Herbal News Magazine

I take flax seed supplements every day. I used to take a krill oil supplement, but frankly that got a bit expensive and I was getting a little tired of the fishy burps that often accompanied as dose. I also have been on a bit of a vegan kick with my diet, trying to stay away from meats and cheeses and dairy.

So flax seed oil is a great way for me to ensure that I am getting my daily dose of omega 3 fatty acids in my diet while also not having to take a fish source of it (fish sources can also be contaminated with mercury and other toxins unless they are specifically labeled as mercury free).

Flax seed is an excellent food for both men and women. However, women may be especially interested in taking flax oil or eating a lot of flax seed in their diet. Flax seeds have a high content of a nutrient called lignans. What are lignans you ask?

They are compounds that actually help to regulate the estrogen levels in the body by boosting phytoestrogens, which are an arguably safe form of estrogen-mimicking plant based hormone mimicking nutrients.

A new study that has just come out found that flax seed oil supplementation did not improve women’s hot flashes. However, previous studies indicated that women did report less hot flashes during menopause when they were taking flax oil. So, as usual, studies are contradictory and it is hard to know what to really trust.

In the end, you have to trust your own body. I trust mine, and it says to me that I feel much better when I’m getting a daily dose of omega 3 fats – no matter what form they are in – vegan or fish based!

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Here is some information I just received via email about an apparently flawed study that was done on saw palmetto and how it can or can’t help men with prostate issues.  Enjoy!

Last week a study was published in JAMA that brought into question the efficacy of the long established herb Saw Palmetto for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).  Undoubtedly, some of your readers or their husbands use saw palmetto to deal with the symptoms so common to men over 50. 

The published results of the JAMA study run counter to many positive studies conducted on this herb.  Because of this discrepancy the Medical Department at Bioforce AG, Roggwil Switzerland took a serious look at the study. Although the study was well designed and statistically sound. 

 However, the inclusion criteria for the study were flawed in two ways: The authors admit that many of the participants probably did not have BPH and that they did not confirm the diagnosis using commonly accepted diagnostic tools such as ultrasound imaging and rectal palpitation.

The patients included in the study had a very low PSA average with a high standard deviation, increasing the likelihood that many participants did not have BPH and reducing the likelihood of a statistically significant result.  It is important for readers who are evaluating the use of Saw Palmetto to have access to this information so that they can make an informed choice. 

I have attached a copy of a press release issued by the Head of the Medical Research Department of Bioforce AG.  They have significant experience in designing and conducting research on herbal medicines.   This release contains more detail about their findings. 

Andy Suter, the head of the department is available for more information.  His contact information is on release.  We also have available other credible, scientific resources who would be available to comment on this, should you decide to pursue it.

Here is the link to the study abstract http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/306/12/1344.abstract.   We hope that you will see the value of sharing this information with your readers.  Thank you so much your consideration of this information. Kind Regards,

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Ashwaghanda is an herb that is popular and much-used in Indian, or ayurvedic medicine.  It has been used for thousands of years in practice, and actually has many applications to the human body and human health.

Most notably of course, because our culture is obsessed with sex (as well as other cultures, don’t get me wrong), it is used in sexual applications.  It’s not just a male sexual enhancement and herbal libido enhancing herb though – it is also used to help women with sexual problems. 

These issues can include low libido, low sexual performance and stamina.  It is called the “life giving” herb because it can help with cognitive issues such as focus and depression, and it can also help with keeping the mind sharp in to older age. 

It is also used as a general health tonic in men and women and is thought to be overall healthful for the body due to its high alkaloid content. Alkaloids are beneficial to human health in several ways, but they can also be deadly as they are powerful chemical compounds.

They are often plant derived.  This does not mean they cannot have adverse health effects. However, they definitely do have their purpose in herbal medicine. The high alkaloid content of ashwaghanda is what most experts theorize make them therapeutic.

However, that is not conclusive, as so many other things are not when it comes to herbal medicine. Often times it is the fusion of several components of a plant or root or leaf of a tree that makes it so therapeutic. It is often the combination of these elements that syngerizes into one total package.

