Beth/others - Natural remedies

[Guest guest]

Beth - I appreciate the comprehensive information that you are

posting on each of these. I want to issue one caution to all

parents -- that I don't think anyone should be giving any of these

to your children unless you meet with a homeopathic physician or

physician experienced with alternative medicine and GI issues first.

A couple days ago after the other email that came, I called a local

GI here that we use -- he is Asian and embraces a lot of alternative

medicine. His message back to me was not detailed, unfortunately.

But he said that " none of these would be particularly beneficial to

, except ginger when she is feeling sick to her stomach " but

some children may find some relief if they have mild GI distress.

That none are known for reducing reflux or improving delayed gastric

emptying. Also as a reminder that most alternative medicines are

dosed for an adult, so that it is critical that an expert provides

the parent with the right dose for your child, and not a salesperson

in a store. There are many good homeopathic physicians in most

larger towns, and some smaller ones, I believe.

I do believe that natural remedies can be incredibly helpful with a

large number of problems. For example, I got a bad cold sore on my

lip a week before New Year's. I was able to get a natural remedy

for herpes sores and took several pills multiple times a day. My

cold sore clearly up faster and cleaner than they have ever in my

life cleared up before!!!! I am a firm believer in that one now!

And echanasia (spelling?) -- man, when I am taking a plane trip now,

or feeling a cold coming on, I take 3-4 pills several times a day

and I have been beating those colds off with a big bat.

Beth, I haven't been as up to date on the listserve, and I apologize

if you recently posted this. What is your child's name and how old

are they? How is she or he doing in terms of weight and height?

Has she or he been diagnosed with reflux, delayed gastric emptying

or other gut dysmotility disorders common with RSS/SGA?

Salem

>

> As a follow up with more detailed information on Ginger that can

be

> used to help alleviate digestive problems, I have pasted below a

> part of a peer-reviewed medical resource called Healthnotes. This

> resource was the brainchild of one of the most respected

alternative

> medical doctors, Alan Gaby, MD. Gaby is a professor at the most

> prestigious alternative medical college in the nation, Bastyr

> University, so I feel very comfortable as to the accuracy and

> reliability of this information.

>

> So you feel completely comfortable with the accuracy, I am copying

a

> summary of a description of the publication. The Healthnotes

> writing team is composed of experts in complementary and

alternative

> medicine from the fields of medicine, pharmacy, nursing,

> naturopathy, public health, and chiropractic, overseen by our

Chief

> Medical Editor, Alan Gaby, MD. No other organization has a group

> with so much combined expertise as practitioners and educators in

> this emerging field. Crucial to the integrity of Healthnotes

> information is the balance, objectivity, and discipline upon which

> our writers insist. Combing through over 550 journals on a

regular

> basis, the team prides itself on being completely up-to-date in

each

> member's area of expertise.

>

> Beth

>

> GINGER

>

> Botanical name: Zingiber officinale

>

> HEALTH CONDITIONS

> Motion sickness, Osteoarthritis, Epilepsy, Indigestion, Irritable

> bowel syndrome, Morning sickness, Vertigo, Atherosclerosis, Hay

> fever, low back pain, Migraine headaches, Rheumatoid arthritis

>

>

>

>

>

> BOTANY

> Ginger is a perennial plant that grows in India, China, Mexico,

and

> several other countries. The rhizome (underground stem) is used as

> both a spice and in herbal medicine.

>

> HISTORICAL or TRADITIONAL USE

> Traditional Chinese Medicine has recommended ginger for over 2,500

> years. It is used for abdominal bloating, coughing, vomiting,

> diarrhea, and rheumatism. Ginger is commonly used in the Ayurvedic

> and Tibb systems of medicine for the treatment of inflammatory

joint

> diseases, such as arthritis and rheumatism.

>

> ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS and PROPOSED MECHANISM of ACTION

> The dried rhizome of ginger contains approximately 1–4% volatile

> oils. These are the medically active constituents of ginger and

are

> also responsible for ginger's characteristic odor and taste. The

> aromatic constituents include zingiberene and bisabolene, while

the

> pungent constituents are known as gingerols and shogaols.(1) The

> pungent constituents are credited with the anti-nausea and anti-

> vomiting effects of ginger.

>

> In humans, ginger is thought to act directly on the

gastrointestinal

> system to reduce nausea.(2) Ginger has been shown to reduce the

> symptoms of motion sickness associated with travel by boat and, to

a

> lesser extent, car.(3 4 5) Two double-blind clinical trials have

> found that ginger may reduce nausea due to anesthesia following

> surgery,(6 ))7 although one trial could not confirm this benefit.

(8)

> A preliminary trial has suggested ginger may be helpful for

> preventing chemotherapy -induced nausea. (9)

>

> While ginger is a popular remedy for nausea of pregnancy, it has

> only been clinically studied for very severe nausea and vomiting

> known as hyperemesis gravidarum.(10) This condition is life

> threatening and should only be treated by a qualified healthcare

> professional. Because ginger contains some compounds that cause

> chromosomal mutation in vitro , some doctors are concerned about

the

> safety of using ginger during pregnancy. However, the available

> clinical research, combined with the fact that ginger is widely

used

> in the diet of certain cultures, suggests that prudent use of

ginger

> for morning sickness is safe in amounts up to 1 gram per day.

