Breast Cysts

The most common cause of breast lumps is fibrocystic breast disease. In this illness, one or more fluid-filled masses form as cysts, causing recurrent flare-ups of tender lumps in one or both breasts, especially before menstruation.
Breast cysts are often linked to premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The lumps are movable, and they fluctuate in size during the menstrual cycle. Breast cysts most commonly occur in women between the ages of thirty and fifty.

Hormonal changes that occur one or two weeks before menstruation cause glands to fill with fluid, producing a cyst, and this leads to swelling, inflammation and pain. What causes the cysts to develop is not fully understood, though a number of factors certainly contribute.
Hormonal imbalances result in an increase in milk – producing glands, and enlargement of cells and scaring in the breast tissue. 

The hormones oestrogen, progesterone and prolactin are all partly responsible for breast lumps, especially an increase in oestrogen or a fall in progesterone levels. An increase of oestrogen is often due to poorly functioning liver that is unable to break down excess oestrogens in the body quickly enough.
A deficiency in the essential fatty acid, gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which provides the body with the hormone-like substance prostaglandin, also plays a role in breast disease. Supplementing with Evening Primrose Oil, a rich source of GLA, is often helpful.

Wearing tight – fitting bras restricts circulation in the lymph vessels, thus hindering the removal of wastes. Women who wear bras all day, every day and at night, and especially those who wear constricting bras, are most susceptible to cysts.

Methylxanthines, found especially in coffee but also in black tea, chocolate and colas, have been linked to the development of breast cysts. 
A lack of iodine, which can cause symptoms of an under-active thyroid, can also be the cause of breast cysts.

A vegetarian diet which includes plenty of whole grains and fresh vegetables is highly recommended. Women on a vegetarian diet have been shown to excrete two to three times more detoxified oestrogens than women who eat meat. The liver needs B vitamins along with essential fatty acids for adequate oestrogen excretion, whole grains and green leafy vegetables provide B vitamins, the fiber in whole grains and vegetables, ensures proper intestinal function, which helps eliminate oestrogen.

Supplements have provided many women with relief from pain and discomfort, and should be combined with changes in diet. 

Particularly important is Evening Primrose Oil taking 3 grams each day, and Vitamin E, which softens the breast tissue at 400 IU per day.

Vitamin B6 helps reduce the size and swelling of breast cysts when associated with PMS.

Herbal remedies have been used for generations to regulate hormones which can lead to breast cysts.

Dandelion juice is very effective at reducing breast cysts – take 10ml twice a day for the two weeks before menstruation. This remedy is so good at reducing breast cysts, that it is known both here and in china for this condition.

Another herb which will help ease breast cysts is Agnus Castus, a herb which often will eliminate PMS and ease breast cysts if used at 5ml first thing in the morning through out the month before menstruation.

Breakfast Oats

A study in America has shown that seven servings of wholegrain breakfast cereals a week led to a 29% reduction in the risk of heart failure for men. This study looked at the diet of 21,376 men over 20 years. They found that wholegrain cereals and not cereals that where refined, i.e. had been processed to remove part of the grain and with it, beneficial nutrients that beneficial to health.

   Wholegrain breakfast cereals contain important nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, and oil that have been reported to lower cardiovascular risk factors and positively influence glucose and insulin metabolism, the researchers said.

    One of the best wholegrain cereals, I believe, is oats. Oats is the perfect food for infants, children and the elderly. Oats has been used as a medicine by herbalists for generations, its use as a major dietary ingredient is highly beneficial in conditions of gastric hyperacidity (with or without ulcers), gallbladder disorders including jaundice, chronic rheumatic, circulatory and skin disorders, and diabetes.

    Although oats was a classical Mediterranean food, oats didn’t flourish as a food until it spread to the more northern parts of Europe with Roman expansion. Some consider oats indigenous to these lands. Whatever the truth, it is in northern Europe that oats served for centuries to build robust constitutions that weathered the extreme climate of these lands, including cold, damp, famine, strife and plague. In the Middle Ages, oatmeal porridge (from the meal, not the flakes) was the bulk of the peasant diet.

    It is difficult to imagine a more nutritive and restorative grain. The comprehensive effect of oats is rooted in its sweet taste, which promotes solidity, growth and vitality. Oats therefore enhances flesh building, weight gain, growth - especially in children, due to its high protein count - and strength.

    Oats has the ability to ‘ground’ a person, and is very useful in people that feel low or depressed due to stress of anxiety, overwork or both. It is also used to help people come off drugs; it’s often included in anti-addiction Herbal formulae.

    A good way to see oats is as a restorative remedy. It will re-build the mind and body after it has become run down due to overwork or stress, it benefits the endocrine system, especially the thyroid, pancreas and gonads (sex glands, testes and ovaries) and is useful in all conditions where weakness of those glands occurs.

    One of my favorite ways to eat oats is cooking oat groats (the whole grain) overnight in a wide mouthed thermos flask. Just add boiling water to the oat groats and a pinch of salt and leave overnight in the thermos flask, its still warm in the morning. Beautiful with a spoon of honey. The perfect start to the day!

Treating Canker Sores

Canker sores are painful mouth ulcers that appear suddenly in groups of two or three, or singly. They can easily be confused with cold sore. Canker sores are white ulcers with a red rim that form just inside the lips and cheeks. They burn and tingle, especially when eating spicy or acidic foods. Normally, healing takes about one or two weeks without treatment, but longer if they become exceptionally large, their size ranges from tiny to one inch or more. Recurrences are common with abnormally high stress levels, or as a reaction to certain foods. Canker sores are also known as Aphthous ulcers.

