Re: Re: TWENTY POPULAR HERBS AND THEIR THERAPEUTIC USES

[Guest guest]

You're right..... but I was reading the article and processing the

information to be able to pass it along to others who haven't " arrived " yet.

I talk to a wide variety of women throughout my week, and information like

this is really important.

Jan G.

La Leche League Leader

>>>We read about herbs 'interfering with medications' The whole idea of

>>>this forum and herbs, is NOT using allopathic " remedies, " so why care?

>>>Everyone knows the medicos are negative on natural therapies and try to

>>>discourage their use.<<<

[Guest guest]

Exactly! That is why I posted this article.

Thanks for your reply.

Wow Jan it would be great to be a LL leader...How does one get to the leader position? I have BF 7 out of 9 kids do I qualify?

Kathy

Re: Re: TWENTY POPULAR HERBS AND THEIR THERAPEUTIC USES

You're right..... but I was reading the article and processing the information to be able to pass it along to others who haven't "arrived" yet. I talk to a wide variety of women throughout my week, and information like this is really important.Jan G.La Leche League Leader>>>We read about herbs 'interfering with medications' The whole idea of >>>this forum and herbs, is NOT using allopathic "remedies," so why care? >>>Everyone knows the medicos are negative on natural therapies and try to >>>discourage their use.<<<

[Guest guest]

Kathy, email me offlist and I'll give you (probably ;-)) more info than you want. lol

Jan G.

La Leche League Leader

jgonz@...

[Guest guest]

That’s not true of all allopathic

practitioners. I know a few in my area that are open to naturopathic

approaches in medicine.

Janet

From: health [mailto:health ] On Behalf Of tempo33x

Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 5:34

PM

health

Subject:

Re: TWENTY POPULAR HERBS AND THEIR THERAPEUTIC USES

We read about herbs 'interfering with medications' The

whole idea

of this forum and herbs, is NOT using allopathic

" remedies, " so why care? Everyone knows the medicos are negative on

natural therapies and try to discourage their use.

-- In health ,

" Kathy " <vanokat@...>

wrote:

>

> Herbal RemediesPractitioners say they are safe and effective, but

caution against combining them with drugs By Luanne J. Hunt,

Correspondent

> U-EntertainmentArticle Launched:05/20/2007 09:00:00 PM PDT

> LONG BEFORE THE invention of prescription drugs, the remedy for

many illnesses was often as close as the kitchen cupboard. These age-

old treatments included a variety of culinary herbs, such as ginger,

garlic, oregano, cardamom, turmeric, rosemary, cinnamon, peppermint

and parsley. They were used to treat everything from insomnia to

infectious diseases.

>

> In the Middle Ages, garlic was the herb of choice to combat the

bubonic plague, according to the Herb Research Foundation. The

organization's Web site also states that during World War I,

European soldiers prevented infection by putting garlic directly on

their wounds.

>

> Additionally, HRF says Panax ginseng was used in ancient times as

a health enhancing tonic and to increase physical stamina. And for

more than 4,000 years, Chinese herbalists have relied on ginko

biloba to treat asthma, bronchitis and brain disorders.

>

> Today, many people take garlic tablets to boost their immune

system and ward off colds and flus. And the popular energy-boosting

ginseng can be found in everything from tea to tablets.

>

> But are herbs safe? And do they really work?

>

> The American Medical Association states on its Web site that the

therapeutic benefits of herbal remedies remain inconclusive, and

does not recommend the sole use of these remedies to treat disease

without scientific evidence regarding their safety or efficacy.

>

> RESOURCES

> Glenn Hensle Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, 3620 Long Beach

Blvd., Suite C11, Long Beach, (562) 997-0966, www.acupuncture

longbeach.com

>

> American Botanical Council, (512) 926-4900, www.herbalgram.org

>

> East Village Wellness Center, 354 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, (562)

983-1400, www.evwellness.com

>

> National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, (888)

644-6226, www.nccam.nih.gov

>

> Physicians Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines ($59.95/Thomson

Healthcare)

>

> But many practitioners and patients disagree, and point to

centuries of use and current studies as evidence of the

effectiveness and safety of herbs. They do, however, caution against

combining herbs with drugs.

