Showing posts with label Herbal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Herbal. Show all posts
Ancient China Society considers the dragon fruit is more than just fruit with a variety of benefits. Dragon fruit is often a companion of two statues on the altar of worship. Every Lunar New Year celebrations this fruit is also served, and became one of the dishes that must exist, because it is believed to bring blessings.
Dragon fruit in Vietnam is often called Thanh Long or clever dragon while the Chinese call the Long Feuy Kwa. In Mexico, known as dragon fruit Pitahaya.
Dragon fruit has a light skin color, skin is not smooth, but plated. scales that looked like a snake or dragon. The contents of the fruit are white, red or purple with black seeds that spread. Texture has flavors like kiwi fruit.
Agricultural Research Agency of the Republic of Indonesia said that the dragon berry fruit give many health benefits, can lower cholesterol levels, glucose balance, kidney function and strengthens bones, and improve brain function. The phytochemical substances in these fruits can reduce the risk of cancer.
Dragon fruit is also very good for the cardiovascular system. The fruit is very effective for reducing emotional stress and neutralize toxins in the blood (detoxification). Dragon berry fruit contains rich nutritional value, such as 80 percent water, vitamin C, fiber, calcium, iron, and phosphorus are useful for lowering blood pressure. Dragon fruit is also very useful in the digestive system and lowers cholesterol levels. If you want to avoid the various diseases, there is no harm if you eat a dragon fruit from now on
how to eat dragon fruit?. dragon fruit has a distinctive shape, has a rather thick skin. and has seeds that spread throughout the fruit flesh. Dragon berry fruit is usually consumed as fresh fruit to relieve thirst, because the dragon fruits contain high water kada about 90% by weight of fruit. dragon fruit has a sweet taste because it contains glucose reaches 13-18 briks. Dragon fruit can also be served in the form of juice, sweets, jam or various forms of processed according to what you want.
According to AL Leong from Johncola Pitaya Food R & D organizations 'researching' the red dragon fruit, dragon berry fruit rich nutritional value in various vitamins and mineral substances which greatly helps improve immunity and beneficial for metabolism.
"Research shows the red dragon fruit is excellent for the cardiovascular system, also maintain emotional stability and detoxification." Research also shows this fruit can prevent colon cancer, lowers high cholesterol, "he said.
Overall, each of the red dragon fruit contain adequate protein that can increase metabolism and maintain cardiovascular function; fiber (to prevent colon cancer, diabetes and diet); carotene (eye health, strengthen the brain and increase immunity), calcium (bone strengthening).
Dragon fruit also contains FE to increase level of hemoglobin; vitamin B1 (prevent fever), vitamin B2 (add to taste), vitamin B3 (lowers cholesterol) and vitamin C (to maintain healthy skin and prevent acne).
Here is a complete nutritional of the dragon fruit:
Sugar content: 13-18 briks
Water: 90%
Carbohydrates: 11.5 g
Acid: 0.139 g
Protein: 0.53 g
Fiber: 0.71 g
Calcium: 134.5 mg
Phosphorus: 8.7 mg
Magnesium: 60.4 mg
Vitamin C: 9.4 mg
Related:
Herbal and natural remedies have been recognized medical community for treating hypertensive disorders. This therapy uses a medicinal plant that has been medically proven to have a function as an antihypertensive drug.
With proper usage and correct, the content of herbal medicines in plants could help the process of controlling blood pressure. The content of herbal medicine into the factors that work synergistically balanced and in harmony with the chemical drugs. But experts have confidence in naturopathy, herbal medicine benefits not inferior to chemical drugs. In fact there are advantages, because herbal therapies have minimal side effects.
Herbal remedies for blood pressure:
Garlic
Onions including beneficial herb that is known to overcome the entire cardiovascular system including blood pressure. Blood pressure (diastolic number) decreased only by eating three cloves of garlic every day for three months. In the Garlic also contains compounds that can flex adenosine blood vessels so blood flows more smoothly.
