NOVEMBER 6-8, 2020 FENGREEK
Fenugreek is not a common herb that you may know about. Its botanical name is Trigonella foenum-graecum . Fenugreek is a clover-like herb native to the Mediterranean region, southern Europe, and western Asia. Its seeds, which smell and taste like maple syrup, have been used in cooking and as medicine. Fenugreek is used as an ingredient in spice blends and a flavoring agent in foods, beverages, and tobacco. I feel most individuals have heard of fenugreek due to its effect on boosting testosterone and increasing milk production during lactation.
In the herbal world it has many medical benefits. I use it to lower blood sugar when combined with other herbs as bitter melon, and cinnamon , It useful when combined with chromium , vanadium and alpha lipoic acid.
A recent study used fenugreek as a lipid lowering herb in patients with Type II diabetes. These authors conducted a randomized, controlled trial to investigate the effects of a fenugreek seed powder solution on the lipid profile of patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This study was published in the HerbalGram of the American Botanical Council in July 2020. There were significant improvements seen in total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels (P < 0.001 for all). There are many herbs that should also be studied along with fenugreek.
The authors conclude that the fenugreek seed powder solution "had pronounced effects in improving lipid metabolism in type II diabetic patients with no adverse effects" and "may provide new alternatives for the clinical management of type II diabetes."
Until tomorrow…
NOVEMBER 5, 2020 GARLIC
It seems ages ago that Dr Peter Bonjioro, Dr Pina Lo Giudice and I wrote a paper on Health Benefits of Garlic. I am grateful that this review iwas published n the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine in 2008 . As stated in our article.
“ A member of the Liliaceae family, garlic (Allium sativum) is highly regarded throughout the world for both its medicinal and culinary value. Early men of medicine such as Hippocrates, Pliny and Aristotle encouraged a number of therapeutic uses for this botanical. Today, it is commonly used in many cultures as a seasoning or spice. Garlic also stands as the second most utilized supplement. With its sulfur containing compounds, high trace mineral content, and enzymes, garlic has shown anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antioxidant abilities. Diseases that may be helped or prevented by garlic's medicinal actions include Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease (including atherosclerosis, strokes, hypertension, thrombosis and hyperlipidemias) children's conditions, dermatologic applications, stress, and infections. Some research points to possible benefits in diabetes, drug toxicity, and osteoporosis.
I am always reading and surfing articles on the internet Recently posted in the HerbalGram of the American Botanical Council was an article that peeked my interest. It is
Shaikh K, Kinninger A, Cherukuri L, et al. Aged garlic extract reduces low attenuation plaque in coronary arteries of patients with diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Exp Ther Med. February 2020;19(2):1468-1471
The study concluded that one year of AGE therapy ( aged garlic ) led to a reduction of LAP ( low attenuation plaque (LAP), a high-risk plaque feature) in patients with diabetes. "Further studies are warranted to evaluate whether AGE has the ability to stabilize vulnerable plaque and decrease adverse cardiovascular events," This is a great study. I would hope that more conventional physicians would read these studies.
Until tomorrow…
NOVEMBER 4, 2020 CYSTITIS
Acute cystitis, or inflammation of the bladder, is caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI). The antibiotics used to treat UTIs alleviate symptoms quickly; however, the use of antibiotics is associated with adverse effects and an increase in antibiotic resistance. The use of antibiotics also disturbs the gut microbiome.
A recent study posted in HerbalGram of the American Botanical Council by Pugliese D, Acampora A, Porreca A, Schips L, Luca C. Effectiveness of a novel oral combination of D-Mannose, pomegranate extract, prebiotics and probiotics in the treatment of acute cystitis in women. Arch Ital Urol Androl. April 6, 2020;92(1):34-38.
