Manuka honey is an example of a mono-floral honey – a honey made from a single type of flower. Manuka honey has a distinct flavor and a rich dark color, but its medicinal properties are what make this honey so special.
Manuka honey is made from the flowers of the Manuka shrub, Leptospermum scoparium, which grows in New Zealand and Australia. Leptospermum is related to the Australian Tea Tree from which Tea Tree Oil is made.
Some manuka honey, called Active Manuka Honey, has strong antibacterial and antifungal properties (in addition to the effect from hydrogen peroxide which is found in all honey). This property, unique to manuka honey, is called (surprise!) the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). Manuka honey is graded on the basis of its antimicrobial strength using a standard which compares it to a phenol solution. For example a UMF of 10 is equivalent to a 10% phenol solution. Honey rated between 10 and 18 is ideal for therapeutic purposes.
Manuka honey can be eaten to treat esophageal, stomach, and duodenal ulcers and other internal infections. Some stubborn bacterial infections which have become resistant to antibiotics – including Staph and MRSA – have been effectively cleared up with manuka honey. Other conditions for which manuka honey has been successfully used internally include: periodontal disease; sinusitis, bronchitis & laryngitis; canker & cold sores; throat infections; heartburn & hiatal hernia; celiac disease; and colitis, IBS & Crohn’s.
Successful external uses include: animal bites; poison ivy rash; infected surgery scars; diabetic leg ulcers; bed sores; stubborn infectious wounds; acne, rashes & eczema; and burns. When used as a dressing for open wounds, manuka honey has been shown to clear and prevent infection, speed healing, and reduce scarring. It also reduces inflammation and pain.
Manuka honey from New Zealand is available in Canada. It is of course more expensive than regular honey, but think of it as a medicine, not just something to mix with peanut butter on your breakfast toast.
For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.
Ed. Note: this is a repeat of #59 from April 2010.
March 10, 2014
March 3, 2014
257 Vitamin B12 & Your Brain [3 March 2014]
Do you ever suffer from low energy, brain fog, or moodiness, have trouble sleeping or just feel “yucky”, there’s a good chance you have a vitamin B12 deficiency.
A Tufts university study found that B12 deficiency occurred in nearly 25% of people over 26 and about 50% of people over age 50. Symptoms of B12 deficiency include:
• low energy and weakness
• confusion or “brain fog”
• cognitive decline & memory loss
• sleep problems
• hearing and vision loss
• tingling in the fingers and toes
• dizziness
• irritability or depression
• weak immune system
• severe deficiency can lead to dementia.
An important role that B12 plays is to reduce levels of homocysteine which:
• damages arteries increasing risk of heart disease
• weakens bones
• can cause vision and hearing loss.
Factors contributing to B12 deficiency include:
• Over age 45
• Low stomach acid or use of antacids
• Vegetarianism (best food source of B12 is red meat)
• Consumption of alcohol.
The best form of B12 to take is sublingual (dissolves under the tongue) methylcobalamin. Many experts recommend 1,000 mcg daily for maintenance and up to 15,000 to restore optimum levels. B12 is very safe with no drug interactions or adverse effects, even at very high doses. If you want to think more clearly enjoy more energy, and just plain feel better, try supplementing with methylcobalamin.
For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner. See this article on my website for links to sources and further reading.
A Tufts university study found that B12 deficiency occurred in nearly 25% of people over 26 and about 50% of people over age 50. Symptoms of B12 deficiency include:
• low energy and weakness
• confusion or “brain fog”
• cognitive decline & memory loss
• sleep problems
• hearing and vision loss
• tingling in the fingers and toes
• dizziness
• irritability or depression
• weak immune system
• severe deficiency can lead to dementia.
An important role that B12 plays is to reduce levels of homocysteine which:
• damages arteries increasing risk of heart disease
• weakens bones
• can cause vision and hearing loss.
Factors contributing to B12 deficiency include:
• Over age 45
• Low stomach acid or use of antacids
• Vegetarianism (best food source of B12 is red meat)
• Consumption of alcohol.
