Category: Health Concerns

Herbs for Metabolism and Weight Loss

Dana Myatt, N.D.

Definition: Overweight is body fat in excess often pounds above lean body mass index. Obesity is defined as 20% excess fat above lean body mass index. (BMI).1

Scope of the Problem: An estimated 34% of American adults are overweight with 25% being fully obese.2 more recent studies have suggested that as many as 75% of the adult population is at least some degree above their ideal body mass index.

Risk; Excess body fat is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, Type II diabetes, stroke (cerebrovascalar accident)3, various cancers (including prostate, all gynecological cancers4 5, gallbladder and colon cancer), benign prostatic hypertrophy6, cholelithiasis, infertility, arthritis, degenerative joint disease7, and impaired immune function.8 At only ten pounds above lean body mass index, most of these risks are increased, and the risk increases with increasing body fat.9 Heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. This makes overweight/obesity the single biggest controllable risk factor for disease, and offers a major opportunity for disease prevention and risk intervention.

1Merkow R., Fletcher A. editors. The Merck Manual. 1992; 984
2Davis DL, et al. Decreasing cardiovascular disease and increasing cancer among whites in the United States from 1973 through 1987. JAMA 1994; 271:431-7
3Willett WC, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, et al. Weight, weight changes, and coronary heart disease in women. JAMA 1995; 273:461-5
4Hunter DJ, Hankinson S£, Colditz GA, et al. Very low fat diets and risk of breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol 1996; 143
5Willett WC, et al. Dietary fat and fiber hi Relation to Risk of Breast Cancer. JAMA 1992; 268:2037-44.
6Giovannucci E, Rimm EB, Chute CG, et al. Obesity and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Am J Epidemiol 1994; 140:989-1002.
7Eichner ER. Infection, immunity, and exercise: What to tell patients. Physician Sports Medicine 1993;21:125-33.
8Palmblad J, Hallberg D, and Rossner S. Obesity, plasma lipids and polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocyte functions. Scand JHeamatol 1977;19:293-303.
9Manson JE, Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, et al. Body weight and mortality among women. NEngUMed 1995; 333:677-85.

Action of Herbs for Overweight/Obesity

antioxidants: herbs that prevent free radical damage and control increased oxidative stress created by fat loss.

aperient: mild laxatives.

carminatives: herbs that help the body expel gas from the stomach, small intestines, or colon.

diuretic: herbs that stimulate the flow of urine

fiber: indigestible plant cell walls that have a variety of effects including increased fecal weight and size, delayed gastric emptying, unproved bowel transit time, cholesterol lowering and satiety.

nutritives: herbs that nourish. They usually have a high mineral content.

psychotropics: herbs used to affect mood.

stimulants: herbs that quicken functional action. They are usually, but not always, thermogenic.

thermogenics: herbs that increase basal metabolic rate. (BMR).

tonics: herbs that tone a physical system or function.

An Extremely Concise Materia Medica

Ephedra ( Ephedra sinica, E. vulgaris, E. nevadensis, E. antisyphihtica & other species) action: stimulant, thermogenic.

Kola ( Cola nitida, C. vera, C. accuminata) action: stimulant, tkermogemc.

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) action: tonic to connective tissue via stimulation of glycosaminoglycan synthesis.1

Aesculus (Aesculus hippocastanum) action: venous tonic.2

i^ucus (Fucus vesiculosus) action: nutritive, esp. to thyroid gland due to high iodine content.

Silybum (silybum marianum) action: antioxidant. liver tonic and stimulant.

Taraxacum (Taraxacum officinale) action: aperient, nutritive, dieuretic.

Tea (Camellia sinesis) action: autioxidant, stimulant, thermogenic, lowers cholesterol.3

Bromelain (Ananas comosus) action: appetite inhibition and enhanced fat excretion.4

Coffee (Coffea arabica) caffeine/rnethylxanthine containing herbs action: stimulant, thermogenic.

Fiber (includes guar gum,psyllium, oat bran, wheat bran, pectin, vegetable fiber) action: satiety, decreases absorbed calories, stabilizes blood sugar levels, improves bowel transit time, aids excretion of cholesterol.5 6

Fructose action: greater thermogenesis as compared to glucose.7 8

Essential Fatty Acids: action: normalizes brown fat activity.910

Urtica (Urtica dioica) action: dieuretic, clears tissue acids, nutritive.

Mate (Ilex paraguayensis) action: stimulant, thermogenic.

Papaya ( Carica papaya) action: digestant.

Hypericum (Hypericumperforatum) action: psychotrophic.

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum, P. hortense, P. sativum) action: dieuretic, nutritive, carminative.

l.Pointel, JP, Boccalon H, Cloarec M, et al. Titrated extract of centella asiatica (TECA) in the treatment of venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. Angiology 1987; 46-50
2.Aniioui F, Mauri A, Marincola F, and Kesele L.F. Venotonic activity of escin on the liurnan saphenous vein. Arzneim-Forsch 1979; 29:672-5.
3.Kouo S., et al. Green tea consumption and serum lipid profiles: a cross-sectional study in northern Kyushu, Japan. PrevMed 1992; 21;526-31.
4.Taussig S,, Batkin S. Broinelain, the enzyme complex of pineapple (Ananas coruosus) and its clinical application. JEthnopharm 1988; 22: 191-203.
S.Krotkiewski M. effect of guar on body weight, hunger ratings and metabolism in obese subjects. Clinical Science 1984; 66: 329-336.
6.Glore SR, et al, Soluable fiber and serum lipids: A literature review. J Am Diet Assoc 1994; 94: 425-36.
7.Schwarz JM, et al. Thermogenesis in men and women induced by fructose vs glucose added to a meal. Am J Clin Nutr 1989; 49: 667-74.
8. Macdonald I. differences in dietary-induced thermogenesis following the ingestion of various carbohydrates. Ann Nutr Metab 1984; 28:226-30.
9.Garcia CM, et al. Gamma iinoleiiic acid causes weight loss and lower blood pressure in overweight patients with family history of obesity. SwedJBiol Med 1986; 4:8-11.
 

Hormone Balance:

Chemical Messengers are Key to Aging Gracefully

Hormones are “chemical messengers” in the body. Together with the nervous system, hormones regulate every aspect of bodily function.

Hormones include male and female sex hormones, adrenal hormones, thyroid, pituitary and “brain hormones,” also called neurotransmitters.

Decreased levels of thyroid hormone can lead to sluggishness, forgetfulness, weight gain and high cholesterol levels. Excess thyroid hormone can cause irregular heart beats, fast heart rate, unintended weight loss, jitteriness and even death.

Altered levels of the adrenal hormones affect heart rate, metabolism and energy, blood pressure and immune function to name just a few.

The “sex hormones” (male and female) not only control fertility and male and female sexual characteristics, but declining levels of these hormones are associated with aging, premature aging, heart disease osteoporosis, mood disorders and the aging process in general.

Imbalanced brain hormones, also called NeuroTransmitters (NT’s) are associated with all manner of mood disorders including depression, anxiety, insomnia, ADD/ADHD and other brain and nervous system disorders. Changes in BT levels are also associated with brain and nervous system diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.

Keeping youthful, balanced hormone levels goes a long way toward preventing “age related” illnesses and the aging process in general.

Top Hormone Balancing Recommendations and Hormone-Related Health Concerns

Hormone Balancing Supplements and Hormone-Related Health Concerns 
DHEA
HerBalance with Pregnenelone
L-5-HTP
Mega Soy
Melatonin
Ostaderm
Progonol
Saw Palmetto
Thyroid Cytotropin
Vitex

Adrenal Health
 DHEA
7-Keto-DHEA

Thyroid Hormone Health
Thyroid Cytotropin

Men’s Hormone Health
 Male Hormone Profile
 Korean (Panax) Ginseng
Mega Soy
Prostate Support
Saw Palmetto
St. John’s Wort
Vitex

NeuroTransmitter
(Brain Hormone) Health
 NeuroTransmitter Profile
DHEA
L-5-HTP
St. John’s Wort
St. John’s Wort Plus+
Syncholamine

 Women’s Hormone Health
Female Hormone Profile (Post Menopausal)
Female Hormone Profile (Pre Menopausal)
 Black Cohosh Plus+
DHEA
Korean (Panax) Ginseng
HerBalance with Pregnenelone
Mega Soy
Melatonin
Ostaderm
Progonol

HAIR LOSS

(Male Pattern Baldness, Female Pattern Baldness, Alopecia, Toxic Baldness)

Many physical imbalances and illnesses can cause hair loss. It is important to get an annual physical exam AND to consult a physician if hair loss is sudden in onset or severe. If no obvious cause can be found, then genetic factors, decreased scalp circulation, hormone changes and aging are the potential causes. Certain medications and diseases can also cause hair loss. An alternative medicine physician can give you further assistance in exploring such causes of hair loss.

Male and female pattern baldness is most often related to genetic factors and aging levels of hormones. Male and female hormone testing and replacement therapy can aid this type of hair loss.

Toxic hair loss, such as that caused by chemotherapy drugs, will return 3-4 months after the offending agent is discontinued.

Alopecia is a form of patchy or sometimes complete baldness that is often due to an autoimmune condition.

DIET AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Follow a healthy diet and lifestyle as outlined in the Ten Rules of Good Health.
  • Massage the scalp daily for five minutes, moving skin of scalp over underlying bone.
  • Practice head and neck exercises daily.

PRIMARY SUPPORT

  • Maxi Multi: 3 caps, 3 times per day with meals. Optimal (not minimal) doses of antioxidants (A,C,E,selenium) are particularly important for normal hair growth. Free radical insult to the scalp is felt to be a significant contributing factor to hair loss.
  • Crudeolum Shampoo: Use this each time you shampoo hair. Massage into scalp; leave on for five minutes or more, rinse. This shampoo is very stimulating to the scalp.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

For Male and Female pattern baldness:

  • Saw Palmetto 1 cap, 2 times per day. This is useful in both men and women since it blocks the conversion of excess DHT. A hormone profile is highly recommended to determine the exact nature of male and female hormone imbalances.