    Some people are predisposed to recurring canker sores. The process causing the sores is unknown, although it is probably linked to an abnormal immune system response that has been triggered by a deficiency, injury or another problem. Canker sores appear or recur as a symptom of lacking nutrients. They often occur with anemia, when the nutrients B12, folic acid or iron are lacking. A small injury is often a trigger for canker sores, as is an altered oral flora after antibiotic treatment. Stress and food sensitivities often trigger precipitate ulcers. Foods that cause a problem are highly acidic fruits, and sweets, especially chocolate.

    Eat green, leafy vegetables and whole grains for their B complex vitamins, which help the body deal with stress, a common trigger in the development of canker sores.

    Nutritional yeast can supply B vitamins. It is available in the form of flakes, which can be added to cereal or salads, or stirred into stews or soups. Nutritional yeast also comes in the form of a paste which can be spread on bread. Natural, plain, unsweetened yogurt eaten several times daily has been known to shorten the healing time of canker sores by providing healthy bacteria which fight infections. Avoid sugary sweets, coffee, citrus fruits, meats and anything that produces acids.

    Many people have reported excellent relief with a mouth rinse of aqueous colloidal silver; it has a natural antimicrobial effect and boosts immunity. It is best used after brushing the teeth to help prevent any type of oral infection such as parasites and candida.

    Acidophilus capsules help prevent and clear up canker sores. A capsule emptied onto the sores at regular intervals is soothing. Canker sores are often related to a B vitamin deficiency and become more pronounced during times of stress. Where anemia is the cause, either vitamin B12, folic acid or iron will need to be replaced. Zinc lozenges also help resolve canker sores, as this mineral supports the immune system. Calcium supplements will help counter act the over acidity.

    Herbal remedies are great at treating and preventing canker sores. Echinacea toothpaste is excellent at preventing canker sores and mouth ulcers.

    If the immune system is weak, try Astragalus for a few weeks to boost immune function and prevent canker sores. If one is feeling tired use Ginseng to stimulate immune functions.

    Be careful not to irritate the gums with hard toothbrush bristles or sharp edged foods such as potato chips or dry bread crusts. Keep bowels regular to prevent toxic build up. Walk regularly, walking in fresh air will oxygenate the body and stimulate bowel movements.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

    

Treating and Preventing Gall Stones

The gall bladder stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver, until it is needed for the digestion of fats during a meal. The gall bladder contracts and expels its contents into the narrow passageway of the bile duct and finally into the intestinal canal. Bile not only digests fats, but contains the wastes eliminated by the liver as it breaks down substances like drugs, hormones and proteins.

    Gallstones are the most common gall bladder problem, capable of causing colic’s and jaundice. Stones in the gall bladder usually go undetected for a long time, but once a large stone passing through the bile duct becomes lodged, it can cause intense pain, appearing as a sharp cramp just under the right ribcage, which recurs and subsides. In some cases, the pain will shoot into the right shoulder or back often there is accompanying nausea and fever with chills.

    Not all lodged gallstones cause colic’s however. If the gallstones remain blocking the bile flow, jaundice results instead, causing yellow and itchy skin. The back up may cause the gall bladder to inflame. The resulting infection causes aching under the right ribcage, indigestion, nausea and fever.

    Bloating and pressure under the right ribcage are often an indication of liver and gall bladder trouble and possible stone development. Mild symptoms of indigestion, gas and bloating from eating rich, oily or creamy foods high in fat content are often a sign of inadequate bile. The digestive trouble affects the absorption of all foods and hinders the assimilation of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K in particular.

    Most gall bladder trouble is associated with a poor diet and sluggish liver. When too little bile is produced, stones are more likely to form. Also the longer the bile remains in the gall bladder the thicker it becomes, increasing the likelihood of stones. Eating foods that stimulate the gall bladder such as essential fatty acids will prevent the development of stones. These acids support the transport of cholesterol, and stimulate bile when production and release are poor. For this reason, the consumption of fats should be limited to natural, cold pressed oils high in essential fatty acids, such as flax seed oil. Diets low in fiber and high in cholesterol from meat sources in particular are crucial in the development of cholesterol stones.

    A high fiber diet is key to the prevention of gall stones. Especially beneficial is water soluble fiber, such as the pectin found in apples and carrots or those found in oat bran and dried beans.

    Avoid the intake of animal fats or artificially hardened fats such as margarine, shortening and the fats found in over processed foods, which stress the liver and gall bladder. Gallstones are composed mostly of animal fat and cholesterol. Also limit milk and milk products.

    Certain foods and herbs are very beneficial to the liver and gall bladder. Artichokes and rhubarb stimulate bile flow and help heal gall bladder inflammation. Bitters from lettuce and chicory also stimulate bile flow. Herbal bitters are excellent to help eliminate the pain seen typically in gall stone sufferers. We, over the years, have seen many individuals suffering with gall stones ease their symptoms by using herbal bitters 15-20 minutes before eating their meals. It is a simple but effective treatment for gallstones.

    If the gallstones are extra large then you can try a herb called Quebra Pedra from the jungles of South America, which has a well deserved reputation for reducing the size of both kidney and gallstones.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

Drinking Water

It is an astonishing fact that the human body is basically two thirds water. Without it most people are dead in four days. In normal circumstances in twenty four hours we lose 1.5 liters of water in urine, 750ml through the skin, 400ml in the breath and 150 ml in the faeces. That’s a total of 2.8 liters a day. A simple equation would suggest that this is what you need to drink.