I use D mannose for cystitis related to E coli. I never though to combine with the other constituents. The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit -bearing shrub that grows between 5 and 10 m (16 and 33 ft) tall. When i think of the pomegranate I think of a medicinal plant from the Bible and its use in prostate issues. There was good results from this combination. As with all studies there are small flaws. Yet the authors stated "Our study suggests that the synergistic action of the components of this new combination could help the bacterial washout resulting in an effective management of acute cystitis in women without antibiotics in a wide majority of the cases.”
Until tomorrow…
NOVEMBER 3, 2020 WITCHERY
I do not know if it is appropiate to discussion witchery on Election Day, but being close to Halloween I though it was deemed necessary. I read a lot . I feel it is important to always keep the brain active with new material. I recently purchased Plant Witchery by Juliet Diaz, author of Witchery. I enjoy all books but especially ones on plants and magic. I am kindered to plants. I have realized this even more so in the last two years y moving to Connecticut and planting my gardens. It has been serene, peaceful and meditative to me
In Plant Witchery, the Book Annoiting Ritual grasped my attention and it had the book almost awaken ‘ a spell’ on me. I started to read the pages and couldn’t put the book down. You ask what is Plant Witchery. Diaz exp0lains it well “ It is more than a path or practice — it is a devotional pact between Mother Earth, Earth spirits and inner self. “ e need this more today than ever before. The Mother Earth is in need of help. It is my hope that all people save this planet in any way you can. She states “ The Earth holds the spirits of our ancestors; they speak to us through nature.”
The description of 200 herbs in the book is very informative and educational. I enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it.
Until tomorrow…
NOVEMBER 2, 2020 GINGER
It’s botanical name is Zingiber officinale. It’s unmistakable. Ginger is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudostems about one meter tall bearing narrow leaf blades
It can be used fresh, dried, powdered, as a juice or even an oil. There are many scientific studies which have shown ginger to be medically beneficial. As in most plants there is an active component. Sometimes it is an alkaloid. For ginger it is gingerol. It has been used to fight colds and flus, it an reduce nausea, and aid in digestion. It is useful for the vomiting associated with pregnancy.
It has anti inflammatory and anti oxidant effects. It can reduce free radical damage of the body. There was a 2019 study concluding that ginger can reduce weight loss. In 2016 another study concluded its weight loss effects and also that ginger reduced insulin levels.
Many of my patients use ginger for their osteoarthritis. It helps reduce pain and their disability. In my field of cardiology I was most impressed by its reduction of apolipoprotein B/Apolipoprotein A ratio. It also reduced oxidative stress by decreasing by 23 % malonaldehyde (MDA)
Perhaps it is best known for helping digestive problems as dyspepsia also known as indigestion
If you haven’t tried ginger…I would suggest you do.
Until tomorrow…
OCTOBER 31,2020 - NOVEMBER 1, 2020 STEVIA
Stevia is a sweetener and sugar substitute derived from the leaves of the plant species Stevia rebaudiana native to Brazil and Paraguay. The active compounds are steviol which have been shown to have 30-150 times more sweetness than sugar. It is rather non toxic compared to white sugar. Stevia is heat stable and non fermentable.
Importantly the body does not metabolize the glycosides in stevia and does contain zero calories.
Other substitute as Equal, Splenda and Sweet n Low also contain zero calories, but studies have shown these compounds to be toxic and are linked to cancer. As far as we know and what has been studied, Stevia is neither harmful nor toxic
We thought the same for others above until investigated years later. You can obtain stevia in powder or liquid. Stevia has a long history of use in South America with promising results.
Stevia is sold as Stevia but it also found in the product Truvia.
Until tomorrow…
OCTOBER 30, 2020 CANNABIDIOL
If you ever needed a bit of stress relief… it is now. The use of CBD based products has increased exponentially. There are studies to validate the use of CBD for a variety of conditions. These conditions include
Anxiety
. Skin conditions as pruritis, psoriasis, acxne
Pain and Inflammation
Nerve Pain from Shingles, neuropathy
Vulvodynia
Autism
IBS, as Crohn’s and Colitis