Free Supplement and Drug Interaction Consultations for Naturopathic Medicine Week!

Are you combining drugs with supplements and herbs?  Have you wondered if what you are taking in combination is safe? This can be very complicated for the average consumer to figure out. On Wednesday October 8^th, the Riverwalk Natural Health is offering free consultations to go over all medications, supplements and herbs that you are on to let you know if what you’re taking is safe. Fifteen minute consultations will be free all day from 9am to 6pm at the Riverwalk Natural Health Clinic & Natural Pharmacy in Edwards, right across the street from Starbucks. 

When: October 8th 9 am - 6 pm

Where: Riverwalk Natural Health Clinic & Natural Pharmacy

Who: Dr. Deborah Wiancek

Please RSVP to the Riverwalk Natural Clinic at 970-926-7606

Questions to Ask Manufacturers before purchasing any herbs.

1. Do you buy your herbal raw materials directly from the 

grower or from an intermediary supplier? 

2. Do you grow any of your own botanicals?

3. How do you validate herbal raw material genus and 

species?

4. Are your herbal ingredients organic? Are they 

ecologically wild harvested?

5. What solvents do you use to extract your herbs?

6. Are you Prop 65 compliant?

7. Can you provide test results for your products showing 

results of heavy metal tests, testing for pesticides and 

other contaminants?

8. How do you validate potency? Can you provide results 

of potency testing?

All Botanicals are Not Created Equal

5 Pillars of Quality Botanicals – varies by manufacturer:

 – Design: Evidence-based formulation & appropriate 

dosage form

– Authenticity: Ingredient identity is always verified 

using validated methods

– Potency: Ingredient & finished product potency is 

verified using validated methods 

– Purity: Proven freedom from biological & chemical 

contaminants

– Validation: Evidence of safety and efficacy for intended use

If a particular herbal product does not work for your health conditions it may be that it was not a quality product.  Our products at the Riverwalk Natural Health Clinic are chosen by the above 5 pillars.  

Buyer Beware

People take herbals and dietary supplements to stay healthy; it doesn’t always work.

Nearly half of all adult Americans take herbal and dietary supplements, presumably in order to get or stay healthy, but new research finds many of them may be doing themselves more harm than good.

Liver injury caused by herbals and dietary supplements increased from 7% to 20% in a U.S. study group over a ten-year period, according to a study published in Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

Despite popular belief, bodybuilders and endurance athletes aren't the most affected. Liver injury caused by non-bodybuilding supplements occurs more often in middle-aged women and more frequently results in death or the need for transplantation than liver injury from bodybuilding supplements or conventional medications."While many Americans believe supplements to be safe, government regulations require less safety evidence to market products than what is required for conventional pharmaceuticals" said the study's lead author, Dr. Victor Navarro of Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia.

Medical evidence shows that supplements are used more often by women, non-Hispanic whites, those over 40 years of age and those with more advanced education. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III indicate that multivitamins, minerals, calcium and fish oils are the most commonly used supplements.

The study examines hepatotoxicity due to supplements compared to medications, enrolling 839 patients with liver injury between 2004 and 2013. Liver injury cases included 45 caused by bodybuilding supplements, 85 attributed to non-bodybuilding supplements, and 709 due to medications.The research team determined that among cases enrolled, liver injuries from herbal and dietary supplements rose to 20% during the study period. While bodybuilding supplements caused prolonged jaundice (median 91 days) in young men, no fatalities or liver transplantations occurred.

Death or liver transplantation occurred more frequently among cases of injury from non-bodybuilding supplements, 13%, than from conventional medications, 3%. Liver injury from non-bodybuilding supplements was more common in middle aged women.Navarro and the other authors of the study said the public needs to be aware of the potential dangers of using dietary supplements and advise that supplement producers, government agencies, healthcare providers and consumers work together to improve safety

Castor Oil for Pain Relief

Over the years, Emily Telfair, ND, and past president of the Maryland Association of Naturopathic Physicians has seen the topical use of castor oil relieve moderate-to-severe pain in patients who were not responding to pharmaceutical pain relievers, and restore mobility to stiff and achy joints in patients with arthritis.