For Alopecia:

Please refer to recommendations for autoimmune diseases

DR. MYATT’S COMMENTS:
Additional support will depend on the cause of hair loss. In men, male pattern baldness usually requires hormone balancing. Females with male pattern baldness often also have a hormone imbalance, too. This is best addressed with the help of an alternative medicine physician who can recommend and evaluate hormone levels by using a hormone profile test.

HEALTH APPRAISAL

Health – COMPREHENSIVE

NAME _____________________________________________________ DATE _________________

CIRCLE the number which best describes the frequency of your symptoms. If you do not know the answer to the question, leave it blank. When you are finished, please add the number of points in each section and enter the number in the Total Points box. The points for YES is the number inside the parenthesis ( ).

(0) never or rarely     (1) twice a week or less    (2) Three to six times a week     (3) daily

 

PART I

Section A 1.  Indigestion 0 1 2 3 2.  Excessive belching, burping and/or bloating 0 1 2 3 3.  Gas immediately following a meal 0 1 2 3 4.  Sense of fullness during and after meals 0 1 2 3 5.  Poor appetite, disinterest in food 0 1 2 3 6.  Offensive breath 0 1 2 3 7.  Bad taste in mouth 0 1 2 3 8.  Partial loss of taste of smell 0 1 2 3 9.  Difficult bowel movements 0 1 2 3 10.  Difficulty swallowing 0 1 2 3 11.  Unintentional weight loss N     Y(5) 12.  History of anemia, unresponsive to iron N     Y(5) 13.  Vegetarian (no eggs, dairy) N     Y(3) 14.  Picky eater N     Y(3) 15.  Spoon shaped nails N     Y(3) 16.  Sores in corner of mouth N     Y(3) 17.  Smooth tongue N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section C 1.  Stomach pain, burning, aching 1-4 hrs. after eating 0 1 2 3 2.  Feeling hungry an hour or two after eating 0 1 2 3 3.  Strong emotions, thought, smell of food aggravates stomach 0 1 2 3 4.  Heartburn, especially when lying down or bending forward 0 1 2 3 5.  Heartburn due to spicy and fatty foods, chocolate, peppers, citrus, alcohol, caffeine 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty or pain when swallowing 0 1 2 3 7.  Chest pain, difficulty breathing, lung infections 0 1 2 3 8.  Constipation, difficult bowel movements 0 1 2 3 9.  Black, lorry stool 0 1 2 3 10.  Unexplained weight gain N     Y(5) 11.  Temporary relief from antacids, carbonated beverages, cream/milk/food N     Y(5) 12.  Digestive problems subside with rest and relaxation N     Y(5)   Total Points __________ Section B 1.  Indigestion and fullness lasts 2-4 hours after eating 0 1 2 3 2.  Pain, tenderness, soreness on left side under rib cage 0 1 2 3 3.  Bloated 0 1 2 3 4.  Excessive passage of gas 0 1 2 3 5.  Abdominal cramps, aches 0 1 2 3 6.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 7.  Dry, flaky skin, dry brittle hair 0 1 2 3 8.  Difficulty gaining weight 0 1 2 3 9.  Weakness and fatigue 0 1 2 3 10.  Specific foods/beverages aggravate indigestion 0 1 2 3 11.  Roughage and fiber causes constipation 0 1 2 3 12.  Three or more large bowel movements daily 0 1 2 3 13.  Alternating constipation and diarrhea 0 1 2 3 14.  Stool poorly formed 0 1 2 3 15.  Stool – undigested food 0 1 2 3 16.  Stool – greasy, shiny 0 1 2 3 17.  Stool yellowish, foul smelling 0 1 2 3 18.  Mucus in stool 0 1 2 3 19.  Black stool 0 1 2 3 20.  Rectal spasms 0 1 2 3 21.  Dark urine 0 1 2 3 22.  Bone and back pain 0 1 2 3 23.  Pounding heart 0 1 2 3 24.  Iron deficiency anemia 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________

Section D 1.  Lower abdominal pain, cramping and/or spasms 0 1 2 3 2.  Lower abdominal pain relief by passing stool or gas 0 1 2 3 3.  Raw fruits, vegetables and stress aggravate bowel pain 0 1 2 3 4.  Diarrhea (loose watery stool) 0 1 2 3 5.  More than three bowel movements daily 0 1 2 3 6.  Excessive gas and bloating 0 1 2 3 7.  Painful, difficult, straining during bowel movements 0 1 2 3 8.  Hard, dry or small stool 0 1 2 3 9.  Extremely narrow stools, thin stool 0 1 2 3 10.  Alternating diarrhea / constipation 0 1 2 3 11.  Mucus and pus in stool 0 1 2 3 12.  Feeling that bowels do not empty completely 0 1 2 3 13.  Rectal pain or cramps 0 1 2 3 14.  Bright red blood following bowel movement 0 1 2 3 15.  Anal itching 0 1 2 3 16.  Irritable, moody 0 1 2 3 17.  Rash under breast, armpit, around navel or groin area N     Y(5) 18.  Feel ill in damp, moldy settings or rainy weather N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART II

Section A 1.  Moderate to severe pain under right side of rib cage 0 1 2 3 2.  Abdominal pain worse with deep breathing 0 1 2 3 3.  Bitter fluid repeats after eating 0 1 2 3 4.  Bloated, full feeling 0 1 2 3 5.  Belching, heartburn, gas 0 1 2 3 6.  Fatty foods cause indigestion 0 1 2 3 7.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 8.  Feel restless, agitated, angry 0 1 2 3 9.  Unexplained itchy skin worse at night 0 1 2 3 10.  Yellowish cast to skin, eyes 0 1 2 3 11.  Stool color alternates from clay colored to normal brown 0 1 2 3 12.  General feeling of poor health 0 1 2 3 13.  Fatigue, weakness, exhaustion 0 1 2 3 14.  Unable to concentrate, irritable, confused 0 1 2 3 15.  Aching muscles 0 1 2 3 16.  Trembling hands 0 1 2 3 17.  Weight gain due to water retention 0 1 2 3 18.  Swollen feet and or legs 0 1 2 3 19.  Bleeding tendencies in gums, nose 0 1 2 3 20.  Loss of chest and armpit hair 0 1 2 3 21.  Reddened skin, especially palms 0 1 2 3 22.  Dark urine, diminished flow 0 1 2 3 23.  Dry, flaky skin and/or hair N     Y(3) 24.  Loss of appetite and weight N     Y(3) 25.  Easy bruising N     Y(3) 26.  Thinning of pubic hair N     Y(3) 27.  Feeling of extreme dryness N     Y(3) 28.  Loss of skin elasticity N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section B 1.  Tired, sluggish 0 1 2 3 2.  Feel cold, hands, feet, all over 0 1 2 3 3.  Tight sensation in neck 0 1 2 3 4.  Difficult, infrequent bowel movements 0 1 2 3 5.  Dryness, discoloration skin, hair 0 1 2 3 6.  Thick, brittle nails 0 1 2 3 7.  Puffy face, hands and feet 0 1 2 3 8.  Swollen upper eyelids 0 1 2 3 9.  Eyeballs move involuntarily 0 1 2 3 10.  Muscles weak, cramp, and/or tremble 0 1 2 3 11.  Slow mental processes, forgetfulness 0 1 2 3 12.  Slow heart beats 0 1 2 3 13.  Abdominal swelling 0 1 2 3 14.  Unsteady gait, movements 0 1 2 3 15.  Lack of interest in sex 0 1 2 3 16.  Weight gain easily N     Y(5) 17.  Swelling of the neck N     Y(5) 18.  Outer third of eyebrow thins N     Y(3) 19.  Thinning hair on scalp, face and genitals N     Y(3) 20.  Loss of appetite N     Y(3) 21.  Premenstrual tension N     Y(3) 22.  Infertility N     Y(3) 23.  Excessive menstrual bleeding N     Y(3) 24.  Absence of periods N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART III

Section A 1.  Progressive, mild fatigue after exertion or stress 0 1 2 3 2.  General weakness 0 1 2 3 3.  Blurred vision, dizzy when rising 0 1 2 3 4.  Depression 0 1 2 3 5.  Rapid mood swings 0 1 2 3 6.  Irritable 0 1 2 3 7.  Dark circles under the eyes 0 1 2 3 8.  Abdominal pain, indigestion 0 1 2 3 9.  Bouts of nausea, vomiting 0 1 2 3 10.  Diarrhea or constipation 0 1 2 3 11.  Blotchy skin (white patches) 0 1 2 3 12.  Craving for salty foods 0 1 2 3 13.  Decreased appetites N     Y(3) 14.  Gradual weight loss N     Y(3) 15.  Tan skin, no sun N     Y(3) 16.  Gradual loss of body hair N     Y(3) 17.  Black freckles on upper forehead, face, neck N     Y(3) 18.  Sensitive to minor changes in weather and surroundings N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section B

1.  Catch colds easily 0 1 2 3 2.  Infections – eye, ears, nose throat, lungs, skin 0 1 2 3 3.  Diarrhea 0 1 2 3 4.  Puffy face 0 1 2 3 5.  Dark areas on cheeks, under eyes 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty seeing at night 0 1 2 3 7.  Eyes tear, burn, discharge 0 1 2 3 8.  Ears, continuously drain 0 1 2 3 9.  Nasal congestion or discharge thick, yellow, green 0 1 2 3 10.  Sore throat or post-nasal drip 0 1 2 3 11.  Cough with mucus 0 1 2 3 12.  Inflamed or bleeding gums 0 1 2 3 13.  Cold sores, fever blisters 0 1 2 3 14.  Gums swelling, bleeding 0 1 2 3 15.  Unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds in last three months N     Y(3) 16.  Lack of appetite N     Y(3)

