Herbal Help for Depression

About 17 million Americans suffer from clinical depression each year. In fact, clinical depression, also referred to the principal or unipolar depression, is the most commonly occurring mood disorders.

While we all experience periodic "mood swings," the symptoms of depression are a true partnership outlined by the American Psychiatric Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, at least 5 of 8 following symptoms must be present for at least one month in order to diagnose clinical depression:

• Weight loss due to lack of appetite, or accompanied by excess weight gain
• Frequent insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much)
• Lack of interest in regular activities and / or a decrease in sexual behaviour
• In general feeling of fatigue
• Too much activity or inactivity
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Difficulty concentrating
• Thoughts of suicide

Anti-depressive drugs are an all-too frequent course of treatment for depression, but are not necessarily the best. On the one hand, there is a high rate of relapse and dependency associated with these drugs. An alternative is gaining popularity cognitive therapy used to manipulate brain chemistry by empowering the patient with the new "tools" for daily life. Indeed, cognitive therapy teaches the depressed person to replace the automatic negative thoughts with more appropriate. This process re-engineering of thought not only relieves the feeling of impotence or loss of control in the patient, but actually results in stabilizing brain chemistry.

Depression has a variety of causes, both physiological and organic origin. Some of the most recognized are: food allergies, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, diabetes, heart disease, environmental toxins (heavy metals), poor adrenal function, nutritional deficiencies and even certain medications. From this list is so long, it is important to seek help from a qualified health professional to rule out any of these conditions. Severe or major depression (especially when the thoughts of death or suicide are in sight) consists of a range of therapies and should only be treated by a qualified professional. However, mild to moderate depression can show improvement through the use of certain botanical products and nutritional considerations. However, you should discuss these therapies with their doctor first. It is also imperative that you never herbal medicines are combined with other anti-depressants prescription drugs.

Uncle Sam collects SAM

SAM (S-Adenosyl-methionine) is involved in the operation of monoaminas (such as serotonin, dopamine and gamma-amino butyric acid or GAB), neurotransmitters and some lipids. In "normal" brain chemistry, sufficient quantities of SAM are produced by the amino acid methionine, but this synthesis is altered in depressed people. Many double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have found Sam to be one of the most effective natural anti-depressants and is better tolerated and works faster than many tricylic anti-depressant drugs. Although SAM has been widely used in Europe for at least 20 years old, has only come to the U.S. in recent months.

The usual dose is 400 mg four times a day, but since SAM can cause nausea and vomiting that sometimes started at 200 mg twice daily for several days and gradually increased to full therapeutic dose. Note: the administration of supplements SAM is unsuitable for manic (bipolar) depression patients and their manic symptoms can be lifted.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

There are at least 10 pharmacologically active substances found in the extract of this plant, but researchers are most interested in hypericin and pseudohypericin. The exact mechanism of the herb's capacity to alleviate depression and anxiety remain largely unknown, but a recent study may provide some clues. The action of hypericin to sites alpha receptors, known to be involved in the role of MAOs and 5-HTP reuptake inhibitors (a metabolite of L-tryptophan in the synthesis of serotonin), supports the herb as a universal reputation a lift and humor sedative. The extract (standardized to 0.3%) is usually given at 300 mg three times a day with meals. Note: This herb can sometimes cause mild stomach irritation. Hypericin may also increase photosensitivity and has recently been linked with the formation of cataracts with long-term use.

Kava (Piper methysticum)

This herb has a long history of use in reducing anxiety, but is relatively new in the treatment of anxiety associated with depression. Several European countries have approved kava for treating insomnia, nervous disorders and depression. In the U.S., kava preparations are available as dietary supplements. Officials beneficial kava kavalactones found in the dried rhizome of the plant. Several studies have shown that the effects of kava a receiver Gabe-binding capacity and capability of blocking the absorption of norepinephrine. In 1997 a German study, 101 subjects who suffer from non-psychotic anxiety took part in a 25 week placebo-controlled, double-blind test with an extract of kava. The researchers concluded that kava is comparable to treatment with benzodiazepines, but without undesirable side effects. The recommended dose (30-70% to standardized) 45-70 mg three times a day.

Nutrition Guide

L-tryptophan is the metabolic precursor of melatonin and serotonin neurotransmitters with sedative qualities and useful in treating the symptoms of depression. However, L-tryptophan was banned in the U.S. due to an incidence of pollution and the Food and Drug Administration is unlikely to allow back into the market in the short term. However, a new supplement available, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HTP), may be even more effective. Unlike L-tryptophan, 5-HTP is readily bioavailable, as it does not require a molecule transport or compete with other amino acids in the system. While it is necessary to take into L-tryptophan on an empty stomach, 5-HTP can be taken with meals. In addition, 5-HTP is biochemically closer to serotonin, chemically known as 5-hydroxy tryptamine. Studies have also shown that 5-HTP increases beta-endorphins, the "feel good" hormones. The usual dose is 200 mg. per day.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, there is a clear association between depression and a diet lacking in sufficient fatty acids, particularly omega-3. The brain depends on the membrane fatty acids to ensure the fluidity and function of nerve cells, the factors that effect neurotransmitter synthesis and transmission. Low omega-3 levels also influence the actions of monomine oxidase, the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of serotonin, dopamine and epinephrine. The best sources of omega-fatty acids are cold water fish such as salmon, halibut, etc., consume 1-2 times a week. Supplementation with fish oil, a rich source of omega-3, should include docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Follow dosage recommendations manufacturers.

Navigating the World of Herbal Remedies

Firstly, one needs to know that the author of this article is a bona fide western medicine doctor. I, like most of my colleagues, is not taught a single word about the medicinal herbs in medical school. Fortunately, I have an inquisitive mind and have made my quest to research and understand this fascinating subject. Medicinal herbs are available everywhere and manufacturers of these products are numerous. The products can range from capsules containing a single type of grass "special schemes", as marketed by "menopausal symptoms" or "stress relief" that often contain many different herbs in a single capsule. Determining which of these to take and how much has become a challenge for many consumers.

The dangers of the use of medicinal plants are many. On the one hand, herbal products are largely unregulated. The Food and Drug Administration believes that herbs are dietary supplements rather than drugs. This means that the manufacturer only has to prove that the herb is safe for human consumption and is not required to determine whether the herb really works for what they say. Manufacturers are allowed to make any statement they wish about the possible health benefits of a particular herb, always add the disclaimer, "these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose , Treat, cure or prevent any disease. " Without evidence of a benefit of the herb is required - shades of the old-time medicine on men traveling in wagons peddling his snake oil to unsuspecting pioneers.

Secondly, there is a risk of adulteration in some herbal remedies. If the value of the grass is high, some companies discredited lower than those of cheaper products with a grass so that the consumer does not receive the full force of grass. Chinese Ginseng is an example of an herb for the adulteration has been a problem.

Finally, when the consumer will purchase the desired grass, reading and understanding of labelling on the packaging may be hallucinating. There is no well-defined dose of herbal medicines and to complicate matters further, there is no standard method for reporting doses in the packages. For example, a brand of kava kava (a herb used for anxiety) states containing two capsules of 300 milligrams of kava kava standardized to 30% kavalactones. What does that mean? Why tell us the dose of two capsules instead of just one, and what are kavalactones anyway? The bottle of kava kava with him stated that two of its 1000 milligram capsules containing kava kava from a concentrate of 4:1. Bottle containing the best dose of kava kava and how much should really be?

Besides needing a calculator to store herbs, a degree in pharmacy could be even more useful. The only problem with this is that most pharmacists are not trained in medicinal plants, either. Now do not get me wrong. I believe that herbs are a wonderful alternative to mainstream medical therapy. Since it is estimated that 80% of the world's population have used herbal medicines and herbs have been used for thousands of years, there must be some validity to its usefulness.

Not Sleeping Well Lately? Herbal Remedies for Insomnia

You hear everything - learn from the refrigerator, the yowl of the neighbor's dog and the shrill siren of a police car off in the distance. You hear everything because you're awake, is the three o'clock and you have to give a briefing to work five hours. You can not sleep and insomnia is on your nerves.

Fortunately, traditional herbal medicines are now available to help with this common cause, today's problem. More than half of all Americans have some sort of difficulty in obtaining or maintaining a rested night's sleep. It is sold without a prescription not herbal medicines for insomnia are limited to those that are commonly used antihistamines for allergies, but who help you sleep because they are so sedative. The options among herbal remedies insomnia, on the other hand, are numerous and mankind has had centuries of practice using them for the difficulties sleeping. Several of them even have the backing of scientific research showing its safety and efficacy to help improve sleep patterns.

