Black Cumin: An Ancient Remedy Revisited
by Karyn Maier Black cumin (Nigella sativa) is a member of the buttercup family that produces edible flowers and seeds that lend a smokey, pungent flavor to Middle Eastern dishes that has been described as a cross between oregano and toasted onion. The seed, harvested as a spice, is known by several common names -- black caraway, Seed of Blessing, Love in a Mist, kalanji or simply nigella. The seeds have also earned a place in global traditional healing systems for many centu
Hops Deters Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
by Karyn Maier Hops, an herb in the cannabis family that has been used to lend bitter flavor to beer for centuries, has been shown to deter non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. According to researchers at Oregon State University, the plant contains two compounds -- xanthohumol (XN) and tetrahydro-XN (TXN) -- that inhibit hepatic steatosis, or the build up of excessive triglyceride fat stored in the liver that can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Adrian Gombart, profes
