Herbal Supplements Herbal Supplements and Healthand Health

The physical and mental value of dietary herbal supplements.

Origin of Herbal Origin of Herbal MedicineMedicine

Primitive men and women treated illnesses using plants, animal parts, and minerals not part of a common diet.

Physical evidence goes back 60,000 years to the burial site of a Neanderthal man who was buried with 8 species of plants.

Seven of these plants are still used in medicine today.

Herbal Supplements Herbal Supplements TodayToday

A resurgence of interest in herbal medicine originated in the 1970’s.

This movement began with people’s disillusionment with modern medicine- its high cost and inability to cure everything.

The partisans of this resurgence were more enthusiastic than knowledgeable. No laws were made about labeling products and outrageous claims were made about the abilities of herbal supplements.

Despite the importance of plants in medicine, the FDA considers some herbal remedies to be worthless or potentially dangerous.

Now herbal products can only be marketed as food supplements and must have the FDA’s approval to make specific health claims.

Uses of Herbal Uses of Herbal SupplementsSupplements

Physical For the treatment of sickness and

disease. Athletic and Weight-loss purposes.

Mental For the treatment of memory loss,

depression, sleep, and stress.

Treatment of Sickness and Treatment of Sickness and DiseaseDisease

All herbal medicines can be prepared as a tea.

Drink a glass 3 times a day, use the dried leaves of the plant, and usually use about half an ounce of the herb.

Common HerbsCommon Herbs

Aloe Vera Claims: “Cure all” tonic,

for the treatment of acne, burns, minor wounds

Effective for the topical treatment of wounds, burns, and frostbite.

Aloe VeraAloe Vera

Effectiveness varies with product. Advised not to use for

internal uses. Could lead to abdominal

cramping, diarrhea, loss of potassium, discoloration of urine.

GarlicGarlic

Claims: Antibiotic, antiviral, general cure all, lowering of blood pressure, cholesterol, and regulation of circulatory system.

GarlicGarlic Well studied herb.

Shown to lower cholestreol by 9-12% in 8-16 weeks of use.

May also possess antibiotic activities.

Large doses may cause heartburn.

GarlicGarlic

Used in Europe as an approved remedy for cardiovascular conditions and for the use of the flu and colds.

GingerGinger Claims: Treatment of

Arthritis, heart tissue, motion sickness and nausea.

Proven to be effective in nausea, motion sickness, and arthritis.

It is possible that it treats heart tissue but not likely.

GingerGinger

However, there are many precautions for the use of ginger. The use of ginger may inhibit the chemicals

involved in platelet aggression. This leads to increased and prolonged

bleeding.

PeppermintPeppermint Claims

Muscle Spasms Abdominal Pain Diarrhea Irritable Bowl

Syndrome Chills and nausea Convulsions Headaches

PeppermintPeppermint

Has only been proved to decrease muscle spasms.

Overuse can lead to heartburn, esophageal sphincter relaxations, irritation of mucous membranes, and allergic reactions.

Mental SupplementsMental Supplements

There are several very popular mental supplements designed to aid in memory, stress, depression, sleep, and other mental related problems. Although there are only a few of the herbal supplements they are widely used and accepted by the public. There are many claims regarding the effectiveness of these supplements, and the only difficult problem is discovering which claims are true and which are false.

Ginkgo BilobaGinkgo Biloba

Claims and effects Improved memory Reduce Alzheimer’s

effects Helps hearing loss Helps depression Helps calm asthma

Ginkgo BilobaGinkgo Biloba

Ginkgo balboa extract increases blood flow to the brain by inhibiting blood platelet aggregation and by regulating blood vessel elasticity. It has also been shown to improve blood flow through major blood vessels and capillaries.

Does It Work????

NO!!!

Ginkgo BilobaGinkgo Biloba

In extensive studies and various research experiments, ginkgo biloba has been shown to be completely ineffective against fighting memory loss, hearing loss, depression, and asthma. There is not enough well documented evidence to prove conclusively that ginkgo does not work when used in extremely large quantities.

Ginkgo BilobaGinkgo Biloba

Side Effects Mild

Gastrointestinal Upset

Mild Headaches

St. John’s Wort

St. John’s wort has been used to Prevent depression Decrease Stress Levels Help nervous conditions Decrease severity of bacterial

infection

St. John’s WortSt. John’s Wort

How it works:Hyperforin is a

serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It is the compound in the plant and suspected as having antidepressant effects.

