Drinking This Is Not The Best Way To Get Energy

Posted by Cathy on

Generally speaking caffeine is the most popular drug in the United States. Depending on where you are in the world, the Chinese herb ginseng, or the herb sugar cane or green tea may be the drug of choice. Even though these stimulants all have botanical origins, they can work just as well as a modern pharmaceutical drug.   However, our cells produce mitochondria energy as a result of many, many chemical interactions. Caffeine stimulate our adrenals but does not source real mitochondria energy

 

Why then, are the energy drinks that contain caffeine considered a food, and not a drug?

 

This is the questions the City of New York is about to answer? Senators are also asking the FDA to clarify this issue. New York City is considering regulating the caffeine in energy drinks and requiring accurate labeling so consumers know how much caffeine they are getting in each can or energy shot.

 

Another issue is what happens when you start mixing these herbal stimulants with other ingredients. Adding sugar to caffeine and a wide mix of amino acids and other substances becomes outright dangerous. In fact, investigations are beginning to look into these combination products, often labeled energy drinks because their stimulating qualities have caused alarm.

 

Kids, teens and young adults are the most drawn to these energy drinks for their quick uppers and stay up all night, side effects.

 

But, why is anybody looking to a canned drink for energy?

 

Consider the simple answer, energy begins with sleep. Everybody knows this!  Everybody knows how you feel when you miss a night of sleep.  Bottom line, you're tired, you have no energy.  When you don't get enough quality sleep, the first drug of choice is caffeine.

 

I've argued before, drugs should not be masquerading as food. Energy drinks do this every day, they are not food.  They should be labeled with all the same information required on a dietary supplement. We should understand not to substitute good food  for a drink in a can. Caffeine is a drug.  A useful drug like so many botanicals, including so many of the Chinese herb botanicals I talk about here.

 

The Benefits of Caffeine blog here

 

 

Chinese Herb Research Now Includes GlaxoSmithKlein Pharmaceuticals

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What's new in Traditional Chinese Medicine? 

Well for starters, bigger players want a piece of what they see as a huge potential profit maker.  Chinese herbs, have become the latest interest for drug companies.

The pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline is opening a new research unit in China to look at traditional Chinese medicine.

 

"Traditional chinese medicine is a well-established system of medical practice developed through thousands of years of empirical testing and refinement of herbal mixtures, and relies generally on clinical experience," said Zang Jingwu, senior vice president Glaxo and head of R&D China.

 

The relatively new R&D unit is working with academic TCM experts in China to develop new TCM products for the benefits of patients in China and the rest of the world. The strategy is to integrate the existing TCM knowledge of diseases with modern drug discovery.

 

"We are developing novel therapeutic TCM mixtures as prescription medicines through innovative extraction methods and combinations, and we use clinical data/evidence to differentiate from existing TCM products on the market," he said.

 

The company's R&D China center was founded in 2007 with a focus on neurosciences. So far, the center has developed into a fully integrated global R&D organization in China to deliver medicine globally and for China.

 

Only one question:  what will it cost us consumers?  Right now Chinese herbal products are cheap compared to drugs!  What can we expect once the big drug companies want a share of the market?

 

Reference:

ChinaDaily.com

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-09/07/content_15743913.htm

Traditional Chinese Herb For Prostate

Posted by Cathy on

Herbs for prostate cancerA new drug is being resesarched for its early success in the treatment of prostate cancer. This is noteworth here because the drug is derived from a Chinese herb.

 

Like so many of our modern pharmaceuticals, the chemicals for this drug comes from a plnat which has been part of  Traditional Chinese Medicine Materica Medica for several centuries, and for prostate cancer treatment it looks very promising. 

 

The drug called Celastrol, is extracted from the "Thunder God Vine" Tripterygium wilfordii which has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.  There are many Chinese herbs with anti-inflammatory effects and you can read about some of them in other blogs listed below. 

