Tools for Natural Living

Cannabis flavonoids, collectively referred to as cannflavin, are gaining attention from Canadian scientists as a potential therapy to counter pain and inflammation. Flavonoids are important chemical compounds that lend fruits and vegetables their color, as well as anti...

According to researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia, abscisic acid (ABA) from standardized fig extract improves insulin release and glucose tolerance. The scientists published a randomized, double-blind crossover study, in which they evaluated the effects...

It's fairly common knowledge by now that olive oil is good for you. It contains healthy fats and antioxidants that can help to reduce the incidence of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. However, not all olive oils are alike. Extra-virgin olive oil...

Cilantro is the Spanish word that refers to the leafy portions of Coriandrum sativum, a member of the parsley family. (The seeds are the spice coriander.) The herb has been used for many thousands of years for both food and medicine. In fact, archaeological and genetic...

Somehow, the combination of sun, wind and salt water makes for really great hair after a full day at the beach. Those sun-filled summer days are waning for some of us now and will soon be replaced with falling leaves and gusty winds. But with a few simple ingredients,...

There are at least 100 plants that contain phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. Unlike non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or non-opioid analgesics, herbal therapies are often better tolerated and present less risk of side...

Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that affects people of any age, even sometimes occurring for the first time well into adulthood. Many plants possess chemical compounds that lend them acne-fighting antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which are harness...

Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) is a member of the Apiaceae (formerly Umbelliferae) family, which includes celery, angelica, dill, parsley, carrot and many other flowering plants known for their umbrella-like flowerheads and feathery foliage. It is known as Queen Ann...

Japanese matcha tea is essentially green tea but it is grown, produced and prepared differently than ordinary tea. A few weeks before harvesting, the plants are shaded, which increases their production of caffeine and theanine. When served, the powdered tea is blended...

According to a recent study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and published in the journal Nutrients, serum levels of the carotenoid lutein are linked to improved memory function in overweight and obese adults.

Lutein is classified as a xanth...