Valerian root is one of the two most popular herbal therapies for insomnia. The plant from which the root is taken grows in temperate climates around the world. It has been used for more than a thousand years as a sleep remedy, especially for the great Hippocrates himself. Nobody knows exactly how to induce sleep, however, modern scientists have embarked on studies showing that it does, in fact, the clinical work in humans. A German study published in 1998 showed that a combination of valerian root and hops (another dream of inducing herb) worked, as well as a prescription of benzodiazepines force (similar to Valium) in treating sleep disorders. And valerian root, unlike benzodiazepines, is not addictive.

On the other side of the world, natives of the South Pacific have their own cure for insomnia. Kava kava, a shrub native to the islands, has long been used by the natives to induce relaxation and provide a sense of wellbeing when drunk in important religious rites. Scientific research supports the effectiveness of kava kava as a cure for anxiety and sleep disorders. An article published in Pharmacopsychiatry in 1997, for example, showed a significant improvement in anxiety in subjects who took kava kava compared with those who took a placebo. Like valerian, kava kava is not addictive.

Modern science has not been so generous with other medicinal plants commonly used for insomnia. Research on humans using herbs such as hops, chamomile and passionflower is scarce and there is no scientific evidence to indicate one way or another if they have an effect on sleep. However, are often sleep herbal of aid. Fortunately, no one has shown that they are unsafe for consumption either. Given centuries of tradition-based plants that supports its effectiveness for insomnia, can we expect at least something useful for those with trouble sleeping. Some herbs actually sleep-aid are a mixture of a primary as kava kava or valerian herb along with smaller quantities of hops, passionflower and chamomile. Se cree que the last three herbs increase the dream of promoting properties of the main herbal ingredients.

How much should you take?

Determining the appropriate dose of kava kava or valerian root of the packages in the store or pharmacy healthy can be complicated enough to keep you awake at night. There is no labelling rules for herbal preparations, many of the labels can be quite confusing (and I daresay, misleading?).

When looking for a product kava, make sure the capsule contains a "normalization of extract of kava." Most normalization of extracts from kava kava containing approximately 30% kavalactones, the active ingredients in kava. The recommended dose is kavalactones of 60-200 milligrams per day, usually taken twice daily. Therefore, if the package states that a capsule contains 300 milligrams of kava kava standardized to 30% kavalactones, which actually contains only 100 milligrams of active ingredient. (Tip: 300 milligrams multiplied by 30% or 0.3 to get 100 milligrams of kavalactones). Fortunately, a capsule containing 100 milligrams of kavalactones is just right.

By choosing valerian root, look for a capsule containing at least 500 milligrams of valerian. Two of these capsules should be taken simultaneously for insomnia relief. Valerian root is perhaps more commonly in combination with other herbs to sleep that is kava kava. Usually, if you look for a capsule containing the correct amount of valerian root, the rest of the ingredients are in much smaller quantities. While the other herbal ingredients may or may not be effective for sleep disorders, which probably can not hurt either.

I encourage you to experiment with different products to see what works best for you. None of the herbal remedies is intended to be used every night indefinitely, but rather for the occasional night when the dream escapes. If you have a serious problem with insomnia, I suggest you consult your health care provider for further advice. Happy sleeping!

Get with the Flow: Herbs for Prostate Health

"I think I have prostate problems." Many middle-aged men have Mumbles these words to your healthcare provider, with the hope of alleviating the symptoms of urinary disturbing as the lack of urinary stream, incomplete emptying the bladder, a frequent need to empty the night and repeated emptying. It is estimated that over 50 percent of men develop these symptoms at some point in their lives, resulting in a significant reduction in the perceived quality of life.

The blame for this medical condition is common prostate gland, a walnut-sized gland that lies below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine flows, as it leaves the bladder. Only men have a prostate gland which has an important role in supplying components necessary for the fluid that transports sperm. Unfortunately, as men age, there are changes in levels of sex hormones in their bodies which translates into an accumulation of the hormone testosterone in the prostate. Inside the prostate gland, the testosterone is metabolized in its most potent form, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is partially responsible for the increase in prostate size. When the prostate is enlarged, is squeezed off the urethra, making it difficult for urine to pass. And so the problem.

Until 1990, only traditional medical models offer surgery for men with enlarged prostates (a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH). The surgery, called transurethral resection of the prostate or TURP, which involved using a device that went into the urethra via the penis and scrape out sections of the prostate. Besides being painful and expensive, often had to be repeated after several years. In 1990, a drug called finasteride (Proscar) was approved for prostate enlargement. It works by inhibiting the enzyme that turned testosterone into DHT, which in turn reduce the proliferation of prostate tissue. Its main "side effect" is its cost, nearly $ 800 dollars a year.

In the last decade, increasing attention has been paid to herbal medicines for enlargement of the prostate that have proven in clinical trials research to be effective in relieving symptoms in the prostate significantly lower cost and with remarkably few side effects. At the risk of sounding lofty, however, I refuse to say another word about these herbs useful until I am sure that I have reached the point as to what should be the first step before trying to use those resources if Symptoms of prostate:

Ask your health care provider for an examination of his prostate. It is not something to treat their own without first seeing a provider. Prostate cancer has the same symptoms that an enlarged prostate and is treatable if caught early.

Thank you. I feel better. More ... Three herbs have particular promise in reducing the symptoms of BPH. An extract taken from the saw palmetto berries, a dwarf palm native to Florida, has been the most extensively studied herbal remedy for this condition. Saw palmetto is cree to block the same enzyme as finasteride lead to a contraction of the prostate tissue and the resulting improvement in urine flow. Although no head-to-head between the two studies have been carried out, some of the studies indicated that Saw Palmetto can work better than finasteride (and at a fraction of the cost).

The bark of an African tree known as Pygeum africanum offers another alternative for the treatment of BPH. Although there are fewer studies on the effectiveness of Pygeum for this condition, is widely used in Europe and it is generally considered safe. Investigators believe that Pygeum has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the growth of certain types of cells in the prostate. Many products on the market "Prostate Health" containing a combination of Saw Palmetto and Pygeum.

Even less well studied stinging nettle is that it is also commonly used on many products containing herbs for symptoms of prostate cancer. Are known to have a mild diuretic effect that improves urine flow, but may also have some anti-inflammatory effect on prostate as well. While the mechanism of action is unclear, clinical studies show that improving urinary symptoms in men with BPH. (As you may already have guessed, scientific research on herbal therapies is limited due to lack of funding for such research.)

And so, having had a proper examination to prove the absence of cancerous tissue in the prostate and whether it had decided to try an herbal remedy for symptoms of prostate cancer, his trip to the pharmacy will be less confusing if you look for the following themes of the label of any product you choose: * Saw palmetto should be one of the ingredients if not the only ingredient. It has the best scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. Each pill must contain 160 milligrams of extract Saw Palmetto to be taken twice daily.

* The bottle must say that Saw Palmetto extract contains between 85 and 95% of fatty acids or "Lipophylic constituents." * The presence of stinging nettle or Pygeum are optional, and certainly not dangerous. The recommended dose is Pygeum 100-200 milligrams of extract daily. The recommended dose of stinging nettle is 770 milligrams twice a day. Note: Most products contain far from the respective quantities of these plants so do not worry so much about these doses as it does on the dose of Saw Palmetto in the product. * There is some evidence that zinc, pumpkin seed oil, licorice and some amino acids are useful in promoting the health of prostate and many combination products containing these as well. They do not hurt. Note that can take up to three months before you notice the greatest relief of symptoms. It's probably best to wait so long before deciding that the product does not work for you. Fortunately, at about $ 15 a month, you will not have to take out a loan to see if it works!

A Hot Topic: Herbs and Menopause Menopause

Women in the millions are headed by a shift-change, rather that not-so-magical moment of a woman's life when her ovaries decide to call it departs. Doctors call it "menopause, women have other names for the phenomenon dreaded experiencing, usually between the ages of 45 and 55. Traditional Western medicine has been limited to forms that could support women who come to their physician with complaints classic-menopausal hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and memory or concentration difficulties. For these women, the options have been limited to two: 1) hormone replacement therapy with drugs that contain estrogen and progesterone, hormones that the ovaries stop making at menopause, or 2) living with her.

Today, however, women are demanding more choices of ways they can be more comfortable without having to rely on synthetic hormone therapy. Leaving aside the traditional medical therapy, herbal remedies have become increasingly popular for women who want to make a good natural menopause, but the transition. In a three-part series of articles, I will discuss the various medicinal herbs for menopause and help you make an informed decision about what is best for you.

One of the most popular herbs for menopausal symptoms is black Cohosh root, harvested from a bush native plants and parts of eastern North americas. It has been used widely in Europe as a treatment for menopausal hot flashes and is gaining popularity in the U.S.. The way black Cohosh works to control hot flashes is interesting and worth discussion. Unfortunately, most painless means a mini-conference on menopause and why hot flashes occur. Therefore, if you are for it ...

