CLA competes with EFAs and crowds them & their derivatives out of enzyme spaces

[Guest guest]

CLA: conjugated linoleic acid, a trans- fatty acid made from the n-6

essential linoleic acid by bacterial or by industrial partial

hydrogenation.

 

CLA competes with EFAs and crowds them and their

derivatives out of enzyme spaces. This is cause for serious concern.

 

The body has no requirement for CLA. But it has an absolute

requirement for EFAs, which should not be interfered with.

--

What Should be our Focus?

 

We recall that EFAs cannot be made by the body, must be present for

the normal (healthy) functioning of every cell, tissue, gland, and

organ, and must therefore be provided by foods.

 

EFAs come in two varieties: n-3 and n-6.

Both are essential. Both are sensitive to destruction. N-3 is too

low for good health in most people's diet.

 

Low and no fat diets are too low in n-3 and n-6. N-6 is too low in

people who use flax oil exclusively as the source of EFAs in their

diet (these are primarily people who have been misled, by research

on the benefits of n-3s and problems caused by n-6s, to seek to

remove n-6s from their diet.

 

It is important to obtain BOTH EFAs in the most beneficial ratio,

which we find to be 2 n-3s to each n-6.

 

It is also important that our EFAs come from oils that retain

their `minor ingredients', which include antioxidants, phytosterols,

lecithin, and other oil-soluble molecules present in seeds and raw

nuts.

 

These `minor ingredients' have major health benefits.

When colorless, odorless, tasteless, shelf-stable oils are made,

the `minor ingredients' are removed from oils for the sake of longer

shelf life.

 

In addition, some of the fatty acid molecules present in

the oil are changed from natural to toxic.

 

The toxicity from n-6 oils, (corn, soybean and safflower) result

primarily from the removal of `minor ingredients' and damage to

fatty acids due to " careless processing " .

------------------------------

 

Summary and Recommendations: Bottom Line -

 

Instead of using CLA, we need in our diet EFAs made with health in

mind, in an optimal n-3: n-6 ratio, pressed from organically grown

seeds, and retaining their natural antioxidants, phytosterols, and

other `minor ingredients'.

 

Being far less expensive than CLA, such oils can be taken in the 30

to 150 gram/day range over the long term, and confer all of the

health benefits hyped for but not delivered by CLA.

" Forget CLA, and remember EFA. "

 

• Research Studies Of 139 references pulled off the Internet

in June of 2001, 29 were published in 2001; 65 in 2000; 33 in 1999;

and 15 in 1998.Unfortunately, a substantial number of these studies

indicate that CLA does not do in human studies what it appears to do

in animal studies.

 

 

The negative changes induced by CLA include:

 

• At 2% of food, CLA accelerates the decomposition of storage

lipids, resulting in lipid 'peroxidation' and morphological change

in the liver;

•

• At 1% of feed in mice, CLA increased TNFa

(tumor necrosis factor alpha, an inflammatory factor) by 12 times,

and uncoupling

protein UCP-2 (a thermogenic factor)

by 6 times;

there was liver

swelling,

 

• increased insulin resistance, and leptin depletion;34

•

• Given to rats at 3 to 5%, CLA changes the membrane lipids,

increasing some and decreasing others, increases antioxidant enzymes

in liver, and reduces both LDL and HDL cholesterol;

•

• In rats given 180mg/day of mixed isomers, CLA was found to

" compete " for enzymes used to elongate and desaturate EFAs,

 

• thereby " decreasing " the production of EFA derivatives

important to health;38

•

• At 10g/kg (1%), CLA " reduced " rate of bone formation in rats,

while EFAs " enhanced " bone growth;

•

• In mice fed an " atherogenic diet " containing 5g/kg (0.5%) of

CLA, CLA increased the development of fatty streaks

(abnormal blood

clots leading to clogged arteries and heart attacks!),

one of the

atherogenic markers;

 

If the Results are Mediocre, what Drives the Research?

What drives

the research behind CLA?

 

The dairy and red meat industries might want to use CLA to prop up

products that are losing popularity.

 

The hydrogenation industry might like to make these expensive

products from cheap oils abundantly available by using existing

 

(trans- fatty acid-making) machinery.

 

Hydrogenation is a process that has lost a great deal of

credibility.

 

Most of the CLA studies were carried out in university departments

of food technology, animal science, and dairy.

 

Hershey (a US chocolate manufacturer) carried out the milk

chocolate study.

 

Let's Run Some Numbers--

 

Cream, nature's richest natural source of CLA, contains 5mg/gram

(0.5%) of fat. The dairy isomer of CLA is mostly c9,t11-18:2.

That much is apparently safe and desirable for calves.

That much CLA in butter is probably safe for humans as well. At

0.5% CLA, a tablespoon (14 grams) of butter provides about 70mg of

CLA.To get 3 grams of CLA from butter,

one would need to eat more than 40 tablespoons of it,

which is 560 grams of 1.25 pounds of butter.

