Sheldon Saul Hendler
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 Recent research indicates ginkgo may be quite helpful in some serious circulatory disorders and may improve mental functioning in some elderly people. One of the herb's constituents has prolonged survival of organ transplants in experimental animals. licorice—Showing value for treating a variety of ulcers, chronic viral hepatitis and some other viral infections. A constituent of the herb has inhibited the AIDS virus in test-tube studies. The same constituent also has anti-depressant effects. milk thistle—Has remarkable detoxifying and liver-protective effects. |
| A paper in a German medical journal reported on the effects of ginkgo biloba extract on eight healthy, young men who were subjected to conditions of hypoxia. The study was randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover in design. Neurologic responses of the subjects receiving the extract were significantly better than those receiving placebo under these conditions. This is a very significant finding and should be followed up with a larger study.
In atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, there is decreased flow of blood going to the extremities. |
| The ginkgo tree has yielded at least one substance which is a circulation enhancer and may be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Anti-allergic bioflavonoids are being discovered in many herbs. Orange berries of the African medicinal shrub Maesa lanceolata are yielding antibiotic agents. Substances from herbs show promise for the treatment of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, angina, high blood pressure and diabetes. The future of medicinal herbs is looking brighter all the time. |
Nicola Reavley
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 Herbal medicines and Alzheimer's disease
Several studies have suggested that the herb, ginkgo biloba is beneficial in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In a study reported in the Journal ofthe American Medical Association in 1997, US researchers conducted a 52-week, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving mildly to severely demented outpatients with Alzheimer's disease or multi-infarct dementia. They used tests to assess the cognitive functioning of the patients and also included assessments by the caregivers of the patients as part of the outcome measurement. |
| See page 397 for more information on ginkgo and the precautions that may be necessary.
Anemia is a relatively common condition which has a variety of causes. It is a group of signs and symptoms which occur when there is a low level of red blood cells or the amount of hemoglobin they contain, a low blood volume, or abnormally formed red blood cells. There are over 400 types of anemia, many of them very rare. This chapter focuses on nutritional deficiency anemias. |
Dr. Mary Dan Eades
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| Obviously, these are too numerous to include here, but the following are helpful in preventing cancer and are easy to find as well: astragalus, echinacea, burdock root, dandelion root, milk thistle, red clover, ginkgo, licorice root, sage, cumin, garlic, onion, primrose oil, flaxseeds, rosemary, and cayenne.
Dosages may vary, depending on the duration and severity of your symptoms. Consult a qualified herbal practitioner. Let your physician know of your decision to use herbs; not all herbal remedies can be used in combination with conventional pharmaceuticals.
What makes it worse? |
Nicola Reavley
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| Recent media coverage of the benefits of herbs such as Echinacea, St John's wort and ginkgo means that these are also very popular. Women are more likely to use supplements than men, and most people who take them tend to do so because they feel that their food is of poor quality and contains toxic chemicals. Some people see supplements as health insurance and some take them for what they see as their specific benefits; for example, vitamin C for colds.
Who might need supplements? |
Gary Null
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 Choline, phosphatidyl serine, ginkgo, tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine all boost brain voltage.
CHELATION THERAPY As described in chapter 61, chelation therapy pulls out aluminum and other heavy metals from the bloodstream, resulting in improved memory. It can also reverse or prevent other destructive conditions associated with the aging process, such as arthritis, hardening of the arteries, cataracts, and strokes.
ELECTROSTIMULATION Amino acids and neurotransmitter precursors are more effective when accompanied by electrostimulation of the brain. |
Sheldon Saul Hendler
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| Memory Enhancers
(Hydergine, Centrophenoxine, Vasopressin, Ethoxyquin, Phosphatidylcholine, Phosphatidylserine, ginkgo, Piracetam,
Anaricetam, Vinpocetine)
Hydergine is perhaps the best known of the purported memory-enhancing drugs (aka cognition activators). It is one of the most widely used drugs worldwide, though still little-known in the U.S. Hydergine is said to retard aging of the brain, improve memory, counteract senility in some cases and, generally, keep the gray matter humming optimally.
Hydergine affects enzyme systems that are involved in the electrochemistry of nerve signals. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 The classic definition also excludes woody trees and shrubs, including ginkgo and hawthorn, two of the biggest-selling medicinal "herbs" in Europe. That's why some people prefer the term botanicals (and botanical medicine): It includes trees and shrubs as well as herbs.
Using a broader definition, some people consider an herb to be simply a useful plant. The big problem with this definition is that in one very important sense, all green plants are useful, even those that are not food and have no place in medicine or commerce. |
| In large amounts, ginkgo may cause diarrhea, irritability and restlessness.
V Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum), citrus fruits and other foods containing vitamin C. A review of some 40 good studies revealed that vitamin C—about 1,000 milligrams a day—helps prevent asthma attacks, bronchospasms, wheezing, respiratory infections, nasal congestion, watery eyes and other allergy symptoms. Why? Vitamin C inhibits the release of histamine.
I advise eating more plants that are high in vitamin C—not just citrus fruits and tomatoes but also bell peppers and strawberries. |
| I suggest trying three capsules a day, each containing 300 to 500 milligrams of a standardized 50:1 ginkgo extract with 25 percent flavonoids. (This information will be on the label.) Just be aware that more than 240 milligrams a day may cause diarrhea, irritability and restlessness. If you experience any of these symptoms, try a lower dose.
V Passionflower (Passi-flora incarnata). Two herbalists whom I particularly respect, David Hoffmann, author of The Herbal Handbook, and Michael Tierra, recommend passionflower for treating Parkinson's disease. Many other herbalists do, too. |
| When you get a standard ginkgo extract, it's a 50:1 preparation, meaning that 50 pounds of leaves are processed to get 1 pound of extract. You can purchase standardized extracts at many health food stores and pharmacies.
W Ginger (Zingiber officinale). In various studies, ginger has been shown to be almost as effective, or as effective, as aspirin and garlic in preventing the blood clots that trigger heart attack. Similar clotting in the leg can trigger intermittent claudication pain. III had this condition, I'd eat a lot of ginger.
VV Hawthorn (Crataegus, various species). |
| Given the amount of alcohol abuse in this country, I sometimes have a fantasy about getting rich by selling my Beer Beans, a mixture of 20 parts (by weight) roasted milk thistle seeds, soybeans (which are reputed to curb the desire for alcohol) and ginkgo nuts (proven to speed alcohol metabolism). I'd roast these and offer them to heavy-drinking friends.
VW Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis). |
| In amounts higher than 240 milligrams, ginkgo may cause diarrhea, irritability and restlessness, so if you experience any of these symptoms, opt for a lower dose.)
W Peanut (Arachis hypogaea). A good deal of research shows that soybeans help prevent the retinal breakdown that happens to people with diabetes, a condition known as diabetic retinopathy. It seems that the active constituent in soybeans is genistein. If genistein helps prevent diabetic retinopathy, it also might help prevent macular degeneration.
Many other legumes besides soybeans contain a generous portion of genistein. |
National Women's Health Network
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 A meta-analysis of forty controlled trials for "cerebral insufficiency" (a syndrome not recognized as a disease in the United States that includes memory and concentration problems, confusion, fatigue, depression, ringing in the ears, and headache) found in twenty-six studies that the people who took ginkgo did significantly better than those in the control group.
In another thirteen studies, there were benefits for some but not all measurements. Most of the studies are of poor quality, particularly in their methodology. |
Andrew Chevallier
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 Habitat & Cultivation
Native to China and possibly to Japan, ginkgo trees are grown on large plantations in China, France, and South Carolina. They produce green to yellow fan-shaped leaves with radiating veins, and round fruits about 1 in (3 cm) across that contain a single seed. The leaves and fruit are harvested in autumn. |
Sheldon Saul Hendler
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| Concentrated ginkgo biloba extracts are available in Europe and Mexico and are used for the treatment of circulatory disorders. Tebonin is available in Europe and Mexico, Tanakan in France and Rokan in Germany. Those who have access to these products should discuss their use with their physicians. These substances are relatively free of side effects. Those who desire to use these substances for the treatment of circulatory disorders (under medical guidance, of course) should be aware that it may take several months of constant use before any noticeable benefits are obtained. |
Dr. Mary Dan Eades
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| Reishi is a heart tonic that has effects similar to hawthorn and ginkgo.
• Though best known as a sleep enhancer, valerian also contains inti-arrhythmic compounds, and has been used to treat related disorders since Roman times. It also lowers blood pressure and in-:reases blood flow to the heart.
Dosages vary, depending on duration and severity of symptoms, iome herbal remedies are not to be combined with conventional pharmaceuticals. Consult a qualified herbal practitioner, and tell your physician before starting any herbal regimen.
