common names

This fact sheet provides basic information about noni—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.

Noni is an evergreen shrub or small tree that grows throughout the tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean, from Southeast Asia to Australia and especially in Polynesia.

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb thunder god vine—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.

Thunder god vine has been used in China for health purposes for more than 400 years.

Hoodia is a flowering, cactus-like plant native to the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. Today, hoodia is marketed as an appetite suppressant for weight loss.

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb hoodia—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.

Today, elderberry and elder flower are used for flu, colds, fevers, constipation, and sinus infections. This fact sheet provides basic information about European elder—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.

Two types of chamomile are used for health conditions: German chamomile and Roman chamomile. This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb chamomile—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.

Native to China, astragalus has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. In the United States, the herb gained popularity in the 1980s.

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb's common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb lavender—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.

Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region. It was used in ancient Egypt as part of the process for mummifying bodies.

Lavender's use as a bath additive originated in Persia, Greece, and Rome. The herb's name comes from the Latin lavare, which means "to wash."

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb turmeric—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.

Turmeric, a shrub related to ginger, is grown throughout India, other parts of Asia, and Africa. Known for its warm, bitter taste and golden color, turmeric is commonly used in fabric dyes and foods such as curry powders, mustards, and cheeses.

It should not be confused with Javanese turmeric.

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb fenugreek—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.

The first recorded use of fenugreek is described on an ancient Egyptian papyrus dated to 1500 B.C. Fenugreek seed is commonly used in cooking.

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb yohimbe—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information.

The yohimbe tree is a tall evergreen that is native to western Africa. The bark of the tree contains a chemical called yohimbine.

The amount of yohimbine in dietary supplements may vary; some yohimbe products have been found to contain very little yohimbine.