By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Wellness
With the threat of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) looming worldwide, there could hardly be a better time to talk about the importance of a healthy immune system. It’s a popular topic in our household, since my daughter seems to catch every little bug that comes along. And, since we’re a pro-active bunch, our medicine cabinet is full of immune-boosting antioxidants and herbs. It’s made a world of difference. Continue reading
By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Wellness
The first time I heard about Syndrome X, I admit that I didn’t quite buy it. After all, with its mysterious name, it almost sounded like the title of a 1950s-era sci-fi movie. But then I met Jack Challem, a fellow health reporter and the coauthor of Syndrome X: The Complete Nutritional Program to Prevent and Reverse Insulin Resistance (John Wiley & Sons, 2000). Continue reading
By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Wellness
As another season of colds and flu gets underway, many of us are looking for ways to bolster our immune systems – a critical step to fighting off the estimated two to four colds that will afflict most Americans this year. Continue reading
By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Wellness
It’s a tough disease to diagnosis – and some doctors don’t even think it’s real. I’m talking about fibromyalgia, an incredibly painful, debilitating condition that affects up to ten million Americans. Continue reading
C Yourself Well
By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Wellness
Around this time of year I always get questions about the best way to prevent the common cold. Of course, the person asking the question is thinking that I’ll recommend some exotic herb or little known remedy – and they look a little disappointed when they hear what I have to say. Continue reading
By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Wellness
Swine Flu is everywhere! If you’ve turned on your television lately, checked the Internet, or opened a newspaper, you are very aware of the current swine flu outbreak. Media outlets everywhere are flooding us with reports of this global health threat. The news is developing very rapidly, with the facts seem to change hour by hour. As I write this, the first death in America is being reported. By the time you read this, things will no doubt have changed dramatically. While I hope those changes are for the better, there is much we simply don’t know. Continue reading
By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Wellness
It’s been a long, cold winter – and it isn’t over yet. That means more colds and flu. Fortunately, legions of immune cells patrol your bloodstream day and night, destroying harmful bacteria, viruses, and other invaders to stop trouble before it can start. Continue reading
Epileptic Seizures can be very scary.
My mom developed grand mal epilepsy when she was just 17. It was a side effect of a nasty bout with scarlet fever in the 1930s that would stay with her for life. Back then, epilepsy was unfairly – and inaccurately – lumped in with all sorts of psychological and mental disorders, leading those with the disorder to be stigmatized. Today, however, we know better. Epilepsy is actually a neurological condition that causes seizures – sudden surges of electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can be mild and hardly noticeable, or they can render the person unconscious, causing them to fall to the floor and shake uncontrollably for anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.
Most of the time, Mom has been able to manage her epilepsy with anti-seizure medication. But these drugs come with side effects, including fatigue, abdominal discomfort, dizziness, blurred vision, and rashes. But the most serious side effect is bone loss, which my mother now suffers from.
While these drugs do work for my mother, not everyone is so lucky. Some people never find an anti-seizure cocktail that eliminates their epileptic episodes. Luckily, there are natural strategies – including dietary and lifestyle changes – that hold promise for both those on drug therapy and for those who don’t respond to conventional medication.
Back in the 1920s, doctors learned that fasting improved the frequency of seizures. This discovery led to the ketogenic diet, the most popular of all epilepsy nutritional therapies. The diet was exclusively developed for epileptics to mimic starvation. While it was very effective, it fell out of favor when drugs took over in the 1930s. But now, the ketogenic diet is back, and it’s gaining popularity around the world.
Here’s how it works: The diet begins with a 24-hour fasting period to cleanse the system. After that, you restrict carbohydrates and instead get most of your calories from fats. People on the diet usually eat three to four grams of fat for every one gram of carbohydrate and protein. Nutritionists and neurologists tweak meals to induce ketosis, a state in which the body burns stored fat for fuel.
Doctors don’t know why ketosis reduces seizures, but it produces positive results for a lot of patients. Up to two-thirds of those who try the ketogenic diet get some degree of relief – and about 55 percent of those who respond positively experience a greater than 50 percent reduction in their seizures.
This type of high-fat diet may seem like an easy fix, but many people have a tough time sticking to the ketogenic diet. That’s problematic since there’s no cheating allowed on this diet – most medical experts believe strict compliance is mandatory. That’s probably why success rates are better for young children, whose parents can exercise complete control over what goes into their mouths.
Adopting a ketogenic diet also shouldn’t be done without the supervision of your doctor. And it’s best used for those who don’t respond to anti-seizure drugs.
In addition to nutrition, stress-busting physical activity can reduce seizures, too. And, while all types of exercise can help, many epilepsy experts advocate yoga. The type of yoga can also make a difference, especially if you haven’t exercised in a while. Try Hatha yoga – which focuses on gentle postures and slow deep breathing – at least three times a week.
