Re: Echinacea?? STOP CALL YOUR DOCTOR STACY

[Guest guest]

CALL YOUR DOCTOR!!!!

CALL YOUR DOCTOR!!!

CALL YOUR DOCTOR!!!

" Natural " medications can sometimes interfere with anesthesia and make you

bleed, stop you from clotting and all sorts of other nasty stuff!

I have been away from this just long enough to know that most surgeons want

to know EVERYTHING that you are taking and know that Echinacea was one of

the ones you were supposed to stop!

Your doctor might be different but please call!

Debbi

AKA: jetskideb

SoCal EDS'er

Re: Echinacea??

Good question about the collagen disorder; I would think EDS would

count, but I'm certainly no expert.

Another thing to know about echinacea is that if you are allergic to

daisies or have hayfever, you will probably have an allergic reaction

to Echinacea. I have that problem; if I take it, I get sicker.

-

Echinacea??

To: ceda

Hi everyone

Everyone in my house is sick with a bad cold right now and I have to

go in for surgery on friday so I can not wind up with this cold! We

went to the drugstore tonight to find out if there was something I

could take. Well she recommended starting to take echinacea right

away (we told her what I was on and she said it was still okay to

take it). I get home and started doing some work on the computer

and went to check if my dad could take the pills too as he has a

hard time finding cold pills because he has angina and glaucoma. I

found this:

Who should not take echinacea?

Echinacea is not recommended for use by people with multiple

sclerosis, white blood cell disorders, collagen disorders, HIV/AIDS,

autoimmune disorders, or tuberculosis.

Now this is going to sound stupid but is EDS considered a collagen

disorder or just a defect? The pharmasist looked it up when we

called to ask about it and found the not taking it with collagen

disorders but no mention of EDS anywhere. Does anyone know anything

about this? Thanks in advance

Stacey

To learn more about EDS, visit our website: http://www.ehlersdanlos.ca

[Guest guest]

CALL YOUR DOCTOR!!!!

CALL YOUR DOCTOR!!!

CALL YOUR DOCTOR!!!

" Natural " medications can sometimes interfere with anesthesia and make you

bleed, stop you from clotting and all sorts of other nasty stuff!

I have been away from this just long enough to know that most surgeons want

to know EVERYTHING that you are taking and know that Echinacea was one of

the ones you were supposed to stop!

Your doctor might be different but please call!

Debbi

AKA: jetskideb

SoCal EDS'er

Re: Echinacea??

Good question about the collagen disorder; I would think EDS would

count, but I'm certainly no expert.

Another thing to know about echinacea is that if you are allergic to

daisies or have hayfever, you will probably have an allergic reaction

to Echinacea. I have that problem; if I take it, I get sicker.

-

Echinacea??

To: ceda

Hi everyone

Everyone in my house is sick with a bad cold right now and I have to

go in for surgery on friday so I can not wind up with this cold! We

went to the drugstore tonight to find out if there was something I

could take. Well she recommended starting to take echinacea right

away (we told her what I was on and she said it was still okay to

take it). I get home and started doing some work on the computer

and went to check if my dad could take the pills too as he has a

hard time finding cold pills because he has angina and glaucoma. I

found this:

Who should not take echinacea?

Echinacea is not recommended for use by people with multiple

sclerosis, white blood cell disorders, collagen disorders, HIV/AIDS,

autoimmune disorders, or tuberculosis.

Now this is going to sound stupid but is EDS considered a collagen

disorder or just a defect? The pharmasist looked it up when we

called to ask about it and found the not taking it with collagen

disorders but no mention of EDS anywhere. Does anyone know anything

about this? Thanks in advance

Stacey

To learn more about EDS, visit our website: http://www.ehlersdanlos.ca

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbi

Thank you for your concern. I only took one echinacia pill before

finding that warning on webmd. Thankfully I looked into seeing if

dad could take it or not to find out that I wasnt supposed to be

taking it either!

Stacey

[Guest guest]

Stacey, I don't think the Zinc would hurt you. See below:

Zinc lozenges have recently gained popularity during cold and flu

season. Patients often ask whether the lozenges relieve the symptoms

or shorten the duration of a cold or flu, or even help prevent them.

Not so much a specific medicine for a specific disease, the lozenges

are rather an effective delivery device for this trace mineral and

can conceivably be used throughout the year.

