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1.
Herbal Medications Used to Ameliorate Cardiac Conditions.
Revell, MA, Pugh, MA
The Nursing clinics of North America. 2021;(1):123-136
Abstract
Herbs have been used for centuries to treat various diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Herbs may be used by clients exclusively for disease management or in combination with conventional medications. This article increases provider awareness of certain herbs and their potential use by clients, as well as their impact on the cardiovascular system. It is important for the advanced practice nurse to collect information related to herb use during history retrieval. This information should prompt the nurse to discuss possible benefits and side effects that may occur taking herbs in isolation or in combination with cardiovascular prescription medications.
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2.
Highs, Lows, and Health Hazards of Herbology: A Review of Herbal Medications with Psychotropic Effects.
Smith-Stephens, SL
The Nursing clinics of North America. 2021;(1):137-152
Abstract
Mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and insomnia, are leading causes of hospitalization and disability for young and middle-aged adults. Approximately one-half of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness during their lifetime. Plants and roots have been used as medicinal agents since the beginning of recorded time. Complementary and alternative medicine or complementary integrative medicine use has been increasing throughout most socioeconomic classes, cultures, and age categories. This article reviews herbal and alternative therapies used to treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Indications for use, patient education, and possible interactions with conventional prescribed psychotropic medications are analyzed.
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3.
Phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of the genus artemisia.
Bisht, D, Kumar, D, Kumar, D, Dua, K, Chellappan, DK
Archives of pharmacal research. 2021;(5):439-474
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Abstract
Artemisia and its allied species have been employed for conventional medicine in the Northern temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia for the treatments of digestive problems, morning sickness, irregular menstrual cycle, typhoid, epilepsy, renal problems, bronchitis malaria, etc. The multidisciplinary use of artemisia species has various other health benefits that are related to its traditional and modern pharmaceutical perspectives. The main objective of this review is to evaluate the traditional, modern, biological as well as pharmacological use of the essential oil and herbal extracts of Artemisia nilagirica, Artemisia parviflora, and other allied species of Artemisia. It also discusses the botanical circulation and its phytochemical constituents viz disaccharides, polysaccharides, glycosides, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, and carotenoids. The plants have different biological importance like antiparasitic, antimalarial, antihyperlipidemic, antiasthmatic, antiepileptic, antitubercular, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anxiolytic, antiemetic, antidepressant, anticancer, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, insecticidal, antiviral activities, and also against COVID-19. Toxicological studies showed that the plants at a low dose and short duration are non or low-toxic. In contrast, a high dose at 3 g/kg and for a longer duration can cause toxicity like rapid respiration, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, etc. However, further in-depth studies are needed to determine the medicinal uses, clinical efficacy and safety are crucial next steps.
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4.
Licorice: A Potential Herb in Overcoming SARS-CoV-2 Infections.
Ng, SL, Khaw, KY, Ong, YS, Goh, HP, Kifli, N, Teh, SP, Ming, LC, Kotra, V, Goh, BH
Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine. 2021;:2515690X21996662
Abstract
The management of the global pandemic outbreak due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been challenging with no exact dedicated treatment nor established vaccines at the beginning of the pandemic. Nonetheless, the situation seems to be better controlled with the recent COVID-19 vaccines roll-out globally as active immunisation to prevent COVID-19. The extensive usage and trials done in recent outbreak in China has shown the effectiveness of traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) in improving the wellbeing of COVID-19 patients. Therefore, COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment guidelines has listed a number of recommended concoctions meant for COVID-19 patients. Licorice, more commonly known as Gancao in Chinese Pinyin, is known as one of the most frequently used ingredients in TCM prescriptions for treatment of epidemic diseases. Interestingly, it is deemed as food ingredient as well, where it is normally used in Western cuisines' desserts and sweets. The surprising fact that licorice appeared in the top 10 main ingredients used in TCM prescriptions in COVID-19 has drawn great attention from researchers in revealing its biological potential in overcoming this disease. To date, there are no comprehensive review on licorice and its benefits when used in COVID-19. Thus, in this current review, the possible benefits, mechanism of actions, safety and limitations of licorice were explored in hope to provide a quick reference guide for its preclinical and clinical experimental set-up in this very critical moment of pandemic.
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5.
Herbal Medications Used to Treat Fever.
Hines, CB
The Nursing clinics of North America. 2021;(1):91-107
Abstract
Fever is a natural body defense and a common symptom of disease. Herbs have been used for thousands of years to treat fever. Many herbs have anti-inflammatory properties. Some are useful in reducing the release of cytokines and mediators of inflammation, whereas others work as natural aspirins to inhibit cyclooxygenase. In addition, herbs have known antipathogenic properties and can be effective in the treatment of infection from numerous microorganisms. Last, in traditional Chinese medicine, herbs are used to restore imbalances between the nonpathogenic and the pathogenic clearing interior heat and treating heat patterns in a variety of ways.
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6.
Healthy Uses for Garlic.