 

The drug seems to suppress the activity of a protein called p23. New research shows that p23 independently plays a key role in the way prostate tumors are fueled by the male hormone testosterone.

 

"Excitingly, drugs that block p23 such as celastrol.. have shown early promise in treating several diseases, such as arthritis and asthma, meaning this research is already a step closer to the clinic," said study leader Dr Charlotte Bevan, from Imperial College London, whose findings are reported in the journal Molecular Endocrinology.

 

"The next stage will be to test the effects of such drugs on prostate cancer cells in the lab."

 

Dr Julie Sharp, senior science information manager at the charity, said: "These results provide an alternative route by which scientists could potentially target prostate cancer. What's more, p23 has a much more defined role in the cell than HSP90, meaning that drugs that target it could potentially have fewer side effects than HSP90 inhibitors. We hope these findings will lead to better treatment options for men with prostate cancer."

 

 

Easy Tip For Better Sleep

Posted by Cathy on

Herbs to sleepSometimes research produces what I call the "duhhh" effect.  

 

This is the case with a recent study on sleep habits and sleep problems from the Seattle Children's Research Institute in Washington and the Department of Health Services at the University of Washington. Their report suggests children watching high levels of violent content on televison or videos before bed causes sleep disturbances. 

 

"Duhhhhh" effect in full force here.

 

Seriously, if you've ever been aroung a young child who see's his/her first scary movie, don't plan on getting much sleep that night.  I could have strangled my mother when she took my then 7 and 9 year old daughters to their first really scary movie when the Disney movie they were trying to see was sold out. Grandma came home with my kids late that afternoon and I payed for it with a week of nightmares. 

 

Do I really need a randomized study to tell me this is not healthy for kids?  Fact is, violent and aggresive content television and video's before bed is really not a healthy way to go to sleep for adults either.  Whether your a child or adult, using electronics before bed is well established as a bad idea. 

 

Although we all like to tune out and turn off before bed so many of us do with television on. 

The answer is not finding healthy media to watch to produce a better sleep aid, the answer is not watching.  

 

If you can shut off your head once you get into bed, the answer is some quiet meditative time before you get there.   I know TV is a hard habit to break but if you want a better sleep aid, its in your head.

 

Once your mind is quiet, your body will fall asleep naturally.   If you need extra help turning off those constant thoughts and endless videos try iSleep Herb Pack.   The herbs we use have been studied extensively, they are safe, effective and work at calming your anxious mind.   Read more about iSleep Herb Pack here.

 

 

Ginger Root – Arthritis to Heart Disease An Amazing Chinese Herb

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natural herbal energy boostersWhat is it about ginger that makes it such a versatile root? 

 

This underground stem is acrid and pungent and yet it treats an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea and a laundry list of other ailments. 

 

Here are a few in alphabethical order: altitude sickness, arthritis, common cold, colic, adjunct therapy during chemotherapy,  digestive aid,fatigue, flu, headaches, heart conditions, inflammation, motion sickness, menstrual cramps ok…. that is half the alphabet and quite enough.

 

What most people don’t know about ginger (zingiber officinale) is the secret in this Chinese herb, this medicinal root, is all about the dosage. 

 

Whether you are drinking ginger tea or taking ginger supplements in capsules or in extracts, tinctures, and packets of concentrated extracts, you’ve got to consider the two “D’s” (Dosage and Duration).  Another important consideration is potency of the prouduct your using, because the volatile oils, gingerols and shogaols are the beneficial components. Consider buying only full spectrum herbal extracts because ginger root also contains  sulfides, polyphenolics, carotenoids, coumarins, saponins, plant sterols, curcumins, and phthalides all of which contribute to gingers effectiveness.

 

Dosage matters! 

Duration of use also matters.

Ginger root has been heavily researched since its origins are steeped in Chinese medicine, Auyervedic Medicine and even Arabic medicine.  Ginger root has been found to help reduce the risks associated with heart disease because it is a natural blood thinner. This can be helpful in treating heart disease, where blood vessels can become blocked and lead to heart attack or stroke.  Certainly more studies are needed. 

