Curative properties of herbs under suspicion

American scientists found that the treatment of choice properties in recent medicines made from the resin of Indian plants guggula heavily priukrasheny.

Previously, it was thought that guggul could significantly lower concentrations of cholesterol in the human body. It is known that cholesterol is responsible for many cardiovascular diseases.

However, drugs made by guggula used in India since ancient times, no tests were conducted at a university of Pennsylvania.

Doctors identified 103 volunteers and divided them into three groups. The first group of test given pills containing 1 gram of resin extract guggula, three times a day. In the second dose group was double, and third of patients received sham pills.

Better self-medication

Two months doctors found that in the first and second group of volunteers cholesterol levels did not fall, but increased by 4% and 5% respectively.

Amazing was the fact that the third group, which received a sham drug test (but did not do so), the average cholesterol level decreased by 5%.

In the experiment, and found one additional side effects drugs. Some volunteers during a guggula appeared skin irritation.

Researchers believe that the results of their work once again shows that medicinal herbs and products made from them should undergo more thorough review before come to the store shelves.

"Vitamins and herbal medicines on the basis must be seriously studied as to their safety and effectiveness," says study leader Philip Zapari.

It should be noted that previous tests guggula held in India and the United States pointed to the miraculous properties of plants. In India, was published, which stated that the admission extract guggula 24 weeks reduces cholesterol content in human blood by 12%.

In the United States earlier this year was published, alleging that guggul help people suffering from osteoporosis and relieve pain syndrome.