Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 > " HSI - Jenny Thompson " > <HSIResearch > Calendar Girl > Wed, 01 Sep 2004 08:29:24 -0400 > > Calendar Girl > > Health Sciences Institute e-Alert > > September 01, 2004 > > ************************************************************ > > Dear Reader, > > Ready for the cold winds to blow? Me neither. But > with August now > behind us, chilly weather will soon be creeping in > for most of us, > along with cold and flu season. > > In the December 2001 HSI Members Alert we first told > you about a > remarkable herbal extract (andrographis paniculata) > that has been used > for centuries in Ayurvedic (traditional Indian) > therapies and > Traditional to treat everything > from isolated cases > of the sniffles to full-blown outbreaks of > influenza. In fact, > Andrographis was credited with halting the spread of > the 1919 Indian > flu epidemic. > > Early this summer I came across a review of seven > different trials > that tested the effectiveness of andrographis on the > relief of cold > symptoms. I saved this information until now because > who wants to > think about wintertime colds when planning for beach > trips and > baseball games? > > But with September looming large on the wall > calendar, the time has > come to prepare for the inevitable. > > --------------------------- > > Seven out of seven > --------------------------- > > > Researchers at the Universities of Exeter and > Plymouth in the UK > conducted a survey of medical databases, herbal > manufacturer > information and World Health Organization reports to > select seven > studies that met the criteria for double-blind, > controlled trials. The > combined studies tested the use of andrographis as a > treatment for > respiratory tract infection in nearly 900 subjects. > > As reported in the journal Planta Medica the UK team > analyzed three > studies that tested doses of 48 to 60 mg of > andrographis per day > against placebo. Three other studies examined 60 mg > of andrographis > per day along with a daily dose of Siberian ginseng > versus placebo. > And the seventh trial had subjects taking 180 and > 360 mg of crude > andrographis (as opposed to standardized extracts in > the other six > studies), measured against a medication for common > colds. > > In all seven of these studies, subjects who took > andrographis after > the onset of cold symptoms reported faster recovery, > compared to > subjects who took placebo or medication. > > Researchers concluded that andrographis may be > effective in treating > " uncomplicated " infection in the upper respiratory > tract (throat, > sinuses and ears). Adverse effects were described as > " mild and > infrequent. " They also noted that preliminary > evidence indicated a > possible preventive effect. Further studies will be > needed to confirm > that, of course. > > --------------------------- > > Enzyme protection > --------------------------- > > > In addition to the seven studies mentioned in the UK > research, > previous laboratory trials have shown that > andrographis extract > doesn't actually kill the organisms that make you > sick – at least not > directly. Instead, it boosts your immune system and > stimulates natural > antibodies. > > Your body creates some very powerful > disease-fighting enzymes. But if > you become ill easily or don't recover quickly from > colds and the flu, > it's possible that your production of these > antioxidant enzymes has > been compromised. Andrographis protects those > enzymes, enhancing your > natural disease-fighting ability. > > But andrographis may eventually prove to do more > than just bolster > disease-fighting enzymes. Here are some results from > trials with lab > animals: > > * Research with dogs showed that andrographis may > help prevent > myocardial ischemia (inadequate blood circulation in > the heart caused > by coronary artery disease) > > * A similar study found that andrographis may > inhibit the formation of > blood clots > > * Diabetic animals treated with andrographis > developed lower blood > sugar levels > > * Andrographis lowered systolic blood pressure in > lab rats bred to be > spontaneously hypertensive > > * Andrographis preserved liver function in mice that > were given drugs > to impair liver function > > The potential of andrographis to influence these > conditions in humans > isn't yet known. > > --------------------------- > > Northern latitudes > --------------------------- > > > In the December 2001 Member Alert, we told you about > Kan Jang, a brand > of standardized extract of andrographis that has > outsold all other > cold medications in Scandinavia for 12 years > running. The Swedish > Herbal Institute, the formulator of Kan Jang, > recommends that you take > one tablet four times daily to fight colds or the > flu. Extracts are > standardized to 11.2 mg andrographolides per 200 mg > of extract. > > Extensive human trials of Kan Jang have only > measured the product's > impact on cold symptoms and occurrences. And even > though those trials > didn't identify any adverse side effects, you should > consult with your > doctor or health care practitioner before > supplementing with Kan Jang, > especially if you suffer from high or low blood > pressure, a > blood-sugar disorder, or vascular problems. The > American Herbal > Products Association also suggests that pregnant or > nursing women > avoid using Kan Jang. > > Kan Jang can be purchased at dietary supplement > stores and through > Internet sites. > > ************************************************************ > > ...and another thing > > Sometimes you need someone in your corner. > > In the e-Alert " No Buts About It " (8/30/04), I told > you about the > experience of a friend of mine who nearly found out > the hard way that > doctors may recommend uncomfortable or invasive > medical procedures > based on suspect test results. > > The lesson: Always ask for specifics regarding > factors that can create > false positive or false negative test results. > > And now – along the same lines – I have another good > tip to pass > along. > > In an Internet Broadcasting Systems (IBS) article > titled " Over- > Medication Sickens Seniors, " geriatrician Dr. Mary > Cohan discusses > several problems that I've addressed in previous e- > Alerts. For > instance, many elderly patients require the care of > specialists and > end up visiting more than one doctor on a regular > basis. When several > doctors prescribe different medications, the chances > for adverse drug > interactions increase, along with the risk of side > effects. > > And here's the disturbing result of that trend: A > recent survey > revealed that older patients suffering from side > effects or adverse > interactions account for 20 percent of all emergency > room visits. > > A friend of mine named Jan experienced this very > situation with her > father who had multiple health problems. In deep > frustration, Jan and > her family wondered why all of the specialists > couldn't get on the > same page. It slowly dawned on her that the doctors > had no motivation > to do so; to each of them her father was just one of > many patients who > required attention for a few brief minutes at a > time. > > Finally, she and some family members organized and > insisted on a joint > conference between four different specialists. It > was quite difficult > to match up their schedules, so the family had to be > persistent in > scheduling and rescheduling. When the meeting > finally took place, two > of the doctors realized that some of their > prescribed drug therapies > needed immediate adjustment. > > Obviously, her father couldn't have handled this > situation on his own. > Which brings us to this simple health care tip: Get > an advocate. > > Many patients – especially those who are elderly or > who have multiple > health problems – need someone to step forward and > coordinate their > health care. That advocate doesn't need to be a > health care > professional, they just need to be diligent in > asking hard questions, > following up on the answers, and making sure that > all of the doctors > involved are aware of the entire scope of diagnoses, > tests, > prescriptions, dietary recommendations, etc. > > Never assume that a hospital or a nursing staff or a > doctor's office > will do any coordinating of the big picture. > Patients with complicated > health challenges need an advocate to help do that > for them. > > To Your Good Health, > > Jenny Thompson > Health Sciences Institute > > ************************************************************ > > Sources: > > " Andrographis Paniculata in the Treatment of Upper > Respiratory Tract > Infections: A Systematic Review of Safety and > Efficacy " Planta Medica, > Vol. 70, No. 4, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov > " Andrographis: Uncommon Treatment for the Common > Cold " Maureen > Williams, ND, Healthnotes Newswire, 6/3/04, > pccnaturalmarkets.com > " Over-Medication Sickens Seniors " Internet > Broadcasting Systems, Inc., > 8/16/04, thewbalchannel.com > > Copyright ©1997-2004 by www.hsibaltimore.com, > L.L.C. The e-Alert may > not be posted on commercial sites without written > permission. > > ************************************************************ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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