SOUP RECIPE
NOVEMBER 1, 2021 HERB-DRUG INTERACTION
In being close with plants and using herbs daily I need to discuss the issue of herb-drug interactions. This subject has been given an extraordinary amount of attention over the twenty five years. There are countless articles in medical journals, the Internet, the press and books on these topics, but I have not seen any drug-herb interaction. I have seen drug-drug interactions. This is due to the fact that patients go from doctor to doctor. The doctor fails to ask about new medications especially if this is a long time patient of the primary physician. With the number of "articles" on herb-drug interaction you would think there would be an overwhelming high mortality. This is not the case. Once again, the media and medical paranoia has overblown this topic. Since I use all herbs I would like to comment on the cardiac herbs I use which could potentially have an interaction with some of the conventional drugs. Many of my cardiac patients are on a 'water pill' as furosemide or lasix. I use one herb and one amino acid as natural diuretics. these are dandelion and L-taurine. I use them with lasix and never have a problem. Sometimes I even decrease the lasix dose. I perform diligent blood test chemistry analysis to watch for lowering of the electrolytes as potassium and sodium. Since herbs are drugs I would use some of these herbs with the guidance of a health care professional. One of my favorite herbs/flowers are Convallaria, also known as Lily of the Valley. I use this herb for control or conversion of an arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation. The individual might also be on digoxin which also is a plant derivative called Foxglove. Since both are cardiac glycosides there can be an interaction and a lowering potentiation of the heart rate to rates less than 60
The one conventional drug I am careful with is warfarin also known as coumadin. Coumadin works on the hepatic (liver metabolism) using a special pathway. Coumadin thins the blood. Any other drug or even herb that works through the same mechanism can unbalance the thinning of the blood. The special pathway is the CYP450 pathway. It has been written that cranberry juice interferes with this pathway and can interact with coumadin. However studies indicate there is no inhibitory effect when the both are taken together.
When it comes to foods, as green leafy vegetables there is always concern. Not for me. Green leafy vegetables as broccoli, spinach, collard greens contain Vitamin K which can interfere. Instead of stopping all green leafy vegetables which are beneficial to your health, maintain a steady rate of consumption of the greens which taking the coumadin. There are some herbs with Vitamin K that I feel are important to know. These are Nettle's, Spirulina, Shepherd's Purse and Alfalfa all contain Vitamin K. I would not stop these herbs if a patient is on coumadin, but let the individual know of the interaction. I also let patient's know that the herbs, ginkgo and garlic,a s well as the nutrients oils, coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin E can thin the blood. These work through a different mechanism unlike the Vitamin K -coumadin interaction.
Some herbs have an mild to moderate inhibitory effect on this CYP450 pathway. Some of these herbs are ginger, garlic, tumeric, sage and thyme. There are others.
The take away point of knowledge today is this:
There is more of a chance of a drug-drug interaction, than a drug-herb interaction. It has been postulated that if an individual is on 6 of more conventional medications ( which is not uncommon ) the likelihood of an interaction approaches 100%
Find a different way...
Until tomorrow…
OCTOBER 28, 2021 OREGANO
As an Italian, there are certain herbs my family, especially my grandfather ( Poppy ) used in his cooking. There was basil, fennel, thyme, rosemary and of course, oregano (Origanum vulgare). This herb is also called Wild Oregano or Wild Marjoram. According to Matthew Wood, this is an old world mint. It is analogous to its American cousin Montarda fistulosa which until recently I had never heard of. Not only do some of my patients use oregano for infection but many use the essential oil, Oil of Oregano. The Oregano plant contains flavinoids, trepenoids, Vitamin A and C and of course, the volatile oils.
I think it is important to mention the taste. David Winston RH lectures on the ten different tastes of herbs. This herb is pungent. The energetic of a pungent herb is hot/dry. Garlic, cayenne pepper and ginger are also pungent herbs. I use pungent herbs for digestion, better kidney flow, and as an antibacterial.
Oregano is used for cold and flu, respiratory tract infections, candida and surprisingly, for tinnitus (ringing in the ears). It is also great for halitosis - too bad for Clark Gable's leading ladies that he did not know about it!
