Professional Documents
Culture Documents
guide
TO
Doct ors
guide
TO
p a u l b ar n e y , m .d.
WOODLAND PUBLISHING
Pleasant Grove, Utah
3
1 9 9 8
Woodl and Publ i shi ng, I nc.
P.O. Box 1 6 0
Pl easant Gr ove, Ut ah
84062
A l l r i ght s r eser v ed. No par t of t hi s publ i cat i on may be r epr oduced,
st or ed i n a r et r i ev al sy st em, or t r ansmi t t ed i n any f or m w i t hout t he
pr i or w r i t t en per mi ssi on of t he copy r i ght ow ner .
NOTE: The i nf or mat i on cont ai ned i n t hi s book i s not i nt ended as medi cal adv i ce, but i s sol el y f or educat i onal pur poses onl y . It i s not
i nt ended t o di agnose, t r eat , or pr escr i be, and does not r epl ace t he
ser v i ces of a t r ai ned phy si ci an. It i s assumed t hat t he r eader w i l l
consul t a medi cal or heal t h pr of essi onal i f y ou know or suspect y ou
hav e a ser i ous heal t h pr obl em. Nei t her Woodl and Publ i shi ng nor t he
aut hor di r ect l y or i ndi r ect l y di spenses medi cal adv i ce or pr escr i bes
t he use of her bs, suppl ement s, or ot her f or ms of t r eat ment f or i l l ness w i t hout medi cal appr ov al .
Cov er desi gn by Cor d Udal l
PRINTED
IN THE
OF
A MERICA
CONTENTS
Pref ace viii
Acknowledgment viii
Int roduct ion: How To Eff ect ively Use This Book ix
IN
S UPPLEMENT A T I ON 1 1
Weight Loss 27
Fiber 1 6
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
vi
AND
A LTERNATIVE THERAPIES: MY
IS
CRUCIAL
TO
OF
NATURAL TREATMENTS
AND
A N OVERVIEW
OF
LEARNING
ABOUT
T HEIR A PPLICATIONS 59
vi
Acne 9 7
Bursit is 1 63
AIDS/ HIV 1 0 1
Cancer 1 6 6
Allergies 10 6
Canker Sores 17 4
Alzheimers Disease 1 10
Angina 11 4
Cat aract s 1 79
Anxiet y 1 19
Chicken Pox 1 8 2
Art eriosclerosis 1 2 3
Art hrit is 12 3
Colic 1 8 8
Ast hma 12 8
Colit is 1 9 0
At hlet es Foot 1 3 2
Crohns Disease 1 98
Aut ism 1 37
Cyst s, Breast 1 9 8
Back Pain 1 4 0
Dermat it is 1 98
Bad Breat h 14 3
Diarrhea 1 98
Bedwet t ing 1 45
Divert iculit is 2 0 2
Bee St ings 1 4 7
Dysmenorrhea 2 06
Earache 2 0 6
Boils 15 1
Eczema 2 0 9
Bronchit is 15 3
Endomet riosis 2 1 3
Bulimia 1 5 6
Epilepsy 2 1 6
Burns 1 5 9
Fever 22 0
176
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Obesit y 3 0 4
Fibromyalgia 2 2 7
Ost eoporosis 3 0 8
Gall Disease 23 1
Panic Disorder 3 1 2
Gallst ones 2 31
Parkinsons Disease 3 1 2
Gingivit is 2 3 4
Periodont al Disease 3 1 6
Glaucoma 23 4
PMS 3 1 9
Gout 2 37
Pneumonia 3 2 3
Halit osis 24 1
Headaches 2 41
Prost at e Disease 3 30
Heart At t ack 2 41
Psoriasis 3 3 3
Heart burn 24 5
Rheumat ic Fever 3 37
Heart Disease 2 4 8
Shingles 3 3 9
Hemorrhoids 2 4 8
Sinusit is 34 2
Skin Disorders 3 4 6
Sleep Disorders 3 4 6
Hypert ension 2 5 7
Sprains/ St rains 3 4 6
Hypoglycemia 2 5 7
St ress 34 9
Impot ence 2 6 0
St roke 35 3
Sunburn 3 5 7
Temporomandibular Joint
Syndrome ( TMJ) 3 6 0
Insomnia 2 6 9
Toot h Grinding 3 64
Kidney St ones 2 73
Ulcers 36 7
Lupus 2 7 6
Meningit is 2 8 0
Vaginit is 3 7 1
Menopause 28 3
Varicose Veins 3 7 5
Visual Disorders 3 7 8
Migraine Headaches 2 9 0
Wart s 3 82
Mononucleosis 2 9 4
Wrinkles 38 5
vi i
vii
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
vi i i
Pr ef ace
A cknow l edgment
ex pr ess many t hanks t o Rit a Elki ns, w hose seemingly endl ess hour s of w r i t ing and
r esear ch pull ed t hi s pr oj ect t hr ough. Wit hout her w or k, insight , and per sev er ance, t hi s book w oul d not be a r eali t y .
