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Herbal Remedies Natural Health Newsletter, January 2005, Issue 242

Herbal Remedies January 2005 Natural Health Newsletter Issue 242 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 New Study Finds Reasons for Chamomile's Positive Effect in the Body - Click here for full story. Melatonin: Helping Asthmatics Sleep Better - Click here for full story. Thiamine May Protect Heart Health in Diabetics - Click here for full story. Ashwagandha: Alternative of Ginseng from india - Click here for full story. Oleic Acid Kills Breast Cancer Cells in Lab Study - Click here for full story. Our Sponsors Enter coupon code "NL012705" when checking out to obtain discounts on your next purchase from http://www.HerbalRemedies.com

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New Study Finds Reasons for Chamomile's Positive Effect in the Body By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, January 8, 2005, abstracted from “A Metabonomic Strategy for the Detection of the Metabolic Effects of Chamomile Ingestion” posted December 21, 2004 on the website of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Chamomile tea is a natural product used by alternative health seekers for centuries. The benefits of the chamomile flower have been far-reaching, from its use as an antioxidant(1) to the ability of its “essential oil” to have antimicrobial activity.(2) Past research has also found Chamomile to have strong anti-inflammatory activity. A component of chamomile called chamazulene prevents the formation of an inflammatory protein called leuokotriend-B4.(3) Now a new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry(4) has presented evidence on why chamomile exerts such a beneficial effect in the body. In the study, researchers recruited 14 volunteers (seven women and seven men) and, over the course of two consecutive weeks, had them drink five cups a day of a Chamomile herbal tea that was made with the flowers and leaves of German chamomile. Daily urine samples were taken and tested throughout the study, both before and after drinking the chamomile tea. Urinalysis of the patients found increased levels of a breakdown product called hippurate, a breakdown product of certain plant-based compounds known as phenolics, some of which have been associated with increased antibacterial activity.(5) Drinking the Chamomile also increased urinary levels of glycine, an amino acid that has been shown to relieve muscle spasms(6) and provides evidence of chamomile’s ability to help treat menstrual cramps by helping relaxes the uterus. Another significant benefit observed in the study is that the urinary levels of both hippurate and glycine were elevated for up to two weeks after the participants stopped drinking the tea, showing that the two compounds remain active in the body after tea consumption is stopped. For the researchers, “This is one of a growing number of studies that provide evidence that commonly used natural products really do contain chemicals that may be of medicinal value.” Reference: 1 Bandoniene, D.; Pukalskas, A.; Venskutonis, P. R.; Gruzdiene, D. Preliminary screening of antioxidant activity of some plant extracts in rapeseed oil. Food Res. Int. 2000, 33, 785-79 2 Marino, M.; Bersani, C.; Comi, G. Impedance measurements to study the antimicrobial activity of essential oils from Lamiaceae and Compositae. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 2001, 67, 187-195 3 Safayhi, H.; Sabieraj, J.; Sailer, E. R.; Ammon, H. P. T. Chamazulene-an antioxidant-type inhibitor of leukotriene B-4 formation. Planta Med. 1994, 60, 410-413 4 Wang Y. A Metabonomic Strategy for the Detection of the Metabolic Effects of Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) Ingestion. Jou Agr Food Chem Web Release Date: 21-Dec-2004 5 Grossman, E., A. H. Meckel, et al. (1989). "A clinical comparison of antibacterial mouthrinses: effects of chlorhexidine, phenolics, and sanguinarine on dental plaque and gingivitis." J Periodontol 60(8): 435-40 6 Lynch, J. W. (2004). "Molecular structure and function of the glycine receptor chloride channel." Physiol Rev 84(4): 1051-95

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Melatonin: Helping Asthmatics Sleep Better By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, October 28, 2004, abstracted from “Melatonin Improves Sleep in Asthma: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study” in the November 1, 2004 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care in Medicine For asthma sufferers, disturbed sleep is a common and burdensome symptom. It is more detrimental in children, where research has found disturbed sleep to decrease memory, executive function and lower overall intelligence.(1) In an effort to find natural alternatives to increase sleep quality, melatonin supplementation has effectively increased sleep quality by regulating the circadian rhythm, our body’s biological clock,(2) and by helping reduce inflammation.