I Love Natural Remedies – Natural Remedies & Alternative Therapies

Traumatic Brain Injury – 9 Natural Remedies and Alternative Therapies to Support Coping and Recovery

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a terrible thing to experience. It can happen to anyone. Approximately 1.5 million people per year get a TBI in the United States alone.

People in war zones hit in the head by bullets or bomb blast waves, kids and adults playing contact sports like football or boxing, elderly who fall and hit their head, and anyone caught up in a car accident may suffer a head injury that results in TBI. The condition can be mild or severe, and it can lead to long term disability.

In the aftermath, mild TBI (mTBI) or a concussion can result from the force of the sudden impact of the brain against the skull. The extreme acceleration and deceleration of the brain within the skull can cause the injuries. Initial symptoms can include confusion or loss consciousness. Persistent post-concussive symptoms are multiple. Someone with mTBI can experience loss of energy, behavioral changes with loss of inhibition, disrupted sleep and mood, balance problems, headaches, memory loss, and even seizures.

For many affected by traumatic brain injury, everyday life changes in a big way. Social interactions, ability to function at school or work, even self-care activities can unravel. The affected person may need months or even years of rehabilitative therapies.

At the time of the immediate injury, getting conventional emergency medical evaluation and treatment is crucial and often life saving. But then there is the aftermath. It can include post-concussive syndrome. Chronic TBI.

This type of problem would seem too severe and too serious for “flaky” alternative therapies to help — but research shows that they can. There is no easy or simple answer, but there are promising natural remedies and alternative therapies that may make a difference in optimizing rehab and recovery.

Trying them under proper medical supervision may be worth it for many individuals with chronic aftermath of TBI. All of these have promising data associated with them, but as always, much more research is still needed.

Here are the categories of evidence-based possibilities to consider:

Nutritional supplements

Vitamin D3 – poorer vitamin D levels in the blood may increase the risk of experiencing severe rather than mild TBI. Lower vitamin D may also increase risk for poorer outcomes in TBI patients. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27825289).

Amino acids – certain types of amino acids (structures that include what is called “branched chains” may improve post-TBI outcomes (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28060208).

Alpha-linolenic acid – initial studies indicate that alpha-linolenic acid (a type of essential fatty acid, especially DHA) supplementation may reduce inflammation in the brain and improve recovery after a TBI (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Alpha-linolenic+acid+traumatic+brain+injury).

Antioxidant supplements

Astaxanthin – Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant found in krill oil and generated by certain algae. Among the possible benefits of taking astaxanthin is a protective effect of this dietary supplement on cognitive abilities after a TBI (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28048972).

Curcumin – Curcumin is another antioxidant material from the spice turmeric. Curcumin has already shown promise as an antiinflammatory agent in arthritic conditons and various other disorders that involve an inflammatory component. Limited preliminary evidence also suggests that curcumin is among the antioxidants that may help treat or prevent the persistent damage to brain function associated with a TBI injury (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26745164; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25022989; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24689052).

Quercetin – Quercetin is an excellent antioxidant with benefits in reducing allergic reactivity in some people. Again, preliminary research has shown that this natural supplement may lessen neurological problems after a TBI and improve cognitive function (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27690831; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23384428; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16379584; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27780244).

Rutin, which is a natural bioflavonoid substance from which quercetin can be derived, can also benefit people or animals with TBI-related impairments (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27644033).

Alpha-Lipoic Acid – ALA is a somewhat better-studied antioxidant that can protect peripheral nerves from high blood sugar-related neuropathy in diabetics. Because of its ability to protect nervous tissue from damage, studies have looked at the ability of alpha-lipoic acid to lessen swelling (edema) and improve outcomes after traumatic brain injury (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26055972; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19468925; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24844176).

Alternative Therapies

Acupuncture – Acupuncture is a centuries-old component of traditional Asian healing methods. Approaches to acupuncture range from the very traditional insertion of needles into specific acupuncture points along the body’s meridians to modulate function to modern electroacupuncture or laser acupuncture in which electrical or laser light stimulates the acupoints.

One study of animals discovered that daily electroacupuncture treatment of 4 specific points for 3 days immediately after a head injury made better functional recovery possible (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27852302). This implies that acupuncture treatment very soon after injury might make a difference in outcomes.

Acupuncture in a small sample of patients with chronic severe TBI also improved muscle spasticity and level of consciousness (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27575577; ). This implies that acupuncture might benefit patients who were injured months or even years before.

Homeopathy – Homeopathy is an over two century-old system of alternative therapy that uses small doses of one medicine at a time to stimulate healing. Its effects rely mainly on the body’s own potential for adapting to corrective information from the correctly chosen medicine (remedy).

Although controversial, there are a number of studies that provide a scientific foundation for the ability of these low dose natural medicines to elicit adaptive biological changes in the body.

In the case of mild TBI, there was a positive study of people whose original injury had occurred almost 3 years prior to beginning homeopathic treatment. In this double-blind study, the researchers found that the group treated with individually-tailored homeopathic medicines had clinical improvements not seen in the placebo group (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10671699).

What to make of all of this information? A lot of the research is in early stages. Some of these remedies and therapies have been better tested in other types of health conditions and found to be valuable as part of a prevention and treatment package of care in those situations. Risks of these therapies is usually low, certainly compared with conventional drugs.

Will they “cure” TBI? Unlikely. But can they help protect the brain from further damage and improve the ability to function? Very possibly. They may actually improve other aspects of health as well.

