🌿 Natural Remedies Database

HealthSecrets.com Evidence-Based GitHub Pages

A comprehensive, evidence-graded database of natural remedies β€” organized by condition, evidence quality, and therapeutic category. Every entry includes PubMed-cited research, standardized dosing, safety warnings, and drug interaction flags.

This is not a list of folk wisdom. Every remedy below has been evaluated against peer-reviewed clinical evidence and graded accordingly.

For the complete guide to evidence-based natural remedies β€” including how to evaluate quality, when to use natural approaches, and safety frameworks β€” see the HealthSecrets natural remedies guide.

Table of Contents

How to Use This Database

  1. Find your condition in the Remedies by Condition section
  2. Check the evidence grade β€” start with Grade A/B remedies for strongest evidence
  3. Review dosing β€” all doses are standardized adult doses from clinical trials
  4. Check interactions β€” especially if you take prescription medications
  5. Start low β€” begin at the lower end of dosing ranges and titrate up

⚠️ Disclaimer: This database is for informational purposes only. Natural remedies can interact with medications and may not be appropriate for all individuals. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or herbal remedy.

Evidence Grading System

Grade Meaning Evidence Required
A Strong evidence Multiple RCTs and/or meta-analyses with consistent results
B Good evidence At least 1–2 well-designed RCTs with positive outcomes
C Moderate evidence Preliminary clinical trials, observational studies, or traditional use with some scientific support
D Preliminary In vitro or animal studies only; traditional use without clinical validation

Remedies by Condition

Anxiety & Stress

Remedy Grade Dose Mechanism Key Evidence Interactions
Ashwagandha (KSM-66) B 300–600mg/day Cortisol reduction, GABAergic activity 30% cortisol reduction in stressed adults (Chandrasekhar et al., 2012) [1] Thyroid meds, sedatives, immunosuppressants
L-Theanine B 200–400mg/day Alpha brain wave promotion, GABA modulation Reduced stress and anxiety in acute stress (Kimura et al., 2007) [2] Minimal known interactions
Passionflower B 400–800mg/day extract GABAergic activity Comparable to oxazepam for generalized anxiety (Akhondzadeh et al., 2001) [3] Sedatives, blood thinners
Valerian root B 300–600mg before bed GABA reuptake inhibition Improved sleep quality and reduced anxiety (Bent et al., 2006) [4] Sedatives, alcohol, liver-metabolized drugs
Lavender (Silexan) B 80–160mg/day Calcium channel modulation Non-inferior to lorazepam for GAD (Woelk & SchlΓ€fke, 2010) [5] CNS depressants
Kava B 120–240mg kavalactones/day GABA binding, dopamine modulation Meta-analysis: significant anxiety reduction (Pittler & Ernst, 2003) [6] ⚠️ Liver toxicity risk; alcohol
Rhodiola rosea B 200–600mg/day HPA axis modulation Reduced stress-related fatigue (Hung et al., 2011) [7] Antidepressants, stimulants
Lemon balm C 300–600mg/day GABAergic, cholinergic Improved calmness (Kennedy et al., 2002) [8] Thyroid meds, sedatives

β†’ For natural anxiety protocols, see Natural Anxiety Remedies on HealthSecrets.com.

Digestive Health

Remedy Grade Dose Condition Key Evidence Interactions
Peppermint oil (enteric-coated) A 0.2–0.4mL 3x/day IBS Meta-analysis: superior to placebo (Alammar et al., 2019) [9] Cyclosporine, antacids
Ginger A 1–2g/day Nausea, motion sickness Meta-analysis: effective for nausea (Lete & AlluΓ©, 2016) [10] Blood thinners, diabetes meds
Psyllium husk A 5–10g/day with water Constipation, IBS-C Improved stool frequency (McRorie, 2015) [11] ⚠️ Take 2hrs apart from medications
Artichoke leaf B 320–640mg 3x/day Dyspepsia, bloating Significant improvement (Holtmann et al., 2003) [12] Bile duct obstruction contraindicated
DGL licorice C 380–400mg before meals Heartburn, gastritis Supports mucosal healing Fewer interactions than whole licorice
Probiotics (multi-strain) A Strain-specific (10B+ CFU) IBS, AAD Condition-specific benefit (Ford et al., 2018) [13] Immunosuppressants (immunocompromised)

β†’ See our 🦠 Awesome Gut Health Resources for probiotic strain databases and gut healing protocols.