 

That's a lot more than can be recommended, even if EFA intake is

optimal (about 1 tablespoon/body weight in winter; less in summer),

the level that makes skin soft and velvety (more in winter, less in

summer).

By the way, 560 grams of butter is 560 x 0.8 (butter is 20% water)

x 9 (calories per gram) = 4,032 calories.Butter, nature's richest

source of CLA, does not provide any creature with very much of it.

 

This may explain why high levels result in disturbing negative

(side) effects.

 

In commercial preparations, the c9,t11- isomer is

found mixed with much higher amounts of the t10,c12-18:2 isomer,

along with smaller amounts of the other six CLA isomers

 

.. Each of these has different properties and will therefore have

different effects on cell and tissue biochemistry. The specific

effects of all isomers are not yet known, but need to be known

before safe recommendations for this new mixture of CLA isomers is

recommended for health.

 

www.udoerasmus.com

--

 

References:

 

• French P et al. Fatty acid composition, including conjugated

linoleic acid, of intramuscular fat from steers offered grazed

grass, grass silage, or concentrate-based diets. J Anim Sci 2000

Nov; 78(11): 2849-55.

• Eulitz K et al. Preparation, separation, and confirmation of

the eight geometrical cis/trans conjugated linoleic acid isomers

8,10- through 11,13-18:2. Lipids 1999 Aug; 34(8): 873-7.

• Ma DW et al. Conjugated linoleic acid in Canadian dairy and

beef products. J Agric Food Chem 1999 May; 47(5): 1956-60.

• Bauman DE et al. Technical note: production of butter with

enhanced conjugated linoleic acid for use in biomedical studies with

animal models. J Dairy Sci 2000 Nov; 83(11): 2422-5.

• Hurst WJ et al. Determination of conjugated linoleic acid

(CLA) concentrations in milk chocolate. J Agric Food Chem 2001 Mar;

49(3): 1264-5.

• Jung MO et al. Effects of temperature and agitation rate on

the formation of conjugated linoleic acids in soybean oil during

hydrogenation process. J Agric Food Chem 2001 Jun; 49(6): 3010-6.

• Ogawa J et al. Conjugated Linoleic Acid Accumulation via 10-

Hydrozy-12-Octadecaenoic Acid during Microaerobic Transformation of

Linoleic Acid by Lactobacillus acidophilus. Appl Environ Microbiol

2001 Mar; 67(3): 1246-52.

• Chuang LT et al. Effect of conjugated linoleic acid on

fungal delta6-desaturase activity in a transformed yeast system.

Lipids 2001 Feb 36(2): 139-43.

• Sisk MB et al. Dietary conjugated linoleic acid reduces

adiposity in lean but not obese zucker rats. J Nutr 2001 Jun; 13(6):

1668-74.

• Bulgarella JA et al. Modulation of prostaglandin H synthase

activity by conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and specific CLA isomers.

Lipids 2001 Apr; 36(4): 407-12.

• Rahman SN et al. Effects of conjugated linoleic acid on

serum leptin concentration, body-fat accumulation, and beta-

oxidation of fatty acid in OLETF rats. Nutrition 2001 May; 17(5):

385-90.

• Ryder JV et al. Some-specific antidiabetic properties of

conjugated linoleic acid. Improved glucose tolerance, skeletal

muscle insulin action, and UCP-2 gene expression. Diabetes 2001 May;

50(5): 1149-57.

• Miner JL et al. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), body fat,

and apoptosis. Obes Res 2001 Feb; 9(2): 129-34.

• Bassaganya-Riera J et al. Effects of dietary conjugated

linoleic acid in nursery pigs of dirty and clean environments on

growth, empty body composition, and immune competence. J Anim Sci

2001 Mar; 79(3): 714-21.

• Whigham LD et al. CLA reduces antigen-induced histamine and

PGE(2) release from sensitized guinea pig tracheae. Am J Physiol

Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2001 Mar; 280(3): R908-12.

• Thomas Yeung CH et al. Dietary conjugated linoleic acid

mixture affects the activity of intestinal acyl coenzyme A:

cholesterol acyltransferase in hamsters. Br J Nutr 2001 Dec; 84(6):

935-41.

• Hubbard NE et al. Reduction of murine mammary tumor

metastasis by conjugated linoleic acid. Cancer Lett 2000 Mar 13; 150

(1): 93-100.

• McCarty MF. Activation of PPARgamma may mediate a portion of

the anticancer activity of conjugated linoleic acid. Med Hypotheses

2000 Sep; 55(3): 187-8.

• Bee G. Dietary conjugated linoleic acids alter adipose

tissue and milk lipids of pregnant and lactating sows. J Nutr 2000

Sep; 130(9): 2292-8.