viii
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
ix
bel i ev e t hat t his i s t he most compr ehensi v e r ef er ence gui de av ai l able concer ni ng
t he mai nt enance of opt i mal healt h and t he nat ur al t r eat ment of di sease. It is based
on y ear s of ex per i ence and boi ls dow n t he gl ut of heal t h i nf or mat ion f loat i ng ar ound
out t her e, t o t he l at est and t he most r eli abl e dat a av ail abl e. Because I bel i ev e i n
i nt egr at i ng al t er nat i v e medi ci ne w i t h or t hodox pr act i ces, I hav e w r i t t en t hi s gui de
t o ef f i ci ent l y cov er v ir t uall y ev er y ar ea of w el l ness, gi v i ng y ou, as t he pat ient , a
r eady - r ef er ence of v i abl e healt h opt i ons w it h sci ent i f i c v al i dat ion w henev er possi bl e. Ideal ly , I w oul d li ke t o see pat i ent s t aki ng t hi s gui de w i t h t hem w hen t hey
v i si t t heir phy si ci ans. It w il l undoubt edl y spar k some f asci nat i ng conv er sat ion.
In addi t ion t o t he i nit i al sect i ons, w hi ch act as easy - t o- r ead t ut or i als on v i r t ual ly ev er y nat ur al suppl ement and healt h di sci pli ne, t he best nat ur al t r eat ment s f or
ov er 1 0 0 diseases and di sor der s ar e del ineat ed and j ust about ev er y per t inent f act
y ou may need t o know has been addr essed. Sy mpt oms, causes, diet ar y guidel i nes,
conv ent ional t r eat ment s, her bal and nut r it i onal suppl ement s, pr ecaut i ons, pr oduct
r ecommendat i ons and pr ev ent ion gui del ines ar e suppli ed. The most ef f ect i v e suppl ement s ar e li st ed i n i nset s under t he pr i mar y heading w it h secondar y nut r i ent s
i nv ent or i ed. I hav e included a sect ion cal l ed Doct or s Not es in w hi ch I shar e w i t h
y ou my ow n per sonal ex per i ence w i t h t he nat ur al t r eat ment s of t he di sease r ef er enced. Helpf ul and pr act ical suggest ions t hat one can i mpl ement at home ar e al so
descr ibed f or each ai lment .
The mi nd/ spir it li nk t o achiev ing healt h, w hi ch is equall y i mpor t ant and f r equent l y ex cl uded f r om ot her pr of essi onal heal t h guides, i s also i ncl uded. I am a st aunch
bel i ev er t hat i n our quest t o get t o t he bot t om of disease, w e must t al k about bot h
t he spir i t ual and psy chological f act or s w hi ch pr of oundly i nf l uence t he l iv es and w ell being of our pat ient s. St r ess management is also ex amined and af t er y ear s of deal ing w i t h t he healt h i mpli cat i ons of st r ess, I hav e included t he most ef f ect i v e
appr oaches.
A number of gl ossar y sect i ons w i t h easy - t o- f i nd def ini t i ons w i l l hel p y ou as t he
consumer w al k i nt o a heal t h f ood st or e f eel ing mor e conf ident about y our choi ces.
Bi oact i v e compounds, pr act i ces f r om homeopat hy t o ar oma t her apy , and a compr ehensi v e l ist i ng of j ust about any nut r i t i onal supplement ar e all def i ned. New compounds such as CMO, CLA, gl ucosami ne, py r uv at e, et c., ar e all ev al uat ed. Nat ur al
pr oduct s can t ake t he f or m of her bs, v i t amins, miner als, amino aci ds and a w i de
v ar iet y of ot her subst ances w hi ch hav e impr essiv e t her apeut ic cr edent i al s. Inst ead
of si mply def ini ng t hese compounds, I hav e added my ow n comment s concer ni ng
t hei r use.