    It isn’t quite simple, however, firstly, the body makes water by metabolizing food, normally provides around 1 liter a day. This totals 1.3 liters, leaving the average person 1.5 liters short or an average day. That’s the equivalent of six glasses of water.

    Drinking a total of 1.5 liters of water a day is really a minimal since if it is hot or you exercise you will need more because you will sweat more. Also, drinking more is generally helpful for the kidneys. This is because many toxins, both generated by the body and the ones that are consumed, are eliminated via the kidneys. By diluting the concentration of these toxins in the blood you give your kidneys an easier time, up to a point.

    In fact, it’s essential to ensure that enough fluid is available for the excretion of soluble minerals in the blood and nitrogenous waste material, especially from protein metabolism.

    The maximum intake from oral liquids should be that which the kidneys can reasonably excrete in 24 hours, and in adults this is around 2 liters per day.

    Contrary to popular opinion, drinking more water doesn’t leach minerals from the body according to mineral expert Dr Neil Ward of the University of Surry, who has never found any evidence of this or reason it would happen.

    Drinking more than you need, which is around 1.5 to 2 liters a day in normal circumstances, isn’t better for you, and may be worse. This is because too much water taxes the kidneys and can lead to over- hydration. Taken to the extreme this can kill you. A man died recently after drinking 10 liters in a few hours, while almost every year somebody dies from drinking too much water while on Ecstasy, for fear of drinking too little. This drug, and others, disturbs the normal thirst reflex. Far more people die as a consequence of drinking too little.

    Water has many roles throughout the body other than flushing the kidneys, including dissolving minerals, and acting as a delivery system, a lubricant and a temperature regulator.

    Even very mild dehydration can lead to constipation, headaches, lethargy and mental confusion, while increasing the risk of urinary tract infections and kidney stones. When just 1% of body fluids are lost, body temperature goes up and concentration becomes more difficult.

    The thirst mechanism kicks in when we’ve lost between 1 and 2% of body water, however, the thirst reflex is often mistaken for hunger. If we ignore it or mistake it for hunger, dehydration can continue to around 3%, where it seriously affects both mental and physical performance. Sports nutritionists have found that a 3% loss of body water results in an 8% loss in muscle strength.

    Water consumption advice almost always specifically discounts caffeinated beverages, but this is now being questioned, and may need revising. Caffeine does cause a loss of water, but only a fraction of water you’re adding by drinking the beverage. In people who don’t regularly consume caffeine, for example researchers say that a cup of coffee actually adds about two thirds the amount of hydrating fluid that’s in a cup of water. Regular coffee and tea drinkers become accustomed to caffeine and loose little, if any, fluid. The only common drinks that produce a net loss of fluids are those containing alcohol.

    The best way to hydrate the body though, is water or herbal teas.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

Heart Diseases

The heart muscle is the most worked muscle in our body. It contracts on average 80 times per minute, every hour of every day without resting until we die. It is one of the body’s most vital organs, ensuring that blood and oxygen are supplied to every cell. So it’s vital that this organ remains in good condition throughout our life.

    Heart diseases include heart attacks which can occur without warning and yet they can end in sudden death. Arteriosclerosis affects the blood vessels which feed the heart and can be a painful process resulting in angina pain in the chest.

    Heart disease can be prevented even if there is a strong tendency for heart problems in the family. The main cause for heart problems is improper diet, particularly eating too much meat and saturated fat, salt and sugar. Vegetables and raw fruit, fiber and wholesome, unrefined foods, as well as physical activity, are essential. Lack of exercise deprives the heart of a sufficient supply of oxygen, resulting in fatty deposits in the arteries. Coffee, alcohol and large meals are also bad for the heart, and the risks for heart disease increase with smoking and high blood pressure.

    Constant stress is one of the most dangerous conditions for the heart. We must learn to enjoy life by slowing down and learning coping mechanisms to better manage and counteract the damaging effects of stress.

    Saturated fats from red meat and Trans fatty acids found in hydrogenated fats like shortening, margarine and all commercially processed foods must be eliminated from the diet. These harmful fats cause arteriosclerosis and heart disease because they raise cholesterol levels, thicken the blood and interfere with the metabolism of beneficial essential fatty acids. Use only unrefined, cold pressed nut and seed oils such as flaxseed, or pumpkin seed daily on salads and dishes which do not require heating. These oils along with olive oil are excellent at maintaining healthy blood vessels and lowering cholesterol, thereby significantly lowering the risk for heart disease.

    Beetroot juice is excellent at preventing free radical damage and lowering blood pressure, another juice with a good record at preventing heart disease is pomegranate juice. Pomegranate juice is one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants nearly five times more powerful than red grape juice. Drinking these juices each day is a powerful aid in preventing heart disease.

    Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel contain omega-3 fats which act similarly to essential fatty acids in flaxseed oil to improve blood flow and reduce the risk of heart disease. It has been found that eating oily fish 2 to 3 times per week or taking fish oil supplements reduces the risk of heart disease dramatically. 