Ahswaghanda derives its therapeutic benefits only from the root of the plant. This is like others such as ginger and galangals that derive their powers from a part of the plant other than the plant the grows above the ground only.

Another interesting fact about ashwaghand, which may also explain it’s “life giving” reputation with human anatomy is that it lives in areas that are very unforgiving to other types of plants. It thrives where other plants die in conditions that are much less than ideal.

Perhaps this ability to live in such dire conditions is what gives it the excellent health benefits.

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It’s no wonder more and more people are turning to self reliance when it comes to their health, wellness, mental well being, and overall longevity (ie disease prevention, quality of life sustainability).

We all want to live the happiest, healthiest lives that we can, and we want to stick around for as long as we can our beloved friends and family. Too often lives are cut short or the quality of life is dramatically reduced when people don’t take care of themselves as they should.

However, in this day and age of superior educational resources, the internet, and more and more information coming out about how herbs and natural remedies, as well as lifestyle changes, can affect our lives, people are wising up that supplementation can really impact their quality of life.

I thought it would be interesting to see what the best selling herbal supplements tend to be. My guess would have been omega 3 fatty acids, fish oil, ginkgo biloba (for mental sharpness and improved focus), and maybe something like St. Johns Wort, which helps  with anxiety and depression.

I was only partly right though. Here are the best selling supplements as of 2010 :

1.)  Flax seed oil

2.)  Wheat grass juice (one of my favorites at smoothie places, it gives you an instant, identifiable boost in energy

3.)  Cranberry

4.)  Saw Palmetto (usually used for male health, prostate health and sexual enhancement for men)

This is just a tiny list, and they don’t necessarily sell in that order either, but it gives you an idea of how popular herbal remedies are getting because even ten years ago, many people didn’t even know these were available, or what they could do for their health.

With the uncertainty of Medicare and Medicaid, and the crazy stuff that is going on with the health care laws right now, I’d say it’s a good time to start thinking preventative when it comes to medicine, and not about addressing it with medications when something is too far along.

Herbal remedies and supplements can help you live the best, most healthy way you can, and often times they can do it relatively inexpensive.

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I just love when the medical community tries to poo poo the fact that a lot of Americans find some serious value in taking supplements to supplement their diet and their lifestyle. Of course, there is no denying that a healthy, balanced diet and healthy living and exercising is the best way to stay in great shape.

However, supplements have definitely enhanced my life and my health, and no one could every convince me that is not true. I know how I feel when I’m taking my supplements that have been a staple in my every day life, and I know how I feel when I stop them for a little while too – I don’t feel as good, look as good, or function the same way.

So there, I know that for me, supplements make a huge difference in my quality of life and the way I feel every day.  So I can’t help it that every time a new medical study debunks some herb or natural compound that people swear by, I have an irksome feeling that someone is trying to rain on my parade.

The fact is, many herbs have bioactive compounds in them that make you feel or look a certain way. Just like conventional medicines, which by the way, are based in plant science largely, many herbal remedies definitely initiate some sort of chemical reaction in the body.  Sometimes it’s a desirable one, and sometimes it’s not. It all depends on the person and their individual tolerance and chemistry.

Just the mere fact that over 50% of our population takes some sort of supplement is telling that many different supplements work for people.  The majority of the public who has stated that they use supplements actually take a multi vitamin, but many also take supplements that are not considered a multi vitamin, like an omega 3 supplement, or a thyroid supplement and things of that nature.

Vitamin D is also gaining a huge popularity in vitamin taking, since it has been revealed that most people are deficient in vitamin D. Even though the official recommendation is seemingly way under what most people need to actually flourish and avoid cancer and other deadly diseases that we are now finding are associated to a deficiency in this pivotal vitamin.

What makes me really angry is that I feel there is a great deal of misinformation about vitamin D still being perpetuated by the greater system.  I firmly believe that my vitamin D consumption, and the fact that I get regular dosese of UV light, has created an environment where I rarely get sick. I think that it has greatly improved my immunity, and no one can tell me different.

When it comes right down to it, taking supplements is a very personal choice. Especially since supplements work differently for everyone.

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