 

Common Dosage Guidelines:

For pregnancy related nausea and vomiting human studies suggests that 1g daily of ginger may be effective for nausea and vomiting in pregnant women when used for short periods (no longer than 4 days). Several studies have found that ginger is better than placebo in relieving morning sickness.

 

Research is mixed as to whether ginger can help reduce nausea and vomiting following surgery. Two studies found that 1g of ginger root before surgery reduced nausea as well as a leading medication. In one of these studies, women who received ginger also needed fewer medications for nausea after surgery.

 

Ginger extract has long been used in Traditional Chinese medical practices to warm the interior particular helpful for digestion. Ginger is considered a warming herb in Chinese herbal medicine and for this reason it is particularly useful for those who have any of the above conditions with an overall cold constitution.  

 

Among all the uses, particulary useful is gingers abilitiy to lower cholesterol and help prevent blood from clotting.

 

Pediatric Don’ t give ginger to children under 2. Ginger may be used by children over 2 years of age to treat nausea, stomach cramping, and headaches.

 

Standardized dose: Take 75 – 2,000 mg in divided doses with food, standardized to contain 4% volatile oils or 5% total pungent compounds including 6-gingerol or 6-shogaol.

 

For nausea, gas, or indigestion: 2 – 4 grams of fresh root daily (0.25 – 1.0 g of powdered root) or 1.5 – 3.0 mL (30 – 90 drops) liquid extract daily.

 

To prevent vomiting, take 1 gram of powdered ginger (1/2 tsp) or its equivalent, every 4 hours as needed (not to exceed 4 doses daily), or 2 ginger capsules (1 gram), 3 times daily.

 

You may also chew a 1/4 oz piece of fresh ginger when needed.

 

For pregnancy-induced vomiting, use 250 mg 4 times daily for up to 4 days.

 

Talk to your doctor before taking ginger if you are taking blood thinning medications.

 

For arthritis pain: 250 mg 4 times daily for several months.

 

Ask your Licensed Acupuncturist or Herbalist to help you determine the right dose. Adults In general, don’ t take more than 4g of ginger per day, including food sources. Pregnant women should not take more than 1g per day.

 

 

 

References:

Research Papers and References “Characterization of food antioxidants, illustrated using commercial garlic and ginger preparations” by Okezie I. Aruoma, Jeremy P.E. Spencera, Donna Warrena, Peter Jennera, John Butlerb, Barry Halliwella in Food Chemistry Volume 60, Issue 2, October 1997, Pages 149-156

 

Antioxidants in Food. Abstract: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814695002545 “Intake of Garlic and Its Bioactive Components” by Harunobu Amagase, Brenda L. Petesch, Hiromichi Matsuura, Shigeo Kasuga and Yoichi Itakura. Journal of Nutrition. 2001;131:955S-962S.

 

Abstract: http://jn.nutrition.org/content/131/3/955S.short “Traditional Indian spices and their health significance” by Kamala Krishnaswamy. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2008;17(S1):265-268. Full article: http://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/apjcn/volume17/vol17suppl.1/265-268S15-2.pdf

 

“Changes in Platelet Function and Susceptibility of Lipoproteins to Oxidation Associated with Administration of Aged Garlic Extract” by Steiner, M.; Lin, R. S. In Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology: June 1998 – Volume 31 – Issue 6 – pp 904-908. Abstract: http://journals.lww.com /cardiovascularpharm/Abstract/1998/06000

 

/Changes_in_Platelet_Function_and_Susceptibility_of.14.aspx “Health-promoting properties of common herbs” by Winston J Craig in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 70, No. 3, 491S-499S, September 1999. Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10479221

 

Fox New Story: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/07/24/6-motion-sickness-remedies/#ixzz21c37OCI6

Bone Density Improved With Chinese Herbs

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Worried about your bone density?   As woman age, they are more susceptible to bone fractures. Bone mineral density is something every woman over 50 should have checked. 

