Within the capital of scotland – Lehi may be the sprawling headquarters of Xango, where company authorities recognized Mr. Hatch, a Utah Republican, late this past year for helping their exotic juice business “operate without excessive intrusion” from Washington.

Up in Sandy, Utah, is 4 Existence Research, whose top professionals contributed to Mr. Hatch’s last re-election campaign after federal government bodies billed the organization with making exaggerated claims about pills it states helps the defense mechanisms. And nearby in West Salem, set up-line employees at Neways fill 1000′s of bottles each day for any products which includes Youthinol, a steroid-based hormone that professional sports leagues pressed to prohibit until Mr. Hatch blocked them.

“Senator Hatch — he’s our natural ally,” stated Marc S. Ullman, an attorney for many supplement companies.

Mr. Hatch, who credits a regular regimen of dietary supplements for his vigor at 77, has spent his career in Washington enhancing the $25-billion-a-year industry thrive.

He was the main author of the federal law passed 17 years back that enables companies to make overall health claims regarding their items, but exempts them from federal reviews of the safety or effectiveness before they’re going to promote. Throughout the Federal government, Mr. Hatch has frequently intervened together with his co-workers in Congress and federal government bodies in Washington to battle suggested rules that industry authorities consider objectionable.

While Congress is frequently delayed or bitterly divided in addressing a few of the nation’s most pressing problems, such as the economy and immigration, legislative champions like Mr. Hatch are frequently remarkably effective in delivering for niche industries or parochial programs. It’s not unusual, obviously, for congress to battle for local interests, but Mr. Hatch’s alliances are particularly strong and mutually advantageous.

Mr. Hatch continues to be compensated with 100s of 1000′s of dollars in campaign contributions, political loyalty and corporate sponsorship of his favorite causes home.

His family and buddies have achieved positive results, too, from links towards the supplement industry. His boy Scott Hatch, is really a longtime industry lobbyist in Washington, much like a minimum of five from the senator’s former aides. Mr. Hatch’s grand son and boy-in-law increase revenue at their chiropractic care clinic near here by selling herbal and dietary remedies, including $35 “thyroid dysfunction” injections along with a weight-loss product, “Slim and Sassy Metabolic Blend.” And Mr. Hatch’s former law partner is the owner of Pharmics, a small dietary supplement company in Salt Lake City.

But, many public health experts reason that in the advocacy, Mr. Hatch has impeded government bodies from stopping harmful items from being place available on the market, including supplements which are unlawfully spiked with anabolic steroids or any other unapproved drugs. Additionally they say he’s the individual in Washington most accountable for the proliferation of items which make exaggerated claims about health advantages.

Just within the last 2 yrs, 2,292 serious ailments, including 33 which were fatal, were reported by customers of allegedly harmless dietary supplements, federal records show. (These “severe adverse reaction” reviews don’t always mean the supplements triggered the ailments, exactly that the customers grew to become ill after taking them.) Plus some of Mr. Hatch’s most significant supporters in Utah have faced repeated accusations of wrongly declaring their items can treat nearly anything, including cancer and cardiovascular disease.

“Orrin Hatch certainly includes a to fight for his ingredients,” stated Steven Novella, a clinical specialist in the Yale Med school who had been a co-founding father of an internet site that tracks claims through the supplement industry. “But the effects are there’s an effectively not regulated marketplace for these items, an outrageous West, the ones are now being mistreated by clever marketing, and consequently taking stuff that are useless or in some instances not really safe.”

Mr. Hatch rejects such accusations, observing he has frequently required that federal government bodies step-up enforcement of existing laws and regulations, as well as labored to grow their forces.

“No associations have or is ever going to have effect on my policy positions,” Mr. Hatch stated inside a written statement. “Supplements are safe and healthy, and they’re a significant industry during my home condition of Utah.”

The depth of his industry support might be offer an evaluation over next season, as Mr. Hatch prepares for what is a hard re-election fight if Representative Jason Chaffetz, a Republican, mounts a principal challenge. Mr. Chaffetz, an ancient executive in a Utah company that sells anti-aging and skincare items, can also be a business ally.

Several professionals, though, say they can’t imagine turning their back on Mr. Hatch.

“Some folks get chosen, visit Washington, forget where they originated from,” John F. Gay, leader of the industry trade association, stated this past year in presenting Mr. Hatch in an industry convention in Vegas. “Others get chosen, visit Washington, and use the understanding they’ve bought, the associations they’ve built, the energy they’ve developed through the years of incumbency to help individuals who got them there. That’s the kind of person that Senator Hatch is.”

Hatch to save the day

Cat Bennett led research.

This information has been modified to mirror the next correction:

Correction: June 21, 2011

An early on version want to know , made the title of the advocacy group improperly. It’s People for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, not the middle for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

View the original article here

Tags: Dietary supplements, headquarters of Xango, niche industries, clinical specialist, main author

Psyllium seeds are so rich in fiber that it has been prescribed for constipation and other digestive complaints for nearly 500 years.  During the Middle Ages in Europe, Arab physicians sold a constipation remedy called diagridium and psyllium was one of the main ingredients.