Pharmacology Zinc functions in numerous physiologically important

processes, but the focus here will be on its relationship to the

immune system. Zinc is bound to proteins--chiefly albumin,

[[alpha].sub.2]-macroglobulin, and transferrin--for transport to

cells. By altering the structure of [[alpha].sub.2]-macroglobulin,

zinc enhances its interaction with cytokines and proteases and

regulates the protein's function within the immune function. [1,3]

Only free zinc ions seem to be biologically active. [4]

Zinc enhances T cells' maturation, homeostasis, and proliferation and

suppresses T-cell death. [1] Despite its demonstrated benefits, there

is concern regarding zinc oversupplementation. Zinc at concentrations

eight times the optimal physiological level inhibits interleukin-1

receptor-associated kinase in T cells. [5] Other studies confirm that

high-dose zinc supplementation in vivo actually inhibits T-cell

function. [6,7] Zinc is also a component of several important

enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, carbonic anhydrase, RNA and

DNA polymerases, and alkaline phosphatase. [8]

Use There is a growing body of research on the effects of zinc

deficiency or supplementation on disease processes. Sazawal and

associates in New Delhi have demonstrated that supplementing Indian

children's diet with zinc reduced the incidence of acute lower

respiratory infections by 45% [9] and of diarrhea by 17% to 33%,

depending on subsequent plasma zinc concentrations. [10] Zinc

supplementation has also been shown to reduce clinical attacks of

malaria in children in developing countries. [11]

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study

of 725 institutionalized elderly patients, [12] low-dose

supplementation of zinc and selenium significantly reduced infectious

events by increasing the humoral response after vaccination. This

could have important public health implications, including reduced

morbidity from respiratory tract infections.

Castillo-Duran et al [13] showed that supplemental zinc acetate

significantly increased serum immunoglobulin A antibodies; Chavakis

and colleagues [14] demonstrated the cellular adhesion mechanisms

through which zinc supports recruitment of leukocytes into inflamed

or injured tissue.

A small study conducted at the Cleveland Clinic [15] in Ohio showed a

clear benefit of zinc supplementation for colds. The median time for

all cold symptoms to disappear was 4.4 days in the zinc group versus

7.6 days in the placebo group. Sore throat symptoms disappeared

within 1 day versus 3 days in the zinc group and the placebo group,

respectively; nasal drainage lasted 4 days versus 7 days,

respectively. The researchers speculate that zinc may prevent the

replication of cold viruses, especially the rhinovirus.

Garland and Hagmeyer [16] analyzed all studies of zinc lozenges used

to treat the common cold in adults between January 1966 and June

1997. Just 50% of these double-blind, placebo-controlled trials

produced favorable results. However, the researchers speculate that

the discrepancy may be attributable to inadequate placebo control,

formulation of the lozenge, and the dose of zinc used.

Contraindications Although zinc may adversely affect the health of a

patient who takes it in excess, no studies have found

contraindications for either normal daily zinc intake or

supplementation as recommended in dietary guidelines. Some texts

state directly that there are no contraindications.

Drug Interactions Zinc has not been shown to interfere with drug

action. However, use of some drugs (eg, loop diuretics and long-term

diuretic therapy) depletes the body's stores of this essential

nutrient. Zinc levels are also depleted during pregnancy and oral

contraceptive use. [17]

Adverse Effects Zinc is relatively safe when normal daily dosing is

used, and acute zinc toxicity is rare. Ingestion of zinc in large

amounts will cause vomiting and diarrhea. [8] In most studies on

zinc, adverse reactions included unpleasant taste, mouth irritation,

and nausea--the most common limiting factors in zinc-related studies.

[15,16]

> Hi Debbi

>

> Thank you for your concern. I only took one echinacia pill before

> finding that warning on webmd. Thankfully I looked into seeing if

> dad could take it or not to find out that I wasnt supposed to be

> taking it either!

>

> Stacey

[Guest guest]

???Thankfully I looked into seeing if

> dad could take it or not to find out that I wasnt supposed to be

> taking it either!<<<<

I AM SO GLAD !

I have some horror stories that none of you want to hear about " natural "

over the counter " herbs " that have caused death in surgical patients. These

patients did not tell the surgeon or the gasser that they were taking these

things because they were asked what 'MEDS' they were taking. Most of us do

not consider herbs and all that to be meds but THEY ARE!

IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO TELL YOU DOCTOR E v e r y t h I n g that you are

taking at least 7 days before a surgery so that they can tell you what to

stop taking.

Just because it is " natural " does NOT mean that it does not have

interactions with the meds that they give you in surgery/the surgery and

post op healing/bleeding process.

EVERYTHING means EVERYTHING!