Section B (continued) 17.  Nail discolorations N     Y(3) 18.  Bumpy skin on back or arms N     Y(3) 19.  Wounds heal slowly N     Y(3) 20.  Hair is easily plucked out or falls out, grows slow N     Y(3) 21.  Lips are red and swollen N     Y(3) 22.  Tongue is red, swollen, raw looking N     Y(3) 23.  Impaired taste and smell N     Y(3) 24.  Neck, armpit groin swelling N     Y(5)   Total Points __________

Section C

1.  Muscles fatigue quickly 0 1 2 3 2.  Moody, irritable, tired 0 1 2 3 3.  Severe fatigue 0 1 2 3 4.  Severe joint pain, redness, swelling 0 1 2 3 5.  Chronic pain, stiffness througout body 0 1 2 3 6.  Migraine headaches 0 1 2 3 7.  Specific food(s) worsen pain, inflamation, stiffness 0 1 2 3 8.  Sensitive to light (skin or ees) 0 1 2 3 9.  Dark circles under eyes 0 1 2 3 10.  Swollen-looking face or body 0 1 2 3 11.  Localized or general itching – eyes, ears, throat, nose, skin 0 1 2 3 12.  Clear, wattery discharge from nose, eyes 0 1 2 3 13.  Extreme dryness of eyes, nasal passages, mouth 0 1 2 3 14.  Sneezing 0 1 2 3 15.  Cough or wheezing 0 1 2 3 16.  Moldy, damp environments trigger sickness 0 1 2 3 17.  Post nasal drip with certain foods 0 1 2 3 18.  Heart palpitations after eating certain foods 0 1 2 3 19.  Weight loss, muscle weakness N     Y(3) 20.  Scalp hair falls out easily in clumps N     Y(3) 21.  Hair loss, entire body N     Y(5) 22.  Easy bruising N     Y(3) 23.  Nails -loosened, pitted, discolored N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART IV

Section A 1.  Sense of being overly tired 0 1 2 3 2.  Prolonged recovery after exercise 0 1 2 3 3.  Coldness especially in hands and feet 0 1 2 3 4.  Difficulty breathing on exertion, palpitations 0 1 2 3 5.  Headache, dizziness, spots before eyes 0 1 2 3 6.  Irritable 0 1 2 3 7.  Forgetful, poor concentration 0 1 2 3 8.  Mild yellowing of eyes or skin 0 1 2 3 9.  Ringing in ears 0 1 2 3 10.  Susceptible to infections 0 1 2 3 11.  Jaundice and dark urine 0 1 2 3 12.  Black stool (no iron supplements) 0 1 2 3 13.  Unusual cravings for clay, dirt, ice 0 1 2 3 14.  Fingernails are flattened, spoon shaped, brittle, thin 0 1 2 3 15.  White patches on skin N     Y(5) 16.  Pale lips, gums, eyelids, nail beds N     Y(3) 17.  Red, sore tongue N     Y(3) 18.  Mouth, throat, rectum ulcers N     Y(3) 19.  Unusual bruising N     Y(3) 20.  Spontaneous bleeding – nose, mouth, gums, rectum or vagina N     Y(3) 21.  Small red dots under the skin N     Y(5) 22.  Sores in the corner of mouth N     Y(3) 23.  Smooth tongue N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section B

1.  Nosebleeds 0 1 2 3 2.  Headache, typically in morning 0 1 2 3 3.  Weakness, fatigue, nervous 0 1 2 3 4.  Ringing in ears 0 1 2 3 5.  Dizziness, drowsiness 0 1 2 3 6.  Blushing – no apparent cause 0 1 2 3 7.  Numbness, tingling in hands and feet 0 1 2 3 8.  Blurred vision 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________

Section C

1.  Feel jittery 0 1 2 3 2.  Heartburn that moves to neck, jaws, left shoulder and arm 0 1 2 3 3.  First effort of the day causes pain around chest 0 1 2 3 4.  Dizziness 0 1 2 3 5.  Choking, smothering sensation 0 1 2 3 6.  Exhaust with minor exertion 0 1 2 3

Section C (continued) 7.  Heart pounds easily 0 1 2 3 8.  Heavy sweating (no exertion) 0 1 2 3 9.  Mild or severe chest pain 0 1 2 3 10.  Difficulty catching breath especially during exercise 0 1 2 3 11.  Wheezing or dry cough 0 1 2 3 12.  Heart palpitations – slow, rapid or irregular 0 1 2 3 13.  Swelling in feet, ankle, legs comes and goes 0 1 2 3 14.  Veins on neck are prominent 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________

Section D

1.  Fluid retention 0 1 2 3 2.  Numbness, tingling, prickling sensation in hands, feet 0 1 2 3 3.  Muscle pain in the calves or thighs when walking 0 1 2 3 4.  Muscle pain at rest 0 1 2 3 5.  Cold feet 0 1 2 3 6.  Headaches 0 1 2 3 7.  Dizziness, everything spins 0 1 2 3 8.  Poor concentration 0 1 2 3 9.  Slurred speech 0 1 2 3 10.  Ringing in ears 0 1 2 3 11.  Brief moments of hearing loss 0 1 2 3 12.  Nausea comes and goes quickly 0 1 2 3 13.  Falling without known cause 0 1 2 3 14.  Brief difficulty swallowing 0 1 2 3 15.  Brief difficulty speaking 0 1 2 3 16.  Stammering or twitching of tongue 0 1 2 3 17.  Double vision 0 1 2 3 18.  Difficulty understanding spoken or written word 0 1 2 3 19.  Brief loss of muscular coordination 0 1 2 3 20.  Inability to recognize persons or things that pass very quickly 0 1 2 3 21.  Inability to feel pain or temperature usually on one side that disappears quickly 0 1 2 3 22.  One leg or arm – shiny hairless skin N     Y(5) 23.  Discolored or blue toes N     Y(5) 24.  Open sores on feet and legs N     Y(5) 25.  Fingers and toes numb in response to cold weather even when protected. N     Y(5)   Total Points __________   PART V

Section A

Missing meals or fasting is associated with the following:

1.  Sudden anxiety associated with hunger 0 1 2 3 2.  Tingling sensation in hands 0 1 2 3 3.  Palpitations 0 1 2 3 4.  Feel shaker, jittery, tremors 0 1 2 3 5.  Weakness 0 1 2 3 6.  Profuse perspiration, clammy skin 0 1 2 3 7.  Nightmares 0 1 2 3 8.  Awoke from sleep restless 0 1 2 3 9.  Agitated, easily upset, nervous 0 1 2 3 10.  Poor memory, forgetful 0 1 2 3 11.  Confusion, disoriented 0 1 2 3 12.  Dizziness, feel faint 0 1 2 3 13.  Feeling cold, numbness 0 1 2 3 14.  Mild headache 0 1 2 3 15.  Blurred or double vision 0 1 2 3 16.  Lack of coordination 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________

Section B 1.  Excessive, frequent urination 0 1 2 3 2.  Increased thirst and appetite 0 1 2 3 3.  Blurred vision, failing eyesight 0 1 2 3 4.  Fatigue, drowsiness 0 1 2 3 5.  Crave sweets, but eating sweets does not relieve craving 0 1 2 3 6.  Feel hungry for air (can’t get enough) 0 1 2 3 7.  Breath smells sweet 0 1 2 3 8.  Depressed 0 1 2 3 9.  Tingling, numbness, prickling sensation in extremities 0 1 2 3 10.  Profuse sweating 0 1 2 3 11.  Dribble after voiding 0 1 2 3 12.  Impotency 0 1 2 3 13.  Dizziness when standing from sitting position 0 1 2 3 14.  Slurred speech 0 1 2 3 15.  Unintentional weight loss 0 1 2 3 16.  Reoccurring persistent infection bladder, skin, or gums 0 1 2 3 17.  Boils and leg sores 0 1 2 3 18.  Very slow wound healing 0 1 2 3 19.  Excessive weight gain 0 1 2 3   Total Points __________ PART VI

1.  Weakness and fatigue 0 1 2 3 2.  Chest discomfort, pain 0 1 2 3 3.  Sudden breathing difficulty 0 1 2 3 4.  Shortness of breath 0 1 2 3 5.  Shallow breathing 0 1 2 3 6.  Noisy rattling sounds when breathing in or out 0 1 2 3 7.  Cough – dry or moist 0 1 2 3 8.  Rapid heartbeats 0 1 2 3 9.  Excessive perspiration 0 1 2 3 10.  Anxiety, restlessness 0 1 2 3 11.  Consistent low-grade temperature (100-101°) 0 1 2 3 12.  Bluish nails and lips 0 1 2 3

13.  Post nasal drip 0 1 2 3 14.  Sputum – thick, clear, yellow 0 1 2 3 15.  Sputum – smells offensive 0 1 2 3 16.  Bloody sputum 0 1 2 3 17.  Bad breath 0 1 2 3 18.  Wheezing 0 1 2 3 19.  Loud snoring 0 1 2 3 20.  Sleepy during day 0 1 2 3 21.  Morning headache 0 1 2 3 22.  Difficulty concentrating 0 1 2 3 23.  Unexplained weight loss N     Y(3) 24.  Infections settle in lungs N     Y(3) 25.  Flu symptoms last longer than 5 days N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

 

PART VII

1.  Retain fluid throughout body 0 1 2 3 2.  Mild lower back pain 0 1 2 3 3.  Frequent urge to urinate, but only small amounts pass 0 1 2 3 4.  Interruption of urine stream 0 1 2 3 5.  Excessive urination 0 1 2 3 6.  Excessive urination at night 0 1 2 3 7.  Burning when urinating 0 1 2 3 8.  Frequent urination with urgency 0 1 2 3 9.  Rarely need to urinate 0 1 2 3 10.  Difficulty passing urine 0 1 2 3 11.  Dripping after urination 0 1 2 3