The small, reddish seeds are nearly odourless and tasteless and come from the Plantago psyllium plant.  Another name for the psyllium plant is plantain, but is should not be confused with the edible banana-like fruit of the same name or the herb plantain.

Plantago is grown commercially in Spain, France, India and other countries.  Various species of this plant is used in herbal medicine, but the most commonly used are the seeds of the Plantago psyllium plant and P. ovata.  The seeds are generally dried, ground and sold in a powder form and are sometimes added to breakfast cereals.

The fibrous husk of psyllium seeds form a gel like mass when mixed with water that then absorbs excess water from the intestines and makes, larger, softer stools.  Psyllium also helps to lower cholesterol by binding to cholesterol-rich bile, drawing cholesterol from your bloodstream.  This kind of water-soluble fiber is suitable for people who do not eat a diet high in fiber.

In 1998, the US Food and Drug Administration allowed breakfast cereals to claim that it can reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol.  To be able to state this claim, breakfast cereals had to contain at least 1,7 g of soluble fiber from psyllium per serving.  

Psyllium can help with a wide variety of disorders such as constipation, diarrea, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis and haemorrhoids.  This herbal medicine works by absorbing water makes larger stools.  If you suffer from constipation, the added water will soften stools, making it simpler to pass.  This is helpful to reduce the irritation experienced by people who have haemorrhoids.  

By speeding up the passing of stools through the intestine, psyllium is beneficial to people who suffer from diverticular disease.  This disease causes faecal particles to become trapped in small pockets in the intestine’s lining, causing infection and pain.  

Psyllium’s ability to absorb excess water from loose stools makes it an ideal treatment for diarrea.

Only in the 1980′s did scientists learn another benefit of this herbal medicine:  it lowers blood cholesterol levels, especially the terrible cholesterol (LDL) that can lead to heart disease.  By simply adding psyllium to a low-stout diet, you can significantly reduce cholesterol levels, eliminating the need for prescription medications.

Weight-loss programmes recommend the addition of psyllium to a low-stout diet.  By absorbing water, it fills your stomach and provides a sense of fullness, causing you to eat less. This herbal supplement also delays the emptying of food from your stomach, making you feel full for longer.  In a small British study, women who took a psyllium supplement with water three hours before a meal, absorbed less stout and less kilojoules from food.  Psyllium also stabilizes blood sugar levels, thereby controlling food cravings.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Psyllium supplements can temporarily cause bloating and flatulence because it supplies fiber.  You can avoid these unpleasant side effects by slowly increasing your psyllium intake over a period of several days.  

Do not take doses higher than recommend as this can cause certain minerals not to be absorbed by your body.

Should you experience difficulty breathing or swallowing after taking psyllium herbal supplements, seek medical attention immediately as you may be allergic to psyllium.

The recommended dosage is one to three tablespoons of psyllium powder two to three times a day.  Do not exceed 30 g a day.

It usually takes 12 to 24 hours to get relief from constipation and sometimes can take as long as three days.  Ensure that you take psyllium supplements with plenty of water. Dissolve psyllium powder in a glass of water and then drink another glass of water immediately after.  

Do not take any other medications with psyllium herbal supplements as this can delay the medications from being absorbed.  

If you are pregnant and suffering from constipation, consult your medical practitioner before taking psyllium supplements.

Tags: excess water, Dietary supplements, irritable bowel syndrome, Health Medical Pharma, water soluble fiber

This immune boosting herb has long been used to not only treat but also prevent diseases.  Astragalus only gained popularity in the 1980′s in the United States, but in China it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.  Astragalus is a frail looking plant, but is really very hardy.  It has a sweet-smelling, pale yellow blossom and the roots are mainly used for herbal remedies.

Over 2000 species of Astragalus exist, but only 2 are used in herbal remedies:  Astragalus membranaceus and Astragalus mongholicus.  In North America there are several species that are highly poisonous to livestock and are called “locoweed,” but these species of Astragalus are very different from the disease fighting species.

One of the main benefits of Astragalus is that it is safe to use with conventional medicine and will not interfere with any standard treatment.  

The root of the Astragalus plant contains numerous health-promoting substances, one of which is polysaccharides, which is a class of carbohydrates which are responsible for this herbal remedy’s immune enhancing effects.  The other substances are saponins, astragalosides, flavonoids and triterpenes.

Health practitioners prescribe Astragalus as a general health tonic as it enhances your overall health by improving resistance to disease, increasing your stamina and vitality and promotes general wellbeing. This herbal supplement is also an adaptogen, which means that it will greatly increase your body’s resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue.

Astragalus has antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.  In addition, it also has antioxidant properties, which means that it can protect your body from cell hurt caused by free radicals.  

This herbal treatment is especially effective in treating and preventing the common cold, flu, sinus infections and bronchitis as it prevents viruses from gaining a foothold in the respiratory system.  Just like Echinacea, Astragalus can stop a disease from the onset of the first symptoms.  If a disease does develop, Astragalus can shorten the duration of the disease and lessen the severity of symptoms.

People undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer will benefit greatly from using Astragalus on a regular basis as this herb rebuilds their immune systems and helps to repair hurt caused by cancer treatments.  Using Astragalus will also protect bone marrow from the immune-suppressing effects of chemotherapy and radiation.  This herb is also used to help the body”s production of T cells, macrophages, natural killer cells, interferon and other immune cells as these cells are often ruined by chemotherapy and radiation.  

Recent research indicates that Astragalus may offer antioxidant benefits in people who suffer from heart disease, relieving symptoms and improving heart function.  The first study revealed that if a patient takes Astragalus within 36 hours of a heart attack, it could enhance the functioning of the heart”s left ventricle, which is the chamber responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood through the body.  The second study was conducted to prove that Astragalus could prevent chest pain, or angina.  Astragalus produced better results than a well-known prescription medication commonly used for this condition.

Astragalus root may also help reduce high cholesterol levels and regulate blood pressure by widening blood vessels and improving blood circulation.  The Astragalus root also acts as a mild diuretic.

In addition, this herb can aid digestion by inhibiting gastric secretions and reducing gastric acid, which makes Astragalus helpful in curing stomach ulcers. 

Ongoing research is being conducted into the use of Astragalus to treat HIV and other autoimmune diseases such as lupus.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care. After centuries of use, few side effects have been reported by people using Astragalus, but, because of its immune-enhancing benefits, people who receive organ transplants should not use this herb.

To boost your immune system, take 200 mg of Astragalus once or twice a day for a period of three weeks.  Then alternate, in three week periods, with cat”s claw, echinacea and pau d”arco.  Choose a product that contains a standardized extract of this herb with 0,5% glucosides and 70% polysaccharides.

Creams and ointments containing Astragalus are readily available at health stores and will help with wound healing and stop wounds and ulcers from becoming septic.

You can add dried Astragalus root to soup, stews or rice dishes.  Let it simmer for 30 minutes, then remove the herb as it is tough to chew.  This not only adds flavour to these dishes but also makes it simple to add immune-enhancing properties to your food.

Tags: herbal remedies, high cholesterol, organ transplants, health tonic, herbal supplement

The use of grapes, grape leaves and grape seeds as herbal supplements are as ancient as time.

Ancient Greeks and Egyptians realized the value of grapes many thousands of years ago.  Traditional European folk healers used the sap from grapevines to make an ointment to treat skin diseases.  Grape leaves were used to stop bleeding and relieve inflammation.

Researchers today are finding more ways that grapes and grape seeds improve our general health and wellbeing.  

Grape seeds are rich in flavonoids, which are plant substances with powerful anti-oxidant properties that protect cells from free radical hurt.  Free radical hurt occurs when the natural free radicals in your body are increased due to pollution, radiation, smoking and ultraviolet hurt.  This can lead to cell hurt, premature aging and blood vessel disorders.  Grape seed extract contains PCO’s (procyanidolic oligomers), which are believed to have the ability to prevent heart disease and cancer.

Grape seed extract is oil- and water-soluble, meaning that it can penetrate all kinds of cell membranes, making sure that its anti-oxidant properties are released throughout your entire body.  This herbal extract is able to cross the blood-brain barrier protecting brain cells from free radical hurt.  Enhancing the overall health of blood vessels, grape seed extract reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

This anti-oxidant strenghens weakened capillaries and increases blood flow to the extremities, making it useful in treating blood circulation disorders such as Raynaud’s disease.  People who suffer from any kind of vascular insufficiency will benefit from using grape seed extract as it successfully treats varicose veins, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs and even leg cramps.

As it is able to affect even the tiniest of blood vessels, it also benefits the circulation in the eye.  Health care practitioners recommend grape seed extract to prevent and treat macular degeneration, cataracts and night blindness.  If you are a regular computer user, eyestrain caused by the computer monitor will greatly improve.

Tumors form when there is hurt to the genetic material of cells.  Using grape seed extract will help to right the hurt to these cells and will decrease the chances of cancerous tumors forming.  People undergoing chemotherapy can use grape seed extract to minimize the hurt caused by this cancer treatment.

Grape seed extract is also recommended to treat connective tissue disorders as it helps to rebuild and preserve collagen in your skin.  It is for this reason that many skin care products today contain extracts of grape seed.  

If you suffer from allergies, grape seed will lessen the severity of the symptoms.  This herbal extract works by inhibiting the release of histamine, which is a compound responsible for allergic reactions such as hay fever or hives.

Women who suffer from endometriosis find relief from pain and inflammation caused by chemicals known as prostaglandins. Grape seed extract blocks the release of prostaglandins, thereby reducing pain and inflammation.

Grape seed oil should not be confused with grape seed extract, but the oil may offer health benefits as well.  A study conducted in New York at the University Health Science Center found that adding two tablespoons of grape seed oil to the subjects’ daily diet increased the excellent cholesterol (HDL) and reduced triglycerides.

