461 Hemp Extract [5 March 2018]

When I wrote about hemp oil last May [#418 Hemp Oil] I was not aware of any hemp product with an appreciable amount of cannabinoids available without a prescription. I have now found one.

Cannabinoids are members of the terpene phytochemical family. Cannabidiol (CBD), mentioned in the May 2017 article, is only one of this family. Beta-caryophyllene is another one that is very beneficial for human health. These cannabinoids activate special CB2 receptor sites found in our brain, heart, endocrine glands, and many other organs. This benefits our health in many ways:

• Modulates inflammation
• Boosts immune function
• Improves circulation
• Supports the nervous system
• Relieves stress and anxiety
• Improves neurological function – repairs nerve damage
• Promotes detoxification

This brand is manufactured in the USA. The extract is made from the stalk of hemp plants grown specifically for this purpose (not as a byproduct of the textile industry). Their raw “supercritical CO2” extraction process is solvent-free and uses low temperatures to obtain the highest variety and quality of compounds from the hemp plant, including some 80 different cannabinoids and significant amounts of beta-caryophyllene.

The company makes several different formulas with their hemp extract. The pure hemp extract, in addition to the benefits listed above, has pain-relieving, calming, and cognitive–enhancing (helps you focus and think more clearly) properties. Another formula combines the hemp extract with a turmeric extract to lower inflammation and to support the nervous system, joints and muscles. A third formula is a sleep aid with added extracts of hops, blue chamomile, cinnamon and oregano, which promotes REM sleep. All three are available as drops or capsules.

I can’t wait to try these myself and will share my experience with you.

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

444 Pain & Inflammation Protocol [30 Oct 2017]

A webinar by Philip Rouchotas ND of Bolton Naturopathic Clinic in Ontario described his treatment protocol for pain and inflammation. He also explained in some detail the rationale and science behind each item. Most of his patients with pain and inflammation have an autoimmune disease where the body produces antibodies which attacks its own tissues. And a common factor in most autoimmune disease is a hyperpermeable intestinal wall, also known as a “leaky gut”.

Here is a summary of his protocol:
• Eliminate dietary proteins that promote leaky gut and the autoimmune response. Gluten and gliadins from grains and casein from dairy are the most common culprits. Human studies show significant improvements with elimination diets for many autoimmune diseases. Because of the inconvenience, Dr. Rouchotas doesn’t recommend everyone eliminate grains and dairy, but anyone with an autoimmune disease is advised to do a trial even with negative allergy tests. He describes it as “the single most effective intervention for autoimmune disease I know”.
• Vitamin D acts as an immunomodulator, reducing the autoimmune process by increasing production of regulatory T cells (Tregs), while at the same time improving the immune system’s ability to fight infections [see #363 March 2016]
• Probiotics help restore a healthy gut microbiome, reducing the production of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which cross the leaky gut inducing an autoimmune reaction
• Fish oil (at least 2,000 mg/day of EPA+DHA) replaces some of the arachidonic acid in the (COX) and (LOX) pathways, reducing production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes. A meta-analysis found that fish oil reduced joint pain, morning stiffness, and need for NSAIDS.
• Curcumin and Boswellia are the only herbals known to block both the COX and LOX pathways, thus providing double anti-inflammatory protection (Tylenol blocks only COX)
• Egg shell membrane (500mg /day) is another natural anti-inflammatory which has shown significant improvement in joint pain and stiffness after 1 or 2 months
• Glucosamine [see #63 March 2011] and chondroitin (1500 and 1200 mg/day) help rebuild cartilage in osteoarthritic joints [see #63 May 2010]
• Enzymes like bromelain and serrapeptase [see #442] taken between meals reduce inflammation

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

402 Curcumin Formulas [9 January 2017]

I have written about curcumin in each of the last three years: #294 Curcumin – Nature’s Painkiller (Nov 2014); #329 Curcumin & Cancer (July 2015) and #384 Curcumin & Alzheimer’s (Aug 2016).

Curcumin is the powerful extract from the spice turmeric with documented benefits of reducing inflammation, providing cellular antioxidant protection, and reducing risk factors for chronic degenerate diseases including heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. A major problem with curcumin is its low bioavailability, meaning poor absorption from the intestines and short retention time in the blood. Scientists have developed four curcumin formulas with enhanced bioavailability: BCM-95, Meriva, Longvida and Theracurmin.

The BCM-95 formula combines curcumin extract with turmeric essential oils and claims to be 7 times more bioavailable than regular turmeric extract. I wrote about BCM-95s anti-inflammatory and pain-killing effect in #294.

Curcumin in the Meriva formula is combined with phosphatidylcholine from lecithin and claims to be 29 times more bioavailable than regular curcumin extract.

Longvida was developed at UCLA using what the developers called Solid Lipid Curcumin Particle Technology. It delivers “free curcumin” into the bloodstream, which is the most effective form. Longvida claims to be a whopping 95 times more bioavailable than regular turmeric extracts. Longvida also has the distinction of being the only patented curcumin extract proven to cross the blood-brain barrier which makes it the preferred choice for people with dementia or depression.

Theracurmin’s particles are super fine and mixed with a vegetable gum which forms a colloid suspension in water. Theracurmin claims to be an amazing 300 times more bioavailable than regular curcumin powder.

Black pepper, Boswellia and olive leaf extracts are often added to curcumin formulas. Black pepper makes the curcumin better absorbed. Boswellia is related to frankincense and has anti-inflammatory properties which works well with curcumin. Olive leaf extract is a natural antibiotic and antifungal which assists your immune system in fighting and preventing illness.