    Garlic reduces blood cholesterol and also lowers blood pressure. It must be taken long term to get this benefit. Again garlic supplements are useful for long term use. Garlic should not be taken long term by any one with arthritic pain, as it may increase the pain of the painful joints. An excellent supplement for the heart muscle is Co-Enzyme Q10; it’s often deficient in those with heart disease. Co-Enzyme Q10 improves oxygen supply to the heart muscle while supporting heart functions and muscle strength,

     One of the best herbal remedies for the heart must be Hawthorn, it has the ability to reduce plaque buildup in the arteries along with reducing blood pressure and strengthening the heart muscle. The heart has to work less if you are taking Hawthorn due to its ability to reduce the oxygen need of the heart muscle while maintaining the same output from the heart. Hawthorns ability to open up the blocked arteries in the body is quite remarkable often relieving angina pains in the chest within 3-4 months of use. Take 5-10 ml each day of Hawthorn tincture as a heart tonic. 

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

Astragalus

Tonic herbs have been used for centuries to help people cope with the stress and strain of living. This stress, both physical and mental, can weaken our immune system response. To determine your immune function, ask yourself the following questions; if you answer “yes” to any of them, your immune system would probably benefit from the support of a tonic herb:

·      Do you catch cold easily?

·      Do you get more than two colds a year?

·      Are you suffering chronic infection?

·      Do you get frequent cold sores or have genital herpes?

·      Are your lymph glands sore and swollen at times?

·      Do you have now or have you ever had cancer?

·      Are you tired most of the time?

            Recurrent or chronic infections - even very mild colds - occur only when the immune system is weakened. Under such circumstances, there is a repetitive cycle that makes it difficult to overcome the tendency towards infection; a weakened immune system leads to infection, infection causes damage to the immune system, which further weakens resistance. Enhancing the immune system by taking tonic herbs like Astragalus and/or Ginseng will often provide the answer to breaking the cycle.

            Previously we’ve looked at Ginseng; this week we’ll look at Astragalus, a herb which is rapidly gaining fame in the West as an immune stimulant. To classify it as an immune herb, however, is to overlook its broader use as a tonic. It strengthens the body systems (especially the lungs), improves the digestion and builds up the blood. Also, it increases endurance and body weight in animals.

            In the Chinese world-view, Astragalus acts like the protective shield around the body, not unlike the shield around the starship Enterprise on the popular TV series, Star Trek. When overall Qi is weakened, or energy becomes depleted, this protective Qi is weakened, and we become more susceptible to colds and sweat more easily. A deficiency of protective Qi (or immune system weakness) is what makes AIDS patients so susceptible to opportunistic infections; Astragalus has a demonstrated effect in strengthening AIDS patients. Returning to my Star Trek analogy, you can think of Astragalus as a bit like Scotty in the Enterprise engine room, working feverishly to restore power to the shield before the Klingons can destroy the ship.

            Astragalus gained fame in scientific circles in the 1980s as a possible immune-stimulating and anti-cancer herb. In one trial with 19 cancer patients, it restored the function of the T-cells in 90% of the patients (T-cells are the main immune cells that attack tumours). In another trial, Astragalus, along with other tonic herbs, increased the survival time of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Unfortunately, funding for this promising research in the US was closed because any eventual product could not be patented, and a drugs company would not be able to recoup its investment.

            Astragalus can be combined with Ginseng if there is a lot of fatigue along with poor immune system functioning.
            Astragalus is not used if you have a strong infection; otherwise it has no known toxicity. The Chinese also use this herb along with others to combat allergies like rhinitis and asthma.

            Many people use Echinacea to strengthen their immune response, whereas Astragalus would be a much better choice. Echinacea should be left for the inset of a cold, where it is very effective and able to stop a cold in its tracks.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

            

New Year Detox

The New Year is here again, how it’s flown by. Time to think of where we are, and how we would like to change our life. Life is a journey towards perfection; one must be always aiming at perfection but live in the reality of not being perfect and content with where we are, at any given time. A great way to start the year is with a detox.

One of the bodies’ natural means of staying healthy is its ability to detoxify itself. It is impossible to be totally toxin free; the body always must maintain a balance through elimination and neutralization of body toxins in order to maintain health. As living beings we cannot escape toxins. An interesting example of the symbiotic relationship between the body and its “toxins” is the digestive system. Our digestive system contains the intestinal micro-flora, composed of hundreds of fungal and bacterial strains. This internal environment is essential for good health. This micro-flora has been shown to perform essential functions such as vitamin and mineral production and utilization, regulating intestinal pH and stimulating antibody production.

Body toxins can be divided into two types – one created by the body itself and one, which result from accumulation of chemical and heavy metal environmental pollutants. Both may in turn predispose an individual to infections, especially viral, fungal and parasitic infections. This is the reason why it is good to detox at regular intervals.

The organs of detoxification are the liver, kidneys, bowels, lungs and the skin. Avoiding harmful chemicals found in such things as junk food, drugs or smoking, as well as supporting the organs in their detoxifying action is vital in maintaining and restoring health. Sufficient fluid intake, up to 2-3 litres of water a day, supports the eliminating function of the kidney, the bowels and the skin. We often forget the skins vital function as detoxifying organ; yet many therapies rest on its ability to do so, including saunas, which promote sweating.

Healthy circulatory and lymphatic systems support detoxification. When those become sluggish, too many waste products are left behind in the tissues. Regular exercise and alternating hot and cold baths or showers invigorate both, the circulatory and lymphatic systems.

Fasting is a very effective method of detoxification, though it is only appropriate for individuals in good health. It is unwise to fast if unwell, weak after an illness or if you have a digestive problem like a peptic ulcer.

Herbal remedies are great at aiding detoxification – they will both eliminate and neutralize toxins in the body. Remedies to aid the eliminating function of the kidneys include Dandelion leaf, Cleavers and Celery seed. These herbs will help the kidneys pass metabolites like uric acid and urea, which can cause joint and muscle pain.