When a woman approaches menopause, your ovaries basically raise awareness and stop producing the usual amount of estrogen and progesterone, hormones normally produced cycle in women menstruating. The brain, sensing the relative lack of female hormones, starts sending chemical signals in an attempt to attract the ovaries to "pick up the pace a bit and produce more hormones. These brain chemicals are called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The women in menopause have many of these hormones in their bodies. Scientists believe that fluctuations in the highest levels of LH, in particular, are the causes of hot flashes.

Enter Cohosh black. When taken for menopausal symptoms, the herb attaches itself to some of the same receptors in the body that estrogen does and tricks the brain into thinking it is really estrogen. The LH levels are reduced hot flashes and get better. Easy, huh?

Well, not exactly. If black Cohosh can fool the brain into thinking it is estrogen, it does act like estrogen in other ways? More importantly, does carry the same risk of stimulating the growth of estrogen-sensitive cancers (such as some breast and uterine cancer) as well as estrogen real? Although not completely understood scientifically, recent evidence suggests that black Cohosh has minimal estrogenic properties. This means that while grants to estrogen receptors and estrogen, not "become" receptors in the same way as estrogen. Apart from its effects on the brain LH secretion, it is not known to stimulate the lining of the uterus or do any other of the commonly known estrogen does things. In other words, part of the body is fooled into thinking black Cohosh is the estrogen, but not all of it.

So what does all this mean? If science can prove that black Cohosh reduces levels of LH but does not act like estrogen completely, this may be an excellent option for postmenopausal women at risk for estrogen-sensitive cancers that otherwise would not be candidates for traditional therapy Hormone replacement. The "jury" is still in this, but I personally am very hopeful that this will be the case.

If you're willing to give black Cohosh an example, here's what you need to know before heading to the store to buy some. Look for a brand reputation that gives the dose of black Cohosh as an "extract". The daily dose should be approximately 80 milligrams of extract. Sometimes, other herbs are mixed with the black Cohosh and called for a "formula of menopause." This is probably fine, but as you can learn in the following articles, each herb is not as effective or as safe Cohosh black and he can invite the undesirable side effects. Take it for a month or so and see how he feels. There has been no scientific studies on black Cohosh beyond 6 months of use to see your healthcare provider if you want to use the grass for that.

Feminine Forever? More Herbs for Menopause

Menopause is the ideal audience for marketers of all types of medical devices. Overwhelmed by the symptoms do not like and just understand, menopausal women are desperate for relief and exceptionally sensitive to complaints from manufacturers of products that supposedly "cured" of their illnesses and menopause avoid the aging process. Now, do not get me wrong. The traditional doctors are as guilty when writing prescriptions for synthetic estrogen and progestin for menopausal and tell their patients the drug will be those of getting heart disease and osteoporosis. What I have done myself. I think, what woman does not want to hear the answer to all their problems is packed in a small pill? If menopause is a state of estrogen and progesterone deficiency, why not just replace what is missing and things back the way it was?

I wish that were so easy. Medicines and, yes, even natural herbs risks and benefits. None offers the perfect answer, especially when it comes to menopause. Two natural products promoted as potentially useful for menopausal symptoms are dong quai and wild yam extract. According to the see-before-you-leap philosophy of this site, I think it would be worthwhile to look more closely at each of these before rushing to buy.

First, let's look at wild yam. Just to get this straight, did not eat for Thanksgiving last year. Wild yam comes mainly from Mexico and is unrelated to the type we eat. In the years 1940, it was discovered that the wild yam contains diosgenin, a chemical precursor of progesterone found naturally in humans. Nothing much came to the conclusion, commercially speaking, because shortly thereafter, pharmaceutical companies have found a way to manufacture a synthetic progesterone-like chemical that was, quite frankly, an easier way to make money. Such synthetic progesterone found in birth control pills and in most forms medically prescribed hormone replacement therapy for menopause. Recently, however, natural progesterone has made a return, especially in a topical cream applied in which the progesterone (derived from wild yam) is absorbed through the skin. Available nonprescription, does not have to imitate the body of natural progesterone, is actually the same chemical that we have in our bodies.

Is this type of product? Probably. The saliva tests to show predictable progesterone increases several hours after progesterone cream is applied to the skin. Moreover, studies have shown improvement, especially in premenopausal symptoms such as fluid retention, heavy or irregular menstrual cycles, depression and mood swings that actually precede the cessation of menstruation for several years. In women with hot flashes and night sweats, there is some evidence that wild yam cream alone provide relief without the simultaneous use of estrogen, a necessary condition "ingredient" of medically-prescribed therapy. This is good news for those who are concerned about the Estrogens related risks such as breast or uterine cancer and blood clots. The risk of osteoporosis, too, is probably reduced by the use of wild yam cream.

So what is the disadvantage? Wild yam cream is not entirely natural. Remember I said that contain wild yam "diosgenin" and not actually progesterone. His body can not make the chemical change itself so that the wild yam has to go through a laboratory for chemical conversion before it can be effective. That is not a bad thing as far as I'm concerned, but beware of someone trying to sell land of fresh wild yam field of menopause therapy.

The product you buy should have already been converted to progesterone (although the label does not necessarily say that) and should be able to provide a concentration of progesterone so that the amount to be applied between 15 and 20 milligrams per day. A concentration of about 400 milligrams per ounce is a good idea. Again, not really "natural" but the end result is a chemical that is identical to progesterone.

Dong quai, also known as angelic china, is a traditional remedy herbal found in many "support for menopause" formulas available at the pharmacy or health food store. Chinese herbalists cree that has the ability to "balance" the female hormone system and is known to improve uterine cramps.

Although dong quai is backed by centuries of use in herbal medicine china, modern studies do not support its effectiveness for menopausal symptoms. A 1997 study showed no benefit from dong quai over placebo in postmenopausal women with hot flashes. In addition, it carries significant risks if used incorrectly. The root contains a photosensitizing chemical that can cause severe burns or rashes and sensitive women, in others there is the possibility of bleeding complications.

Therefore, the take-home message is this: I can not say that I am particularly excited with dong quai, but if it works for you and you are aware of the risks, by all means use it.

Wild yam cream, on the other hand, has potential. I think if a woman does his homework and buys a product containing adequate amounts of progesterone reputation, it is a good opportunity to get some relief from their symptoms of menopause. Bringing to menopause women who suffer from irregular menstrual cycles heavy cream May actually find this useful as it can provide a respite highly appreciated the often unpredictable cycles of these women have.

Phytoestrogens for Menopause:What does it all Mean?

This is not easy for me to admit. After scouring the Internet and textbooks for the latest research on phytoestrogens for menopause, I am stumped as to what that all means and what to recommend to women considering the use of phytoestrogens for the relief of menopausal symptoms. Frankly, I discovered that many of the studies and articles in conflict with one another. By the time I was finished, I did not know what to believe. However, let's look at the data and see what we can resolve.

Phytoestrogens are chemicals found naturally in plants that are biologically related to human estrogen. There are phytoestrogens in soy, clover, alfalfa sprouts and flaxseeds, soybean is the most commonly used source in the human diet. Soyprotein is found in tofu, soy milk, soy nuts, "vegetarian" and hamburgers in some supplements in tablet form. It is in the soy isoflavones, which give phytoestrogenic properties.

What are phytoestrogens good for? Unfortunately, it depends on what kind of research that are looking at. The cultural studies argue that soy is good for preventing breast cancer and for reducing hot flashes in women because Asian women, who consume a large amount of soy in their diet, have a lower risk for both conditions, compared with American women. The problem as I see it, however, is that soy is not the only difference in our diet (not to mention our genetic makeup, either) and that consumption of soy could be why not relate to Asian women have a better risk profile than we do.

Some menopausal women in clinical studies showed a reduction in hot flashes in those who consume soy isoflavones compared with those who took a placebo. Other studies showed no statistical differences. I do not know how to interpret studies that differ from this type.

I was particularly intrigued by the biochemical studies of phytoestrogens. It appears from these studies that make the plant estrogens bind to estrogen receptors in the human body, but to an extent which is 100 times less than human estrogens. The results are divided, however, on whether the plant estrogen, once linked to an estrogen receptor to activate the receiver (hence, have estrogenic properties) or shuts down the receiver (thereby having anti-estrogenic properties).

Why is this important? Because if the soy protein has estrogenic properties positive, I will not be too enthusiastic about recommending it to women who are at risk of developing estrogen-dependent cancers as breast cancer. Anything that acts as an estrogen in theory could feed these types of cancer, stimulating growth. Moreover, studies in animals and cell cultures of cancer have shown that soy phytoestrogens actually inhibit the growth of this type of cancer rather than encourage them.