Aerobic exercise can also reduce stress, plus it gets your heart pumping. Opt for a minimum of three times a week, and work your way up to at least 30 minutes per session. Try walking with a buddy or riding a stationary bike. Just don’t try to do too much too soon.
Many neurologists mistakenly discourage exercise, because they’re afraid patients will have seizures. Yet, just 10 percent of patients actually have exercise-induced seizures. If you’re in that minority, take it slow and exercise with supervision in case you have a seizure. Also, check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. If you don’t have control of your seizures, proceed with caution when choosing a piece of equipment or activity. For example, avoid a treadmill or the swimming pool, which can cause serious harm if you become unconscious.
Stress – either long-term or a sudden shock – can trigger a seizure. That’s why keeping stress under control is critical for preventing episodes. Supplementing with calming herbs and minerals can complement conventional epilepsy care. A 2001 study found that kava, valerian, chamomile, and passionflower may improve the effects of anti-epileptic medications, increasing their sedative and cognitive effects. The study also discouraged the use of stimulants like ephedra, caffeine, ginkgo, and ginseng, because they may exacerbate seizures.
But herbs aren’t the only calming supplements. Magnesium can also calm the mind and the nervous system. Foods high in magnesium include mushrooms, whole grains and nuts. But to make sure you’re getting enough to benefit your epilepsy, it’s best to take 250-350 mg. of this mineral per day.
Regardless of whether you’re on drug therapy or not, biofeedback may help control stress – and your seizures. In an attempt to diminish abnormal brain-wave activity and elevate the seizure threshold, biofeedback (sometimes referred to as neurofeedback) uses conditioning to help epilepsy patients. Although the practice has been around for many years, recent research indicates it’s still a viable treatment to reduce seizures.
Biofeedback uses EEG technology to look for abnormal brain waves and then teaches patients various techniques – using a game or puzzle perhaps – that will help them morph back into a normal pattern. Over time, these exercises may reduce the number of seizures. Before starting, however, find a practitioner who has experience working with epileptics. The Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (www.bcia.org) certifies practitioners and offers advice on how to find a credentialed one in your area.
Even life’s little pleasures, like eating and kissing, lose their appeal when you’ve got a canker sore. But new research reports that licorice-root extract can heal these sores naturally.
Unlike cold sores that appear on your lips (contagious, fluid-filled blisters caused by the herpes-simplex virus), canker sores (which aren’t contagious) show up on the inside of your cheeks, lips, gums, or even under your tongue. They have a white or yellow center and a red border, and they’re usually brought on by stress, hormonal changes, or certain food sensitivities, such as wheat and dairy. Licorice-root extract stimulates the mucus-secreting cells necessary for mending the lining of your mouth.
Look for powdered licorice root labeled deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL). Crush the tablet and dissolve 200 mg. of it in three-quarters of a cup of warm water. Swish the mixture around in your mouth every morning and evening for one week or until the canker sore improves.
References:
Arida RM, et al. “Physical activity and epilepsy: proven and predicted benefits.” Sports Medicine. 2008;38:607-615.
Kossoff EH, et al. “Ketogenic Diets: Evidence for Short- and Long-term Efficacy.” Neurotherapeutics. 2009;6:406-414.
Martin MD, et al. “A controlled trial of a dissolving oral patch concerning glycyrrhiza (licorice) herbal extract for the treatment of aphthous ulcers.” General Dentistry. 2008;56:206-210.
Nagai Y, et al. “Changes in cortical potential associated with modulation of peripheral sympathetic activity in patients with epilepsy.” Psychosomatic Medicine. 2009;71:84-92.
Spinella M. “Herbal Medicines and Epilepsy: The Potential for Benefit and Adverse Effects.” Epilepsy & Behavior. 2001;2:524-532.
In 1954, a scientist named Denham Harmon proposed a theory – that aging was the result of errant molecules called free radicals. Even though tens of thousands of scientific studies now support Dr. Harmon’s work, it was a pretty wild hypothesis in its day. Here’s how it works:
Free radicals are molecules that are missing one electron (normal molecules have two electrons). To complete themselves, these unbalanced molecules steal a replacement electron from another nearby molecule – which creates another free radical, which steals an electron from one of its neighbors and so on and so on. The result is a chain reaction –similar to a row of falling dominoes.
Problem is, these misbehaving molecules randomly take electrons from the molecules that make up our DNA, proteins and other cellular building blocks. The resulting damage (known as oxidative damage) is similar to the buildup of rust on iron and can take years to occur – until one day we see the clear signs of aging. This age-related damage leads to wrinkled skin and boosts the risk of nearly all degenerative diseases, including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
While we can reduce our exposure to some free radicals (like those found in air pollution and cigarette smoke), it’s impossible to avoid them all since our own bodies create them while burning food for energy, fighting infections and breaking down toxins and drugs. In fact, simply breathing creates free radicals!
