391 Health Benefits of Spices [17 Oct 2016]

It should come as no surprise to learn that culinary spices and herbs have beneficial properties for our health. Spices are really just herbs that we use for their taste and aroma. And as the legend goes, there are no plants without some medicinal use (the wise old herbalist sends out her apprentice to find a plant with no beneficial use and when she returns without finding any is told that she passed the test).

Modern science has discovered thousands of chemical compounds in plants, many of which have known health benefits. Here are a few with some of their many uses:

• Cinnamon lowers blood sugar by slowing digestion of carbs and by improving insulin resistance; reduces inflammation; lowers cholesterol and triglycerides
• Sage improves brain function and memory, in people with Alzheimer’s and healthy people, by slowing the breakdown of acetylcholine
• Peppermint relieves headaches when applied to the temples; reduces pain in IBS by relaxing the smooth muscles of the colon; reduces nausea when used in aromatherapy
• Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant and strong anti-inflammatory; improves brain function; reduces risk of heart disease and cancer (see 3 previous columns)
• Cayenne Pepper contains capsaicin which reduces appetite and increases fat burning; relieves stomach problems; improves blood circulation; topically for neuralgia
• Ginger has strong anti-inflammatory properties; reduces nausea; helps with pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis
• Fenugreek lowers blood sugar by improving the function of insulin; may increase testosterone levels (and therefore libido)
• Rosemary suppresses allergy symptoms and reduces nasal congestion
• Garlic is well known for its health benefits (see column #40); contains allicin which improves immunity, reduces cholesterol, and lowers blood pressure

The best way to benefit from the health properties of spices is to use them liberally every day in your food. Your food will taste better too! And the freshest spices will have the most potency for both flavor and health benefits (so toss the 20 year old spices you inherited from Grandma and buy fresh, preferably organic, spices).

Source: 10 Delicious Herbs and Spices With Powerful Health Benefits by Joe Leech, Dietitian

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

227 Herbs for Healthy Veins [29 July 2013]

Varicose veins are blue, bulging, swollen veins typically occurring in the legs. Spider veins are smaller, either red or blue, and occur in patches of connected lines like a spider web. More than just a cosmetic problem, varicose veins can be painful and are a sign of impaired circulation. Hemorrhoids is a painful condition caused by varicose veins occurring at the rectum. Several herbs have been found effective in the treatment and prevention of varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

Horse Chestnut is a popular herbal remedy for these conditions. Seed extract from this tree reduces inflammation, improves venous wall tone, increases blood flow, and reduces capillary permeability. Precautions – avoid horse chestnut extract during pregnancy and breast-feeding; monitor blood sugar if diabetic; and avoid if taking lithium or blood-thinning drugs. The herb Butcher’s Broom and extracts of Pine Bark (pycnogenol) and grapeseed are also used for varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

Two bioflavonoids, hesperadin and diosmin, both from the white of citrus rinds, are proving effective for these conditions. These two extracts work together to:
• reduce swelling and inflammation
• strengthen blood vessel walls which reduces bruising
• improve venous tone and elasticity in Chronic Venous Insufficiency
• increase capillary circulation of blood
• speed healing of leg ulcers due to poor circulation (common in diabetes)
• improve lymphatic drainage
• and often take two to three months to achieve full beneficial effects.

Diosmin reduces stickiness of blood platelets so it is important to consult your physician if you are on blood thinning meds as they may need to be reduced. As a precaution, check with your health care practitioner before using while pregnant or breastfeeding.

