This page is still under construction. This review is built step by step  

This text is a review.

This review is about to be completed in a few months. So this version should not be considered the final version of this review, as it is continually corrected and information is added or changed. The chapter (A) hasn’t been completed. In this version the review has reached in chapter A (with supporting REFERENCE) the dietary supplement ‘Royal jelly’. Also the herbs/dietary supplements ‘SAMe’, ‘Sea – buckthorn’ and Vinpocetine’ have been completed. For the herbs/ dietary supplements from ‘Saffron’ to the end (‘Zinc’) the Reference is taken from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (2011 release). The information about the herbs/supplements from ‘Saffron’ to the end (‘Zinc’) has not been completed. Additional information & reference or changes are needed, so the information that refers to them may not be reliable. Any information about a herb or a dietary supplement without the word REFERENCE at the end of its description is unreliable. Also the information about the incomplete herbs/ dietary supplements (see above) is unreliable.

Before reading about the dietary supplements & herbs you are pleased to read the following paragraphs and also the information and the ADVICES & INFORMATION BEFORE READING THIS TEXT that follow below. Also you are pleased to read the NOTES (chapter (F)) at the end of the text. For the dosage of most herbs & dietary supplements the data may be unreliable, as most are still under scientific investigation.

The writer uses the reference from scientific texts as they have at their original form, in order nothing to be confused or misled. However, in some studies/trials the words have slightly changed in order to fit to the context or to give explanatory information. Explanation of scientific words is given in brackets.

Herbs & dietary supplements, as occurs on medications, have indications (they are taken for a specific purpose), contraindications (they should not been taken in specific situations- such as pregnancy and breast - feeding), side effects (unwanted/adverse effects) and interactions (with medications/ herbs & dietary supplements/ foods). Herbs & dietary supplements may contain components that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, dietary supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a doctor and a person qualified in the field of botanical medicine (such as a herbalist). Thus, the advice of a herbalist and also of a doctor should always be obtained before a herb/ dietary supplement is taken. Most of the herbs/ dietary supplements are not recommended for long – term use.

Patients (especially if taking a medication), elderly (the people in old age), children and also pregnant & breast-feeding women should always consult a doctor before taking a herb/ dietary supplement. Almost all the herbs/ dietary supplements are contraindicated in pregnant and breast – feeding women. Also, only a few of them can be taken by children.

About the numbers, to avoid problems with the USA and the European pattern, a specific form is used in this text: the 3 decimal (numerical) digits that are equal with a thousand are separated by a gap, instead of a comma or a dot. For example the number one thousand is written as 1 000 (with a gap between 1 and the rest 3 zeros) and not as 1.000 (European way) or as 1,000 (USA way). Namely, a gap is used instead of a comma or a dot.  By this way, confusion is avoided.

The dosages referred in this text are, most of them, based in scientific research, so they may be changed over time. That means that for the proper dosages a doctor’s and a herbalist’s advice is mandatory. Also someone can ask the opinion of an expert on complementary medicine. 

The doses that are referred in this text are oral (by mouth) and involve only adults. In case of a paediatric (for children) dose or a dose that involves a specific gender and/or age or other situation (e.g. pregnancy), and also in case of a dose different than oral (for example topical application on the skin) this is clarified.

The doses of University of Maryland Medical Center and MedlinePlus that are referred on this text are based on scientific research. However, in some herbs or dietary supplements are used doses from unreliable sources (when this is done it is clarified) that the viewers of this text shouldn’t follow. 

The information in this text may not be contemporary, but may be changed/ updated. Things in medicine change every day! The information taken from sources such as are the ones referred at the below paragraph are continuously changed. The information that is referred here is taken at the time the specific herb or dietary supplement was written. Thus, today this information may be changed/ updated. So, for the updated/ new information you are advised to visit the specific site with the today form. 

Most of the information in this REVIEW text is taken from the wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (2011 release) and also from the scientific sites: pubMed/MedLine http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ and http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ the Cochrane library http://www.cochrane.org/ (it has meta- analysis). Many of the information is also taken from the MedlinePlus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ (2011 release) and the University of Maryland Medical Center http://www.umm.edu (2011 release). Some data (especially for vitamins and minerals) is taken from the Office of Dietary Supplements http://ods.od.nih.gov/ and the US Department of Agriculture http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome Also information is taken from the http://www.sciencedirect.com/

Some information in this text has been taken by various sources whose reliability can't be ascertained. It is suggested to search official medical articles, books sites and guidelines in order to ascertain the medical information & drug doses of this text.

The information presented here is intended for educational purpose only. It should not be used to diagnose, cure treat or prevent disease. Before using any supplements, it is recommended that you consult with your own health care provider, because individual results may vary.

CONTENTS

ADVICES (BEFORE READING THIS TEXT)

A. POPULAR HERBS & DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

I. EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE

II.STATISTICS AT A GLANCE. HOW TO READ A SCIENTIFIC STUDY

III.POPULAR DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS & HERBS CATALOGUE (common names) WITH ALPHABETICAL ORDER (this link includes all the herbs/ dietary supplements)

(with the ‘search’ option of your computer you can find easy a herb or a dietary supplement or a specific disease)

• HERBS & DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS FROM A TO H
• HERBS & DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS FROM I TO P
• HERBS & DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS FROM Q TO Z

B. CALORIE RESTRICTION (CR) THEORY & SUBSTANCES THAT MAY INCREASE LONGEVITY

I. CALORIE RESTRICTION (CR) THEORY

II. SUBSTANCES THAT MAY INCREASE LONGEVITY

C. VOLATILE OILS – AROMATHERAPY

D. HERBS & DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS THAT MAY INTERACT WITH BLOOD THINNERS SUCH AS WARFARIN

E. APPENDIX: STRENUOUS WEIGHT LIFTING/ EXERCISE MAY INCREASE THE RISK FOR FATAL AORTIC OR BRAIN ANEURYSM RUPTURE OR AORTIC DISSECTION

F. NOTES

I. NOTES FROM THE FDA (US Food & Drug Administration)

II. NOTE FOR READING THIS TEXT

III. NOTES FROM THE WRITER

IV. SI (international system of units) multiples for gram (g)

V. GLOSSARY

VI. REFERENCE