Hurt to the cardiovascular system in people who smoke is reduced with the use of grape seed extract.  High blood pressure can also be treated with the use of this herbal remedy as it helps to repair hurt to blood vessels.

If you have diabetes, grape seed extract can help to regulate your blood sugar levels and also increase vascular function, which is often affected by this disease.

In a recent study it was found that grape seed extract is highly efficient at treating chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), as it reduced the severity and frequency of abdominal pain.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

No side effects or toxic reactions from the use of grape seed extract have ever been reported.  No known interactions exist between grape seed extract and conventional medicines.  

Only about 28 percent of grape seed extract’s active compounds remain in the body after 24 hours.  It is therefore vital to take the herbal supplement at the same time everyday, especially if you are using it to treat a disease.

You can take grape seed supplements with or without food.

For anti-oxidant protection, take 100 mg daily.  To treat disease, take 200 mg daily.  Ensure that you buy grape seed supplements standardized to contain 92-95 percent procyanidolic oligomers (PCO’s).

Tags: brain cells, free radicals, heart attacks, Alternative medicine, plant substances

Dong Quai, also known as Chinese Angelica, is widely cultivated for medicinal purposes in China. Dong Quai also grows wild in Asia.

The most widely available therapeutic form is derived from the root of A. sinensis, a plant with hollow stems that have clusters of white flowers.

In the late 1800’s, Dong Quai became well loved in Europe as a herbal treatment for gynecological problems. Dong Quai has also been used for centuries in Korean and Japanese herbal medicine.

Generally, Dong Quai is used to keep the uterus healthy and to regulate the menstrual cycle.

This herbal Medicine is also believed to widen blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow to various organs.

Migraine headaches associated with the menstrual cycle is also alleviated by the use of Dong Quai.

Using Dong Quai will help with correcting abnormal menstrual bleeding, easing menstrual cramps and alleviating symptoms of PMS. Dong Quai has also been used to reduce menopausal hot flushes and other symptoms associated with menopause.

This herb is also rich in Vitamin B12, helping to build red blood cells.

Dong Quai contains coumarins, which is a group of natural chemicals that dilates blood vessels, increases blood flow to the uterus and also stimulates the central nervous system.

Some herbalists believe that Dong Quai contain plant oestrogens, which are weaker than the oestrogens produced by the human body. These plant oestrogens bind with oestrogen receptors in human cells, minimizing the negative effects of a woman’s own oestrogen, which include an increased risk of breast cancer.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Due to its anticoagulant and anti-platelet effects, Dong Quai should not be used by patients with bleeding disorders or patients that are using blood-thinning medication such as Warfarin.

Increased sun sensitivity may occur and prolonged exposure to sunlight or ultra-violet light should be avoided when using Dong Quai.

Dong Quai may have laxative properties and could also cause bloating.

Dong Quai should not be used during pregnancy and if a woman is breastfeeding due to the hormones that this herb contains.

Studies have shown that Dong Quai can interact with birth control pills rendering it ineffective or by reducing the effectiveness.

For PMS, menstrual irregularities, menstrual cramps or hot flushes a dosage of 600mg daily is recommended.

Use of Dong Quai with other menstrual-regulating herbs such as Chasteberry and Siberian ginseng is also recommended.

For PMS, use Dong Quai on the days that you are not menstruating. For hot flushes use it daily. The use of Dong Quai should be continued for a period of two months before deciding if it has any effect.

Powdered or dried roots as well as tinctures are readily available.

Tags: breast cancer, blood thinning medication, herbal medications, human cells, chinese angelica

Gotu kola is a favourite food of elephants and because elephants are notoriously long-lived animals, it might have led people to believe that it can prolong life.  Although research has not proven that it can indeed prolong your life, studies have found that this herbal medicine have vital health benefits.

This herbal medicine had its origins in India and today still forms an vital part of an ancient healing tradition called Ayurveda.  Ayurveda is defined as providing an integrated approach to preventing and treating illness through lifestyle interventions and natural therapies.   In France, gotu kola has been prescribed since the 1880′s to treat burns and other skin wounds.

This herb with its bright red flowers thrives in hot, swampy areas and grows naturally in India, Madagascar, middle and southern Africa, Australia, China and the southern United States.  The leaves appearance depends on whether it is growing in water (large, fan-shaped leaves) or on dry land (small and thin leaves).  The leaves are the most vital and most commonly used herbal medicine.

Gotu kola is also known as Centella asiatica, talepetrako, Indian pennywort, Indian water navelwort or hydrocotyle.  Although the names are similar, there is no relationship between gotu kola and the kola (or cola) nut, which is used in cola drinks.  Gotu kola is caffeine free and does not act as a stimulant.

Whether you take gotu kola internally or use it externally, there are many benefits to this herbal medicine.  Some of the common uses include treating burns and wounds, building connective tissue, strengthening veins and improving memory.  This herb’s vital compounds are called triterpenes, which appear to enhance the formation of collagen in cartilage, bones and connective tissue.  In addition, these compounds promote healthy blood vessels and help to produce neurotransmitters, which are the chemical messengers of the brain.