Okay, so maybe I'm just being picky about the details but I really wish that someone would do research to determine how soy phytoestrogens affect breast cancer cells and could therefore provide safe soy as an option for women without having to worry about their breast cancer risk. Despite the lack of agreement between research on soy phytoestrogens, some things can be said of soybeans that make a good addition to your diet:

1. I am thus reducing cholesterol reduces the risk of heart disease.
2. Soybeans may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
3. There seems to be no evidence to suggest that soy increases the risk of breast cancer.
4. It can help reduce hot flashes in menopause.

Nobody seems clear on how to eat soybeans. Most sources indicate that about 3 ounces of tofu or 60 grams of soy protein eaten daily is appropriate to lower cholesterol and minimize the hot flashes.

The tablet forms of soy isoflavones that I found at the pharmacy contained 1.5-2 grams of concentrated soy isoflavones per capsule to be taken four times a day. Is my math is all wrong or that not only 8 grams of soy per day? And what does "soy isoflavones concentrated"? Does it mean that you need less of it because it is concentrated? I have no idea how to answer these questions and manufacturers are suspiciously vague in this regard.

The bottom line is that I'm pretty sure soy protein is healthy for you and can help reduce the symptoms of menopause. It may or may not be effective in reducing the risk of breast cancer and is probably better to get in their diet instead of using the supplements in pill form. How do you decide to turn tofu into a tasty dish of the whole family will love depends on you.

The Fact and Fancy of Fenugreek: Part Two

At the end of Part I of this article, I was not sure what to think of Fenugreek. The idea that applying a poultice of ground Fenugreek seeds in the chest breast size similar improvement tones curanderismo to me, although the idea behind it some substance. However, I could not find solid evidence to support claims that Fenugreek improves breast size. In this part of the article, we will explore a completely different aspect of Fenugreek-one for which scientific evidence of its effectiveness is available.

Fenugreek seeds gomoso contain a substance called mucilage, a gelatinous type of fiber is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract when we consume. Not only does not get absorbed, has a tendency to enjoy some other things along the way which, in turn, is not well absorbed and pass through our systems undigested.

It has been suggested that Fenugreek has promise for diabetics. Scientific studies have found that Fenugreek blocks the absorption of sugar in the GI tract and thus reduces blood sugar levels after meals. Two studies showed that found 20 percent reductions in the readings of blood sugar after a meal containing Fenugreek compared with a meal without. (I will explain the downside to this later.)

Similarly, grass se cree que reduce cholesterol levels even though its mechanism of action is a bit more complicated. Presumably, a diet rich in Fenugreek would be a cheaper way to reduce cholesterol in the blood of using some of the lipid-lowering drugs currently available (which are priced at about $ 100 per month).

Some literature states that Fenugreek can be useful in managing obesity, the idea that the mucilage in the seeds can absorb enough calories in the GI tract to promote weight loss. Could not find any supporting scientific studies on this and I suspect that we should eat a lot of Fenugreek to see any noticeable effects.

Which brings me to the downside of all this. In the scientific papers I read, the amount of Fenugreek used to achieve reductions in blood sugar after meals seems excessive. A study used 100 grams of grass for food. This is almost a quarter-pound of Fenugreek much of what they had to try to eliminate particularly bitter taste and then the baking powder in a pan before anyone could eat. Another study used only 15 grams per meal. They ground up seeds and made a slurry with the water they drank with their food items (how appetizing!). Similar reductions in blood sugar were found in each study.

Hence, must be a herbal pill for this, right? Of course there are, mostly in the range of 500 milligrams per capsule of Fenugreek. Only thirty of these pills a day would be required to match the amount used in one study that I mentioned. I'm not saying that the manufacturers' recommendations of 3-6 capsules per day will not be effective, it's just that there is no real evidence that these small amounts is no difference. Moreover, when manufacturers capsules Fenugreek talk about the cholesterol-lowering properties and diabetes health Fenugreek, articles I have mentioned are the most frequently cited. Do you think that is not going to read the details of these studies? That is the point. We almost never do and that is how you create misconceptions. What about good old-fashioned power supplies Fenugreek? I found several recipes that contain Fenugreek seeds as a spice, mostly lamb and seafood. Fenugreek is popular in the East Indies and the kitchen. Unfortunately, one teaspoon Fenugreek prescription may not be sufficient to provide any of the medicines we have just effects.

The Fact and Fancy of Fenugreek: Part One

"In announcing a new wonder herb for increasing size bust," I must admit, when I saw this ad, I was very intrigued (not for myself, mind you, but for the sake of science). I was wondering, how can one make this herb and women can actually see results? My search for answers led me to studying Fenugreek, a not-exactly-new herbs used by the ancient Greeks, Hindus and Chinese for thousands of years to treat a variety of ailments. In Western cultures, has revived itself as a breast-enhancer, which is taken internally or applied as a poultice for the breasts. Its defenders assert that can improve the appearance of their breasts sagging promoting the growth of breast cells.

Not one to take such statements at face value, dug deeper into the literature in an attempt to follow the logic of such claims. Soon, I found myself bogged down on familiar territory: if the herbs that contain estrogen-like compounds and how they really work.

The parties are using Fenugreek seeds and sprouts that are mashed into a poultice or boiled in water to make tea. The active components of Fenugreek are diosgenin (a precursor chemical for estrogen and progesterone) and phytoestrogens (plant chemicals that mimic human estrogen). My last two articles discussed these chemicals in detail and so we just summarize its actions here as they relate to breast tissue.

Diosgenin is a known precursor to estrogen and progesterone. A chemical is capable of transforming diosgenin in its active form in a laboratory. Our bodies can not do on our own. Proponents of Fenugreek state in increasing the size of the breast because it contains diosgenin which has estrogenic properties. No, at least not until a chemical is kept with it. In its natural form, diosgenin has not been shown to provide some estrogenic activity of breast tissue. So how is supposed to work?

Fenugreek also contains phytoestrogens which mimic human estrogen in the body. The research in this area is even Messier. Nobody can seem to agree on how to actually work phytoestrogens in a cellular level. For the sake of this article, let's pretend that phytoestrogens actually act on breast tissue as estrogen and stimulate growth of breast tissue when we use it. Is not that dangerous? When I was in medical school, we were taught that anything that stimulates the growth of breast tissue also increases the risk of breast cancer. I'm not sure I want to take that risk only for greater cup size.

Perhaps the phytoestrogens not actually promote the growth of breast tissue at all but instead increase the size of cells in the breast (such as raisins soaked in water). Now that's not a bad thing but when this happens to women during their normal menstrual period, usually complain of pain in the breasts and did not seem to care that her breast size is bigger. In any case, I have not found any research to support any of the allegations about this herb and how it works to improve breast-so that what I am saying is partly speculative.

My advice? Try it if you want and if it works, great. Do not take a loan, however, for any expensive product to make "remarkable". You can make the product with the seeds of the store or shoots that grow yourself. The tea is made by soaking 1 ½ teaspoons Fenugreek seeds in cold water for about three hours and then strain the liquid. Three cups a day is recommended. The poultice is made by soaking seeds or seedlings, and mixed with oil or cream to make it easier to implement. The results can be immediate or may take several weeks (or nothing?).

Alleviating Arthritis Pain With Herbs--Part II

Modern medicine's response relief for arthritis is actually a double-edged sword. There are dozens of medicines to choose from, several of which have been designed for a daily dose desirable. These medicines also have the backing of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which oversees years of medical research before they can be released to the general public. The medical risks of taking these drugs, unfortunately, can be serious. There is no basis to prescription medication can claim to be free of these risks. Stomach ulcers, kidney damage and bleeding complications are among the most commonly seen.

When considering taking a herbal remedy for arthritis relief, the big question should be, these are a safer alternative to modern medicine? The effectiveness is comparable? Let's look at three different medicinal plants with the safety and effectiveness in mind.

The healers practicing Ayurvedic medicine has long used Boswellia serrata, also called Indian OLÍBANO, to relieve arthritic symptoms. The gomoso resin obtained from the Boswellia tree contains boswellic acids have shown that anti-inflammatory properties. In comparative studies against conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (AIN), Boswellia proved to be safer with the same effectiveness.

Boswellia acts differently to the Ain conventional insofar as it inhibits the production of leukotrienes, which are chemical mediators on the road that leads to swollen joints. This means that it is not hard in the stomach like aspirin or Ain.

The recommended dose of Boswellia is 450 milligrams daily boswellic acid (usually 150 mg three times a day). Note, however, that the extract could buy the milligram strength of the entire extract, only a percentage of what will be boswellic acids. You will have to leave your calculator to find out how much boswellic acid that is actually receiving. Why do we always?

Personally, I think Boswellia is an excellent choice for arthritis pain relief.