White, D
The Nursing clinics of North America. 2021;(1):153-156
Abstract
Garlic originated in West China and has been used for its health qualities since 2600 bc. Garlic was brought to Great Britain in 1548 from the Mediterranean Sea. Early uses of garlic were to treat gastric infections, fevers, and diarrhea. Fresh garlic has the most health benefits through the compound allicin. Health benefits of garlic include the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, antioxidant effects, antimicrobial effects, and reduction of cancer risks.
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7.
Plants and Natural Products with Activity against Various Types of Coronaviruses: A Review with Focus on SARS-CoV-2.
Llivisaca-Contreras, SA, Naranjo-Morán, J, Pino-Acosta, A, Pieters, L, Vanden Berghe, W, Manzano, P, Vargas-Pérez, J, León-Tamariz, F, Cevallos-Cevallos, JM
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2021;(13)
Abstract
COVID-19 is a pandemic disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is potentially fatal for vulnerable individuals. Disease management represents a challenge for many countries, given the shortage of medicines and hospital resources. The objective of this work was to review the medicinal plants, foods and natural products showing scientific evidence for host protection against various types of coronaviruses, with a focus on SARS-CoV-2. Natural products that mitigate the symptoms caused by various coronaviruses are also presented. Particular attention was placed on natural products that stabilize the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS), which has been associated with the entry of the SARS-CoV-2 into human cells.
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8.
Efficacy and Safety of Chinese Herbal Medicine on Treatment of Breast Cancer: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Ho, VW, Tan, HY, Guo, W, Li, S, Wang, N, Meng, W, So, TH, Yu, EC, Feng, Y
The American journal of Chinese medicine. 2021;(7):1557-1575
Abstract
Breast cancer is currently the most common cancer in women, and it accounts for 11.6% of all cancer diagnoses in 2018. Breast cancer patients frequently resort to alternative medicine in addition to conventional Western therapy. This study is to evaluate clinical effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on breast cancer by conducting meta-analyses on 81 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 7215 subjects from eight databases. All RCTs compared patients using Western therapy alone and those using additional CHM therapy to evaluate the difference of primary (tumor response, mean time to progression (mTTP), overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS)) and secondary outcome measures (tumor markers). Results showed that under the RECIST1.1 criteria, 52% patients with additional CHM therapy (67%, under WHO criteria) achieved either a complete response (CR) or a partial response (PR), compared to 38% patients with Western therapy alone (53%, under the WHO criteria). The risk ratio was 1.31 ([Formula: see text] < 0.00001, 95% CI = 1.15-1.50) for patients with CHM plus Western therapy and 1.25 ([Formula: see text] < 0.00001, 95% CI = 1.18-1.98) for those with Western therapy. Moreover, patients with complementary CHM therapy were associated with an mTTP of 2.79 months longer ([Formula: see text] < 0.00001) and an OS of 1.90 months longer ([Formula: see text] < 0.00001); they also had an increase in 3-year PFS ([Formula: see text]= 0.002), 2- ([Formula: see text]= 0.0002) and 5-year ([Formula: see text]= 0.006) OS rates. Therefore, complementary CHM therapy might demonstrate clinical benefits for breast cancer patients in terms of tumor response and survival. Clinical studies with further stratification of tumor stages and intervention types are highly warranted.
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9.
Antibacterial Activity of Medicinal Plants and Their Constituents in the Context of Skin and Wound Infections, Considering European Legislation and Folk Medicine-A Review.
Bittner Fialová, S, Rendeková, K, Mučaji, P, Nagy, M, Slobodníková, L
International journal of molecular sciences. 2021;(19)
Abstract
Bacterial infections of skin and wounds may seriously decrease the quality of life and even cause death in some patients. One of the largest concerns in their treatment is the growing antimicrobial resistance of bacterial infectious agents and the spread of resistant strains not only in the hospitals but also in the community. This trend encourages researchers to seek for new effective and safe therapeutical agents. The pharmaceutical industry, focusing mainly on libraries of synthetic compounds as a drug discovery source, is often failing in the battle with bacteria. In contrast, many of the natural compounds, and/or the whole and complex plants extracts, are effective in this field, inactivating the resistant bacterial strains or decreasing their virulence. Natural products act comprehensively; many of them have not only antibacterial, but also anti-inflammatory effects and may support tissue regeneration and wound healing. The European legislative is in the field of natural products medicinal use formed by European Medicines Agency (EMA), based on the scientific work of its Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). HMPC establishes EU monographs covering the therapeutic uses and safe conditions for herbal substances and preparations, mostly based on folk medicine, but including data from scientific research. In this review, the medicinal plants and their active constituents recommended by EMA for skin disorders are discussed in terms of their antibacterial effect. The source of information about these plant products in the review is represented by research articles listed in scientific databases (Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, etc.) published in recent years.
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10.
Integration of AI and traditional medicine in drug discovery.
Khan, SR, Al Rijjal, D, Piro, A, Wheeler, MB
Drug discovery today. 2021;(4):982-992
Abstract
AI integration in plant-based traditional medicine could be used to overcome drug discovery challenges.