>

> " In general, I think you're pretty safe taking most supplements,

but you certainly should tell your doctor about anything you're

taking regularly, particularly if you're also taking either

prescription or over-the-counter drugs, " Dr. Weil, a

physician and author of several best-selling books on health, said

in the Q & A section on his Web site, www.drweil.com.

>

> Weil is founder and director of the Program in Integrative

Medicine at the University

of Arizona and is one of

the leading

proponents of integrative medicine, which is an approach that

combines conventional medical treatments with herbal remedies,

acupuncture and nutritional supplements.

>

> " Both patients and doctors should be aware of interactions between

drugs and remedies taken simultaneously, " Weil said. " Just as

there

are drug-drug interactions, there are also drug-herb interactions,

and they can affect treatment outcomes. "

>

> TWENTY POPULAR HERBS AND THEIR THERAPEUTIC USES

> Aloe - sunburn, infections, burns, psoriasis

>

> Astragalus - colds, flu

>

> Black cohosh - PMS, menstrual cramps, hot flashes, high blood

pressure

>

> Chamomile - digestive disorders, ulcers, menstrual cramps,

arthritis

>

> Dandelion - gallstones, PMS, high blood pressure, yeast infections

>

> Echinacea - colds, flu, wounds, weakened immune system

>

> Ginger - motion sickness, morning sickness, high cholesterol,

ulcers, arthritis, menstrual cramps, colds, flu

>

> Ginko biloba - memory loss, chronic dizziness, chronic ringing in

the ears, macular degeneration

>

> Ginseng - low energy, impaired mental function, appetite loss,

impotence

>

> Goldenseal- infections, digestive disorders, heavy menstruation

>

> Horse Chestnut - varicose veins, hemorrhoids, arthritis

>

> Lavender - anxiety, insomnia, wounds, digestive disorders,

menstrual cramps

>

> Garlic - urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, chemical

toxicity, high cholesterol

>

> Licorice - arthritis, canker sores, herpes, infections, hot flashes

>

> Passionflower - insomnia, digestive disorders, menstrual cramps,

wounds

>

> Peppermint - pain, indigestion, headaches, cough, congestion

>

> Senna - constipation

>

> St. 's

Wart - mild depression, viral infections, wounds

>

> Uva Ursi - urinary tract infections, premenstrual bloating,

wounds, diarrhea

>

> Valerian - insomnia, high blood pressure

>

> - From " The New Healing Herbs " by Castleman ($7.99,

Bantam

Books).

>

> Note: This information is not intended as a substitute for medical

treatment and/or medication.

>

>

> Herbs have side effects, too

>

> Long Beach-based herbalist and licensed acupuncturist Glenn Hensle

said there is an overall lack of knowledge about the potential side

effects of herbs and how they can negatively interact with certain

medications.

>

> For instance, kava, an herb used as a muscle relaxant and pain

reliever, should not be taken with antidepressants and antipsychotic

drugs. And he says feverfew, which is a popular herb for migraine

headaches, should never be taken with any other migraine

medications. The interaction of the two remedies can cause a

person's heart rate and blood pressure to rise to dangerous levels.

>

> Taking too much goldenseal, a natural treatment for cough, stomach

upset and arthritis, can result in severe gastrointestinal distress,

Hensle said.

>

> " Someone who practices herbal medicine really has to know what

they're doing or they can cause someone harm, " said Hensle, who set

up his practice in Long Beach

in 2001. " All too often, potential

drug interactions are not looked at. If an herbalist doesn't tell

you what's in it and how it's going to work, that should be a big

red flag. "

>

>

> Herbs over the ages

>

> Hensle said the practice of treating illnesses with herbs began

more than 5,000 years ago in China.

Europe and India

adopted the

practice 3,000 years ago. While all three geographical regions had

different approaches to how they formulated herbal remedies, they

shared a common belief that healing was found in nature.

>

> By the 16th century, most medical systems around the world had

adopted the use of herbal medicine. But the tide began to change in

the late 1800s with the development of Western medicine, which

utilizes pharmaceuticals and surgery to treat disease.

>

> In the early 1900s, natural medicine became almost obsolete in

Western civilization. It has only been in recent years that herbs

have begun to regain their reputation as healing agents.

>

>

> How to take herbs

>

> Herbs can be consumed in a variety of ways. The most common are in

the form of teas, capsules or tinctures (liquid preparations).