Another Indian herb used for arthritis relief is turmeric, a major ingredient in curry powder. In Ayurvedic medicine, which has multiple uses. As applied to arthritic relief, turmeric se cree que inhibit prostaglandins, much the same way as AIN. Unfortunately, the risk of stomach ulcers also exists. The recommended dose is 500-1000 milligrams several times a day. My advice: Do not be my first choice because of the risk of stomach ulcers.

Cayenne pepper is a perfect example of an herbal product that was "rediscovered" by modern medicine, and later was found on pharmacy shelves as a "modern arthritic cure." Providers of health care called "capsaicin" and I am sure that sold for a higher price when it was first as a prescription product.

Capsaicin is presented as a cream and fortunately, a recipe is no longer necessary to purchase. The strength of the cream is 0.025% or 0.075%. It applies 3-4 times a day, the painful joint. How does it work? Well, have you ever eaten a hot pepper and noted that, after burning diminished, his tongue was indifferent? The same process works in the joints. During the first few days after starting the cream, all are supposed to burn a little and there will be no pain relief at all. This is because the red pepper is the liberation and then using the substance P, a chemical essential to the ability to sense pain nerves. Once all the Substance P is exhausted, the nerve is "numb" and it remains as long as you keep applying the cream.

I like capsaicin cream. It has no side effects and can be used in combination with medications taken internally. Patience, however, is the key to its success.

Once they reach a reasonable improvement in the pain of arthritis, stick with treatment and begin a gentle but persistent exercise program such as water-walking, bicycling or just walking. His joints actually feel better and will be less likely to suffer long-term complications of arthritis. Keep moving and good luck!

Alleviating Arthritis Pain with Herbs, Part I

Few holders of a magazine strip in front of stores faster than the "New Found Arthritis Cure." The phrase "Formula Arthritis Cure" in bottles containing herbal supplements provides for the sale of energy similar to the manufacturers of these products. Why is this so? What is arthritis that has so many who suffer from this problem grasping for whatever relief may be out there? The reason simply is that arthritis hurts. And people in general do not like pain. The arthritis and pain is always present, it affects every aspect of his life sick. And-contrary to some claims in advertising-there is no cure, which leaves people always scrambling to find something new to help them feel better.

There. I said. The unfortunate truth. Arthritis, regardless of type, is an incurable disease for which existing treatments are designed solely to relieve pain.

There are many types of arthritis that basically belong to one of three categories, 1), arthritis mechanics, in which there is a structural degeneration of one or more sets of components, such as bone or cartilage, 2) inflammatory arthritis in that the body's immune system attacks something in all tissues that does not like and 3) arthritis as a result of structural damage and inflammatory processes. I think it's safe to say that many with arthritis, no matter what type, suffering from pain caused by a combination of structural damage and inflammation. Sometimes structural damage comes first and sometimes upside down, but finally end up with both processes acting because of the pain of arthritis.

The vast majority of medicines for treating arthritis cope with the inflammatory component. When the swelling is reduced, the pain associated with him is low. The same is true of medicinal plants. In this and in the article continues, we will learn about the commonly used herbal therapies for arthritis, study how they work and sift through the available research on its use.

Firstly, I would like to talk a little about glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Both are popularly used these days by many suffer from arthritis. Many people I know swear by their effectiveness and use them faithfully for arthritis relief. There is research indicating that are effective. There are herbs, however, they are glucosaminoglycans, chemicals that are precursors to joint cartilage healthy. Because they have no particular anti-inflammatory properties, there is no reason not to use an herb or conventional medication with them to help alleviate the inflammatory component of arthritic pain.

Speaking of herbs ... White willow bark is used for pain and fever relief for centuries by Europeans and later by settlers from americas. It is literally extracted from the bark of a white willow tree and is also known as "natural aspirin." There is good reason for that nickname. Chemically, it is almost identical to aspirin.

White willow bark contains salicin, a precursor chemical that, once ingested and absorbed by the body transforms into salicylic acid has anti-inflammatory to relieve pain and properties. (Aspirin, by the way, is acetylsalicylic acid. There is not much of the difference, chemically speaking.) Since one ingests a precursor of the active ingredient and not the active ingredient itself, the onset of action for pain relief is slower than with, for example, taking aspirin. Side effects can be expected to be similar to those with aspirin. Needless to say, is probably not a good idea to take white sauce, crust and aspirin together unless you want a big stomachache.

The recommended dose of white willow bark is 1-3 grams of dried bark taken three times a day. The bark is steeped in a tea before consumption. This translates into a daily dose of salicina between 60 and 120 milligrams (an average aspirin is 325 milligrams). Somehow this does not seem to be enough medicine to make any difference. In fact, I found a source revealed that quarter would have to drink tea made from the highest grade white willow bark (which contains 7% salicina) to consume the equivalent of two aspirins. Of course, herbalists can rightly argue that there may be other components in white willow bark to work together with the salicina to provide anti-inflammatory pain relief to its users. I suspect that this is the case. In any case, it might be worth considering if you're interested in herbal relief for arthritis. As always, read labels carefully before buying any product.

In Part II of this series, we will discuss Boswellia, turmeric and cayenne in regard to treatment of arthritic conditions. Prepare to be more enlightened ...

Feverfew: An Herbal Treatment for Migraine Headaches

Migraines. Although I've never had one, I can say that they are unpleasant. Any patient that I have ever seen in the midst of a migraine is really miserable-a victim of blinding pain, nausea and aversion to bright lights that are experiencing. This painful event is rarely one-time thing. Migraine sufferers may have several episodes a week or only a few in their lifetime. Migraines can be very unpredictable in that way. And debilitating. To suffer from frequent migraines may have trouble keeping a job that will tolerate numerous absences due to severe headaches that often they can not stop working.

Modern medicine has recently provided a huge relief for migraine suffer in the form of medicines that can be taken once an attack has begun. Drugs such as Imitrex and Amerge act quickly to dispel a migraine by altering the muscle tone of the arteries in the brain that cause this kind of headache.

Migraines are one of a class of vascular headaches, meaning that the ultimate source of headache is a change in the tone of blood vessels within the brain. Treatments effective for migraines are not analgesics in general. Instead, work in blood vessels that secondarily relieves pain.

There are two ways to deal with migraines medical and / or herbal treatment. We talked about the first form. Basically you wait until the headache and then take something to alleviate it. The second way is to use a daily medication to prevent migraines occur, or at least reduce their frequency and severity.

Modern medicine has nothing to choose especially large in the field of prevention of migraine. Many of the medicines we use for this purpose are also used to reduce blood pressure, so if you do not have high blood pressure at the outset, the side effects can be difficult to tolerate.

Enter feverfew, a herbal remedy that has the promise in preventing migraine with relatively few side effects, (You wondered if I ever move to talk about herbs, do not you?) Feverfew bears the scientific name of Tanacetum parthenium and is a perennial shrub that grows throughout Europe. As its name implies, is used initially to reduce fever but found no information to suggest that art has value in that area. It is mainly the dry leaves that are used for medicinal purposes.

I have read anecdotal reports of feverfew be effective in treating migraine active but there is no scientific evidence to support these reports. Prevention of migraine, moreover, feverfew is where the most promising shows. Several good studies have shown its effectiveness in reducing the frequency and severity of migraines when taken orally on a daily basis.

Ginger: A Traveler's Aid

While studying herbal medicine, I noticed an interesting trend that is worth passing along: if a certain herb had a very important role in the kitchen of any ancient culture, look further. Usually, means that the herb has medicinal properties valid proof of the old town, centuries before modern medicine ever invented the concept of the research study. I think the ginger falls into that category. A favorite flavor in Asian cuisine, ginger has a strong record of more than 2500 years in medicine china. It is used mainly for gastrointestinal problems, se cree que help improve digestion, calm nausea and helps the expulsion of gases from the intestines (the perfect food additive, is not it?). In Western cultures, ginger tea remains a popular remedy for upset stomach and morning sickness.

Luckily for those of us skeptics not a hundred percent sure that two millennia of medical use is proof enough of a profit of grass, modern science has studied thoroughly enough ginger in at least one area-that of its use in preventing motion sickness.

Several recent studies have put ginger to the test in controlling nausea, some people experience when travelling in a vehicle moving or spinning. A study published in Lancet in 1982 gave the subjects either ginger or Dramamine before giving them a "walk" in a spinning, tilting chair. Those who took ginger experienced much less nausea than those who took Dramamine.

Another study from Denmark tested ginger versus placebo in subjects who then took to the open sea on a ship. Once again, ginger showed effectiveness in controlling nausea associated with motion sickness.

Personally I prefer the ginger because it lacks the side effects of drugs used for most modern motion sickness-a namely, fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness and palpitations. Whenever I used Dramamine, for example, I have a difficult time kept awake to enjoy the scenery I went to see in the first place.