The best form of B12 to take is sublingual (dissolves under the tongue) methylcobalamin. Many experts recommend 1,000 mcg daily for maintenance and up to 15,000 to restore optimum levels. B12 is very safe with no drug interactions or adverse effects, even at very high doses. If you want to think more clearly enjoy more energy, and just plain feel better, try supplementing with methylcobalamin.
For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner. See this article on my website for links to sources and further reading.
February 24, 2014
256 Sugar & Heart Disease [24 February 2014]
Did you catch the article on sugar in last week’s Sunday Phoenix newspaper? It reported on a recently published study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looking at sugar consumption and deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The researchers followed approximately 11,000 American adults for nearly 15 years, measured their sugar consumption, and recorded their deaths from CVD. The results were statistically adjusted for known risk factors of CVD like age, sex, ethnicity, smoking, etc. Compared to those who consumed less than 10% of their calories as added sugar, the increased risk of death from CVD was 30% for those who consumed 10 – 25%, and 175% for those who consumed over 25%. The increased risk of 175% means that you are nearly three times as likely to have a fatal heart attack. This finding was independent of sugar’s contribution to obesity which is itself a risk factor for CVD, so applies to “skinny” as well as overweight people.
What does this mean in terms of our diet? The World Health Organization recommends we get less than 10% of our calories from added sugar. Americans consume on average 15.5%; Canadians are somewhat better at 10.7%. Average of course means that half of us consume more than 10% and half of us less. Which half are you in?
According to the Mayo Clinic calorie calculator for a “somewhat active” man of 200 lbs, I need about 2500 calories a day. Ten % of this would be 250 which translates into 67 grams or 15 teaspoons of sugar. I could get over 15 teaspoons from just one can of pop (6-8), a chocolate bar (5-11) and a chocolate chip muffin (4-5). And these are the obvious sources – sugar is also added to ketchup, cereals, and even some yogurt. Learn to read the labels! Remember, if you are shorter or less active than I am, your 10% would be less. And that 10% should be a maximum – there is no lower limit for sugar consumption. Less (sugar) is definitely more (health).
For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.
The researchers followed approximately 11,000 American adults for nearly 15 years, measured their sugar consumption, and recorded their deaths from CVD. The results were statistically adjusted for known risk factors of CVD like age, sex, ethnicity, smoking, etc. Compared to those who consumed less than 10% of their calories as added sugar, the increased risk of death from CVD was 30% for those who consumed 10 – 25%, and 175% for those who consumed over 25%. The increased risk of 175% means that you are nearly three times as likely to have a fatal heart attack. This finding was independent of sugar’s contribution to obesity which is itself a risk factor for CVD, so applies to “skinny” as well as overweight people.
What does this mean in terms of our diet? The World Health Organization recommends we get less than 10% of our calories from added sugar. Americans consume on average 15.5%; Canadians are somewhat better at 10.7%. Average of course means that half of us consume more than 10% and half of us less. Which half are you in?
According to the Mayo Clinic calorie calculator for a “somewhat active” man of 200 lbs, I need about 2500 calories a day. Ten % of this would be 250 which translates into 67 grams or 15 teaspoons of sugar. I could get over 15 teaspoons from just one can of pop (6-8), a chocolate bar (5-11) and a chocolate chip muffin (4-5). And these are the obvious sources – sugar is also added to ketchup, cereals, and even some yogurt. Learn to read the labels! Remember, if you are shorter or less active than I am, your 10% would be less. And that 10% should be a maximum – there is no lower limit for sugar consumption. Less (sugar) is definitely more (health).
For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.
February 18, 2014
255 Luobuma – the Anti-Stress Tea [18 February 2014]
Two plants growing in a remote desert in central Asia have shown some remarkable properties for dealing with stress and other health problems. Apocynum venetum and its close relative Apocynum hendersonii grow in the Taklamakan desert in the Tarim Basin situated in western China. The leaves and flowers are picked during the hot summer months. Tea, or an aqueous extract of this herb, is known as Luobuma and is popular in China as a healthful beverage.