• Yang M et al. Dietary conjugated linoleic acid protects

against end stage disease of systemic jupus erythematosus in the

NZB/W F1 mouse. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2000 Aug; 22(3): 433-

49.

• Azain MJ et al. Dietary conjugated linoleic acid reduces rat

adipose tissue cell size rather than cell number. J Nutr 2000 Jun;

130(6): 1548-54.

• Stangl GL. Conjugated linoleic acid exhibits a strong fat-to-

lean partitioning effect, reduce serum VLDL lipids and redistribute

tissue lipids in food-restricted rats. J Nutr 2000 May; 130(5): 1140-

46.

• Twibell RG et al. Effects of dietary conjugated linoleic

acids on hepatic and muscle lipids in hybrid striped bass. Lipids

2000 Feb; 35(2): 155-61.

• Baumgard LH et al. Identification of the conjugated linoleic

acid isomer that inhibits milk fat synthesis. Am J Physiol Regul

Integr Comp Physiol 2000 Jan; 278(1): R179-84.

• Yamasake M et al. Dietary conjugated linoleic acid increases

immunoglobulin productivity of Sprague-Dawley rat spleen

lymphocytes. Biosci Biotecnol Biochem 2000 Oct; 64(10): 2159-64.

• Park Y et al. Evidence that the trans-10,cis-12 isomer of

conjugated linoleic acid induces body composition changes in mice.

Lipids 1999 Mar; 34(3): 235-41.

• Banni S et al. Decrease in linoleic acid metabolites as a

potential mechanism in cancer risk reduction by conjugated linoleic

acid. Carcinogenesis 1999 Jun; 20(6): 1019-24.

• Banni S et al. An increase in vitamin A status by the

feeding of conjugated linoleic acid. Nutr Cancer 1999; 33(1): 53-7.

• Cesano A et al. Opposite effects of linoleic acid and

conjugated linoleic acid on human prostatic cancer in SCID mice.

Anticancer Res 1998 May-Jun; 18(3A): 1429-34.

• Sugano M et al. Conjugated linoleic acid modulates tissue

levels of chemical mediators and immunoglobulins in rats. Lipids

1998 May; 33(5): 521-7.

• Aydin R et al. Olive oil prevents the adverse effects of

dietary conjugated linoleic acid on chick hatchability and egg

quality. J Nutr 2001 Mar; 13(3): 800-6.

• Yamasaki M et al. Effect of dietary conjugated linoleic acid

on lipid peroxidation and histological changes in rat liver tissues.

J Agric Food Chem 2000 Dec; 48(12): 6367-71.

• Du M et al. Effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid and

linoleic:linolenic acid ratio on polyunsaturated fatty acid status

in laying hens. Poult Sci 2000 Dec; 79(12): 1749-56.

• Tsuboyama-Kasaoka N et al. Conjugated linoleic acid

supplementation reduces adipose tissue by apoptosis and develops

lipodystrophy in mice. Diabetics 2000 Sep; 49(9): 1543-42.

• Latour MA et al. Effects of conjugated linoleic acid. 1.

Fatty acid modification of yolks and neonatal fatty acid metabolism.

Poult Sci 2000 Jun; 79(6): 817-21.

• Stangl GL. High dietary levels of a conjugated linoleic acid

mixture alter hepatic glycerophopholipid class profile and

cholesterol-carrying serum lipoproteins of rats. J Nutr Biochem 2000

Apr 1; 11(4): 184-91.

• de Deckere EA et al. Effects of conjugated linoleic acid

(CLA) isomers on lipid levels and peroxisome proliferation in the

hamster. Br J Nutr 1999 Oct; 82(4): 309-17.

• Sebodio JL et al. Geometry of conjugated bonds of CLA

isomers in a commercial mixture and their hepatic 20:4 metabolites.

Lipids 1999 Dec; 34(12): 1319-25.

• Li Y et al. Dietary conjugated linoleic acid alter serum

IGF_1 and IGF binding protein concentrations and reduce bone

formation in rats fed (n-6) or (n-3) fatty acids. J Bone Miner Res

1999 Jul; 14(7): 1153062.

• Munday JS et al. Dietary conjugated linoleic acids promote

fatty streak formation in the C57BL/6 mouse atherosclerosis model.

Br J Nutr 1999 Mar; 81(3): 251-5.

• Petrik MB et al. Highly unsaturated )n-3) fatty acids, but

not alpha-linolenic, conjugated linoleic, or gamma-linolenic acids,

reduce tumorigenesis in Apc(Min/+) mice. J Nutr 2000 Oct; 130(10):

1434-43.

• Benito P et al. The effect of conjugated linoleic acid on

plasma lipoproteins and tissue fatty acid composition in humans.

Lipids 2001 Mar; 36(3): 229-36.