Noni (Morinda citrifolia)
The content of scopoletin in Noni fruit can lower high blood pressure. Preklinisnya trials have been conducted by the Department of Pharmacy, University of Indonesia on noni pill form. Noni is usually consumed in juice form, but is now also available in pill form. for detail read more benefits of noni morinda and noni juice, juice benefits
Celery
These plants contain active compounds apigenin. This compound serves as a calcium antagonist and a diuretic mannitol identical. In addition in the form of supplements, celery is also good consumed in the form of juice.
Onion / onion
The essential oil on the onion is considered most effective for lowering blood pressure.
Tomatoes
Amino acid content of Gamma-amino butyric (GABA) on tomato beneficial lowering blood pressure.
Carambola
Star fruit are rich in fiber that will bind to fat and impact on not gaining weight, cause of hypertension. Carambola is rich in water and contain potassium, which are diuretics, so that excess salt can be removed from the body through urine.
Cucumber
Airlangga University conducted a study of cucumber, cucumber proven to reduce blood pressure. Water content reaches 90% in cucumber, as well as high potassium will remove salt from the body.
Wine
Wine should be eaten with the seeds. Given in grape seed polyphenols are compounds that can dilate the blood vessels so that blood pressure improves. Grapes also contain vitamin E, flavonoids, linoleic acid and suspected prosianidin can help balance blood pressure.
This is some kind of herbs that are useful to serve as a natural and herbal remedies for lower blood pressure. This only partially, and we can get it easily. there are many more types of medicinal plants are effective for lowering blood pressure. It was amazing. Ok, Let's go back to natural healthy lifestyle!!
Related:
Noni juice has many benefits to maintaining the health of our bodies. We have explained benefits of noni to the previous post. If you have not read it, you can read more about benefits of noni. Noni is one form of herbal and natural remedies.There have been many studies that prove that noni has broad benefits for health. And Now, many people are interested in "cultivating" Noni and doing mass production to create products noni, which is easy to be consumed. because we was known that the Noni fruit known as fruit that have the bad smell and bad taste. many people do not like the smell of noni, how people will eat it? while, noni contain many benefits that we will surely need it as one solution to solve our health problems or to maintain our health.
One good way for us to consume noni, that we may eat it in the form of noni juice. And we're going to get optimal benefits. if you do not have a problem with the smell of Noni and also taste, you better looking for noni fruit is still fresh, and consume immediately. You can also create your own noni juice at home. You can also mix it with honey or other fruit to reduce the smell. You can adjust to your taste. drink regularly! then get a lot of benefits for your health.
But if you have difficulty to get the noni fruit, one way in order to can enjoy the benefits of noni juice is to buy "noni juice products" that are packaged in form drink and capsules . You will not difficulty to get it because many manufacturers that provide and market a noni juice or in form supplement. So, what are you waiting for? Let the consumption of noni juice regularly!. and get healthy benefits to increase your life quality.
And I am promoting to you, Healthy is infestation. so give your time and money to get natural healthy! go back to nature!and makes your world like in heaven!. Good Luck.
For people in Indonesia, a noni plant or Morinda citrifolia usually seen in the villages. even growing wild. not many people know about the benefits of noni ( morinda ). Besides that, many people do not like the noni fruit to taste and smell unpleasant. If we know the benefits of the noni fruit ( morinda ), we would be surprised. In fact, the noni fruit does not prefferred this, noni as herbal and natural remedies can provide many benefits to our health. Noni ( morinda ) is one of the many types of herbal are amazing. Many people consume noni juice to get health benefits. In the market also already in form suplement or juice packaging.As reported in the pages deherbal.com quoting from the book Healthy With Noni, author Mary Goreti Waha, STP. Medical research on Noni ( morinda )or Noni started at least 1950, when the scientific journal Science reported that Pacific Noni fruit showed anti-bacterial properties against M. pyrogenes, P. Aeruginosa, and even E. coli are deadly.
