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Herbal Remedies Natural Health Newsletter, March 2005, Issue 245

Herbal Remedies March 2005 Natural Health Newsletter Issue 245 Sponsored by www.HerbalRemedies.com Toll Free for orders 1-866-467-6444 Issue Editor - Heather Bowman

Herbs - Vitamins - Minerals - Magnetics - Candles - Aromatherapy - Holiday Gifts - Bath & Beauty - Essential Oils - Condition & Ailment Guide - Women's Health - Men's Health - Weight Loss - Health Books The Two Supplements that Can Help You Age Gracefully - Click here for full story. Essential Fatty Acids Prove Effective in Helping Prevent Stroke in the Elderly - Click here for full story. Supplemental Care for Fibromyalgia - Click here for full story. An Alternative to ADHD Drugs - Click here for full story. Not for Women Only - Men Need Calcium, Too - Click here for full story. Our Sponsors Enter coupon code "NL032505" when checking out to obtain discounts on your next purchase from http://www.HerbalRemedies.com

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The Two Supplements that Can Help You Age Gracefully By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, February 13, 2005, abstracted from abstracted from “PowerPoint” on the Health Science Institute Website, www.hsibaltimore.com, posted February 10, 2005 It’s no secret that free radical damage to cells is a key component of aging and disease(1) and the ability to prevent oxidation by these free radicals, now called the “Free Radical Theory of Aging”,(2) is paramount. The largest medical journal in the world has already encouraged multivitamin supplementation as a way to help prevent chronic diseases like osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer.(3) But while a multivitamin contains many antioxidants, there are antioxidants not normally found in a multivitamin that can help protect your cells against free radical oxidation. Two of these antioxidants are: ACETYL L-CARNITINE (ALC) is an amino acid that has gained interest for its potential to preserve the integrity of the nervous system, especially the brain.(4) In one study,(5) researchers gave ALC to seven probable Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients and compared their brain MRI’s to five placebo-treated probable AD patients and 21 controls for one year. Compared to AD patients on placebo, the ALC patients showed significantly less deterioration in their Mini-Mental Status and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale test scores. Dosage recommendations range from 250 mg to as much as 2000 mg. ALPHA LIPOIC ACID (ALA) is an antioxidant with positive research findings as a potent protector against oxidation. In one study,(6) researchers studied 31 healthy adults for two months and gave 16 patients 600 mg per day of ALA and 15 patients 400 IU per day of vitamin E in the form of alpha tocopherol (AT). After two months, they then combined them. At the end of two months, they found ALA to be much more effective than AT in decreasing measures of oxidative stress in each patient when taken alone. The researchers found ALA’s mode action to be in preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol implicated in heart disease.(7) Combining them for the additional two months, however, did not improve their effectiveness. So while taking a multivitamin can definitely protect your cells against oxidation, other supplements are also available to further protect you and enable you to age gracefully. Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Danville, CA. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at ChiroDocPSUalum@msn.com or by visiting his website at www.CompleteChiropracticHealthcare.com. Reference: 1 Barja, G. (2004). "Free radicals and aging." Trends Neurosci 27(10): 595-600 2 Harman, D. (2003). "The free radical theory of aging." Antioxid Redox Signal 5(5): 557-61 3 Fairfield, K. M. and R. H. Fletcher (2002). "Vitamins for chronic disease prevention in adults: scientific review." Jama 287(23): 3116-26 4 Forloni G; Angeretti N; Smiroldo S. Neuroprotective activity of acetyl-L-carnitine: studies in vitro. J Neurosci Res 1994; 37(1): p92-6 5 Pettegrew JW; Klunk WE; Panchalingam K; Kanfer JN; McClure RJ. Clinical and neurochemical effects of acetyl-L-carnitine in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurobiol Aging Jan-Feb 1995, 16 (1) p1-4 6 Marangon, K., S. Devaraj, et al. (1999). "Comparison of the effect of alpha-lipoic acid and alpha-tocopherol supplementation on measures of oxidative stress." Free Radic Biol Med 27(9-10): 1114-21 7 Ballantyne, C. M., A. G. Olsson, et al. (2001). "Influence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and elevated triglyceride on coronary heart disease events and response to simvastatin therapy in 4S." Circulation 104(25): 3046-51