• Benito P et al. The effect of conjugated linoleic acid on

platelet function, platelet fatty acid composition, and blood

coagulation in humans. Lipids 2001 Mar; 36(3): 221-7.

• Elias SL, Innis SM. Infant plasma trans, n-6, and n-3 fatty

acids and conjugated linoleic acids are related to maternal plasma

fatty acids, length of gestation, and birth weight and length. Am J

Clin Nutr 2001 Apr; 73(4): 807-14.

• Kelly DS et al. Dietary conjugated linoleic acid did not

alter immune status in young healthy women. Lipids 2000 Oct; 35(10):

1065071.

• Basu S et al. Conjugated linoleic acid induces lipid

peroxidation in men with abdominal obesity. Clin Sci (Colch) 2000

Dec; 99(6): 511-6.

• Lucchi L et al. Changes in conjugated linoleic acid and its

metabolites in patients with chronic renal failure. Kidney Int 2000

Oct; 58(4): 1695-702.

• Medina EA et al. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation in

humans: effects on circulating leptin concentrations and appetite.

Lipids 2000 Jul; 35(7): 783-8.

• Zambell KI et al. Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation

in humans: effects on body composition and energy expenditure.

Lipids 2000 Jul; 35(7): 777-82.

• Basu S et al. Conjugated linoleic acid induces lipid

peroxidation in humans. FEBS Lett 2000 Feb 18; 468(1): 33-6.

• Blankson H et al. Conjugated linoleic acid reduces body fat

in overweight and obese humans. J Nutr 2000 Dec; 1301(12): 2943-8.

• Herbel BK et al. Safflower oil consumption does not increase

plasma conjugated linoleic acid in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 1998 Feb;

67(2): 332-7.

[Guest guest]

Thank you, JoAnn, for this information. This is a concern for me because I have

found the CLA has been a major help with my neuralgia (post herpatic neuralgia).

I have no idea why it works this way. I need to take a combination - Zyflamend

and Omega-3 - but nothing did the trick until I took CLA. Within 30 minutes,

pain was gone. Of course, diet is essential too (anti-inflammatory).

Based upon your suggestion here, I will cut back on this....Lynn

 

-

JoAnn Guest

Monday, August 28, 2006 10:12 PM

CLA competes with EFAs and crowds them &

their derivatives out of enzyme spaces

 

 

 

 

CLA: conjugated linoleic acid, a trans- fatty acid made from the n-6

essential linoleic acid by bacterial or by industrial partial

hydrogenation.

 

CLA competes with EFAs and crowds them and their

derivatives out of enzyme spaces. This is cause for serious concern.

 

The body has no requirement for CLA. But it has an absolute

requirement for EFAs, which should not be interfered with.

-------------------------

What Should be our Focus?

 

We recall that EFAs cannot be made by the body, must be present for

the normal (healthy) functioning of every cell, tissue, gland, and

organ, and must therefore be provided by foods.

 

EFAs come in two varieties: n-3 and n-6.

Both are essential. Both are sensitive to destruction. N-3 is too

low for good health in most people's diet.

 

Low and no fat diets are too low in n-3 and n-6. N-6 is too low in

people who use flax oil exclusively as the source of EFAs in their

diet (these are primarily people who have been misled, by research

on the benefits of n-3s and problems caused by n-6s, to seek to

remove n-6s from their diet.

 

It is important to obtain BOTH EFAs in the most beneficial ratio,

which we find to be 2 n-3s to each n-6.

[Guest guest]

, " Lynn Koiner "

<koiner wrote:

>

> Thank you, JoAnn, for this information. This is a concern for me

because I have found the CLA has been a major help with my neuralgia

(post herpatic neuralgia). I have no idea why it works this way.

I need to take a combination - Zyflamend and Omega-3 - but nothing

did the trick until I took CLA. Within 30 minutes, pain was gone.

Of course, diet is essential too (anti-inflammatory).

> Based upon your suggestion here, I will cut back on this....Lynn

 

 

 

Hi Lynn,

 

 

A quick search of several of my sites brought up information on

several combinations of foods and juices which provide healing for

neuralgia/neuritis whenever juiced, eaten raw, steamed or cooked

lightly:

 

NEURALGIA: Carrot & celery, celery.

 

NEURITIS: Celery & cucumber, endive, carrot & spinach.

 

Neuralgia, neuritis - Cucumber, endive, pineapple juice; cucumber,

endive, and goat's whey.

 

https://www.nutritionfarm.com/your20health/your_health/ARTICLES/foods

_that_heal.htm

 

Taken internally, St. Johns Wort has a sedative and pain reducing

effect, which gives it a place in the treatment of neuralgia,

anxiety, tension and similar problems.

It is especially regarded as an herb to use where there are

menopausal changes triggering irritability and anxiety.