Inflammation & Pain

Remedy Grade Dose Condition Key Evidence Interactions
Curcumin (w/ piperine) A 500–1,000mg/day Systemic inflammation Reduces CRP and IL-6 (Sahebkar et al., 2014) [14] Blood thinners, diabetes meds
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) A 2–4g/day Systemic inflammation Reduces CRP, IL-6, TNF-Ξ± (Calder, 2017) [15] Blood thinners (high doses)
Boswellia serrata B 300–500mg 3x/day Osteoarthritis, IBD Improved joint function (Yu et al., 2020) [16] NSAIDs, immunosuppressants
Bromelain B 500–1,000mg/day Acute inflammation Anti-inflammatory comparable to NSAIDs [17] Blood thinners, antibiotics
Willow bark B 240mg salicin/day Back pain, OA Superior to placebo (Chrubasik et al., 2000) [18] ⚠️ Aspirin allergy, blood thinners
Capsaicin (topical) A 0.025–0.075% cream Neuropathic pain Effective for chronic pain (Derry et al., 2017) [19] Minimal systemic interactions

β†’ See Reduce Inflammation Naturally on HealthSecrets.com.

Immune Support

Remedy Grade Dose Condition Key Evidence Interactions
Elderberry B 600–900mg/day (illness) Cold/flu duration Reduced duration and severity (Hawkins et al., 2019) [20] Immunosuppressants
Echinacea B 300–500mg 3x/day Cold prevention Reduced incidence by 58% (Shah et al., 2007) [21] Immunosuppressants
Garlic B 600–1,200mg aged extract Immune, cold prevention Reduced cold incidence (Lissiman et al., 2014) [22] Blood thinners
Vitamin C A 200mg–1g/day; 1–2g illness Cold duration 8% shorter colds (HemilΓ€ & Chalker, 2013) [23] Iron absorption (increases)
Zinc (lozenges) A 75mg/day (within 24hr) Cold duration Shortened colds by 33% (HemilÀ, 2017) [24] ⚠️ Copper depletion, antibiotics

β†’ See our πŸ›‘οΈ Immune System Optimization Guide for complete immune protocols.

Sleep & Insomnia

Remedy Grade Dose Mechanism Key Evidence Interactions
Magnesium glycinate A 300–400mg before bed GABA activation Improved sleep quality (Grober et al., 2024) [25] Minimal; space from antibiotics
Valerian root B 300–600mg before bed GABA reuptake inhibition Improved sleep quality; requires 2–4 weeks [26] Sedatives, alcohol
Glycine B 3g before bed NMDA receptor, body temp Improved sleep and next-day alertness [27] Clozapine
Tart cherry B 480mg or 8oz juice Natural melatonin Increased sleep by 84 min [28] Blood thinners (mild)
Melatonin B 0.3–1mg (low dose) Circadian regulation Best for sleep onset/jet lag Multiple drug classes

β†’ See our 🧠 Brain Health Optimization Resources for sleep optimization protocols.

Respiratory Health

Remedy Grade Dose Condition Key Evidence Interactions
NAC A 600–1,200mg/day COPD, bronchitis Reduces exacerbations (Cazzola et al., 2015) [30] Nitroglycerin
Ivy leaf extract B 25–35 drops Acute bronchitis Improved cough symptoms [31] Minimal
Pelargonium sidoides B 30 drops 3x/day Acute bronchitis Shortened duration (Timmer et al., 2013) [32] Blood thinners
Honey B 2.5–10mL before bed Cough Superior to diphenhydramine (Paul et al., 2007) [33] ⚠️ Never infants <1yr

β†’ See Natural Remedies for Bronchitis on HealthSecrets.com.

