Asian Herbs for Allergies?

October 2, 2009

The Kampo medicine herb Sho-seiryu-to (SST) (Allergol Int. 2009 Mar;58(1):81-8) and Chinese folk herb Kukin (from Sophorae flavescensis) (J Pharmacol Sci. 2009 Apr;109(4):606-17) both seem to have anti-histamine effects on specific parts of the allergic mechanism pathways in sensitized animals.

These herbs are traditionally used already in Asian cultures for allergies, and the findings raise hope that there are numerous tools available from natural therapies for this increasingly common problem. A more widely known option in the US has been stinging nettle herbal extract.

High Folate Intake May Lower Colorectal Cancer Risk in Women

September 27, 2009

A recent study from the European J of Clinical Nutrition (2009, Sept) reports that high dietary folate intake was associated with lower risk of colorectal cancer in Korean women (but not men).

As you know, folate is a B vitamin that also regulates levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Lifestyle also matters. In the folate/cancer study, the cases of cancer ingested more alcohol and were more likely to be current smokers as well as being less likely to be physical active. Do all of these good behaviors come as a package?  Or is there more to it in terms of the benefits you can get from folate in your diet (green leafy vegetables)?  This seems worth considering at this point.

Coenzyme Q for Heart and Gum Health

September 2, 2009

Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring compound that is found in every cell of the body.  It plays a key role in the mitochondria producing energy for the cells of the body.  Unfortunately as we grow older our Coenzyme Q10 supplies lessen.

A number of studies have been carried out on Coenzyme Q10 and it has been found to help strengthen the heart muscle and energize the cardiovascular system.  Coenzyme Q10 can also help to protect against atherosclerosis, and it contains antioxidant properties that can help to protect against the formation of oxysterols.

Coenzyme Q10 can also be beneficial in the treatment of diabetes as it helps to stimulate the production of insulin.  People with gum disease may also find it helpful. Coenzyme Q can also help with periodontal disease by fighting off bacteria that cause disease.  It is also helpful for weight loss as it is an essential component in the burning of fat.

The best food sources are organ meats such as kidneys, heart, and liver, and other foods that are high in Coenzyme Q10 include beef, spinach, sardines, albacore tuna, and peanuts.  Coenzyme can be affected by the heat from cooking. As a result, it is best taken from raw foods or supplements.

People who increase their Coenzyme Q10 intake usually report having a lot more energy.  Coenzyme Q10 is good for the heart and it helps to improve heart function and the ability of the heart to pump more blood and pump it even easier around the body.  Coenzyme Q10 also supports the immune system, and some studies have found that increased levels of Coenzyme Q10 can help to double the levels of antibodies and help the body to cope with viruses.

Gum disease and cardiovascular health are connected – - increases in Coenzyme Q10 can help to stop the progression of gingivitis and help strengthen and heal the gums.

There are a number of other areas in which Coenzyme Q10 can be useful and these include high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, diabetes, muscle weakness, and of course weight loss.  If you are deficient in Coenzyme Q10 then taking this as a supplement or in a weight loss supplement really will help you to lose so much more weight than those who don’t have a deficiency, and the results are health promoting along the way.

Latest Vitamin D Update

August 27, 2009

A 2009 study of 223 patients receiving dialysis for kidney failure suggested that lower levels of the most active form of vitamin D (D3) were associated with increased risk of blood vessel calcification, a risk factor for blood vessel disease. The D3 levels were lower in people wtih diabetes.  This is another important finding that suggests the importance of vitamin D in potentially reducing the risk of a number of different health problems, including cardiovascular and other vascular diseases (Nephrol Dial Transplant 2009; 24(2):611-18).

B Vitamins Work Best Together

June 15, 2009

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Iris_Bell,_MD_PhD]Iris Bell, MD PhD

“Be careful about reading health books.  You may die of a misprint.”      – Mark Twain

Many vitamins are essential players in the natural biochemistry of your body. B vitamins are particularly important for proper functioning of your brain and nervous system. Although you can sometimes buy each vitamin by itself in a health food store, it is best to take B vitamins together. Doctors refer to them as B complex vitamins to emphasize their interactions and interdependence.

Many of the B vitamins were discovered and eventually isolated during the first half of the 1900’s. They include B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 pantothenic acid, B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin), folic acid or folate, and biotin.

These vitamins are water-soluble and are known in more technical terms as “coenzymes.” That is, they help the enzymes of the body properly run the biochemical reactions we need to operate the functions of our cells. Food sources of B vitamins include whole grains, nuts, liver, red meats, green leafy vegetables, and brewer’s yeast.

For instance, B1 or thiamine is important for the proper utilization of carbohydrates in the diet. B6 or pyridoxine is essential for processing the amino acids from proteins in the diet. In addition to iron deficiency anemia, lack of adequate amounts of certain B vitamins, such as B6, B12, and/or folate, can itself lead to different kinds of anemias, with fatigue, weakness, and poor tolerance of exercise. Alcoholics often deplete their supplies of thiamine and folic acid, making it essential to include vitamin repletion in treatment for this common and serious problem.

B vitamins play a major role in proper functioning of the nervous system. Low levels of B vitamins such as B6 can impair the ability to synthesize common brain transmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. This is the kind of situation when taking a drug for depression, for instance, may not help as much as it could, because of the brain’s inability to make the brain chemicals that the drug works on.  Inadequate B6 can even lead to seizures in severe cases.

In older people especially, low levels of B vitamins can lead to poorer cognitive (thinking) abilities. People at the lowest levels of several B vitamins in their diet and/or blood levels have the poorest memory and general cognitive function. Some people lose the ability to absorb B12 because of changes in their stomach and manufacture of intrinsic factor, which is necessary for B12 absorption. People who can’t make intrinsic factor typically need B12 shots to get the vitamin into their bodies.

