Dandelions: Love Your Liver!

In my mind there is no herb more glorious than the dandelion.

No flower more beautiful.

Nothing more magical or miraculous.

Any rose can be beautiful with enough fertilizer, weed killer, manual aphid plucking, and diligent daily watering.

But, frankly I have a tough time respecting something so persnickety. I admire a flower with the tenacity to grow through a crack in the pavement and still come out bright yellow and full of sunshine.

Dandelions also refuse to be cut flowers. They will not play that game, they will not sit in a vase for you and look pretty. You have to enjoy them on their terms.

What they will do for you though is provide you with an invaluable source of free medicine. Dandelions cleanse your liver, lower your blood pressure, rejuvenate you for spring, reduce water retention and blood pressure through their diuretic mechanism, improve digestion and nourish you with potassium, vitamin K, and minerals.

Did you know you had such an AMAZING medicine growing right in your backyard?

Fall is the best time to harvest dandelion roots. In spring, you can pick some of the fresh green leaves and add them to a salad. Bitter greens stimulate our digestion as they hit the bitter receptors at the back of our tongue which are innervated by the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve moves bile (and thus toxins) through our livers as well as stimulates the peristaltic activity that moves the digestive process along.

Bitters are imperative for those with sluggish digestion and constipation. America is a sweet tooth culture and the best thing we can do is balance out all that sweet with some bitter. A nice bitter salad before dinner is great for getting the digestive juices flowing. You can add some fresh flowers as garnish. Just pick them right before serving so they aren't wilty.

The entire plant is full of medicine. The leaves of Taraxicum officinale lower blood pressure. Most diuretic anti-hypertensives deplete potassium stores, but dandelion comes conveniently packaged with potassium!

Now mild cases of hypertension and edema will respond to this plant, but more moderate and severe cases will most likely need a stronger herb.

The root of the plant can be dug up in the fall and used as a liver tonic. So if you REALLY want less dandelions in your yard then just harvest them every fall, or just call me up and I'll come by and get them for you.

The Mangosteem Scam

Seven Reasons Why Buying a $40 bottle of mangosteen juice is a scam:

1. Many fruits and vegetables exhibit similar healing properties.
2. Mangosteen is extremely expensive as a result of multi-level marketing cost inflations. Quit trying to tell everyone that MLM saves them money! That is brainwashing. Even if you are a distributor, you are likely spending double the market value. In the case of mangosteen juice, it has to be quadruple or more, as mangosteen fruit purchased in Malaysia is pretty dirt cheap compared to the juice sold by MLMers.
3. Inflammation is just a numbers game. Just because you are consuming antioxidants every day, does not necessarily mean that you are canceling out all the free radicals you are eating in your diet that come from fried and processed foods, fatty foods, and meats.
4. I have yet to find any independent laboratory evaluations of Mangosteen such as what may be found at Consumer Labs. Without independent laboratory evaluation there is absolutely no guarantee that what is on the label is what is on the bottle. You could be drinking REALLY expensive prune juice.
5. Juice or syrup is not an adequate delivery mechanism for a therapeutic agent. Diabetes is a national epidemic. People need less sugar, not more.
6. Most juice manufacturers are making juice from the “whole fruit” when the healing components in the research are derived from the rind of the fruit. The white fleshy inner portion of the fruit has no known medicinal properties.
7. You are not buying just mangosteen juice: it is typically a blend of other high antioxidant fruits such as apple, grape, blueberry, and raspberry juice. Manufacturers do not state on the labels how much mangosteen juice (if any) is included.

If you have the money to blow on this, and think it makes your feel better, then by all means--don't let me stop you from buying it. But lets just remember that NOTHING is the magic bullet excepts diet, exercise, and the other foundations of health.

Trust me, if there were actually a way to cheat the system--I would be doing it!

Digoxin is Foxglove!

Did you know those pink and white “Gnome Hats” lining our roadsides in the Pacific Northwest can either kill you or save your life?

Formally known as Digitalis purpurea, this beautiful plant contains a powerful herbal medicine that saves lives every single day for those with heart disease.

Now, one should never make any medicine on their own with foxglove, as it can kill you. Foxglove is a poisonous plant. However, the poisonous mechanism that the cardiac glycosides from Digitalis exhibit to cause cardiac arrest, actually improve contractility in the heart of those with congestive heart failure.