Skin Conditions

Remedy Grade Dose Condition Key Evidence Interactions
Tea tree oil (topical) A 5% solution Acne, fungal Comparable to benzoyl peroxide (Bassett et al., 1990) [35] ⚠️ Never ingest
Aloe vera (topical) B Gel 2–3x/day Burns, psoriasis Accelerated healing [34] Minimal topically
Colloidal oatmeal B Cream/bath Eczema, itch FDA-recognized protectant [36] None significant
Green tea (topical) C 2% or 250–500mg EGCG Rosacea Reduces UV inflammation Blood thinners (oral)

β†’ See Natural Remedies for Rosacea on HealthSecrets.com.

Cardiovascular Health

Remedy Grade Dose Target Key Evidence Interactions
Omega-3 A 2–4g/day Triglycerides Reduces TG 15–30% (Maki et al., 2017) [37] Blood thinners
CoQ10 B 100–300mg/day BP, heart failure Reduces SBP by 11mmHg (Rosenfeldt et al., 2007) [38] Statins, blood thinners
Berberine A 500mg 2–3x/day Blood sugar, cholesterol Comparable to metformin (Liang et al., 2019) [40] ⚠️ Many drug interactions
Garlic (aged) B 600–1,200mg/day BP, cholesterol Reduces SBP by 8mmHg (Ried et al., 2016) [39] Blood thinners
Hawthorn B 300–900mg/day Heart failure Improved exercise tolerance [41] Digoxin, beta-blockers
Hibiscus tea B 1–2 cups/day Blood pressure Reduced SBP by 7mmHg [42] Antihypertensives

Energy & Fatigue

Remedy Grade Dose Mechanism Key Evidence Interactions
Rhodiola B 200–600mg/day HPA axis, anti-fatigue Reduced mental fatigue [7] Antidepressants
Iron (if deficient) A Per deficiency level Oxygen transport Resolves fatigue 80%+ [43] ⚠️ Many interactions
B12 A 500–1,000mcg/day Methylation, energy Resolves B12-related fatigue [44] Minimal
CoQ10 B 100–200mg/day Mitochondrial ATP Improved CFS energy [45] Blood thinners

Master Remedy Index

Remedy Primary Uses Grade Safety
Aloe vera Burns, skin B Safe topical
Ashwagandha Anxiety, stress B Caution: thyroid
Berberine Blood sugar A Many interactions
Boswellia Inflammation B Well tolerated
Bromelain Inflammation B Caution: blood thinners
Capsaicin Pain (topical) A Local irritation
CoQ10 Heart, energy B Well tolerated
Curcumin Inflammation A Caution: blood thinners
Echinacea Immune/cold B Avoid w/ immunosuppressants
Elderberry Cold/flu B Avoid w/ immunosuppressants
Garlic Immune, heart B Caution: blood thinners
Ginger Nausea A Generally safe
Glycine Sleep B Very safe
Hawthorn Heart failure B Caution: heart meds
Kava Anxiety B ⚠️ Liver risk
L-Theanine Anxiety B Very safe
Lavender Anxiety B Well tolerated
Magnesium glycinate Sleep A Very safe
NAC Respiratory A Well tolerated
Omega-3 Inflammation, heart A Caution: blood thinners
Passionflower Anxiety B Caution: sedatives
Peppermint oil IBS A Enteric-coated
Probiotics Gut, immune A Safe for most
Psyllium Constipation A Space from meds
Rhodiola Stress, fatigue B Caution: antidepressants
Tea tree oil Acne, fungal A Topical only
Valerian Sleep, anxiety B Caution: sedatives
Vitamin C Immune A Safe to 2g/day
Willow bark Pain B ⚠️ Aspirin allergy
Zinc lozenges Cold duration A Short-term only

Drug Interaction Warnings

If You Take… Avoid/Use Caution With Why
Blood thinners Garlic, ginger, omega-3 (>3g), curcumin, willow bark, bromelain, kava Additive anticoagulant effects
Immunosuppressants Echinacea, elderberry, astragalus, mushrooms May counteract immunosuppression
Sedatives Valerian, kava, passionflower, CBD Additive CNS depression
Thyroid meds Ashwagandha, lemon balm May alter thyroid levels
Diabetes meds Berberine, garlic, curcumin Additive blood sugar lowering

General Rules: Space supplements 2hrs from meds. Stop herbals 2 weeks before surgery. Start one at a time. Report all supplements to your doctor.