Telfair suggests a simple castor oil pack as an affordable and low-risk option for calming inflammation and reducing pain.  For those familiar with castor oil treatments, the traditional castor oil pack no doubt comes to mind. Less well-known is the “roll-on” alternative, which is often less messy and results in greater compliance.

Traditional “Pack”

Materials: §  Piece of cloth (flannel, wool or cotton) cut to 2-3 times the size of the area of application §  Plastic wrap or ace bandage to secure pack in place §  Old t-shirt or clothing to cover the pack and protect clothing from staining §  Castor oil §  Heating source (hot water bottle, heating pad) §  Zip-lock bag for storing the pack between use

Directions: §  Fold the piece of cloth so that it is 2-3 layers thick and carefully apply oil until the cloth is soaked in the oil. Ring out excess oil over a dish or the sink. §  To pre-heat the castor oil pack, place the pack in a heat-safe glass dish and then heat, using the microwave or oven §  Place the castor oil pack directly over the area of pain or inflammation while relaxing comfortably, and cover the pack using an old t-shirt or cloth to protect bedding and other clothing from staining. Secure placement of the pack as needed, using plastic wrap or ace bandage. §  Apply external heat source for approximately 30 min §  After removing heat, the castor oil pack can remain applied overnight §  Store castor oil pack in refrigerator between use for up to several months, and apply additional oil as needed

Roll-On Alternative (Note: This method is less messy and usually results in higher compliance)

Directions: §  Apply castor oil in a roller ball form directly over the area of pain or inflammation §  Cover the area with an old cloth or t-shirt §  Apply an external heating source (hot water bottle or heating pad) for approximately 30 min and then remove heat §  Keep the oil applied overnight while protecting sheets and other clothing from staining, and wash off the oil in the morning According to Telfair, patients often ask, “How does it work?” once they have marveled at the drastic shift in their pain levels after only a few topical castor oil treatments. The little research available about the mechanism of action for castor oil’s topical anti-inflammatory effects indicates that the main component of castor oil, ricinoleic acid, is likely responsible for its pain-relieving properties.

The Natural Sweetener Xylitol May Prevent Ear Infections in Children

A Look at Natural Earache Remedies

Acute Otitis Media is defined as the first 3 weeks of a process in which the middle ear shows the signs and symptoms of acute inflammation. This is also the most common condition parents seek medical therapy for children under 5 years of age. 

Studies indicate that xylitol chewing gum, lozenges or syrup may reduce the occurrence of acute otitis media by as much as 25%.  Other preventive measures is control of nasal inflammation in children, whether caused by an allergy or by recurrent infection, appears to decrease the recurrence of acute otitis media.

Some of the risk factors for acute otitis media can be removed by not sending your child to day care where many infections are passed on, providing a tobacco-free living space, and stopping bottle use in children older than 1 year.

Most recurrent ear infection are caused by allergies in children. As a naturopathic physician I identify the allergen and the ear infections resolve. 

Black Cohosh Adulteration

Black Cohosh Adulteration

 Actaea        racemosa  

The root of Black Cohosh has grown increasingly well known for its medicinal benefits over the past 200 years.  In more recent years, the Department of Biological Sciences and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and numerous worldwide universities have continued to publish a large amount of literature on this subject. So what is it that intrigues them about this botanical? -The answer, though not so simple, is quite fascinating and offers positive medical future outlooks.

Black Cohosh Root comes in the forms of whole, chopped, semi-whole, dry powder, and liquid extract. Using these forms they are then formulated into pharmaceutical supplements that benefit the treatment of menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, heart palpations, nervousness, irritability, sleep disturbances, tinnitus, vertigo, excessive perspiration, depression, premenstrual discomfort, and painful menstruation.

So, Black Cohosh is unquestionably good for women’s health. What else can we expect from this wonder plant? Historically, Black Cohosh has been used for nervous system health and as an antispasmodic, but while the uses span over various medicinal uses, due to a process called adulteration, these benefits may be subsided. Adulteration is the process of mixing additional inferior ingredients into a pure mixture. A great example of this is adding water to dilute wine and lower the price.