For someone dealing with the disabling effects of mild or severe TBI, these approaches can bring some hope for better outcomes and improved functional ability. For that possibility, they are worth some serious consideration. Talk with your own health care providers.

Find medical doctors and naturopathic doctors, acupuncturists, and homeopaths to deliver and supervise the natural remedies and alternative therapies care in conjunction with your rehab team.

As Winston Churchill once said, “Never, never, never give up.”

3 Top Herb Teas to Calm GI Distress and Reboot Your Day

Gastrointestinal (GI) distress sometimes seems like a normal part of modern life, with our hectic schedules, work and home stress, and everyday hassles. Daily life can set nerves jangling and cause stomach aching. One solution is to take regular breaks – not for coffee or wine, but for tea. Herb tea, actually. Here are the top 3 herb teas to consider when you need a caffeine-free way to push the reboot and unwind button on your day.

Chamomile tea

Chamomile is a flowering plant in the daisy family. There are some subtypes of chamomile, especially German chamomile and Roman chamomile. Typically people make chamomile tea to drink as a dietary supplement for supporting health. Originally used in folk medicine, this plant is still a go-to option to help reduce tension and anxiety, promote better sleep, and calm an upset stomach, diarrhea, or colic in children. Some studies suggest that chamomile may help protect the stomach lining from damage by alcohol.

Image courtesy of: heartdr2011

Recent research shows that chamomile may reduce oxidative stress in human white blood cells. Externally on wounds, Roman chamomile appears to have antibacterial effects on wounds to support faster wound healing.

As a plant, chamomile can cross-react with ragweed in allergic people, who would need to be careful to avoid it.

Peppermint tea

Peppermint tea is traditionally made from European peppermint leaves. Some natural remedy enthusiasts rely on peppermint tea or oil as a way to soothe irritable bowel syndrome. Menthol in the peppermint tea can help relieve gas and bloating. Some use this tea to treat nausea and vomiting or just the discomfort of motion sickness. Like many other natural remedies, peppermint may have some ability to fight off bacteria, bring down fever, and quiet coughing reflexes.

Externally, peppermint oil may help reduce chronic itching of the skin compared with other treatments. Inhaling peppermint oil for nausea after surgery is another potential use of this versatile material.

Image courtesy of: mintangel_yee

Ginger tea

Ginger is a plant whose root is used traditionally for various purposes and in different forms, including as a spice or seasoning in Asian cuisine cooking. Ginger is in the same plant family as turmeric and cardamom.

For many years, people have relied on ginger root products to help lessen nausea and vomiting of morning sickness and even for side effects of modern cancer treatments. Interestingly, some studies on animals and people have demonstrated that ginger consumption can have antiinflammatory effects and perhaps lessen muscle pain after exercise.

Image courtesy of: Watts4

Conclusions

These popular herb teas are only some of the natural remedies being rediscovered from folk medicine and traditional healing practices. They provide drug-free alternatives when modern medications fail or fall short.

As with any herb, it is important to check with your own doctor and pharmacist about possible herb-drug interactions that might end up increasing or decreasing levels of drugs that you are already taking. Still, for GI distress, de-stressing you and your gut with these natural remedies may be a good way to go.

Additional Readings

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27029534

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28034365

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28027824

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24463157

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17420159

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27785084

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27333231

http://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(09)00915-8/pdf

http://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(08)00119-3/pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27696378

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23569978

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27872812

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27847700

[Video] Earthing to Promote Better Health

Earthing is a way of grounding one’s body to remove the bad effects of exposures to the electromagnetic noise stress that is all around us. Phones, computers, tablets, TVs, appliances, and more all send out electromagnetic signals that can affect our health adversely.

Do you or someone you know love to go barefoot indoors and outdoors? This natural attraction to physical contact with the earth’s surface may turn out to be good for promoting better health.

Can you do earthing indoors? Yes – you simply test that the ground on your electrical outlet is truly grounded (checking with a simple voltmeter instrument), then plug in the grounding wire, and attach the other end of the wire to whatever Earthing mat, sheet, or specialized earthing wrap you have available to support health while your attention may be focused elsewhere.

Then you place your feet on it or lie on it or wrap yourself up in the sheet or wrap.

You can do earthing while seated at a desk or sleeping in your bed or on a couch. If you don’t want the “gimmick” of using the indoor tools, then you can do earthing the old-fashioned way by lying in contact with the warm sand at a beach or on the grass in your backyard.

Watch this video below and get a sense of how people use simple but special mats and other tools to reconnect with Earth around the home or even when traveling. The goal is to lessen the toxic burden of free radicals and inflammation in the body by “draining off” the destructive electromagnetic bombardment effects from our modern daily environment.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=GfVQ1s6BNOA

If this all sounds too strange and flaky to you, rethink your skepticism. There are scientific studies that show physiological benefits of regular use of Earthing methods. Research has shown that earthing can improve mood, blood flow, improve sleep quality, and lessen pain. Heart rate variability, a measure of bodily resilience to stress, may improve.

The electrical systems of the body such as nervous system and heart are rebalanced by earthing or grounding types of therapies. The electromagnetic science behind the approach is challenging but testable.

Additional Readings

Oschman JL. Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis, 2e.

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2012/291541/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27089527

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25848315

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25748085

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22291721

http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/acm.2011.0820

https://heartmdinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IMCJ10_3_p16_24chevalier.pdf

3 Best Probiotics for Diarrhea

Probiotics are one of the most significant natural remedy advances in integrative health care in years. If diarrhea has been or is a problem for you, you want to restore your gut health by eating foods containing probiotics and/or taking probiotic supplements as you recover. As always, check first with your own doctor to discuss appropriate probiotics in your particular situation.