Gotu kola promotes the healthy development of connective tissue and prevents the formation of hardened areas.  This is what makes this herbal medicine so vital for treating many skin conditions.  It is used as a therapeutic treatment for burns, keloids (overgrown scar tissue) and helps surgical incisions and skin ulcers to heal quicker. Applying gotu kola topically to psoriasis lesions will aid healing.

This herbal remedy is valuable in treating varicose veins by improving blood flow and strengthening cells in the walls of blood vessels.  Studies conducted show that 80 percent of patients with varicose veins had a substantial improvement.  

Patients with heart disease and high blood pressure show improvement when using gotu kola herbal remedies when compared to patients who took a placebo.

Gotu kola has been used for thousands of years to improve mental alertness.   Ongoing research has shown fantastic benefit in using this herb to boost memory, improve learning capability and most importantly, reversing some of the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease.  In one study, mentally disabled children were found to have better concentration and attention levels after taking this herbal supplement for a period of 12 weeks.  Children and adults who have ADD (attention deficit disorder) will also greatly benefit by using gotu kola herbal remedies.  

As a general herbal therapeutic and herbal tonic, gotu kola will improve circulation and boost your concentration levels, making it simpler for you to retain information.  Students and school children benefit by taking this herbal medicine as they are able to concentrate for longer periods and retain more of the material studied.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Internally or externally, gotu kola has small side effects.  Skin rashes, light sensitivity and headaches are rare side effects, should this occur, reduce the dosage.

Pregnant and lactating women should not use gotu kola.

Taking gotu kola for an extended period of time is not recommended.  After taking the herb for a period of 6-8 weeks, stop taking the supplement for a period of 2 weeks and then continue regular use, following this pattern.

Gotu kola has a mild sedative effect and should therefore not be used in conjunction with prescription sedatives.

When purchasing gotu kola supplements, ensure that it is standardized to contain 10 percent asiaticoside, which is an active ingredient in this herb.  If you are unable to find the standardized extract, substitute 400 to 500 mg of the raw herb for each 200 mg dose.

To treat varicose veins, take 200 mg of the standardized extract three times a day.

For burns and other skin wounds, use 200 mg twice a day until the wounds are healed.

To improve memory, concentration and slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease, take 200 mg standardized extract three times a day.  

Gotu kola can be taken internally or externally with or without meals.  Gotu kola tea can also be applied externally to treat burns and wounds and psoriasis lesions.  You can use both the oral and the topical herbal treatments at the same time.  Make a paste of gotu kola by breaking open a capsule and mixing the dried herb powder in a small amount of water.  This can be applied externally to the skin.

Steep one or two teaspoons of dried gotu kola leaf in a cup of boiled water for 10 to 15 minutes.  Drink one or two cups a day.

Tags: varicose veins, Dietary supplements, favourite food, Kola nut, United States

Licorice was one of the first foods studied by the US National Cancer Institute”s experimental food programme.

Licorice is cultivated in Greece and Turkey and is a member of the pea family. The medicinal properties are in the roots which contain glycyrrhizin.

This herbal medicine is also used as a curing and flavouring agent in the tobacco industry.

The medicinal component of Licorice, glycyrrhizin, has been shown in several studies to have antiviral activity against the human immunodeficiency virus. (HIV)

Licorice is also beneficial for people suffering from respiratory problems because it fights the viruses that attack the respiratory tract. This herbal medicine relieves symptoms such as coughing, a sore throat and it also helps to thin mucus.

Licorice is often used by dieticians to treat fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and other disorders affected by the body’s levels of cortisol, an adrenal hormone.

Studies have shown that Licorice is beneficial for hepatitis, combating liver infection and fighting the virus that triggers the disease.

Another form of Licorice, DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is helpful in cases of heartburn, stomach ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

People who suffer from high blood pressure should not take Licorice as this herbal medicine acts on the adrenal glands, increasing blood pressure.

Individuals consuming large amounts of Licorice can suffer from sodium and water retention.

A dose of 200mg Licorice three times a day is recommended for most disorders, but for digestive complaints, 380mg of DGL three times a day is recommended.

Tags: digestive complaints, medicine acts, high blood pressure, adrenal glands, deglycyrrhizinated licorice

Pau d’arco is obtained from the bark of the Tabebuia impetigonosa tree indigenous to South America.  Other names for pau d’arco are lapacho, taheebo or ipe roxo.  This herbal medicine was well loved amongst the Incas, Aztecs and native tribes of the South American rain forests to promote general health and well-being.  It was also used to cure diseases and as a pain killer for toothaches and headaches.

The beneficial ingredients in pau d’arco include potent plant chemicals called naphthoquinones.  Of these chemicals, lapachol has been studied the most and even has several patents associated with it. In the 1960′s, pau d’arco became well loved and many books and articles were written on its ability to fight disease and relieve pain.  By the 1980′s this herbal medicine was readily available in health stores and pharmacies.