The liver is the main organ of both elimination and neutralization. Remedies like Dandelion root, Milk Thistle and Sheep’s Sorrel will greatly aid this vital organ in its job, of keeping the body balance of toxins at the correct levels, in order to maintain good health.

Happy New Year to all the readers, may it be a good one!

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

The Use Of Ginseng In Chinese Herbal Medicine - Part Two

This week I will continue our journey into the Chinese medical world, again looking at the tonic family of herbs.

            The oldest book of Chinese medicine lists 365 herbs, and classifies them according to three grades. The lowest grade of herbs dispels disease. The middle grade corrects imbalances in the body. The highest grade - the one to which Ginseng belongs - nourishes life itself. These are the tonic herbs, many of them classified as “adaptogens” in Western scientific terms.

            Ginseng first reached the West via reports from a seventeenth century Dutch traveller who had been shipwrecked in Korea. He reported that the Mongol soldiers used Ginseng to increase their stamina. A Jesuit missionary to Beijing in 1711 wrote:

           

“Nobody can imagine that the Chinese and Tartans would set so high a value on this root if it did not constantly provide good effect. Those that are in good health often make use of it to render themselves more vigorous and strong; and I myself am persuaded that it would prove an excellent medicine in the hands of any European who understands its pharmacy.”

            To understand Ginseng, it is necessary to look at the difference between tonics and stimulants. Tonics and stimulants may seem closely related, because they both provide a boost of energy. However, the habitual use of stimulants, including caffeine and Guarana, is incompatible with the use of Ginseng or other tonic herbs. Although stimulants and tonics may both seem like “uppers,” their effects are actually opposed to each other. The long-term effect of a stimulant is exhaustion and depression, which can more than cancel out the beneficial effects of a tonic.

            The distinction between stimulants and tonics is important; many people with Qi deficiency who medicate themselves with caffeine or other stimulants end up with less Qi than they started out with. Taking a tonic is like putting money (Qi) in the bank. Taking a stimulant is like withdrawing the money; at some point, your account becomes overdrawn, “in the red.” If you continue to spend Qi without replenishing it, the consequence can be “energy bankruptcy” - severely depleted Qi. A Qi building programme, including tonic herbs like Ginseng, and lifestyle changes, is like starting a saving plan: if you’re in debt and overdrawn, it’s best to cut up your credit cards (that is, stimulants like coffee).

            Last week I looked at the type of constitution one needs to benefit from using Ginseng. A Qi deficient type will get great vigour and strength from using Ginseng regularly.

            Ginseng will increase strength in those who are weak, build the blood in those who are anaemic, strengthen the appetite, improve the resistance of those who are short of breath from weakness, help to ease spontaneous sweating and calm the nerves and spirit. It is a major remedy for impotence and also helps increase wisdom in spiritual pursuits. Another major use is in helping to aid in recovery from the low energy and dehydration that follow debilitating fevers.

            It seems almost unbelievable that a single herb could do so much good. But the list above is only touching the tip of the iceberg of the actions of this “superhero” of herbs.

           

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist 

The Use Of Ginseng In Chinese Herbal Medicine - Part One

This week I will look at one of the most important herbs used to fortify the Qi. This herb is known as Ginseng. Asian Ginseng is without a doubt the most highly studied medicinal plant in the world. Since the turn of the century, more than 3,000 articles about scientific research on Ginseng or its constituents have appeared.

            To continue our journey into the Chinese medical world view, I’ll now try to explain constitutional medicine and how the use of Ginseng fits into it. A person’s constitution is much like the constitution of a nation, the basic rules by which a country makes its laws and runs its affairs. Different nations have different ground rules, as do different individuals. No two individuals have an identical constitution, but they fall into certain categories of Chinese medicine. One individual is naturally robust while another is frail. One is hot-blooded, and another always has cold hands and feet. One puts on weight with the slightest dietary indiscretion, and another cannot put on weight, no matter what they eat. Western medicine mostly ignores such considerations, but they are perhaps the most important considerations in Chinese medicine.

            To understand the significance of this, let’s look at two fictional characters, the businessman and the grandmother. Each has an ulcer. The businessman is angry, red-faced, robust, aggressive and hard driven. He is hot, kicks off the covers at night and likes cold drinks. The grandmother, on the other hand, is frail and thin. Her face is pale, her voice soft. She is weak and tired. She has cold hands and feet, wears extra layers of clothes and likes warm drinks. She is more fearful than angry.

            Western medicine would treat both of these patients with very similar drugs, such as those to reduce stomach acid. A Chinese trained practitioner, however, would give them entirely different treatments for the ulcers.

            The businessman would receive herbs to reduce the stress and heat in his system, cooling herbs with a bitter flavour to “cool” his digestive tract. The grandmother would receive treatments to warm her up and increase her strength. She might get tonic herbs like Ginseng, while the businessman would not. In fact, tonic therapy could make the businessman’s symptoms worse.

            The most important guide for the use of Ginseng and other tonic herbs is the “excess versus deficiency” polarity. Note that “deficiency” in Chinese terms is not like “calcium deficiency” in Western terms; the Chinese term is more like “emptiness.” In the case of the businessman, he has an excess constitution and the grandmother a deficient one. Ginseng and tonics are contraindicated in the excess conditions, which might be worsened by taking these herbs. Ginseng and other tonics, on the other hand, are ideal treatment for deficiency patterns.

