Holiday Herbs and Your Health

With the Thanksgiving and winter season upon us, you may be preparing meals and cooking with popular holiday herbs and foods. Some of these herbs and natural products have been studied for their possible effects on health conditions. 

• The evidence shows that cranberry may help to prevent urinary tract infections. However, it has not been shown to help treat an existing infection.
• A small amount of research suggests that peppermint oil may improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in adults.   
• Although sage has been used as a traditional remedy in several parts of the world, little research has been done on it, and it hasn’t clearly been shown to be helpful for any health condition.  
• Cinnamon has been promoted for diabetes and other conditions, but the evidence doesn’t clearly support its use for any health condition.   
• Pomegranate has been promoted for a variety of health purposes, but there isn’t much strong scientific evidence on its health effects.  

Find out more about these and other herbs from NCCIH’s Herbs at a Glance fact sheets.  

Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health