What makes them worse? |
Marion Nestle
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 The testing laboratory also found supplements of saw palmetto, ginkgo biloba, and echinacea to contain less of those substances than listed on the product labels.22 So little is known about the interactions among herbal supplements and conventional drugs that anesthesiologists warn patients to stop taking supplements before undergoing surgery. Pharmacists at major drug chains also have begun asking customers about supplement practices and advising them about possible interactions that might be harmful. |
Christian Ratsch
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 They often include an extract of ginkgo biloba L. [syn. Salisburia adi-antifolia Sm.] (Gingkoaceae) as well; it is said to stimulate the brain and to strengthen memory422 (Schmid and Schmoll 1994). But the main ingredient is (was) usually ma-huang (Ephedra sinica). Sometimes yohimbe bark or extract (Pausinystalia yohimba) may also be added (Saunders and Doblin 1996, 157). It is doubtful whether these herbal ecstasy preparations actually do induce psychoactive, not to mention empathogenic, experiences. Even when ephedrine is present, the dosages would typically be too small. |
| Ginkgo: Ur-Baum und Arzneipflanze—Mythos, Dichtung und Kunst. Stuttgart: WVG.
Storl, Wolf-Dieter. 1995. An ethnobotanical portrait of the Indian pennywort. Yearbook for
Ethnomedicine and the Study of Consciousness 3 (1994): 267-82
Teeguarden, Ron. 1984. Chinese tonic herbs. Tokyo and New York: Japan Publications.
Trebes, Stefan. 1996. MDMA—Eine aktuelle
Ubersicht. Jahrbuch des Europaischen Collegiums fur Bewufitseinstudien (1995): 209-19. |
the Editors of PREVENTION
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 Hershey cautions, more of this kind of research has to accumulate in order for ginkgo or any other herbal medicine to gain widespread medical acceptance. "This study alone didn't make doctors jump up and down," she says. "In general, there's not enough evidence to move doctors to begin prescribing herbs, but there's certainly enough to encourage further research."
Remember, Dr. Rufsvold says, that the purpose of such further research is to seek the truth and promote better health, not just to vindicate herbal medicine. |
Marion Nestle
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| As if not enough products were already supplemented, producers of hard liquor were reported to be exploring the marketing potential of alcoholic beverages supplemented with ginkgo, ginseng, and other herbs. Such innovations, designed particularly to appeal to people aged 25 to 35, were certain to attract the attention of the relevant regulatory agency, in this case the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF). |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 And according to clinical research, subjects with this condition substantially improved recall when the herb was taken three times daily. ginkgo will also address other common symptoms of aging related to poor circulation: headaches, vertigo, tinnitus, dizziness, coldness or numbness of the hands and feet, cramping, and reduced ability to walk distances.
•Ginseng...The Chinese have revered ginseng for centuries, considering it an outstanding rejuvenator, aphrodisiac, and improver of most conditions. |
Marion Nestle
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| An evaluation by Consumer Reports of echinacea and ginkgo supplements, for example, identified considerable variation in the contents of different brands, as well as among different samples of the same brands. One testing laboratory reported that half of the glucosamine/chondroitin (antiarthritis) products it sampled did not contain as much chondroitin as was listed on the label, perhaps because this substance costs four times as much as glucosamine. |
John Heinerman
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 This, he believed, is what ginkgo essentially accomplished with the mind, while the other two ingredients worked on the reproductive organs themselves.
He made and sold this concoction in tablet form, instructing those who purchased the same to take 6-8 tablets at a time at least 30 minutes before sexual activities commenced. In recommending this same formula to different men here in the states who were unable to buy it directly from him, I soon found that an alcoholic tincture of the yohimbine worked better than when taken in capsule form with the other two ingredients. |
Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 Since ginkgo improves circulation to the extremities, it seems a logical choice for CTS. You can also try taking glucosamine or EVEX-33, since they aid the body in repairing cartilage and tendons.
Antibiotics, Antifungals and Their Natural Alternatives
Anti-infectives is the general term describing the drugs we take to fight all kinds of infections such as bacteria, fungus, parasites and viruses. In this chapter, antibiotics and antifungals are the types of anti-infectives that will be covered.
When Should You Take Antibiotics? |
Gary Null
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| He mentions the many natural alternatives such as L-arginine and ginkgo. These two release the nitrous oxide mechanism, in the same way Viagra does, that allows for a relaxation of the blood vessels in the penis, which allows for erection to occur.
Diamond continues, "Right now the situation around Viagra is bad. It's being prescribed like candy, rather than, as it should be, recognized as a very potent drug."
Diamond shares this anecdote: "I was on a TV show with a woman whose husband had taken this drug. The couple had had a good sex life but they wanted to make it just a little bit better. |
John Heinerman
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| I learned that his only three ingredients were yohimbine bark, dried schizandra berries, and ginkgo leaves and seeds.
Now I already knew about the medical success of yohimbine as reported in the August, 1984 issue of Science. Therein scientists from Stanford University discovered to their astonishment that when impotent male rats were given yohimbine, they went absolutely wild and mounted female rodents up to 45 times in less than 15 minutes—about twice as often as they normally would. Even when castrated rats were given a shot of the stuff, they climbed longingly on females. |
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