MaimoniTEAS (TM) Herbal Teas are named after Moses Maimonides, the great medieval physician and sage who used herbs as medications for many ailments.

Indeed, herbs have been used throughout the ages as medicine. But the value of herbs as medicine has been debated, especially, in the last century when biomedical science evolved to a where it is now - a search for objective truths with proofs that are statistically quantifiable and where the biological response of a patient is divorced from a placebo effect. While a placebo effect has a biological impact, it is important to identify if indeed an agent is effective without it.

We do not claim that these herbs are medicines, we enjoy them for what they are - soothing teas with plenty of flavor and fragrance. It is interesting to note, however, that the benefits of herbs keep showing up, even in publications associated with modern medicine. An example of such a case is Marva (Salvia officinalis) which was recently reported to have beneficial effects in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer in double-blind, placebo controlled trial that involved three centers (Akhondzadeh et al. 2009).

One advantage that herbal medications offer over medicines currently being developed by most pharmaceutical companies is that a multitude of agents are delivered via a single herb, rather than one active ingredient available in most pills. In the case of Marva, the herb contains oils that incorporate niacin, flavanoid glycosides, fumaric acid, ursolic acid, estrogenic compounds, and the list goes on (OBeWise Nutriceutica). Many of these compounds were reported to have neuroprotective effects, serve as free radical scavengers, and possess other pharmacological effects. The multitude of such effects is important since a disease as complex as Alzheimer is not likely to respond to a single agent.

Is Marva a treatment for Alzheimer? While I am a skeptic, I will enjoy that cup of tea.

Our mission is to provide the best products and service to our customers at the lowest prices possible. We take great pride in our company, our commitment to customer service and in the products we sell. Our online store is designed to provide you with a safe and secure environment to browse our product catalog.

References:

Akhondzadeh et al. Salvia officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a double blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. 2009;28(1):53-9.

OBeWise Nutriceutica. Applied Health. http://www.appliedhealth.com/nutri/page8453.php. Retrieved 2009-12-20