>

> Ginger is considered a tonic for the digestive tract, stimulating

> digestion and toning the intestinal muscles.(11) This action eases

> the transport of substances through the digestive tract, lessening

> irritation to the intestinal walls.(12) Ginger may protect the

> stomach from the damaging effect of alcohol and non-steroidal anti-

> inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen) and may help

prevent

> ulcers.(13)

>

> Ginger also supports cardiovascular health. Ginger may make blood

> platelets less sticky and less likely to aggregate.(14 15)

However,

> not all human research has confirmed this.(16 17)

>

> RECOMMENDED DOSAGE

> For prevention or treatment of motion sickness, 500 mg of dried

> ginger powder can be taken one-half to one hour before travel, and

> then 500 mg every two to four hours as necessary. Children below

the

> age of six should use one-half the adult amount. For the treatment

> of nausea associated with pregnancy, women can take up to 1 gram

> daily,(18) but should only use ginger for symptomatic relief of

> nausea and not on an ongoing basis. Ginger may potentially be used

> for nausea associated with anesthesia or chemotherapy, but only

> under the supervision of a physician.

>

> CONTRAINDICATIONS

> Side effects due to ginger are rare when used as recommended.

> However, some people sensitive to the taste may experience

> heartburn. People with a history of gallstones should consult a

> doctor before using ginger.(19) Short-term use of ginger for

nausea

> and vomiting during pregnancy appears to pose no safety problems.

> However, long-term use during pregnancy is not recommended. A

doctor

> should be informed if ginger is used before surgery as the herb

may

> increase bleeding. Are there any drug interactions? Certain

> medicines may interact with ginger. Refer to drug interactions for

a

> list of those medicines.

>

>

> REFERENCES:

> 1. Tyler VE. Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of

> Phytomedicinals. Binghamton, NY: Pharmaceutical Products Press,

> 1994, 39–42.

> 2. Holtmann S, e AH, Scherer H, Hohn M. The anti-motion

> sickness mechanism of ginger. A comparative study with placebo and

> dimenhydrinate. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 1989;108:168–74.

> 3. Grontved A, Brask T, Kambskard J, Hentzer E. Ginger root

against

> seasickness. Acta Otolaryngol 1988;105:45–9.

> 4. Ribenfeld D, Borzone L. Randomized double-blind study comparing

> ginger (Zintona®) with dimenhydrinate in motion sickness.

> Healthnotes Rev Complementary Integrative Med 1999;6:98–101.

> 5. Careddu P. Motion sickness in children: Results of a double-

blind

> study with ginger (Zintona®) and dimenhydrinate. Healthnotes Rev

> Complementary Integrative Med 1999;6:102–7.

> 6. Bone ME, Wilkinson DJ, Young JR, et al. Ginger root—a new

> antiemetic: The effect of ginger root on postoperative nausea and

> vomiting after major gynaecological surgery. Anaesthesia

> 1990;45:669–

> 71.

> 7. S, Ruggier R, Hutchingson SE. Zingiber officinale

> (ginger)—an antiemetic for day case surgery. Anaesthesia

> 1993;48:715–

> 7.

> 8. Arfeen Z, Owen H, Plummer JL, et al. A double-blind randomized

> controlled trial of ginger for the prevention of postoperative

> nausea and vomiting. Anaesthesia 1995;23:449–52

> 9. Meyer K, Schwartz J, Craer D, Keyes B. Zingiber officinale

> (ginger) used to prevent 8-Mop associated nausea. Dermatol Nursing

> 1995;7:242–4.

> 10. Langner E, Greifenberg S, Gruenwald J. Ginger: History and

use.

> Adv Ther 1998;15:25–44 [review].

> 11. Bradley PR (ed). British Herbal Compendium, vol 1.

Bournemouth,

> Dorset, UK: British Herbal Medicine Association, 1992, 112–4.

> 12. Yamahara J, Huang QR, Li YH, et al. Gastrointestinal motility

> enhancing effect of ginger and its active constituents. Chem Pharm

> Bull 1990;38:430–1.

> 13. al-Yahya MA, Rafatullah S, Mossa JS, et al. Gastroprotective

> activity of ginger in albino rats. Am J Chinese Med 1989;17:51–6.

> 14. Bordia A, Verma SK, Srivastava KC. Effect of ginger (Zingiber

> officinale Rosc) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L) on

blood

> lipids, blood sugar, and platelet aggregation in patients with

> coronary artery disease. Prostagland Leukotrienes Essential Fatty

> Acids 1997;56:379–84.

> 15. Verma SK, Singh J, Khamesra R, Bordia A. Effect of ginger on

> platelet aggregation in man. Indian J Med Res 1994;98:240–2.

> 16. Lumb AB. Effect of dried ginger on human platelet function.

> Thromb Haemost 1994;7:110–1.

> 17. Janssen PL, Meyboom S, van Staveren WA, et al. Consumption of

> ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) does not affect ex vivo

platelet

> thromboxane production in humans. Eur J Clin Nutr 1996;50:772–4.

> 18. Brown DJ. Herbal Prescriptions for Better Health. Rocklin, CA:

> Prima Publishing, 1996, 111–8.

> 19. Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al. (eds). The Complete

> Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines.

> Boston, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications, 1998, 135–6.

>

> Copyright © 2004 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved.

> www.healthnotes.com

>

>

> * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug

> Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose,

treat,

> cure or prevent any disease.