While there is much more research ahead, the evidence so far is impressive especially for probiotics restoring GI balance and health upended by a bout of diarrhea.

What are probiotics? They are beneficial “good” bacteria and non-colonizing yeasts that normally live in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and regulate our immune system function. Like “bad” bacteria, probiotics in the human microbiome, as it is called, are typically susceptible to being killed off by antibiotic drugs.

Diarrhea from any cause, including traveler’s diarrhea, food poisoning, or another GI infection by “bad” bacteria such as C difficile, may also wipe out the good bacteria in the gut. In that scenario, you will want to prevent the bad bacteria from gaining a foothold by replacing the good bacteria.

The Three Amigos of the Probiotic World for Diarrhea

Types of probiotics include lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and yeasts such as saccharomyces boulardii. However, the specific probiotics that experts often recommend when you have been experiencing diarrhea include:

lactobacillus rhamnosus
lactobacillus reuteri, and
saccharomyces boulardii

Other research-supported probiotics for diarrhea are bifidobacterium bifidum and lactobacillus plantarum.

Many doctors also recommend taking a broader (different probiotic ingredients) probiotic supplement to restore the good bacteria beyond just getting the diarrhea under control. It is also possible to get probiotics from fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, or pickles. With food sources, however, you may not be able to know what strains or quantities you are consuming and if they are present in the optimal amounts and types that your gut needs. To get enough probiotics for restoring your gut, you may still need supplementation beyond specific foods.

Why do we care about keeping our good bacteria alive and happy in the gut? They are part of the complex signaling pathways that the human body has developed as the natural host to the good bacteria (and some good yeasts, also). They are desirable parasites in the body. They help keep the immune system and even nervous system working better.

For instance, one recent preliminary study suggests that L Reuteri might regulate the immune cells and mediator release involved in some types of autoimmune diseases (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27994068).

Peaceful Coexistence

The good bacteria get a place to live (in the gut); whereas the person gets an active partner in maintaining a healthy gut and regulating immune function. Probiotics/microbiome bacteria may also contribute to maintaining brain health, given the communication pathways between the immune and nervous systems. They can fight off the bad bacteria that cause infections and associated misery. Research suggests that even people treated with antibiotics for H pylori infection (bacteria that cause stomach ulcers) benefit from added treatment with probiotics.

More and more studies are finding that people with a wide range of chronic diseases have disturbances in the patterns of their good bacteria in the gut.

These conditions include irritable bowel, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies and asthma, diabetes, obesity, certain cancers, and autism. Probiotics play a key role in supporting oral, urinary tract, and vaginal health as well. Some experts also recommend consuming prebiotic foods, that is, certain plant fibers, to help support probiotics in the gut. Prebiotic foods include bananas, onions, garlic, and jerusalem artichokes, among others.

Evaluating Probiotic Products

You can buy probiotics at your local health food store or online. In evaluating probiotic products, you need to be concerned with the list specific good bacteria in the product as well as the total number of living organisms guaranteed by the expiration date.

Given that probiotics are living organisms, they can die off over time. You definitely want to use your supply in a timely way. Many of these products must be refrigerated to stay stable for as long as possible. Plan your own purchases accordingly so ensure getting your probiotics into the refrigerator as soon as possible after purchase. Many online companies will ship their probiotic products with special packaging to keep the interior cool enough for the bacteria to stay alive in transit. Heat, light, and/or moisture can sometimes destroy probiotics before use.

If a product you find at the local drugstore has only a few billion organisms to start with, it may be fine for someone in generally good health. But if you are among the people with severe chronic health problems, you may need to take probiotic products with extremely high bacterial counts, such as 225 to 900 billion bacteria per daily dose.

Sometimes it is possible to obtain the very high potency probiotics through a prescription (with insurance coverage), but an informed MD can help you choose the right product for you and your health issues. In the latter case, one of the best studied probiotic high potency products is called VSL#3. Other specialty natural products manufacturers make their own unique blends of probiotics for people of different age groups and health status.

As more research accumulates, it is likely that there will be very specific individually tailored probiotic therapeutic programs for people with various types of health challenges. For now, however, knowing that you can set your system back into proper balance with probiotics sooner after antibiotic treatment or a bout of infectious diarrhea is a great tip to know.

Additional Readings

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/790.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27769076

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27856417

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27824650

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27810921

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27413153

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27576894

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27429803

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27380595

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26711554

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26466123

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28029082

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27994474

3 Surprising Natural Supplements to Fight Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial and/or Viral Infections

Wouldn’t it be great to have some idea of how to deal with an antibiotic-resistant infection, even MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) types of infections naturally? We would always recommend discussing your personal condition and options with your doctor. However, if even he or she is stuck on what might help in a future tough infection from fungus, bacteria, or virus, consider and talk over these 3 surprising natural supplements with your own MD for fighting antibiotic-resistant infections.

Here they are:

1. Berberine

Berberine is a health-promoting alkaloid anti-inflammatory constituent of various plants. Among the sources of this compound are European barberry, goldenseal, and Oregon grape. Berberine made a big splash in the type 2 diabetes world by demonstrating a blood-sugar lowering effect. In addition to homeopathic Arsenicum Album 30C, herbal berberine supplements may help you out of a problem with food poisoning or traveler’s diarrhea.