            The knowledge of Asian Ginseng and how to use it is common in China. Ginseng is used specifically for conditions of weakness and low energy - especially by those over 40 years old - and to aid recovery after fever and illness. It might also be used as a general tonic for older people even when they are in good health, especially in the winter months (in summer months it may be too warming). The Chinese may also use Ginseng to enhance spiritual pursuits and meditation. It has been known to “increase wisdom” since before the time of the earliest Chinese texts.

            Next week I’ll continue with the story of Ginseng and other tonic herbs. 

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

Obesity Part Two

Last week we looked at some of the theories put forward to explain obesity. We looked at the ‘set point’ theory, which states that we have a set weight which the body tries to maintain by making us hungry if we fall below the “set point.” Also the effect of mood on weight; a low mood often leads to excessive eating of carbohydrates which in turn can create an insulin resistance which will lead to excessive weight gain.

    Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, which controls blood sugar levels. When a person eats too much unrefined carbohydrates in their diets (fizzy drinks, white bread, cakes, biscuits, white pasta or sweets) the bodies cells become insensitive to insulin, then the bodies fat cells become bad at burning fat which results in an increase in the size of the fat cells leading to an increased weight and the set point gets higher - the body will always try to maintain the set-point weight. Thus our appetite also gets bigger as we get bigger!

    The key to overcoming the fat cells set point appears to be increasing the sensitivity of the fat cells to insulin. This sensitivity can be improved, and the set point lowered, by exercise, a good diet and several nutritional supplements.

    Keeping your blood sugar balanced is probably the most important factor in maintaining even energy levels and weight. An estimated three in every ten people have impaired ability to keep their blood sugar levels even.

    The best way to achieve optimal blood sugar balance is to control the Glycogenic load; go to website www.patrickholford.com  or buy Patrick Holford’s book the ‘‘GL Diet,’’ to get advice on the GL Diet.

    A successful program for excess weight and obesity is based on four cornerstones of good health. A positive mental attitude, a healthy lifestyle (especially important is regular exercise), a health promoting diet and supplementary measures (i.e. certain nutritional supplements)

    A new type of supplement produced from white kidney beans has been proven to reduce weight through its ability to block the effect of carbohydrates. During the digestive process, our bodies convert carbohydrates, found in starchy foods such as potatoes and pasta, into sugar. Your body does this by breaking-down carbohydrates with an enzyme called alpha amylase produced by the pancreas.

    These sugars are either burned off, through exercise, or stored by the body in fat cells. This supplement, called Phase 2, neutralizes this digestive enzyme Alpha Amylase before it can convert starch into glucose or fat. Essentially it allows the carbohydrates to pass through the digestive system unchanged. This will help lower the Glycogenic index of certain foods.

    In one study it was noted that weight dropped by 2kg over an eight week period by taking this supplement each day while eating the same amount of food as before the test.

    Another supplement worth looking at is chromium. Chromium plays a key role in increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin. In one study, patients were given chromium picolinate at 200mcg, 400mcg or a placebo for ten weeks. The patients who took chromium picolinate lost an average of 2kg of fat. The results were most striking in elderly subjects and in men. The men who took chromium picolinate lost more than several times as much body fat as those who took the placebo. The 400mcg dose was found to be the most effective.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

Obesity - Part One

Over half of the population is currently either overweight or obese - it has been estimated that 70% of men and 63% of women are either overweight or obese. Even more alarming is the number of obese children- obesity in two to four year old children has almost doubled, from 5% to 9% from 1989-1999. If current trends continue, conservative estimates are that at least one-third of adults, one-fifth of boys and one-third of girls will be obese by 2020.

     The simplest definition of obesity is an excessive amount of body fat. It must be distinguished from overweight, which refers to an excess of body weight relative to height. A muscular athlete may be overweight, yet have a very low body-fat percentage. With this in mind, it is obvious that using body weight alone as an index of obesity is not entirely accurate. Nevertheless, obesity is classically identified as weighing more than twenty percent over the average desirable weight for a given height.

    There are basically two areas of focus in trying to understand what causes obesity; psychological factors and physiological factors.

     Psychological factors include watching too much television. It has been demonstrated that watching too much television is linked to the onset of obesity, and there is a dose related effect (i.e. the more television one watches, the greater the degree of obesity) In addition to leading to childhood obesity, television viewing contributes to excess weight in adults. In one study of 4,771 adult women it was found that women watching more than three hours of television per day are more likely to become obese than women who watched less than one hour of television per day.

    A considerate body of scientific evidence demonstrates that brain serotonin levels have a major influence on eating behavior. When the brain levels of serotonin are low, then the brain senses that it is starving, so it stimulates the appetite control centers in a powerful way. This stimulation results in a preference for carbohydrates.

    Cravings for carbohydrates (as well as fat) due to low serotonin levels can be mild or quite severe. They may range in severity from a desire to nibble on a piece of bread to uncontrollable binging.

    The set point theory: The set point is the weight that a body tries to maintain by regulating the amount of food and calories consumed. Research with animals and humans has indicated that each person has a programmed ‘set point’ weight. The body’s individual fat cells control this set point.

    When these fat cells become smaller, they send a powerful message to the brain to eat. Since the overweight or obese individual often has both more and larger fat cells, the result can be an overpowering urge to eat.

    The existence of this set point may also explain why most diets don’t work. While the overweight or obese individual can fight off the impulse to eat for a time, eventually the signal becomes too strong to ignore. This can lead to yo-yo dieting and loss of confidence in the person’s ability to lose weight.