In small controlled doses, the medicine of this plant has smartly been synthesized by scientists to create the drug Digoxin, a pharmaceutical derivative of Digitalis. Digoxin is used to improve contractility of the heart in those that have congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia.

Anyone doubting that plants contain medicine should in addition avoid the use of prescription pharmaceuticals, as many drugs that we commonly use such as aspirin also originate from nature. If you doubt herbs have medicine in them, then you should doubt the pharmacology of the prescription drugs you take as well.

Try arguing with a willow tree about its salicin and salicylic acid constituents. The salicylic acid found in willow bark was simply synthesized and buffered into “acetyl salicylic acid” which is what we commonly use as the drug “aspirin” for just about everything that ails us. The buffering agent was simply added to protect the stomach lining.

Aspirin is just glorified herbal medicine at its finest! Herbs are the original medicine. Money drives the bottom line behind the domination of pharmaceutical agents used by our country. A willow tree cannot be patented, but a buffered form of its derivative certainly can! Yet another reason why America spends the most money on health care, yet we are still only second to Finland as the unhealthiest people in the world.

*Dr. Nicole looks around, paranoid that she may be offed by a drug rep and their donuts*

Some herbs such as foxglove contain powerful medicines that can do a great deal of harm. But, when used appropriately and with the correct wisdom and intentions, herbs can also do a great deal of help. What we need to do with alternative medicine is quit wasting time arguing about whether or not plants can be used as medicine. Herbalists, scientists, naturopaths, MD’s, and pharmaceutical companies need to instead combine their intelligence to create more helpful drugs such as Digoxin.

If something as common as foxglove growing like a weed around us can save a patient with a weak heart, just think of what kinds of cures for cancer, AIDS, or other incurable diseases that we might be able to develop from the plants around us!

Who knows? Maybe the cure for the common cold is growing in your backyard right now; it has just yet to be discovered.

Rosemary and Memory

Aside from memory and mental functioning, rosemary has many other wonderful uses:

• A gentle, caffeine free invigorating alternative to coffee and black tea.
• Menopause (rosemary is technically a warming herb though so may cause hot flashes in some, but still worth trying)
• Antioxidant
• Cardiovascular system, great for those with poor circulation
• Menstrual cramps
• Headaches, gas, fevers, sluggish gallbladder, acid stomach.
• Anti-fungal, a great herb for candida and yeast infections
• Anti-microbial
• Please note: As with most herbs, do NOT use rosemary during pregnancy! Only use herbs advised by your doctor.

Because rosemary is such a hardy plant you can afford to plant a ton of it as future shrubbery and pretty much abandon it to nearly any weather extreme and watch it flourish. Why have senseless shrubbery around your house when you can grow simple medicines?

You can then make an indulgent rosemary oil to massage in to your temples to improve your memory and concentration at the office. Simply simmer the leaves in some oil, or add a few drops of essential oil to a carrier oil such as almond or olive oil.

The Hemorrhoid Herb

Is this an ancient medieval torture device?

No, it is simply a horse chestnut seed.

Previously used for pelting other children on the playground, for adults the seed of Aesculus hippocastanum is a fabulous cure for hemorrhoids and varicose veins. Hemorrhoids are just varicose veins as well, so if you tend to have a weak veinous system, you might benefit from this herb.

The active constituent aescin has an astringent property that serves to tighten up loose leaky veins. It is also anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-exudative, and decreases capillary permeability.

Check with your naturopathic physician before taking this herb as there are potential drug-herb interactions and this herb should not be used by those on anti-coagulants as the coumarin properties may theoretically interact with blood thinning medications.

Any time there is bleeding or pain down there you should go to your doctor immediately as it could be indicative of colon or rectal cancer, and when caught early enough is highly treatable. Also do not make any herbal medicine preparations from wild plants unless you are 100% certain of the species for safety purposes.

This herb should absolutely not be used by children or pregnant women, anyone with a chronic health condition should check with their doctor before using horse chestnut.

Dose: A tincture (1:5 in 40%) can be used, the standard dose is 1-4ml in a little bit of water three times daily. To make an herbal infusion pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of dried seed and allow to steep 15 minutes, strain and drink three times daily or apply with cotton balls to the affected area (best when applied cold so keep your witch hazel or horse chestnut solutions in the fridge). You can also try a 16% standardized aescin extract in capsules. Daily dose should equate to 50mg of aescin taken two to three times daily (so the entire capsule weight will most likely be 300 to 900 mg to receive the 50mg of aescin from the 16% standardized extract).

