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Herbal Remedies Natural Health Newsletter, December 2004, Issue 240

Herbal Remedies December 2004 Natural Health Newsletter Issue 240 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 L-Arginine May Change the Way We Treat Heart Disease. - Click here for full story. Lutein, Zeaxanthin Offer Cataract Protection, New Research - Click here for full story. Stinging Nettle: An Anti-Inflammatory Solution to Chron's Disease? - Click here for full story. Food for Good Thoughts: Beat the Blues the Natural Way - Click here for full story. Green Tea Mechanism Supports Anti-Cancer Activity - Click here for full story. Our Sponsors Enter coupon code "NL122804" when checking out to obtain discounts on your next purchase from http://www.HerbalRemedies.com

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L-Arginine May Change the Way We Treat Heart Disease. By Sheila Russell, Ph.D. November 17, 2004. From "Inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide generation by low-density lipoprotein is partially prevented by L-arginine and L-ascorbate" in Atherosclerosis 2004, Vol. 176, pg 345-353. Heart disease is a complex set of outcomes, including heart attacks, strokes, chest pain, and other diseases of the vessels. Common to many forms of heart disease is a dysfunction in the cells that line the blood vessels. These cells are supposed to produce chemicals that control many important processes within blood vessels. One critical chemical is nitric oxide (NO). It promotes relaxation of the blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure, preventing blood clot formation, and altering the permeability of the blood vessel itself.(1) NO is also an important scavenger of free radicals. In conditions where there is excessive oxidative stress, such as high blood cholesterol levels, less NO is available to act upon the vessels.(2) Changes in both the production and availability of NO is believed to play an important role in specifically hardening of the arteries.(3) Current research into the vessel changes caused by high cholesterol has demonstrated that LDL-cholesterol particles (LDL) can cause the blood-vessel cells to produce less NO. In a laboratory experiment, researchers exposed blood-vessel cells grown in a dish, to LDL and determined that these cells produced less NO. When these same cells were exposed to LDL which had undergone oxidative damage (oxidized LDL), they produced even less NO than when exposed to LDL. Thus, they speculate that one way high LDL and oxidized LDL levels damage the vessels is by causing these vessel cells to produce less NO. One method for improving NO production is by supplementing with the NO precursor, L-arginine. When L-arginine is added to experiments with the vessel cells prior to LDL exposure, it was able to bring NO production to a level greater than in the cells not exposed to LDL. L-arginine was also able to restore NO production to the level of an unexposed cell in the oxidized LDL-exposed cells. To test if an antioxidant, L-ascorbate, would have the same effect as L-arginine, it was added to the cells. When L-ascorbate was used alone or in addition to L-arginine, there was no effect. This result further emphasized that the L-arginine effect was specific for the production of NO. Therefore, by supplying these blood vessel cells with L-arginine, the researchers were able to specifically compensate for the decrease in NO production observed with LDL exposure. These experiments suggest that L-arginine supplementation may be beneficial for some forms of heart disease. Future studies need to be conducted in humans to determine this. If human studies show L-arginine is beneficial, than the use of this supplement may revolutionize our current approach to treating some forms of this disease. Reference: 1 Anderson TJ. Nitric oxide, atherosclerosis and the clinical relevance of endothelial dysfunction. Heart Fail Rev 2003;8:71-86 2 Beckman JS, Loppenol WH. Nitric oxide, superoxide, and peroxynitrite: the good, the bad, and ugly. Am J Physiol 1996;271:C1424-37 3 Ross R. Atherosclerosis: and inflammatory disease. N Engl J Med 1999;340:115-26