 

In addition to neuralgic pain, it will ease fibrositis, sciatica

and rheumatic pain.

 

An amino acid, phenytalanine, relieves pain as it boosts production

of the body's own pain-relieving chemicals. Other supplements that

help include zinc with copper, and coenzyme Q10. Phenylalanine,

1,000 mg three to four times daily.

 

---

 

Coriander can be applied externally for rheumatism and painful

joints.

Coriander Seed Oil has many medicinal uses. It has antibacterial

properties and is used to treat neuralgia and rheumatism.

Coriander seeds are ground into a paste for application to skin.

---

 

Herbal Formula For Pain

Chinese/Oriental Herbs/Formula

 

 

Alfalfa (Medicago saliva): Alfalfa is a folk remedy for arthritis in

southern Appalachia. Alfalfa tea is rich with nutritive minerals. We

recommend that you do not take the alfalfa powder; take the tea

instead. Alfalfa contains 1-canavanine, an amino acid that can cause

symptoms that are similar to those of systemic lupus, an autoimmune

disease that can also cause joint pain. Some scientific studies show

that these symptoms can occur in both animals and humans as a result

of eating alfalfa. The amino acid is not present to any significant

amount in alfalfa tea.

 

Dosage and Directions: Place 1 ounce of alfalfa in a pot. Cover with

1 quart of water and boil for thirty minutes. Strain and drink the

quart throughout the day. Do this for two to three weeks, and then

take a break for seven to ten days before starting again.

 

Angelica (Angelica archangelica): Angelica is an herb that has been

used in European folk medicine since antiquity. It can be used to

treat arthritis. The Western variety of angelica has 12 anti-

inflammatory constituents, ten antispasmodic (muscle relaxant)

constituents, and five anodyne (pain-relieving) ones. The Chinese

sometimes use their native variety of the plant (Angelica sinensis)

for the same purpose. The Chinese species is sold in North America

under the names dang gui or dong quai.

 

Dosage and Directions: Place 1 tablespoon of the cut roots of either

species of angelica in 1 pint of water and bring to a boil. Cover

and boil for two minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered,

until the water cools to room temperature. Strain and drink the tea

in 3 doses during the day for two to three weeks at a time. Then,

take a break for seven to ten days and start the treatment again if

desired.

 

Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa): An American Indian treatment for

arthritis involved using the root of black cohosh. There are five

species in the Cimicifuga genus worldwide that have been used to

treat rheumatism. Black cohosh contains aspirin-like substances as

well as other anti- inflammatory and antispasmodic constituents.

 

Dosage and Directions: Simmer 1 teaspoon of black cohosh root in 1

cup of boiling water for twenty minutes. Strain and drink the tea in

2 divided doses during the day. Do this for two to three weeks, and

then take a break for seven to ten days before starting the

treatment again.

 

Boswellia has unique anti-inflammatory action, much like the

conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used by

many for inflammatory conditions. Unlike NSAIDs, however, long-term

use of boswellia does not lead to irritation or ulceration of the

stomach.

 

Celery (Apium graveolens): The remedy of eating raw or cooked celery

seeds or large amounts of the celery plant to treat rheumatism

arrived in North America with the European immigrants. Using celery

to treat rheumatism persists today in North American professional

herbalism. Various parts of the celery plant contain more than 25

different anti-inflammatory compounds. And, taken as a food, celery

is rich in minerals: A cup of celery contains more than 340

milligrams of potassium. (A potassium deficiency may contribute to

some symptoms of arthritis.)

Dosage: Place 1 teaspoon of celery seeds in a cup. Fill the cup with

boiling water. Cover and let stand for fifteen minutes. Strain and

drink. Drink 3 cups a day during an acute arthritis attack.

 

Chaparral (.Larrea tridentata) Chaparral is widely promoted in

health food stores as a treatment for arthritis. In the early 1990s,

reports of liver toxicity for chaparral appeared in scientific

documents, and 18 cases of adverse effects to chaparral have since

been reported to the USFDA. Two of those patients required liver

transplants. The individuals who were poisoned took powdered

chaparral in the form of capsules, ingesting toxic constituents. You

can avoid this by taking a tea instead. All folk uses for chaparrel

uses it in the form of either externally as a wash or internally as

a tea and not powdered herb. We recommend that you do not use this

herb due to its toxicity.

 

Devil's claw is a good anti-inflammatory agent. Take 1,000

milligrams (1 gram) twice daily.

 

Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate): Magnesium has both anti-inflammatory

and anti- arthritic properties and it can be absorbed through the

skin. Magnesium is one of the most important of the essential

minerals in the body, and it is commonly deficient in the American

diet. A New England remedy for arthritis is a hot bath of Epsom

salts. The heat of the bath can increase circulation and reduce the

swelling of arthritis.