The key t o using t hese pr oduct s cor r ect ly i s educat i on. No one w ant s t o spend
money on w or t hless pr oduct s. On t he ot her hand, most of us need t o become much
mor e heal t h aw ar e and sel f - guided i n or der t o heal . It is my i nt ent i on t hat t hi s r ef er ence book w i l l suppl y y ou w i t h i nf or mat i on on w hat ar e t he l at est , up- t o- dat e
nat ur al t r eat ment s, t hei r appl i cat i ons and saf et y i ssues. I hope y ou w i l l f i nd i t not
onl y usef ul , but enl i ght eni ng.
ix
10
PA RT
A Course on t he
Essent ial
Component s of
I t i s of t en t he sci ent i st s exper i ence t hat he senses t he near ness of t r ut h
w hen connect i ons ar e envi si oned. A connect i on i s a st ep t ow ar d si mpl i f i cat i on,
uni f i cat i on.
Why I Believe In
Supplement at ion
Simpl y st at ed, t he medi cal est abl i shment has not
been par t i cul ar l y ent husiast i c about usi ng suppl ement s. I can see t hat at t i t udes ar e in t he pr ocess of
changing somew hat ; how ev er , t he change is much
t oo sl ow . Scient if i c ev i dence suppor t i ng suppl ement at i on is ov er w helmi ng and can no l onger be consi der ed quacker y as i t once w as. Numer ous sci ent if i c
st udi es suppor t t he f act t hat basi c suppl ement at i on
of w hat w e w ould call a one- a- day v i t amin can
i mpr ov e our ov er al l heal t h. St udy af t er st udy t ell s
us t hat many of us ar e def i ci ent in calci um, magnesi um, zi nc and manganese. Zi nc is inv ol v ed i n at l east
8 0 t o 9 0 met al o- enzy mat ic r eact ions; many of
w hi ch det er mi ne immune f unct ion. Obv i ousl y a zi nc
def i ci ency means t hat t he immune sy st em w i l l be
compr omi sed. Taking all t he her bs in t he w or ld cannot make up f or t hi s def i ci ency because, w i t hout
12
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
of t he pr oper deli v er y sy st em and t he not ion t hat all
compounds ar e not cr eat ed equal. In ot her w or ds, a
v it ami n or ant i ox idant compound t hat has been
chemi cal l y sy nt hesi zed i n t he labor at or y may act
v er y di f f er ent ly i nsi de t he human body t han t hose
ex t r act ed f r om nat ur al sour ces.
In gener al , y ou w ant t o l ook f or v i t amins and mi ner als ex t r act ed f r om nat ur al sour ces, w hen possi bl e
and pr act ical, her bs t hat hav e a guar ant eed per cent age of t hei r act iv e i ngr edient s ( t hey usuall y cost a
bi t mor e) , and suppl ement s t hat come f r om r eput able
companies. In addit ion, all miner al s ar e not cr eat ed
equal as f ar as assi mi lat i on goes. In ot her w or ds, a
zi nc lozenge can be mor e ef f ect i v e t han a zi nc t ablet .
Cer t ain f or ms of cal ci um ar e bet t er absor bed t han
ot her s. Many ov er - t he- count er f or ms of calci um
come f r om inex pensi v e inor gani c sour ces such as
cal ci um ox i de or car bonat e w hi ch i s of t en f ound i n
ant acid pr oduct s. These f or ms of cal ci um ar e not
w el l absor bed, t her ef or e, y ou may be f ait hf ul l y t aki ng w hat y ou t hink i s an adequat e cal ci um suppl ement
and st i ll become cal cium def icient . Ent er ic coat i ngs
enable cer t ai n nut r i ent s t o by pass t he st omach and
di ssol v e i n t he int est i nal t r act , w her e t hey w il l be of
much mor e v al ue f or di seases li ke ir r i t abl e bow el
di sor der . Ent er i c gar l i c, f or ex ample, w oul d be mor e
ef f ect i v e as a t r eat ment f or col on di sor der s t han
r egular gar l i c capsules. Some or ganic v i t ami ns ar e
al so bet t er assi mi l at ed t han sy nt het i c v ar i et i es. For
ex ample, or ganic v i t amin E der i v ed f r om soy i s
much mor e ef f ect i v e t han it s ar t i f i ciall y sy nt hesi zed
count er par t . It s also i mpor t ant t o know t hat much
of v i t ami n B1 2 is l ost t hr ough t he digest ion pr ocess;
t her ef or e, a subl ingual f or m i s pr ef er abl e. Bet a
car ot ene conv er t s t o v i t ami n A ; t hus, t aking bet a
car ot ene may be pr ef er r abl e t o v it ami n A suppl ement at i on i n t hat lar ge doses of v it ami n A can be
t ox ic, especiall y f or pr egnant w omen. In gener al ,
l ook f or t he f ol l ow i ng:
Chel at ed miner als or plant - der iv ed t r ace mi ner al s w it h no alumi num addi t iv es.