    This subject of obesity and excess weight is very important for one’s health and well-being, since excess weight puts extra strain on the body’s vital organs, with increased mortality resulting. Next time we will again look at this subject and what we can do to regain our optimum weight.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

Osteoporosis, and how you can prevent it

     Osteoporosis, the silent disease of later life. Silent, in that there is usually no pain or sign included in this condition until it is very well advanced. A broken bone may be the first indication that your bones have become thin. Osteoporosis literally means porous bones. Although the entire skeleton may be included, bone loss is usually greatest in the spine, hips and ribs. Since these bones bear a great deal of weight, they are then susceptible to pain, deformity or fracture. Normally there is a decline in bone loss after the age of 40. This bone loss is accelerated in patients with Osteoporosis. Many factors can lead to excessive bone loss. For example, many endocrine diseases like Diabetes are linked to Osteoporosis. Certain drugs are also related to Osteoporosis like Alcohol, Steroids, and Methotrexate, to name a few. The most common form of Osteoporosis is seen in post-menopausal women.

     Is Osteoporosis preventable? Yes, definitely. Recently there has been an incredible push for supplementing calcium in an effort to halt bone loss. While this appears to be sound medical advice, Osteoporosis is much more than a lack of dietary calcium; it is a complex condition involving lifestyle, hormonal, nutritional and environmental factors.

     Lack of exercise causes weak muscles, which gives little support to the skeletal system and forces the bones to bear greater weight, as well as depriving the body of oxygen supply and circulation, which are needed for tissue renewal that slows aging. Physical exercise is vital in maintaining and restoring optimum bone density. A 45-minute to an hour walk, three to five times a week, is the minimum exercise for preventing Osteoporosis.

     The absorption of calcium is dependent on a number of factors, firstly it needs to be ionised in the stomach by stomach acid. It has been found that up to 40% of postmenopausal women have not sufficient stomach acids to absorb calcium carbonate, to any great degree. Patients with low stomach acid need to use Calcium citrate, Calcium lactate or calcium gluconate. About 45% of the Calcium is absorbed from Calcium citrate in patients with reduced stomach acid, compared to 4% absorption for calcium carbonate.

     Another mineral that is necessary for bone growth is magnesium. It seems that magnesium is as important as calcium for bone mass. Intake of dairy foods fortified with vitamin D, results in decreased Magnesium absorption. Again take Magnesium in a citrate form for best results. Calcium citrate 1gram plus Magnesium citrate 500mg every day is the recommended supplementation. Vitamin D is also essential for calcium absorption. Vitamin D is made in the body in the presence of sunlight, another good reason to get outside for a walk. Supplementation may be necessary if you don’t get enough sunlight, 400 IU of vitamin D daily.

     Vitamin B6, folic acid and vitamin B12 are also involved in the presentation of Osteoporosis. These vitamins are necessary to prevent the formation of Homocysteine which has been linked to many diseases. So take a Homocysteine modulation supplement to avoid high Homocysteine levels and Osteoporosis.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

The Treatment Of Chickenpox

This is a viral infection that is spread easily among children, particularly those under ten years of age, by contact and droplets of saliva spread through talking, coughing or sneezing. A child is most infectious just before the spots come out, and remains so until all the blisters have dried up, which takes about a week. The incubation period is seventeen to twenty-one days.

    It starts with a headache a fever and general malaise. There may be swollen lymph glands. The spots start normally on the trunk and can appear on the face, the scalp, inside the mouth, anus, vagina or ears; the arms and legs tend to be the least affected. They appear in crops every three or four days, starting as little pimples and quickly developing into oval shaped blisters, which are filled with fluid. Gradually the spots dry up and scab over. The scabs fall off after about ten days, and may leave scars, some of which are permanent, especially if the spots have been scratched.

    The blisters can be very itchy, and it is important to discourage your child from scratching as much as you can. Not only does scratching leave scars, but it also introduces bacterial infection into the skin, which can lead to impetigo, conjunctivitis or boils.

    Rarely, chicken pox can lead to encephalitis or be complicated by Reyes Syndrome. If your child feels unwell again once the scabs have healed and has a headache, vomits or feels particularly drowsy, call your doctor immediately. If your child has blisters on the eyeball call your doctor also.

     The chicken pox virus is related to the one that causes shingles, and a child may catch chicken pox from an adult with shingles, but rarely vice versa. If you are pregnant and have been in contact with chicken pox and are not immune, contact your doctor.

    Treatment of chicken pox with Echinacea and or garlic, as with all infection, will speed recovery. Take 2.5-5ml three times a day of a good root Echinacea tincture in water.

    If your child feels only mildly unwell, but has a fever add Boneset to Echinacea tincture, give an equal dose of Boneset in warm water to the child to break the fever.

    Boneset is one of the best remedies for the relief of symptoms that accompany any viral fever. It will speedily relieve aches and pains and help the body deal with any fever present overall.

    Externally, to help relieve the itching and speed healing of the skin, wash the skin frequently with chamomile tea. Use cool infusions and apply then on cotton wool or a flannel, or add them to bath water. Distilled witch hazel is also very good at relieving itching, dilute and apply ice cold – it feels really good for the child.

    Once the blisters have dried and the scabs have fallen off, use comfrey ointment alternated with dilute lavender oil, to prevent scar formation and to heal the skin properly.

     If a baby has spots on the bottom, leave the nappy off as much as possible. Keep fingernails clean and short to stop infection caused by scratching.

    Give only a light diet, with mostly fruit, vegetables and soups, and plenty to drink.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH
Medical Herbalist

How You May Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disorder that manifests as a progressive deterioration of memory and mental function, a state of mind commonly referred to as dementia.