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Lutein, Zeaxanthin Offer Cataract Protection, New Research Reprinted with permission from www.NutraIngredients.com, December 6, 2004 06/12/2004 - Lutein and Zeaxanthin, carotenoids found in dark leafy green vegetables, were nearly 10 times more powerful than the antioxidant vitamin E in protecting human eye cells from UV-induced damage, report US researchers. Their findings support previous evidence suggesting that the natural compounds could help prevent cataracts, which affect nearly 20 million people in the United States alone and require expensive, surgical treatment. The researchers from Ohio State University say theirs is the first laboratory evidence that these carotenoids help protect the eyes. "Along with the many environmental, lifestyle and genetic risk factors associated with cataracts, exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and oxidative stress appear to be the most relevant in this disease," said study co-author Joshua Bomser. "Our results are the first to provide physical evidence suggesting that lutein and zeaxanthin decrease damage caused by ultraviolet radiation." The Ohio researchers treated human eye lens cells with varying concentrations of lutein, zeaxanthin or vitamin E. They then exposed these cells, along with a batch of untreated cells, to doses of ultraviolet-beta radiation for 10 seconds. UVB radiation is thought to be the primary environmental culprit in causing skin cancer as well as initiating cataract disease. "The dose of UVB radiation we used on the cells is about the same amount a person receives when they get a mild tan," Bomser said. Adding lutein and zeaxanthin to the cell cultures provided double the protection from UVB damage – the antioxidants reduced signs of damage by 50 to 60 percent, while vitamin E only reduced the same signs of damage by 25 to 32 percent, according to the study in this month’s issue of the Journal of Nutrition. The researchers also found that it took far less lutein and zeaxanthin as vitamin E – about 10 times less – to get this protective effect. "The lens is equipped with antioxidant defense mechanisms designed to guard against the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation and oxidative stress," Bomser said. "In addition to protective enzymes and compounds like vitamins C and E, we think that low concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin in the eye lens help shield the eye from the harmful effects of UVB radiation." Bomser noted that the scientists do not yet know how these two antioxidants get into the eye. "Lutein and zeaxanthin accumulate in the retina and in the lens of the eye, but we're not sure how they reach the eye in the first place. They travel through the bloodstream, but the lens doesn't have a blood supply," he explained.

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Stinging Nettle: An Anti-Inflammatory Solution to Chron's Disease? By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, October 4, 2004, abstracted from “Ameliorative effect of IDS 30, a stinging nettle leaf extract, on chronic colitis” published online August 25, 2004 in the International Journal of Colorectal Disease Crohn’s Disease (CD) is an inflammatory disease of the bowel, usually of the lower small intestine (called the ileum) although it can effect any portion of the digestive tract. The inflammation can penetrate deep into the layers of the small intestine, usually resulting in frequent bouts of diarrhea.(1) Conventional medical treatment of CD aims at eliminating high levels of an inflammatory protein called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), but every time the treatment is repeated the effect lessens, eventually making it nearly useless. The Stinging Nettle Leaf (SNL) extract, IDS 30, has shown effectiveness in helping deal with rheumatoid arthritis by effectively suppressing cytokines.(2) Now a new study(3) has found SNL extract may also help decrease the inflammation present in colitis. Researchers investigating SNL effects induced colitis in mice by injecting dextran sodium sulphate after which they were treated with either IDS 30 or water and monitored for clinical signs of colitis. Researcher then assessed the declining/improving symptoms of Crohn’s by measuring fecal levels of two cytokines, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. Mice treated with IDS 30 had “significantly fewer signs of colitis” than the placebo group that included “significantly lower levels” of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha mucosal cells. These results led the researchers to conclude that “the long-term use of IDS 30 is effective in the prevention of chronic murine colitis” and that stinging nettle “may be a new therapeutic option for prolonging remission in inflammatory bowel disease.” Although the researchers did not make any recommendations on what amounts of SNL will elicit a decrease in CD symptoms, the lack of side effects of SNL make it a harmless yet possibly very effective addition to anyone’s nutrition regimen. Reference: 1 Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. www.ccfa.org 2 Broer, J. and B. Behnke, Immunosuppressant effect of IDS 30, a stinging nettle leaf extract, on myeloid dendritic cells in vitro. J Rheumatol, 2002. 29(4): p. 659-66 3 Konrad, A., et al., Ameliorative effect of IDS 30, a stinging nettle leaf extract, on chronic colitis. Int J Colorectal Dis, 2004

