The Latest News

You knew that black seed does a lot. But, when it comes to cardiovascular disease, it seems to do it all! There have been a huge number of studies on Nigella sativa, commonly known as black seed, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This very high quality systematic review and meta-analysis put them all together for the most definitive word yet on black seed and cardiovascular disease. The meta-analysis included 82 high quality, controlled studies of a total of 5,026

Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes in which the peripheral nerves are damaged. Capsaicin is the active ingredient in chili peppers. This systematic review showed that a 0.075% capsaicin cream applied to painful areas 4 times a day for 8 weeks reduces pain intensity and improves pain relief. Presumably because of the pain relief, the topical application also improved sleep quality. This study suggests that capsaicin cream could provide real relief for peo

Unexpectedly, there is a growing body of scientific evidence recommending asparagus root extract for menopause. There has been a recent flurry of studies demonstrating the benefits of asparagus root extract for menopause. Asparagus racemosus, or wild asparagus, is in the same family as, but distinct from, the Asparagus officinalis that we eat. In traditional herbalism, the most valued part of the plant is the root, which is known in the traditional Ayurvedic system of healing

Ginger is an incredibly useful and versatile herb. This new pain study adds to the list of ginger’s uses. Thirty men and women with a history of joint and muscle pain as well as inflammation were given either ginger or a placebo to see what effect they would have on pain after working out. Ginger reduced pain, stiffness and functional capacity as well as leading to better total scores on the WOMAC osteoarthritis index. There was also evidence that they had less discomfort whi

Despite the evidence that supplementing omega-3 EFA’s during pregnancy reduces the risk of preterm births, omega-3’s are not usually included in prenatal vitamins. This study set out to see if adding them would reduce the risk of preterm births. The study included 9,461 pregnant women. It found women who supplemented omega-3 EFA’s on top of their prenatal vitamins were a significant 36% less likely to have a preterm birth and 35% less likely to give birth to a baby who was sm

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 controlled studies found that chamomile significantly reduces inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membrane lining the digestive tract as well as pain, validating its traditional reputation as a natural anti-inflammatory and wound healing herb. Pharm Biol. 2025 Jul 15;63(1):490–502.

10-14% of couples worldwide experience infertility. 15-25% of them have infertility that is unexplained. Help may come from a very surprising place. Previous research has suggested the possibility that female infertility could be associated with microbiota in the genital tract. That has led to consideration of the possibility that probiotics might help. Preliminary research has given cause for hope. This new, double-blind study put the hope to the scientific test. 57 couples

Women going through menopause can experience hot flashes, sweating, loss of libido, depression, anxiety, insomnia and more. Real help that is safe to take would be a huge relief. Meet the ancient herb ashwagandha. The conventional treatment for menopause is hormone replacement therapy and antidepressants. Given the potential side effects of these powerful drugs, that’s a lot to ask for a totally normal change. Nature offers a number of herbs that provide significant relief wi

Chronic kidney disease affects a remarkable 10% of adults globally. Emerging evidence is pointing to diet as a key way to reduce your risk. This new study adds to that evidence. This study looked included 179,508 people. It wanted to see if adhering to the EAT-Lancet diet would affect the risk of chronic kidney disease. The EAT-Lancet diet emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and unsaturated fats; it is low in seafood and poultry and includes little to n

Way too many people struggle with anxiety, stress, depression and insomnia that can lead to illness and diminish quality of life. This new study shows that a blend of powerful traditional medicinal mushrooms can help. Around the world, rates of stress, fatigue and poor sleep are just continuing to go up. As many as 28% of people may be depressed, 26.9% may be anxious, 36.5% may be stressed and 27.6% may have trouble getting a good night’s sleep. A number of powerful medicinal

Cholesterol problems are an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Several studies have suggested that curcumin can help fight cholesterol. This new meta-analysis put the data on curcumin to the test. This new meta-analysis gathered research that was published up until August 2025. In all, 16 controlled studies of 1038 people were included. The curcumin was combined with piperine to improve absorption. The pooled results showed that curcumin significantly reduced t

A new study suggests that elephants may seek out plants to eat because they are medicinal, adding to the evidence that elephants may have extensive herbal knowledge and that they may even have taught some of it to us. African elephants sometimes forage for the stems and leaves of banana and papaya plants and forgo the delicious fruit. Turns out, that may be because they are seeking, not a snack, but a cure. New research shows that elephants are more likely to eat banana and p

A large body of evidence suggests that curcumin improves chemotherapy outcomes and improves quality of life. This new study of women with breast cancer adds to that important research. This study included 120 women with locally advanced/metastatic breast cancer. All of them were being treated with chemotherapy. Some of them added 500mg a day of curcumin, standardized for 95% curcuminoids. After 12 weeks of treatment, the objective response rate was significantly better in the

Several studies have suggested that ginger can positively influence markers of cardiovascular disease. This systematic review put them all together. Guess what it found. This systematic review of ginger’s effects on markers of cardiovascular disease included 41 controlled studies published up to the beginning of 2025. It found that ginger supplementation effectively improved fasting blood sugar, insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), long-term glycemic control (HbA1c), trigly

Abdominal pain is unnecessarily common. In the United States, 89% of adults suffer gas-related symptoms. Nearly 1 in 7 experience bloating frequently. As this new study shows, natural help is on the way. This new study looked at a combination of a wide variety of probiotics combined with a prebiotic. Less known than probiotics, prebiotics promote the growth and function of probiotics. In this study, the polyphenol-based prebiotic was pomegranate extract. Probiotics are well e

Ashwagandha seems to do everything. And a new study says that it does it safely. Recent research on ashwagandha is revealing its tremendous versatility and value. Ashwagandha is an important herb for anxiety, stress, insomnia, schizophrenia, OCD, cognition, female sexual function, male sexual function, male infertility, COVID, muscle strength and more. A new study suggests that the great herb does all of this safely. The study included 94 men and 97 women with an average age

A billion people in the world suffer from migraine headaches. New hints are emerging that can help remedy that. Migraines can be triggered by a number of factors. Many of them, it turns out, are associated with mitochondrial function. And several nutrients that have been suggested to protect against migraine are involved in mitochondrial function. This well-designed study set out to see if getting enough of those nutrients could play a role in the prevention of migraines. The

Cinnamon is not only one of the most promising toppings for your breakfast bun, it is also one of the most promising treatments for diabetes. This new study keeps the evidence piling up and reveals important benefits. Rates of diabetes continue to rise. According to the authors of this new study, conventional treatment is limited by progressive β-cell dysfunction, poor adherence to therapy because of complex regimens, adverse effects and inadequate long-term efficacy. These l

Boswellia is emerging as one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis. This new study adds to the evidence. Studies are piling up that show that boswellia is not only one of the best ways to improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis (Nutrients. 2025;17(15):2547) but that it can actually help reverse the disease (Phytother Res. May 2019;33(5):1457- 1468; J Am Nutr Assoc. 2024 Dec 19:1-12). This new double-blind study compared a standardized boswellia extract to a placebo in 150

There is more and more evidence that healthy diet can reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Recent research has suggested that getting more anthocyanins, a kind of flavonoid antioxidant, in your diet can prevent cognitive decline. This meta-analysis put the claim to the test. Anthocyanins are plant flavonoids abundantly found in red, blue and purple fruits, vegetables and flowers, including blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, grapes, cherries, red cabbage an