Studies and research on Noni ( morinda ) continues to be done by various research institutes and universities. Since 1972, Dr. Ralph Heinicke, renowned biochemist from the United States began to conduct research on the alkaloid xeronine of the enzyme bromelain (an enzyme in pineapple). He later discovered that the Noni fruit also contains xeronine and precursor (proxeronine) in large numbers. Xeronine is one of the important substances that regulate the function of proteins and specific cells of the human body.
In 1993, the journal Cancer Letter reported that some researchers from Keio University and The Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Japan who do research on 500 species of plant claimed that they found anti-cancer substances (damnacanthal) contained in Noni ( morinda ).
Leading research institutions in France, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan, Austria, Canada, and even the National Academy of Sciences, a center of scientific study of national prestigious in the United States has conducted various research on Noni ( morinda ). Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Hawaii has also done much research on Noni ( morinda ), including research on the activities of anti-tumor and anti-cancer Morinda citrifolia published in a scientific journal (Proc, West Pharmacology Society Journal, vol, 37, 1994).
A survey conducted by Dr. Neil Solomon of the 8000 users Noni juice (Tahitian Noni) involving 40 doctors and other medical practitioners indicates that Noni juice to help restore a number of diseases, such as: cancer, heart disease, digestive disorders, diabetes, stroke, and a number of other diseases that shown in the following table.
No. | Condition | ∑ Patient | % Helped |
1. | Cancer | 874 | 67 |
2. | Heart disease | 1058 | 80 |
3. | Stroke | 983 | 58 |
4. | Diabetes, tipe 1&2 | 2434 | 83 |
5. | Malaise | 7 931 | 91 |
6. | Decreased Libido | 1545 | 88 |
7. | Penguatan otot | 709 | 71 |
8. | Obesity | 2638 | 72 |
9. | Hipertension | 721 | 87 |
10. | Smoker | 447 | 58 |
11. | Artritis | 673 | 80 |
12. | Pain | 3785 | 87 |
13. | Depresion | 781 | 77 |
14. | Alergy | 851 | 85 |
15. | Gastrointestinal problem | 1509 | 89 |
16. | Respiratory problem | 2727 | 78 |
17. | Insomnia | 1148 | 72 |
18. | Concentration disorder | 301 | 89 |
19. | Fitness | 3716 | 79 |
20. | Mental Stability | 2538 | 73 |
21. | Renal disease | 2127 | 66 |
22. | Stress | 3273 | 71 |
Research conducted by Dr. Neil Solomon above focuses on TAHITIAN NONI ™ Juice contains 89% Noni juice, because it is the most widely consumed at the time. Because it must be if the study used 100% Noni Juice is working power of his Noni Juice will be much stronger, so the likely amount of "percentage who helped" by Noni will be much higher.
Through intensive research conducted by scientists at the laboratory, demonstrated the superiority of the outer Noni biasa.Tanaman contains various vitamins, minerals and enzymes, alkaloids, co-factors and plant sterols that occur naturally. In addition, leaves and roots intact Noni ( morinda ) contains amino acids which are the main protein source.
Noni fruit water content of about 52 percent. Several studies have been conducted to determine what elements are contained in Noni. Studies and research has shown the presence of substances of interest in Noni juice, although not all identified. New in 1993, a researcher (Helen Sim), the master's thesis entitled The Isolation and Characterization of a Fluorescent Compound From The Fruit of Morinda citrifolia: Studies on 5-HT Receptor System reported the existence of substances in the Noni fruit that is not known by him or his friends. Most of these substances related to health and has been demonstrated only in the Noni fruit.
The following are other benefits of Noni fruit that have been scientifically proven.
Increase Endurance Body
Clinical investigations conducted by Dr. Schechter (Institute of Natural Medicine in California) yield important data about the ability of Noni juice, which stimulate the production of such T cells in the immune system (T cells play an important role in fighting the disease); strengthen the immune system, especially macrofaset and lymphocytes from the cell white blood; showed anti-bacterial effect; have the effect of anti-pain / pain (analgesic); inhibits cell growth of pre-cancer / tumor that is the ability to normalize the function of abnormal cells.