Debbi

AKA: jetskideb

SoCal EDS'er

Re: Echinacea?? STOP CALL YOUR DOCTOR STACY

Stacey, I don't think the Zinc would hurt you. See below:

Zinc lozenges have recently gained popularity during cold and flu

season. Patients often ask whether the lozenges relieve the symptoms

or shorten the duration of a cold or flu, or even help prevent them.

Not so much a specific medicine for a specific disease, the lozenges

are rather an effective delivery device for this trace mineral and

can conceivably be used throughout the year.

Pharmacology Zinc functions in numerous physiologically important

processes, but the focus here will be on its relationship to the

immune system. Zinc is bound to proteins--chiefly albumin,

[[alpha].sub.2]-macroglobulin, and transferrin--for transport to

cells. By altering the structure of [[alpha].sub.2]-macroglobulin,

zinc enhances its interaction with cytokines and proteases and

regulates the protein's function within the immune function. [1,3]

Only free zinc ions seem to be biologically active. [4]

Zinc enhances T cells' maturation, homeostasis, and proliferation and

suppresses T-cell death. [1] Despite its demonstrated benefits, there

is concern regarding zinc oversupplementation. Zinc at concentrations

eight times the optimal physiological level inhibits interleukin-1

receptor-associated kinase in T cells. [5] Other studies confirm that

high-dose zinc supplementation in vivo actually inhibits T-cell

function. [6,7] Zinc is also a component of several important

enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, carbonic anhydrase, RNA and

DNA polymerases, and alkaline phosphatase. [8]

Use There is a growing body of research on the effects of zinc

deficiency or supplementation on disease processes. Sazawal and

associates in New Delhi have demonstrated that supplementing Indian

children's diet with zinc reduced the incidence of acute lower

respiratory infections by 45% [9] and of diarrhea by 17% to 33%,

depending on subsequent plasma zinc concentrations. [10] Zinc

supplementation has also been shown to reduce clinical attacks of

malaria in children in developing countries. [11]

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study

of 725 institutionalized elderly patients, [12] low-dose

supplementation of zinc and selenium significantly reduced infectious

events by increasing the humoral response after vaccination. This

could have important public health implications, including reduced

morbidity from respiratory tract infections.

Castillo-Duran et al [13] showed that supplemental zinc acetate

significantly increased serum immunoglobulin A antibodies; Chavakis

and colleagues [14] demonstrated the cellular adhesion mechanisms

through which zinc supports recruitment of leukocytes into inflamed

or injured tissue.

A small study conducted at the Cleveland Clinic [15] in Ohio showed a

clear benefit of zinc supplementation for colds. The median time for

all cold symptoms to disappear was 4.4 days in the zinc group versus

7.6 days in the placebo group. Sore throat symptoms disappeared

within 1 day versus 3 days in the zinc group and the placebo group,

respectively; nasal drainage lasted 4 days versus 7 days,

respectively. The researchers speculate that zinc may prevent the

replication of cold viruses, especially the rhinovirus.

Garland and Hagmeyer [16] analyzed all studies of zinc lozenges used

to treat the common cold in adults between January 1966 and June

1997. Just 50% of these double-blind, placebo-controlled trials

produced favorable results. However, the researchers speculate that

the discrepancy may be attributable to inadequate placebo control,

formulation of the lozenge, and the dose of zinc used.

Contraindications Although zinc may adversely affect the health of a

patient who takes it in excess, no studies have found

contraindications for either normal daily zinc intake or

supplementation as recommended in dietary guidelines. Some texts

state directly that there are no contraindications.

Drug Interactions Zinc has not been shown to interfere with drug

action. However, use of some drugs (eg, loop diuretics and long-term

diuretic therapy) depletes the body's stores of this essential

nutrient. Zinc levels are also depleted during pregnancy and oral

contraceptive use. [17]

Adverse Effects Zinc is relatively safe when normal daily dosing is

used, and acute zinc toxicity is rare. Ingestion of zinc in large

amounts will cause vomiting and diarrhea. [8] In most studies on

zinc, adverse reactions included unpleasant taste, mouth irritation,

and nausea--the most common limiting factors in zinc-related studies.

[15,16]

> Hi Debbi

>

> Thank you for your concern. I only took one echinacia pill before

> finding that warning on webmd. Thankfully I looked into seeing if

> dad could take it or not to find out that I wasnt supposed to be

> taking it either!

>

> Stacey

To learn more about EDS, visit our website: http://www.ehlersdanlos.ca

[Guest guest]

Stacey, I don't think the Zinc would hurt you. See below:>>>>

Perhaps not but.......