 

Dosage and Directions: Fill a bathtub with water as hot as you can

stand. Add 2 cups of Epsom salts. Bathe for thirty minutes, adding

hot water as necessary to keep the temperature warm. Do this daily

as often as you'd like. (If you are pregnant or have cardiovascular

disease consult your doctor before taking very hot baths.)

 

Feverfew has been used for centuries for arthritis. Some studies

have found that the anti-inflammatory effects of this herb are

greater than those achieved by NSAIDs. Take 250 milligrams once or

twice daily.

 

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) In one study, Indian researchers gave

three to seven grams of ginger a day to 18 people with

osteoarthritis and 28 with rheumatoid arthritis. More than 75

percent of those participating in the study reported at least some

relief from pain and swelling. Even after more than two years of

taking these high doses of ginger, none of the people reported side

effects. Many people drink ginger tea for osteoarthritis. A ginger

compress is also beneficial for arthritis.

 

Ginseng Liquor (Panax quinquefolius). Ginseng contains constituents

called ginsenosides, which have a variety of pharmacological

actions. It is an adaptogen - it increases the body's ability to

handle a wide variety of stresses.

 

Note: Be sure to use American ginseng, not Asian ginseng (Panax

ginseng) for this remedy. Asian ginseng can actually aggravate the

pain of arthritis.

 

Dosage and Directions: Chop 3.5 ounces of ginseng and place in 1

quart of liquor like vodka. Let the mixture stand for five to six

weeks in a cool dark place, turning the container frequently. Strain

and take 1 ounce of the liquid after dinner or before bedtime every

night for up to three months. Then, take a break for two weeks

before starting the treatment again.

 

Note: If you are prone to gout, the alcohol may aggravate your

condition. In that case take ginseng tea without alcohol.

 

Hop Tea (Humulus lupulus): The hop plant contains at least 22

constituents that have anti- inflammatory activities, including

several that act through the same cellular mechanisms as steroid

drugs. Four constituents have antispasmodic properties, and ten may

act as sedatives. The fresher the plant, the better. Today, hop tea

is a popular remedy for rheumatism.

 

Dosage and Directions: Place 2 or 3 teaspoons of hop leaves in a cup

and fill with boiling water. Cover the cup and let stand for fifteen

minutes. Drink the tea while it's warm. Drink 1 to 3 cups between

dinner and bedtime as needed.

 

Licorice acts in the body like cortisone, without the harmful side-

effects. Licorice is believed to enhance the action of bupleuri.

Licorice also has significant anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy

activity. Licorice components are able to bind to glucocorticoid

receptors on cells and exert glucocorticoid-like effects. It has

been used historically in the treatment of inflammation, allergy,

asthma and other conditions that put added stress on the adrenals.

Long-term use of licorice can cause an elevation of blood

pressure. Take 2 capsules daily.

 

Mustard Plaster (Brassica alba, Brassica juncea) Mustard plaster is

a popular counterirritant treatment for arthritis. The irritating

substance in mustard is allyl- isothyocyanate. This constituent is

not activated, however, until the seeds are crushed and mixed with

some liquid. Only then does the mustard produce the irritation

necessary for the counterirritant effect.

 

Dosage and Directions: Crush the seeds of white or brown mustard or

grind them in a seed grinder. Moisten the mixture with vinegar, then

sprinkle with flour. Spread the mixture on a cloth. Place the cloth,

poultice side down, on the skin. Leave on for no more than twenty

minutes. Remove if the poultice becomes uncomfortable. After

removing the poultice, wash the affected area.

 

Oregano (Origanum vulgare). Oregano, is a powerful antioxidant. The

antioxidant activity of oregano and other medicinal mints is due in

large part to rosmarinic acid, a compound with antibacterial, anti-

inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral properties. The antioxidants

in oregano may help prevent the cell damage caused by free radicals.

Free radical reactions are probably involved in inflammation,

degenerative arthritis and the aging process in general. And

evidence is accumulating that antioxidants may help relieve

osteoarthritis and RA.

 

Pineapple (Ananas comosus). Bromelain, a chemical in pineapple,

helps prevent inflammation. Athletic trainers have been reportedly

recommending pineapple to athletes to prevent and treat sports

injuries. It is believed to have beneficial effect on arthritis

also. Bromelain can help the body get rid of immune antigen complex,

compounds that are implicated in some arthritic conditions. It also

helps digest fibrin, another compound suspected of being involved in

some types of arthritis.

 

Red pepper, Cayenne pepper (Capsicum spp.) Red pepper interferes

with pain perception. The pain-relieving chemical in red pepper,

capsaicin, triggers the body to release endorphins, nature's own

opiates. Red pepper also contains aspirin-like compounds known as

salicylates.

 

Compounds in red pepper can also help relieve arthritis when you

apply the herb to the skin. Researchers have discovered that you'll

get significant pain relief if you apply capsaicin cream directly to

painful arthritic joints four times daily. In one study of this

treatment, the capsaicin cream reduced RA pain by more than half.

