4:20 minutes (1020.86 KB)
Tired of counting sheep? The Herbal Pharmacist talks about the incredible importance of sleep for a healthy mind, and healthy body and offers all-natural herbal solutions that will help you get to sleep--and stay asleep!

3:33 minutes (835.55 KB)
In this podcast Dr. Andrew Weil discusses the many benefits of vitamin D as revealed in recent medical journals and studies. Learn the safest way to get this underrated vitamin, the daily recommended dosage and whether or not kids need this vitamin, too.

Millions of people swear by herbal remedies, but the medical community wants to know more about the drugs that we're blindly placing our faith in.

11:25 minutes (2.62 MB)
Want to sneak a peek into the (natural) medicine cabinet of the Herbal Pharmacist and his guest host medical herbalist Mark Taylor? Learn what supplements these two natural health experts take and why. If it's good enough for them, it should be good enough for you, too!

Many of us rely on a daily multivitamin, but tests show that they may not be as reliable as we count on, often delivering too much -- or not enough -- on their promises.

Selenium was the darling supplement of the 1980s, believed to prevent and possibly treat heart disease. The claims were based on a study that found that countries with the highest rate of disease were usually lacking in the trace element.

Selenium carried the reputation of super supplement through the '80s and '90s, but a study published last month in The American Journal of Epidemiology has revealed that when it comes to heart health, selenium was never all it was cracked up to be.

Parsley is traditionally relegated to a mere garnish, but the herb has so much more to offer. Firstly, the leafy green is an excellent natural breath freshener. While mints and gum simply cover potent breath, parsley treats halitosis (or the aftermath of a garlicy dinner) from the inside out.

Parsley comes in several varieties - Italian and flat leaf are the most popular - and is also an excellent source of calcium, iron, and Vitamins A and C. Parsley is also known for its volatile oils - myristicin, limonene, eugenol, and alpha-thujene - which may be linked to a the prevention of several cancers and also give the herb the title of "chemoprotective" food. Parsely can neutralize certain carcinogens ike the benzopyrenes that are part of cigarette smoke, charcoal grill smoke (see The Side Effects of BBQ), and the smoke produced by trash incinerators.

It's easy to pop a vitamin every day. It's one of the less labor intensive steps in taking care of your health. But do you know what's going on inside that pill? All vitamins are definitely not created equal. This means that there's a decent chance that the $4 bottle I bought from Trader Joe's might not stand up to a $30 bottle from a health food store, but it may also mean that the more expensive brand is all hype and no substance.

While Dr. Andrew Weil’s familiar bearded face is close to iconic by now — let’s face it, he’s the Oprah Winfrey of healing — it’s sometimes difficult to distill his general health philosophy into an action plan for daily living. But a recent profile of the good doctor pulled two of his most practical to-do lists (essential tonics and supplements) from two of his most popular books, Healthy Aging and Spontaneous Healing.

Interested in buying a new car or a washer/dryer set? Consumer Reports can tell you what's best. In the market for a digital camera or surround sound home theater? Check the Report. And if, by chance, you're planning to take a vitamin supplement or herbal medicine, Consumer Reports can tell you what's what.

As of last week, consumers can refer to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database for information on the safety, effectiveness, and possible harmful reactions of about 14,000 natural medicines. A $19 annual fee buys users access to the database as well as to existing guides to prescription drugs and medical treatments.