Lapachol and other compounds contained in pau d’arco combat bacteria, viruses and fungi.  It has also shown to be an immune-enhancing herb and can also reduce inflammation.  Herbalists often recommend this herbal medicine as a tea douche to help restore the balance in the vagina, thereby fighting vaginal yeast infections.

A tincture of pau d’arco applied directly to warts will help to eradicate them.  People suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV or AIDS and acute bronchitis will benefit greatly from taking pau d’arco in either capsule, tablet, tincture or tea form.

The most vital benefit though is the potential cancer-fighting properties of this herbal remedy.  When this herb starting getting a reputation as a cancer fighting medicine, the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) started an investigation and identified lapachol as the main ingredient capable of shrinking tumours.

Due to the high rate of success in animal studies in the 1970′s, the NCI started human trials using high doses of lapachol.  Although there was evidence that pau d’arco ruined cancer cells, participants started having serious side effects such as nausea and vomiting and blood-clotting problems.  This was thought to be because lapachol interferes with the action of vitamin K which is needed for blood to clot properly.  As a result, research was abandoned.

Researchers opposing this study believe that lapachol should not have been used in its pure form, but that therapeutic doses of pau d’arco would be more beneficial and would produce similar benefits without the undesired side effects.  Other studies suggest that taking pau d’arco with vitamin K supplements will make it possible for people to use the pure lapachol to further study its cancer fighting properties, without interfering with blood clotting.

Despite all the controversy surrounding the research of lapachol, herbalists and health practitioners recommend pau d’arco as a complementary herbal medicine to conventional cancer treatments.  Pau d’arco tea has had beneficial effects for cancer victims alleviating the symptoms of chemotherapy.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Using whole-bark products are generally safe and do not produce any of the side effects associated with high doses of pure lapachol.  Should you experience any stomach upsets or nausea when using pau d’arco herbal supplements, take it with food.

People using blood-thinning medication such as Warfarin should take care when using pau d’arco supplements.

Pregnant women should not use pau d’arco.

If you are using pau d’arco tablets or capsules, the daily recommended dosage is 250 mg twice a day.  This dose is suggested for people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome or HIV and AIDS.  Use pau d’arco herbal supplements in conjunction with other immune-enhancing herbs such as echinacea or goldenseal.

To make pau d’arco tea, steep two or three teaspoons dried herb in two cups of boiled water and drink over the course of a day.

To treat vaginal yeast infections, let pau d’arco tea cool down to lukewarm before using it as a douche.  Repeat the treatment twice a day for a period of 5 days or until the symptoms are gone.

To treat warts, apply a compress soaked with pau d’arco tinture to the affected areas before bedtime and leave it on all night.  Repeat the treatment until the warts disappear.

Herbalists recommend purchasing whole-bark products because they believe that the benefits of pau d’arco come from the entire range of chemical compounds found in the bark.

To be truly effective, pau d’arco herbal supplements must contain lapachol which is found only in the bark of the Tabebuia impetigonosa tree and not the other Tabebuia species. The most effective pau d’arco products are the ones that contain 2 to 7 percent standardized extract of lapachol.

Be sure to consult an herbalist or a reputable health store when buying pau d’arco supplements to ensure that you are getting excellent value.

Tags: chemical compounds, native tribes, bacteria viruses, South America, Dietary supplements

Evening Primrose seeds contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which is an essential fatty acid which the human body converts into hormone-like compounds called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins regulate several vital bodily functions.

Evening Primrose oil also contains omega-6 fatty acids, which can help to regulate insulin absorption and can even help to regulate your heartbeat.

The human body does not manufacture fatty acids on its own, therefore taking Evening Primrose oil supplements can improve your general health.

Several studies have shown the benefits of taking Evening Primrose oil supplements to treat atopic dermatitis, or eczema. Eczema occurs when the body is unable to convert fats from food into GLA. Evening Primrose oil supplements alleviate itching and can reduce the need for topical steroid creams and other medications which have undesirable side-effects.

Due to its high GLA content, Evening Primrose oil is very effective to treat a variety of menstrual disorders. Evening Primrose oil blocks the inflammatory prostaglandins that cause menstrual cramps and several women have reported that taking Evening Primrose oil supplements ease the breast tenderness experienced just before their periods.

Menopausal women have also benefited from taking Evening Primrose oil supplements as this herbal remedy assists to alleviate the flushing as well as mood swings experienced by menopausal women.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis improve dramatically when taking Evening Primrose oil supplements. The GLA found in Evening Primrose oil eases the joint pain and swelling.

Evening Primrose oil lessens the inflammation of acne as well as rosacea. The redness and swelling associated with both these conditions are dramatically improved and some studies have shown that with long-term use of Evening Primrose oil supplements, new outbreaks of these skin conditions can be prevented.

People living with diabetes often suffer from a condition called diabetic neuropathy, or nerve hurt, caused by diabetes. The GLA in Evening Primrose oil helps to minimize the symptoms of the nerve hurt and can even help in preventing future nerve hurt.

