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January 1998 Newsletter
Headache Relief - Naturally
The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that approximately
8.7 million females and 2.6 million males currently suffer from moderate
to severe migraine headaches. Despite these astounding numbers, the
actual mechanism or cause of a migraine is still not clearly understood.
Cluster headaches most commonly affect adult males and can be worse
in the spring and fall seasons. The pain is severe, usually lasting
between 30 to 90 minutes, but may in some instances persist for several
hours.
Often associated with stress or anxiety, tension headaches progress
as a person’s stress accumulates. With several different kinds
of headaches, there are many theories about their causes and best forms
of treatment. The Physicians’ Desk Reference lists more than 100
over-the-counter and prescription medications as analgesics or migraine
preparations.
In contrast to conventional medicine, naturopathic medicine prefers
not to utilize a "pain-killing" approach in its treatment of headaches,
but directs treatment toward the whole person and the cause or mechanism
of the pain.
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) appears to aid in the prevention and
treatment of migraine headaches by inhibiting the release of substances
that dilate the blood vessels.
Feverfew has been shown in several studies to lessen the severity and
frequency of migraines. Effective doses range from 1 to 2 g per day.
Cayenne’s principal constituent, capsaicin, has shown to be beneficial
in relieving cluster headaches. In a double-blind study published in
1993, patients suffering with acute cluster headaches placed either
capsaicin ointment or a placebo ointment just inside their noses. Those
receiving the capsaicin reported significantly less severe headaches
compared to those receiving the placebo ointment.
It is important to note that there were side effects including burning
in the nasal passages, so this is an herbal delivery form that needs
further study before being taken as a headache remedy.
Certain nutritional supplements, notably magnesium and vitamin B2 may
also be of benefit to headache sufferers. In a 1992 study, 90 adults
who suffered with either migraines or tension-type headaches were evaluated
against 40 age-matched non-headache controls. Significantly lower levels
of magnesium were found in the headache-suffering group.
Twenty patients with menstrual migraines were supplemented with 360
mg per day of magnesium beginning on the 15th day of their menstrual
cycle and continuing up to the first day of their next cycle. In addition
to relief of general menstrual pain and distress, the number of days
the patients suffered with headache was also reduced in the magnesium-supplemented
group.
A 1994 study in which vitamin B2 was given to a group of migraine sufferers
at a dose of 400 mg per day found that 67% of those receiving the B2
reported having no further headaches as long as the supplementation
was maintained.
Headaches are neither easy to classify nor necessarily easy to treat.
Many times people with persistent problems have to try several approaches
before finding one that works for them. The good news is that natural
remedies do offer an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs.
References: Murphy, J.J., et al. "Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled
trial of feverfew in migraine prevention," Lancet 189-92, 1988. Marks,
D.R., et al. "A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of intranasal
capsaicin for cluster headache," Cephalalgia, 13(2): 114-6, 1993
Antioxidants Prevent Cardiovascular Disease
New research shows that antioxidant supplements are effective in preventing
cardiovascular disease, which, according to a December 9 news release
is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Almost 70 papers are cited from
studies focusing on the protective role of antioxidants in decreasing
development and progression of atherosclerosis.
Researchers with the Cambridge Heart Antioxidant Study found the strongest
evidence yet that taking at least 400 IU per day of natural vitamin E
reduces heart attack risk by 77%. A study conducted in Switzerland found
a significantly increased risk of heart attack in middle-aged men with
the lowest levels of beta carotene and/or vitamin C.
Reference: Association Between Antioxidant Levels and Coronary Heart
Disease, December 20, 1996.
Health Benefits Of Proanthocyanidins
While chlorophyll is known for coloring the plant world green, the purples,
blues, and reds in plants can be traced to flavonoids. The flavonoid proanthocyanidin
is responsible for the beautiful change of color in autumn leaves.
Proanthocyanidins can be found in many plants, notably pine bark and
grape seeds.
Flavonoids were first researched by the Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Gyorgyi,
Ph.D. (the discoverer of vitamin C) who found that the substance improved
the bioavailability of vitamin C, as well as supporting the integrity
of capillaries.
Today, most of the excitement about proanthocyanidins focuses on two
primary functions:
First, proanthocyanidins act as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals
that otherwise damage the body and are implicated in degenerative diseases.
Second, proanthocyanidins stabilize collagen and maintain the health
of elastin. The stabilization of collagen is the basis of proanthocyanidin’s
use on preventing and treating circulatory disorders.
One laboratory study reports that grape seed extract has a stronger effect
in one area of antioxidant activity than vitamin E.