12.  Can’t hold urine 0 1 2 3 13.  Bloody, cloudy and/or darkened urine 0 1 2 3 14.  Strong smelling urine 0 1 2 3 15.  Joint and muscle pain 0 1 2 3 16.  Tingling in joints 0 1 2 3 17.  Dark circles under eyes 0 1 2 3 18.  Gray, blackish caste to skin 0 1 2 3 19.  Back or leg pains associated with dripping after urination N     Y(5) 20.  Poor skin elasticity, dryness N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART VIII (Men Only)

Section A 1.  Frequent or urgent need to urinate 0 1 2 3 2.  Delayed, weak, or interrupted urinary stream 0 1 2 3 3.  Pain or burning upon urination 0 1 2 3 4.  Urge to urinate several times a night 0 1 2 3 5.  Rose colored (bloody) urine 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty urinating 0 1 2 3 7.  A sense of bladder fullness 0 1 2 3 8.  Ejaculation causes pain 0 1 2 3 9.  Blood in the semen 0 1 2 3 10.  Lack of sex drive 0 1 2 3 11.  Impotency 0 1 2 3 12.  Pain or fatigue in the legs or back 0 1 2 3 13.  Dripping after urination 0 1 2 3 14.  Increased straining with small amounts of urine passed 0 1 2 3 15.  Anemia N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section B 1.  Itchy patches around inner thigh and groin 0 1 2 3 2.  Itching at night 0 1 2 3 3.  Painful testicles 0 1 2 3 4.  Difficulty attaining and/or maintaining an erection 0 1 2 3 5.  Low sexual drive 0 1 2 3 6.  Premature ejaculation 0 1 2 3 7.  Low energy level or stamina 0 1 2 3 8.  Inflammation of the head of penis N     Y(5) 9.  Genital and/or rectal rash or irritation N     Y(5) 10.  Distorted nail growth N     Y(3) 11.  Loss of pubic or armpit hair N     Y(3) 12.  Infertile N     Y(3) 13.  Low sperm count, low sperm motility N     Y(3) 14.  Unexplained weight gain N     Y(3) 15.  Testicles appear smaller N     Y(3) 16.  Development of breasts or nipple tenderness N     Y(3) 17.  Feeling of heaviness or hardness in testicle N     Y(3) 18.  Sparse beard or slow hair growth N     Y(3) 19.  Decreased body hair N     Y(3) 20.  Fine wrinkling in corner of mouth or around eyes N     Y(3)   Total Points __________   PART IX (Women Only)

Section A 1.  Insomnia 0 1 2 3 2.  Abdominal bloating 0 1 2 3 3.  Breast tenderness, swelling 0 1 2 3 4.  Breast lumps appear 0 1 2 3 5.  Heart palpitations 0 1 2 3 6.  Sweating and flushing 0 1 2 3 7.  Depressed, irritable, nervous 0 1 2 3 8.  Easy to anger, resentful 0 1 2 3 9.  Easily overwhelmed 0 1 2 3 10.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 11.  Diarrhea or constipation 0 1 2 3 12.  Headache 0 1 2 3 13.  Food cravings, binge eating 0 1 2 3 14.  Back pain 0 1 2 3 15.  Numbness, tingling in hands and feet 0 1 2 3 16.  Clumsiness 0 1 2 3 17.  Feeling hopeless, sad 0 1 2 3 18.  Weight gain, water N     Y(3) 19.  Suicidal N     Y(10)   Total Points __________

Section B

1.  Vaginal dryness, pain 0 1 2 3 2.  Painful intercourse 0 1 2 3 3.  Engorged breasts 0 1 2 3 4.  Milk production (not nursing) 0 1 2 3 5.  Disinterest in sex 0 1 2 3 6.  Blurred vision 0 1 2 3 7.  Headache 0 1 2 3 8.  Acne and/or oily skin 0 1 2 3 9.  Aggressive feelings 0 1 2 3 10.  Overwhelming urges for sexual intercourse 0 1 2 3 11.  Absence of menstrual flow for six or more months N     Y(20) 12.  Occasionally skip periods N     Y(5) 13.  Menstruation began after 16 years of age N     Y(3) 14.  Breasts shrinking N     Y(5) 15.  Thinning pubic and armpit hair N     Y(5) 16.  Unable to get pregnant N     Y(10) 17.  Miscarriage N     Y(3) 18.  Excess facial hair N     Y(5) 19.  Poor sense of smell N     Y(3) 20.  Monthly abdominal pain without bleeding N     Y(5)   Total Points __________

Section C

1.  Painful intercourse 0 1 2 3 2.  Menstrual type pain between menses 0 1 2 3 3.  Irregular time intervals between periods N     Y(5) 4.  Extended menses greater than 32 days N     Y(10) 5.  Shortened menses (less than every 24 days) N     Y(5) 6.  Vaginal bleeding between periods N     Y(10) 7.  Vaginal discharge between periods N     Y(5) 8.  Pain during periods is getting progressively worse N     Y(5)

Section C (continued) 9.  Pain, cramps 0 1 2 3 10.  Unusual fatigue, can’t work 0 1 2 3 11.  Irritable and depressed 0 1 2 3 12.  Constipation and/or diarrhea 0 1 2 3 13.  Lower abdominal pain, bloating 0 1 2 3 14.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 15.  Lower backache 0 1 2 3 16.  Pelvic and/or rectal pressure 0 1 2 3 17.  Urinary difficulties 0 1 2 3 18.  Frequent urination N     Y(5) 19.  Scanty blood flow N     Y(3) 20.  Heavy blood flow N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section D

1.  Lumps are painful, tender 0 1 2 3 2.  Clear, gray or yellow vaginal discharge 0 1 2 3 3.  Vaginal bleeding after sex or between periods 0 1 2 3 4.  Burning or itching of the external genitalia 0 1 2 3 5.  Urgent, painful urination 0 1 2 3 6.  Lower abdominal or back pain 0 1 2 3 7.  Heavy, watery and bloody vaginal discharge 0 1 2 3 8.  Heavy menstrual flow 0 1 2 3 9.  Pelvic cramps 0 1 2 3 10.  Thin, scant white vaginal discharge 0 1 2 3 11.  Greenish, yellow, or offensive discharge 0 1 2 3 12.  Cheesy white discharge 0 1 2 3 13.  Breast lumps or swelling N     Y(10) 14.  Lumps hurt just before period N     Y(5) 15.  Swelling under armpit N     Y(5) 16.  Change in breast size, shape N     Y(10) 17.  White or slightly bloody vaginal discharge, one week prior to period N     Y(10)   Total Points __________

Section E

1.  Insomnia 0 1 2 3 2.  Abdominal bloating 0 1 2 3 3.  Breast tenderness, swelling 0 1 2 3 4.  Breast lumps appear 0 1 2 3 5.  Heart palpitations 0 1 2 3 6.  Sweating and flushing 0 1 2 3 7.  Depressed, irritable, nervous 0 1 2 3 8.  Easy to anger, resentful 0 1 2 3 9.  Easily overwhelmed 0 1 2 3 10.  Nausea and/or vomiting 0 1 2 3 11.  Diarrhea or constipation 0 1 2 3 12.  Headache 0 1 2 3 13.  Food cravings, binge eating 0 1 2 3 14.  Back pain 0 1 2 3 15.  Numbness, tingling in hands and feet 0 1 2 3 16.  Clumsiness 0 1 2 3 17.  Feeling hopeless, sad 0 1 2 3 18.  Weight gain, water N     Y(3) 19.  Suicidal N     Y(10)   Total Points __________   PART X

Section A 1.  Generalized bone tenderness and achiness 0 1 2 3 2.  Localized bone pain 0 1 2 3 3.  Bone deformity or swelling 0 1 2 3 4.  Shins hurt during or after exercise 0 1 2 3 5.  Low back or hip pain 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty sitting straight 0 1 2 3 7.  Limp, walking difficulties 0 1 2 3 8.  Crunching or cracking sounds when moving joints 0 1 2 3 9.  Hands, feet, throat spasms or feel numb 0 1 2 3 10.  Joint pain and stiffness – especially spine, hips, knees 0 1 2 3 11.  Hearing loss, headaches, ringing in ears 0 1 2 3 12.  Cavities N     Y(5) 13.  Tooth loss due to gum disease N     Y(5) 14.  Established bone loss N     Y(10) 15.  Calcium deposits N     Y(5) 16.  Spinal curvature N     Y(10) 17.  Recent loss of height N     Y(10) 18.  Bow legs N     Y(5) 19.  Stooped posture N     Y(5) 20.  Hump at base of neck N     Y(5) 21.  Irregular patches of increased pigmentation N     Y(3) 22.  Unexplained bone fracture N     Y(10)   Total Points __________

Section B

1.  Muscle aches and pains 0 1 2 3 2.  Muscle stiffness, tension 0 1 2 3 3.  Specific points on body feel sore when presses 0 1 2 3 4.  Headaches 0 1 2 3 5.  Fatigue, tired, sluggish 0 1 2 3 6.  Difficulty sleeping 0 1 2 3 7.  Feel unrefreshed upon awakening 0 1 2 3 8.  Difficulty speaking, swallowing 0 1 2 3 9.  Muscles cramp or spasm 0 1 2 3 10.  Muscles twitch or tremble – eyelids, thumb, calf muscle 0 1 2 3 11.  Irresistible urge to move legs 0 1 2 3 12.  Legs move during sleep 0 1 2 3 13.  Unpleasant crawling sensation inside calves, while lying down 0 1 2 3 14.  Numbing, tingling sensation 0 1 2 3 15.  Excessive joint mobility 0 1 2 3 16.  Unable to fully straighten or extend legs and/or arms 0 1 2 3 17.  Upper or lower back pain 0 1 2 3 18.  Loss of muscle strength N     Y(3) 19.  Muscle loss, wasting N     Y(3)   Total Points __________

Section C

1.  Joint stiffness, soreness, swelling 0 1 2 3 2.  Red, swollen painful joints 0 1 2 3 3.  Joint stiffness improves when resting, worsens with movement 0 1 2 3 4.  Dry mouth 0 1 2 3 5.  Dry painful eyes 0 1 2 3 6.  Joint stiffness worsens with rest, improves with movement 0 1 2 3 7.  Cracking joints 0 1 2 3 8.  Limp 0 1 2 3 9.  Shooting, aching, tingling pain down the back of leg 0 1 2 3