Luobuma has been used in Asia as a medicinal herb for over a thousand years. Modern research has found a high content of quercitin, an important antioxidant phytochemical known to reduce blood pressure, and many other phytochemical compounds some of which are similar to those in St. John’s Wort, and others which are unique to Luobuma.
Luobuma has been found to:
• Relieve stress and anxiety
• Relieve depression
• Improve sleep
• Reduce high blood pressure
• Relieve headache, dizziness and vertigo
• Reduce cholesterol
• Strengthen cardiac muscle
• Relax cardiac arrhythmia
• Protect the liver from chemical toxicity
Luobuma has a good safety record with no known adverse effects. It is available as a tea or in capsules. Specific formulas combining Luobuma with various other herbs are available for blood pressure, cholesterol, headaches, and dizziness/vertigo. I have tried the tea and it has a mild flavor, similar to chamomile or green tea.
See the website www.luobuma.ca 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.
Luobuma has been used in Asia as a medicinal herb for over a thousand years. Modern research has found a high content of quercitin, an important antioxidant phytochemical known to reduce blood pressure, and many other phytochemical compounds some of which are similar to those in St. John’s Wort, and others which are unique to Luobuma.
Luobuma has been found to:
• Relieve stress and anxiety
• Relieve depression
• Improve sleep
• Reduce high blood pressure
• Relieve headache, dizziness and vertigo
• Reduce cholesterol
• Strengthen cardiac muscle
• Relax cardiac arrhythmia
• Protect the liver from chemical toxicity
Luobuma has a good safety record with no known adverse effects. It is available as a tea or in capsules. Specific formulas combining Luobuma with various other herbs are available for blood pressure, cholesterol, headaches, and dizziness/vertigo. I have tried the tea and it has a mild flavor, similar to chamomile or green tea.
See the website www.luobuma.ca 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.
February 10, 2014
254 Vitamin D & Breast Cancer [10 February 2014]
The recent visit to Rosetown of the snowmobilers raising money for breast cancer research inspired this week’s topic. While more research is always good, there is much that we have already learned from existing research that we aren’t taking full advantage of. One example is vitamin D’s role in breast cancer. Here are some recent study results gleaned from the Vitamin D Council’s website.
• A 2013 review from McGill University pooled data from 8 studies and found vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased recurrence of breast cancer and increased risk of death.
• A 2013 meta-analysis by Harvard researchers found a moderate reduction in risk of breast cancer with vitamin D levels in post-menopausal women but not in pre-menopausal women.
• A 2012 Mexican population-based case-control study found an inverse association between D levels and breast cancer risk (as D increases, risk decreases) in both pre and post menopausal women.
• Similar studies of women in Saudi Arabia (2013) and China (2013) also found an inverse association between vitamin D levels and breast cancer risk.
According to John Cannell MD of the Vitamin D Council, the difference in survival between women with low D levels (<20 ng/ml) vs. those with adequate levels (>30) are significant but not huge. Overall, the five-year survival rate increased from an average of 97.6% to 98.4% and the ten-year rate increased from 84.8% to 88.0%. Much of the ten-year increase in survival was from prevention of death from causes other than breast cancer, but the ten-year death rate specifically from breast cancer did fall from 8.3% to 4.5%.
Most of these were observational studies which do not prove a causal connection but there is no need to wait 10 years for more research before taking action. Whether you already have breast cancer or wish to prevent it, you don’t want to be vitamin D deficient! In the studies quoted above the benefits of D increased with increasing blood levels to about 35 ng/ml so you want to ensure your levels are at least that high. Cannell recommends maintaining 50 ng/ml for optimal health.
For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.
• A 2013 review from McGill University pooled data from 8 studies and found vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased recurrence of breast cancer and increased risk of death.
• A 2013 meta-analysis by Harvard researchers found a moderate reduction in risk of breast cancer with vitamin D levels in post-menopausal women but not in pre-menopausal women.
• A 2012 Mexican population-based case-control study found an inverse association between D levels and breast cancer risk (as D increases, risk decreases) in both pre and post menopausal women.
• Similar studies of women in Saudi Arabia (2013) and China (2013) also found an inverse association between vitamin D levels and breast cancer risk.