    In Ireland 5% of the population older than 65 suffer from severe dementia, while another 10% suffer from mild to moderate dementia. With increasing age, there is a rise in frequency. For example, in people older than 80 years of age, the frequency rate of dementia is higher than 25%.

   In most people, 20% of brain cells die over a lifetime. By the age of 70 most people’s brain has shrunk by 10%. However declining mental function is not inevitable. We can build new brain cells at any age. Not everyone over 50 with memory problems has Alzheimer’s disease; diagnosis is difficult because the evidence lies in the degeneration nerve cells in the brain.

   Genetic factors play a significant role in determining susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease, like most chronic degenerative disease, lifestyle and environmental factors also play a significant role. Emerging research reveals that dietary factors are important. Poor quality diets with excess saturated or transfatty acids may predispose nerve cells to aluminum induced toxicities. Traumatic injury to the head, chronic exposure to aluminum and free radical damage have all been implicated as causative factors.

    Aluminum has been found in plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease sufferers. Aluminum is known to accumulate with age in the body. Avoidance of all known sources of aluminum, aluminum containing antacids, aluminum containing antiperspirants, cooking in aluminum pots and pans, wrapping food with aluminum foil should be practiced. Aluminum absorption can be decreased by magnesium, because magnesium competes with aluminum for absorption, not only in the intestines but also at the blood brain barrier. A diet rich in magnesium is recommended; seeds, nuts and whole grains are good sources of magnesium.

One of the most important brain toxins is Homocysteine, (produced within the body from protein if you are deficient in vitamins B6, B12 or folic acid). To prevent the formation of this brain toxin take a good B complex and vitamin C supplement.

Zinc deficiency is one of the most common nutrients defiencies found in the elderly and has been linked with the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Seeds and nuts are good sources of Zinc, especially pumpkin seeds. Eat a handful each day.

Considerable evidence indicates that oxidative damage plays a major role in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. As digestive functions tend to decrease as we grow older, there is a propensity towards fat mal-absorption. Vitamin E is often found to be deficient in the elderly for this reason it is recommended to take 15mg of Vitamin E daily to avoid this deficiency.

A herb with a lot of research in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is Ginkgo Biloba. In one study published in the journal of the American medical association, it was found and there were no side effects. It was found also that you need to take Ginkgo for at least 12 weeks in order to get results, even though some patients got benefits in 2-3 weeks, most needed much longer.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist

Treating High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for a heart attack or stroke. In fact, it is generally regarded as the greatest of the risk factors for a stroke. Most people do not notice they have high blood pressure until they get their blood pressure measured.

High pressure, otherwise known as hypertension, is a disease, not just an increase in blood pressure. At least three readings should be made before the final diagnosis since fluctuations are normal. Stress, anxiety, anger and physical activity cause substantial changes in readings.

The blood pressure denotes the resistance produced each time the heart beats and sends blood coursing through the arteries. The peak reading of the pressure exerted by this contraction is the Systolic pressure. Between beats, the heart relaxes, and blood pressure drops. The lowest reading is referred to as the Diastolic pressure. A normal blood pressure reading for an adult is 120 (Systolic) / 80 (Diastolic).

High blood pressure is divided into different levels:

·       Borderline: 120-160 / 90-94;

·       Mild: 140-160 / 95-104;

·       Moderate: 140-180 / 105-114;

·       Severe: 160 + / 115 +.

Since over 80% of patients with high blood pressure are in the borderline-to-moderate range, many cases of high blood pressure can be brought under control through changes in diet and lifestyle.

By far the most common reason for high blood pressure is arteriosclerosis. Narrowed arteries plugged with fatty deposits are usually linked to poor eating habits, high levels of stress, smoking and little physical activity.

Typically, a diet rich in saturated fats, meat and refined products and lacking in fresh vegetables, fruits and fibre from whole grains is to blame. The cholesterol-free, commercial vegetable oils, shortening and margarine are no better, as these contain trans-fatty acids. Vegetarians have a lower incidence of hypertension. Obesity increases the risks. Salt, coffee, alcohol and cigarettes are not direct causes, but certainly contribute substantially to increasing blood pressure.

Next to attaining ideal body weight, the most important dietary recommendation is perhaps to increase the consumption of plant foods in the diet. Special foods for people with high blood pressure include: celery, garlic and onions, nuts and seeds or their oils, cold-water fish (salmon, mackerel, etc.), green leafy vegetables (as a rich source of calcium and magnesium), whole grains and legumes and foods rich in vitamin C, such as broccoli and citrus fruits. Eating four ribs of celery a day has been shown to reduce mild hypertension over a few months.

Stress can cause high blood pressure in many instances. Relaxation techniques, such as yoga, have been shown to have some value in lowering blood pressure.

Herbal remedies complement dietary changes in the effective treatment of high blood pressure. Hawthorn is one of the most reliable remedies for regulating high blood pressure. It dilates larger blood vessels and inhibits formation of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE); the same way that ACE-inhibiting drugs work. Aside from its blood pressure-lowering effect, hawthorn strengthens the muscular ability of the heart and can help the body rid itself of excess fluid. Hawthorn also has the ability to un-block the arteries thus easing Angina and over time lowering blood pressure.  Take 1 teaspoon of Hawthorn tincture two to three times a day .Hawthorn can be taken along with Hypertensive drugs.

It’s always important not to ignore high blood pressure; by using natural methods, one may be able to reduce high blood pressure. But if this can’t be done, then visit your GP.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIHM

Medical Herbalist