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Essential Fatty Acids Prove Effective in Helping Prevent Stroke in the Elderly By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, February 19, 2005, abstracted from "Prediction of cardiovascular mortality in middle-aged men by dietary and serum linoleic and polyunsaturated fatty acids” in the January 2005 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine In the body, there exists a balancing act between two types of essential fatty acids (EFA). The first group of EFA’s, called omega-3 fatty acids, help prevent inflammation,(1) decrease clotting,(2) treat irregular heartbeat(3) and improve insulin sensitivity.(4) Alpha Linolenic Acid is an omega-3 fatty acid found in highest amounts in fish. The other type of EFA, called omega-6 fatty acids , is much more common in the North American diet. Having the opposite effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the body, omega-6 fatty acids promote inflammation,(1) clotting,(5) and insulin resistance.(4) Alpha Linoleic Acid is an omega-6 fatty acid found most abundantly in vegetable oils. Now a new study out of the Archives of Internal Medicine(6) has found that these EFA’s can help decrease stroke in the elderly. In the study, researchers studied 4775 adults 65 years or older who were free of known cerebrovascular disease in 1989. The subjects’ diets were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Researchers found that one to four servings per week of broiled or baked tuna and other fish, all high in omega-3 fatty acids, lowered stroke risk by 27% while five or more servings per week lowered stroke risk by 30%. Consuming fried fish more than once per week, on the other hand, increased stroke risk by 44%. For researchers, “These results suggest that fish consumption may influence stroke risk late in life.” Although they state that “the mechanisms for these results need to be further investigated”, the possible mechanism may lie in the oil used to fry the fish. Vegetable oil is the oil of choice for baking in the United States and, as stated previously, vegetable oils are the most plentiful source for omega-6 fatty acids that promote inflammation and clotting, both of which are contributing factors for stroke. Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Danville, CA. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at ChiroDocPSUalum@msn.com or by visiting his website at www.CompleteChiropracticHealthcare.com. Reference: 1 Calder PC. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation, and immunity. Lipids. 2001;36:1007–1024 2 Knapp HR. Dietary fatty acids in human thrombosis and hemostasis. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997;65:1687S–1698S 3 De Caterin R. Antiarrhythmic effects of omega-3 fatty acids: from epidemiology to bedside. Am Heart J. 2003 Sep;146(3):420-30 4 Storlien LH, Kriketos AD, Jenkins AB, et al. Does dietary fat influence insulin action? Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1997;827:287–301 5 Lahoz C, Alonso R, Ordovas JM, Lopez-Farre A, de Oya M, Mata P. Effects of dietary fat saturation on eicosanoid production, platelet aggregation and blood pressure. Eur J Clin Invest. 1997;27:780–787 6 Mozaffarian, D., W. T. Longstreth, Jr., et al. (2005). "Fish consumption and stroke risk in elderly individuals: the cardiovascular health study." Arch Intern Med 165(2): 200-6

