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Articles on Herbal medicines

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Herbal remedies are commonplace in Uganda; testing these scientifically is a good way to ensure they’re safe and effective. Ava Peattie/Shutterstock

Herbal skin treatments in Uganda get an important scientific boost

It is important that herbal medicine be checked for its safety, its potential to treat particular ailments, and to ascertain its chemical components.
Castor oil plant is popular in rural South Africa for its medicinal qualities. Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images

South Africa is rich in plants used for skincare: rural women helped us document some

Traditional herbal medicines and cosmetics remain popular in South Africa especially in rural areas where they are part of people’s culture.
Herbal mixtures are comprised of many potentially active chemical compounds at relatively low concentrations. storyvillegirl/Flickr

Quality research of herbal medicines is possible

TESTING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES - La Trobe University’s decision to accept funding from Swisse for a new centre to research alternative medicines has sparked controversy. This series looks at how the evidence…
Most people don’t think of herbal medicines as drugs so they don’t tell their doctor about taking them. Ryan Somma/Flickr

Herbal medicines – toxic side effects and drug interactions

TESTING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES - La Trobe University’s decision to accept funding from Swisse for a new centre to research alternative medicines has sparked controversy. This series looks at how the evidence…
Combining complementary medicine with conventional cancer treatment opens up the possibility of drug interactions. hkpuipui99/Flickr

Complementary medicines may put cancer patients’ lives at risk

Recent German research found that more than 70% of people with cancer supplement their regular hospital treatment with complementary and alternative medicine. More worryingly, many do so without advising…

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