Ginger capsules are usually contain about 500 milligrams of dried ginger rhizome and the recommended dosage is two capsules three times a day. Doses of up to 4 grams per day are considered acceptable. Try some the next time you travel!

A word about ginger and morning sickness: several sources, including the German Commission E Monograph, caution against the use of ginger to treat nausea in pregnancy. None of the sources gave what I thought was a valid reason for the recommendation. My guess is that nobody has enough tortured pregnant laboratory rats to make any recommendation one way or another on the safety of ginger during pregnancy. My personal advice would be to avoid high doses of capsules containing ginger and stick to a warm cup of ginger tea instead.

Ginkgo Biloba: A Smart Drug?

I figure there are three types of herbs which are useful, those are exaggerations and those who are much hyped, but also prove useful. Ginkgo biloba, in my opinion, falls into the third category, although I am not sure that what is hyped is exactly what is useful. The herb we know as Ginkgo is derived from the leaves of the maidenhair tree that grows in warm regions of the U.S. and in China. The Chinese have used for five millennia for the treatment of respiratory diseases and memory. Today is marketed as "smart drugs", which will improve their cognitive abilities, including memory.

My first questions are, "how can you do that?" and "should not we all be taking?". Advertising is fairly vague on how they are supposed to work so naturally I had to look elsewhere for answers. I believe that once you understand how the grass is much easier to decide when to use and for what purposes.

Most studies on ginkgo biloba indicates that it is useful only in those circumstances in which problems of movement is a factor. Substances Ginkgo biloba inhibit platelet activating factor (PAF) in the blood and, therefore, make blood less sticky. Slippery blood flows better through the arteries that could be partially clogged with cholesterol deposits. It also appears to be a regulating effect on the muscle tone of the blood vessels in the grass so that the blood has more space in which to flow. It makes sense that if something becomes more practice, which works better.

In claudication (a condition involving poor circulation in the legs), ginkgo biloba was found to significantly improve pain-free foot in patients who took. Similarly, memory loss because of poor blood flow to the brain can improve through the use of Ginkgo biloba. In fact, there are clinical trials in patients with dementia who showed slight improvement in memory of those who took ginkgo. The problem is, not all dementia is related to poor circulation.

Therefore, if my brain is slow, but the movement of my brain is fine, ginkgo help me? Only if you cree that football players wear fools breathing strips on their noses actually work better than those who do not.

Seriously, however, believe that ginkgo biloba has a valid place in the treatment of circulatory disorders. Patients with claudication, impotence, memory loss or other manifestations of microvascular complications (small vessels) disease a good opportunity to do with the improvement of ginkgo in a much more reasonable than the price of drugs at our disposal today.

Combat Colds with Echinacea

The other day I went to a local cafe in search of a can of diet cola when I noticed an interesting new drink in the refrigerator: organic orange juice with Echinacea. I thought, what, let's put it in water then? I mean, there are drops of Echinacea cough, Echinacea cold and flu medicine and even Echinacea / zinc lozenges. It's everywhere. In our quest to combat the common cold, I think things have ido out of hand. Okay, so I'm sceptical, not Echinacea itself, but because I have my doubts that the population of stores with products that have Echinacea in name but very little grass in reality the product is going to help anybody during this cold and flu season. As for the grass itself, I think it has possibilities.

Echinacea, commonly known as purple coneflower, is native to North americas and medicine has its origins in Native American cultures. It is used to treat a variety of things, especially diseases that we know today were of viral origin.

Modern research has shown that extracts of the herb have the ability to improve the immune system by activating white blood cells that fight infection. When taken to the emergence of an upper respiratory tract infection, there is evidence that shortens the duration of the disease.

Some people think they must have all winter Echinacea for preventing colds or the flu. Unfortunately, the discounts available studies to be presented as effective. More likely to catch diseases remain, but they recover more quickly when it does.

An interesting point about the investigation in Echinacea. Many of the studies use a human injectable form of grass and not the word we buy in stores. This makes it difficult to know if we can do the same conclusions about the Echinacea and we have to be used in the studies (another good reason to always read the fine print).

The recommended daily dose of Echinacea is one gram (1000 mg) of dry grass three times a day. Anyone allergic to ragweed, daisies, sunflowers or wonders could also be allergic to Echinacea. Experts recommend taking it for no more than eight weeks at a time. Once again research for the benefit of its use for prevention of upper respiratory tract infection is much weaker than for treating the infection once it starts.

As for all products that there are dabbling in "Echinacea bombo", I hope you know well because its medicinal value is questionable.

Herbal Help for Constipation

When manufacturers of Ex-Lax announced the arrival of a "new" formulation of the product a few years ago, took herbal medicine pioneer in the treatment of constipation. Of course, is not exactly a difficult competition to win. The main ingredient of Ex-Lax, phenolphthalein, was withdrawn from the market by the FDA, leaving little choice but to change the wording. Senna, a stimulant laxative herbal became the "new" Ex-Lax ingredient for today has become one of the main remedies for constipation relief.

Actually there are several options for herbal treatment of constipation. In most of them can be divided into two categories: laxatives and stimulants bulk laxatives. Stimulant laxatives act of forcing contractions of the smooth muscle of the colon and drawing water from the body inside the colon, allowing a loser feces. Bulk laxatives, on the other hand, are products that extend inside the colon when mixed with water. Once expanded, launching the colon of natural contractions seeking to expel the substance bulky. (The trick bulk laxatives is that you have to drink plenty of water to the product laxative or I would not work.)

Stimulant laxatives herbal include Senna, shell, castor oil, buckthorn juice and dried aloe. Senna is the most readily available to these because of their popularity as an ingredient in brand-name products as Sennakot and Ex-Lax. The active components of senna are called anthraquinones. All stimulant laxatives containing anthraquinone-like the ingredients that give herbs their cathartic effect. S

timulant laxatives, whether herbal or not, everyone has basically the same risks. When used daily for over 1-2 weeks that could lead to "laxative-dependency syndrome". This means that the muscles of the colon become lazy and not very well contract unless you take more than laxatives. Rebound constipation may result from stopping the product after prolonged use.

Bulk laxatives, on the other hand, are based in the colon normal muscle contractions and usually do not lead to dependence. Laxatives herbal bulk are flaxseed, psyllium and apple pectin. The first two are actually seeds and seed parts that swell with the addition of water to form a voluminous mass inside the colon. Apple pectin does the same, except it is from shells and not apple seeds. The main risk in the use of laxatives is that bulk of obstruction of the intestines that can occur when the product or mixture of water can not get through. Once again, the drinking water in bulk with laxatives is essential, without it, laxatives may become hard as a rock inside the colon. As you can imagine, the rocks in the colon are not easy to pass.

A general rule would be as follows: If you suffer from chronic constipation, use a laxative bulk regularly (with water) to help train its system to have regular bowel movements without the use of stimulants. Save the stimulants for occasional use.

Ephedra---Help for Dieters?

Several months ago, one of my patients come to me with complaints of dizziness, rapid heartbeat and anxiety for a week. When I asked what was taking medication, she told me that currently had a respiratory infection and using a common cold remedy containing pseudoephedrine (marketed under the brand name of Sudafed). I found that she was taking medication properly. Once again the interrogation, finally admitted to the use of an over-the-counter herbal preparation for weight loss as well. That's when I told him that he had solved his problem. My patient was unwittingly overdose to a potentially dangerous combination of drugs. The herbal supplement that contained ephedra is taking a natural substance derived from a plant called china ephedra sinica.

What my patient did not know was that the active ingredient in cold medication and ephedra in the herbal remedy being used basically the same chemical. Both cause constriction of blood vessels in the nasal passages and swelling of the bronchial tree that account for its effectiveness in respiratory conditions. Unfortunately for my patient, both also have side effects that include dizziness, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and anxiety. These side effects are what is behind the current controversy surrounding the use of ephedra.

Original ephedra is used less controversial than at present. The herb was first mentioned in Chinese medical literature in the first century AD Known as ma-Huang, is used to treat asthma, respiratory infections and promote excretion of urine.

In the last century, however, its use expanded to include the treatment of obesity and for use in bodybuilding, where his "thermogenic" or "fat burning" properties were highly regarded. In combination with herbs containing caffeine and aspirin, it was believed that ephedra exercise helped improve performance and promote loss of body fat. Unfortunately, the use of ephedra, especially in combination with caffeine or other stimulants, has proved fatal in a series of incidents where the grass has been used improperly.

