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Von: Margot Süttmann

An: ggn-editors

Gesendet: Montag, 1. September 2008 03:49

Betreff: An Ancient Herb, Combined With Cows' Milk, Can Boost the Body's

Immunity

 

 

http://www.emaxhealth.com/6/2/24322.html

An Ancient Herb,Cows' Milk Can Boost Body's Immunity

 

Eastern and Oriental medicine practitioners have long known that Ashwagandha, an

herb commonly used in the 5,000-year old practice of Ayurvedic medicine, helps

fight disease when used in combination with a liquid known as anupana.

Anupana may be derived from many different substances, from olive oil, to beer,

to ghee. Each liquid is thought to have different properties, so an Ayurveda

practitioner selects an anupana that has the qualities that best fit a given

situation. Traditionally, one method of administering Ashwagandha and milk was

to boil them together.

A team of American researchers is examining whether drinking whole cows' milk

with the herb can increase the body's white blood cells, which help boost

immunity. They have found that it does.

 

By: American Association of Naturopathic Physicians - Thu, 08/28/2008 - 15:32

 

 

http://naturopathic.org/viewbulletin.php?id=298

 

 

An Ancient Herb, Combined With Cows' Milk, Can Boost the Body's Immunity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2008

12:01 AM EDT

 

Contact: Jenna Huntsberger, AANP

Phone: 202.731.8098

Email: jenna.huntsberger

Ashwagandha, commonly known as Indian Ginseng, is found to increase the

body's first-line defense cells when combined with milk

 

PHOENIX, AZ - Eastern and Oriental medicine practitioners have long known

that Ashwagandha, an herb commonly used in the 5,000-year old practice of

Ayurvedic medicine, helps fight disease when used in combination with a liquid

known as anupana. Anupana may be derived from many different substances, from

olive oil, to beer, to ghee. Each liquid is thought to have different

properties, so an Ayurveda practitioner selects an anupana that has the

qualities that best fit a given situation. Traditionally, one method of

administering Ashwagandha and milk was to boil them together.

 

 

A team of American researchers is examining whether drinking whole cows'

milk with the herb can increase the body's white blood cells, which help boost

immunity. They have found that it does.

 

 

This first-of-its-kind study was led by Heather Zwickey of the National

College of Natural Medicine's Helfgott Research Institute, Portland, OR, and her

colleagues Jeremy Mikolai, Andrew Erlandsen, Andrew Murison, Will Gregory, Padma

Raman-Caplan and Kimberly Brown. Mikolai, Erlandsen and Murison will be

presenting the team's findings during the 23rd annual meeting of the American

Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP; www.Naturopathic.org), being held

August 13-16, 2008 in Phoenix, AZ. The full findings of the study are being

published this fall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background

 

According to Zwickey, investigations into herbal remedies rarely take into

account how the herb has been administered throughout the tradition of the

medicine's life cycle, such as coupled or mixed with water, tea, or oil. While

many consumers today may consume the herb with water or no liquid at all,

researchers know that Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (WS)), has typically been

taken with an anupana substance. It is believed to aid in the digestion and

effectiveness of the plant.

 

 

To determine if an anupana substance would help enhance Ashwagandha's

immune properties, the research team used milk in a co-administered intervention

along with the herb extract. Cows' milk was chosen over goats' milk and other

potential substances because Ayurvedic medicine considers it to be a

strengthening, nutritive driver for medicines. This made it an appropriate

choice for an immunological study. A follow-up study will compare the results

of the herb extract alone to the combination of herb with milk and to placebo

controls.

 

 

 

 

 

Methodology

 

To measure the effects of the herb in humans, the researchers examined the

impact the herb had on cell activation in lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are a type of

white blood cell and come in four forms: (1) Natural Killer cells, which are a

major component of the immune system and best known for their ability to respond

to virally-infected cells and tumors; (2) B-cells, which make antibodies that

bind to a virus or microrganism and then destroy it; (3) CD4+ T cells (also

known as helper cells), which coordinate the immune system's response; and (4)

CD8+ T cells, which kill cells that become infected.

 

The research team took blood samples from five healthy volunteers (three

female; two male; average age 27) to set a baseline for immune cell levels. They

administered an alcohol and water extract of Ashwagandha totaling approximately

two teaspoons (6mL) in eight ounces of cows' milk . The liquids were consumed

twice a day for four days. Blood work was drawn again at 24 and 96 hours

post-baseline to look for differences in the cells.

 

Results

 

Consuming Ashwagandha with and cows' milk had the following effects on the

human immune system:

 

a.. There was a statistically significant overall increase in the level

of white blood cell activation. Cell activation was most pronounced in the CD56+

Natural Killer cells. This is important, since these cells, play a critical role

in the body's response to the flu, the mumps or tumors.

b.. There was a statistically significant increase in the number of CD4+

T helper cells. While both CD8+ T helper cells and B cells also increased, the

amount was not significant.

Recommendations for Consumers

 

According to Zwickey, three herbs - echinacea, astragalus and glycyrrhiza

- have been extensively researched for their ability to stimulate the immune

system. " I felt it was time to open the door a little wider and see what more we

could find to use ancient medicine's ability to heal the health disorders of

today, " the immunologist said. " Given that conventional medicine has a lot to

offer for the treatment of bacterial infections, my lab focuses on identifying

those products that can address viral disorders such as sinus infections, colds

and the like. "

 

Zwickey recommends that those who use natural products consult a

naturopathic practitioner or other alternative medicine specialist first before

purchasing herbal products. The most expensive is not always the best quality,

and vice versa. She recommends that the public wait until additional studies

are complete before beginning a cows' milk/Ashwagandha regime in earnest.

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