The good news is that we can counteract much of this damage – as well as our risk of premature aging and disease – with antioxidants.
For years, scientists have known that antioxidants can tame these unruly molecules and prevent oxidative damage. And for years, they’ve been studying them – one at a time. But by studying each individual antioxidant in the hope of finding a magic bullet, they’ve missed the bigger picture – that antioxidants never occur by themselves in nature. A strawberry, for instance, doesn’t contain just one antioxidant. It’s packed full of vitamin C, carotenoids and flavonoids. And, as science is finally discovering, they all work together.
A growing number of important studies have concluded that antioxidants work in synergy. In other words, consuming a combination of many different antioxidants is far more potent than taking just one or two. Here’s a good example: as vitamin E is used up fighting free radicals, vitamin C helps restore it back to its full strength. Similarly, alpha-lipoic acid helps recycle and renew vitamin C.
One study, recently published in the journal Atherosclerosis, found that a combination of vitamin E and C significantly reduce the formation of plaque after an angioplasty. Another study found that these two antioxidant vitamins, even at low dosages, slowed the development of cardiovascular disease over a six-year period. Similar studies have found that combinations of antioxidants reduce the risk of eye disease, Alzheimer’s and many other conditions.
A team of researchers at Germany’s Humboldt University have also found that beta-carotene displays more potent free radical fighting power when vitamins C and E are present. This synergistic protection effectively guards against oxidation by repairing the beta-carotene once its been damaged during the electron transfer.
Researchers are now speculating that, when taken in the right combination, antioxidant supplements may mimic the multiple antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. Of course, nature’s antioxidants can never be replaced by simply popping a few pills. So you should always strive to include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables every day. These foods contain a more diverse selection of antioxidants than you’ll find in any supplement. And that’s one reason why a diet rich in these foods lowers your risk of just about every degenerative disease.
But research also shows that antioxidant supplements can boost your immune system while reducing the risk of heart disease and some cancers. One good way to make sure you’re getting a variety of antioxidants is to look for a supplement that contains at least vitamins E and C, selenium and a variety of carotenoids, including lutein, lycopene and beta-carotene.
Herbs are another rich source of antioxidants. For instance, researchers from the University of California-Berkeley have found that while pycnogenol has strong free radical fighting properties of its own, it also helps regenerate vitamin C and protects the body’s vitamin E and glutathione supply from oxidative stress.
And one-third of green tea consists of potent antioxidant polyphenols, including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Just how much power does green tea possess? Research continues to show that the antioxidants in green tea are among the most potent free radical fighters in nature. In a presentation last year to the American Association for Cancer Research, a group of Shanghai researchers reported that green tea’s antioxidants are “as powerful as the well-established antioxidants vitamins C and E at protecting proteins and DNA from oxidative damage.” No wonder we keep seeing studies on green tea’s ability to fight cancer, protect the heart and boost the immune system.
Of course, you still need to eat your fruits and veggies. These foods offer a wide range of other beneficial phytochemicals, plus vitamins, minerals and fiber that are essential to good health. But adding herbs into the equation just might give you the antioxidant edge you need.
If you’re one of the two million people who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, I certainly don’t have to tell you how debilitating it can be. But hope may be as close as your spice rack.
Researchers have known for years that curcumin, the key component in the curry spice tumeric, was a powerful inflammation fighter and an effective weapon against colon cancer. But a new study in the American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology shows that curcumin not only reduced inflammation, it improved intestinal cell function and reduced weight loss. As an added bonus, earlier researcher has found that curcumin also possesses strong antioxidant properties. But what was really astounding about the current study was the amount that proved effective – a concentration as low as 0.25 percent.
If you read the e-bulletin “Out of Sight,” you might remember that I told you how turmeric has been used for thousands of years in Asia and India, both as a culinary spice and for its medicinal properties. And while tumeric is available in supplement form, the spice works just as well – and is considerably cheaper! Try to consume one-quarter teaspoon a day, either as a tea (just add boiling water) or by adding it to whatever you’re having for lunch or dinner.
References:
American Association for Cancer Research, 93rd Annual Meeting: Abstract #2354, www.aacr.org
Bohm F, et al. “Beta-carotene with vitamins E and C offers synergistic cell protection against NOx.” FEBS Letters. 1998;436:387-389.
“Curcumin may be an inexpensive, well-tolerated and effective therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.” EurekAlert! 14 August 2003.
Orbe J, et al. “Antioxidant vitamins increase the collagen content and reduce MMP-1 in a porcine model of atherosclerosis: implications for plaque stabilization.” Atherosclerosis. 2003;167:45-53.
Packer L, et al. “Antioxidant activity and biologic properties of a procyanidin-rich extract from pine (Pinus maritima) bark, pycnogenol.” Free Radical Biology & Medicine. 1999;27:704-724.