Evening Primrose oil is recommended to people who suffer from Raynaud disease, which is a disease that causes numbness and tingling in the limbs due to poor blood circulation.

The GLA found in Evening Primrose oil can also help to lower blood pressure, but further studies are needed.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Care should be taken by people who are taking medicine to treat mental illness or medicine used to treat epilepsy. These drugs include chlorpromazine, thioridazine and trifluoperazine. People using these drugs have reported an increase in seizures when taking Evening Primrose oil.

If you are having surgery that requires anesthesia, you should stop taking Evening Primrose oil at least two weeks before the surgery to minimize the risk of seizures.

Only about 2% of people using Evening Primrose oil have reported bloating and abdominal upsets. Consuming Evening Primrose oil with food lessens these side-effects.

Evening Primrose oil lowers blood pressure, therefore consult your health care practitioner before taking Evening Primrose oil supplements with your regular blood pressure medication.

Evening Primrose oil should be taken only under your medical practitioners care when you are taking blood-thinning drugs such as Warfarin.

The recommended therapeutic dose of Evening Primrose oil is 1000 mg three times a day. This supplies 240 mg of GLA a day.

When buying Evening Primrose oil supplements, check that the supplement contains a small dose of vitamin E. The fatty acids in Evening Primrose oil break down very quickly, but vitamin E slows this process down.

Evening Primrose oil can be applied topically to ease the symptoms of eczema, acne, rosacea and rheumatoid arthritis.

Taking Evening Primrose oil with meals assists with absorption.

Tags: Gamma-Linolenic acid, omega 6 fatty acids, oil break, autoimmune diseases, menstrual cramps

Welcome to the first edition of the Herbal Meds Online newsletter! Over the last few months we have been working hard to build Herbal Meds Online.  Our aim with this website is to inform and educate people about the benefits and uses of herbal supplements, remedies and medicines.

In our first edition, we will be covering a variety of topics ranging from the origins of herbal medicines to useful hints and tips regarding herbal remedies. In every edition, you can expect a summary of a specific herb and its uses and also a summary of a specific condition that can be treated with an herbal medicine.  We will also cover a range of informative topics related to herbal medicines and supplements.

We hope that the information will be of benefit to you and anyone who might be considering alternative treatments. 1)   The origins of herbal medicines 2)   Basic types of supplements

3)   Evening Primrose Oil – a herbal remedy used to treat skin conditions

4)   Endometriosis – a painful menstrual condition

5)   Hints and Fascinating Facts

6)   Herbal Medicine quote of the month

7)   Reminder

Here is a brief history of key dates in the development of herbal medicines:  2800BC – First written record of herbal medicines, the Pen Ts’ao by Shen Nung
C400BC – Hippocrates develops principles of diet, exercise and happiness as the cornerstones of health
C100BC – First illustrated herbal guide produced in Greece
C50AD – Roman Empire spreads herbal medicine and commerce of plants around the Empire
C200AD – Herbal practitioner, Galen, makes system for classifying illnesses and remedies
C500AD – Hippocrates’ principles followed in Britain by Myddfai practitioners throughout Saxon times
C800AD – Monks now pioneer herbal medicine with infirmaries and physic gardens at every monastery
1100sAD – Arab world now major influence on medicine and healing practices and the physician Avicenna writes the Canon of Medicine
1200sAD – Black Death spreads across Europe; ‘qualified’ apothecaries try bleeding, purging, mercury and arsenic to stem the epidemic with no more success than traditional herbalists
1500sAD – Henry VII promotes herbal medicine in the face of the growing number of untrained apothecaries and other ‘medical practitioners’ flourishing in London
Various Acts of Parliament passed to introduce some regulation of medical practices including protection for ‘simple herbalists’ to practice without dread of prosecution
1600sAD – Society sees the first two-tier health system emerge – herbs for the poor and exotics (plant, animal or mineral extracts) or ‘drugs’ for the rich
Nicholas Culpepper writes his well-known herbal paper: The English Physician, explaining in simple terms the practice of herbal medicine
1700sAD – Preacher Charles Wesley advocates a sensible diet, excellent hygiene and herbal medicine as the keys to a healthy life
1800sAD – Herbal medicines start to be eclipsed by mineral-drug based treatments. With powerful drugs such as calomel (mercury) and laudanum available over the counter serious side effects start to be documented.
Albert Coffin pioneers low-cost herbal remedies using plants from his native America as well as European ones helping hundreds of working class people at his North England practice.
Burgeoning pharmaceuticals industry makes herbal medicine seem outdated. National Association of Medical Herbalists founded to defend the practice. Later to become the National Institute of Medical Herbalists
1900sAD – Medicinal herbals used extensively during World War I as drugs are in small supply.
Post war period sees enormous expansion in the international pharmaceuticals industry and the discovery of penicillin
A handful of dedicated herbalists keep the tradition alive.
A Modern Herbal by Hilda Leyel is published.
Pharmacy & Medicines Act 1941 withdraws herbal practitioner’s rights to supply patients with medicines. Public outcry ensures the Act is never enforced.
After much campaigning by the NIMH, the Medicines Act in 1968 reinstates practitioners’ rights and the British Herbal Medicine Association is founded.
The BHMA produce the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.
Revised edition is published in 1990. Public concern starts to grow over the side effects of the ‘wonder drugs’ of the 1950s and their impact on the environment.
2000AD – EU legislation advocates all herbal medicines should be subject to compulsory clinical testing comparable to that undertaken for conventional drugs. Thus all herbal medicines would be licensed.
UK government currently considering the possible impact and public perception of this legislation.