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

218 Triphala [27 May 2013]

Triphala is an Ayervedic herbal compound whose name means “three fruits” in Sanskrit/Hindi. Ayervedic is a traditional herbal medicine from India. The three medicinal fruits making up Triphala are: amalaki, bibhitaki and haritaki. Together, these three herbs have many uses and benefits:
• Blood cleanser
• Gentle, effective, non-habit forming laxative
• Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral
• Effective antioxidant
• Reduces high blood pressure
• Stimulates production of bile
• Helps with hemorrhoids and gallstones
• Aids blood circulation and supports heart function
• Lowers high cholesterol
• Cleanses and improves function of the liver
• Expectorant - clears mucus from lungs and respiratory tract
• Improves reproductive health in men and women
• Helps regulate menstrual cycle in women
• Improves eyesight
• contains a unique heat and age-stable vitamin C
• animal studies have found it promising in cancer treatment

With all these benefits, it’s easy to see why Triphala is the most popular Ayervedic herbal in India. Thanks in part to Dr Oz, it is also becoming popular in North America. Triphala is most effective when taken as a tea but is also available in tablets or capsules.

Triphala should be avoided during pregnancy and by underweight people as it promotes weight loss. Also avoid if taking blood thinning medication. Possible (temporary) side effects from the cleansing action include intestinal gas, diarrhea, nausea, and headaches.

Sources:
Wikipedia
The Dr. Oz Show
East West School of Planetary Herbology
About.com - Alternative Medicine
MD-Health.com

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

134 Maca [3 Oct 2011]

A radish-like plant from the Andes Mountains of South America is growing in popularity in Europe and North America as a medicinal herb.

The root of the maca plant (Lepidium meyenii) has several medicinal properties that:
• increase energy and endurance
• relieve stress
• strengthen the immune system
• restore hormonal balance in both men and women
• enhance libido and sexual function.

Controlled clinical trials over the past 20 years have confirmed many of the nutritional and healing properties of maca. For example, athletes have been using it to improve performance, and trials have shown that maca increases energy, strength, endurance and blood oxygenation.

Maca’s other benefits appear to be hormonally facilitated. Its unique nutritional profile supports the pituitary and hypothalamus glands which control all the other endocrine glands. This explains why it benefits both men and women, easing menopausal symptoms in women, improving erectile dysfunction in men, and increasing libido in both. Maca’s (indirect) support of the adrenal glands explains how it increases athletic endurance, improves the ability to deal with stress (both physical and mental), and enhances the immune system.

Side effects of insomnia, anxiety and headaches have been reported in some people. Consult a health care practitioner before using maca if you are taking antidepressants, blood thinners, digoxin, or are diabetic. And, as always: This article is intended for educational purposes only; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

132 Umckaloabo - A “New” Cold Cure [19 Sept. 2011]

A species of South African geranium used for centuries in Zulu medicine has become the newest remedy for the common cold. The scientific name is Pelargonium sidoides; the Zulu name for the herb is Umckaloabo (call it “Umcka” for short).

Several recent controlled studies from Europe have shown that Umcka reduced the severity and duration of both acute bronchitis and the common cold. In one study total cold symptom severity was reduced to half that of the placebo group after 5 days. This degree of improvement is superior to that of other common over-the-counter cold treatments including natural remedies like vitamin C, Echinacea and zinc.

Umcka works in three ways: it has antiviral, antibacterial and expectorant properties. It prevents bacteria and viruses from attaching to the mucous membranes. It also stimulates the body’s immune system and prevents bacteria and viruses from multiplying. Finally it loosens mucous making it easier to cough up contaminated phlegm.

Umcka appears to be a very safe herb. No significant adverse effects were noted in any of the studies I reviewed, and few have been reported in Europe despite the increasing popularity of the herb. Like most cold remedies, results improve significantly if the treatment is started within 2 days of cold onset. For more information see the Herbal Africa website. Here is the abstract on one of the studies done at the National Medical University in Kiev.

Umcka has been widely used in Germany since the 1980s (one formula is an approved drug for the treatment of acute bronchitis) and is now available in North America. That’s what I plan to use next time I start to come down with a cold.

This article is intended for educational purposes only; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

040 Garlic - the "Stinking Rose" [30 Nov 2009]

Garlic has long been famous for both its health giving properties and for its odor. It is garlic's sulfur containing compounds that are responsible for both.