Stinging Nettles

Now many of you may think nettles are a pesky weed, but that is simply an exception to the rule that “ignorance is bliss”.

Wisely putting the weeds in your garden to good use after you pull them will serve your health well in the long run. Nettles are formerly referred to as Urtica diocia and fondly referred to by Native Americans as “Indian Spinach”.

My hope at least is for those of you with seasonal allergies, arthritis and enlarged prostates to gain new appreciation, if not complete love and adoration for this fabulous plant.

The freeze dried herb can be used as an alternative to anti-histamines for allergy season. Nettle leaves are also known to be useful for arthritis, asthma, and edema; and are especially helpful in treating long term chronic illness as they are a nutritive plant rich in minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The rich mineral content is thought to be the mechanism for reducing those painful night time leg cramps that usually respond well to water, calcium, magnesium and electrolytes. The root of the plant is found to be helpful for those with benign prostatic hypertrophy through an interaction with sex hormone binding globulin.

Gotu Kola for Scleroderma

Specifically for scleroderma, the herb Centella asiatica commonly known as Gotu kola, has been used with some success in scleroderma patients as well as those prone to the development of keloids (excess scar production). A few studies working to develop a better delivery mechanism for the drug extract of this herb look promising. In the meantime tinctures, capsules and teas of this plant are effective.

Before using any herbs everyone should always check with their physician for drug-herb interactions. Also, whenever trying any new therapy be sure to have lab markers drawn pre-treatment, and a few months in to treatment to see how you are responding. If improvement is not noted after three to six months, a change in treatment plan may be necessary, or a more aggressive approach.

Remember that most natural remedies take about one month to work for every year that an individual has had a chronic disease. Gotu Kola has been shown to be safe in laboratory animals with the toxic dose being 40-50mg per/kg of body weight. You can purchase Gotu Kola in capsules through eVitamins or at any reputable health food store. If you use the capsules by Nature’s Way, keep in mind that each capsule is 435mg of Gotu Kola and the standard daily dose is 2-4 mg daily. So a typical starting dose would be about 3 capsules twice daily. Be sure to work directly with a Naturopathic Physician if you are tempted to exceed 4mg daily.

I love the herb Atragalus membranceus because it is a wonderful immune system “shield” for the winter months.

Avoiding sick people at home, the work place, and social functions is nearly impossible during the winter months so protecting yourself with proper hand washing, and ensuring that your immune system is properly “winterized” is an easy enough thing to do. Although these sick individuals should do us all a favor and stay home, they still for whatever reason valiantly roll in to the work place, exposing us all to the latest cough, cold or flu. Be sure to use the root of this plant. You can take this in capsule or tincture form, or a simple tea can be made by simmering 1 heaping tablespoon or ½ stick of the dry root per 8 oz cup of water for about 15 minutes. Astragalus tea can be added to soups, or cooked in to brown rice for an edible immune system treat.

According to Chinese medicine theory, herbs that engage the shield should not be used once one is actually ill. The analogy is that when “your house is infested with robbers you want to open up all the windows and doors to drive them out”. Astragalus is a great way to lock down your doors and windows to prevent the winter “robbers” from getting in. Once ill however it is best to use a different kind of herb than this general immune system tonic.

Sources: “The Web That Has No Weaver” by Ted Kaptchuk, OMD
“Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth” by Sharon Tilgner, ND

Ashwaganda for Stress

One of my favorite herbs for patients that are struggling from fatigue and excess stress is Ashwaganda, formally known as Withania somnifera.

The root of this plant is best for those feeling very frazzled and in need of a nervous system re-set. Ashwaganda is helpful especially for individuals that are extremely agitated. If you know someone that is difficult to be around you might want to sneak a little of this herb in to them (just kidding instead refer them to this article). For those experiencing stress without fatigue trying an herb such as Schisandra may be more beneficial. Ashwaganda as an added bonus supports the immune system, is anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and also helpful for those with impotence.

According to Naturopathic theory one should notice the effects of this herb within three days, feel a restoration of their well being after three weeks, and should no longer need to take the herb after three months. Hopefully once that three month period is up, better coping mechanisms for stress management have been implemented!