(3) Now a new study(4) has found melatonin supplementation may give hope to asthmatics with sleeping problems. Researchers examined twenty-two women with asthma, giving twelve of them 3 mg of melatonin and ten of them placebo for one month. Researchers used a sleep quality index and a sleepiness scale to measure sleep quality and daytime drowsiness, respectively, while measuring lung capacity with spirometry. At the end of one month, researchers found that, compared to placebo, the melatonin group was “significantly improved” in terms of their subjective sleep quality despite failure to see a significant change in lung function. The researchers went on to conclude that “melatonin can improve sleep in patients with asthma” but warned that “further studies looking into long-term effects of melatonin…are needed before melatonin can be recommended in patients with asthma.” Reference: 1 Gottlieb, D. J., C. Chase, et al. (2004). "Sleep-disordered breathing symptoms are associated with poorer cognitive function in 5-year-old children." J Pediatr 145(4): 458-464 2 Rajaratnam, S. M., B. Middleton, et al. Melatonin advances the circadian timing of EEG sleep and directly facilitates sleep without altering its duration in extended sleep opportunities. J Physiol 2004 3 Cuzzocrea, S. and R. J. Reiter (2002). "Pharmacological actions of melatonin in acute and chronic inflammation." Curr Top Med Chem; 2(2): 153-65 4 Francineide L. Campos, Francisco P. da Silva-Júnior, Veralice M. S. de Bruin, and Pedro F. C. de Bruin Melatonin Improves Sleep in Asthma: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2004; 170: 947-951

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Thiamine May Protect Heart Health in Diabetics Reprinted with permission from www.NutraIngredients.com, December 16, 2004 High doses of vitamin B1, or thiamine, could lower cholesterol in diabetes patients and help prevent heart disease, say UK researchers. The findings, based on a rat model of diabetes, may be important in the face of rising incidence of diabetes around the globe. Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease two to three fold in men and three to five fold in women. The increased risk is linked to high levels of cholesterol and lipids in the blood. Previous studies have shown that the use of drugs, such as statins, can lower the risk of heart disease in diabetics by between 20 and 40 percent. However researchers at the University of Essex are confident that high doses of thiamine could also help to reverse the increases in blood cholesterol and lipid levels. They studied control and diabetic rats for 24 weeks with and without oral high-dose therapy with thiamine. "We found that thiamine therapy (70 mg/kg) prevented diabetes-induced increases in plasma cholesterol and triglycerides in diabetic rats but did not reverse the diabetes-induced decrease of HDL," they report in Diabetologia (DOI: 10.1007/s00125-004-1582-5). Thiamine also normalised food intake of diabetic rats. Lead researcher Professor Paul Thornalley commented:"There will of course be clinical trials to investigate further the findings we have made using an experimental model of diabetes." "However, given the continuing toll of heart disease in diabetic patients, and the emerging benefits of thiamine therapy for diabetics suffering from kidney disease - as reported by our research group last year - I would strongly suggest that those with diabetes are given thiamine supplements."

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Ashwagandha: Alternative of Ginseng from india By Rajesh Kalwadiya ‘Vaidya’ (Ayurvedic Doctor) There is an herb regarded as a 1st class adaptogenic tonic in one of the world's greatest herbal medical systems, an herb which can compare favorably to the world’s most renowned herbal tonics. The use of Ashwagandha in Ayurvedic medicine extends back over 3000 to 4000 years to the teachings of an esteemed rishi (sage) Punarvasu Atreya. It has been described in the sacred texts of Ayurveda, including the Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas where it is widely extolled as a tonic especially for emaciation in people of all ages including babies, enhancing the reproductive function of both men and women. It has also been used for inflammations especially for arthritic and rheumatic conditions and as a major tonic to counteract the ravages of aging and promote youthful longevity. Some of its other traditional uses have been as a mild purgative for chronic constipation and for the treatment of swollen glands. Ashwagandha is a small woody shrub or herb in the Solanaceae family that grows usually about two feet in height and is naturally found in diverse areas ranging from Africa, the Mediterranean and East into India. Because of its wide range, there are considerable morphological and chemotypical variations in terms of local species. Considering its powerful healing properties, except for the bright red fruit, it is a fairly plain, nondescript plant. The fruit is harvested in the late fall and the bright yellow seeds are dried for planting in the following spring. The cultivated Nagori species of Ashwagandha seems to be significantly larger, one source describing it as a shrub growing from 5 to 7 feet tall. However, the primary alkaloids of both the wild as well as the cultivated species are the same. Traditionally, Ashwagandha has been used in many ways--as a sedative, a diuretic, a rejuvenating tonic, an anti-inflammatory agent, and as an "adaptogen" (endurance enhancer). Many Western herbalists refer to this herb as "Ayurvedic ginseng" because of its reputation for increasing energy, strength, and stamina, and for its ability to relieve stress. PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS Ashwagandha is one of the most extensively studied Indian medicinal plant with substantially confirmed tranquilizer cardiotonic, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancerous, antiarthritic activities concerned with the subject are quoted here: 1. Dopamine, acetylcholine, benzodizepine, receptor population increase in stress was significantly (P<0.01) prevented by Ashwagandha (W. Somnifera). It laso reduced brain succinate dehydrogenase enzyme (S.D.H.) increased due to stress (C.C.R.A.S. Study, 1987). 2. Malaviya et al. (1979) have established experimentally a psychotropic effect of Ashwagandha. According to the study, in induces depleting of acetylcholine and catacholamine in the brain of rats. These groups have shown significant barbiturate hypnosis potentiation effect of this medicinal herb experimentally. 3. Singh et.al (1984) have extensively studied antistress activity of W. Somnifera and found that it may be due to stae of nonspecifically increased resistances (S.N.I.R.) during stress. CLINICAL STUDIES The effect of Ashwagandha on anxiety neurosis was studied by Malaviya (1976). In his biochemical studies conducted in a series of patients, he found statistically significant reduction of cortisol and catacholamine through urinary secretion. Cortisol and catacholamines are conventionally known as stress hormones and their turnover is notably increased during stressful conditins. Above findings were supported b Shukla et. Al (1982) and Kotecha & Singh (1991). The drug possesses antifatigue and antistress activity (khandeparkar et al, 1981; Singh et al. 1977). Milk firtified with Ashwagandha increases the body weight, total proteins, M.C.H.C. and proves its effect as growth promoter (Sheshadri et al. 1977). Chudasama and Singh (1986) stuided Rasayana aspect of Ashwagandha. It showed relief of symptoms like Agnimandya, Daurbalya, exercise test, memory and weight gain in underweight patients, with significant increase in IgA, IgG, and IgM levels suggesting its immunopotentiation. Chhajed and singh (1990) have recommended its use as adjuvant therapy along with ATT that can provide better and earlier relief. It is also useful in Amlapitta (hyperacidity) (Shaw. 1982). Epilepsy (Murthy, 1989) Schizophrenia (Parikh, 1984) and various arthropathies including rheumatoid arthritis with fall in E.S.R. (Bector et al.1971). ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF ASHWAGANDHA Researchers from Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, have discovered that some of the chemicals within Ashwagandha are powerful antioxidants. They tested these compounds for their effects on rat brain and found an increase in the levels of three natural antioxidants-superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. They say, "These findings are consistent with the therapeutic use of Ashwagandha as an Ayurvedic rasayana (health promoter). The antioxidant effect of active principles of Ashwagandha may explain, at least in part, the reported anti-stress, cognition-facilitating, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects produced by them in experimental animals, and in clinical situations." APHRODISIAC PROPERTIES OF ASHWAGANDHA Ashwagandha is historically used as an aphrodisiac. Ashwagandha is mentioned in the ancient Kama Sutra as an herb to be used for heightening sexual experience, Ashwagandha has the ability to restore sexual health and improve overall vitality while promoting a calm state of mind. Laboratory studies show it can produce nitric oxide which is known to dilate blood vessels TRADITIONAL & NON-TRADITIONAL AYURVEDIC COMBINATIONS USING ASHWAGANDHA 1. The root is taken in 3 gram dosage for general debility, consumption, mal-nourishment in children, senile debility, rheumatic and arthritic conditions, nervous exhaustion, fatigue, brain-gag, memory weakness, senile dementia, muscular weakness, spermatorrhea and leucorrhea. Normally this can be taken as a powder 3 grams three times daily mixed with warm milk or water. 2. For insomnia, Ashwagandha can be mixed with valerian root and oyster shell. 3. As a general nerve tonic, especially for hypoglycemia or low blood pressure, Ashwagandha is combined with Gokshura . 4. For chronic fatigue Ashwagandha is combined with another great Ayurvedic tonic herb, Shatavari (Asparagus racemosa), Yastimadhu (licorice), Amla (emblica myrobalan) and Shilajit (colloidal trace minerals). 5. For impotence it can be used alone or combined with Kaunch seeds (Mucuna pruriens). 6. For weak lungs, Ashwagandha is combined with Sida cordifolia (Bala). 7. Milk, to stimulate production: combine with equal parts Dioscorea batatas (also available as Shan Yao, a Chinese herb) and licorice and make a decoction of 30 grams of the mixture. Take three times daily. 8. Nerve tonic: combine with Gokshura (Hygrophila spinosa) equal parts. This is especially good for hypoglycemia and low blood pressure. 9. Nutrition of malnourished children, Improving: Make a paste of the root with ghee and milk. Administer three times daily. 10. Skin diseases: Make a salve of Ashwagandha or mix the powder with sesame oil and apply topically. 11. Sterility, Female: Boil a decoction of 10 grams in water down to half a cup, add milk and one tablespoon of ghee (clarified butter) and a teaspoon of honey. Take three times daily for two weeks after menstruation. Ashwagandha is used in Ayurvedic medicine as a powder, decoction, medicated wine, mixed with clarified butter, combined with honey or sugar syrup or as a medicated oil. The most common form is as the powdered root. DOSAGE Powder: 3-6 grams daily or up to 5 to 10 grams as an occasional tonic Decoction: 6 to 10 grams added to heated cow’s milk Mixed with ghee or honey: 1 tsp. 2 times daily CONTRAINDICATIONS AND TOXICITY Ashwagandha is relatively safe when taken in the prescribed range of dosage. Large doses, however, have been shown to cause gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea and vomiting. Finally, because Ashwagandha has been found to potentiate the effects of barbituates, it is generally recommended that it be not taken under such conditions. About the author: Dr. Rajesh Kalwadiya is a Panchakama expert and training coordinator at Chakrapani Ayurveda Clinic & Research Center, a reliable Ayurveda center of north - western part of India. He is BAMS from Rajasthan University, a famous Government University of north - western part of India and had been author of several published research papers and articles on Ayurveda. Click here for other ayurvedic information and products Ayurveda

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Oleic Acid Kills Breast Cancer Cells in Lab Study Reprinted with permission from www.NutraIngredients-usa.com, January 10, 2005 Oleic acid, the chief fatty acid in olive oil, has been shown to dramatically cut the levels of a gene involved in the development of breast cancer. The new lab research offers strong support for the protective effect of the Mediterranean diet –rich in olive oil and other plant foods containing the fatty acid - against cancer. The strongest evidence that monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid may influence breast cancer risk comes from studies of southern European populations, which have considerably lower levels of the disease compared with northern counterparts. But animal research on the effects of olive oil to date has thrown up inconsistent results, possibly because olive oil has been administered as a mixture of several fatty acids and other natural protections and not on its own. In a new series of laboratory experiments on breast cancer cell lines, a US and Spanish team has found that oleic acid dramatically cuts the levels of an oncogene called Her-2/neu (also known as erb B-2). High levels of Her-2/neu occur in over a fifth of breast cancer patients and are associated with highly aggressive tumours that have a poor prognosis. Writing in today’s issue of the Annals of Oncology, they say that oleic acid not only suppressed over-expression of the gene but other tests on the cell lines showed that it also boosted the effectiveness of trastuzumab (Herceptin), the monoclonal antibody treatment that targets the Her-2/neu gene and has helped to prolong the lives of many breast cancer patients. Lead researcher Dr Javier Menendez, assistant professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and a research scientist with the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute, said: "To our knowledge this is the first report that a dietary monounsaturated fatty acid previously suggested to be protective against breast cancer significantly down-regulates the expression of Her-2/neu, cutting it by up to 46 percent." "Her-2/neu is one of the most important oncogenes in breast cancer.” The findings should not only help in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which individual dietary fatty acids regulate the behaviour of breast cancer cells but also suggest that dietary interventions based on oleic acid may delay or prevent Herceptin resistance in Her-2/neu-postive breast cancer patients, added Dr Menendez. Dr Menendez and co-researchers Dr Ruth Lupu, director of the Evanston Northwestern Health Research Institute's Breast Cancer Translational Program and Dr Ramon Colomer, head of the Medical Oncology Division at Institut Catala d'Oncologia in Girona, Spain, are now looking to identify the ultimate molecular mechanism through which oleic acid supplementation inhibits the expression of Her-2/neu, as its blocking action appears to work in a different way from that of Herceptin. They are also seeking funds for a study to see whether a high virgin olive oil diet will modulate the expression of the Her-2/neu oncogene in human breast tumours in animals and make the tumours less aggressive. In addition, they want to investigate whether oleic acid-rich diets have any effect on the anti-tumour activity of Herceptin. Dr Menendez emphasised that it is important to be cautious about the implications of the study, as laboratory results did not always translate into clinical practice. However the findings did suggest that a higher level of oleic acid in breast tissue could provide an effective means of influencing the outcome of breast cancer in patients carrying high levels of the rogue gene. "They may also help in designing future epidemiological studies and, eventually, dietary counselling to delay or prevent drug resistance developing in patients taking Herceptin," he said. 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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