Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals

Sunday, 5 January 2014

Herbal Andrographis and Heart diseases

Beside cancer, heart disease kills more than 2,000 Americans everyday. Approximately 60 million Americans have heart disease. There are many causes of heart diseases. Most of heart diseases are caused by high blood pressure contributes to hardening of the arteries. High levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) build up in the arteries as a result of uncontrolled diet with high levels of saturated fat and trans fat. All these add to the formation of atherosclerosis lesions and eventually arterial blockage or anything that serves to damage the inner lining of blood vessels and impedes the transportation of oxygen and nutrition to the heart.

The Ingredients
Beside the main ingredient andrographolides, giving the plant a bitter taste, other ingredients includediterpene lactones, such as: neoandrographolide, andrographiside, 14-doexy-11, 12-didehydro andrographolide, etc., flavonoinds viz., oroxylin, wogonin, andrographidines A, B, C, D, E, F.

The benefits
Neutrophils and inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in ischemia/reperfusion injury. Herbal Andrographis showed the cardioprotective effects by the suppression of oxidative stress and preservation of histoarchitecture of myofibrils along with improvement of haemodynamic and ventricular functions. Thromboembolic disorder is the development of clots within a blood vessel,
Andrographolide, a novel nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor, with the various medicinal properties of andrographolide may have a potential value in treating patients with thromboembolic disorders as andrographolide may involve an increase in cyclic GMP/PKG, followed by inhibition of the p38 MAPK/(·)HO-NF-κB-ERK2 cascade in activated platelets. Other study also indicated that andrographis paniculata protective effects of on post-infarction myocardium in experimental dogs, due to its acts on reversibly ischemic myocardium.

The Side effects
1. Antifertility
Dry leaf powder of A. paniculata increases the risk accumulating of glycogen and cholesterol in the testis, and increased activities of lactate dehydrogenase in testis and alkaline phosphatase in testis and ventral prostate, thus reducing the risk of fertility.
2. People with gallbladder disease may want to consult with their doctor before using because of the herb stimulating gallbladder contraction effect.

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Optimal Health And Loose Weight

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References
(1) Antifertility effect of Andrographis paniculata (Nees) in male albino rat" by Akbarsha MA, Manivannan B, Hamid KS, Vijayan B., posted in (PubMed)
(2) Protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Andrographis paniculata on ischaemia-reperfusion induced myocardial injury in rats by Ojha SK, Bharti S, Joshi S, Kumari S, Arya DS.(PubMed)
(3) Mechanisms of andrographolide-induced platelet apoptosis in human platelets: regulatory roles of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway by Lien LM, Su CC, Hsu WH, Lu WJ, Chung CL, Yen TL, Chiu HC, Sheu JR, Lin KH. (PubMed)
(4) Suppression of NF-κB signaling by andrographolide with a novel mechanism in human platelets: regulatory roles of the p38 MAPK-hydroxyl radical-ERK2 cascade by Lu WJ, Lin KH, Hsu MJ, Chou DS, Hsiao G, Sheu JR.(PubMed)
(5) Protective effects of andrographis paniculata nees on post-infarction myocardium in experimental dogs by Zhao HY, Fang WY.(PubMed)

Saturday, 4 January 2014

Herbal Aloe vera and Irritable bowel syndrome

Aloe Vera is species of succulent plant in the genus Aloe, belonging to the Family Xanthorrhoeaceae, native to Sudan. It has become very popular for commercial cultivation due to its health benefits. Aloe vera has been used in herbal medicine in treating many kinds of disease, including wound, burn healing, minor skin infections, sebaceous cysts, diabetes, and elevated of cholesterol, etc. It is also one of many popular herb studied in scientific ways with some conflicted results.
Irritable bowel syndrome is defined as a condition, if a patient is diagnosed with abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, and alteration of bowel habits at least three times a month for the last 3 months without preexistence of other disease.

The Ingredients
The ten main areas of chemical constituents of Aloe vera include: amino acids, anthraquinones, enzymes, minerals, vitamins, lignins, monosaccharide, polysaccharides, salicylic acid, saponins, and sterols.

The benefits
Aloe vera (AV) has long been suggested by herbal medicine in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. In the comparison of the effectiveness of a mixture of Aloe vera (AV) and Matricaria recutita (German chamomile, GC) in treating Irritable bowel syndrome, GC inhibited only small bowel transit while the AV/GC mixture delayed gastric emptying at the doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg. The AV/GC mixture also reduced colonic transit and small bowel transit at the dose of 150 mg/kg. In other randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of to test the effects of aloe vera for irritable bowel syndrome, there was no evidence that AV benefits patients with IBS and superior to placebo in improving quality of life proven Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients, but in 49 completed the protocol to 1 month and 41 to 3 months. Eleven of thirty-one (35%) AV patients, and 6 of 27 (22%) placebo patients responded at 1 month (p = 0.763). Diarrhoea predominant patients showed a trend towards a response to treatment at 1 month (10/23 V 2/14, p = 0.07).