Image courtesy of: jennshack

For infections that are hard to treat with antibiotics, berberine has been shown to inhibit the growth of MRSA bacteria biofilms (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27103062). Even so, there are a number of MRSA strains that will not give way to berberine alone. Studies suggest that sometimes berberine complements an existing antibiotic drug such as azthromycin and levofloxacin (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22932213).

Berberine may also work in a synergistic way with other natural agents when the bacteria are particularly hard to kill. And sometimes it is even best to use the whole intact herbal source material against these types of bacteria, e.g., goldenseal (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22814821) than trying to use isolated berberine by itself.

2. Cat’s Claw

Cat’s Claw (Una de Gato) is a natural herb from a vine growing in the Amazon rain forest of Peru. There are two different subtypes that fall under the heading of “cat’s claw,” Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis. The form of Cat’s Claw that some recommend is called Samento® (TOA-free version) or another product called Prima Una de Gato®. Traditionally, it is often used to treat various inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and even some Dengue fever infections.

Image source: http://www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/cats-claw-herb.html

However, this versatile agent also can exert antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects. In folk medicine, Cat’s claw is sometimes used to treat gastritis, perhaps such as that caused by infection (e.g., H pylori) or NSAID drugs like indomethacin. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects while modulating immune function, in part by reducing activation of an inflammatory cytokine called TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor).

Some doctors who recommend Cat’s Claw to their patients believe that the herb can help heal gastrointestinal inflammation and leaky gut conditions in stomach and large intestine. Others tout its capacity to kill Lyme disease bacteria as well as viruses involved in shingles and cold sores.

Experts warn people with autoimmune conditions and low blood pressure to evaluate the safety of this herb with their own health care providers, given its ability to modulate the immune system, interfere with clotting (increasing risk of bruising), and to lower blood pressure. Side effects can include dizziness and nausea.

3. Turmeric/Curcumin

Curcumin is an active ingredient in the yellow-colored spice turmeric (from the same botanical family as ginger). As with other natural supplements, some evidence indicates that adding curcumin to a conventional antibiotic drug may boost the anti-bacterial effects. In other words, this herbal material may make MRSA and other bacteria more sensitive again to antibiotic drugs.

Image courtesy of: cintira@ymail.com

Even in tropical Leishmaniasis infection, there is some evidence that combining a special form of curcumin (reduced in size to nanometer-sized particles to improve solubility) with the primary conventional drug miltefosine to treat visceral infections can improve outcomes. Another study reported that curcumin may help kill multidrug-resistant tuberculosis bacteria. To find a natural remedy that can rescue people with infections that conventional medications cannot help is a huge potential advance in integrative health care.

Curcumin’s star is on the rise in recent years for its other health benefits. Curcumin, used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, generally exerts strong anti-inflammatory effects. It is under study in treatment of various cancers as well as for lessening conditions such as arteriosclerosis from high blood lipid levels and even Alzheimer’s disease. Some studies suggest that curcumin can improve glucose tolerance in diabetic animals and perhaps human beings.

Conclusions

The exciting thing about this topic is that these three — berberine, cat’s claw, and turmeric — are not your only choices you would have. Other options for external treatments on the skin might include aloe vera, oregano oil, tea tree oil, garlic, and olive leaf extract as well as manuka honey. And consider grapefruit seed extract, apple cider vinegar, thyme oil, and colloidal silver.

These each have their own side effect risks, but they are typically less severe than letting an unchecked MRSA infection rampage over you and tear down your health. It also appears that sometimes the advantage of these natural products is to restore the ability of the body to take advantage of conventional Western drugs to kill infections that had otherwise become resistant to the drugs alone.

Additional Readings

http://www.lymebook.com/lyme-grapefruit-lauricidin-colloidal-silver-samento

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27103062

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22932213

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17210508

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11603848

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10962207

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12120814

http://www.itmonline.org/arts/catsclaw.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27956904

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23537748

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25738151

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25389660

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16161063

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27012592

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19576738

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27996308

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27980427

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26862383

Environmental Risks for Autism Spectrum Disorders – What Helps, What Hurts

Autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are labels that doctors use to diagnose a range of conditions that affect brain development. Symptoms of ASDs include challenges with social interactions, compulsive or repetitive behaviors, and issues with verbal and nonverbal communication. Other associated problems can include gastrointestinal dysfunctions and poor physical coordination.

Image courtesy of: Michael Bartholow

Parents may see signs of ASDs early in infancy, but the average age when they may realize the child is struggling in certain areas may not be until age 1 or a little later. ASDs affect more boys than girls. In recent decades, experts have found an increase in rates of autism spectrum disorders that is not easily dismissed as a result of better diagnostic procedures.

To learn more about autism spectrum disorders, you can watch this video for more in depth discussion:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_HGUyk5U_j8

Although modern medicine is focused on finding genetic roots for various disorders, it is likely that autism involves both genetic and environmental factors. There is no one cause of these complex conditions. The majority of cases are not dependent on an identifiable genetic cause. The range of environmental factors is large – including but not limited to older age of the parents, prematurity, and prenatal exposures to pesticides and air pollution.

In the case of air pollution, some studies with appropriate controls (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25522338) have shown that neighborhood-based exposures to particulate matter of certain small sizes in air pollution, especially during the mother’s third trimester of pregnancy, can increase the odds of subsequent ASD in the child. Another large scale study found an association between toxicant exposures from air pollution around the time of birth (diesel, lead, manganese, mercury, methylene chloride, metals) and autism-spectrum disorders (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23816781).

