Although it doesn’t have the extensive history of other herbal remedies, hop flowers have been used medicinally for centuries to combat indigestion, calm anxiety, and help with insomnia. Of course, the most famous application of hops is the brewing of beer.
Category: LPI In the Media
Turmeric: A Potent Anti-inflammatory with Availability Issues
Although turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, the renewed attention around this member of the ginger family centers on the scientific evidence supporting its main active component, curcumin. Continue reading Turmeric: A Potent Anti-inflammatory with Availability Issues
Vitamin D, Blueberries, and Grapes: Partners in the Immune System?
Part of a healthy immune system involves responding to bacterial invasion. The body has many mechanisms to combat bacteria, including the white blood cells or leukocytes.
Several types of white blood cells produce small strings of amino acids (that are typically referred to as ‘peptides’) that can target invading bacteria. Through a variety of mechanisms, these peptides can associate with a bacterial cell membrane, breaking the cell open and driving it toward death. Collectively, these are known as “antimicrobial peptides”.
Here’s where vitamin D gets involved:
Continue reading Vitamin D, Blueberries, and Grapes: Partners in the Immune System?