As a result, ephedra was banned by the International Olympic Committee and the National Council of Collegiate athletes Asociados. In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued strong warnings against its use in doses higher than 24 milligrams per day. Since then, many states have adopted stricter legislation, including restricting their sale, especially young people, where the potential for addiction is high. Despite the warnings, ephedra remains available to the general public. As a result of weight loss product ephedra is often combined with John's Wort and is marketed as "herbal Phen-fen" in reference to the popular prescription diet plan. There is no scientific data, however, to support the assertion that these herbs are effective in reducing appetite or weight loss. Certainly, there is the potential health risks that may outweigh any benefit that could be obtained from the use of that resource.

Therefore, nobody should be taking these products? At the recommended doses and those without heart disease, high blood pressure or pre-existing anxiety, ephedra is probably safe. In high doses or in combination with caffeine-containing herbs like gaurana, Kola nuts or tea, probably the risks outweigh the benefits.

However, we hope that manufacturers of these products to be especially useful for when you go to buy a product ephedra. Ephedra is often disguised under the name Chinese, Huang-ma, as well as names like Cao mahuang, yellow astringent, the desert grass and mahuang Zhong. Dosage guidelines can be almost impossible to interpret. An anonymous source from the Internet, for example, sell a product announcement for use by bodybuilders dosage recommendations contained five times higher than that recommended by the FDA. Not only the product contains excessive amounts of ephedra, also claims to have the friolera of 100 milligrams of caffeine per capsule! Take the recommended six capsules per day and you can not sleep for days.

As with all herbal medicine, it is important to do research before buying the product, read labels carefully and when in doubt, ask your health care provider for advice on products which, if any, is safe for you to use. While ephedra can help you lose weight, daily exercise and a restricted calorie diet will do the same for less cost and probably less risk to their health.

Garlic and Heart Health

Garlic, considered by experts as one of the oldest cultivated plants in history, carries an extensive list of diseases that is thought to be useful in alleviating. A major player in herbal medicine around the world, has been used for a wide variety of conditions including dysentery, tuberculosis and influenza for at least five thousand years. These days, however, have "rediscovered" for the treatment of two common diseases today: hypertension (high blood pressure) and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and conditions). Both these conditions contribute to a high risk of heart disease and stroke.

In truth, there are great prescription medicines available for both hyperlipidemia and hypertension. People seriously affected probably need to be one of them rather than relying on the garlic or any herbal product to be effective enough to control their conditions. But many people have less high blood pressure and / or cholesterol, the kind of condition for garlic should be considered as an alternative to expensive prescription drugs.

Scientists have studied the garlic quite extensively with regard to the treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia and appears to be effective in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol in people who take on a regular basis. The active component of garlic is an amino acid called alliin who converted to allicin and other active metabolites. Any garlic you buy should be standardized by the sum of which contains allicin.

As I mentioned, studies on garlic as a treatment for the above conditions are very good, however, it is important to know not just use the average garlic cloves outside the grocery store shelf when you perform these studies. In fact, many clinical studies were conducted using Kwai, a standardized form of packaging that contains garlic quantities of allicin. What this means is that it is difficult to say whether or not a couple of cloves fresh garlic taken daily in their diet will be sufficient to achieve the kind of results that may be looking for.

That is why I feel uncomfortable recommending anything other than Kwai or similar standardized preparation. Each capsule contains 150 milligrams of Kwai concentrated garlic (the equivalent of 450 milligrams of sweet cloves) standardized to 900 micrograms of allicin. A total of four capsules a day is recommended.

Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you're taking garlic as the interactions between her and some anticoagulants have been reported.

Resveratrol, an antiaging powerhouse

Resveratrol has remarkable anti-aging and antioxidant properties. It is an ingredient in red wine.

Resveratrol is most abundant in the skins of red grapes used to make red wine. It slows the buildup of platelets in blood vessels, making them less sticky. This improves blood flow. Resveratrol can slow the growth of cancer, stimulate your immune system, lower inflammation and act as a powerful antioxidant.

Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston show that resveratrol blocks prostate cancer at every stage. It helps more than a dozen different anticancer mechanisms in your body. What’s more, resveratrol targets cancer cells selectively. It’s toxic to cancer cells but doesn’t harm healthy cells. It also modulates hormones; stops cancer cells from multiplying and can actually destroy cancer cells.

Resveratrol may add years to your life, too. Studies using both mice and yeast show that resveratrol turns on a gene that stimulates a protein called SIRT. The greater the activity of SIRT, the greater the life span of yeast and mice. It turns out that humans can also activate the SIRT protein with resveratrol.

The newest round of studies from the Institute of Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology in France found that resveratrol helped mice run twice as far during exercise. It helped muscles produce more energy, reduced their heart rate and gave them endurance the researchers compared to trained athletes.

What’s more, resveratrol protected mice from gaining weight and developing the symptoms of diabetes and obesity. The benefits included an improved sensitivity to insulin, which is the key to maintaining ideal weight and avoiding diabetes.

A study of men and women from Finland showed that resveratrol is likely to work the same way in humans. “Resveratrol makes you look like a trained athlete without the training,” said Johan Auwerx, one of the lead researchers.

You can easily start getting more resveratrol from your diet. Aside from red wine, blueberries, cranberries, bilberries and red grapes are good sources too.

You can also take a supplement. I recommend a dose ranging from 20 to 50mg daily.

Article source by Al Sears MD

Bananas are not just for Monkeys any more

Bananas Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.

No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:
Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power:
200 students at a Twickenham school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control:
Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes:
According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine," eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.

So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Tea is a boon but without milk

Previous studies have shown that drinking tea is a boon for cardiovascular health, but now researchers have found that the beneficial effects of the drink are 'totally wiped out' by putting milk.

German researchers publishing their findings in the online version of the European Heart Journal show that a group of proteins called caseins found in milk prevent the dilation of blood vessels which occurs when pure black tea is consumed.

As a result they argue that those who drink milk with their tea should seriously consider going without on occasion, in order to boost the healthiness of their heart.
'There is a broad body of evidence from experimental and clinical studies indicating that tea exerts antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and vasodilating effects, thereby protecting against cardiovascular diseases.

'As worldwide tea consumption is second only to that of water, its beneficial effects represent an important public health issue. But, up to now, it is not been known whether adding milk to tea, as widely practiced in the UK and some other countries, influences these protective properties. ?So, we decided to investigate the effects of tea, with and without milk, on endothelial function, because that is a sensitive indicator of what is happening to blood vessels,' senior researcher Dr Verena Stangl, professor of Cardiology (Molecular Atherosclerosis) at the hospital, said.

In the study, reported in the European Heart Journal, 16 women drank half a litre of freshly brewed tea, tea with skimmed milk, or plain boiled water. Tests were taken on an artery in the forearm for two hours afterwards.

They showed that drinking black tea significantly improves the ability of the artery to relax and expand -- but adding milk completely blunts the effect.

'We found that, whereas drinking tea significantly increased the ability of the artery to relax and expand to accommodate increased blood flow compared with drinking water, the addition of milk completely prevents the biological effect,' Dr Mario Lopez, who also worked on the study, said.

Stangl also said their findings could also have implications for cancer, against which tea has also been shown to be protective. 'Since milk appears to modify the biological activities of tea ingredients, it is likely that the anti-tumor effects of tea could be affected as well. I think it is essential that we re-examine the association between tea consumption and cancer protection, to see if that is the case,' she said.

Source: rediff.com news, ANI, January 9, 2007

Sleep and Obesity

We all know the benefits of getting adequate sleep. Two recent studies points out the effects of sleep patterns on body weight.

In one trial, children who slept less than 9 hours per night were three times as likely to be overweight, independent of their level of physical activity. Children with shorter sleep duration were also more likely to be emotionally labile than children who slept longer.

A second study looked at sleep patterns in adult patients with chronic medical conditions. Those who got less than 7 hours of sleep per night were more likely to be obese than those who slept more. In women, sleep that was too short or too long were both linked to obesity.

It is hard to say exactly what the connection between sleep and body weight is. Perhaps poor sleep leads to dysregulation of hunger or decreased levels of physical activity during the day. On the other hand, decreased sleep may be the result of weight gain, causing individuals difficulty in sustaining normal sleep patterns. It is known that overweight adults are more likely to suffer

from obstructive sleep apnea, which can cause severe disturbances that prevent restful sleep.
Sleep is a key factor in allowing the brain and body to function, but how it actually benefits us is still poorly understood. Whatever the mechanism, it is clear that even slight sleep deprivation impairs our cognitive and physical functioning. Sleep is necessary for our bodies to functional optimally. Mental function declines progressively as sleep deprivation continues, and emotional lability likewise increases with a lack of rest.

Children require more sleep than adults because they are growing so rapidly. It is recommend that pre-school children get 11-13 hours of sleep and older children get 10-11 hours per night. Likewise, patients with chronic disease face metabolic and physical challenges that require more energy just to function normally; adults need at least 8 hours of sleep.

