Brigitte MarsCherries (Prunus avium, P. cerasus) are members of the Rosaceae (Rose) Family, and relatives of apples and strawberries. The species name, avium means “for the birds”. Cherries are native to Eurasia. In ancient Greece, cherries were...
Dates (Phoenix dactylifera) are the fruit of a date palm, and member of the Palmaceae (Palm) Family. The genus name, Theorists gave phoenix, perhaps in reference to the mythological phoenix that rises from the ashes, as the date has its roots in the...
Figs (Ficus carica) are members of the Moraceae (Mulberry) Family. Native to the area of the Middle East and Mediterranean, they are mentioned frequently in The Bible. Buddha became enlightened while sitting under a bo tree, a species of fig (Ficus...
Apricots (Prunus armeniaca) are members of the Rosaceae (Rose) Family, making them a relative of apple, peach and plum. They are believed to have originated in China, and that Alexander the Great brought them to Greece around the fourth century B.C...
What Doctors Don't Tell You* Glucosamine. This cartilage builder relieves pain better than NSAIDs like ibuprofen in the long-term (eight weeks) (Curr Med Res Opin, 1982; 8: 145-9). Also, while glucosamine appears to reverse the condition by stimulating cartilage production...
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that enhances immune function, and protects against cancer, heart disease, diabetic retinopathy and kidney disease. Very high doses (1800 IU/day) may reverse diabetic retinopathy and kidney disease. Vitamin C, another...
Q I have always had irregular heartbeats, but they have not caused any problems. I take digoxin [digitalis, a heart drug] and phenindione [an anticoagulant] daily, but I don’t like taking drugs and I am also allergic to aspirin, antihistamines...
Reader's Corner
* Take it with liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Certain flavonoids in liquorice extract are called ‘DGL’ (deglycyrrhizinated liquorice). These can help to avoid the usual irritating effect of NSAIDs on the stomach and intestines. According to one...
In treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA), conventional medicine has concentrated on powerful drugs to suppress symptoms. But there are a surprising number of alternative treatments that deal more di ...