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Supplemental Care for Fibromyalgia Reprinted with permission from www.bottomlinesecrets.com, Daily Health News, March 15, 2005 Fibromyalgia is indeed a very real condition that can significantly impact the quality of life for its millions of sufferers due to the fatigue and body pain associated with the disease. (See the February 1, 2005 Daily Health News.) What can you do from the inside out to help ease the pain and perhaps overcome the condition? To learn about natural approaches to relieving the symptoms of fibromyalgia, I spoke with Ray Sahelian, MD, a physician in private practice in Marina del Rey, California, and author of numerous books, including “Mind Boosting Secrets”. You can learn more about Dr. Sahelian's work at www.raysahelian.com. Mix-and-Match Strategies Unfortunately, no one knows exactly what causes fibromyalgia, and there is no one magic pill you can take to cure it. According to Dr. Sahelian, your best bet is to mix and match a variety of approaches to control your symptoms. An empathetic health-care practitioner with experience in treating fibromyalgia can help you sort through the many conventional and natural treatment alternatives to determine the combination that works best for you. Starting from the inside out: SUPPLEMENTATION. A number of herbal and mineral supplements can be helpful for fibromyalgia sufferers. Talk to a trained health-care provider about what might be best for you. Options include... COENZYME Q10 (COQ10). This popular supplement increases energy levels, enhances the immune system and provides disease-fighting antioxidant activity. Although CoQ10 is available in a variety of dosages, Dr. Sahelian says that high dosages may not be necessary and even may be detrimental. Except for temporary treatment of medical conditions, he generally recommends 50 mg to 100 mg daily. GINKGO BILOBA. Ginkgo extract is widely used in Europe for conditions such as memory and concentration problems, confusion, depression, anxiety and headache. In an open, uncontrolled study, volunteers with fibromyalgia were given both 200 mg CoQ10 and 200 mg ginkgo biloba extract daily for 84 days. The individual effects are not clear, but the volunteers recorded progressive improvement on quality-of-life questionnaires. At the close of the study, 64% reported that they felt better. These research results appeared in the March-April 2002 issue of Journal of International Medical Research. Note: Do not take ginkgo if you have a bleeding disorder, plan to undergo surgery or are taking drugs such as warfarin. FISH OIL CAPSULES. If you don't regularly include enough cold water fish, such as salmon and halibut, in your diet, Dr. Sahelian recommends three to five fish oil capsules a day or one teaspoon of flaxseed oil per day. Fish and fish oil are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which provide fluidity to cell membranes and improve communication between brain cells. SAM-E. This natural antidepressant lifts mood within hours in some individuals, says Dr. Sahelian. The daily dose is best kept to below 200 mg, preferably half a tablet (100 mg). It is always best to take the lowest possible effective dose. According to Dr. Sahelian, SAM-e has a stimulating nature, and even 200 mg daily can be a lot for some people. Possible side effects at high doses include anxiety, restlessness, headache and insomnia. Take SAM-e in the morning a few minutes before breakfast. L-TRYPTOPHAN. Sleep difficulties and frequent waking are a common problem for people with fibromyalgia. This amino acid is a precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which plays a role in how your brain regulates sleep, mood and behavior. Take one 500-mg capsule of L-tryptophan in the evening on an empty stomach an hour or two before sleep. B COMPLEX VITAMINS AND L-CARNITINE to boost flagging energy levels...and calcium/magnesium, melatonin or 5-HTP to help you get a good night's sleep. At a minimum, you should consider a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. CHECK FOR FOOD ALLERGIES. Dr. Sahelian cites a study in which 17 people with fibromyalgia eliminated foods such as corn, wheat, dairy, citrus and sugar from their diets. After two weeks, nearly half reported a significant reduction in pain. Most also noted relief from headache, fatigue, bloating and breathing difficulties. When foods were reintroduced, some participants once again experienced pain, headache and gastrointestinal distress. HELP FROM THE OUTSIDE In addition to diet changes and supplements, Dr. Sahelian is a big believer in the value of lifestyle changes for fibromyalgia. Specifically, he suggests... KEEP MOVING. Although this is not likely to be your first inclination when you are feeling achy and tired, Dr. Sahelian emphasizes that exercise is more effective than medication in easing symptoms. Consistent, gentle, low-impact activity such as walking is best for relieving pain and stiffness. Avoid the temptation to overdo, which can backfire. In particular, Dr. Sahelian recommends yoga. TRY ACUPUNCTURE. In 1997, a National Institutes of Health panel determined that this ancient Chinese practice may provide relief from pain associated with fibromyalgia. A list of accredited acupuncturists is available at the Web site of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, www.nccaom.org USE MUSCULAR MANIPULATION. Some fibromyalgia sufferers benefit from modalities such as chiropractic... osteopathy... massage such as lymphatic drainage (a technique that drains excess fluid from the tissues throughout the body) and Swedish techniques...or physical therapy. GET FOCUSED. Hypnosis, a focused state of concentration, is another alternative for pain relief. Options include self-hypnosis (in which you repeat a positive statement or mantra over and over) and guided imagery (in which you create relaxing images in your mind). Other relaxation methods include biofeedback, meditation and deep breathing exercises. CHANGE YOUR WAYS. Stress can aggravate fibromyalgia symptoms. Consider cognitive behavioral therapy or other stress management techniques to gain control of the stressors in your life. For an interesting perspective on stress, see the January 27, 2004 Daily Health News. Tried and True Before taking any supplement, always check with your health-care provider. Remember, no supplement is a replacement for a healthy lifestyle. To cope best with fibromyalgia, the tried-and-true advice still holds: Follow a balanced diet, get a good balance of rest and exercise, practice effective stress management techniques and avoid unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking and excessive caffeine intake. There may be no cure, but there are plenty of steps you can take to control symptoms and live a full life with fibromyalgia. Sources: · Ray Sahelian, MD, a physician in private practice in Marina del Rey, California, and author of numerous books, including Mind Boosting Secrets (Bottom Line) http://dailyhealthnews.ed10.net/h/UZWA/TA48/SN/UVMB8. To learn more about Dr. Sahelian's work, visit his Web site at www.raysahelian.com · American College of Rheumatology, www.rheumatology.org · Arthritis Foundation, www.arthritis.org · Fibromyalgia Network, www.fmnetnews.com · National Fibromyalgia Association, http://fmaware.org

