We have posted a helpful review of Vertigo Treatments in our Health Information and Articles Category. Click here to be directed to the page, then click on the article link.
New Article on Headache Treatment
We have posted a helpful review of Headache Treatments in our Health Information and Articles Category. Click here to be directed to the article page.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and frankincense (boswellia)
A recent study demonstrated that a combination of boswellia (frankincense) and curcumin lowered signs of inflammation in chronic kidney disease. This study is especially important since it was conducted in patients. A sign of inflammation and reduced antioxidant capacity is an increase is the physiological marker called interleukin-6, IL-6. Practically all chronic diseases have an increase in this and other similar markers. consequently to see these two herbal supplements improve the status of these markers is highly significant.
See the full article at:
Moreillon, J.J., et al, The use of an anti-inflammatory supplement in patients with chronic kidney disease, Journal of complementary & integrative medicine, Volume 10, 2013
Brain “Fog” – A New, Natural – Anthroposophic Way to Help
Brain Fog – a new anthroposophic way to help!
We all know the feeling: the evening comes, we are tired and we have difficulty concentrating; or after the all too big lunch (or any meal) and we can barely keep the head up- let alone have the crisp mind for mental activity.
Even worse this condition can be nearly permanent in some people!
To help with this “state of mind” we need to understand some basic physiology from an anthroposophic point of view first. These insights were given by Rudolf Steiner in a lecture on the 3.22.1923.
During eating the digestive process gets activated and the etheric, life forces in the intestines become stronger. Additionally, an etheric image is generated by the plant product that has just been consumed. (It is similar with eating animal foods.) However, whatever excess activity has been generated in the metabolism is usually neutralized within a day or so.
Very importantly, however, while this is going on in the lower organism a “negative” is also created automatically in the upper organism, in the brain.
That is the rule for regular edible plants. A poisonous plant though has an additional element in this configuration. The poison is of an “astral”, soul like nature, normally seen only in animals but not “appropriate” in herbs and thus of more significant consequence. When we consume such a plant a much stronger form results in the intestine and the form does not get cleared so rapidly. It lingers much longer. The same goes for the “negative” created in the brain. It remains there much longer also. It also adds an additional “astrality”, soul quality, and yes, awakeness in the mind.
If this process is repeated over and over, an overcoming of the “foggy” mind, an overcoming of the mere “vegging”, numb, out of focus feeling, is achieved.
The most important medicinal plant that is helpful in this respect is Hyoscyamus niger- black henbane.
it can be taken as an over the counter homeopathically potentized (diluted) natural remedy called then “Hyoscyamus 6x”. It is usually taken several times a day, throughout a longer period of time. It can have a greatly beneficial effect in this respect. (The same in a slightly different way can be accomplished with Belladonna.) Several companies make a similar remedy but we would recommend the one made by the True Botanica Company since they actually verify that the potency they claim is in the bottle is actually active.
Berberine and Ageing
Several recent studies seem to suggest that berberine slows down the ageing process. Of course the quality of the formula the individual person is using is crucial in achieving the same results as those indicated in the studies. We generally recommend formulas that have the berberine ashes together with the main ingredient.
Below are excerpts from one such study.
The authors describe in the abstract to their work that:
Berberine (BRB), a natural alkaloid, has a long history of medicinal use in both Ayurvedic and old Chinese medicine. Recently, available as a dietary supplement, Berberine is reported to have application in treatment of variety diseases. The authors tested whether Berberine can affect premature, stress-induced cellular ageing. All the markers of senescence were distinctly diminished, in a concentration-dependent manner, by Berberine. In view of the evidence that BRB localizes in mitochondria, inhibits respiratory electron chain and activates AMPK, the observed attenuation of the replication stress-induced cellular senescence most likely is mediated by AMPK that leads to inhibition of mTOR signaling. The present findings reveal that: (a) in cells induced to senescence BRB exhibits gero-suppressive properties by means of mTOR/S6 inhibition; (b) in parallel, BRB reduces the level of constitutive DNA damage response, previously shown to report oxidative DNA damage by endogenous ROS; (c) there appears to a causal linkage between the (a) and (b) activities; (d) the in vitro model of premature stress-induced senescence can be used to assess effectiveness of potential gero-suppressive agents targeting mTOR/S6 and ROS signaling; (e) since most of the reported beneficial effects of BRB are in age-relate diseases, it is likely that gero-suppression is the primary activity of this traditional medicine. Zhao et al, Berberine suppresses gero-conversion from cell cycle arrest to senescence, Aging, Volume 5, Issue 8, 2013, Pages 623-636
Berberine and Heart Failure
An interesting article showing the connection between berberine and congestive heart failure. Note the importance of a good quality supplement in order to achieve relevant blood levels. Here is a portion of the abstract from the study:
It has been reported that berberine is valuable for long-term treatment of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) and leads to a decrease in mortality for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). In order to improve its therapeutic value and reduce its side effects, it is necessary to study the relationship between its activity and plasma concentration in patients with CHF. Patients with CHF were treated with conventional therapy for 2 weeks. Immediately after the data from a dynamic electrocardiogram (DCG) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were obtained, 1.2 g/day of oral berberine was given. After 2 weeks of berberine therapy, the DCG data and LVEF were reassessed and the plasma berberine concentration was measured by HPLC. Plasma samples were pretreated by extraction with chloroform. The decrease in frequency and complexity of VPBs and the increase in LVEF in patients with plasma berberine concentrations higher than 0.11 mg/L (n = 31, group B) were more significant than at concentrations lower than 0.11 mg/L (p < 0.01 vs p < 0.05).
Xiangji et al, Relationship between the clinical effects of berberine on severe congestive heart failure and its concentration in plasma studied by HPLC, Biomed. Chromatogr. 13: 442–444 (1999)
Berberine and Diabetes
Berberine is the most studied natural substance showing positive effects on sugar control. Here is an abstract summary from a recent study showing a beneficial effect of berberine in diabetes both as far as the glucose and the blood fats are concerned:
Berberine, a natural plant alkaloid, is usually used as an antibiotic drug. The potential glucose-lowering effect of berberine was noted when it was used for diarrhea in diabetic patients. In vitro and in vivo studies have then showed its effects on hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetic patients with dyslipidemia. Design: One hundred sixteen patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia were randomly al- located to receive berberine (1.0 g daily) and the placebo for 3 months. The primary outcomes were changes in plasma glucose and serum lipid concentrations. Glucose disposal rate (GDR) was mea- sured using a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp to assess insulin sensitivity. Results: In the berberine group, fasting and postload plasma glucose decreased from 7.0 ± 0.8 to 5.6 ± 0.9 and from 12.0 ± 2.7 to 8.9 ± 2.8 mM/liter, HbA1c from 7.5 ± 1.0% to 6.6 ± 0.7%, triglyceride from 2.51 ± 2.04 to 1.61 ± 1.10 mM/liter, total cholesterol from 5.31 ± 0.98 to 4.35 ± 0.96 mM/liter, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol from 3.23 ± 0.81 to 2.55 ± 0.77 mM/liter, with all param- eters differing from placebo significantly (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, P = 0.001, P < 0.0001, and P <0.0001, respectively). The glucose disposal rate was increased after berberine treatment (P = 0.037), although no significant change was found between berberine and placebo groups (P = 0.063). Mild to moderate constipation was observed in five participants in the berberine group. Conclusions: Berberine is effective and safe in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia.
(Yifei et al, Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and Dyslipidemia with the Natural Plant Alkaloid Berberine, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 93: 2559 –2565, 2008)