As far as the essential oil of oregano, this is a good broad spectrum anti infective remedy high in the phenol called carvacrol. This oil has great antioxidant and immuno-boosting actions. It can be used for parasitic infections as well as viral infections, even shingles.
Oil of oregano is volatile. It should not be used without discussing it with your health care practitioner. Oregano oil should not be used on an on going basis for any reason. Just as you can develop resistance to antibiotic drugs, you can also develop oregano oil resistance. The reason I feel there is over abuse of oregano is because it is now available in gel cap, and over the counter oregano oil. Be wise and careful!
Surprisingly to me, oregano is not mentioned in the bible. James Duke's Medicinal Plants of the Bible does mention one species of oregano. It is the Lebanese Oregano (Origanum syriacum L.). This species is referred to hyssop in the Bible. This oregano grows abundantly in the Holy Land, but is different from the oregano discussed above.
May you purify me from sin with hyssop, that I may be clean; may you wash me, that I may become whiter than even snow."
--Psalms 5:17 (NWT)
Until tomorrow...
OCTOBER 27, 2021 FIGHT INFLAMMATION WITH YOUR KITCHEN HERBS
Inflammation is the body’s way of fighting infections and healing.
inflammation can get out of hand and last longer than necessary. This is called chronic inflammation, and studies have linked it to many diseases, including diabetes and cancer. There are many herbs in your kitchen cabinet that can help.
Let’s start with Ginger ( Zingaber officinalis ) Ginger contains more than 100 active compounds, such as gingerol, shogaol, zingiberene, and zingerone, to name a few. These are likely responsible for its health effects, including helping reduce inflammation in the body. I usually use 500 - 2000 mg of ginger per day for my patients with arthritis with great success A recent analysis of 16 studies in 1,010 participants found that taking 1,000–3,000 mg of ginger daily over 4–12 weeks significantly reduced markers of inflammation compared with a placebo. These markers included C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α )
The other herb frequently used with ginger is tumeric ( Curcuma longa ) Numerous studies have shown that curcumin can block the activation of NF-κB, a molecule that activates genes that promote inflammation Not all can take tumeric as a spice as the amount is too much for the GI tract. If you’re looking to take curcumin for its anti-inflammatory properties, it’s best to purchase curcumin supplements, ideally ones that also contain black pepper extract or piperine. I use many different tumeric preparations. Contact Botanical Bounty for the best tumeric available at 646 723 1823
The other herbs used for inflammation are garlic, green tea and rosemary.
Until tomorrow…
OCTOBER 26, 2021 LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL
This past weekend I taught the ArborVitae School of Herbalism students the true facts about cholesterol We as Americans are fixated on our cholesterol. We should be more concerned with our triglyceride level and our good cholesterol ( HDL) level
There are natural ways to lower your cholesterol We know that high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) result in cholesterol deposits in blood vessel walls, which can lead to clogged arteries, strokes, heart attacks and kidney failure.
Eat monosaturated fats. There are two studies. A study of 24 adults with high blood cholesterol came to the same conclusion, where eating a diet high in monounsaturated fat increased beneficial HDL by 12%, compared to a diet low in saturated fat.
Also a study of 26 people found that replacing polyunsaturated fats with monounsaturated fats in the diet reduced the oxidation of fats and cholesterol. The oxidation of fats if left untreated increases risk of stroke and myocardial infarction.
Another study included 13,614 adults. They replaced dietary saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat, providing about 15% of total calories. Their risk of coronary artery disease dropped by nearly 20%. Thus use more omega 3 in your diet
No matter what you must reduce or stop trans fats in your diet . A study of global health patterns estimated trans fats may be responsible for 8% of deaths from heart disease worldwide. Another study estimated a law restricting trans fats in New York will reduce heart disease deaths by 4.5%.
Also increase your intake of soluble fiber. In a study of 30 adults, taking 3 grams of soluble fiber supplements daily for 12 weeks decreased LDL by 18%.