Recent studies have implicated an interaction between autism-related genes and environmental chemical compounds, pesticides, household products, cosmetics, and some conventional drugs as contributing to ASDs (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27984170). At the same time, some scientists have raised methodological questions about the validity of some of the studies on environmental factors (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24518398).

There are always additional questions that arise from real world studies of large populations. Do the findings of a given study have a meaningful relationship to an individual case? Many exposures are complex mixtures with varying durations, patterns of exposure, and quantities. Thus, is one chemical exposure sufficient to trigger ASD in a genetically-susceptible child or are there mixtures of exposures and/or nutritional factors that interact with genes to generate vulnerability to these developmental disorders?

The emotional debate over risks of childhood vaccinations also comes into focus with regard to autism. In this aspects of the debate, some investigators are concerned about possible effects of mercury toxicity from preservatives in vaccines, whereas others are concerned about the overactivation of the immune system itself.

Some experts raise the possibility that it is the overwhelming use of multiple different vaccines at the same time or over a very short time period that could be more damaging to health than giving these vaccines over more widely spaced periods of time. Whatever your concerns, this site is a resource on ingredients found in a number of different vaccines – http://vaccines.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=005206. There is also a source of additional information on vaccines at http://www.vaccinesrevealed.com/.

In fact, in one recent medical study, researchers concluded (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26399256):

Given the general consistency of findings across studies and the exposure-window-specific associations recently reported, the overall evidence for a causal association between air pollution and ASD is increasingly compelling.

In addition, nutritional factors may contribute to ASDs. For instance, mothers who took enough folate before conceiving and multivitamins containing folate (folic acid) during pregnancy may be less likely to have a child who develops autism after birth. It appears that genes and nutritional environment interact in this situation, as the benefit of folic acid supplements for reducing risk of ASD occurred for mothers and children with a specific genetic variant affecting folate metabolism.

Dietary choices and unique nutrient needs may also play a role after birth. That is, children with autism spectrum disorders have lower blood levels of vitamin B12 and vitamin D compared with normal controls. Vitamin D levels are deficient in a large proportion of the general population. Thiamine (vitamin B1) may also be abnormal in children with autism.

For example, another group of researchers concluded (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26514973):

Levels of serum 25(OH) D in participants with ASD were significantly lower than controls, suggesting that lower vitamin D level might be a risk factor for ASD.

Presumably nutritional factors could be corrected – proper prenatal care with folate supplements could help to some extent. And maintaining good intake of vitamins in children after birth may help improve outcomes for others. Parents used to give their children cod liver oil every day. Even though this may not taste very good, perhaps that practice was one of many ways some were able to sidestep ASDs in their offspring.

Cod liver oil would provide a good natural source of vitamins A and D as well as omega-3 fatty acids for promoting physical and mental health and reducing inflammation. Given the rise in rates of asthma, allergy, and even diabetes in children in addition to ASDs, it is important to note that low levels of vitamin D are also a risk factor for poorer status of asthma, allergy, and diabetes. Regardless of the form in which you might give these nutritional supplements to a child, they are worth making sure that the child gets them.

Image courtesy of: gapey

Taste or trouble swallowing pills or capsules is sometimes a practical barrier. In that case, maybe chewable vitamins and other supplements, even if loaded with sugar in some products, may be better than not giving a vitamin at all. You can usually find chewables without added food colorings and other undesirable additives in health food stores.

Furthermore, the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine also shows some promise as an adjunctive treatment for some of the behavioral problems in children with autism such as irritability. Given the gastrointestinal symptoms in ASD individuals, another natural supplement type, probiotics, have also received recent attention in treatment of children with ASDs. Probiotics may improve gut function. It is essential to realize that the gut and the brain actually communicate back and forth with one another. A healthy gut will help support healthier brain function as well.

In conclusion, autism is not a simple problem with a simple solution. Rather, autism and ASDs likely have both genetic susceptibillties and multiple environmental factors involved. Environment can involve undesirable exposures such as toxic chemicals (air pollutants, pesticides) and relative deficiencies of certain key nutrients such as folate, vitamin B12, and/or vitamin D. At the current time, the best strategies to reduce risks would include optimizing nutrition before and during pregnancy and in the child himself as well as choosing healthier environmental conditions (not living close to a freeway or polluted areas, using safer household cleaners and furnishings and avoiding pesticide use in and around the home).

Related References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27231337

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27010152

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25957837

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25522338

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27653281

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26514973

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23816781

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26399256

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27984170

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26399256

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27609410

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26799654

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26243379

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22648721

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25580916

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26783092

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28028357

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26964681

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27260271

Quercetin is a Versatile Antioxidant for Cardiac Health

Quercetin is a remarkable natural antioxidant that comes from plants. You can find this flavonoid in foods like onions, apples, berries, tea, and even red wine. Some people say that quercetin supplements have really helped them with their seasonal allergies and other inflammatory conditions. Now there is a new report demonstrating a potential benefit of taking quercetin for heart health.

Image courtesy of: Guy Radford

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the US. That translates into one of every 4 deaths in the United States every year. Scary statistics. Remember all the famous people who died in 2016 of heart attacks and strokes. There are many things that you can do to lessen your chances of becoming a statistic, but now there is apparently one more natural supplement to help – that is, quercetin.