Osteoarthritis pain was reduced by about one-third.

 

Dosage and Directions: Place 1 ounce of cayenne pepper in 1 quart of

rubbing alcohol (a poison not for internal use). Let stand for three

weeks, shaking the bottle each day. Then, using a cloth, apply to

the affected area during acute attacks of pain. Leave the solution

in place for ten to twenty minutes, then wipe clean. You can also

use an OTC cream that contain capsicum like Zostrix or Capzasin-P.

 

Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis). Drinking rosemary tea to treat

arthritis is an American folk medicine practice. The plant's leaves

contain four anti-inflammatory substances-earnosol, oleanolic acid,

rosmarinic acid, and ursolic acid. Carnosol acts on the same anti-

inflammatory pathways as both steroids and aspirin, oleanolic acid

has been marketed as an antioxidant in China, rosmarinic acid acts

as an anti-inflammatory, and ursolic acid, which makes up about four

percent of the plant by weight, has been shown to have antiarthritic

effects in animal trials.

 

Dosage and Directions: Put 1/2 ounce of rosemary leaves in a 1-quart

canning jar and fill the jar with boiling water. Cover tightly and

let stand for thirty minutes. Drink a cup of the hot tea before

going to bed and have another cupful in the morning before

breakfast. Do this for two to three weeks, and then take a break for

seven to ten days before starting the treatment again.

 

Sesame Seeds (Sesamum indicum): A remedy for arthritis from Chinese

folk medicine is to eat sesame seeds. One-half ounce of the seeds

contains about 4 grams of essential fatty acids, 175 milligrams of

calcium, 64 milligrams of magnesium, and, 0.73 milligrams of copper.

Increased copper intake may be important during arthritis attacks

because the body's requirements go up during inflammation.

 

Dosage and Directions: Grind up 1/2 ounce of sesame seeds in a

coffee grinder and sprinkle on your food at meal- time. You can use

this treatment for as long as you like.

 

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica): Stinging nettle is an official

remedy for rheumatism in Germany. It is the most important herb to

consider for treating early- onset arthritis. Nettle juice contain

an anti-inflammatory component similar to that of steroid drugs. It

also nettle contains 47 parts per million of the mineral boron,

figured on a dry-weight basis. Boron is an important mineral for

arthritis. (The Rheumatoid Disease Foundation suggests that three

milligrams of boron, taken daily, may be helpful in treating

osteoarthritis and RA.)

 

Directions: Take 1 tablespoon of nettle juice three times a day. You

can freeze the juice for later use.

 

Turmeric (Curcumin, Curcuma longa) Curcumin, the yellow pigment of

turmeric, has significant anti-inflammatory action. Curcumin has

been shown to be as effective as cortisone or phenylbutazone in

certain models of inflammation. Curcumin also exhibits many

beneficial effects on liver functions. The typical dosage of

curcumin is 400 to 600 mg 3 times daily. Curcumin is sometimes given

in combination with an equal dose of an extract of the pineapple

plant called bromelain, which appears to possess anti-inflammatory

properties of its own.

 

Curcumin is thought to be quite safe. Side effects are rare and are

generally limited to occasional allergic reactions and mild stomach

upset. However, safety in very young children, pregnant or nursing

women, and those with severe liver or kidney disease has not been

established.

 

Wild Cucumber Bark Described as " the best plant for treating

rheumatism and arthritis " according to herbalists. It can be put in

drinking alcohol or made as a tea.

 

Dosage: Take a teaspoon of it three times a day and one tablespoon

at night.

 

Note: Wild cucumber is a laxative. When taking wild cucumber bark,

the dose should be kept below that which loosens the bowels.

 

Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa): Wild yam contains diosgenin, a steroid

constituent with anti-inflammatory properties. Wild yam tea is a

popular folk remedy for muscular rheumatism. (Some eat the root of

the wild yam instead.)

 

Dosage and Directions: Place 1 ounce of wild yam root in a 1-quart

canning jar. Add a few slices of fresh ginger root. Fill the jar

with boiling water, put the lid on tightly, and let the mixture

stand until it reaches room temperature. Drink 2 to 3 cups of the

tea each day for three to six weeks, then take a break for seven to

ten days.

 

Willow (Salix, various species) Willow bark was the original herbal

aspirin. It contains a chemical called salicin, which the Bayer

Company eventually transformed into aspirin that so many people with

arthritis take daily. Willow bark tea has pain-relieving and anti-

inflammatory effects similar to those of aspirin. But because the

irritation-causing ingredient in aspirin tablets is diluted in tea,

you'll have less risk of stomach upset, ulcer and overdose if you

take the tea instead of the pills.