 

In Asia, a Chinese herb formula call Fufang has been studied for over five years on post-menopausal women.  The results of this 194 person study of women ages 47 to 70 years, was significant.  Fufang, a blend of several Chinese herbs used twice daily (10 grams each serving) were found to improve the bone density of the study participants.

 

All the women were given an oral blend of the herbs used which included Epimedium,  The Fufang contained several herbal compounds including Epimedium, Rehmannia, Dioscore,Cornus, Cinnamomum cassia, Drynaria fortunei, and Morinda.  You will find these and other herbs in

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Both the control group and the treatment group were also given 600 mg of calcium and 400 iu of Vitamin D daily.  There were no notable adverse events in either group.

 

As women age they are more suseptible to hip fractures and other bone problems.  Hip replacement surgery has become all too common. 

Maintaining healthy bones is part of healthy aging.

 

 

The study concluded, in addition to the beneficial effects of oral herbal Fufang for the prevention of postmenopausal bone loss, this 5-year multi-center clinical study demonstrated for the first time its potential for reduction in fragility fracture incidence.

References:

 

1. Journal of Bone Mineral Metabolism. 2012 Jun 22 PMID: 22722637 PubMed

 

2. J Bone Miner Res. 2007 Jul;22(7):1072-9.

 

3. Epimedium-derived phytoestrogen flavonoids exert beneficial effect on preventing bone loss in late postmenopausal women: a 24-month randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17419678

 

4. Effects of epimedium total flavonoids phytosomes on preventing and treating bone-loss of ovariectomized rats]. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12774407

 

5. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1757-7861.2011.00129.x/abstract

 

6. Phytomedicine. 2010 May;17(6):414-23. Epub 2009 Sep 10. Icariin isolated from Epimedium pubescens regulates osteoblasts anabolism through BMP-2, SMAD4, and Cbfa1 expression.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19747809

 

Menopause Hormone Therapy Connected to High Blood Pressure

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natural menopause treatmentWhat’s new in hormone therapy today?   For starters, the name HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy is being substituted more with just the HT (hormone therapy)  label.   If you’ve found this confusing join the club.  Maybe next it will be Health Therapy (HT)? Any name that is both benign and friendly seems to be a better way to present these drugs, right?

However, now even more new research is proving these drugs have dangerous side effects. There is nothing healthy or therapeutic about artificial hormones. There is more than abundant data on artificial HRT, hormone replacement therapy, and its connection to an increase risk of breast cancer and stroke.  There are ongoing studies in other arenas like this one just published.

Hot off the press from Australia! This study concluded the longer a woman used HRT or HT or artificial hormones (call them whatever you wish)  the higher her risk of developing high blood pressure.  

The study, not small by any means, included 43,405 postmenopausal women and was led by Joanne Lind of the University of Western Sydney.  Dr. Lind explained that the study shows that “longer use of menopausal hormone therapy is associated with having high blood pressure”.

If you are looking for a natural alternative for menopausal hot flashes and night sweats, learn why Chinese herbs are the first choice for millions of women around the world who want a safe natural alternative.    

Hopefully this message will be conveyed to women who are considering using hormone therapy for menopause symptoms.  Talk to your doctor if you have high blood pressure and are using and form of HRT or HT.

 

References:

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0040260

Citation: Chiu CL, Lujic S, Thornton C, O’Loughlin A, Makris A, et al. (2012) Menopausal Hormone Therapy Is Associated with Having High Blood Pressure in Postmenopausal Women: Observational Cohort Study. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40260. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040260

 

Mark Blumenthal Discusses What Everyone Wants to Know About Medicinal Plants

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What is our cultural heritage to plants?

 

Why should you know about medicinal herbs, Chinese herbs and the contributions of herbs, herbal drinks and herbal remedies?

