Used for centuries to treat everything from burns and wounds to malaria and sleep disorders, St. John’s wort is perhaps best known as a treatment for mild to moderate depression. While it is not prescribed for such purposes in the United States, it is widely prescribed to treat less-severe depression in Europe, an area of the world that has also conducted a couple of dozen studies on the herb that back up its reputation as an effective mild/moderate antidepressant. A recent study published in the online edition of The British Medical Journal seems to indicate that St. John’s wort can also be effective in treating more severe depression, with many fewer side effects than traditional antidepressant medications.

Saw palmetto has long been used in Europe and the United States for relief of swollen prostate glands, but a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that it may be a waste of money.

If you like your curry yellow and your skin tan, a recent study conducted at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston may be of interest to you. Run by the University’s Department of Experimental Therapeutics, the study sought to examine the effect of curcumin on melanoma cells.

Patchouli. The word alone is nearly a placeholder for a wide range of aromatic sensations. Woody, earthy, spicy, rich, balsamic… the descriptors add up, yet still don’t come close to touching this long-lasting fragrant oil. It is one of the few essential oils that improve with age, and its medicinal uses are many. Oh, and it makes for a great aphrodisiac.

There are lots of foods that can help you gain weight. This comes as no surprise. What you may not know is that there are also a number of foods that can trim fat and help you to shed the pounds.

Common around the world in various forms as a weed, dandelions also offer a nutritious and therapeutic punch.

Knitbone, as it was traditionally known, was used to help heal bones, but it also has a toxic dark side.

A new study appearing in the journal Phytotherapy Research points to the herb fenugreek as an effective weight loss aid.

Looking to get a good jump on the day? Forgo the traditional breakfasts and try these three drinks to give you an energy, nutrition and hydration boost.

Among the studies praising green tea for its therapeutic values comes one that suggests that all is not rosy with this tasty treated leaf.

Researchers from Oregon State University and the University of Connecticut fed obese and lean mice varying degrees of a green tea extract.