According to John Cannell MD of the Vitamin D Council, the difference in survival between women with low D levels (<20 ng/ml) vs. those with adequate levels (>30) are significant but not huge. Overall, the five-year survival rate increased from an average of 97.6% to 98.4% and the ten-year rate increased from 84.8% to 88.0%. Much of the ten-year increase in survival was from prevention of death from causes other than breast cancer, but the ten-year death rate specifically from breast cancer did fall from 8.3% to 4.5%.
Most of these were observational studies which do not prove a causal connection but there is no need to wait 10 years for more research before taking action. Whether you already have breast cancer or wish to prevent it, you don’t want to be vitamin D deficient! In the studies quoted above the benefits of D increased with increasing blood levels to about 35 ng/ml so you want to ensure your levels are at least that high. Cannell recommends maintaining 50 ng/ml for optimal health.
For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.
February 3, 2014
253 How Vitamin D Prevents Falls [3 February 2014]
In a recent post to the Vitamin D Council website Dr. John Cannell wrote “to the best of my knowledge, all studies of daily OTC vitamin D3 in significant doses point to effective prevention of falls in the elderly”. He then refers to several examples that showed that vitamin D3:
• reduced falls by 46% in elderly women in a 2001 German study;
• with calcium reduced falls by 49% compared to calcium alone in a 2003 Swiss study;
• reduced falls by 27% and body sway by 28% in a 2009 German study of the elderly;
• at least 10 randomized controlled clinical trials have shown that daily D3 supplementation over 800 IU prevents falls while lower doses often do not.
• Meta-analyses of studies using 400 IU/day showed a range of reduction in falls from 13% to 24%; studies of 800 IU or more showed reductions above 24%.
I had assumed that vitamin D prevented falls by increasing bone strength (which it does) but was surprised to learn that it also works in other important ways:
• increases muscle fiber diameter and muscle strength (at 4,000 IU/day)
• improves balance and reduces body sway
• improves neuromuscular reaction time
These are all important factors in preventing falls, especially in the elderly. So if you are in that age bracket, or have family members who are, supplementation is critical. Then the question is how much. At least 800 IU, but is more better? The one study which showed increased muscle strength used 4,000 IU. The Vitamin D Council recommends 5,000 IU for adults including seniors (which is what I take) while most government health organizations are more cautious. If you take much more than 5,000 you should have your blood levels [25(OH)D] tested every few months. Toxicity could occur if you were to take 40,000 IU daily for several months.
For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.
January 27, 2014
252 Some Positive Nutrient Studies [27 January 2014]
Over the last few weeks I have explained why flawed nutrient intake studies can show little or no benefit. Rather than belabor the point further (and I could, discussing dosage, nutrient form, etc) this week I am listing some of the hundreds of studies that have shown benefit from nutrient supplementation. This is just a small sample:
• A UCLA study in 1990s, with 11,000 men over 10 years found that 800 mg daily vitamin C reduced cardiovascular mortality by 42%, adding an average 6 years to their life.
• The Physician’s Health Study II found that taking a multivitamin was associated with reduced risk of death, over 11 years, of 12% from cancer and 39% from heart attacks.
• Supplementation in Vitamins and Mineral Antioxidants Study found a 31% reduction in total cancer incidence in men taking a multivitamin.
• A 2013 study of 77,446 adults found an inverse relationship between dietary selenium and the risk of pancreatic cancer.
• A 2007 study of 81,184 people found low B6 intake associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
• A 2012 study on 23,943 people found that taking an antioxidant multivitamin reduced the risk of death from cancer by 48% and from any cause by 42%.
• A 2009 German study found that vitamin D3 supplementation reduced the risk of falls by 27% (more on this next week)
Note that some of these are “observational studies” that discover a relationship but do not necessarily show cause and effect. But when random controlled prospective studies fail to show the expected results, the researchers should first look for possible causes before concluding that supplementation is useless.
Sources:
“Are Multiple Vitamins and Minerals Really Worthless?” unpublished article by Dr. Zoltan P. Rona
Call to clinicians: Report vitamin D data by John Cannell, MD 20 Jan 2014
For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)