Mona Harrison, MD of Boston University School of Medicine and medical director of the DC General Hospital, USA reported that Noni increases the function of the thyroid gland and thymus gland, which is believed to act against infections and problems associated with the immune system.
Normalize Blood Pressure
According to Neil Solomon, MD.PhD, health problems of American researchers reported that the Noni fruit contains a type of phytonutrients, namely scopoletin which serves to widen the blood vessels that are narrowed. This causes the heart does not have to work too hard to pump blood, so blood pressure became normal.
The results of tests on animals showed that scopoletin lowers high blood pressure and normal to low (hypotension, abnormal). However, scopoletin contained in Noni fruit can interact synergistically with nutraceuticals (functional foods for treatment) to regulate high blood pressure became normal, but not lower blood pressure is already normal. Never found a case where the blood pressure down to normal resulting in low blood pressure (hypotension).
Experts from Stanford University, University of Hawaii, University of California (UCLA), Union College of London, University of Meets in France who has studied the Noni plant is agreed that the role lower blood pressure in many cases.
Simple clinical trial conducted by Scott Gerson, MD (from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York) shows that many users Mengkudu reported that their blood pressure becomes high when stopped drinking Noni juice and return to normal when taking Noni juice on a regular basis .
Against Tumor and Cancer
An interesting paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Association fin. Cancer Research 83rd in San Diego, California, 1992 is "Anti-tumor activity of Morinda citrifolia on Lewis Lung Carcinoma in the mouse injected." In this study, rats were given an injection of Lewis Lung Carcinoma (a type of cancer). All mice that did not get the care with Noni ( morinda ) die within 9-12 days due to cancer. While rats treated with Noni ( morinda ) able to survive 105 to 123 percent longer (40 percent of experimental mice live up to 50 days or more). The study was repeated several times and each time Mengkudu proven to significantly extend the life-aged rats exposed to cancer compared with rats not treated with Noni ( morinda ). In summary, the results of this study revealed that Noni can inhibit tumor growth.
A year later the journal Cancer Letters (vol.3, 1993) reported the discovery of anti-cancer agent / damnacanthal in the Noni ( morinda ) extract capable of inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.
There are some cases of cancer patients who consumed Noni fruit juice and be cured, among other cases, patients of Dr.. Harrison (DC General Hospital), who suffered from liver cancer and stomach swelling caused by excess fluid. During the 7 days taking Noni juice, swelling in the stomach is reduced significantly. Haru stomach fluids testing showed that cancer cells have disappeared.
According to Drs. Judah Folkman of Harvard University, Noni works synergistically with other micronutrients in menghamhat blood flow to the tumor cells. The mechanism is similar to squalen oil (from shark liver) that control brain tumor growth and prolong experimental mice by destroying the means of circulation of the blood supply to the tumor cells.
Eliminate Pain
The ability of Noni fruit has been known as an analgesic agent in the history of traditional medicine, so this plant is called a "painkiller tree" or "headache tree". Scientific research has proven beneficial effects of Noni to cope with the pain. In 1990, researchers found a significant relationship between dose of Noni juice extract with analgesic activity of rats (generally, the more widely used analgesic effect will be stronger).
Many theories that explain how the mechanisms work Noni ( morinda ) relieve pain. One is the theory of Dr.. Ralph Heinicke (renowned biochemist from the U.S.) who said that xeronine who play a role in relieving the pain. This is associated with the ability to normalize protein xeronine in abnormal cells, including cells of brain tissue, from which he came the pain.
Some cases of chronic pain such as headaches constantly, muscle soreness and joint pain nerves healed after taking Noni juice.
Anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic
The compound scopoletin (hydroxy-methoxy-coumarin) is very effective as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic. Medical literature reported the successful treatment of arthritis, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and allergies by using scopoletin. Bryant Bloss, MD, an orthopedist from Indiana, the U.S. reported the success of Noni juice cure back pain that caused also 15 people and patients. Meanwhile, the 8 patients reported knee pain (osteoarthritis) almost does not feel taking Noni juice. Three of his patients. Bloss who suffer from asthma progress with the reduction in cough. Some patients with arthritis also begins to experience the real progress after drinking Noni juice. She offers Noni juice as food additives / supplements and not as a drug to the patient.
Anti-bacterial
The results are published darn Pacific journal Science (vol 1.4, 1950) reported that Noni ( morinda ) contains anti-bacterial ingredients that can be used to treat heart disease and digestive problems. Antraquinon that many compounds found in Noni roots turned out to be against Staphylococcus bacteria that cause infections of the heart and the Shigella bacteria that cause dysentery.
Noni ( morinda ) is anti-bacterial against: Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Proteus morganii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella montevdleo, schotmuelleri Salmonella, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexnerii, Shigella paraciysenteriae BH und III-Z, Staphylococcus aureus.
Dr. Robert Young, microbiologist from Utah, USA find yeast molds and fungi with a toxin it produces can lead to diseased cells because the degree of acidity (pH) increases. By taking Noni juice, the situation can be overcome because Noni ( morinda ) helps regulate the body's pH balance, thus increasing the body's ability to absorb vitamins, minerals and proteins.
Set the Cycle of Moods (moods)
One of the capabilities possessed by scopoletin is able to bind serotonin. According to Drs. Harrison (DC.General Hospital, USA) scopoletin peneal glands may increase the activity present in the brain, which is where serotonin is produced and then used to produce the hormone melatonin. Serotonin is an important substance in the granules of blood (platelets) lining the human gastrointestinal tract and brain.
In the brain, serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter, the signal conductor of advice and precursor of the hormone melatonin. Serotonin and melatonin helps regulate some of the body such as sleep, body temperature regulation, mood (mood), puberty and egg production cycle, hunger and sexual behavior. Lack of serotonin in the body can lead to migraine, dizziness, depression, and even Alzheimer's disease.
Set the Cycle Energy Body
Dr. Harrison also reported that the body's energy frequency changes are also caused by the positive activities of Noni juice. Effects, among others; can stabilize blood sugar, reduces menstrual pain time, reducing the desire to urinate at night for men who experience swelling of the prostate.
According to Drs. Heinicke (biochemist from the U.S.), xeronine also play a role in the process of the body's energy cycle. He explained the mechanism as follows, xeronine will be absorbed in the space adjacent to the absorption of endorphin and act as a precursor hormone (co-hormone) to activate the receptor protein that gives a good feeling / comfort. As a result, people will feel comfortable and have a lot of energy after taking Noni juice.
Key Benefits
Research on Noni continues to grow, both conducted by the physician and botanist and biochemist. The study focused on the chemical contained komponen-komponen/susunan Noni and therapeutic effects against various diseases.
These studies show that Noni juice can stimulate the immune system, regulating cell function and regeneration of cells damaged tissue. The facts show that Noni can set the cells at the primary level and the tipping may explain why Noni can be used for a variety of health conditions.
Doctors in the United States already provides many reports of successful use of Noni juice to his patients. Dr. Richard Dicks (from New Jersey, USA) said, "we begin to realize that we must go back to the basics of our body. What is meant by metabolism in the body is burning nutrients. Noni juice protects the body by providing nutrients needed by the body. "
Additional efficacy
Noni has a property, other properties that have not been proven medically, but the empirical has a lot of people who experienced health improvements and increased after eating fruit extract. Some health problems can be overcome by using Noni:
1. Digestive System: Flatulence, injury to the small intestine, stomach ulcers, vomiting and food poisoning.
2. Respiratory system: cough, bronchitis, sore throat, tuberculosis, cholera, fever in infants, sinusitis, asthma.
3. Cardiovascular System: high cholesterol, heart muscle thickening, increased transport of oxygen within the cell.
4. Skin diseases: burns, wounds, scabies, boils, cellulite, skin worms, dandruff, ringworm, and inflammation of the skin, ulcers on the skin, and skin problems on the other.
