Green tea may help protect liver health, according to a new animal study. In tests on rats, scientists discovered that green tea prevented the development of liver fibrosis (a condition marked by buildup of collagen and other proteins in the liver). The study's results suggest that green tea may help reduce the deposition of collagen fibers in the liver (an organ responsible for aiding in digestion and clearing waste products from the blood).

Occurring in most types of chronic liver disease, liver fibrosis may lead to life-threatening problems like cirrhosis and liver failure. Typically triggered by inflammation, liver fibrosis causes no symptoms and usually affects people who have an underlying liver disorder.

In past studies, natural remedies such as milk thistle and probiotics have also been shown to boost liver health. However, if you have a liver disorder, it's crucial to work with a physician in treating your condition rather than attempting to self-treat with herbs and other natural substances.

If you're struggling to get a good night's sleep, consider trying acupuncture. In a recently published review, researchers sized up 46 studies (including a total of 3,811 patients) that examined the use of acupuncture in treatment of insomnia. Results revealed that acupuncture was superior to sleeping pills regarding the number of patients whose total sleep time increased by more than three hours. The researchers also found that using acupuncture in combination with herbal remedies was more effective than using herbs alone to improve sleep.

A traditional Chinese therapy practiced for over 5,000 years, acupuncture involves inserting needles on certain points on the body in order to promote the flow of vital energy. Acupuncture may also be helpful in the treatment of low back pain, arthritis, and certain side effects associated with cancer therapies.

Scientists have developed a new capsule to help improve the body's uptake of curcumin, a compound known to offer anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

In a recent report, the scientists note that digestive fluids in the gastrointestinal tract can rapidly destroy curcumin and keep it from being fully absorbed by the body. With the use of the newly developed capsule, however, absorption of curcumin increased fourfold and boosted blood levels of antioxidants.

Found in the curry spice turmeric, curcumin has been shown to protect against a host of diseases in recently published studies. For instance, research suggests that curcumin intake may help reduce risk of breast cancer, Alzheimer's disease, heart failure, diabetes, cataracts, and skin cancer. Curcumin may also help curb inflammation associated with chronic pain, as well as help cells fight off infection more effectively.

Green tea may help guard against oral cancer, according to recent research.

For the study, researchers focused on 41 people with oral leukoplakia, a precancerous sore that develops on the tongue or the inside of the cheek in response to chronic irritation. For three months, study members took either green tea extract at one of three doses - 500 mg per meter squared of body mass (mg/m2), 750 mg/m2, or 1,000 mg/m2 - or a placebo daily. Of those taking the two highest doses of the extract, 58.8 percent had a clinical response, compared with 36.4 percent in the lowest-extract dose and 18.2 percent in the placebo group.

The green tea extract also led to an improvement in a number of biomarkers that may play a crucial role in predicting cancer development. What's more, the green tea extract was well tolerated, although it did produce some side effects (including insomnia and nervousness) in the high-dose group.