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An Alternative to ADHD Drugs Reprinted with permission from www.hsibaltimore.com, Health Sciences Institute e-Alert, January 17, 2005 It might be too early to say we've spotted a trend, but something unusual is going on, and you've got to like the way it's headed. In the e-Alert "Attention Paid" (1/12/05), I told you about a study that found a clear association between iron deficiency and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents. Now this week I've come across yet another study that focuses on dietary causes of ADHD . As reported in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, a team of French researchers examined the effects of magnesium and vitamin B6 supplements on more than 50 subjects under the age of 15 who had been diagnosed with ADHD. Supplement dosage varied according to body weight, but on average, each child received 100 mg of magnesium and 13 mg of B6 per day for three to 24 weeks. The researchers found a significant reduction in ADHD symptoms in ALL of the subjects, including improvements in physical aggressiveness and hyperexcitability. And while it's remarkable that I've come across two trials in as many weeks that studied ADHD without the use of drugs, the results are not surprising, thanks to HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., who has made it clear that (in his own words) "ADHD is fixable without drugs of any kind in the VAST majority of cases." But one of the observations Dr. Spreen made about the iron deficiency study also applies to this second study: If a child is deficient in one nutrient, that's a good indication that his overall nutrition picture needs improving. So in addition to adding supplements and making sure the diet consists of a good balance of fresh, whole foods, Dr. Spreen offers this ADHD rule of thumb: "If food allergies are not dealt with, if sugar and refined white flour are not massively lowered, if artificial additives are not eliminated (colors, flavors, MSG, preservatives, etc.), the changes from supplements could still fail to work properly." Meanwhile, here's hoping that these studies are just the first in a long line of trials that will help make parents aware that there's an alternative to the quick fix of ADHD drugs. Sources: "Magnesium VitB6 Intake Reduces Central Nervous System Hyperexcitability in Children" Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 23, No. 5, October 2004, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov "Supplements a Natural Treatment for ADHD" Kimberly Beauchamp, N.D., Healthnotes Newswire, 12/23/04, www.pccnaturalmarkets.com

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Not for Women Only - Men Need Calcium, Too Reprinted with permission from www.bottomlinesecrets.com, Daily Health News, February10, 2005 For years, all of my women friends have been taking calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis . But what about men? Do they need calcium as much as women do? And do they need as much calcium as women do? What about the reports of an association between calcium and prostate cancer? Yes, of course men need calcium. Although osteoporosis is less prevalent among men, they still need calcium for maintenance of strong bones and teeth, says Corinne Weaver, PhD, professor of nutrition at Purdue University. The National Osteoporosis Association says that one in two women and one in four men over age 50 have osteoporosis. In addition to being a bone builder, this mineral has additional benefits for both genders. · There now is overwhelming evidence that adequate levels of dietary calcium lower the risk for colon cancer. (See Daily Health News, October 4, 2004.) · Calcium aids in maintenance of healthy body weight. People who don’t get enough calcium are more likely to be overweight. · When taken with food, calcium reduces incidence of kidney stones. · Calcium plays a role in moderating hypertension. Low calcium intake has been implicated in the development of hypertension. Since bone loss increases with age, adequate calcium intake is vitally important for older men as well as for those who have taken steroids. Steroid use is a recognized risk factor associated with osteoporosis in men. What about the ongoing controversy regarding purported links between calcium and prostate cancer? The jury is still out on that, says Jim Fleet, PhD, associate professor of nutrition and a colleague of Dr. Weaver's at Purdue University. Results from several large trials that studied the calcium/prostate relationship have shown that a high level of dietary calcium is associated with a higher risk for prostate cancer and, even more seriously, higher risk for advanced prostate cancer. This is quite a scary notion, says Dr. Fleet. We are talking here about calcium levels of 1,500 to 2,000 mg a day, he says, and these are levels that men could certainly achieve if they are big dairy eaters and are taking calcium supplements as well. So what are men to do? Should they avoid calcium altogether? Dr. Fleet thinks not. He says that men should just avoid high amounts of it. A daily intake of about 1,200 mg (from diet and supplements) should be enough to give men the proven benefits of calcium while avoiding potential prostate cancer risk. Sources: Corinne Weaver, PhD, professor of nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana James Fleet, PhD, researcher and associate professor, foods and nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana Do you have a question for us? If so please send in your questions to newseditor@herbalremedies.com We will answer all email ASAP!

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For assistance or to purchase products by phone call toll free in the USA 1-866-467- 6444 or World Wide 1-307-577-6444 or e-mail your questions to newseditor@herbalremedies.com. We will answer e-mails in the newsletter as space allows. Our Sponsors HerbalRemedies.com Get the finest all natural health products, get the best service, and low cost worldwide delivery. Enter coupon code "NL032505" when checking out to obtain discounts on your next purchase from www.HerbalRemedies.com