An article from Natural Health 365 notes that a recent study showed a 68% reduction in coronary heart disease deaths in men from taking quercetin and other natural plant flavonoids. How did it accomplish this impressive set of results? According to the article:

Researchers believe the heart health quercetin benefits are due to a focused synergy among several processes. It helps to reduce cholesterol, assist blood flow and pressure, and reduce the amount of dangerous fat stored around the liver and abdomen. One quercetin cholesterol study found that seemingly healthy male smokers who took 100 mg of quercetin per day had significant improvements in cholesterol numbers. Their blood sugar was also reduced – another coronary heart disease and general cardiovascular risk factor. A larger study of non-smokers found a 33 percent increase in beneficial HDL cholesterol, a 27 percent reduction in LDL levels, and an 18 percent reduction in total cholesterol.

Even if you follow your doctor’s medication recommendations for statins, blood pressure drugs, and other drugs, it is unlikely that you could obtain similarly good outcomes with low side effect risks. Doses to consider would be up to 500 mg twice/day of quercetin for several months. Long term risks are not well studied at this point. Allergy season may be a great time to test out quercetin, as it is reported to help lessen hay fever and related allergic reactions.

Here’s a video that concisely summarizes the advantages of taking quercetin supplements:

Remember that you have additional supplement options for supporting heart health to discuss with your health care provider. Some of the others on the list include vitamin D3, coenzyme Q10, omega-3 fatty acids, lipoic acid, resveratrol, astaxanthin, and garlic.And, of course, good diet and exercise make a big difference in supporting good heart health.

Learn more about quercetin at this source – www.naturalhealth365.com

Additional Resources –

Ballmann C et al 2016. Lifelong quercetin enrichment and cardoprotection in Mdx/Utrn+/-ice. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol ajpheart.00552.2016.

Cheserek MJ et al 2016. Cardioprotective effects of lipoic acid, quercetin, and resveratrol on oxidative stress related to thyroid hormone alterations in long-term obesity. Jul;33:36-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2016.02.008. Epub 2016 Mar 21.

Serban MC et al 2016. Effects of quercetin on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Am Heart Association 5(7), doi: 10.1161/JAHA.115.002713.

Natural Remedies for Bone Healing after a Fracture

Breaking a bone is never in anyone’s plans. But sometimes accidents happen, whether from a sports injury, a fall… or a freak event like dropping a 5 pound frozen chicken on your toes, as this naturopathic student recounts in her article (ouch!). She drew on her knowledge of natural remedies and strategies to help relieve pain and swelling and foster better bone healing.

As most naturopaths would recommend, she treated herself right away with the homeopathic remedy for injury, Arnica (30C potency doses frequently at first and perhaps a couple of times per day after that to lessen swelling, bruising, and pain).

She tried other therapies as well, including hydrotherapy and cold laser treatments, which she describes briefly in her story. She also highlighted additional homeopathic and nutritional strategies for fostering bone healing:

Upon learning of the fracture, I started taking homeopathic comfrey, known as Symphytum, which is the key remedy for bone repair. I haven’t had a follow-up X-ray yet, but I’m able to walk normally without pain. Additionally, I was drinking a cup of traditional bone broth, which is full of collagen, glycine, proline, and minerals necessary for bone repair. Three times weekly for two weeks, I received cold laser therapy to enhance fracture repair.

Another option similar to chicken, turkey, or beef bone broth, as one of our readers pointed out, would be plain unflavored, sugar-free, dye-free gelatin. Gelatin is a natural source of collagen protein from the animal from the bones, skin, and connective tissues of the animal (usually cows or pigs) from which it is made.

You can find powdered boxes of plain gelatin in the grocery store near the less healthy boxes with the sugary products that include gelatin along with less desirable ingredients.

Symphytum may cause serious adverse liver reactions in herbal tea form. As a result, using it only briefly in external compresses (still with some risk of skin absorption) or choosing a homeopathic potency of Symphytum 30C are ways to lessen the herbal risk.

For homeopathic remedies, Symphytum is rendered nontoxic by the way in which it is prepared into higher potencies using serial dilutions and succussions. A 30C potency will have been diluted in a ratio of 1/100 for a total of 30 times, with each dilution step followed by succussions (agitation) to activate its active signal properties. Another homeopathic remedy that some experts suggest for bone health is Calcarea Phosphorica (calcium phosphate) together with the Symphytum remedy.

Homeopathic preparation methods still release the signal properties of the source material to set healing in motion within the immune system of the body (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19617203; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27832158).

The remedy choices that she describes actually have research evidence to support her choices. Of course she probably would have healed satisfactorily without using the alternative approaches that she mentions in her article.

But, along the way, would she have been able to tolerate the pain and wait for an unaccelerated recovery without using alternative therapies? Feeling empowered to do something constructive after an injury that sets you back from being able to do everyday activities is a big deal.

That is, although it is not possible to pin down which one or more of the therapies helped the most, at least one of them did so. Given the background research, it is likely that she benefited from the biological effects of these strategies on wound and bone healing, not just from “placebo” effect.

In addition, there is research evidence to support some of the strategies she employed. And, as is often the case, finding ways with natural remedies and alternative therapies to avoid using more toxic conventional drugs for the pain is a good thing. Acupuncture, for instance, may also have been helpful in this type of situation.

To read the whole story, check it out at www.nuhs.edu

Additional Readings:

Use of Arnica for injuries –

Iannitti T et al. 2016. Effectiveness and safety of Arnica montana in post-surgical setting, pain, and inflammation. Am J Ther 23(1):e184-97.