Section C (continued) 10.  Joint pain involves one or a few joints 0 1 2 3 11.  Joints hurt when moving or carrying weight 0 1 2 3 12.  Limited range of motion 0 1 2 3 13.  Difficulty standing up from sitting position 0 1 2 3 14.  Walks slowly 0 1 2 3 15.  Headache 0 1 2 3 16.  Difficulty chewing food or opening mouth 0 1 2 3 17.  Intermittent pain, ache on one side of head spreading to cheek, temple, lower jaw, ear neck and shoulder 0 1 2 3 18.  Numbness, prickling, tingling sensation in the neck, shoulder and arms 0 1 2 3 19.  Injure, strain, sprain easily 0 1 2 3 20.  Discomfort or pain in neck, shoulder or arm 0 1 2 3 21.  Involuntary muscle spasms 0 1 2 3 22.  Deliberate movement with hands are difficult 0 1 2 3 23.  Red painless skin lumps on elbows, knees, toes, ear, nose, back of scalp N     Y(5) 24.  Knobby overgrowths on the joints closest to the fingertips N     Y(5) 25.  Muscle loss around inflamed joint N     Y(10) 26.  Double jointed N     Y(3) 27.  One leg shorter than the other N     Y(5)   Total Points __________

Section D Neurological

1.  Head feels heavy 0 1 2 3 2.  Light headedness/fainting 0 1 2 3 3.  Ringing/buzzing in ears 0 1 2 3 4.  Trembling hands 0 1 2 3 5.  Limbs feel too heavy to hold up 0 1 2 3 6.  Loss of feeling in hands and/or feet (toes) 0 1 2 3 7.  Tingling sensation followed by numbness, or pain begins in hands and feet and spreads toward the center of your body 0 1 2 3 8.  Unsteady gait, lose balance 0 1 2 3 9.  Muscles feel weak 0 1 2 3 10.  Weak grip with spasm and arm weakness 0 1 2 3 11.  Exhaustion on slightest effort 0 1 2 3 12.  Need for 10-12 hours sleep 0 1 2 3 13.  Muscular weakness begins in leg and moves upward 0 1 2 3 14.  Difficulty walking, moving around, handling small objects 0 1 2 3 15.  Nervous, anxious 0 1 2 3 16.  Convulsions 0 1 2 3 17.  Confused, forgetful 0 1 2 3 18.  Slowed or slurred speech 0 1 2 3 19.  Difficulty breathing 0 1 2 3 20.  Blurred vision 0 1 2 3 21.  Eyelids droop 0 1 2 3 22.  Impaired hearing, eyesight, sense of touch smell taste N     Y(10) 23.  Accident prone – trip, stumble, feel clumsy N     Y(5)   Total Points __________   WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING MEDICATIONS ARE YOU TAKING [ ] Antacids
[ ] Cortisone/anti-inflammatory
[ ] Oral contraceptives
[ ] Antibiotic/antifungal
[ ] Heart medication
[ ] Radiation
[ ] Antidepressants
[ ] High blood pressure
[ ] Relaxant/sleeping pills
[ ] Anti-diabetic/insulin
[ ] Hormones
[ ] Thyroid medication
[ ] Asprin / Tylenol
[ ] Laxatives
[ ] Ulcer medication
[ ] Chemotherapy
[ ] Lithium

Other: _______________________________________________________________

Recreational drugs: _____________________________________________________


WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DO YOU EAT, DRINK, OR USE

[ ] Alcohol
[ ] Cigarettes
[ ] Fried foods
[ ] Candy
[ ] Coffee
[ ] Luncheon meats
[ ] Carbonated beverages
[ ] Distilled water
[ ] Margarine
[ ] Chew tobacco
[ ] Fast food restaurants
[ ] Saccharine (Sweet & Low)

Vitamins/minerals (please list): _________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________


WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING APPLY TO YOU

[ ] Are under excessive stress
[ ] Do not exercise regularly
[ ] Salt food without tasting
[ ] Are exposed to chemicals at work
[ ] Are exposed to cigarette smoke
[ ] Diet often

LIST YOUR “TOP” HEALTH SYMPTOM COMPLAINTS:

1. _________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

3. _________________________________________________________________

4. _________________________________________________________________

5. _________________________________________________________________

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS NOT COVERED IN THIS QUESTIONNAIRE?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Green Tea (Camellia sinensis)

Powerful Antioxidant Protection and Herbal Energizer

Green tea (Camelia sinensis) is a rich source of catechins, substances which have been found to neutralize cancer-causing agents and prevent cellular mutations leading to cancer.

In addition to cancer-prevention, green tea prevents abnormal blood clotting, reduces total cholesterol, aids high blood pressure and protects arterioles.

Green tea has also been shown to increase energy expenditure and may therefore be useful in weight loss programs. Although green tea contains caffeine, several studies have shown that subjects who took green tea capsules had higher energy expenditures than those who took caffeine alone. It appears that there may be an additional fat-oxidizing effect that is not due to the caffeine content.

The polyphenols in green tea have been shown to stimulate production of certain immune cells. Topically, green tea has antibacterial properties and is effective against plaque-causing bacteria.

Bottom line: Green tea may help prevent both cancer and heart disease and is a useful adjuvant to weight loss programs. Green tea is also an immune-stimulant and antibacterial.

Dr. Myatt recommends Maxi Flavone for all the benefits of Green Tea and more!

References

 1.) Suganuma M, Okabe S, Sueoka N, et al. Green tea and cancer chemoprevention. Mutat Res 1999;428:339–44.
2.) Weisberger JH, Rivenson A, Garr K, et al. Tea, or tea and milk, inhibit mammary gland and colon carcinogenesis in rats. Cancer Lett 1997;114:323–7.
3.) Yang CS, Lee MJ, Chen L, Yang GY. Polyphenols as inhibitors of carcinogenesis. Environ Health Perspect 1997;105(Suppl 4):971–6 [review].
4.) Menon LG, Kuttan R, Kuttan G. Anti-metastatic activity of curcumin and catechin. Cancer Lett 1999;141:159–65.
5.) Mukhtar H, Ahmad N. Green tea in chemoprevention of cancer. Toxicol Sci 1999;52(2 Suppl):111–7.
6.) Katiyar SK, Mukhtar H. Tea consumption and cancer. World Rev Nutr Diet 1996;79:154–84 [review].
7.) Kohlmeier L, Weterings KG, Steck S, Kok FJ. Tea and cancer prevention: an evaluation of the epidemiologic literature. Nutr Cancer 1997;27:1–13 [review].
8.) Kono S, Shinchi K, Ikeda N, et al. Green tea consumption and serum lipid profiles: A cross-sectional study in Northern Kyushu, Japan. Prev Med 1992;21:526–31.
9.) Yamaguchi Y, Hayashi M, Yamazoe H, et al. Preventive effects of green tea extract on lipid abnormalities in serum, liver and aorta of mice fed an atherogenic diet. Nip Yak Zas 1991;97:329–37.
10.) Sagesaka-Mitane Y, Milwa M, Okada S. Platelet aggregation inhibitors in hot water extract of green tea. Chem Pharm Bull 1990;38:790–3.
11.) Stensvold I, Tverdal A, Solvoll K, et al. Tea consumption. Relationship to cholesterol, blood pressure, and coronary and total mortality. Prev Med 1992;21:546–53.
12.) Dulloo AG, Duret C, Rohrer D, et al. Efficacy of a green tea extract rich in catechin polyphenols and caffeine in increasing 24-h energy expenditure and fat oxidation in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;70:1040–5.
13.) Chantre P, Lairon D. Recent findings of green tea extract AR25 (Exolise) and its activity for the treatment of obesity. Phytomedicine 2002;9:3–8.
14.) Stoner GD, Mukhtar H. Polyphenols as cancer chemopreventive agents. J Cell Bioch 1995;22:169–80.
15.) You SQ. Study on feasibility of Chinese green tea polyphenols (CTP) for preventing dental caries. Chin J Stom 1993;28:197–9.
16.) Hamilton-Miller JM. Antimicrobial properties of tea (Camellia sinensis L.). Antimicro Agents Chemother 1995;39:2375–7.

Gymnema(Gymnema sylvestre)

Improves Insulin Production

Gymnema has been shown to lower fasting blood sugar levels and regenerate pancreatic cells that produce insulin. This is an incredibly important herb for diabetes, both type I and II.

Gymnema enhances insulin action, reduces fasting blood sugar levels (only in diabetics) and may stimulate islet cell regeneration. Gymnema is indicated in:

  • Type I, I.5 & II diabetes
  • Weight loss programs
  • Insulin resistance

Suggested dose: 2 caps (1,000+mg), 2-3 times per day between meals.

REFERENCES

1.) Mhasker KS, Caius JF. A study of Indian medicinal plants. II. Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. Indian J Med Res Memoirs 1930;16:2–75.
2.) Shimizu K, Iino A, Nakajima J, et al. Suppression of glucose absorption by some fractions extracted from Gymnema sylvestre leaves. J Vet Med Sci 1997;59:245–51.
3.) Shanmugasundaram KR, Panneerselvam C, Sumudram P, Shanmugasundaram ERB. Insulinotropic activity of G. sylvestre, R.Br. and Indian medicinal herb used in controlling diabetes mellitus. Pharmacol Res Commun 1981;13:475–86.
4.) Shanmugasundaram ER, Gopinath KL, Radha Shanmugasundaram K, Rajendran VM. Possible regeneration of the islets of Langerhans in streptozotocin diabetic rats given Gymnema sylvestre leaf extracts. J Ethnopharmacol 1990;30:265–79.
5.) Prakash AO, Mather S, Mather R. Effect of feeding Gymnema sylvestre leaves on blood glucose in beryllium nitrate treated rats. J Ethnopharmacol 1986;18:143–4.
6.) Persaud SJ, Al-Majed H, Raman A, Jones PM. Gymnema sylvestre stimulates insulin release in vitro by increased membrane permeability. J Endocrinol 1999;163:207–12.