Understanding adulteration and the setbacks of this process of adulteration raises concerns for the supplements being made by such a pure and beneficial herb. Not only does variation occur within purity of the extract, it also occurs in the source itself. The reliability of a foreign source of Black Cohosh is of concern since multiple plant types can be translated from Mandarin into English as Black Cohosh. When much of the material arrives in bulk quantities in forms such as chopped or powdered, identifying the true make-up to be pure Black Cohosh may need lab testing.

What we can understand from this is the true makeup of a supplement containing what is labeled as Black Cohosh, just may be its closely named counterpart. For a buyer, seeing a product that can be labeled Black Cohosh yet is a third of the price, may be tempting, which in-turn provides little incentive to suppliers to seek out reliable supply sources, which offer a high base price parallel to a non-adulterated substance.

The good news is that there is scientific botanical identification tools used that can identify a product’s level of purity. This offers the opportunity for companies to provide authentic materials to use in supplements, which in turn avoid misrepresentation to a product in a supplement that will not provide the intended benefits, and also avoid potential harm. When buying supplements, base decisions on not only the benefits of the product, but also the reliability of the company supplying it and Caveat emptor!

Foster, S. (2013). Exploring the Pheripatetic Maze of Black Cohosh Adulteration, A Review of the Nomenclature, Distribution, Chemistry, Market Status, Analytical Methods, and Safety Concerns of this Popular Herb. The Journal of the American Botanical Council, 98, 32-51. 

Anti-Diabetic Substance Contained in Licorice Root

Licorice root is a medicinal herb with a substantial list of health benefits used in both modern and ancient times.  

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin have identified a substance contained within this herb with anti-diabetic properties.  Found in the roots of the licorice plant as well as the fruit of the Amorpha fruticosa bush, amorfrutins are apparently not only helpful in lowering blood sugar levels, but also act as anti-inflammatories and can prevent fatty liver.  They also happen to be tolerated well.      

"The health-beneficial effects are based on the fact that the amorfrutin molecules dock directly onto a receptor in the nucleus called PPARγ," according to scientist Sascha Sauer.  Cellular metabolism of fats and glucose is affected by actions happening via the PPARγ receptor.  As amorfrutin molecules bind the receptors, certain genes get activated that lead to a lowering of fatty acids and glucose circulating in the blood.  As blood glucose levels go down, so, too does insulin resistance and type II diabetes.  

According to Sauer, “Drinking licorice tea or eating licorice will not help to treat diabetes” due to the concentration of amorfrutins not being high enough in the tea or licorice root alone.  Special extraction steps were used in the study as a way of generating adequate concentration levels.   

    

Dr. Shana McQueen

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120417080431.htm

Thyme: An Effective Remedy for Acne?

According to new research presented at the Society for General Microbiology’s Spring Conference in Dublin, the medicinal herb known as thyme may be a more effective solution for acne than prescribed skin medications.  

The bacterium known to play a major role in acne is Propionibacterium acnes.  This bacterium is involved in skin infection, and contributes to formation of a wide number of blemishes on the skin, including white heads and cysts.  After researchers tested the effects of different herbal tinctures, including thyme, marigold, and myrrh, on this bacterium, thyme was found to be the most successful of all three in killing the bacteria within a five-minute period.  In fact, the thyme tincture was found to have even more antibacterial activity than benzoyl peroxide, a common ingredient in the majority of acne creams and washes.      

This is the first study to show that thyme (along with marigold and myrrh) is efficacious against the bacterium known to play a major role in acne.  To determine whether the herbal preparations themselves or the alcohol contained within the preparations were responsible for antibacterial activity, all tinctures were measured against an alcohol control.  The results indicated that the antibacterial action was, in fact, not just from the sterilizing effects of alcohol contained within the herbal preparations.  

Acne usually occurs as a result of a number of underlying factors.  For this reason, the best way to successfully treat this condition is comprehensively, looking at each individual person’s diet, nutritional status, digestion, hormone balance, lifestyle, and other factors.  In addition to correcting any internal imbalances that may be contributing to the acne, a healthy skin care regimen along with thyme used topically may prove to be an excellent complementary therapy.  This is especially the case since many of the commercial creams and washes available on the market contain harsh ingredients and chemicals that may be irritating to the skin, but thyme is an herb that is gentler on the skin. 

