Oregano is used for cold and flu, respiratory tract infections, candida and surprisingly, for tinnitus (ringing in the ears). It is also great for halitosis - too bad for Clark Gable's leading ladies that he did not know about it!
OCTOBER 27, 2021 FIGHT INFLAMMATION WITH YOUR KITCHEN HERBS
Inflammation is the body’s way of fighting infections and healing.
inflammation can get out of hand and last longer than necessary. This is called chronic inflammation, and studies have linked it to many diseases, including diabetes and cancer. There are many herbs in your kitchen cabinet that can help.
Let’s start with Ginger ( Zingaber officinalis ) Ginger contains more than 100 active compounds, such as gingerol, shogaol, zingiberene, and zingerone, to name a few. These are likely responsible for its health effects, including helping reduce inflammation in the body. I usually use 500 - 2000 mg of ginger per day for my patients with arthritis with great success A recent analysis of 16 studies in 1,010 participants found that taking 1,000–3,000 mg of ginger daily over 4–12 weeks significantly reduced markers of inflammation compared with a placebo. These markers included C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α )
The other herb frequently used with ginger is tumeric ( Curcuma longa ) Numerous studies have shown that curcumin can block the activation of NF-κB, a molecule that activates genes that promote inflammation Not all can take tumeric as a spice as the amount is too much for the GI tract. If you’re looking to take curcumin for its anti-inflammatory properties, it’s best to purchase curcumin supplements, ideally ones that also contain black pepper extract or piperine. I use many different tumeric preparations. Contact Botanical Bounty for the best tumeric available at 646 723 1823
The other herbs used for inflammation are garlic, green tea and rosemary.
Until tomorrow…
OCTOBER 26, 2021 LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL
This past weekend I taught the ArborVitae School of Herbalism students the true facts about cholesterol We as Americans are fixated on our cholesterol. We should be more concerned with our triglyceride level and our good cholesterol ( HDL) level
There are natural ways to lower your cholesterol We know that high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) result in cholesterol deposits in blood vessel walls, which can lead to clogged arteries, strokes, heart attacks and kidney failure.
Eat monosaturated fats. There are two studies. A study of 24 adults with high blood cholesterol came to the same conclusion, where eating a diet high in monounsaturated fat increased beneficial HDL by 12%, compared to a diet low in saturated fat.
Also a study of 26 people found that replacing polyunsaturated fats with monounsaturated fats in the diet reduced the oxidation of fats and cholesterol. The oxidation of fats if left untreated increases risk of stroke and myocardial infarction.
Another study included 13,614 adults. They replaced dietary saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat, providing about 15% of total calories. Their risk of coronary artery disease dropped by nearly 20%. Thus use more omega 3 in your diet
No matter what you must reduce or stop trans fats in your diet . A study of global health patterns estimated trans fats may be responsible for 8% of deaths from heart disease worldwide. Another study estimated a law restricting trans fats in New York will reduce heart disease deaths by 4.5%.
Also increase your intake of soluble fiber. In a study of 30 adults, taking 3 grams of soluble fiber supplements daily for 12 weeks decreased LDL by 18%.
So now you know what to do about your fats, trans fats and fiber.
Until tomorrow…
OCTOBER 25, 2021 GLAUCOMA
The term glaucoma is defined as a collection of diseases that causes optic nerve damage and the diagnosis should not be based on just the intraocular pressure (IOL) There are many types- open angle, narrow angle, low tension secondary and even congenital.
Let me tell you a myth about glaucoma. It is a myth - lowering eye pressure with eye drops will prevent further damage. THERE IS NO TRUTH IN THAT MYTH.
The contributing factors to glaucoma which are stress, poor diet or nutritional deficiencies, and obesity. A diet high in beta carotene, Vitamin C and Vitamin E and selenium will help. The foods containing these supplements are garlic, onions (they are in the same genus) spinach, celery, turnips, yellow and orange vegetables, leafy green vegetables, seaweed, apples, tomatoes and oranges. Also drink lots of water to allow proper toxic metabolic wastes from the eye tissue.
I have even seen glaucoma worsen in patients who have food allergies especially wheat/dairy/vinegar products. Eye pressure has been shown to increase when patients are exposed to MSG.
There are essential nutritional supplements for the eye. One is the well discussed Vitamin C. It lowers the eye pressure through a combination of decreasing fluid production in the eye and improving output of the aqueous humor. Essential Fatty acids may reduce the chronic inflammation. So do not forget your fish oils. Also you can use black currant oil and flax seed oil if you do not to ingest fish oils. Studies have shown that alpha lipoic acid benefits the color vision in patients with glaucoma. It also enhances glutathione, Vitamin E and Vitamin C.
The amino acid, taurine protects the eye from neurotoxins that include excessive levels of glutamate that is responsible for the loss of ganglion cells and optic nerve damage.