Any one of these curcumin formulas will work well. Which will work best for you will depend on your purpose for taking it.

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

384 Curcumin & Alzheimer’s [29 Aug 2016]

I previously wrote about curcumin for its use in reducing pain and inflammation (#294 Nov. 2014) and as an adjunct in cancer treatment (#329 July 2015). I recently learned of its potential in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Curcumin is an extract of the spice turmeric which gives curry its yellow color. Chronic low-grade inflammation is increasingly recognized as playing a role in age-related diseases including arthritis, heart disease, dementia, some auto-immune diseases, and cancer. Curcumin is one of the strongest natural anti-inflammatories known, so it makes sense that it could be useful in preventing or treating these conditions. But is there any evidence for curcumin and Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s Disease is associated with an accumulation of beta-amyloid protein in the brain forming what’s called amyloid plaque. In column #334 (August 2015) I described how the newly discovered glymphatic system clears this plaque from our brain during sleep. A 2005 mouse study found that curcumin blocked the formation of amyloid plaque in the brain.

India is probably the world’s biggest consumer of curry (and therefore curcumin) and, it turns out, also has the lowest incidence of dementia. A 2006 study of 1,010 Asian adults aged 60-93 found that those who ate curry more often had significantly better scores on a Mini-Mental State Examination. A two-year study published in 2001 compared older adults in India and Pennsylvania and found the incidence rate per 1000 person-years for Alzheimer’s disease was 4.7 in the Indians compared to 17.5 for the Pennsylvania population.

In column #333 (August 2015) I listed 10 things you could do to reduce your risk of developing dementia: reduce sugar; avoid diabetes; eat enough good fats; keep your weight down; exercise; don’t smoke; avoid excessive alcohol; control blood pressure; get enough sleep, and stay mentally and socially active. Then in column #336 (Sept 2015) I added: optimize vitamin D levels. Now it looks like we can add another: take curcumin to control chronic inflammation.

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner. Find this article on my website for links to sources and further reading.

329 Curcumin & Cancer [27 July 2015]

I first wrote about curcumin, an extract from the spice turmeric, last November [#294] where I discussed its anti-inflammatory effects as being helpful with rheumatoid arthritis pain. I hinted that it was being studied for other purposes including cancer – that is the topic that I wish to explore this week.

Dr. William LaValley practices what he calls “evidence-based molecularly-targeted anti-cancer treatment” in his clinics in Nova Scotia and Texas. This is a common practice in oncology but LaValley is unique in using some natural products in the treatments, including high dose 95% curcumin extract. He learned about curcumin and other botanical extracts from China and combines them with conventional pharmaceuticals in his treatments. Interestingly Dr. LaValley also uses a ketogenic diet in his cancer treatments as cancer cells are very glucose dependent.

LaValley was surprised to find that curcumin, because of the large number of pathways that it affects (more than 100), was effective on almost every type of cancer. Even better, curcumin selectively targets cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unaffected. He also found that curcumin works synergistically with some chemotherapy drugs, enhancing their ability to kill cancer cells.

Curcumin affects cancer in 5 ways:
• Inhibits transformation of normal cells to cancer cells
• Inhibits tumor formation
• Inhibits proliferation of tumor cells
• Inhibits angiogenesis (growth of blood vessels to feed the tumor)
• Promotes apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells

Dr. William LaValley is willing to consult with physicians who wish to incorporate curcumin or other natural therapeutic agents in the treatment of cancer patients. Keep in mind that despite the promising histological and animal studies, and LaValley’s extensive clinical experience, there have not yet been (to my knowledge) any controlled trials of curcumin in the treatment of human cancer.

Sources:
Dr. Mercola - 2014/03/02 article on curcumin and Dr LaValley's work
Mercola interview with Dr. LaValley
Dr. LaValley CV

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

294 Curcumin – Nature's Painkiller [17 Nov 2014]

Curcumin is a natural phenol found in turmeric root which gives this Indian spice, used in curry dishes, its bright yellow color. Curcumin is used in herbal medicine primarily to relieve pain and inflammation. In India’s traditional Ayurvedic medicine, curcumin has a long history in the treatment of asthma, allergies, sinusitis, liver disorders, rheumatism and wound healing. Curcumin is now being scientifically explored for several other potential purposes – besides its anti-inflammatory properties, curcumin has demonstrated antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective and antiarthritic benefits.

Like most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), curcumin inhibits the COX2 enzyme responsible for inflammation and pain in the body; but it does so more completely and more safely than NSAIDs. The problem with curcumin though is that it is very poorly absorbed. One method used to enhance absorption is the addition of piperine, an extract of black pepper. Another method, used in Europe, attaches the curcumin extract to a phospholipid and adds turmeric essential oils to create a special extract called BCM-95. BCM-95 is up to 10X better absorbed than regular curcumin, and is significantly better than the combination with piperine.

Curcumin is very safe, even at high doses. One possible caution is that it may suppress iron metabolism so anyone using curcumin long term should monitor his blood iron levels. Interactions with other medications are rare with BCM-95.

The BCM-95 extract is available in Canada in two formulas. A full strength 750 mg capsule of BCM-95 is effective for all types of inflammation and also offers long term pain relief. The other formula has 450mg of BCM-95 plus 100mg of Boswellia serrata extract (better known as Frankincense) – another herb with proven joint-pain relieving properties – and is more effective for immediate pain relief. Customers who have used these formulas tell me they are amazed at how quickly they have experienced relief from pain and swelling.

See www.europharmausa.com for more information.

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.