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Food for Good Thoughts: Beat the Blues the Natural Way Reprinted with permission from www.hsibaltimore.com, Health Sciences Institute e-Alert, November 18, 2004 The controversy over the link between antidepressant drug use and an elevated risk of suicide among teenagers has subsided for the moment, but you can be sure we haven't heard the last of this disturbing topic. Recently, I read an urgent posting on the HSI Forum, from a member named E.T.: "My 16 year old son has been diagnosed with depression, ADHD and impulsivity. The psychiatrist wants to put him on Effexor. We are not happy about using Effexor. Does ANYBODY know about anything else we could try that would be effective, other than the obvious fish oil and St John's wort?" HSI members like E.T. are aware that the omega-3 fatty acids in Fish Oilhave been shown to help relieve depression, and St. John's wort has also been proven to successfully address mild depression (although this herb should be used with care by anyone who's taking prescription drugs). In addition to these natural treatments, there's one important nutrient that E.T. should make sure her son is getting enough of. Blood test tells the tale Deficiency of Folate (a B vitamin that's essential for proper brain function) has been shown to play a role in depression. Last year, researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University conducted the first study to examine the association between depression and low levels of folate among a large segment of the general population, including teenagers. The USDA team examined data from blood tests of almost 3,000 subjects, aged 15 to 39. Through diagnostic interviews, the research team found that subjects who had major depression and subjects who had mild depression both had low red blood cell folate concentrations. An editorial that accompanies the publication of the study in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics points out that while the results of this and other studies on folate and depression are promising, not enough research has been done to suggest a proper dosage for folate supplements, or exactly who should receive them, or for how long. Within the context of clinical research that sort of caution is common. But out here in the real world it's not too early to recognize that someone who's depressed would almost certainly help their cause to include folate-rich foods in their diet, along with a supplement of folic acid. Liver for lunch According to the FDA, these foods deliver high concentrations of folate: * Chicken Liver: 3.5 oz. contains 770 micrograms (mcg) * Braised Beef Liver: 3.5 oz. contains 217 mcg * Lentils: ½ cup (cooked) contains 180 mcg * Asparagus: ½ cup contains 132 mcg * Spinach: ½ cup (cooked) contains 131 mcg * Kidney Beans: ½ cup contains 115 mcg * Orange: A medium size contains 47 mcg In the e-Alert "The B List" (2/2/04), HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., told us that low doses of folic acid (the synthetic form of folate) aren't effective except in a small percentage of cases. He recommends 1.6 mg per day, although he believes that a dosage closer to 5 mg is better for those who want to address cardiovascular problems. Unfortunately, folic acid is only available in very low doses of 0.8 mg (800 mcg), as mandated by the FDA. Dr. Spreen explains: "That's all from the conventional medical dogma that folate can mask a vitamin B-12 deficiency if you take too much folate and zero B-12." So... take more Vitamin B-12. Problem solved! Dr. Spreen recommends 1 mg of B-12 per day in sublingual form. He also suggests that to get the most out of folate, 100 mg per day of B-6 is necessary, as well as 400-500 mg of magnesium per day to make the B-6 more effective. People who are depressed are also often deficient in magnesium, which is found in whole grains, nuts and leafy green vegetables. B complex supplements have also been shown to relieve symptoms depression. Good dietary sources of B vitamins include tuna, salmon, avocados, bananas, mangoes, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, poultry and meat. Note that stress (which often goes hand in hand with depression) is believed to deplete the body's store of B vitamins. And finally, herbal supplements like Valerian Root, Chamomile, Black Cohosh, and Rosemary may also help manage depression. But before putting any of these natural therapies to work, parents should discuss them with their children's doctor or a health care professional who's knowledgeable in their use. Sources: "Depression and Folate Status in the US Population" Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 2003;72:80-87 "Folic Acid May Ease Depression" Farret Condon, Hartford Courant, 6/5/03, www.ctnow.com

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Green Tea Mechanism Supports Anti-Cancer Activity Reprinted with permission from www.NutraIngredients.com, December 1, 2004 The polyphenols present in green tea help prevent the spread of prostate cancer by targeting molecular pathways that shut down the proliferation and spread of tumour cells, as well as inhibiting the growth of tumour nurturing blood vessels, finds new research. A team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, have documented the role of green tea polyphenols in modulating the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-driven molecular pathway in prostate tumour cells in a mouse model for human prostate cancer. Their report, in today's issue of Cancer Research, lends further support to the protective effects of green tea for functional foods. Plant extract suppliers are increasingly looking to reach supplement makers with highly concentrated products. "Consumption of green tea polyphenols led to reduced levels of IGF-1," explained Dr Hasan Mukhtar from the department of Dermatology at the University of Wisconsin, the senior author of the new study. "Green tea polyphenols also led to increased levels of one of the binding proteins for IGF-1, the insulin growth factor binding protein-3. These observations bear significance in light of studies that indicate increased levels of IGF-1 are associated with increased risk of several cancers, such as prostate, breast, lung and colon." Green tea polphenols also caused reduced expression of proteins known to be associated with the metastatic spread of cancer cells and contributed to minimizing tumour development by governing the amount of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the serum of the prostate cancer mouse model. By reducing the amount of VEGF, the polyphenols work to minimize nutrients flowing to and supporting tumour growth. 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 1-212-279-4351 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 "NL122804" when checking out to obtain discounts on your next purchase from www.HerbalRemedies.com