But even healthy adults are commonly sleep deprived, increasing their risk of a myriad of health problems including infection, elevated stress, poor cognitive function and depression, just to name a few. Despite our hectic lifestyles, its important to take the initiative and allow your body the rest it requires.

The history of herbal medicine

While it is impossible to know exactly when we first started using herbs and plants for medicinal purposes, archaeological remains from early civilisations have revealed that plants were used in burials and other rituals. The earliest written account of herbal remedies comes from China and dates back to 2800BC.

Herbal medicines have had a chequered history ever since, in and out of favour with the great and the common man. But throughout the last 5000 or so years, it has continued to develop until today, when in the light of growing concern about the efficacy and side effects of many synthetic drugs, herbal medicines are once again providing a safe and natural alternative treatment for many everyday complaints.
Here is a brief history of key dates in the development of herbal medicines:


2800BC

First written record of herbal medicines, the Pen Ts'ao by Shen Nung



c400BC

First Greek herbal written; Hippocrates develops principles of diet, exercise and happiness as the cornerstones of health



c100BC

First illustrated herbal produced in Greece



c50AD

Roman Empire spreads herbal medicine and commerce of plants around the Empire



c200AD

Herbal practitioner, Galen, creates system for classifying illnesses and remedies



c500AD

Hippocrates' principles followed in Britain by Myddfai practitioners throughout Saxon times



c800AD

Monks now pioneer herbal medicine with infirmaries and physic gardens at every monastery



1100sAD

Arab world now major influence on medicine and healing practices.
Physician Avicenna writes the Canon of Medicine



1200sAD

Black Death spreads across Europe; 'qualified' apothecaries try bleeding, purging, mercury and arsenic to stem the epidemic with no more success than traditional herbalists



1500sAD

Henry VII promotes herbal medicine in the face of the growing number of untrained apothecaries and other 'medical practitioners' flourishing in London
Various Acts of Parliament passed to introduce some regulation of medical practices including protection for 'simple herbalists' to practice without fear of prosecution



1600sAD

Society sees the first two-tier health system emerge - herbs for the poor and exotics (plant, animal or mineral extracts) or 'drugs' for the rich
Nicholas Culpepper writes his famous herbal: The English Physician, explaining in simple terms the practice of herbal medicine



1700sAD

Preacher Charles Wesley advocates a sensible diet, good hygiene and herbal medicine as the keys to a healthy life



1800sAD

Herbal medicines begin to be eclipsed by mineral-drug based treatments. With powerful drugs such as calomel (mercury) and laudanum available over the counter serious side effects begin to be documented.
Albert Coffin pioneers low-cost herbal remedies using plants from his native America as well as European ones helping hundreds of working class people at his north of England practice.
Burgeoning pharmaceuticals industry makes herbal medicine seem outdated. National Association of Medical Herbalists founded to defend the practice. Later to become the National Institute of Medical Herbalists



1900sAD

Medicinal herbals used extensively during World War I as drugs are in short supply.
Post war period sees enormous expansion in the international pharmaceuticals industry and the discovery of penicillin
A handful of dedicated herbalists keep the tradition alive.
A Modern Herbal by Hilda Leyel is published.
Pharmacy & Medicines Act 1941 withdraws herbal practitioners rights to supply patients with medicines. Public outcry ensures the Act is never enforced.
After much campaigning by the NIMH, the Medicines Act in 1968 reinstates practitioners' rights and the British Herbal Medicine Association is founded.
The BHMA produce the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.
Revised edition is published in 1990. Public concern starts to grow over the side effects of the 'wonder drugs' of the 1950s and their impact on the environment.



2000AD

EU legislation advocates all herbal medicines should be subject to compulsory clinical testing comparable to that undertaken for conventional drugs. Thus all herbal medicines would be licensed.
UK government currently considering the possible impact and public perception of this legislation.

Herbs in history

In the written record, the study of herbs dates back over 5,000 years to the Sumerians, who described well-established medicinal uses for such plants as laurel, caraway, and thyme. The Egyptians of 1000 B.C. are known to have used garlic, opium, castor oil, coriander, mint, indigo, and other herbs for medicine and the Old Testament also mentions herb use and cultivation, including mandrake, vetch, caraway, wheat, barley, and rye.
The first Chinese herb book (or herbal), dating from about 2700 B.C., lists 365 medicinal plants and their uses - including ma-Huang, the shrub that introduced the drug ephedrine to modern medicine.
The ancient Greeks and Romans made medicinal use of plants. Greek and Roman medicinal practices, as preserved in the writings of Hippocrates and - especially - Galen, provided the patterns for later western medicine. Hippocrates advocated the use of a few simple herbal drugs - along with fresh air, rest, and proper diet. Galen, on the other had, recommended large doses of drug mixtures - including plant, animal, and mineral ingredients. The Greek physician compiled the first European treatise on the properties and uses of medicinal plants, De Materia Medica. In the first century AD, Dioscorides wrote a compendium of more that 500 plants that remained an authoritative reference into the 17th century. Similarly important for herbalists and botanists of later centuries was the Greek book that founded the science of botany, Theophrastus’ Historia Plantarum, written in the fourth century B.C.
Thyme from Project Gutenberg EBook of Culinary Herbs: Their Cultivation Harvesting Curing and Uses, by M. G. Kains
The uses of plants for medicine and other purposes changed little during the Middle Ages. The early Christian church discouraged the formal practice of medicine, preferring faith healing; but many Greek and Roman writings on medicine, as on other subjects, were preserved by diligent hand copying of manuscripts in monasteries. The monasteries thus tended to become local centers of medical knowledge, and their herb gardens provided the raw materials for simple treatment of common disorders. At the same time, folk medicine in the home and village continues uninterrupted, supporting numerous wandering and settled herbalists. Among these were the “wise-women,” who prescribed herbal remedies often along with spells and enchantments. It was not until the later Middle Ages that women who were knowledgeable in herb lore became the targets of the witch hysteria. One of the most famous women in the herbal tradition was Hildegard of Bingen. A twelfth century Benedictine nun, she wrote a medical text called Causes and Cures.
Medical schools began to return in the eleventh century, teaching Galen’s system. At the time, the Arabic world was more advanced in science than Europe. As a trading culture, the Arabs had access to plant material from distant places such as China and India. Herbals, medical texts and translations of the classics of antiquity filtered in from east to west.[14] Alongside the university system, folk medicine continued to thrive. Plants were burdened with a mass of both pagan and Christian superstition that often was more important than their actual properties. The continuing importance of herbs for the centuries following the Middle Ages is indicated by the hundreds of herbals published after the invention of printing in the fifteenth century. Theophrastus’ Historia Plantarum was one of the first books to be printed, and Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica was not far behind.
Marjoram from Project Gutenberg EBook of Culinary Herbs: Their Cultivation Harvesting Curing and Uses, by M. G. Kains
The fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries were the great age of herbals, many of them available for the first time in English and other languages rather than Latin or Greek. The first herbal to be published in English was the anonymous Grete Herball of 1526. The two best-known herbals in English were The Herball or General History of Plants (1597) by John Gerard and The English Physician Enlarged (1653) by Nicholas Culpeper. Gerard’s text was basically a pirated translation of a book by the Belgian herbalist Dodoens and his illustrations came from a German botanical work. The original edition contained many errors due to faulty matching of the two parts. Culpeper’s blend of traditional medicine with astrology, magic, and folklore was ridiculed by the physicians of his day yet his book - like Gerard’s and other herbals - enjoyed phenomenal popularity. The Age of Exploration and the Columbian Exchange introduced new medicinal plants to Europe. The Badianus Manuscript was an illustrated Aztec herbal translated into Latin in the 16th century.
The second millennium, however, also saw the beginning of a slow erosion of the pre-eminent position held by plants as sources of therapeutic effects. This began with the introduction of the physician, the introduction of active chemical drugs (like arsenic, copper sulfate, iron, mercury, and sulfur), followed by the rapid development of chemistry and the other physical sciences, led increasingly to the dominance of chemotherapy - chemical medicine - as the orthodox system of the twentieth century.

Article source From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

what's Herbal medicine/herbalism

Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy. Sometimes the scope of herbal medicine is extended to include fungi and bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain animal parts.
Many plants synthesize substances that are useful to the maintenance of health in humans and other animals. These include aromatic substances, most of which are phenols or their oxygen-substituted derivatives such as tannins. Many are secondary metabolites, of which at least 12,000 have been isolated — a number estimated to be less than 10% of the total. In many cases, these substances (particularly the alkaloids) serve as plant defense mechanisms against predation by microorganisms, insects, and herbivores. Many of the herbs and spices used by humans to season food yield useful medicinal compounds.

article source From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia