Herb Of The Month: Coleus Forskohlii

Coleus forskohlii is a useful herb for a number of applications. It may be most useful in that it increases intracellular amounts of cyclic AMP. This is a naturally occurring compound in the body that allows for a lot of different cellular functions. One of the functions it seems to strengthen is thyroid function.

However, coleus has been shown to be helpful in a number of other uses. One of the most promising is its use with glaucoma, in that it brings down pressure in the eye. Psoriasis has also responded favorably to coleus treatment, possibly because cyclic AMP tends to be low in skin affected by psoriasis.