The Side effects
1. Hepatitis
Some researchers concerned that the over use of oral aloe vera may contribute to acute hepatitis, according to the study of "Oral aloe vera-induced hepatitis" by Bottenberg MM, Wall GC, Harvey RL, Habib S.
2. Diarrhea, caused by the laxative effect of oral use of Aloe Vera
3. oral use of Aloe Vera may cause abdominal cramps and pain
4. It may cause of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms as a result of collagen in the plant
5. Etc.

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Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

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References
(1) Aloe barbadensis Mill. formulation restores lipid profile to normal in a letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome rat Model (PubMed)
(2) ALOE VERA by Gertrude Baldwin, http://www.herballegacy.com/Baldwin_Chemical.html
(3) Benefit of Aloe vera and Matricaria recutita mixture in rat irritable bowel syndrome: Combination of antioxidant and spasmolytic effects by Asadi-Shahmirzadi A, Mozaffari S, Sanei Y, Baeeri M, Hajiaghaee R, Monsef-Esfahani HR, Abdollahi M.(PubMed)
(4) Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of aloe vera for irritable bowel syndrome.

Davis K, Philpott S, Kumar D, Mendall M.(PubMed)

(5) A Randomised, Cross-Over, Placebo-Controlled Study of Aloe vera in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Effects on Patient Quality of Life by Hutchings HA, Wareham K, Baxter JN, Atherton P, Kingham JG, Duane P, Thomas L, Thomas M, Ch'ng CL, Williams JG.(PubMed)

(7) Oral aloe vera-induced hepatitis(PubMed)
(8) Oral type II collagen in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. A six-month double blind placebo-controlled study(PubMed)

Herbal Alfalfa and Cancers

Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the genus Medicago, belonging to the family Fabaceae, It has been cultivated all over the world as hay for cattle feeding. The leaves, sprouts, and seeds to make medicine has been used in traditional medicine over thousands of year to treat high cholesterol, asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, enhance digestive system, bleeding disorder, kidney and urinary tract infection, etc. North America aboriginal has used Alfalfa seed as food, such as making bread and mush.
Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells growing and multiplying disordered and uncontrollable way in our body, have become progressively worse and damaged other healthy tissues, sometimes spreads to other organs in the body via lymph or blood and results may be in death.

Ingredients
1. Essential amino acids
2. Calcium
3. Magnesium
4. Potassium
5. Iron
6. Phosphorus
7. Zinc
8. Beta carotene
9. vitamin C
10. vitamins D
11.Vitamin E
12. Vitamin K
13. Etc.
It chemical constituents include flavones, isoflavones, sterols, Bichanin A Coumestrol Diadzein Formonetin Genisteincoumarin derivatives, etc.

The benefits
According to the study by Dr. Manna SK., isoflavones, such as genistein, erbstatin, quercetin, daidzein, found in alfalfa, showed the apoptotic effect against cancer cells, but biochanin, a methoxy form of genistein, inhibits IL-8-mediated activation of nuclear transcription factor kappaB (NF-κB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) more potently than genistein as shown in Jurkat T-cell line. Other in the study of L-Canavanine, a potentially toxic antimetabolite of L-arginine found in alfalfa, has demonstrative antineoplastic activity against a number of animal-bearing carcinomas and cancer cell lines. Unfortunately, research in dietary alfalfa, pectin, and wheat bran shows that the animals fed the alfalfa diet and treated with MNU had a higher incidence of colon tumors than did those fed the control diet or the diets containing pectin or wheat bran.

The Side effects
1. High amount of vitamin K may reduce the effectiveness of anticogulation medicine
2. Causing additive effects for women who are under estrogen replacement therapy or taking the oral contraceptive pill.
3. It may cause stomach upset and diarrhea
4. The herb may induce lupus erythematosu due to its chemical constituent L-canavanine.

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Use The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve
Optimal Health And Loose Weight

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

Back to Herbal Therapy http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca/p/herbal-therapies.html

References
(1) Double-edged sword effect of biochanin to inhibit nuclear factor kappaB: suppression of serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases. by Manna SK.(PubMed)
(2) The natural abundance of L-canavanine, an active anticancer agent, in alfalfa, medicago sativa (L.). by Rosenthal GA, Nkomo P.(PubMed)
(3) Effect of dietary alfalfa, pectin, and wheat bran on azoxymethane-or methylnitrosourea-induced colon carcinogenesis in F344 rats. by Watanabe K, Reddy BS, Weisburger JH, Kritchevsky D.(PubMed)
(4) Drug-induced lupus: an update by Vasoo S.(PubMed)