5. Mouth and throat: sore throat, bleeding gums, cough, mouth sores, toothache.
6. Menstrual disorders: pre-menstrual syndrome, irregular menstrual cycles, pain during menstruation.
7. Ageless: Noni juice can be used as a tonic to overcome the wrinkles caused by aging process.
8. Diseases in the body: Diabetes, chronic hepatitis, pelvic pain, headaches, impaired renal function, bladder stones, disturbances in thyroid hormone.
9. Immune deficiency: Disease Epstein-Barr virus, chronic candidiasis, a disease caused by HIV infection, lack of energy (AES = Altered energy syndrome).
Why is one type of plant can cure so many diseases?
Scientific research shows that the constituents in fruit Mengkudui have the efficacy to stimulate the formation of immune response, cleanses the blood, regulate cell function, regeneration of damaged cells and inhibit tumor growth. Phytochemicals (chemicals found naturally in plants) has efficacy for the prevention of disease and is rich in antioxidant content. Noni ( morinda ) has a very broad spectrum of phytochemicals, some of which are only found in Noni. The phytochemical phytochemical-synergy with each other to produce amazing healing properties.
Dr. Joseph Betz, chemical researchers from the FDA (Food and Drug Association) division of Natural Products Center For Good Safety and Applied Nutrition at the U.S. said that some experiments have shown that Noni juice can soothe muscle movement and have anti-allergic effects.
In 1992, Dr. Isabella Abbott, professor of botany at the University of Hawaii said that Noni more and more people use to cope with diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure and many other diseases.
What is fatigue ?. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is one of the most widespread, and yet misunderstood, chronic health disorders of our modern culture. Although it has been suggested that the origins of CFS may date back to the early Victorian period, CFS was not formally recognized in the U.S. until the late 1980’s. Often mistakenly accused of suffering from a less-than-serious "psycho-somatic" illness, individuals with CFS have long been frustrated with the conventional medical approach and attitude toward their treatment.
What we more formally understand today to be CFS is generally defined as a period of debilitating fatigue, lasting six months or more, accompanied by a consortium of symptoms with their roots in both the physical and the psychic realms. Whilst muscle weakness, depression, head-aches, joint pain, anxiety, insomnia or hypersomnia, fever, and signs of lymphatic congestion are often amongst the key secondary indicators of CFS, many other symptoms or sustaining imbalances may also be present. It is this collection of diverse and seemingly unrelated symptoms that can obscure any clear sense of what the practitioner’s most influential course of therapeutic action should be. Successful treatment tends to be individualized as a result.
Clearly, some known disorders are associated with CFS. Yet, once again, a clear causative relationship with any particular condition remains elusive and frustrating for the clinician and patient alike. Viral factors, metabolic and endocrine disorders, immune deficiency, circulatory insufficiency, and GI microflora imbalances are helpful to consider with any case of CFS.
Herbal medicine certainly has a lot to offer in the treatment of CFS. As a non-specific disorder, sufferers of CFS can benefit from the use of herbal tonics. In fact, this will often be the herbalist’s chief corrective path where clear solutions are otherwise nowhere to be seen.
One interesting practice by Eclectic physicians during the early 1900’s was to give patients with chronic fatigue a compound consisting of 2 parts Hawthorn Extract (Crataegus spp.) to 1 part Cactus Extract (Selenicereus grandiflorus) for about 30 days. This was done primarily to rule out circulatory insufficiency and cardiovascular-related fatigue.