Gallbladder “Attacks” and Gallstones

How to End the Pain and Save Your Gallbladder

Nearly half a million gallbladder surgeries — removal, or cholecystectomy to be precise — are performed each year in the US. Many of the people who give up their gallbladders to such surgery appear to be fine, and the pain of their gallbladder attacks are over. Oddly enough, for many others, gallbladder “attacks” continue even in the absence of a gallbladder – in fact, one authoritative source indicates that Post Cholecystectomy Syndrome (PCS) affects at least 10 to 15% of people who have had their gallbladders removed!

Are the people who have given up their gallbladders really “fine”? And why do others continue to have pain in spite of removal of their gallbladder?

Conventional medical doctors make no attempt to help people “save” their gallbladders when stomach or other symptoms is believed due to gallbladder attacks. In fact, many gallbladders are removed even when scans do not show anything wrong with the gallbladder. Because there is no attempt to preserve this organ in conventional medicine, and because many people feel better after surgical removal of their GB, people mistakenly believe that the gallbladder isn’t important and that living without it makes no difference. Unfortunately, this viewpoint is incorrect and can be downright unhealthy.

Contrary to common belief, the gallbladder isn’t just a “vestigial organ” with little or no importance. One of the primary jobs of the gallbladder is to control the flow of bile which in turn is needed to absorb fats, oils and fat-soluble nutrients. Once the gallbladder is removed, these functions cannot happen normally, at least not without additional “outside help” from supplementation.

Although steps can be taken to prevent nutrient deficiencies if you have already had your gallbladder removed, let’s talk about another important question. How can you get rid of gallbladder “attacks” and keep your gallbladder in the first place? After all, “prevention” is always easier than cure.

The Real Cause of Gallbladder Pain

Gallbladder pain is usually blamed on gallstones, although stones are rarely the cause of intermittent GB discomfort.

Stones of a particular size that get stuck in the bile duct are indeed incredibly painful. If they are not passed quickly, gangrene of the duct and gallbladder can set in with life-threatening complications. This is the only true “surgical emergency” of gallbladder stones.

However, most stones are too large to obstruct the gall duct. Other people have “sand,” which is fine particulate that is too small to obstruct the gall duct. So where does the pain come from?

The real cause — and cure — of gallbladder pain was discovered back in 1968 by a physician named James C. Breneman. Dr. Breneman was chairman of the Food Allergy Committee of the American College of Allergists, or ACA (now called the American College of Allergy and Immunology, or ACAI). Dr. Breneman discovered that attacks of gallbladder pain are caused by food allergies.

In 1968, he put 69 people who suffered from recurrent gallbladder attacks on an elimination diet to determine their food allergies. Six of the subjects already had their gallbladders removed but were still having gallbladder “attacks,” a phenomenon known as “post-cholecystectomy syndrome.” Dr. Breneman found that all 69 people — 100 percent! — were totally symptom-free of gallbladder pain when they avoided their individual food sensitivities, and all 69 had a recurrence of their symptoms when they ate the foods they reintroduced the foods they were allergic to back into their diets.

The most common allergenic foods were found to be eggs (92.8%), pork (63.8%), onions (52.2%), chicken and turkey (34.8%), milk (24.6%), coffee (21.7% ), and oranges (18.8%). Corn, beans, nuts, apples, tomatoes, peas, cabbage, spices, peanuts, fish, and rye accounted for between 1 to 14.5% of gallbladder attacks. 14 of the 69 study participants (over 20 percent) also had gallbladder attacks caused by medications.

How Allergies Cause Gallbladder Attacks Illustration of the biliary system, showing the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and the duodenum with the appendant ducts.

The body’s reaction to allergic substances is to cause swelling (remember how your nose swells if you have seasonal allergies?). When food and medication allergies cause swelling of the gallbladder ducts, bile flow is obstructed. The symptoms of allergy-caused obstruction are the same as a stone being stuck in the duct. (Hence the blame being laid on a “stone” when in fact, swelling of the tissue caused by a food or medicine reaction is the real culprit).

The Cure for Gallbladder Pain

The real treatment for most GB pain isn’t to remove this important organ, but to perform an elimination / challenge diet or food allergy testing and find the offending foods and medications.

The Dangers of Gallbladder Removal

What Can Happen Without a Gallbladder?

Vitamin A Deficiency symptoms include changes in vision (night blindness, dry eyes, macular degeneration), decreased immunity and skin diseases.

Vitamin D Deficiency symptoms include cancer, osteoporosis, dental disease and decreased immune function.

Vitamin K Deficiencies are associated with osteoporosis and atherosclerosis

Vitamin E Deficiency is associated with cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases and a long list of other health problems.

Essential Fatty Acids regulate everything from cardiac function to immunity and inflammation.

The gallbladder stores and then releases bile
in response to fats contained in a meal. Bile is necessary to assist the digestion of fats and fat-soluble vitamins.

When the gallbladder is removed, vitamins A, E, D, K, and essential fatty acids are not absorbed properly. Unfortunately, the symptoms of declining fat-soluble vitamins and essential fats come on slowly and most often, unnoticeably. Health problems can be many and varied, associated with a deficiency of any or all of these fat-soluble vitamins.

Who would guess that removal of the gallbladder, especially without replacement of bile salts (which is NEVER suggested in conventional medicine), could contribute to the premature development of so many and varied health problems, all related to fat soluble nutrient assimilation?

Other Nutrients for Gallbladder Health

Low stomach acid can cause or contribute to the development of gallstones. Correcting a stomach acid deficiency is of primary importance when addressing gallbladder health.

Here is more information about the many symptoms and diseases associated with low stomach acid.

And here is a simple self-test kit to help you determine if you need supplemental betaine hydrochloride:

Magnesium deficiency is extremely common among people who suffer from gallbladder pain and stones (even when the stones are not the actual cause of the pain). And if magnesium deficiency relates to the development of stones, the news gets even worse for those who don’t supplement: 60% of post-GB removal patients suffer from magnesium deficiency and 40% from calcium/magnesium deficiency.

A high-quality daily multiple vitamin/mineral supplement such as Maxi Multi contains a full daily recommended dose of magnesium and calcium. For those taking “one-per day” multiples or no extra supplementation at all, additional magnesium supplementation is highly recommended.

References

  1. Jensen, Steen W.  “Postcholecystectomy Syndrome” Jan 16, 2008 http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/192761-overview
  2. “Fast Stats: Inpatient Surgery, 2002,” U.S. Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov), accessed 8/25/04
  3. Breneman JC “Allergy Elimination as the Most Effective Gallbladder Diet.” Annals of Allergy 1968; 26; 83-89
  4. Breneman, James C. Basics of Food Allergy. Springfield (IL): CC Thomas (pub), 1978.
  5. Tsai CJ, Leitzmann MF, Willett WC, Giovannucci EL. Long-term effect of magnesium consumption on the risk of symptomatic gallstone disease among men. Am J Gastroenterol. 2008 Feb;103(2):375-82. Epub 2007 Dec 12.
  6. Szántay J, Varga D, Porr PJ. Post-cholecystectomy syndrome and magnesium deficit.Acta Physiol Hung. 1992;80(1-4):391-8.

Giardia and Giardiasis

Giardia is an intestinal parasite that can cause upset stomach, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, loose or watery stools (diarrhea), vomiting, bloating, excessive gas, and unpleasant sulfurous burping.

Giardiasis (AKA “Beaver Fever”) is a very widespread illness that can cause long-lasting problems for some people while for other people it seems to be nothing more than a minor and transient annoyance.

While the initial infection is usually fairly easy to eradicate with simple antibiotics, the organism can cause damage to the cells that line the intestine. This can result in altered absorption of nutrients and medications, and also can cause derangements of other important functions of the gut. Nutrient and vitamin deficiencies and other widespread problems can result. Development of lactose intolerance is common and may become permanant.

It is also thought that Giardia infection in some people may precipitate IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) which can further impair digestion and assimilation of nutrients.

If you feel that you may be infected, the place to start is to find out for sure.

You will want to ask your doctor for testing: Immunologic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing is available and provides a 90% or better detection rate.

If you are infected then a course of treatment with a simple and relatively safe antibiotic called metronidazole is usually quite effective.

Whether you are infected or not, and especially after treatment, supportive care for your bowel will be important.

Many of Dr. Myatt’s suggestions from her pages discussing Parasites and Irritable Bowel Syndrome will be very helpful to those suffering from or recovering from giardia infection.

Prevention of giardia infection is straightforward: handwashing before any handling of food is the first line of defense. For those travelling in the wilderness or where water purity and quality are suspect, boiling water for a full minute minimum is the gold standard of didinfection – and chemical purification (usually with iodine) and filtration can also be effective.

Research has shown that the herb Berberine can be effective in the treatment of giariasis and other protozoan infections:

“Based on these findings, it appears that the berberine compounds may be useful as chemotherapeutic agents against the 3 parasites tested. (Giardia lamblia, Trichomonas vaginalis and Entamoeba histolytica)”

Referenced from: Kaneda Y1, Tanaka T, Saw T. Effects of berberine, a plant alkaloid, on the growth of anaerobic protozoa in axenic culture. Tokai J Exp Clin Med. 1990 Nov;15(6):417-23.

For more detailed questions, Dr. Myatt is available for Brief Consultation and can help you to understand your illness and your treatment options.

Gluten and Casein

Story At A Glance:

  • Gluten and casein sensitivities are very common
  • Children are highly susceptible but many adults are affected too
  • Gluten and casein can form peptides with opioid properties
  • Opioids cause a wide range of ill effects
  • Gluten/Gliadin is common in modern grain varieties
  • Casein is common in milk and dairy products
  • Gluten/Gliadin and Casein are “hidden” in many processed foods
  • Gluten/Gliadin and casein have been implicated in a number of diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and infertility as well as attention deficit disorder
  • Avoidance is best for sensitive people
  • Supplementation with digestive enzymes can help
  • Testing for gluten sensitivity and for gliadin/casein toxicity is available

The Modern Poisons In Your Diet

By Nurse Mark

Are You An Opioid Addict? Is your child?

