Live Life Team
Alongside research, one of the best ways to determine if a herbal remedy is safe and effective is to find out how popular it is. Herbal remedies usually become popular due to word of mouth as friends recommend them to one another or people make positive posts about them online. This is usually a sign that using them has had impressive results. What’s more, if a lot of people are using them, any risks or side effects will be well documented.
These are the best selling herbal remedies at the moment.
Echinacea
This herb reduces inflammation and may also stimulate the immune system, reducing the duration of cold and flu symptoms. It also tackles some types of yeast and fungus so it can be used as a topical wound treatment.
Garcinia
One of the most popular herbal remedies for weight loss, this reduces your appetite and stops your body making as much fat. It may also help to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels but shouldn’t be combined with other medicines that do this.
Ginger
This root has a potent anti-inflammatory effect and reduces nausea and muscle pain. Drunk in tea, it helps to prevent gum disease. It lowers cholesterol levels and blood sugar, helps to relieve indigestion over the long term, and may even improve brain function.
Turmeric
This herb reduces inflammation and is used for a wide range of purposes including the treatment of headaches, joint pain, digestive problems, respiratory problems and urinary problems. It may also lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
White horehound
Added to syrup or used in lozenges, this can help with sore throats, reducing inflammation and making it easier to breathe. It also helps to relieve indigestion, diarrhea and constipation, as well as menstrual cramps.
Cranberry
Extracts from this fruit prevent bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract, so can be used to treat urinary infections. It may also help to combat colds and flu and help alleviate chronic fatigue syndrome.
Green tea
Rich in polyphenols, this herb helps to reduce inflammation and also protects cartilage, making it a useful treatment for osteoarthritis. It can also help to cure genital warts and it contains caffeine which increases alertness.
Black cohosh
This root reduces symptoms of menopause and alleviates period pain. It can induce labour in women who are pregnant. It’s also one of the most popular herbal remedies for treating osteoporosis and may help to combat acne.
Flaxseed
Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, this herb reduces inflammation, thins the blood and reduces cholesterol levels. It’s also an appetite suppressant. It may help to slow the development of breast cancer by stopping the body from processing as much estrogen as usual.
Ivy leaf
This anti-inflammatory plant helps people with asthma and chronic bronchitis to breathe more easily. It’s also used in some cough syrups and in the treatment of disorders of the liver and spleen.
