Black cohosh

Black cohosh is a member of the buttercup family, a plant native to North America. Medicinal extracts from black cohosh are made from its root and rhizome (underground stem). The effect of the active ingredient (fukinolic acid) in black cohosh strongly resembles estrogen’s influence in the body. 

Effective for: 

Menopausal problems 

Menstrual cramps 

Muscle pain from fibromyalgia 

Nervous system tonic 

Recommended Dose: 

16 mg capsule daily 

Side effects and precautions: 

Black cohosh should not be used during pregnancy until just before birth or in the presence of chronic illness.

Yohimbe

Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe) is an evergreen tree native to Zaire, Cameroon and Gabon. The bark of yohimbe contains a chemical called yohimbine used for medicinal purposes. Yohimbe is used both as an over the counter dietary supplement in herbal extract form and as a prescription medicine in its pure form. Only prescription drug yohimbe contains enough active ingredient for therapeutic benefit. Yohimbe is used for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. 

Effective for: 

• Erectile dysfunction 
• Sexual problems caused by selective-serotonin inhibitors (SSRIs) 

Side effects and precautions: 

• The therapeutic index of yohimbe is very low i.e the range between an effective dose and a dangerous does is very low. 
• Yohimbe should be used with great caution if you have hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, a thyroid disorder, a kidney disease, or a mental illness. 
• Yohimbe can raise blood pressure in healthy individuals.

Pygeum

Pygeum africanum is an evergreen tree native to Africa. The dark brown to gray bark of the trunk is used for medicinal purposes. The major active components of the bark are fat soluble compounds- pantacyclic triterpenes, sterolic triterpenes, fatty acids and estres of ferulic acid. The powdered bark of Pygeum is used by the natives of tropical Africa as a treatment for urinary problems. 

Effective for: 

• Benign prostrate enlargement 
• Prostatitis 
• Male infertility 
• Impotence 

Supplements: 

A pygeum extract standardized to contain 14% triterpenes and 0.5% n-docosanol. 

Recommended Dose: 

100 mg of pygeum extract daily 

Side effects and precautions: 

Pygeum extract have no significant toxicity or side effects.

Saw palmetto

Saw palmetto is a small palm tree native to the West Indies and the Atlantic coast of the United States. The berries of this plant are used for medicinal purposes. These berries contain about 1.5% oil made of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and sterols. For centuries the American Indians used saw palmetto berries in the treatment of genitourinary tract problems and as a tonic to support the body nutritionally.

Effective for:

• Benign prostrate enlargement 
• Disorders of the mammary gland 
• Mild aphrodisiac 
• Relieve irritation in the genitourinary tract 

Supplements:
For therapeutic purpose it is essential that fat-soluble saw palmetto extract standardized to contain 85-95% fatty acids and sterols be used.

Recommended Dose:
160 mg twice daily

Side effects and precautions:
Saw palmetto extract is completely safe with no significant side effects.

Night-blooming Cereus (Cactus)

Night blooming cereus is a type of cactus also known as Cactus grandiflorus native to deserts and semi-desert regions of Mexico, the southern USA, Cuba and Jamaica. The flower, stem and young shoots of this plant is used for medicinal purposes. The main constituents are biogenic amines -methyl and dimethyl tyramine, phenylethylamine and flavonoid glycosides. 

Effective for: 

• Angina 
• Cardiac rhythm disorders 
• Mitral valve prolapse 
• Strengthening of heart muscle 

Supplements: 

The value of cactus is therapeutic not preventive, only people diagnosed with heart disease should use it. 

Recommended Dose: 

½ teaspoon daily 

Side effects and precautions: 

People suffering from any heart condition should use under doctors supervision.

Guggulipid

Gugulipid is an extract from an Indian gum called “guggul” from a small thorny tree (Commiphora mukul), native to Arabia and India. Guggulipid is a highly valued botanical medicine in the Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda. The Ayurvedic texts describes in detail the usefulness of guggulipid in the treatment of obesity and other disorders of fats including “coating and obstructions of channels”. 

Effective for: 

High cholesterol levels 

High triglyceride levels 

Supplements: 

Use guggulipid the standardized extract of the gum guggul. 

Recommended Dose: 

50-100 mg twice daily 

Side effects and precautions: 

Guggulipid has not displayed any untoward side effects.

Coleus forskohlii

Coleus forskohlii plant belongs to the mint family native to the mountains of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The rootstock portion of this plant has been used since long in Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine. The active ingredient is forskolin known to activate an enzyme called adenylate cyclase which increases the amount of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). cAMP is perhaps the most important compound involved in diverse cellular functions. 

Effective for: 

• Eczema 
• Asthma 
• Psoriasis 
• Angina 
• High blood pressure 

Supplements: 

Forskolin content in root is typically 0.2-0.3 percent. A standardized extract with a concentrated forskolin content is recommended. 

Recommended Dose: 

50 mg of extract 2 to 3 times a day 

Side effects and precautions: 

Animal studies indicate an extremely low order of toxicity for forskolin.