Modern food growing, processing, and manufacturing practices, coupled with commonly impaired digestion is creating a world of opioid addicts – to the great delight of the Big Agriculture and Big Food industries.

Like any drug pusher, for them the name of the game is to make people want more – even if the thing they are pushing is toxic…

Dr. Myatt and I recently returned from a weekend medical conference. Unlike what you may envision medical conferences to be, this was not a weekend of golfing or skiing or laying about on a beach at some drug company’s expense. No, Dr. Myatt and I each paid handsomely for this 3-day educational grind which featured lectures with exciting titles like “Metabolic factors and their effect on mental health” and “The role of food, nutrition and diets in autism and mental health disorders.”

Whew – talk about stuff that could make your eyes glaze over… Except it didn’t. The further we got into all these dry-sounding lectures the more excited Dr. Myatt and I became. Not that any one of these lectures by itself presented an earth-rocking breakthrough, because while they were interesting and informative, they presented information that we are both mostly familiar with and indeed, have written about in HealthBeatNews before.

No, it was not until we were a few lectures into the weekend that some little things began to fall into place. Many of the lecturers were mentioning the same things, in slightly different ways and contexts, over and over again.

You see, the conference was mostly concerned with the treatment of kids with Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, and other mental health issues in younger people – and everything we were hearing was pertinent to kids.

Until… One of the lecturers opined that these kids were “like canaries in the coal mine”, warning us of the toxicity that we have allowed to surround us in our modern world. A sudden realization hit me almost like a physical slap. I leaned over to Dr. Myatt beside me and said “My God – we have adult patients that are having the same problems as these kids – just in an adult way!” She nodded in agreement.

You see, a two year old can’t really control their behavior when they feel unwell – so they act out, or withdraw, or otherwise behave badly when they don’t feel well. Adults can control their behavior and can often just internalize and “power through” their illness – after all, there are bills to pay, jobs to do, adult responsibilities to meet…

Over and over again through the weekend we heard about bowel problems in these kids, wheat and milk allergies, and gluten, gliadin, and casein intolerance and toxicity. Leaky guts and inflammation were talked about again and again.

While the problems of gluten intolerance and milk allergies were talked about over and over, it became clear that two other more sinister substances were going to be even more important to our patients and our readers.

Two little proteins, gliadin and casein, are poised to prove themselves to be some of the nastiest substances in our modern diet.

You see, these two little proteins are not well digested by many of us. And why should they be? We did not evolve eating foods that contained very much of them – it has not been until more modern times that agriculture has allowed us to have foods containing these proteins cheaply and in much greater amounts. Modern agricultural techniques such as hybridization and animal husbandry have given us very specialized crops and animals that produce higher yields at lower costs than ever before. An unfortunate byproduct of that is an increase in the proteins gliadin and casein in our diets.

But wait a minute you are saying – you guys are all about high protein diets, aren’t you? And protein is protein, right?

Yes, but not really.

You see, gliadin and casein are a couple of proteins that are often incompletely broken down by our digestive systems. They can become partially broken down into peptides, or protein fragments. That might not be such a bad thing, except that the peptides from these particular proteins are opioids.

That’s right, opioids. Morphine-like substances with opiate effects on the brain and other body organs.

Let that sink in for a moment. Opioids. Heroin is an opioid.

Gliadorphin (also known as gluteomorphin) and casomorphin have been proven to have opiate drug like effects. And you are ingesting them when you eat grain and dairy products.

You would likely never allow yourself to be drugged with heroin, but you willingly ingest heroin-like substances every time you eat any of a stunningly huge variety of foods.

Not just the obvious foods like bread or pasta or that healthy breakfast cereal or milk or yoghurt or cheese -but foods that you might never suspect to contain wheat or dairy products.

French fries or potato chips should be OK for someone with a gluten / gliadin sensitivity, right? Wrong – they may be dusted with wheat flour during manufacture – to prevent them from sticking together. And casein is such a common food additive that is often found in imitation sausages, infant formula, processed meats, soups, energy bars, drinks, and many other packaged foods – even toothpaste!

So what – how bad can this be, you ask.

Here is an excerpt from one research paper:

  • About 65 seconds after treatment with different doses of b-CM7, rats became restless and ran violently, with teeth chattering and with rapid respiration.
  • Seven minutes later, the rats became inactive with less walking, distancing themselves from the other rat in the same cage, and sitting in, or putting their head against, the corner of the cage. The sound response was reduced and social interaction was absent.
  • One hour later, the rats showed hyperdefensiveness.
  • The above behavioral effects of b-CM7 did not occur when rats were pretreated with naloxone (2 mg/kg, IP).
  • The rats receiving saline did not show any behavioral changes throughout the 2 hour period of observation.
  • b-CM7 also demonstrated analgesic effects, which could be blocked by naloxone.

– b-CM7 is an abbreviation for the protein fragment or peptide called beta-casomorphin-7. It comes from casein – from milk.
– The rats in the study were injected with either b-CM7 or saline water (a form of placebo – as a control).
– The injections were made intra-peritoneally. That is, into the space in the abdomen surrounding the gut.
– Naloxone is a drug that blocks the effect of opiates like heroin and morphine. It is used in the treatment of drug overdose.
– Analgesic is the medical term for “pain reliever” – morphine is an example of an analgesic.

So, the rats that got the b-CM7 became first hyperactive, then withdrawn and sluggish, then behaved very defensively. Doesn’t that sound a lot like the way a heroin user behaves after “shooting up” with a “hit” of that drug?

The peptide that results from gliadin is called gliadorphin-7 (GD-7) and has been shown to have similar, though less dramatic, effects on test animals.

Both these peptides affect areas of the brain that are relevant to schizophrenia and autism. Both have been found to also affect other organs and b-CM7 has been shown to decrease bowel motility – that is, to be constipating – just like morphine or codeine is constipating.

If that’s not enough to worry about…

Casomorphin, and to a lesser extent gliadorphin have further been implicated in a number of illnesses including Type 1 Diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in addition to autism and schizophrenia.

This may be because gluten / gliadin and casein have both been shown to cause inflammatory and immune reactions as well.

While much of the recent research has been done with autism in mind, it is directly applicable to anyone who is concerned about immunity, inflammation, increased TNF-a, and inflammatory cytokines.

In examining this research there can be no question that dietary exposure to gluten and casein results in increased inflammation which can be measured as increased inflammatory cytokynes and elevated TNF-a and disruptions to normal immune response.

The reactions to gluten in sensitive individuals such as those with Celiac disease has been described by gastroenterologists as “tearing holes in the gut.”

Celiac disease, and sub-clinical Celiac disease can have wide-ranging health consequences, including infertility in women. According to one research paper:

“Patients having fertility problems may have subclinical coeliac disease, which can be detected by serological screening tests. Silent coeliac disease should be considered in the case of women with unexplained infertility.”

How did this come to happen?

With casomorphin, a genetic change that occurred in European dairy cattle around a thousand years ago resulted in breeds of cattle that began to produce a form of casein – a protein normally found in all milk – called A1 beta-casein instead of the more benign A2 beta-casein that was previously present in cows milk and is also present in the milk of other species, including humans.

Like all proteins, casein is made up of amino acids, arranged in very specific ways for each protein. Casein is a strand of 209 amino acids and A1 beta-casein protein differs from A2 by just one single amino acid in that strand. Where A2 beta-casein has a proline amino acid in it’s chain, A1 beta-casein has instead the amino acid histidine in that spot.

Most milk today contains a mixture of A1 beta-casein and A2 beta-casein. A1 beta-casein protein is found in the milk of Holstein cows which are by far the most popular breed in North America. A2 beta-casein protein is found in older breeds of cows such as the Guernsey, Asian and African breeds, as well as goats, sheep, camels, horses, and humans.

With gliadorphin, modern agricultural practices have developed strains of wheat that our ancestors would likely not recognize. Amazingly uniform in height and other physical attributes to make for easier mechanized harvesting, and with far higher protein contents than any ancient wheat, our modern wheat strains seem to be an ideal expression of the art of farming. Unfortunately, with that increase in protein came an increase in gliadin content as well.

Agricultural giants like BASF and Monsanto are not likely to ever allow modern farmers to return to ancient seed-stocks, and farmers would not willingly do so either – farming is a tough business and most could not afford to lose the efficiencies that these new strains of grain allow.

Casein production is a multi-billion dollar a year industry as well. The Kerry Group, originally of Ireland, has been buying up food companies all around the world and is one of the world’s larges suppliers of casein. They unlikely to allow anything so mundane as public health to affect their profit picture.

Further complicating this picture is the fact that these additives make modern foods cheaper to produce, and tastier – even addictive. Many people can neither afford to nor would they want to give up their tasty, addictive, and convenient comfort foods.

What can we do?

Unfortunately, there is little that we can do at this time except to advise people to abstain from foods containing these substances – especially those who have shown any symptoms of sensitivity to them. For someone who has experienced any of the ill effects described in this article we would suggest avoiding these foods for a while, and see if those symptoms improve or resolve. Foods can be added back into the diet then and if symptoms return the answer is clear – those foods must be avoided.

There is a milk company on New Zealand that sells A2 milk in New Zealand and in Australia, but there is no source that we are aware of for A2 only cows milk in North America.

For some people, a diet free of these nasty little protein fragments could even be life-saving!

For many people though, a diet completely free of these two problem proteins, gluten and casein, is almost impossible. Even people who are conscious of the problem and work hard to avoid these substances can still fall prey to hidden sources in foods.

Gluten can be present in foods, but not shown on the label except as “natural flavoring” or “stabilizing agents” or “thickeners.” It can also be found in medicines and even in such things as lip balms – as a “binding agent.”