This practice of giving circulatory tonics is certainly a simpler and far less invasive approach to fatigue than attempting to modify complex endocrine function or any of the other factors mentioned above, for that matter. It is also interesting that, according to at least one report, 100% of CFS patients exhibit abnormal ECG readings. This is particularly relevant as it has been suggested that Cactus influences cardiovascular function specifically via its tonifying effect upon the autonomic nervous system, the branch of the peripheral nervous system that modulates a number of key cardiac processes.
It’s also worth remembering that stress is a potential contributor to a number of the primary symptoms of CFS. Sensitivity to viral infection, disruption of feedback pathways along the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, disturbed immunity, depression, and anxiety may all have stress as a dominant underlying factor. As such, nervous system tonics may well prove to be beneficial for a good number of people with CFS. Unfortunately, our culture tends to turn easily to strong stimulants to counter fatigue, forgetting the ferryman gets paid when the stimulant wears off. With fatigue, it helps to remove the strong stimulants, eat a healthy diet, get moderate, low-impact exercise, and take nourishing nervous system tonics (see table below).
Adaptogens, immune system tonics, and circulatory tonics should also be used where appropriate. Antiviral herbs like Thuja, Lomatium, and St. John’s Wort might be valuable if Epstein-Bar Virus (EBV) or Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) are an issue at all.
Finally, antioxidants and essential fatty acids (EFAs) can also be helpful, particularly to reduce the inflammation that can be associated with CFS.
Footnote:http://www.herbaled.org/Education/Articles/cfs.html
What we more formally understand today to be CFS is generally defined as a period of debilitating fatigue, lasting six months or more, accompanied by a consortium of symptoms with their roots in both the physical and the psychic realms. Whilst muscle weakness, depression, head-aches, joint pain, anxiety, insomnia or hypersomnia, fever, and signs of lymphatic congestion are often amongst the key secondary indicators of CFS, many other symptoms or sustaining imbalances may also be present. It is this collection of diverse and seemingly unrelated symptoms that can obscure any clear sense of what the practitioner’s most influential course of therapeutic action should be. Successful treatment tends to be individualized as a result.
Clearly, some known disorders are associated with CFS. Yet, once again, a clear causative relationship with any particular condition remains elusive and frustrating for the clinician and patient alike. Viral factors, metabolic and endocrine disorders, immune deficiency, circulatory insufficiency, and GI microflora imbalances are helpful to consider with any case of CFS.
Herbal medicine certainly has a lot to offer in the treatment of CFS. As a non-specific disorder, sufferers of CFS can benefit from the use of herbal tonics. In fact, this will often be the herbalist’s chief corrective path where clear solutions are otherwise nowhere to be seen.
One interesting practice by Eclectic physicians during the early 1900’s was to give patients with chronic fatigue a compound consisting of 2 parts Hawthorn Extract (Crataegus spp.) to 1 part Cactus Extract (Selenicereus grandiflorus) for about 30 days. This was done primarily to rule out circulatory insufficiency and cardiovascular-related fatigue.
This practice of giving circulatory tonics is certainly a simpler and far less invasive approach to fatigue than attempting to modify complex endocrine function or any of the other factors mentioned above, for that matter. It is also interesting that, according to at least one report, 100% of CFS patients exhibit abnormal ECG readings. This is particularly relevant as it has been suggested that Cactus influences cardiovascular function specifically via its tonifying effect upon the autonomic nervous system, the branch of the peripheral nervous system that modulates a number of key cardiac processes.
It’s also worth remembering that stress is a potential contributor to a number of the primary symptoms of CFS. Sensitivity to viral infection, disruption of feedback pathways along the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, disturbed immunity, depression, and anxiety may all have stress as a dominant underlying factor. As such, nervous system tonics may well prove to be beneficial for a good number of people with CFS. Unfortunately, our culture tends to turn easily to strong stimulants to counter fatigue, forgetting the ferryman gets paid when the stimulant wears off. With fatigue, it helps to remove the strong stimulants, eat a healthy diet, get moderate, low-impact exercise, and take nourishing nervous system tonics (see table below).