Source: “Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth” by Sharon Tilgner, ND

Ginkgo Biloba

Gingko is a medicinal herb from the leaves of the Gingko biloba or maidenhair tree. The gingko tree is an ancient plant, dating back at least 250 million years. It is the oldest living species of tree in the world and it survived to modern times only in the mountain forests of Eastern China. The tree itself can live as long as one thousand years.

Most often the herb is taken as a 50:1 standardized leaf extract—this means that 50 grams of dried gingko leaves have been processed down into 1 gram of extract in a way that preserves a standard amount of the constituents believed to be the most important medicinally (22-27% flavonoids glycosides, 5-7% terpene lactones including 2.8-3.4% ginkgolides, 2.6-3.2% bilobalide, and less than 5 parts per million ginkgolic acids).

Gingko is best known for its ability to increase blood flow to the brain and improve impaired memory and mental performance, especially in the elderly. However, gingko is one of the most researched herbs available, and it also has a number of other uses. It can decrease platelet aggregation and prevent strokes and other diseases related to emboli. It has been used for migraines, to delay the mental deterioration in early Alzheimer’s, and in treating tinnitus, vertigo and cochlear deafness. It is also used for diabetic retinopathy, retinal insufficiency, macular degeneration, cataracts, intermittent claudication, Raynaud’s disease, varicose veins, generalized peripheral arteriopathy, and erectile dysfunction. It can also decrease asthma symptoms.

WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE GINGKO?

Gingko leaf extract is very safe and its side effects are almost nonexistent. However, patients who are anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication such as Warfarin or aspirin should use gingko with caution. Along the same lines, gingko probably should not be used in cases of excessive bleeding or hemorrhagic disorders. It also may be contraindicated in anovulatory amenorrhea and infertility. Other drug interactions include possible potentiation of MAO inhibitors and papverine. Ginkgo can increase blood pressure used concomitantly with thiazide diuretics. The RAW leaf, stem and seed can cause GI discomfort, headache, dizziness, and in severe cases convulsions. If you are on any medications or have any chronic health conditions you should check with your physician before starting the use of any herbal medicine such as Ginkgo.

Resources
1. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. Eclectic Medical Publications, Sandy OR, 1998.
2. Mills S, Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Churchill Livingstone, New York, NY, 1999.
3. Jellin JM, Batz F, Hitchens, K. Pharmacist’s Letter/Prescriber’s Letter Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty; 1999: pg. 419-421.
4. Pizzorno J., et. al., The Textbook of Natural Medicine, 2nd Edition. Churchill Livingstone, New York, NY, 2000.
5. Tilgner S. Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth. Wise Acres Press, Creswell, OR, 1999.

Garlic

Garlic, botanically known as Allium Sativum, is used for reducing high blood pressure, preventing age-related vascular changes, reducing reinfarction and mortality post-MI, decreasing LDL (bad) and VLDL cholesterol, and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol for coronary heart disease. Garlic is also used in Chinese medicine for diarrhea, amoebic and bacterial dysentery, tuberculosis, bloody urine, diphtheria, whooping cough, scalp ringworm, hypersensitive teeth and vaginal trichomoniasis.

Traditionally, garlic has had many other uses as well, including the treatment of colds and flu, fever, cough, headache, stomach ache, sinus congestion, athlete’s foot, gout, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, asthma, bronchitis, shortness of breath, arteriosclerosis, low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, cancer, old ulcers, snakebites and as an aphrodisiac. In foods and beverages, garlic and its components are used for flavoring.

Effectiveness

The bulb and clove are the applicable parts of garlic. Garlic has proven effects that include antibacterial, antihelmintic (worms), antimycotic (fungal), antiviral, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, expectorant, fibrinolytic, hypotensive, promoting leukocytosis, lipid-lowering (total serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides) and inhibiting platelet aggregation.

Possible Mechanism of Action and Active Ingredients

An odorless amino acid, alliin, is contained in intact garlic cells. When the intact cells are broken, alliin comes into contact with an enzyme called allinase and produces an unstable and odiferous compound called allicin (antibacterial). Further conversion of allicin yields the components E-ajoene and Z-ajoene (antithrombotic). Another constituent, allylpropyl disulfide, can reduce blood sugar while increasing insulin.

