The Roman emperor Valerian (ca. 200-ca. 260), or Publius Licinius Valerianus, attempted to stay the advances of the barbarians and the Persians on Roman territory and was a vigorous persecutor of the Christians. The background of Valerian prior to his...

This herb could help you get the sleep you need without a prescription Can't get to sleep? Feeling stressed out? Anxious? If you answered yes to any of these, you're in dire need of some major relaxation. Suffice to say that if you're...

Valerian is a herbal medicine that has been promoted for improving sleep. Does it work? A systematic review [1] of randomised trials provides very limited evidence for its effectiveness. It also demonstrates how clinical trials using different extracts, different outcomes, different subjects and...

In ancient times, chariot-racing was a favorite spectator sport along the Via Appia Antica, the old Appian Way.Today, watching joggers and bikers might be the 21st-century equivalent for visitors sampling history along this venerable road. You might even want to do your people-watching as the...

A lot of people are interested in herbal medicine but have been scared off by reports of contamination and other quality problems with Chinese herbs. Others spend their money on American-made dietary supplements based on the advertising hype, without knowing if they are getting...