniculata (Andrographis) – andrographolides; anti-infective, immune stimulant

  • Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) – polysaccharides, triterpenes; immune balancing, adaptogenic

6. Nervine and Mood Support Herbs

  • Valeriana officinalis (Valerian) – valerenic acids; sedative, sleep aid

  • Passiflora incarnata (Passionflower) – flavonoids; anxiolytic, sleep support

  • Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort) – hypericin, hyperforin; mild antidepressant

  • Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) – rosmarinic acid; calming, digestive support

  • Scutellaria lateriflora (American skullcap) – flavonoids; relaxant, nervous tension relief

7. Liver-Supporting Herbs (Hepatoprotective)

  • Silybum marianum (Milk thistle) – silymarin; liver cell protection, detoxification support

  • Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion root) – bitter compounds; stimulates bile flow

  • Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki) – iridoid glycosides; liver protection, immune modulation

  • Artemisia capillaris (Yin chen hao) – flavonoids; liver heat clearing in TCM

  • Schisandra chinensis (Schisandra) – lignans; antioxidant, liver function enhancement

8. Urinary Tract Support

  • Vaccinium macrocarpon (Cranberry) – proanthocyanidins; prevents bacterial adhesion in urinary tract

  • Equisetum arvense (Horsetail) – silica; diuretic, urinary tract health

  • Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry) – arbutin; urinary antiseptic

  • Zea mays (Corn silk) – flavonoids; soothing diuretic

  • Juniperus communis (Juniper berry) – volatile oils; antimicrobial, diuretic

9. Respiratory Support

  • Verbascum thapsus (Mullein) – mucilage; expectorant, soothing for lungs

  • Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) – thymol; antimicrobial, expectorant

  • Tussilago farfara (Coltsfoot) – mucilage; cough relief (use with caution due to pyrrolizidine alkaloids)

  • Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice root) – demulcent, anti-inflammatory for respiratory tract

  • Pelargonium sidoides (Umckaloabo) – coumarins; supports immune response in respiratory infections

10. Skin and Wound Healing Herbs

  • Aloe vera – polysaccharides; skin soothing, wound healing

  • Calendula officinalis (Calendula) – triterpenes, flavonoids; anti-inflammatory, skin repair

  • Centella asiatica (Gotu kola) – triterpenoid saponins; wound healing, connective tissue support

  • Plantago major (Plantain leaf) – allantoin; anti-inflammatory, wound healing

  • Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) – essential oils; antimicrobial, calming

11. Endocrine and Blood Sugar Regulation Herbs

  • Gymnema sylvestre (Gymnema) – gymnemic acids; reduces sugar absorption

  • Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) – saponins; improves glucose tolerance

  • Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon cinnamon) – polyphenols; blood sugar modulation

  • Momordica charantia (Bitter melon) – charantin; hypoglycemic effect

  • Panax ginseng – supports energy metabolism, insulin sensitivity

12. Women’s Health Herbs

  • Angelica sinensis (Dong quai) – coumarins; supports menstrual health

  • Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste tree berry) – diterpenes; hormone modulation

  • Cimicifuga racemosa (Black cohosh) – triterpene glycosides; menopause symptom relief

  • Rubus idaeus (Red raspberry leaf) – tannins; uterine tonic

  • Alchemilla vulgaris (Lady’s mantle) – tannins; menstrual support

13. Men’s Health Herbs

  • Serenoa repens (Saw palmetto) – fatty acids; prostate health

  • Pygeum africanum (Pygeum) – sterols; supports urinary flow in BPH

  • Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat ali) – quassinoids; supports libido, testosterone balance

  • Tribulus terrestris – steroidal saponins; supports male reproductive health

14. Circulatory and Blood Health Herbs

  • Capsicum annuum (Cayenne pepper) – capsaicin; improves circulation

  • Zingiber officinale (Ginger) – antiplatelet, circulatory stimulant

  • Allium sativum (Garlic) – reduces platelet aggregation

  • Ginkgo biloba – improves microcirculation, reduces clotting tendency






on

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)