WASHINGTON, D.C., December 9, 2009 — Cayenne . Garlic . Cranberry . Though this sounds like the makings for a tasty meal, these recipe favorites have actually been used for centuries to maintain good health. With more consumers embracing integrative, preventative wellness plans, many are turning to these well-known products in both their native and dietary supplement form, depending on individual preferences. In fact, the National Institute of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that nearly 20 percent (17.7 percent) of U.S. adults take some form of nonvitamin, nonmineral product, such as echinacea, flaxseed oil and ginseng.You may recognize a few of these as common botanicals housed in your own kitchen cabinet or garden:

	Cayenne: This well-known spice can do more than heat up your favorite foods. Cayenne is known for its stimulating and warming effects, and, as such, has traditionally been used to promote heart and circulatory health. Various topical preparations of capsicum, a resin found in cayenne, are used globally as a topical aid that helps with inflammation and pain.
	Cinnamon: A favorite spice used in sweets, pastries and beverages, some science has suggested that cinnamon helps maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Cinnamon also warms the body, and has been used to aid colds, cramps and abdominal pains.
	Cranberry: Who knew this Thanksgiving staple had major health benefits? Many scientific studies have suggested that cranberry helps maintain a healthy urinary tract because it prevents certain bacteria from adhering to bladder walls.
	Garlic: Popular Italian recipe staple, aphrodisiac, vampire repellant...creative uses for garlic have spanned centuries. But garlic has also been tapped for many health measures—most noticeably for sustaining cardiovascular health and preserving healthy blood pressure.
	Mint: Mint tea, mint chocolate chip, mint julep...this potted plant favorite has long been added to everything from treats to beverages to toothpaste. Not only is it refreshing and pleasing to the palate, mint, especially peppermint, can also aid in digestion and help prevent indigestion. An upset stomach can be due to muscle spasms in the digestive tract that cause discomfort, and chemicals found in mint can help relax these muscles.

Click here to see a list of ten common botanicals worth getting reacquainted with.

While adding these botanicals to your cooking via their leafy or powder forms will provide health benefits, it may be easier to achieve beneficial levels by taking them in dietary supplement form. For example, if you are interested in the health benefits of cinnamon, and you aren’t interested in overloading your breakfast, lunch and dinner with cinnamon powder—or if you don’t enjoy its natural bitter taste—perhaps a cinnamon supplement might be right for you.

But most importantly, remember to discuss with your doctor, licensed naturopath or other integrative healthcare professional the botanicals you are taking or are considering taking to determine which product is right for you, as well as which form and at what dosage.