Herbal Andrographis and Common cold

Andrographis paniculata is also known as Andrographis is a herbaceous plant, genus Andrographis, belonging to the family Acanthaceae, native to India and Sri Lanka. It has been used in traditional Siddha and Ayurvedic in treating the common cold, flu, upper respiratory infections, infectious diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, pneumonia, swollen lymph nodes, leprosy, bronchitis, sore throats, tuberculosis, chicken pox, etc.
Cold and flu are the most commonly occurring illnesses in the entire world, with more than 1 billion colds per year reported in the United States alone. The common cold is a self-limiting illness caused by any 1 of more than 200 viruses. Influenza is no minor illness. If you are senior or have a serious heart and lung disease, you are at the greatest risk for coming down with a dangerous case of flu because your immune system might not be strong enough to fend off the infection.

The Ingredients
Beside the main ingredient andrographolides, giving the plant a bitter taste, other ingredients includediterpene lactones, such as: neoandrographolide, andrographiside, 14-doexy-11, 12-didehydro andrographolide, etc., flavonoinds viz., oroxylin, wogonin, andrographidines A, B, C, D, E, F.

The benefits
In United States, common old causes 189 million lost school days and Influenza infection leads of morbidity and mortality, accounting for 20-25 million doctor visits and 36,000 deaths per year, Andrographis paniculata and nutritional considerations (vitamins A and C, zinc, high lactoferrin whey protein, N-acetylcysteine, and DHEA) may help in the prevention and treatment of these conditions. In the study of Andrographis paniculata SHA-10 extract, had found to be very effective supplement in reducing the prevalence and intensity of the symptoms in uncomplicated common cold beginning at day two of treatment and its dried extract found in Kan Jang tablets, attributes a protective effect of 33%, against common colds during the winter period.

The Side effects
1. Antifertility
Dry leaf powder of A. paniculata increases the risk accumulating of glycogen and cholesterol in the testis, and increased activities of lactate dehydrogenase in testis and alkaline phosphatase in testis and ventral prostate, thus reducing the risk of fertility.
2. People with gallbladder disease may want to consult with their doctor before using because of the herb stimulating gallbladder contraction effect.

Chinese Secrets To Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal
Use The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve
Optimal Health And Loose Weight

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

Back to Herbal Therapy http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca/p/herbal-therapies.html

References
(1) Antifertility effect of Andrographis paniculata (Nees) in male albino rat" by Akbarsha MA, Manivannan B, Hamid KS, Vijayan B., posted in (PubMed)
(2) Colds and influenza: a review of diagnosis and conventional, botanical, and nutritional considerations by Roxas M, Jurenka J.(PubMed)
(3) Use of visual analogue scale measurements (VAS) to asses the effectiveness of standardized Andrographis paniculata extract SHA-10 in reducing the symptoms of common cold. A randomized double blind-placebo study by Cáceres DD, Hancke JL, Burgos RA, Sandberg F, Wikman GK.(PubMed)
(4) Prevention of common colds with Andrographis paniculata dried extract. A Pilot double blind trial by Cáceres DD, Hancke JL, Burgos RA, Wikman GK. (PubMed)

Herbal Aloe Vera and Skin diseases

Aloe Vera is species of succulent plant in the genus Aloe, belonging to the Family Xanthorrhoeaceae, native to Sudan. It has become very popular for commercial cultivation due to its health benefits. Aloe vera has been used in herbal medicine in treating many kinds of disease, including wound, burn healing, minor skin infections, sebaceous cysts, diabetes, and elevated of cholesterol, etc. It is also one of many popular herb studied in scientific ways with some conflicted results.
Skin diseases is defined as a condition of skin damage and classified according to each pathogenic causes of diseases.

The Ingredients
The ten main areas of chemical constituents of Aloe vera include: amino acids, anthraquinones, enzymes, minerals, vitamins, lignins, monosaccharide, polysaccharides, salicylic acid, saponins, and sterols.

The benefits
In the a systematic review of Aloe vera's clinical effectiveness, topical application of aloe vera is not an effective preventative for radiation-induced skin injuries, but might be effective for genital herpes and psoriasis.In support to above, study by Feily A, Namazi MR. indicated that Topical application of aloe vera is not an effective in sunburn or suntan protection, but might be effective in treating genital herpes, psoriasis, human papilloma virus, seborrheic dermatitis, aphthous stomatitis, xerosis, lichen planus, frostbite, burn, wound healing and inflammation.

The Side effects
1. Hepatitis
Some researchers concerned that the over use of oral aloe vera may contribute to acute hepatitis, according to the study of "Oral aloe vera-induced hepatitis" by Bottenberg MM, Wall GC, Harvey RL, Habib S., posted in PubMed
2. Diarrhea, caused by the laxative effect of oral use of Aloe Vera
3. oral use of Aloe Vera may cause abdominal cramps and pain
4. It may cause of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms as a result of collagen in the plant
5. Etc.

