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Recent scientific research reports:

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)(100mg) given 1 hour before dental surgery to remove wisdom teeth, under local anaesthetic, reduced anxiety with patients being calmer and more relaxed during the procedure compared to placebo (see full text).

A small clinical study found that relatively non-anxious volunteers given American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)(350mg, 3 times a day) for two weeks showed a marked improvement in mood, without affecting cognition or energy levels (see abstract).

Hericium, hedgehog mushroom, was shown to be effective in Helicobacter pylori infection (see abstract).

Turmeric (Curcuma domestica) extract (1,500mg.day^-1) is as effective as ibuprofen (1,200mg.day^-1) in patients with painful knee osteoarthritis: both have similar levels of side effects, however, tumeric causes less gastrointestinal upset (see full text).

A small clinical trial found field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) to have a similar diuretic effect to hydrochlorothiazide, a thiazide diuretic commonly used to treat high blood pressure and fluid retention. The researchers also concluded horsetail was safe for oral use (see full text).

Japanese women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) given Prefemin^Ⓡ, containing 20mg of Chaste-berry (Vitex agnus-castus) extract, daily for three menstrual cycles, experienced a significant reduction in PMS symptoms (see abstract).

A clinical trial compared the effects of an isopropanolic extract of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) with tibolone (HRT drug) in Chinese women with menopausal symptoms and uterine fibroids. An earlier study (see abstract) showed both to have similar benefit for menopausal symptoms, although black cohosh had the better safety profile. This study found uterine fibroids reduced in size for women taking black cohosh, in contrast to women taking tiboline where fibroid size increased (see full text).

A moderately large clinical trial concluded that berberine and metformin treatment for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) led to improved clinical, endocrine and metabolic parameters resulting in better pregnancy outcomes when undergoing IVF treatment. In fact, women taking berberine had more live births and fewer side effects than those on metformin. (see abstract)

Fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum) taken during the first three days of menstruation has been shown to reduce systemic symptoms and severity of dysmenorrhea (see full text).