Debbi

AKA: jetskideb

SoCal EDS'er

Re: Echinacea?? STOP CALL YOUR DOCTOR STACY

Stacey, I don't think the Zinc would hurt you. See below:

Zinc lozenges have recently gained popularity during cold and flu

season. Patients often ask whether the lozenges relieve the symptoms

or shorten the duration of a cold or flu, or even help prevent them.

Not so much a specific medicine for a specific disease, the lozenges

are rather an effective delivery device for this trace mineral and

can conceivably be used throughout the year.

Pharmacology Zinc functions in numerous physiologically important

processes, but the focus here will be on its relationship to the

immune system. Zinc is bound to proteins--chiefly albumin,

[[alpha].sub.2]-macroglobulin, and transferrin--for transport to

cells. By altering the structure of [[alpha].sub.2]-macroglobulin,

zinc enhances its interaction with cytokines and proteases and

regulates the protein's function within the immune function. [1,3]

Only free zinc ions seem to be biologically active. [4]

Zinc enhances T cells' maturation, homeostasis, and proliferation and

suppresses T-cell death. [1] Despite its demonstrated benefits, there

is concern regarding zinc oversupplementation. Zinc at concentrations

eight times the optimal physiological level inhibits interleukin-1

receptor-associated kinase in T cells. [5] Other studies confirm that

high-dose zinc supplementation in vivo actually inhibits T-cell

function. [6,7] Zinc is also a component of several important

enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, carbonic anhydrase, RNA and

DNA polymerases, and alkaline phosphatase. [8]

Use There is a growing body of research on the effects of zinc

deficiency or supplementation on disease processes. Sazawal and

associates in New Delhi have demonstrated that supplementing Indian

children's diet with zinc reduced the incidence of acute lower

respiratory infections by 45% [9] and of diarrhea by 17% to 33%,

depending on subsequent plasma zinc concentrations. [10] Zinc

supplementation has also been shown to reduce clinical attacks of

malaria in children in developing countries. [11]

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study

of 725 institutionalized elderly patients, [12] low-dose

supplementation of zinc and selenium significantly reduced infectious

events by increasing the humoral response after vaccination. This

could have important public health implications, including reduced

morbidity from respiratory tract infections.

Castillo-Duran et al [13] showed that supplemental zinc acetate

significantly increased serum immunoglobulin A antibodies; Chavakis

and colleagues [14] demonstrated the cellular adhesion mechanisms

through which zinc supports recruitment of leukocytes into inflamed

or injured tissue.

A small study conducted at the Cleveland Clinic [15] in Ohio showed a

clear benefit of zinc supplementation for colds. The median time for

all cold symptoms to disappear was 4.4 days in the zinc group versus

7.6 days in the placebo group. Sore throat symptoms disappeared

within 1 day versus 3 days in the zinc group and the placebo group,

respectively; nasal drainage lasted 4 days versus 7 days,

respectively. The researchers speculate that zinc may prevent the

replication of cold viruses, especially the rhinovirus.

Garland and Hagmeyer [16] analyzed all studies of zinc lozenges used

to treat the common cold in adults between January 1966 and June

1997. Just 50% of these double-blind, placebo-controlled trials

produced favorable results. However, the researchers speculate that

the discrepancy may be attributable to inadequate placebo control,

formulation of the lozenge, and the dose of zinc used.

Contraindications Although zinc may adversely affect the health of a

patient who takes it in excess, no studies have found

contraindications for either normal daily zinc intake or

supplementation as recommended in dietary guidelines. Some texts

state directly that there are no contraindications.

Drug Interactions Zinc has not been shown to interfere with drug

action. However, use of some drugs (eg, loop diuretics and long-term

diuretic therapy) depletes the body's stores of this essential

nutrient. Zinc levels are also depleted during pregnancy and oral

contraceptive use. [17]

Adverse Effects Zinc is relatively safe when normal daily dosing is

used, and acute zinc toxicity is rare. Ingestion of zinc in large

amounts will cause vomiting and diarrhea. [8] In most studies on

zinc, adverse reactions included unpleasant taste, mouth irritation,

and nausea--the most common limiting factors in zinc-related studies.

[15,16]

> Hi Debbi

>

> Thank you for your concern. I only took one echinacia pill before

> finding that warning on webmd. Thankfully I looked into seeing if

> dad could take it or not to find out that I wasnt supposed to be

> taking it either!

>

> Stacey

To learn more about EDS, visit our website: http://www.ehlersdanlos.ca