 

Wintergreen (Gaulteria procumbens): Wintergreen was used to treat

arthritis by the American Indian tribes. The plant was accepted in

the United States as an official medicine for arthritis in 1820. The

chief active pain-relieving constituent in wintergreen is methyl-

salicylate. This compound can be toxic when consumed in concentrated

wintergreen oil, even when applied to the skin, so stick with using

the dried herb.

 

Dosage and Directions: Place I or 2 teaspoons of dried wintergreen

leaves in a cup and cover with boiling water. Cover the cup and let

steep for fifteen minutes. Strain and drink 3 cups a day. Do this

for two to three weeks, and then take a break for seven to ten days

before starting again.

 

Yucca -Yucca has long been used to reduce arthritic pain. A double-

blind clinical trial indicated a saponin extract of yucca

demonstrated a positive therapeutic effect. It was suggested that

effects were due to indirect effects on the gastrointestinal flora.

It is possible that yucca decreases bacterial endotoxin absorption

thus reducing this inhibition of cartilage synthesis.

 

 

 

Herbal Formula For Pain

5-ml tincture made from 2 parts willow (Salix spp.) bark and 1 part

each of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and nettle (Urtica

dioica), taken three times a day.

 

To relieve muscle tension, rub a tincture of lobelia (Lobelia

inflata) and cramp bark (Viburnum opulus) on the affected area.

 

Bogbean, black cohosh, celery seed, meadowsweet, yarrow: A complex

capsule or infusion.

 

Wild yam or guaiacum: Add or use separately when there is severe

inflammation.

 

St. John wort: Oil or ointment can be rubbed into pain areas.

 

Lavender, marjoram, rosemary, peppermint: A mixture of essential

oils for passage.

 

Buchu and sarsaparilla: For chronic rheumatism.

 

Paraguay tea (Ilex paraguayenesis): Infusion.

 

Fireweed (Erechtites hieracifolia): Oil to be applied to painful

area.

 

Burdock root, celery seed, yarrow, thuya: A mixture (infusion/

capsules/tincture) for gout.

 

Balm of Gilead (Populus candicans): Ointment for pain.

 

Couchgrass (Agropyrum repens): Use root in decoction.

 

http://www.holisticonline.com/Remedies/Arthritis/arth_herbal_medicine

..htm#Boswellia

 

---

Herbal baths can be particularly soothing when you are experiencing

a period of pain and stress. There are several ways to prepare an

herbal bath:

 

1. Simmer 1/2 cup of herbs in 1 quart of water in a covered pot for

fifteen minutes. While the herbs are simmering, take a short shower

to cleanse your body, then fill the tub with hot or warm water.

Strain the liquid from the decoction into the bath water, and wrap

the herbs in a washcloth. Soak in the tub for at least twenty

minutes, using the " herbal washcloth " to rub over your body. -

 

2. Add 1/2 cup of herbs to running bath water, preferably hot. You

might want to cover the drain with a thin mesh screen to prevent the

herbs from clogging the pipes. Soak in the tub for twenty to thirty

minutes.

 

3. Fill a thin cloth bag with 1/2 cup of herbs, either placing it in

the bath water or tying it to the spigot so that the hot water runs

through it as it fills the tub. Again, soak for twenty to thirty

minutes.

 

Certain herbs are quite effective for creating soothing baths.

 

Combine a handful each of valerian, lavender, linden, chamomile,

hops, and burdock root, and add it to your bath according to one of

the preceding methods. Soak for thirty minutes in the tub.

 

Another soothing herbal bath calls for a handful each of hops,

linden, valerian, chamomile, yarrow, and passionflower. Prepare this

bath according to one of the preceding methods, or simmer the herbs

in a quart of water, then drink 1/2cup of the liquid (with lemon and

honey added, if you wish) and pour the rest in the tub. While

soaking in an herbal bath, you can read, meditate, listen to

peaceful music, or just sit quietly, concentrating on relaxing

yourself.

 

--

Name: Wood Betony -Biological Name: Betonica officinalis

Labiatae

Other Names: Wood Betony, Bishopswort, Betony, Stachys betonica,

Lousewort

 

Betony gently tones and strengthens the nervous system whilst also

has a relaxing action. Useful for treatment of the nervous debility

associated with anxiety and tension.

 

It will ease headaches and neuralgia when they are of nervous

origin, but especially those caused by hypertension.

 

Traditionally used for headache, neuralgia, pains in the head and

face, heartburn, indigestion, cramps in the stomach, jaundice,

palsy, convulsions, gout, colic, pains, all bilious and nervous

complaints, dropsy, colds, la grippe, tuberculosis, worms, delirium,

poisonous snake and insect bites.

 

Combinations : For the treatment of nervous headache it combines

well with Skullcap. In hypertensive headaches use in combination

with appropriate hypotensives.

 

Kind Regards,

JoAnn