Hensle prefers capsules because he says the formulas used to make

teas in Chinese herbal medicine take longer to prepare and are not

very palatable.

>

> " Liquids are more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, but

still, the teas taste horrible, " Hensle said. " It's been my

experience if you get good quality pills, they are almost as

effective as the teas. "

>

> According to Hensle, the shelf life for most herbs in pill or

tablet form is three to five years. He also said fresh, unprocessed

herbs will have an odor. If they do not smell, at least a little,

Hensle says they are most likely breaking down and advises to throw

them away.

>

> , owner of the East Village Wellness

Center in Long

Beach, has additional guidelines regarding the storage

of herbs.

is a master herbalist and certified nutritional consultant who

has been in practice for 25 years.

>

> " Certain herbs, like peppermint, have volatile oils and break down

very quickly, " said , who opened her health food store in

2003. " These oils only stay good for about three to six months.

>

> " But then other types of herbs that are rich in minerals, such as

iron-rich yellowdock, will never break down. In my opinion, the

shelf life really comes down to the chemicals in the herb. "

>

>

> Treating with herbs

>

> In treating conditions with herbs, Hensle has found that some work

more quickly than conventional medicines and some take a much longer

time to be effective. As an example, he cites rhubard root, which is

often given for severe constipation.

>

> " This root works much faster than conventional remedies, " said

Hensle. " But that's not the case with all herbs. Every formula is

different and there are many factors that determine how long they

will take to work. "

>

> Deborah recently found fast relief through an herbal

remedy for a condition called " plum pit qi. " The symptoms of this

condition are feeling as though something is stuck in your throat.

>

>

went to her doctor, who, she said, wanted to do invasive

tests to diagnose and treat her condition. She then consulted

Hensle, who gave her an herbal formula.

>

> " I did not want to go through uncomfortable tests, so I consulted

with Dr. Hensle, " said , a resident of Signal Hill. " He gave

me the herbs and after taking them for two weeks, I feel so much

better. "

>

> Mike Blasetti was having a localized stabbing pain in his chest.

Hensle, who believed the problem was more emotional than physical,

gave him an herbal formula that Blasetti says helped him almost

immediately.

>

> " I was very worried about the pain in my chest, but I started

taking the herbs Dr. Hensle gave me and about three days later, I

was feeling pretty good, " said Blasetti, 24, who owns Blasetti

Construction in Long Beach. " I'm all about natural health, so if I

can take something that's not synthetic, that's all the better. "

>

>

>

> Although Hensle is an advocate for natural health remedies, he

places a great deal of value on Western medicine. He said he would

like to see practitioners in both fields work more closely to

determine how to combine both herbal and conventional medicine for

chronic and terminal diseases.

>

> " A lot of Western doctors don't think herbs work, but they are the

basis for many prescription drugs, " Hensle said. " Aspirin comes from

white willow and Valium comes from valerian root. And the weight-

loss drug ephedra is actually another herb known as Mormon's Tea. "

>

> In recent years, there have been at least two deaths related to

ephedra. As a result of these deaths, the sale of over-the-counter

dietary supplements containing ephedra is illegal.

>

> " Ephedra is speed and that's why it's behind the counter, " said

Hensle. " It can accelerate your heart rate so much that if you are

working out, it could cause an aneurism or your heart to blow out. "

>

> Herbal supplements act in the same way as drugs and can create

medical problems when not taken in the correct dosage. Because of

the potential risks and side effects, Hensle and other herbalists

recommend consulting a reputable practitioner who has been properly

trained in herbal medicine.

>

> In addition, the National

Center for Complementary

and Alternative

Medicine says that women who are pregnant or nursing should use

extreme caution in using herbs. This warning also applies to

treating children with herbal preparations.

>

> " I think that many consumers and medical professionals are simply

not educated about healing properties in herbs, " said Mark

Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the American Botanical

Council, a nonprofit organization that provides education to promote

the responsible use of herbal medicine.

>

> " But the bottom line is, there are at least 10,000 herbs known to

have medicinal value and there's so much more we need to learn about

them. I've been studying this for 35 years and feel I've only

scratched the surface. "

>

>

> Luanne J. Hunt is a Hesperia freelance writer.

>