A well-reported 1993 study, conducted by Dr. Hertog, showed that as intake
of flavonoids increases, the risk of death from heart disease decreases.
This study was based on the dietary data of approximately 800 elderly
men who were followed for 5 years.
Flavonoid intake accounted for about 25% of the difference in heart disease
risk in the groups of men.
Another study conducted by Dutch researchers, called the Zutphen Study,
found that men with the highest intake of flavonoids had 73% fewer strokes
than the men with a low intake of flavonoids.
Another double-blind study of 92 patients reports that grape seed extract
significantly reduced edema, pain, and cramps.
There is anecdotal information that proanthocyanidins from pine bark
can treat allergies by blocking histamine production. Although more research
is needed in this area, it is interesting to note that many European physicians
already utilize proanthocyanidins in the treatment of allergies.
As research continues in the field of flavonoids, even more health benefits
are expected to be uncovered. What is clear right now is that flavonoids,
in general, and specifically proanthocyanidins, are safe, free of side
effects, and powerful benefactors in maintaining good health.
References: Hertog, M.G., et al, Archives of Internal Medicine, 1995;155:381-6.
Thebaut, J., et al, Gazette Medicale, 1985;92:6.
Fight Cancer with Tea
According to a study published in a recent issue of Food and Chemical
Toxicology, both epidemiological and experimental studies show that consuming
tea derived from the Camellia sinensis plant has health benefits such
as the inhibition of carcinogenesis and mutagenesis, prevention of atherosclerosis
and reduction of serum cholesterol. Five types of tea were examined (green,
black, oolong, decaffeinated, and instant) to determine if they would
inhibit cell mutation caused by heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs). HAAs
are produced during the process of cooking meat, which results in changes
to cell structure and cancer-causing activity. According to the study,
these types of teas have very potent antimutagenic effects against most
HAA: "Total or partial inhibition of mutagenic activity of the eight HAAs
was obtained with extracts equivalent to 50 mg tea leaves."
In an associated study conducted by the pharmacology department at the
University of Hong Kong, non-fermented green tea helps to prevent heart
disease by lowering cholesterol levels. After testing green tea, it was
found that the tea had an active lipid-lowering compound which reduced
cholesterol by up to 25%, which is a better rate than more commonly used
drugs.
Reference: Food and Chemical Toxicology, June 1996.
Vitamin E And Male Infertility
Research conducted in the U.K. is suggesting that vitamin E may cure
a significant amount of male infertility cases. As published in the October
issue of Fertility and Sterility, the research showed that consuming 600
mg per day of vitamin E dramatically improved the function of human sperm.
Because spermatozoal disfunction is the most common cause of infertility
among men, the authors of the study believe that vitamin E could be an
easy and inexpensive means to treat this condition.
The Sheffield study was prompted by information provided by a U.S. prospective
study of 139 couples in which it was found that men generating high levels
of reactive oxygen species had seven times less of a chance of conceiving,
versus men with low levels of reactive oxygen species. The U.K. study
is the first double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial administering
vitamin E in vivo to treat men with reactive oxygen species-related infertility.
Approximately 20% of all male infertility cases are associated with reactive
oxygen species.
Reference: Fertility and Sterility; October, 1996.
Homeopathic Remedies Help Arthritis
In homeopathy, the physical and mental symptoms experienced by a patient
are of great importance. Only by building up a detailed symptom picture
can the "remedy" be found.
Although the symptoms of most diseases are more or less clearly defined,
a closer study of individual patients shows variations from one to another.
Each person is unique and, in treating the whole person, different homeopathic
medicines may be required to treat different people suffering from the
same disease.
In France, a homeopathic remedy for arthritis has gained considerable
attention, and it is now available. The ingredients, based on the homeopathic
pharmacopoeia, are designed to lessen the aches, pains, and stiffness
associated with arthritis and lower back pain.
The active ingredients in the formula are aurum muriaticum, mercurius
corosivus and colchicum, as well as silica, sulfur, bryonia, natronatum,
kalium iodatum, dulcamara and a few other homeopathic substances. The
remedy contains aurum muriaticum, which reportedly inhibits pain in the
knees, arms, elbows, fingers, etc.
Mercurius corrosivus is used by homeopathic physicians to relieve the
arthritic pain associated with limbs and joints.
Colchicum autumnale has a long history of dealing with acute attacks
of gout, in which joints become red and painful. It is recommended by
homeopaths for arthritic patients who have problems grasping objects.
Reference: Cook, Trevor M. Homeopathic Medicine Today. New Canaan,
CT: 1989.
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