Adaptogens, immune system tonics, and circulatory tonics should also be used where appropriate. Antiviral herbs like Thuja, Lomatium, and St. John’s Wort might be valuable if Epstein-Bar Virus (EBV) or Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) are an issue at all.
Finally, antioxidants and essential fatty acids (EFAs) can also be helpful, particularly to reduce the inflammation that can be associated with CFS.
Footnote:http://www.herbaled.org/Education/Articles/cfs.html
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| herbal remedies |
(1)There are two main branches to the study of herbal pharmacology – pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Simply put, pharmacodynamics refers to ‘what a drug does to the body’ and pharmacokinetics is ‘what the body does to a drug’. Unfortunately, there is still very little information of either type available for most herbal medicines or much of what does exist today is severely limited in its practical application. There are, of course, many notable exceptions to this, but for the most part our detailed understanding of herbal pharmacology is still frustratingly limited.
The game-shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune come to mind when I think of how the scientific community is approaching herbal research (for the record, this analogy says more about me than who I think my audience is – everyone knows herbalists don’t watch Jeopardy – after all, when was the last time you saw ‘stimulating cathartics’ as a question category? ;-). Each herb is a Wheel of Fortune phrase we need to solve to understand the herb’s safe and effective use. The problem is, we don’t have nearly enough letters yet to solve much of anything, conclusively. Every-one knows the letters you have early in the game are most useful when seen in relationship with the whole phrase. And only when we reach a critical mass of letters and see them in relation-ship to everything around them, do we solve the puzzle.
Seeing how public money is currently being spent by our government agencies to explore plant medicines, using modern bio-medical science, is like watching an Herbal game-show being played by someone who doesn’t quite get the strategy of the game. Instead of seeing the small pieces for what they are and suspending judgment – knowing the puzzle is not yet ready to be solved – too often knee-jerk declarations are irresponsibly made as to a herb’s safe and effective use.
We are all entrusted in the keeping of Nature’s wisdom. And whilst it can effectively be argued that we don’t need reductionist science to meet this obligation - that all we need is to use the plants and record and share our experience – today we need a greater number amongst us to be fluent in the language of pharmacology to help solve the puzzle that is being played out in Nature’s name. The game continues, with or without us.
Certainly, we also have more than a few things to learn from science. I regularly hear herbal-sits make claims for herbs that are not supported by the science they quote. Our community uses irrelevant in vitro research to lay claim to a plant’s efficacy at least as often as the medical community uses it to vilify herbs and paint them as widespread killers. So yes, we have a lot to learn. Understanding the pharmacokinetics of sennosides from Sienna can help a practitioner realize when gut flora might be a limiting factor in the therapeutic effect of the herb. Likewise, understanding Licorice’s pharmacodynamics can inform us about the potential for pseudo-adopter-monism and hypertension risk – or even hint at when it might most effectively be used as an antidepressant. Given the toxicity of many of the pharmaceutical drugs in use today, we are also collaboratively responsible for understanding how our herbs interact with these drugs, in clinically-relevant ways. Herbal pharmacology can help practitioners be more effective in their practice.
At Herb Pham, we continue to use our scientific research to explore and to understand and fine-tune how to best extract Nature’s plant medicines. We learn and honor new things every day. New letters are being uncovered and through modern analytical science, we continue to see the parts in relation to the whole tapestry of what these amazing plants have to teach us. Whether you choose clinical practice and pure experience as your path of discovery or you delve into the puzzle-solving of herbal pharmacology – one thing’s for sure – a great deal of our work remains ahead of us.
Footnote: (1) http://www.herbaled.org/Education/Articles/pharmacology.html
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For people in Indonesia, a noni plant or Morinda citrifolia usually seen in the villages. even growing wild. not many people know about the... -
luwak coffee Luwak Coffee . Have you ever heard of Luwak(civet)coffee? for a coffee drinkers, would never know it. Civet coffee is c... -
Exercise and mental health . we certainly do not doubt how exercise can provide many benefits to our health. exercise not only affects the ...