Dr. Shana McQueen

Source:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120327215951.htm

Infertility Treatment: Chinese Herbal Medicine More Effective Than Conventional Western Drug Therapy

When women and couples are seeking out treatment options for fertility issues, Chinese herbal medicine should not be overlooked.  Study results published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine back in December indicate that women receiving treatment in Chinese herbal medicine doubled their chances of becoming pregnant within four months compared with those undergoing conventional Western drug therapy or in vitro fertilization (IVF). 

In a systematic review including eight (non)-randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 13 cohort studies, 3 case series, and 6 case studies, researchers analyzed data from a total of 1851 women with poor fertility.  Meta-analysis of the RCTs showed that the likelihood of achieving pregnancy with Chinese herbal medicine treatment was 3.5 times higher compared with Western drug therapy over a four-month period.  Pregnancy rates were about 60% for those receiving Chinese herbal medicine compared with 32% receiving drug therapy.  Meta-analysis of selected cohort studies indicated an average clinical pregnancy rate of 50% in those being treated with Chinese herbal medicine versus only 30% in those getting IVF.  

Through their investigation, authors of the study came to recognize the crucial role that the quality of the menstrual cycle plays in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnosis.  They concluded that “Assessment of the quality of the menstrual cycle, integral to TCM diagnosis, appears to be fundamental to successful treatment of female infertility.”

When it comes to treatment of female infertility, TCM takes a holistic approach, aiming to treat the whole person rather than just symptoms or specific parts of the body.  TCM works to re-establish balance and reduce stress while also regulating hormones and menstruation.  As a highly effective form of medicine used widely throughout the world, those seeking help with fertility should consider TCM.  Most people find the fertility techniques used in this form of medicine to be non-invasive and highly affordable, not to mention supportive to overall well-being.   

Dr. Shana McQueen

Source:  http://www.acupuncturist.nl/acuweb/wp-content/uploads/2011_Ried_CHM_Fem_Infertility_SysReview.pdf

Astragalus: A Key to Longevity?

"When Li Ching Yuen died in 1932, he was reportedly over 230 years old"  

When Li Ching Yuen died in 1932, he was reportedly over 230 years old.  Records of his birth in Qing dynasty China seem to bear this out.  As the oldest living human that we know about, it is important to study his lifestyle if we wish to emulate his extreme longevity.  Li was known as an expert herbalist, and among the handful of herbs he took on a daily basis was Huang Qi, more commonly known as astragalus root.  In Chinese herbal medicine, huang qi acts to tonify the deep qi (energy), protect and enhance the wei qi (protective qi or immune system) and raise the Yang qi. 

For many centuries, this herb has been among the top 10 most important herbs in Chinese herbalism, and therefore it should come as no shock that this herb was recently discovered to have more amazing properties- it may act to increase longevity!  In 2009, three scientists discovered the key to increasing the functional lifespan of chromosomes, through the activation of a substance called telomerase.  Telomeres are lengths of repeating sequences on the ends of chromosomes that prevent degradation or damage to the valuable genetic material.  Every time a cell undergoes replication, a small amount of this telomere is lost.  When the entire length of the telomere is used up, the cell generally either dies (apoptosis) or enters an “aged” degraded state called senescence.  One theory of aging posits that accumulation of senescent cells leads to reduced function and eventual death.

The most exciting key regarding this discovery was a final component: several labs independently tested hundreds of thousands of substances, and found that astragalus (more specifically, two components within the astragalus root) induced the regeneration of telomeres.  This telomerase- inducing effect has broad implications for longevity, and while still at an early stage, introducing astragalus into your diet can have many health benefits in addition to increasing longevity.  This can include either a quality astragalus extract, or a tea made with quality organic astragalus root.  One cup of astragalus tea per day delivers immune boosting and energy enhancing effects.  Drink to Li Qing Yuen, and your health!

Dustin Bergman, L.Ac

Source:

http://www.naturalnews.com/027312_astragalus_research_aging.html