References

  1. Chandrasekhar K, et al. Indian J Psychol Med. 2012;34(3):255-262.
  2. Kimura K, et al. Biol Psychol. 2007;74(1):39-45.
  3. Akhondzadeh S, et al. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2001;26(5):363-367.
  4. Bent S, et al. Am J Med. 2006;119(12):1005-1012.
  5. Woelk H, SchlΓ€fke S. Phytomedicine. 2010;17(2):94-99.
  6. Pittler MH, Ernst E. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(1):CD003383.
  7. Hung SK, et al. Phytomedicine. 2011;18(4):235-244.
  8. Kennedy DO, et al. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2002;72(4):953-964.
  9. Alammar N, et al. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2019;19(1):21.
  10. Lete I, AlluΓ© J. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2016;20(20):4491-4497.
  11. McRorie JW. Nutr Today. 2015;50(2):82-89.
  12. Holtmann G, et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003;18(11-12):1099-1105.
  13. Ford AC, et al. Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(7):1056-1067.
  14. Sahebkar A, et al. Pharmacol Res. 2014;87:141-152.
  15. Calder PC. Ann Nutr Metab. 2017;70(Suppl 1):1-26.
  16. Yu G, et al. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020;20(1):225.
  17. Pavan R, et al. Biotechnol Res Int. 2012;2012:976203.
  18. Chrubasik S, et al. Am J Med. 2000;109(1):9-14.
  19. Derry S, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;1(1):CD007393.
  20. Hawkins J, et al. Complement Ther Med. 2019;42:361-365.
  21. Shah SA, et al. Lancet Infect Dis. 2007;7(7):473-480.
  22. Lissiman E, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(11):CD006206.
  23. HemilΓ€ H, Chalker E. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(1):CD000980.
  24. HemilΓ€ H. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2017;4(2):ofx059.
  25. Grober U, et al. Nature and Science of Sleep. 2024.
  26. Fernandez-San-Martin MI, et al. Sleep Med. 2010;11(6):505-511.
  27. Bannai M, et al. Sleep Biol Rhythms. 2012;10:152-159.
  28. Howatson G, et al. Eur J Nutr. 2012;51(8):909-916.
  29. Shannon S, et al. Perm J. 2019;23:18-041.
  30. Cazzola M, et al. Eur Respir Rev. 2015;24(137):451-461.
  31. Holzinger F, Chenot JF. Planta Med. 2011;77(2):105-112.
  32. Timmer A, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(10):CD006323.
  33. Paul IM, et al. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161(12):1140-1146.
  34. Feily A, Namazi MR. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2009;144(1):85-91.
  35. Bassett IB, et al. MJA. 1990;153(8):455-458.
  36. Fowler JF, et al. J Drugs Dermatol. 2014;13(10):1167-1170.
  37. Maki KC, et al. J Clin Lipidol. 2017;11(6):1373-1383.
  38. Rosenfeldt FL, et al. J Hum Hypertens. 2007;21(4):297-306.
  39. Ried K, et al. J Nutr. 2016;146(2):389S-396S.
  40. Liang Y, et al. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019;2019:2134314.
  41. Pittler MH, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(1):CD005312.
  42. McKay DL, et al. J Nutr. 2010;140(2):298-303.
  43. Vaucher P, et al. BMJ. 2012;344:e1421.
  44. Stabler SP. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(2):149-160.
  45. Castro-Marrero J, et al. Clin Nutr. 2016;35(3):826-834.

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πŸ“– Full guides on HealthSecrets.com:

Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please submit a pull request with:

  1. Peer-reviewed citations (PubMed, Cochrane, NIH preferred)
  2. Evidence grades for all claims
  3. Standardized dosing from clinical trials
  4. Drug interaction documentation

Β© HealthSecrets.com β€” Evidence-based natural remedies database. For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any supplement or herbal remedy.