Information on functional and medicinal foods
There are no FDA approved medicinal foods or dietary supplements, but there are two FDA approved botanical drugs, which are approved for marketing as prescription drugs: one is an extract from dragon’s blood plant (Croton lechleri), while the other is a green tea (Camellia sinensis) extract.
Food as Medicine
| Name | Scientific Name | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Aloe | Aloe vera / Aloe barbadensis | Anti-bacterial, moisturizer, dry skin |
| Aztec Sweet Herb | Phyla dulcis / Lippia dulcis | – |
| Black Cherry | Prunus serotina | – |
| Black Walnut | Juglans nigra | – |
| Cannabidiolum | – | Epilepsy, seizures, anxiety disorders |
| Chameleon Plant | Houttuynia cordata | Chronic sinusitis |
| Cordyceps | Ophiocordyceps sinensis / Cordyceps sinensis | Kidney and liver health, immune stimulant, endurance |
| Cranberry | Vaccinium macrocarpon | Urinary health, heart health, diabetes |
| Curcumin | – | Antioxidant, oral lichen planus, colorectal cancer |
| Elderberry | Sambucus nigra | Gingivitis, immune health |
| Evening Primrose Oil | Oenothera | Fatty acids, atopic dermatitis, eczema, arthritis, breast pain |
| Fenugreek | Trigonella foenum-graecum | Diabetes, satiety |
| Garlic | Allium sativum | Heart health, dental health, sickle cell anemia, diabetes |
| Ginger | Zingiber officinale | Osteoarthritis, nausea, indigestion, painful menstruation |
| Ginkgo | Ginkgo biloba | Cognition, schizophrenia, glaucoma, blood vessels, migraines, vertigo |
| Green Coffee Bean | Coffea | Mild hypertension |
| Jiaogulan | Gynostemma pentaphyllum | Diabetes |
| Passionflower | Passiflora incarnata | Anxiety, stress, sleep disorders, insomnia, mental health |
| Reishi Mushroom | Ganoderma lucidum | Immune stimulant |
| Sarsaparilla | Smilax | Gout |
| Saw Palmetto | Serenoa repens | Prostate health, urinary health |
| Stinging Nettle | Urtica dioica | Prostate health, osteoarthritis, diabetes |
| Tart Cherry | Prunus cerasus | Exercise recovery, performance, hypertension, sleep disorders, insomnia |
| Turmeric | Curcuma longa | Osteoarthritis, joint pain |
| Wheatgrass | Triticum aestivum | Chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression, inflammatory bowel disease |
| Yacon | Smallanthus sonchifolius | Constipation, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease |