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Herbal Remedies Natural Health Newsletter, February 2005, Issue 243

Herbal Remedies February 2005 Natural Health Newsletter Issue 243 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 Omega-3s to Enter Weight Loss Category? - Click here for full story. Sage Oil Helps Memory - Click here for full story. Study Finds Glucosamine and MSM Better for Joints When Taken Together - Click here for full story. I'd Like to Buy a C, Pat: Learn More about Vitamin C - Click here for full story. Four Easy Ways to Keep Your Children Healthy - Click here for full story. Our Sponsors Enter coupon code "NL021605" when checking out to obtain discounts on your next purchase from http://www.HerbalRemedies.com

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Omega-3s to Enter Weight Loss Category? Reprinted with permission from www.NutraIngredients.com, January 25, 2005 Emerging research looks set to position omega-3 fatty acids as a new ingredient for weight loss foods and supplements, reports Dominique Patton. There is already evidence to link consumption of seafood with reduced risk of weight gain but there has been little knowledge so far about how this effect is produced. New studies carried out by one of the top three omega-3 suppliers, Pronova Biocare, have identified a potential mechanism for the weight reduction effect of fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids in mice. The company, which will patent the findings on its concentrated DHA/EPA combination, says that a human trial underway in the Czech Republic may confirm the animal results in the coming months. “No mechanisms have been suggested for this effect to my knowledge. This is very new,” Morten Bryhn, director of research and development for Pronova Biocare, told NutraIngredients.com. Researchers from the company and colleagues at Charles University and the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in Prague report on their results in the December issue of Lipids (vol 39, pp 1177-1185). They showed that a 60 percent omega-3 concentrate, containing 50 percent docosahexaenoic acid and 10 percent EPA (known as EPAX 1050 TG) increased oxidation of fat by activating genes that break down fat in the mitochondriae and peroxisomes. The fish oil concentrates not only caused weight reduction in the mice but they also appeared to stop the animals from gaining weight when given free access to food. Additionally, the omega-3 concentrate reduced the number of fat cells, especially in the abdominal region. These effects were increased in animals that were put on a 10 percent calorie reduction regime. The regimen was previously tested in a pilot study, presented at the North American Association for Study of Obesity (NAASO) meeting in November (abstract no 249-P). It involved 20 women with severe obesity (body mass index of more than 40) who were already on a very low calorie diet. The group given the omega-3 concentrate reduced their weight by 20 percent more than the placebo group after only three weeks of treatment (7.55 kg compared to 6.07kg in the placebo group). BMI was reduced by as much as 15 percent, says Pronova. The firm has now initiated a larger study of 30 obese women to confirm these findings. The trial, as well as the previous pilot trial, will also give researchers the chance to check the mechanism identified in mice by analyzing biopsies of fat tissue taken from the patients. “We are planning to present these results at Vitafoods in May,” Dr Bryn said. “Most products in this area make a lot of promises for fast weight loss. But this really targets the mechanism behind weight gain and offers the possibility for weight loss,” he added. Being overweight is not only a problem of too much food and too little exercise but also a problem of bombarding genes with signals leading to fat accumulation, explained Dr Bryn. “A diet rich in red meat and vegetable oils increases accumulation of fat in fat tissue because of a chronic disarray of genes responsible for handling fatty acids and carbohydrates.” He explained that the number of fat cells increases, boosting the turnover of carbohydrates into fat. The resulting overweight or obesity is difficult to curb by calorie reduction and exercise only. “Genes are constantly programmed to a situation of starvation and they need to be reprogrammed. Omega-3 fatty acids from seafood seem to do exactly that,” added Dr Bryhn. The findings support yet another benefit from omega-3 fatty acids, already being added to foods designed to improve heart health. The weight loss category of foods and supplements is currently booming (worth more than $3 billion per year in the US) based on rising numbers of overweight people around the world. It is set to grow even faster in coming years as increasing numbers of children are already overweight. Experts estimate that almost 25 percent of children in the EU are now obese, with about 400,000 becoming either obese or overweight every year. However Dr Bryhn claims that Pronova products will not “produce a dramatic effect, but should be marketed with a reasonable type of weight control diet". Omega-3 fatty acids could be at an advantage over some other weight loss ingredients because of their long, safe history of therapeutic use. Some products have been patented for use in pharmaceuticals targeting specific health conditions or diseases and there are hundreds of clinical trials backing their safety.

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Sage Oil Helps Memory Reprinted with permission from www.hsibaltimore.com, Health Sciences Institute e-Alert, January 11, 2005 In the 17th century, noted herbalist Nicholas Culpeper wrote that the herb sage could "heal" the memory, while, "warming and quickening the senses." Here in the opening days of winter, anything that will warm and quicken my senses sounds very inviting. Culpeper wasn't the only herbalist (and certainly not the first) to recognize that sage can help improve memory. Now – centuries later – scientists believe they know why. An enzyme called acetylcholinesterase (AChE) breaks down a chemical called acetylcholine that is typically deficient in Alzheimer's patients. Researchers from the Medical Plant Research Centre (MPRC) at the Universities of Newcastle and Northumbria in the UK have shown that sage inhibits AChE. A study conducted by researchers at MPRC demonstrates the possible results of inhibiting AChE. Researchers gave 44 subjects either sage oil capsules or placebo capsules containing sunflower oil, and then conducted word recall tests. The group that received sage oil turned in significantly better test results than subjects that took placebo. However, researchers say that further tests are needed to fully determine just how far-reaching sage's effect may be on memory. Sage can be found in health food stores and from many Internet sites. And although sage oil has no known side effects, it would be wise to discuss this supplement with your doctor or health care provider before using it on a regular basis. Sources: "Sage Could Make You a Sage" HealthScoutNews, 8/29/03, www.healthscoutnews.com "Sage Oil Can Improve Memory" Ananova, 8/29/03, www.ananova.com

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Study Finds Glucosamine and MSM Better for Joints When Taken Together By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, October 14, 2004, abstracted from “Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Study of Oral Glucosamine, Methylsulfonylmethane and their Combination” in a 2004 issue of Clinical Drug Investigations Osteoarthritis (OA) is now considered a serious public health concern in the United States. Doubling from 35 million sufferers to 70 million in 2002 (including 300,000 children), osteoarthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability and costs the U.S. economy more than $86.2 billion each year (www.arthritis.org) Two of the most popular alternative treatments for OA include glucosamine sulfate (GS) and Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). GS provides the raw materials to build cartilage(2) while blocking pain-producing prostaglandins.(3) Even a review of research on GS published in one of the most respected medical journals in the world(4) stated GS’s effectiveness in treating OA. MSM, a natural painkiller, helps treat OA by blocking the inflammatory process while simultaneously stimulating the body’s natural anti-inflammatory hormone, cortisol. MSM also helps increase the synovial fluid level in joints and protects cartilage from being broken down.(5) Recent research has shown daily intakes of 2,250 mg of MSM to reduce OA pain in as little as six weeks.(6) Although this past research demonstrates the effectiveness of GS and MSM for OA when taken separately, a new study(7) has found that GS and MSM are more effective for arthritis when they are taken together. Researchers studied 118 subjects with mild to moderate OA and had them receive 500 mg of GS, 500mg MSM, or both GS and MSM , or placebo three times daily for three months. Patients were evaluated at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12 while measuring pain, swelling and a 15m walking time. At the end of 12 weeks, the GS/MSM combination “significantly improved” signs and symptoms of OA compared with either taking them separately or placebo, resulting in the researchers concluding that “combination therapy showed better efficacy in reducing pain and swelling and improving the functional ability of joints than the individual agents.” Reference: 1 “The Facts about Arthritis” from the Arthritis Foundation website www.arthritis.org 2 Setnikar, I., Antireactive properties of "chondroprotective" drugs. Int J Tissue React, 1992. 14(5): p. 253-61 3 Reichelt, A., et al., Efficacy and safety of intramuscular glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee. A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Arzneimittelforschung, 1994. 44(1): p. 75-80 4 McAlindon, T.E., et al., Glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis. Jama, 2000. 283(11): p. 1469-75 5 Parcell, S., Sulfur in human nutrition and applications in medicine. Altern Med Rev, 2002. 7(1): p. 22-44 6 Lawrence, RM. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): a double-blind study of its use in degenerative arthritis. Int J Anti-Aging Med 1998; 1(1): 50 7 Usha, P., Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Study of Oral Glucosamine, Methylsulfonylmethane and their Combination. Clin Drug Invest, 2004. 24(6): p. 353-363

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I'd Like to Buy a C, Pat: Learn More about Vitamin C Republished with permission from www.hsibaltimore.com, Health Sciences Institute e-Alert, December 13, 2004 Around this time of year I always get questions about vitamin C from friends, family and, of course, HSI members. It's no secret that an ample daily intake of vitamin C may act as a preventive against the common cold while also reducing the duration of symptoms once a cold has set in. But how much vitamin C should be taken, and what form of the vitamin is most effective? Here's a question from a member named Gary: "We saw a naturopathic doctor who promotes giving vitamin C in high dose intravenously. He says that much more is effectively absorbed since all the dosage is in the bloodstream. Is this safe and does he have a point?" This question is tailor-made for HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., so I asked Dr. Spreen to field this one, and here's his response: "Sometimes doses are needed that go beyond the intestinal tract's ability to absorb. There is a point called 'bowel tolerance' at which no further ingested doses of vitamin C are useful (other than to flush out the intestinal tract, since bowel tolerance levels cause diarrhea). Bypassing this route by using intravenous access can permit far higher absorption of vitamin C. Depending on the problem, such a technique can be very useful." The "C" list For those of us who don't need to resort to using intravenous vitamin C, there are still several different forms of supplementary C to choose from. Here's Dr. Spreen's quick rundown of those forms: * ASCORBIC ACID : This is the standard form of vitamin C. Calcium ascorbate is one of the salt forms of the nutrient (as opposed to the acid form). It is usually synthetic, as are other forms, such as sodium ascorbate, magnesium ascorbate, etc. It tends to be bitter, while ascorbic acid is sour. * NATURAL vs. SYNTHETIC: The synthetic vitamin C molecule is chemically identical to natural forms. The difference arises in other nutrients that accompany the C, such as bioflavonoids, which make the C more effective. That's not to say that I don't prefer natural; it's just that it's very hard to come by, and extremely expensive. So the chances of high doses of C (like 1000 milligram capsules) being all-natural are low. One possibility, however, would be Sago Palm source vitamin C, which is considered a lower risk for those who are extremely allergic. * ROSE HIPS: This natural form of vitamin C is very expensive, so nobody sells it exclusively (to my knowledge). Manufacturers put a little in with the synthetic source for marketing purposes. In its natural state, meaning mixed by Mother Nature with attending bioflavonoid fractions, there's little question (to those who treat with it regularly) that less amount of rose hips is needed for an equivalent biological action. * ACEROLA VITAMIN C: This is another natural form (from a tropical American shrub). Like rose hips, acerola is usually mixed with synthetic. * VITAMIN C COMPLEX: This is somewhat non-specific, and can be any group of related items, such as multiple salts of C (calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium ascorbates, for example). * ESTER C: There is some issue concerning Ester C, touted as stronger than the standard form. I don't think it's any stronger, and neither did Dr. Linus Pauling, though you'll see commercials that indicate otherwise. Some people do feel it has less of a tendency to upset their stomach, however. * FAT SOLUBLE VITAMIN C: The fat-soluble form of vitamin C is called ascorbyl palmitate, and is better absorbed and stored by the body than water-soluble forms. (All the other forms of C are water-soluble.) Ascorbyl palmitate is harder to find, and more expensive. Absorb this As I've mentioned in previous e-Alerts, the amount of any vitamin you take is not necessarily the amount that your body ends up absorbing and ultimately putting to use. Stating that, "Absorption is the key to everything," Dr. Spreen tries to give the body what he calls "luxuriant amounts" of nutrients (which he believes it can handle in high doses, as opposed to drugs), and hopes the body gets what it needs. Complicating the absorption issue is the fact that your body's ability to absorb nutrients is not necessarily the same from one day to the next. Dr. Spreen says, "The degree of vitamin C absorption changes depending upon the dose ingested and the body's need at any particular time. For example, 6000 milligrams might cause loose stools in a given healthy person when the same person during a bout with the flu might be able to take 20,000 milligrams without difficulty. "Some people are less tolerant to vitamin C in the acid form. For them, switching to the salt form (sodium ascorbate, calcium ascorbate, magnesium ascorbate, etc.) often permits far higher tolerance." Dr. Spreen also points out that absorption may be facilitated by the regular use of vitamin C. "Assuming you take enough (RDA amounts won't do it), high doses of vitamin C 'awaken' dormant enzyme systems that can utilize the additional doses of the nutrient. Over a period of time they get used to having the higher dose and 'jack up' to accommodate." As a final note, Dr. Spreen recommends that vitamin C (as well as other vitamins) be taken in capsule-form or powdered. If you take a pill-form, make sure it dissolves quickly in water.

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Four Easy Ways to Keep Your Children Healthy By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, January 7, 2005, abstracted from “Revving Up Your Child’s Immune System” from the December 27, 2004 issue of Daily Health News For many parents, ear infections and strep throat seem to be common childhood occurrences. While antibiotics seems to help for a while, they are over-prescribed. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly half of the 235 million antibiotic prescriptions given each year are unnecessary. The truth is that you can cheaply and easily boost children's resistance to disease. Although germ-proofing them is impossible, you can kick their immunity into high gear, an especially smart move during cold and flu season. Some ways to do this include: CUT DOWN ON SUGAR. Although it’s the brain’s first choice of energy, too much sugar can decrease the strength of the immune system. The key is to give your children complex carbohydrates instead of the simple sugars found in so many processed foods that have become staples of many children’s diets. Some suggestions include using brown rice instead of white rice and eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables instead of preservative-laden fruit and vegetable juices. GIVE YOUR KIDS A MULTIVITAMIN. This is one of the best ways to make sure your children are getting the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants they need to keep their immune systems at their strongest. If you’re looking for extra protection, herbal extracts are also a great idea. One such extract is elderberry and its ability to reduce the length of colds and flu. A 2003 study in the Journal of International Medical Research found that, in 54 people ages 18 to 54, patients taking elderberry extract recovered from the flu in more than half the time (3.1 days) compared with over a week with placebo. HELP OFFSET THE EFFECTS OF ANTIBIOTICS. Although antibiotics kill the bad bacteria that are infecting us, but antibiotics also kill the good bacteria in our digestive tract that protect us. You can minimize the damage of antibiotics by giving your child probiotics , supplements that replace the natural, beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract that can prevent bad bacteria from taking hold. A naturopathic physician will know which preparation is best. CREATE A LOVING ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUR CHILDREN. Perhaps better than all of the supplements and antibiotics that are available to your children is the power of providing a healthy environment for them in the form of love and support. One of the best immune-boosters for kids is simply love and attention. Children who know they are loved by their parents have tremendous positive effects on their health. Emotional stress and unhappiness take a toll on the immune system and predispose children to infection and illness. A happy mind leads to a healthy body. 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 "NL021605" when checking out to obtain discounts on your next purchase from www.HerbalRemedies.com