(Information taken from “Herbal Remedies” by Jan Balkam, published by Bookmart Limited)

There are basically four types of supplements:

Vitamins A chemically organic substance essential for regulating both the metabolic functions within the cells and the biochemical processes that release energy from food. There are 13 known vitamins and these are categorized as either stout-soluble (A, D, E and K) and water-soluble (eight B-vitamins and C.)  Stout-soluble vitamins stay in the body for relative long periods of time and water-soluble vitamins remain in the body for a small time. With a few exceptions, the body cannot manufacture vitamins. Minerals Minerals are present in your body in small amounts and are essential for a wide range of vital processes. Your body contains 60 minerals but only 22 of these minerals are considered to be essential and are classified as macro minerals and trace minerals / micro minerals. Macro minerals include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, chloride, and potassium.   Micro minerals include iron, zinc, iodine, selenium, copper, manganese, and chromium. Herbs Herbal supplements are prepared from plants using the leaves, stems, roots and/or bark as well as the buds and flowers. Plant parts are refined into tablets, capsules, powders, tinctures and other formulations. Herbs have several active compounds that interact with one another to produce a therapeutic effect. Herbs are used to treat health conditions, to prevent health conditions as well as to maintain excellent health in general.Nutritional supplements These supplements are classified as to possessing disease-fighting potential. Nutritional supplements include compounds found in fruits and vegetables which work to lower the risk of disease. (Information taken from “The Healing Power of Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs” published by Reader’s Digest) Native Americans valued the Evening Primrose plant for its healing powers and there is evidence that European settlers used the plant to treat a variety of skin ailments. This wildflower grows in North America and Europe and its light yellow flowers open at dusk.  The Evening Primrose plant is often mistaken for a weed in gardens.

Evening Primrose oil contains omega-6 fatty acids, which can help to regulate insulin absorption and can even help to regulate your heartbeat. The human body does not manufacture fatty acids on its own, therefore taking Evening Primrose oil supplements can improve your general health.

Several studies have shown the benefits of taking Evening Primrose oil supplements to treat atopic dermatitis, or eczema.  Due to its high GLA content, Evening Primrose oil is very effective to treat a variety of menstrual disorders.

Menopausal women have also benefited from taking Evening Primrose oil supplements as this herbal remedy assists to alleviate the flushing as well as mood swings experienced by menopausal women. Evening Primrose oil lessens the inflammation of acne as well as rosacea.

(Information taken from article published on our website www.herbal-meds-online.com)
Endometriosis is the abnormal growth of cells that form in the lining of the uterus. Each month, as estrogen and other hormones cause the lining of the uterus to thicken with blood, these abnormal cells also expand.  Sometimes a collection of blood, called a cyst, can form.  These endometrial cysts are common on the ovaries.

Here is a list of common symptoms experienced by women with Endometriosis:   Abnormally heavy, menstrual bleeding often with large clots.  Severe menstrual cramps which starts before your period starts and reaches its peak after your period ends.  Nausea or vomiting just before your menstrual period.  Sharp pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse at any time of the month.  Infertility.  Incapacitating pain in the uterus, lower back or pelvic area.  Diarrhea or constipation during your menstrual cycle.  Iron-deficiency anemia due to heavy bleeding.  Severe pain due to endometrial cysts rupturing.Start herbal treatment by taking a combination of Dong Quai and Chasteberry.  Taking high doses of calcium and magnesium can help with painful menstrual cramps.

Flaxseed oil and Evening Primrose oil is useful to help relieve the pain and inflammation associated with Endometriosis. (Information taken from article published on our website www.herbal-meds-online.com)

When buying Evening Primrose Oil supplements, experts recommend looking for a supplement that contains a small amount of vitamin E.  The fatty acids in Evening Primrose Oil break down quickly and vitamin E slows this process down.A study from the University of Massachusetts Medical Center showed that very high doses of GLA found in Evening Primrose Oil reduced hurt to joint tissue in people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. (Information taken from “The Healing Power of Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs” published by Reader’s Digest)

“The highest ideal of cure is the speedy, gentle, and enduring restoration of health by the most trustworthy and least harmful way.”

Samuel Hahnemann, founder of Homeopathy Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.  Pregnant or lactating women and children under 16 years of age should not be using herbal remedies or supplements unless prescribed by a medical practitioner.  Suggestions offered are not intended to replace appropriate medical investigation and treatment.

Tags: National Institute of Medical Herbalists 1900sAD, herbal remedies, canon of medicine, menstrual disorders, oil supplements