Natura Nova - Traditional Plant Knowledge Rediscovered

From Napoleonic coffee substitute to research subject: what human trials actually show about chicory root's effects on digestion, gut bacteria and blood sugar — and where the evidence still disagrees.

Nutrient density is often linked to imported superfoods. Yet the research shows: potatoes, garlic, eggs and native berries are among the best-studied nutrient-dense foods there are.

In a Chinese region with high air pollution, a broccoli sprout beverage measurably increased excretion of benzene and acrolein. What the randomised Qidong trials on sulforaphane and the Nrf2 pathway...

Tox Info Suisse receives hundreds of vitamin D enquiries every year, some due to chronic overdosing. Here's what's behind it: why the fat-soluble vitamin turns risky at high doses, what...

Two notable papers appeared in 2025 on hawthorn, olive leaf and blood pressure – including the first rigorous meta-analysis on hawthorn. What they show, what's still open, and who should...

Its name comes from the Latin sanare – to heal. For centuries sanicle appeared in every herbal, then it disappeared from research. Since 2024 it is back in three independent...

Forgotten for centuries, now studied by science: why purslane ranks among the most ALA-rich leafy greens – origins, nutrients and the research at a glance.

Tormentil is one of the few traditional medicinal plants backed by a genuine placebo-controlled human trial. What it found, where the ulcerative colitis evidence runs into limits, and what a...

Lovage is recognised as a traditional flushing agent for mild urinary complaints – officially acknowledged, yet without clinical trials in humans. A plant portrait spanning monastery-garden history and current phytochemical...

An animal study, a major head-to-head trial against minoxidil, and newer placebo-controlled data: what research says about rosemary and hair growth – plus how to make your own rosemary scalp...

A botanical portrait of the evening primrose: its journey from North America to Europe, its traditional uses, and what current studies show about the gamma-linolenic acid in its seeds —...

Plenty of advice circulates about washing fruits and vegetables. We look at current research on what actually helps against bacteria, the parasite Cyclospora and pesticide residues — and critically assess...