Garlic aids digestion by supporting the healthy aerobic bacteria and reducing the bad anaerobic bacteria in the gut by interfering with the bacteria's oxygen metabolism. For this reason, garlic has been used for diarrhea, gastroenteritis, colitis, constipation, and indigestion.

The sulfur compounds in garlic help protect against viruses by preventing their replication. Garlic has been shown to increase the virus-killing activity of white blood cells and is also effective against fungal infections including Candida albicans.

Garlic helps your heart in several ways. A 1993 clinical study showed a significant reduction in LDL (the "bad cholesterol") with garlic supplementation. Other studies showed a reduction in total cholesterol and an increase in HDL ("good cholesterol"). While not as effective as pharmaceuticals, it is much safer and for moderate cases worth asking your doctor for a trial. Garlic also increases the blood's ability to dissolve the chemical fibrin, making blood platelets less sticky and reducing the formation of clots.

Garlic is even showing promise in fighting cancer. Garlic contains two important anti-oxidant minerals, germanium and selenium. Germanium intensifies the activity of natural killer (NK) cells which destroy tumor cells. Selenium is an important antioxidant which can prevent oxidation of LDL.

My wife loves to cook with whole garlic cloves (I hope you haven't noticed!) but the health benefits of garlic are also available in more convenient (and odorless) supplements. There are several to choose from:

·        Wild Garlic (Allium usinum) is said to be much more powerful than regular garlic (A. sativum) without the odor problem.

·        A special aging process, developed in Japan, results in a garlic supplement that is odor free while retaining many of garlic's health promoting properties. This product however contains no allicin, an important but very unstable sulfur compound.

·        A new process has been recently developed to stabilize and concentrate allicin, creating a very powerful clinically tested new garlic supplement.

Try one of these products to benefit your health without the odor.

This article is intended for educational purposes only; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

039 Rhodiola rosea [23 Nov 2009]

Rhodiola is a medicinal herb that is growing in popularity in North America but has centuries of traditional use in Siberia, Scandinavia and Iceland, from the Vikings to KGB agents and modern Russian athletes. There is even an old saying in Siberia that “those who drink Rhodiola tea will live more than 100 years”. While science has not yet proven this claim, modern research is finding very interesting properties for this herb.

First, Rhodiola is an adaptogen, meaning that it helps the body to deal with stress by balancing hormones and neurotransmitters. It is particularly supportive of the adrenal glands and has been shown to increase production of the relaxing neurotransmitter serotonin and the excitatory neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. At the same time, it reduces the levels of cortisol which increases muscle breakdown.

Secondly, Rhodiola can increase energy and endurance. It has been clinically shown to increase ATP and creatine phosphate, both energy sources for muscles. Animal studies showed more efficient use of glycogen stores under prolonged exercise.

Thirdly, Rhodiola helps with mental performance under conditions of fatigue and stress. A double blind study in Armenia of 56 physicians on two weeks of night duty found those using Rhodiola experienced 50% less mental fatigue. Another Russian double blind study of 40 medical students during exam time found the Rhodiola users reported less mental fatigue and actually scored 8% higher in their exams.

In addition to promoting longevity, reducing stress, increasing energy, reducing fatigue, and increasing mental alertness, Rhodiola is also used to improve sleep, improve mild depression, enhance sexual function in both men and women, and prevent high altitude sickness.

Another unique property of Rhodiola among adaptogens is the rapidity of its effect. Users may notice benefits as early as the first dose, compared with several weeks for other adaptogens such as Siberian ginseng.

Rhodiola has an exceptionally low toxicity. No serious adverse effects have been reported in clinical trials. Safety of Rhodiola for pregnant or breastfeeding women has not been established. People with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are advised to use it with caution because of its stimulating effects. It may cause drowsiness in people taking SSRIs and SNRIs; and should not be used by people taking MAOIs.

Of the 200 species of Rhodiola, only R. rosea is known to have the active phytochemicals rosavin, rosin and rosarin. Best results have been found with 100-300 mg of a 3% standardized extract taken prior to periods of activity.

This article is intended for educational purposes only; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.