 

One reason is  herbal medicine can be used safely as the first choice for self care and preventative care.  A cultural shift is occurring right now, herbal remedies ARE growing every year, we are returning to our roots and are cultural heritage.  This video explains it all.

 

http://newhope360.com/herbal/mark-blumenthal-discusses-abcs-mission-promote-medicinal-plants?cid=nl_nbj_weekly

Click here to learn more     http://newhope360.com/herbal/mark-blumenthal-discusses-abcs-mission-promote-medicinal-plants?cid=nl_nbj_weekly

 

Mark Blumenthal discusses these in the video below.  Mark is the founder of American Botanical Council (ABC) located in Austin Tx. He is is dedicated to disseminating accurate, reliable, and responsible information on herbs and medicinal plants. He is the Editor/Publisher of HerbalGram, an international, peer-reviewed quarterly journal. For six years he was an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, teaching the course “Herbs and Phytomedicines in Today’s Pharmacy.” Mark is the Senior Editor of the English translation of The Complete German Commission E Monographs–Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines (1998), Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs (2000), The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs (2003), and co-author of Rational Phytotherapy, 5th edition (2004). He has appeared on over 400 radio and television shows and has written over 500 articles, reviews and book chapters for many publications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Sleep Is Important Medicine

Posted by Cathy on

Clinicians and scientists from around the world gathered in Boston for a conference on SLEEP just recently. I had no idea sleep had turned into an annual conference attended by thousands of experts from around the world, but apparently this premier event blends the most current sleep research with the best clinical practices.

natural sleep aids

I wonder if they talked about Chinese herbs known to help sleep for over 1000 years?  Seems logical right, considering their history, safety rating and usage by billions of people everyday.  (laughing)  I’m guessing it wasn’t on the agenda since the conference was sponsored mostly by pharmaceutical giants with a huge stake in the sleep aid drugs they produce.

 

Anyway, I thought sleeping was something we were all born knowing how to do. When we are babies afterall, we are all pretty good sleepers. In fact most newborns are asleep more than awake in a single day. So what happens to us as we age? When did we become a society of sleep derived, sleep aid dependent, looking for the next caffeine jolt zombies? 

 

It's time to upgrade the way you sleep! Try iSleep Herb Pack!

 

I think some of us simply don’t want to sleep more than a few hours a night. There is just sooo much to do. Some of us want to fit more awaid minutes into a 24 hour day.  The problem with this attitude is historically we didn’t have electricity and entertainment into all hours of the night via the internet, television etc. So when it was dark, we slept. Seems are bodies are kinda programed that way after millions of years. 

 

Why does this matter?

 

All this matters because a long term study presented at the SLEEP2012 conference.  This study says not sleeping elevates your risk of stroke and at younger ages even if you are relatively healthy. For optimal function, sleep specialists recommend anywhere from 7 to 9 hours. The study, which lasted three years, examined 5,666 adults who were aged 45 and older. They reported their sleep habits and duration every 6 months. The investigators recorded daily health habits, risk factors for stroke, any symptoms of depression, demographic information, health related behaviors, and onset of first stroke like symptoms throughout the study period. However, the are quick to point out this is not proof of a cause and effect relationship.

 

According to data available from the National Sleep Foundation only 28 % of adults sleep 8 hours or more per night, down from 38% in 2001. It is unclear what why shortened sleep cycles were wide spread with those who suffered strokes, but the possibility of an elevated level of cortisol, a key stress hormone, may be ultimately responsible. The take home message here.. get a good night’s sleep every night. Sleep eight hours and don’t skimp on yourself.

 

Staying in bed longer might just be a lifesaver.

Chinese Herbs Growing in Los Angeles

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China has given us so many incredible jewels of nature in the form of medicinal herbs.  Chinese herbs such as Ginseng,  Cordyceps and this amazing beauty.   Not exactly a Chinese herb, but I was impressed with this redwoods story, I had to add it here. 