I love to use Coleus forskohlii as it has been shown to lower the intraocular pressure by relaxing the smooth muscles of the eye. Unfortunately you cannot get a food source for coleus, you must take the supplement. I have seen many patients use Coleus, and must then reduce their conventional Opthalmic drops like Timolol or Alphagan
Vaccinium myrtllus (Bilberry) has more than 50 years of research on its benefits for the eye. It also has other great uses, but most are familiar with the eye. Bilberry improves the delivery of oxygen and blood to the eye. It has many antioxidants.
I would consult Dr Grossman at www.naturaleyecare.com or www.visionworksusa.com
Until tomorrow…
OCTOBER 22-24, 2021 WHY EAT DARK CHOCOLATE
With Halloween approaching you might consider eating chocolate and candy. I suggest only eat dark chocolate Dark chocolate has health promoting properties that can support a healthy cardiovascular system as well as enhance your mood.
Why does dark chocolate have in it ? Dark Chocolate has flavinoids and other polyphenols that have proven in studies to be very beneficial. OIt is also high in fiber, and contains many B vitamins as B1, B2 B3 and B 6
Due to the polyphenols dark chocolate has antioxidants. It also has magnesium, iron, zinc , potassium and phosphorous.
If you didn’t know chocolate is from the beans of the tropical Theombroma cacao It has a long history of its use throughout the world. I would suggest a 65 % dark chocolate or higher- it is low glycemic and safe for diabetics. It has few calories and is dairy, gluten, and trans fat free.
Get your dark chocolate today !!!
Until tomorrow…
OCTOBER 21, 2021 ACTIVE HEXOSE CORRELATED COMPOUND
Do you take a lot of supplements? Do you have a specific mushroom in your daily vitamin regimen? I used to use separate mushrooms as Maitake to boost my immune system I found something with better clinical efficacy. It is AHCC ( active hexose correlated compound )
AHCC is a Japanese medicinal mushroom immune regulator which a variety of medicinal beneficial effects on the body.
The effects are:
reduces the effects of natural age related deterioration of the immune system
Provides anti inflammatory benefits
Enhances energy especially with those patients with chronic fatigue disease and fibromyalgia ( caused by EBV)
Manage viral loads in patients with hepatitis
reduces chemotherapy side effects
Provides nutritional support to cancer patients
Protects the healthy individuals from cold and flus during season
There are no side effects from AHCC. There is no reason not to take it
Until tomorrow…
OCTOBER 20, 2021 GINGIVITIS
Gingivitis is an inflammatory condition, caused by the accumulation of dental biofilm, and associated with gingival swelling and redness. Often gingivitis can progress unnoticed to periodontitis which can cause permanent loss of teeth I often write about use of a water-pik versus flossing. This is my preference. I am also reading about herbs to help with gingivitis.
Good oral hygiene is key to treating and preventing both inflammatory disorders. Standard care for periodontitis involves mechanical debridement and topical antimicrobials I recently read a recent study published in the HerbalClip of the American Botanical Council. The study discussed the use of Propolis and Mangosteen . I am also intrigued by any study using a apitherapy product. Propolis from bees is used for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. I have extracted propolis from my bee hives in May.
The authors conclude that there is a significant reduction in GI when using mangosteen and propolis combination , and it could potentially have anti-inflammatory effects. More research is needed with a larger trial group to verify these result. This study was published in
Park J-Y, Ko K-A, Lee J-Y, et al.. Nutrients. July 2021;13(8):2604. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082604.
Propolis is available at Botanical Bounty 646 723 1823
Until tomorrow…
OCTOBER 19, 2021 DIABETES AND GINKGO
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing worldwide metabolic health concern and is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to T2DM development, primarily by increasing insulin resistance. Insulin resistance modifies lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, leading to dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. Lifestyle modifications including weight loss, dietary interventions, and exercise are used to manage T2DM. A growing body of evidence suggests herbal medicine may improve conditions associated with T2DM.
There are many herbs used for sugar stabilization. Some of them include bitter melon, fenugreek, gymnema and cinnamon . A new study done and published is the use of Ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo has been used to treat cognitive impairments, cerebrovascular insufficiency, and peripheral arterial occlusive diseases. GKB has been demonstrated to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, antihypertensive, and vasodilatory properties. Studies have suggested that active compounds of GKB may have antidiabetic effects.
A meta analysis was done reviewing all literature Some conclusions were that there was no significant differences in serum triglycerides or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were observed between the intervention and control groups. No change in blood pressure when compared groups. Of note there was an increase in the HDL ( good cholesterol) There was also an increase in HgbA1c.
This study was published. It is an excellent review I read it in the American Botanical; Council Herbal Clips. I encourage all naturopathic physicians and herbalists to join to ABC.
Tabrizi R, Nowrouzi-Sohrabi P, Hessami K, et al. Effects of Ginkgo biloba intake on cardiometabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. [published online October 8, 2020]. Phytother Res. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6822.