There is more and more data being developed by "evidence-based-medicine" on the benefits of Ayurveda; and the important question of why and how they work.
Here is a lead to three agents. Except for Cranberry, I do not recommend; nor do I dissuade patients from using these and other nutraceuticals. Like pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements can have their own side-effects, when used in large amounts; or may interact inappropriately with other medications. Cranberry for urinary tract infections http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/cranberry-000235.htm Please see the references with this paper to the large number of scientific papers on this topic. Melatonin and its effects on sleep disorders http://www.sleepdex.org/melatonin.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/melatsum.htm http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/melatonin-natural-sources.php Licorice in the prevention of colon polyps and colon cancer http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/herbs-spices/licorice-anti-cancer-benefits.php Some active ingredients found in plants which have a therapeutic benefit also serve as a starting point to develop a more targeted and synthetic variant (of the naturally occuring ingredient). Please see the well known cancer drug Taxol: http://www.ul.ie/~childsp/CinA/Issue62/TOC12_Taxol.htm Regards, GL ---------------- Frederick Noronha I read the sub-text of this debate (though clothed in a 'scientific' language) as an attempt to discredit all non-allopathic forms of medicine. "Evidence-based medicine" has its own limitations.
