.........We also have extensive field experience in sustainable development of botanical resources.
Scientific credibility is essential to bolster consumer confidence in herbs and for the continued growth of the industry. To develope the most comprehensive collection of clinical trials, pharmacology, toxicology, chemical, historical, and horticultural data on thousands of herbal ingredients nedd a lot of funds. Improving the knowledge in this domain it is vital for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
.........The recent clinical studies showed that dietary supplements can treat nutritional deficiencies in the elderly, boost their immune systems, combat short-term memory loss, reduce risks of Alzheimer's, and improve seniors' overall health. The first, conducted at Memorial University of Newfoundland, concluded that supplementation with moderate amounts of 18 vitamins, minerals, and trace elements improved short-term memory and overall cognitive abilities and strengthened immune system function in 86 elderly people treated over the course of one year. A separate study published in the May 2001 issue of Neurology found that seniors with low levels of folate and vitamin B12 have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. A third study, published in the August 2001 issue of Nutrition, showed that nutritional deficiencies greatly increase with age, and that supplement use helps eliminate these deficiencies in the elderly. However, a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive found that the age group over 65 is least likely to discuss dietary supplements with doctors
More Research Support for Those Who Use and Recommend Herbs for Prostate Health
.........The latest research on saw palmetto further supports its use as the option of first choice for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, or prostate enlargement). The study was the first American study to evaluate an herbal formula for the treatment of BPH, and provided some intriguing clues about the mechanism of its action (Marks, et al., 2000). Europeans already favor the natural approach for treating this common condition in mature men. In Italy, herbal remedies are used five times as often as synthetic drugs, and in Germany, more than 90 percent of men and their physicians choose natural remedies over synthetics for treating BPH.
.........The recent American study was a small, controlled, six-month clinical trial that tested a proprietary blend of saw palmetto extract (Serenoa repens [Bartram] Small, Arecaceae), nettle root extract (Urtica dioica L., Urticaceae), and pumpkin seed oil (Cucurbita pepo L., Cucurbitaceae) against placebo in 44 men aged 45 to 80. (All three of these herbs are approved by the German Commission E for treatment of BPH symptoms.)
.........According to the results, those taking the herbal remedy experienced improvements in clinical symptoms of prostate enlargement, but the improvements were not statistically significant, possibly because of the small number of subjects. However, the results demonstrated something else that has never before been documented for saw palmetto combinations. In the group taking the saw palmetto formula, the researchers observed changes at the cellular level that may cast some light on the way saw palmetto works. The epithelium (lining) of the prostate contracted, and showed a larger number of atrophied (non-growing) cells than seen in the placebo group. While the total prostate volume (size) did not change, the epithelial contraction and the increase in atrophied cells both suggest that the saw palmetto combination slowed the growth of prostate tissue.