Safety

Typically, garlic is taken orally as a component of food or as a dietary supplement. This would be the equivalent of 1 clove fresh garlic taken 1-2 times daily. Garlic is safe in adults when ingested in amounts commonly found in foods and when used orally and appropriately in medicinal amounts. In larger amounts and topically, it is possibly unsafe. In children, large amounts taken orally can be dangerous or even fatal. There is insufficient reliable information available regarding topical use in children or in pregnancy and lactation. During pregnancy, when used in amounts typically found in foods, it is likely safe. However, larger amounts might predispose the onset of menstruation or uterine contractions. In lactation, it is contraindicated in amounts greater than is typically found in foods.

Adverse Reactions

Garlic has dose-related effects when taken orally that include breath odor, mouth and gastrointestinal burning or irritation, heartburn, flatulence, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It can produce changes in intestinal flora. There is one report of spinal epidural hematoma and platelet dysfunction with ingestion of fresh garlic and one report of post-operative bleeding and prolonged bleeding with high dietary garlic consumption. Topically, exposure can result in contact dermatitis and blistering.

Possible Interactions with Herbs and Other Dietary Supplements

EPA (Eicosapentanoic acid) in fish oil, when taken concomitantly with garlic, can enhance antithrombotic effects. The concomitant use of herbs that affect platelet aggregation and could theoretically increase the risk of bleeding in some people include angelica, anise, arnica, asafetida, bog bean, boldo, capsicum, celery, chamomile, clove, danshen, fenugreek, feverfew, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, ginseng (Panax), horse chestnut, horseradish, licorice, meadowsweet, prickly ash, onion, papain, passionflower, poplar, quassia, red clover, turmeric, wild carrot, wild lettuce, willow and others.

Possible Interactions with Drugs

ANTICOAGULANT DRUGS – can enhance the effects of Coumadin (warfarin)
ANTIPLATELET DRUGS – concomitant use may increase risk of bleeding with these drugs
HYPOGLYCEMIC DRUGS – concomitant use may increase the effects and adverse effects of these drugs
INSULIN – insulin dosage adjustments may be necessary

Possible Interactions with Lab Tests
BLOOD GLUCOSE – can lower blood glucose levels resulting in lower test results
BLOOD INSULIN – can increase blood insulin levels resulting in higher test results
INTERNATIONAL NORMALIZATION RATIO (INR) – there are two cases of increased INR associated with concomitant use of garlic and warfarin

Use garlic with caution in bleeding disorders, diabetes and infectious or inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions.

Note: The effectiveness of garlic dietary supplements is determined by their ability to yield allicin (which leads to the production of other active principles). To be effective, dried garlic preparations should be enterically coated to protect the constituents from stomach acid. Some products do not generate the amount of allicin equivalent to one clove of fresh garlic or contain no active compounds at all.

Resources

1. Blumenthal, M., et al. ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines.
2. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council. 1998.
3. Brinker, F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions, 2nd edition. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
4. Foster, S and Tyler, VE. Tyler’s Honest Herbal: A Sensible Guide to the Use of Herbs and Related Remedies, 3rd edition. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Herbal Press, 1996.
5. Garty, BZ. “Garlic burns.” Pediatrics, 1993 Mar; 91: 658-59.
6. Gruenwald, J. et al. PDR for Herbal Medicines, 1st edition. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
7. Incorporated Society, Nittendorf, West Germany. “Hypertension and hyperlipidemia: garlic helps in mild cases.” Br J Clin Pract Suppl, 1990; 69:3-6.
8. Jellin, JM, Batz, F, and Hitchens, K. Pharmacist’s Letter/Prescriber’s Letter Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty; 1999: pg. 407-409.
9. Leung, AY and Foster, S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics, 2nd edition. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
10. McGuffin, M, et al., ed. American Herbal Products Association’s Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1997.
11. McMahon, FG and Vargas, R. “Can garlic lower blood pressure? A pilot study.” Pharmacotherapy, 1993; 13(4): 406-407.
12. Newall, CA, Anderson, LA and Philpson, JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1994.
13. Robbers, JE, Speedie, MK and Tyler, VE. Pharmacognosy and Pharmabiotechnology. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1996.
14. Silagy, CA and Neil, HA. “A meta-analysis of the effect of garlic on blood pressure.” J Hypertension, 1994; 12(4): 463-68.
15. Sunter, WH. “Warfarin and garlic.” Pharm J, 1991; 246: 722.