Many other people, however, as they age, lose the ability to make stomach acid. They have intrinsic factor to absorb B12, but the low acid condition in their stomach makes it hard to release the B12 from foods. In this situation, taking B12 supplements by mouth in capsules or tablets that dissolve easily or via liquid supplements can replace the body levels of the vitamin without needing shots in most cases.

In recent years, there has been increased interest in folate, B12, and B6, which are important in different steps for processing and detoxifying the amino acid homocysteine. Homocysteine can build up in the bloodstream and cause damage to blood vessels. In addition to cholesterol, homocysteine is a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. The good news is that taking supplements of folate, B12, and B6 can often lower elevated levels of homocysteine and perhaps side-step or at least delay or lessen the health risks.

Many people do not realize how interactive the body’s biochemistry really is. For instance, thyroid hormone regulates use of vitamin B2. In turn, vitamin B2 is needed to catalyze a reaction that generates the active form of vitamin B6. To clear out homocysteine, there are many metabolic steps, some of which require adequate amounts of B6, folate, and B12. In other words, the B complex vitamins are part of a biochemical network. Pushing the dose of any single vitamin might imbalance the interactions with the rest of the network. So, the bottom line at this point is to take a good multivitamin including all of the B complex vitamins in adequate amounts (at least the recommended daily allowance and perhaps a bit more).

Be careful of excess B vitamins. Although they are water soluble, high doses of B6 (200 mg or so per day for many months) can cause damage to peripheral nerves. Daily doses around 10-25 mg/day are probably OK for most people (but consult your physician for your own case). Excess folate can lead to insomnia and/or GI distress. People probably need somewhere between the RDA of 0.4 mg and the amount suggested for pregnant women to prevent the birth defect of spina bifida, of 0.8 mg/day. Higher doses may over-activate the nervous system and cause insomnia or irritability.

So, more is not always better, but the right amount for you is essential. In the world of complex interactions in networks, linear relationships are not common. Think instead of an upside down or inverted ‘U’ shaped graph – too little or too much is bad, but somewhere in the middle is just right.

(Permission is granted to reprint this article, unedited, provided proper attribution is made and the signature line is kept intact.)

Iris R. Bell, MD PhD is an alternative medicine researcher, author, and educator. Discover a self-empowering system for  treating arthritis with her new multimedia program,  available at http://www.arthritiscaremap.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Iris_Bell,_MD_PhD http://EzineArticles.com/?B-Vitamins-Work-Best-Together&id=229929

Holistic Tip of the Day – non-drug antiinflammatory products

February 1, 2008

When assembling a holistic program of foundational products, an antiinflammatory diet program is basic. In addition, especially if you already suffer from a chronic condition in which inflammation plays a role (most of them), there may be times when a package of herbs and nutrients will make sense for you – these might include tumeric derivatives, ginger, and boswellia.

Holistic Medicine Tip of the Day – supplements for osteoporosis

January 31, 2008

Holistic medicine offers some options to women and men who suffer from early loss of bone density (osteopenia) or who have a diagnosis of osteoporosis. The most interesting possibilities, again used as part of a package of care that includes weight-bearing exercise (as recommended by your physician and/or physical therapist), involve a set of nutrients that cannot necessarily be taken all at the same time during the day (calcium can interfere with absorption of strontium and other things from the GI tract). The nutrients include: calcium, magnesium, vitamin D (especially D3), vitamin K, boron, and strontium. Each plays its unique and interactive role in the regulation of bone metabolism. Keeping homocysteine down by taking a balanced program of folate, B12, and B6 is also important for bone health as well as cardiovascular health.

Holistic Prevention of Colds

January 29, 2008

When you put together the available information, preventing colds even in elderly people or people with chronic health problems is improved by taking a few nutritional supplements regularly: In addition to a good multivitamin/multimineral and vitamin D (preferably as vitamin D3 form), adding vitamin E at 200 units/day to the total program seems to help ward off colds.

As with so many tips that we discuss here, it is important to think holistically and understand the need not to use one vitamin or mineral in isolation from others. The human body involves a biochemical network – and no one nutrient or biochemical is more important than another in that they all work together in an intricate dance.

The safest bet is to take reasonable amounts of a multi-nutrient program. For vitamin E, with available evidence, the upper limit seems to be around 200 IU.

Holistic Treatments for Colds and Flu

January 17, 2008

During the winter cold season, most people who prefer to use natural treatments and holistic approaches to health issues look for options for treating colds and flu. Here is a short list of items to consider:

• vitamin C supplements shorten colds, though may not prevent them
• research on zinc lozenges and nasal products is mixed – but zinc may help reduce severity of colds
• elderberry products can help with some of the symptoms
• common homeopathic remedies for flu include Oscillococcinum (from duck liver, one vector for carrying flu virus), gelsemium, bryonia, and eupatorium. Various over-the-counter products are either single remedies or mixtures of remedies like these
• cat’s claw as an herbal capsule or tea may have immune boosting capabilities against viruses, bacteria, and other infectious agents

Thinking holistically – calcium and everything else

January 17, 2008

When you think about holistic medicine, you sometimes forget the implications of the term. It actually implies that you are part of the interconnected web of life (as Fritz Capra discussed in his book the Web of Life), but also that you are comprised of an interconnected set of parts. Along the same lines, holistic nutrition means that any one nutrient that you consume has an effect on other nutrients in your diet – and other meds. Just keep in mind, for example, that calcium supplements often prevent the proper absorption of other nutrients and even medications from your digestive system. Space the intake of calcium-containing supplements and foods at times other than when you need to take other items.

	Discover the secrets of really holistic health care. Just fill out the form below & we'll rush your first lesson to you. Email First Name