So now you know what to do about your fats, trans fats and fiber.
Until tomorrow…
OCTOBER 25, 2021 GLAUCOMA
The term glaucoma is defined as a collection of diseases that causes optic nerve damage and the diagnosis should not be based on just the intraocular pressure (IOL) There are many types- open angle, narrow angle, low tension secondary and even congenital.
Let me tell you a myth about glaucoma. It is a myth - lowering eye pressure with eye drops will prevent further damage. THERE IS NO TRUTH IN THAT MYTH.
The contributing factors to glaucoma which are stress, poor diet or nutritional deficiencies, and obesity. A diet high in beta carotene, Vitamin C and Vitamin E and selenium will help. The foods containing these supplements are garlic, onions (they are in the same genus) spinach, celery, turnips, yellow and orange vegetables, leafy green vegetables, seaweed, apples, tomatoes and oranges. Also drink lots of water to allow proper toxic metabolic wastes from the eye tissue.
I have even seen glaucoma worsen in patients who have food allergies especially wheat/dairy/vinegar products. Eye pressure has been shown to increase when patients are exposed to MSG.
There are essential nutritional supplements for the eye. One is the well discussed Vitamin C. It lowers the eye pressure through a combination of decreasing fluid production in the eye and improving output of the aqueous humor. Essential Fatty acids may reduce the chronic inflammation. So do not forget your fish oils. Also you can use black currant oil and flax seed oil if you do not to ingest fish oils. Studies have shown that alpha lipoic acid benefits the color vision in patients with glaucoma. It also enhances glutathione, Vitamin E and Vitamin C.
The amino acid, taurine protects the eye from neurotoxins that include excessive levels of glutamate that is responsible for the loss of ganglion cells and optic nerve damage.
I love to use Coleus forskohlii as it has been shown to lower the intraocular pressure by relaxing the smooth muscles of the eye. Unfortunately you cannot get a food source for coleus, you must take the supplement. I have seen many patients use Coleus, and must then reduce their conventional Opthalmic drops like Timolol or Alphagan
Vaccinium myrtllus (Bilberry) has more than 50 years of research on its benefits for the eye. It also has other great uses, but most are familiar with the eye. Bilberry improves the delivery of oxygen and blood to the eye. It has many antioxidants.
I would consult Dr Grossman at www.naturaleyecare.com or www.visionworksusa.com
Until tomorrow…
OCTOBER 22-24, 2021 WHY EAT DARK CHOCOLATE
With Halloween approaching you might consider eating chocolate and candy. I suggest only eat dark chocolate Dark chocolate has health promoting properties that can support a healthy cardiovascular system as well as enhance your mood.
Why does dark chocolate have in it ? Dark Chocolate has flavinoids and other polyphenols that have proven in studies to be very beneficial. OIt is also high in fiber, and contains many B vitamins as B1, B2 B3 and B 6
Due to the polyphenols dark chocolate has antioxidants. It also has magnesium, iron, zinc , potassium and phosphorous.
If you didn’t know chocolate is from the beans of the tropical Theombroma cacao It has a long history of its use throughout the world. I would suggest a 65 % dark chocolate or higher- it is low glycemic and safe for diabetics. It has few calories and is dairy, gluten, and trans fat free.
Get your dark chocolate today !!!
Until tomorrow…
OCTOBER 21, 2021 ACTIVE HEXOSE CORRELATED COMPOUND
Do you take a lot of supplements? Do you have a specific mushroom in your daily vitamin regimen? I used to use separate mushrooms as Maitake to boost my immune system I found something with better clinical efficacy. It is AHCC ( active hexose correlated compound )
AHCC is a Japanese medicinal mushroom immune regulator which a variety of medicinal beneficial effects on the body.
The effects are:
reduces the effects of natural age related deterioration of the immune system
Provides anti inflammatory benefits
Enhances energy especially with those patients with chronic fatigue disease and fibromyalgia ( caused by EBV)
Manage viral loads in patients with hepatitis
reduces chemotherapy side effects
Provides nutritional support to cancer patients
Protects the healthy individuals from cold and flus during season