Marzotto M et al. 2016. Arnica montana stimulates extracellular matrix gene expression in a macrophage cell line differentiated to wound-healing phenotype. PLoS One 11(11):e0166340.

Use of Symphytum or Calcarea Phosphorica for healing bone –

Canello S et al 2016. Bone computed tomography mineral content evaluation in chickens: effects of substances in homeopathic concentration. Homeopathy 105(1):92-95.

Spin-Neto R et al 2010. Homeopathic Symphytum officinale increases removal torque and radiographic bone density around titanium implants in rats. Homeopathy 99(4):249-54.

Werkman C et al 2006. Comparative therapeutic use of Risedronate and Calcarea phosphorica – allopathy versus homeopathy – in bone repair in castrated rats. Pesqui Odontol Bras 20(3):196-201.

Use of cold laser treatments after surgery or injury –

Da Re Guerra F et al 2016. Low-level laser therapy modulates pro-inflammatory cytokines after partial tenotomy. Lasers Med Sci 31(4):759-66.

Fernandes GA et al 2016. Low-intensity laser (660 nm) on sternotomy healing in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft: a randomized double-blind study. Lasers Med Sci 31(9):1907-13.

Guerra Fda R et al 2013. LLLT improves tendon healing through increase in MMP activity and collagen synthesis. Lasers Med Sci 28(5):1281-8.

Use of Gelatin as a Protein and Amino Acid Source (especially proline and glycine)

https://wellnessmama.com/7419/gelatin-uses/

Chair Yoga May Help Older People with Osteoarthritis

Have you ever considered doing yoga regularly for your health? Before you say, “yes, but…” think again.

Yoga is a health- and relaxation-promoting practice that encompasses meditation, breathing and various specific body postures (poses). Knowing your own physical limitations (such as poor balance, falling, arthritis) and what you may have heard in the past, maybe you rejected yoga as as impossible for you to try.

However, for many years, yoga instructors have adapted the routines to create a practical but modified form of yoga for people with physical disabilities, i.e., chair yoga. Yes, in chair yoga, you can sit in a chair and do various bends, stretches, and twists. If you would have trouble standing or moving around and holding yoga poses, this could be for you.

Image courtesy of: peacegal2010

Recently, the Daily Mail in the United Kingdom reported on a new study on chair yoga for 131 older people with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that develops from wear and tear on the joints over years; it can affect people with occupations that wore out specific joints or in people who have had a past injury to a knee or other joint area. Half of the participants were randomly assigned to chair yoga and the other half to a health education program without yoga training.

Here are the essential findings –

They found those in the chair yoga group showed a greater reduction in pain interference during their sessions. This benefit lasted for around three months – four weeks after they had originally finished. General pain, fatigue and gait also improved as a result of the chair yoga sessions.

These benefits happened from doing the chair yoga for 45 minutes twice a week for 2 months. If they stopped practicing what they had learned, the chair yoga group lost their health benefits. While we cannot say that the video below from Canyon Ranch shows the specific type of chair yoga used in the research study discussed here, the demonstration still gives you a good sense of the gentle movements that are possible and helpful while seated in a chair.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=PHf_2PyjA3U

Overall, here is an alternative therapy that may be an answer for people who do not want to take painkiller drugs all the time or take on the risks of replacement surgery on damaged joints. By using a chair, balance and falling issues go away as an excuse for not trying yoga. Chair yoga may be a worthwhile activity to schedule into your day or week.

Original Source: For more details from the story, head on over to www.dailymail.co.uk

12 Top Homeopathic Remedies for Colds and Flu

In addition to nutritional and herbal remedies, another option to consider is homeopathic remedies for colds and flu. Homeopathy is a controversial but resilient form of alternative health care that was originally developed by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann MD over 200 years ago. In the modern world, homeopathy is popular with consumers in India, Europe, the UK, and Latin America.

Recent research advances have begun to identify answers to long-standing criticisms and doubts about the validity of homeopathy in terms of the nature of its medicines and their ability to affect biology (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27211323; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21622275; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27832158; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24642002).

Some clinical studies have also demonstrated significant benefits of homeopathic treatment of acute colds and flu conditions (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17335565; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23714686; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25882307; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27186371; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27493984).

Ideally, you would want guidance from an experienced homeopath to decide the best match between your symptom pattern and the symptom pattern that each remedy can unique modify. Naturopathic physicians are also trained to use homeopathy. Without that type of resource, there are a number of different self-care resources for helping you learn how to choose and dose homeopathic remedies for acute conditions, e.g., books, e-books, online programs, but consulting your own health care providers is far preferable to winging it on your own.

Most natural food stores sell over-the-counter homeopathic remedies at what homeopaths refer to as potencies. You can also order remedies online from any of several different retailers. If you get a 30C potency, the remedy may be helpful after one to three doses spaced out during the day. The nature of how a 30C potency is made will ensure that you cannot run into any drug interaction problems.

These homeopathics are not conventional drugs and do not act in the same way as conventional drugs. Some of the source materials such as arsenic or plants like Nux Vomica would be toxic in ordinary herbal doses, but the manner of preparation of homeopathic remedies involves serial dilutions and succussions, which are believed to release the active signal properties of the remedy without needing drug-like toxic doses present to have effects.

The essential way of understanding how homeopathy works is to see the correctly chosen remedy as a signal to the body to heal as an adaptive response to the very mild stressor that the remedy signal conveys. It is a type of warning to the body to mobilize internal resources to throw off the specific biological maladaptations that manifest as the acute (or chronic) disease.

