JULY 30, 2018 – CORALBERRY

Ardisia crenata is an evergreen shrub, native to east and southeast Asia and parts of India, which grows as an understorey forest species. It has attractive red berries, which has led it to be widely used as an ornamental plant in shady conditions. (From the Invasive Species Compendium.)

However when researching coralberry I came up with the species Symphoricarpus orbiculatus from the Honeysuckle Family. 

The species Ardisia crenata contains a substance known as FR900359 which could be used to treat bronchospasm, asthma, and several other respiratory diseases according to the University of Bonn. Some believe it could be as effective as some of the selective beta blockers for the lungs. 

More studies need to be done.

Until tomorrow...

JUL7 28-29, 2018 – ANTIDEPRESSANTS

Antidepressants – also sometimes known as SSRI – are commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. One in 8 Americans are now taking this class called SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) drugs. There have been studies to indicate this class has a high rate of suicide, but recent studies indicate a 33 % increase in death from other causes such as heart disease, stroke, and organ failure.

Do we need antidepressants? There are some that have different pathways that can lead to depression and there are studies indicating a genetic predisposition. Should we be more careful in who prescribe these drugs to?

Paradoxically speaking, for those that already have heart disease, these drugs are not so harmful.

More needs to be studied with the SSRI class.

Until tomorrow...

JULY 27, 2018 – ZINC

I utilize zinc supplementation in patients with hair, skin, and nail problems as well as thyroid disease. There are new studies that zinc is preventing cancer and its spread or growth.

There are new studies to finally indicate its possible mechanisms of attacking cancer cells specifically and ignoring the normal ones. This is unique for any mineral.

A study using zinc was done at the University of Texas on esophageal cancer. I feel, as doctors, we have ignored the importance of zinc in our diet and if not getting enough of zinc in our diet we should supplement it at this time.

I advocate zinc rich foods such as spinach, shrimp, and pumpkin seeds. Watermelon has lots of lycopene and zinc, but it is also a high glycemic fruit.

Until tomorrow...

JULY 26, 2018 – SEROTONIN

I believe the lay person has a different concept of the role of serotonin. Yes it is the happy hormone, but it is much more than that.

Serotonin is the neurotransmitter brain chemical that is actually mostly produced in the GI tract. The neurotransmitter is taken up by the brain through the brain gut neuropathways which can affect other neurotransmitter levels as epinephrine, GABA and dopamine. 

Recently a paper was published about serotonin levels in post-epileptic patients. Significant changes were noted in serotonin following generalized seizures. There was a correlation between serotonin levels and seizure duration. It was a multicentered trial published in the journal Epilepsia.

Until tomorrow...

JULY 25, 2018 – MAGICAL READING

I spend my nights doing two things: reading books and stitching canvases. I have thrown in some knitting and painting. Due to my recent hand surgery, I cannot do much except read. And believe it or not, I am also decorating a house these days.

Olives have been written about for years. They have been used for centuries. Olive leaf extract is an excellent herbal remedy for infections. In Alex Dingwall-Main's book, The Angel Tree, you can have the best of both worlds. You read this enchanting story of the quest for the oldest olive tree while understanding the many uses of the olive.

The olive tree is a special tree. It is not special because of its oil, nor for the production of its fruit. It is not special for the elegant bark of the tree. It is special because of its age. Age is an important factor in life. If more men and women spent time talking to the older population, the world would be a better place for all.

Until tomorrow...

JULY 24, 2018 – CREATING A SAFE HAVEN

Roof terraces are essentially urban terraces where you can – with good planning and the right plants – recreate the simple country side.

It does take a lot of planning. For me it took attending classes at the New York Botanical Gardens for planting on terraces. After taking the classes – and then some more – I finally got the right planters and figured out the right places to put them. I had to decide between a countryside style garden, an Italian style garden, and much more. My garden is a mixture of materials including stone, rocks, table and chairs, and even some lanterns.

Michael Osborne's book Roof Terrace Gardening was a big help. His chapter on Shade and Shelter saved many of my plants. 

I couldn't survive without an outdoor space in my NYC home. I grew all my plants from seeds which is gratifying. I also used the website, Urbanleaf to put seeds in bottles to decorate and have my summer herbs.

My garden is my safe haven where I pray and meditate.

Until tomorrow...

JULY 23, 2018 – PORIA

Poria – a mushroom also known as Wolfiporia, Tuckahoe, and Indian Bread – is widely used in Chinese medicine. This remedy is usually prescribed for the kidneys, but it has a wide range of uses.

It has immuno modulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits. It can increase T cell count as well as activate interferon and many more processes.

It has been used to prevent aggregation of calcium oxalate which is why it is used for kidney stones.

Until tomorrow...

JULY 21, 2018 – BPH

Many men suffer with symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy. I am one of those men in my late 50's. I have been taking many herbal supplements. One of the best is Saw Palmetto.

The following has been published in HerbalGram by the American Botanical Council.

Saidi S, Stavridis S, Stankov O, Dohcev S, Panov S. Effects of Serenoa repens alcohol extract on benign prostate hyperplasia. Pril (Makedon Akad Nauk Umet Odd Med Nauki). September 2017;38(2):123-129. doi:10.1515/prilozi-2017-0030. 

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disorder in men that negatively affects the quality of life and can lead to acute urinary retention and chronic renal insufficiency. BPH is commonly treated with α-adrenergic antagonists (α-blockers) and 5-α reductase inhibitors, which can cause unwanted side effects. Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens; Arecaceae) fruit is a common alternative treatment for the urological symptoms associated with BPH. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of saw palmetto alcohol extract on the symptoms and major indicators of BPH. 

In summary, saw palmetto significantly improved uroflowmetry parameters and IPSS scores compared to the control. In experimental studies saw palmetto has been shown to inhibit 5-α-reductase and have anti-androgenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anti-edematous effects on prostate cells; however, the exact mechanism of action has not been elucidated. Admitted limitations of the current study include lack of randomization, small sample size, and the lack of long-term follow-up. The authors conclude that larger and longer duration studies are needed to further evaluate this promising treatment of BPH.

Join the American Botanical Council to get your HerbalGram. It is the best thing to do.

Until tomorrow...