Casein is just as ubiquitous; it is used in so many processed foods that it is almost impossible to avoid. It can be found hiding in foods such as vegetarian cheese substitute and whipped cream toppings and it is even used in toothpaste!

So, what can be done about these dietary land-mines, waiting to explode and destroy the best efforts of the prudent GFCF (Gluten-Free, Casein-Free) dieter?

Digestive enzymes can help.

Digestive enzymes play a critical role in our digestive process – unfortunately, they decline with age and with some medical conditions and some populations may be subject to hereditary deficiencies in some dietary enzymes. These enzymes are required to break foods down into smaller, more useable components – which is the definition of digestion.The enzyme responsible for the breakdown of gluten and casein is a protease called DiPeptidyl Peptidase IV – usually abbreviated as DPP-IV.

Because of the importance of digestive enzymes to good health Dr. Myatt has been recommending them to her patients for many years.

Now more recently as the problems associated with gluten and casein are becoming better known the importance of DPP-IV in digesting these proteins has prompted her to begin recommending the digestive enzyme product Similase GFCF.

Similase GFCF contains a wide range of digestive enzymes to promote the healthy digestion and assimilation of a mixed diet of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and it also has increased DPP-IV enzyme activity to support the digestion of hidden sources of gluten and casein in the diet.

While using a digestive enzyme like Similase GFCF will not allow someone to “eat anything” it can certainly make mealtimes less of a “walk through a minefield” and regular use can actually help to heal damage that has been done by these proteins to the lining of the gut.

Testing is also available.

A Celiac Antibody Panel can be useful to demonstrate (or rule out) gluten allergy or sensitivity.

Celiac disease (CD), also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy or idiopathic sprue, is an hereditary response to gliadin, a protein fraction in wheat. Gluten sensitivity is a non-hereditary response to gluten and shares some similarity of symptoms with celiac disease. Anyone with IBS, chronic diarrhea, gas or other digestive abnormalities of unknown cause should be evaluated for gluten allergy/sensitivity since the condition is far more common than previously thought.

The Celiac Antibody Panel uses drops of blood obtained from finger-stick and the specimen is collected at home and mailed directly to the lab. The test evaluates anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA and immunoglobulins IgG and IgA specific for gliadin. It is considered highly accurate for diagnosing celiac disease and shows gluten sensitivity approximately 50% of the time.

The Gluten/Casein Peptides Test can demonstrate an inability to completely digest gluten (found in wheat, rye barley and oats) and / or casein found in milk can result in the production of neuropeptides called gliadorphin and casomorphin, which can have opiod effects in the body and brain.

This test requires a small amount of first morning urine to evaluate for both gluten and casein peptides.

 

References and resources for additional information and study:

B.Windham (Ed), Autism and Schizophrenia subgroup related to blockage by toxic exposures of enzymes processing gluten and casein. 2008. http://www.flcv.com/autismgc.html

ZHONGJIE SUN, J . ROBERT CADE; University of Florida, USA: A Peptide Found in Schizophrenia and Autism Causes Behavioral Changes in Rats. Autism March 1999 3: 85-95
“The influence of opioids on human brain function has been described (27). Gliadomorphins and casomorphins are not hydrolyzed by proteolytic enzymes, hence, are very stable families of compounds that can produce long-lasting effects on the CNS (89). Casomorphins are detectable in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (90). One member of this family, -casomorphin-7, caused behavioral changes when injected into rats (91).” http://aut.sagepub.com/content/3/1/85.full.pdf

Christine Zioudrou, Richard A. Streaty, and Werner A. Klee. Opioid Peptides Derived from Food Proteins THE EXORPHINS. From the Laboratory of General and Comparative Biochemistry, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Received for publication, October 20, 1978
http://fondation-maladies-degeneratives.org/Articles/a0f14213437ad7df55b7176fcea35bdf.pdf

Review of the potential health impact of β-casomorphins and related peptides. Report of the DATEX Working Group on β-casomorphins. Issued on 29 January 2009
[Nurse Mark Comment: This European government paper is working very, very hard to find that these casomorphins are not worth following up on – “don’t worry, be happy…” But there is a huge amount of information within the paperwhich contradicts that position – and all well referenced.] http://www.bezpecnostpotravin.cz

Brocke: Is Casein Fattening America? Published online 2008
“After all food reconstruction is big business, not necessarily about making food healthier but certainly making it more flavored more appealing and more likely to be highly addictive. It also serves to make food cheaper to produce but at what cost to our health? The current annual sales of Kerry Group is 3.8 billion with operations in over 15 countries. Obviously there is big money in selling casein and food additives to the unsuspecting public.” http://www.scribd.com/doc/8933807/Is-Casein-Fattening-America

Sun Z, Cade R.: Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of Florida, Peptides. 2003 Feb;24(2):321-3. Findings in normal rats following administration of gliadorphin-7 (GD-7). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=gliadorphin

Zhongjie Sun, J. Robert Cade, Melvin J. Fregly, R. Malcolm Privette, University of Florida, USA, Autism March 1999 vol. 3 no. 1 67-83. β-Casomorphin Induces Fos-Like Immunoreactivity in Discrete Brain Regions Relevant to Schizophrenia and Autism http://aut.sagepub.com/content/3/1/67.short

Defilippi C, Gomez E, Charlin V, Silva C.: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago. Nutrition. 1995 Nov-Dec;11(6):751-4. Inhibition of small intestinal motility by casein: a role of beta casomorphins? http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8719134?dopt=Citation

S Friis, E Dabelsteen, H Sjostrom, 0 Noren, S Jarnum: Gut 1992; 33:1487-1492, Gliadin uptake in human enterocytes. Differences between coeliac patients in remission and control individuals. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1379533/pdf/gut00578-0069.pdf

Author/Activist Dan Mahoney website “Fighting Big Food”: http://danmahony.com/bigfood.htm

Bachem Holding AG Online Catalog of chemicals available for sale: “Gliadorphin-7 is an opioid peptide which is formed during digestion of the gliadin component of the gluten protein. Elevated concentrations of gliadorphin-7 due to insufficient proteolysis has been associated with autism, schizophrenia, and celiac disease.” http://shop.bachem.com/ep6sf/peptides-and-biochemicals/opioid-peptides/4057062/prodH6712.html Gliadorphin-7

Beta-Casein website: “This website has been created by A2 Dairy Products Australia Pty Limited as a general information resource on the A1 and A2 beta-casein proteins.” http://www.betacasein.org/?p=home

Meloni GF, Dessole S, Vargiu N, Tomasi PA, Musumeci S. Source: Clinica Pediatrica ‘A. Filia’, Università di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica, Università di Sassari, Sassari, and Ospedale ‘S. Giovanni di Dio’, 07026 Olbia, Italy. Hum Reprod. 1999 Nov;14(11):2759-61. The prevalence of coeliac disease in infertility. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10548618

P Collin, S Vilska, P K Heinonen, 0 Hallstrom, P Pikkarainen Gut 1996; 39: 382-384: Infertility and coeliac disease “Conclusion-Patients having fertility problems may have subclinical coeliacdisease, which can be detected by serological screening tests. Silent coeliac disease should be considered in the case of women with unexplained infertility. http://gut.bmj.com/content/39/3/382.full.pdf

Unlocking Autism Organization, Journal articles regarding autism and gastrointestinal abnormalities: An interesting paper generally concerned with Attention Deficit Disorders btu that provides references to a number of studies demonstrating the inflammatory and immune-disrupting properties of gluten/gliadin and casein. http://www.unlockingautism.org/atf/cf/%7B64d87213-a160-4224-8ed7-702ed372e4b1%7D/DIETARYINTERVENTIONS.PDF

E Triboi, A Abad, A Michelena, J Lloveras, J.L Ollier, C Daniel, Station d’Agronomie INRA, 12 Avenue du Brézet, 63039 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Universitat de Lleida-IRTA, Alcalde Rovira Roure 177, 25198 Lleida, Spain, European Journal of Agronomy DOI:10.1016/S1161-0301(00)00059-9 Environmental effects on the quality of two wheat genotypes: 1. quantitative and qualitative variation of storage proteins Environmental effects on the quality of two wheat genotypes:

Goldenseal

Antimicrobial for the GI Tract

GoldensealGoldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) root has potent antimicrobial properties. Because the active ingredient appears to be an alkaloid, most of these anti-microbial properties remain confined to the GI tract.

Goldenseal has been found to be an effective antimicrobial against:

  • Chlamydia
  • E. coli
  • Salmonella typhi
  • Entamoeba histolytica
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptococcus sanguis
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Helicobacter pylori
  • other Gram-positive bacteria and fungi

Some studies suggest that goldenseal may also be effective against viruses, fungi, protozoans and helminths (worms).

Look for goldenseal products with standardized berberine/hydrastine (alkaloid) content as these will have the highest potency.

Because goldenseal is becoming a threatened species, some conscientious formulas contain Goldthread (coptis chinensis) in addition to goldenseal to supplement the berberine content of the formula.

Goldenseal is a special order product – please call.

Please read more about the benefits of Berberine here.

References

1.) Hahn FE, Ciak J. Berberine. Antibiotics 1976;3:577–88.
2.) Kim SH, Lee SJ, Lee JH, Sun WS, Kim JH. Antimicrobial activity of 9-O-acyl- and 9-O-alkylberberrubine derivatives. Planta Med. 2002 Mar;68(3):277-81.
3.) Scazzocchio F, Cometa MF, Tomassini L, Palmery M. Antibacterial activity of Hydrastis canadensis extract and its major isolated alkaloids. Planta Med. 2001 Aug;67(6):561-4.
4.) Mahady GB, Pendland SL, Stoia A, Chadwick LR. In vitro susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to isoquinoline alkaloids from Sanguinaria canadensis and Hydrastis canadensis.Phytother Res. 2003 Mar;17(3):217-21.
5.) [no authors listed]. Berberine. Altern Med Rev. 2000 Apr;5(2):175-7.