A 30C potency will have been serially diluted in water or water-alcohol solution 30 times, each in a ratio of 1 part source material to 99 parts solvent (ratio of 1/100 dilution factors). After each dilution step, the resultant solution is shaken vigorously (succussed). The serial dilutions for a 30C potency will end up removing any measurable amounts of toxic source material but, in combination with succussions, will still generate biological effects.

Skeptics seize on the dilution factor as an “obvious” reason why homeopathy cannot be anything other than a placebo. But – the evidence to date indicates that homeopathic remedies may shorten the duration of acute infectious illnesses like colds and flu and reduce dependence on symptomatic conventional drugs for relief. Make up your own mind about all of this.

If you decide to give them a try, here are some of the more commonly-used homeopathic remedies, in alphabetical order, for colds and flu. Remember that there are detailed books to guide decisions about the best remedy for a given situation. These short comments are only introductory:

The Common Cold

Aconite – think of this remedy in early stages of illness when the cold begins suddenly and the patient is chilly and anxious. Even with a fever, the person may not perspire.

Allium cepa – this remedy is made from red onion. What are your symptoms if you chop an onion? Most people will experience sneezing with a watery discharge from the nose but burning sensations and a bland discharge from the eyes. If the symptoms of your cold match these, this remedy may trigger the body to recover sooner.

Euphrasia – This remedy also helps with nasal and eye discharges during a cold, but the symptoms are subtly different from those of Allium cepa. With Euphrasia, there may be red watery eyes with a burning discharge, whereas the nasal discharge is watery and nonirritating.

Ferrum Phosphoricum – Made from iron phosphate, this is another remedy most useful in the earliest stages of a cold. It is often hard to know if this is an indicated remedy, but you can try it and see if it helps.

Mercurius vivus – Patients with colds who need this mercury-derived remedy may show a lot of temperature variability from feeling cold to feeling very hot and sweaty. The nasal discharges of a patient who needs this remedy may be thick, colored yellow or green, and even smell very unpleasant. Perspiration and breath may also smell bad as well.

Nux Vomica – With this plant-derived remedy, the patients with colds who need this remedy are typically irritable and impatient as well as sensitive to external stimuli (light, noise, touch, odors). The nose may be stuffy at night but runny during the day. Along with the nasal symptoms, the patient may report itchiness in the inside of the ear and eustachian tube down to the throat.

Pulsatilla – Pulsatilla is a widely-used homeopathic remedy made from Windflower. The person may be very changeable, with symptoms and moods varying in all sorts of ways at unpredictable times. The patient typically wants company and likes to be outdoors. Discharges from the nose and eyes may be yellow and green and fairly thick.

Flu

Arsenicum album – This is a versatile remedy that can help certain people with colds or flus, especially GI flus and food poisoning events with weakness, nausea, vomiting, chills, and anxiety. The person can be extremely restless and symptoms worsen around 1 am in the morning. The nasal and eye discharges may both be burning and watery if the acute condition is a common cold. Being in the outdoors may lead to worsened symptoms. They can only stand to drink liquid in small sips even if thirsty.

Bryonia alba – The keynote of this remedy is feeling worse from any physical movement. The person may be extremely stiff and achy in joints and not want to move. When they have a headache, it is made worse by any type of motion. Behaviorally the patient may be irritable and want to be alone. They may also be thirsty for large amounts of fluids.

Eupatorium perfoliatum – People with typical influenza infections often ache so badly that it feels as though their bones would break. The bone aching symptoms are prominent in someone with the flu who needs Eupatorium. The person may also have a bad headache with throbbing and even a sensation of sore eyeballs. They may also experience shaking chills with thirstiness just before the chills start.

Gelsemium sempervirens – Gelsemium flu patients will feel weak and trembling, as well as very dull and lethargic or even sleepy with very low energy. They may appear to have trouble keeping their eyes open. The nature of the achiness is dull. They may not be thirsty in contrast with some other remedies. Face may be flushed and hot.

Rhus toxicodendron – This remedy is helpful for many types of musculoskeletal aches and tearing or bruised pains, with stiffness that loosens up with motion. Thus, in contrast with a Bryonia patient, a Rhus Tox patient will have a tough time getting started in moving but then will feel better from having moved. Overall a Rhus Tox flu will include a feeling of inner restlessness and need to move around. Such patients are chilly and better from warmth or heat. At the same time, the patient may be thirsty for cold drinks, including milk.

Conclusions

When you are already sick, it is awfully hard to drag yourself out of bed to the store for things you might need. Prepare in advance for cold and flu season by getting a good thermometer to measure your temperature, electrolyte solutions like Pedialyte® or something similar for fluid loss, and, of course, some soothing chicken noodle soup in cans.

You can also usually find small acute care homeopathy kits from different manufacturers online. The kits have a set of vials with 30C potencies of most of these commonly-used remedies. Once you have a kit, you are all set to have many remedies on hand at home if you need them. In addition to other types of natural remedies for colds and flu, homeopathic remedies may be able to help you get over an infection in a shorter period of time with some less misery than you’d otherwise have to endure.

Resources

http://www.homeopathycenter.org/homeopathy-today/opening-home-medicine-chest-common-cold

http://www.homeopathycenter.org/webinar/homeopathic-treatment-influenza-refresher-course

http://treatment.hpathy.com/homeo-medicine/homeopathy-common-cold/