Does It Work????

YES AND NO ????????

St. John’s WortSt. John’s Wort

Has been proven to be mildly helpful in very mild to moderate cases of depression. The more serious the case, the less that St. John’s Wort helps. In the worst cases of depression, it can actually hurt the situation.

St. John’s WortSt. John’s Wort

Side effects In cases of major

depression, it may worsen the case.

Blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention, and excessive drowsiness.

Sleep AidsSleep Aids

There are many different herbal sleep aids that are considered safer than, and sometimes as effective as prescription sleep aids. These herbs can help sleep by using aromas or teas.

Sleep Aids

Claims and effects: Helps Insomnia Helps all chronic

sleep disorders. Helps with

headaches and restlessness.

Sleep AidsSome examples of herbal sleep aids are: Chamomile Hops California Poppy Catnip Lemon Balm Lavender Passion Flower Skullcap Valerian Root

Do They Work????

YES!!!

Sleep Aids

Herbal sleep aids do work, and actually with little to no side effects. They are successful at calming and relaxing the body and assisting in the reduction of insomnia and other various sleep disorders.

Exercise and Diet Supplements

In Today’s World, Many People Are Taking Herbal

Supplements to Increase Their Energy and Weight Loss.

How many of you have seen this?

Magazines and tabloids often carry ads for herbal supplements, usually accompanied by a man with a body like Brad Pitt or a woman who looks like she’s walked straight out of “Baywatch”.

Do They Really Work?

Despite these claims, some experts have serious doubts about the efficacy of these herbal remedies as answers for weight loss and energy.

Exercise and Diet Supplements

Common supplements: Exercise:

Ginseng Bell pollen

Weight Loss: Ephedra

Ginseng

Most common form is Asian ginseng

A perennial herb of northern China, Korea, Japan, and Russia

Must be grown for 5 years before harvested

Ginseng

The root is the most widely used part

Harvested in the fall just before defoliation

Ginseng

How it works? Not known…it is suggested that

ginseng increases cerebrovascular flow

Dosage: Usual daily dose is 200mg

Does it Work?

In a 9-week, double blind, placebo- controlled trial of 30 highly trained athletes, treatment with ginseng produced significant improvements in aerobic capacity.

But…

Does it Work?

There were negative results in an 8 week, double blind trial that followed 31 healthy men in their twenties and another 8 week trial which showed that ginseng improved aerobic capacity in people who did not exercise, but gave no additional benefit to those who did.

Bee Pollen

Referred to as nature’s most complete food

Praised in the Bible and ancient Chinese texts

What is Bee Pollen?

It is the male seed of a flower blossom which has been gathered by the bees and to which special elements from the bees has been added. The honeybee collects pollen and mixes it with its own digestive enzymes. One pollen granule contains from one hundred thousand to five million pollen spores, each capable of reproducing its entire species.

Bee Pollen

Bee pollen rejuvenates your body, stimulates organs and glands, enhances vitality, and brings about a longer life span. Bee pollen's ability to consistently and noticeably increase energy levels makes it a favorite substance among many world class athletes and those interested in sustaining and enhancing quality performance.

Bee Pollen

Bee Pollen contains:-25% complete protein-18 amino acids-12 vitamins-28 minerals-11 enzymes

-14 beneficial fatty acids

-11 carbohydrates-Basically

everything needed for human survival

Bee Pollen and Exercise

Produces an accelerated rate of recovery-normal heart rate and breathing

It provides energy, stamina, and strength, and enhances performance levels.

Improves second performances

Does it Work?

Numerous studies have shown that taking Bee Pollen does in fact increase your energy and stamina during exercise and repeated events

Ephedra

Also known as “Ma Huang” Popular diet supplement in the U.S. Has been used in Chinese

medicine for thousands of years

How Does it Work?

Ephedrine alkaloids-naturally occurring compounds which act as a mild stimulant

Enhances energy Similar to caffeine

How Does it Work?

Stimulates fat metabolism Burns fat and

sugar more effectively

Reduces appetite Mobilizes stored

fat and carbohydrate reserves

Does it Work?

Numerous studies have shown that ephedra is effective for losing weight

It is most effective when used with caffeine

Popular diet supplements containing ephedra are Metabolife and MetaboMax