Aloe vera is a succulent plant with long, thick, waxy leaves containing inner gel and outer gel, along with latex liquid from the inner leaf skin. People use aloe vera gel and juice for topical and oral health remedies.
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Eugenia aromatica, more commonly known as clove, is added in small amounts to foods for flavoring, gum and tobacco in cigarettes. Clove oil, technically called eugenol, has anti-inflammatory, pain relieving and antibacterial effects, as noted by the National Institutes of Health.
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The berries of Phytolacca Americana, more commonly known as American nightshade or pokeweed, are toxic unless thoroughly cooked by boiling in several changes of water. Severe side effects can occur when people eat them raw, add them to juice or do not cook them properly.
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Capsicum annuum, more commonly known as cayenne pepper, is a food used to spice up many styles of cooking. People also have been consuming cayenne pepper as an herbal remedy for thousands of years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).
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Betel nut is a combination of three ingredients. People roll small pieces of the nut from Areca catechu, more commonly called betel palm, in a leaf from the Piper betel vine, then add powdered slaked lime or limestone paste, and chew it.
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Tabebuia avellanedae, also called Pau d'arco and taheebo, is a plant native to South America and used traditionally as an herbal remedy for a wide variety of health disorders.
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Of the several types of elder or elderberry tree, the one people typically use as an herbal health remedy is Sambucus nigra, commonly known as European elder or black elderberry.
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Omega-6 fatty acids are essential for health, but because the body cannot produce them, they must be obtained through diet or supplements. Some omega-6 fatty acids promote inflammation, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), but gamma-linoleic acid does not.
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Flax seed and flax seed oil are excellent sources of alpha-linolenic acid, which the body converts to essential omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seed has many health benefits, according to the Cleveland Clinic, including reducing blood triglyceride levels, blood pressure, blood clot formation and inflammatory response.
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Withania somnifera, called ashwagandha, is a member of the pepper family and grows naturally in India and Africa. Ashwagandha has extensive uses in Ayurveda, the traditional medical system of India.
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Vitex agnus castus, known as chaste tree or chasteberry, grows naturally in Mediterranean countries and central Asia. The fruit extract of agnus castus is used as an herbal remedy, according to the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS).
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Rubus idaeus, better known as raspberry, grows throughout North America and Europe. Raspberry leaf has a traditional role in treating diarrhea, relieving excessively heavy menstrual flow and preventing complications during pregnancy, according to the University of Michigan Health System.
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The plant Borago officinalis is the source of star flower oil. While the blue star-shaped flowers can be eaten as a vegetable, oil pressed from the seeds is a nutritional supplement and herbal remedy.
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Rhodiola rosea, also called golden root and roseroot, has a traditional medicinal role in the harsh mountainous climates of Russia, Scandinavia and Tibet. Rhodiola is considered an adaptogen, meaning it has non-specific qualities that help people deal with physical and mental stress.
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Cold sores are painful blisters that usually occur on the lips, but can develop anywhere from the lips to the nostrils. These sores, technically known as herpes labialis, are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1.
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Pausinystalia yohimbe tree bark contains an active chemical known as yohimbine. Yohimbine hydrochloride is sold as a prescription drug, while yohimbe bark extract is available over the counter in health food stores. Most research on dosages has focused on the prescription product.
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Herbalists view dandelion as a valuable plant with important medicinal uses. Dandelion roots stimulate appetite, and may help with digestion as well as with liver, gallbladder and kidney function. The leaves have diuretic effects and the flower has antioxidant properties. You can drink dandelion tea for these purposes.
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Although the body produces a small amount of choline, humans must consume some in the diet as well to maintain good health, explains the Linus Pauling Institute, or LPI, at Oregon State University.
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Diindolylmethane, or DIM, is a phytochemical produced during the digestion of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower. Besides eating these vegetables, you can obtain DIM through supplements.
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Also known as washing soda and soda ash, sodium carbonate has a wide range of uses. It can raise the pH of a swimming pool if the water is too acidic, it has roles in glass and paper manufacturing, and it is a component of some bleaches and automatic dishwashing detergents.
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