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| rubescensine B, oridonin (a diterpene), cyclopentanone, and ponicidine. In addition, it contains essential oils and tannic acid, both of which possess anti-cancer activity. |
| Rabdosia is widely used in the province of Hunan, China, to treat esophageal cancer. One study reported the treatment of moderate and advanced esophageal carcinomas with this single herb between 1974 and 1987. Of the 650 patients in this study, 40 survived over five years, 30 over six years, and 23 over ten years. A total of 20 patients were still alive after twenty years. 99 Other studies have shown that DNA synthesis in Ehrlich ascites cells was inhibited by 74 percent after treatment with oridonin. Alcoholic extracts of this herb are highly toxic to HeLa cells, and oral administration of rabdosia extract has demonstrated remarkable inhibition of mice-bearing Ehrlich ascites cells and S-180 sarcoma cells.100 |
| Rabdosia has also been shown to work synergistically with and potentiate the cytotoxic drug cisplatin.101 Its cytotoxic effects against esophageal cancer are stronger than two popular chemotherapeutic drugs, bleomycon A5 and 5FU, and since it is a whole herbal extract, it is nontoxic. |
| This herb also possesses antispasmodic, smooth-muscle-relaxing, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. Its essential oil has antibacterial activity and it has been traditionally used to treat sore throats. |
| Rehmannia |
| Rehmannia is an herb found in many traditional Chinese herbal formulas. Its specific indications include dry conditions with heat, low-grade fevers, muscle wasting, constipation, and dry mouth with throat pain. Its main active ingredients are beta-sitosterol, mannitol, stigmasterol, capesterol, arginine, and rehmannin. Rehmannia has liver-protective effects against a range of toxins, including carbon tetrachloride. It is an anti-inflammatory and a diuretic and has the capacity to lower blood pressure. |
| Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) |
| Rosemary is a powerful antioxidant that increases overall vitality and improves circulation and mental outlook. It has been shown to inhibit mammary tumors |
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