This amazing jewel lives in Los Angeles. Her name is Dawn Redwood or Metasequoia. Her grandparents were only known as a fossil until her parent was found in central China in 1944.

In 1948, Dawn was brought to Los Angeles as a seed. She has been living by this stream at UCLA ever since.   She is most probably the tallest of her kind in North America. Don't you love her stately pose with the sun shinning through her?

Amazing to think she came from just a tiny seed. 

Tomorrow I will post the Chinese herbs growing in Los Angeles.

 

Curcumae, A Chinese Herb Proves To Be Cardio-Protective

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From the American Journal of Cardiology, April 2012

 

More great research results on the Chinese herb curcumae!

 

This herbal remedy was yet again put to the test, this time in a study on patients who had coronary artery bypass grafting.

Chinese herbs for osteoarthritis

 

Also known as Yu Jin or Tuber Curcumae, (curcuma), this remarkable herbal supplement has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. Curcumae, found in tumeric, has been extensively studied for its blood moving abilities. 

 

It is well established that myocardial infarction, (heart attacks) are associated with a coronary artery bypass grafting procedure.  As a result of the poor outcomes of patients who have this grafting procedure, a study on the Chinese herb curcumae was undertaken to  evaluate whether this Chinese herbal remedy for blood stasis could be considered a cardio-protective therapy. 

 

"Previous studies have shown that curcuminoids decrease proinflammatory cytokines during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and decrease the occurrence of cardiomyocytic apoptosis after cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury in animal models."

 

The aim of this study done was to evaluate whether curcuminoids, one of the chemical constiuients in curcumae could prevent heart attackes compared to a placebo. 

 

The conclusion:  4 grams of curcumin per day demonstrated a significant decrease in heart attacks after bypass grafting, compared with a placebo.   Postoperative C-reactive protein, levels were also lower in the curcuminoid than in the placebo group.

 

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcuminoids may account for their cardioprotective effects shown in this study

 

Reference:   Study Evaluated Effects of Curcuminoids on Acute Myocardial Infarction

Wongcharoen W, Jai-aue S, Phrommintikul A, et al. Effects of curcuminoids on frequency of acute myocardial infarction after coronary artery bypass grafting. Am J Cardiol. April 3, 2012;[epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2012.02.043.

Chinese Herbs To Build Bone In Menopausal Women And Help Sleeplessness

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Menopausal women who are concerned about osteoporosis and bone loss may have a new ally. The Chinese herbs known as Mu Li, concha ostreae, concha margarita or oyster shell has been found to prevent change of bone mass in rats.  Oyster shell is often ground into a fine powder and cooked with other Chinese herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).   You can find Mu Li in our iSleep Herb Pack because this shell is well know for its calming properties and ability to help with sleeplessness.

 

In Geneva, Switzerland on May 29, UPI reported a  treatment with bisphosphonates — drugs that offset bone loss associated with menopause — may be linked to femur fractures.  Dr. Raphael P. H. Meier and colleagues from University Hospitals of Geneva and Faculty of Medicine in Switzerland evaluated the association between bisphosphonate treatment and atypical femoral fractures in 477 patients age 50 and older who were hospitalized with a subtrochanteric or femoral shaft fracture at a single university medical center.

 

Compared with patients without fractures, use of bisphosphonates was associated with a 47 percent reduction in the risk of classic fracture.

 

"We have demonstrated that the association between bisphosphonate treatment and the occurrence of atypical fractures of the femur is highly likely and that the duration of such treatment significantly correlates with augmented risk," the authors said in a statement.

 

Oyster shell calcium, when prepared in a Chinese herb formula maybe an easy and inexpensive answer for women as they age.

 

The above findings were published online in Archives of Internal Medicine.

References:

 

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2012/05/29/Bone-loss-drugs-linked-to-femur-fractures/UPI-18641338265055/?spt=hs&or=hn