Chinese Secrets To Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal
Use The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve
Optimal Health And Loose Weight

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

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References
(1) Aloe barbadensis Mill. formulation restores lipid profile to normal in a letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome rat Model (PubMed)
(2) ALOE VERA by Gertrude Baldwin, http://www.herballegacy.com/Baldwin_Chemical.html
(3) Aloe vera: a systematic review of its clinical effectiveness by Vogler BK, Ernst E. (PubMed)
(4) Aloe vera in dermatology: a brief review. by Feily A, Namazi MR (PubMed).
(5) Oral aloe vera-induced hepatitis(PubMed)
(6) Oral type II collagen in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. A six-month double blind placebo-controlled study(PubMed)

Herbal Alfalfa and diabetes

Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the genus Medicago, belonging to the family Fabaceae, It has been cultivated all over the world as hay for cattle feeding. The leaves, sprouts, and seeds to make medicine has been used in traditional medicine over thousands of year to treat high cholesterol, asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, enhance digestive system, bleeding disorder, kidney and urinary tract infection, etc. North America aboriginal has used Alfalfa seed as food, such as making bread and mush.
Diabetes is defined as a condition caused by insufficient insulin entering the bloodstream to regulate the glucose. It is either caused by cells in pancreas dying off or receptor sites clogged up by fat and cholesterol. In some cases, diabetes is also caused by allergic reactions of cells in the immune system.

Ingredients
1. Essential amino acids
2. Calcium
3. Magnesium
4. Potassium
5. Iron
6. Phosphorus
7. Zinc
8. Beta carotene
9. vitamin C
10. vitamins D
11.Vitamin E
12. Vitamin K
13. Etc.
It chemical constituents include flavones, isoflavones, sterols, Bichanin A Coumestrol Diadzein Formonetin Genisteincoumarin derivatives, etc.

The benefits
herbal alfalfa has so far been used for the treatment and management of various ailments since the beginning of human civilization. In the review therapeutic potential of M. sativa, Sequential extraction of alfalfa with solvents revealed insulin-releasing activity in both methanol and water fractions. In other study in in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice, indicated that certain traditional plant treatments for diabetes, including alfalfa retard the development of streptozotocin diabetes in mice. regardless to the outcome, long-term multiple dietary supplement users consumed a broad array of vitamin/mineral, herbal, and condition-specific dietary supplements on a daily basis should consult with their doctors or related field specialist before applying.

The Side effects
1. High amount of vitamin K may reduce the effectiveness of anticogulation medicine
2. Causing additive effects for women who are under estrogen replacement therapy or taking the oral contraceptive pill.
3. It may cause stomach upset and diarrhea
4. The herb may induce lupus erythematosu due to its chemical constituent L-canavanine.

Chinese Secrets To Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal
Use The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve
Optimal Health And Loose Weight

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

Back to Women health http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca/p/women-health.html

References
(1) Pancreatic and extra-pancreatic effects of the traditional anti-diabetic plant, Medicago sativa (lucerne) by Gray AM, Flatt PR.(PubMed)
(2) Traditional plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. by Swanston-Flatt SK, Day C, Bailey CJ, Flatt PR.(PubMed)
(3) Drug-induced lupus: an update by Vasoo S.(PubMed)

Herbal Andrographis and Gastric Ulcer

Gastric ulcers is defined as a condition of a localized tissue erosion in the lining the stomach. as a result of bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) in most cases.

The Side effects
1. Antifertility
Dry leaf powder of A. paniculata increases the risk accumulating of glycogen and cholesterol in the testis, and increased activities of lactate dehydrogenase in testis and alkaline phosphatase in testis and ventral prostate, thus reducing the risk of fertility.
2. People with gallbladder disease may want to consult with their doctor before using because of the herb stimulating gallbladder contraction effect.

Chinese Secrets To Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal
Use The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve
Optimal Health And Loose Weight

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

Back to Women health http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca/p/women-health.html

References
(1) A biochemical study on the gastroprotective effect of andrographolide in rats induced with gastric ulcer. by Saranya P, Geetha A, Selvamathy SM.(PubMed)
(2) A biochemical study on the gastroprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Andrographis paniculata in rats. by Panneerselvam S, Arumugam G.(PubMed)
(3) Antioxidant and gastroprotective activities of Andrographis paniculata (Hempedu Bumi) in Sprague Dawley rats. by Wasman SQ, Mahmood AA, Chua LS, Alshawsh MA, Hamdan S.(PubMed)
(4) Antifertility effect of Andrographis paniculata (Nees) in male albino rat" by Akbarsha MA, Manivannan B, Hamid KS, Vijayan B., posted in (PubMed)