Vi t amins and mi ner al s f r om or gani c sour ces
w her e possi bl e. NOTE: Many nat ur al pr oduct s
cont ain a combi nat ion of nat ur al l y and sy nt het i cal l y der i v ed nut r i ent s. In t he case of v i t ami n C,
f or ex ample, ascor bi c aci d may be used r at her
t han j ust r ose hi ps due t o t he hi gh cost of t he
nat ur al sour ce.
Fr ee- f or m ami no aci ds.
Cal ci um ( gl uconat e, ci t r at e, aspar t at e, lact at e) .
NOTE: Car bonat e i s accept abl e if combi ned w i t h
ot her sour ces. Ci t r at e has a good t r ack r ecor d
f or absor babi li t y and assi mi l at ion.
Zi nc and chr omi um pi col inat e or , GTF chr omium;
t hese f or ms ar e much mor e desi r abl e.
Ent er i c- coat ed pepper mi nt oi l capsul es f or
bow el appl i cat ions.
B1 2 and B6 in subli ngual t abl et s.
Vi t amin E w i t h sel eni um.
13
14
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
A Di scussi on of Di et : What
We Eat Pr of oundl y
Det er mi nes How We Feel
Diet shoul d be t he f i r st t hi ng w e l ook at in di agnosing and t r eat i ng di sease. Of t en, j ust changi ng
one s di et ar y habi t s i mmediat ely pr omot es bet t er
healt h. Ir oni call y , nut r it i on i s usual l y t he l ast t hi ng
most phy si ci ans addr ess. I hav e f ound t hat t he
maj or i t y of peopl e w ho go on a good nut r i t i ous di et
f i nd t hat not onl y good heal t h r esul t s, but t he unex pect ed benef i t of a height ened sense of w ell - bei ng.
Mor eov er , i n many cases, ai l ment s t hat of t en do not
r espond t o dr ug t her apy di sappear w hen diet and
l i f est y l e ar e changed.
In spi t e of t he pr of ound r ol es nut r ient s pl ay i n
mai nt ai ning w el lness, w e ar e st i l l r at her obl i v i ous
w hen i t comes t o making w i se f ood choi ces. If y ou
don t bel iev e t hat how y ou choose t o sat i sf y y our
hunger can hav e f ar r eachi ng heal t h i mpli cat i ons,
t hi nk agai n. What w e nonchal ant ly pop i nt o our
mout hs set s of f a ser i es of compl ex chemical r eact i ons t hat i mpact v i r t ual l y ev er y or gan and ev er y
14
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
f or quick f at t eni ng; and high- t ech pr ocessing t echni ques i nhibit t he nat ur al det er i or at i on of pr ocessed
meat s li ke sausage or sal ami. New f oods and sy nt het i c f ood subst it ut es l i ke aspar t ame and new l y
emer gi ng f ake f at s ar e r api dly domi nat i ng our
sel ect i on of gr ocer y st or e f oods. Anot her change i s
t hat , unl i ke our gr andpar ent s, w e no longer eat f oods
i n season. Fr ui t s and v eget abl es ar e shipped t r anscont i nent al l y and ar e of t en packed i n dr y i ce or col d
st or age f or ex t ended per i ods of t ime. And, of
cour se, mi l li ons of gall ons of sugar y or ar t i f icial l y
sw eet ened soda pop ar e consumed annuall y .
In many w ay s t he di et s of our ancest or s and of
many t hir d w or l d count r i es f ar sur pass t he nut r i t i v e
v alue of our ow n. Pr imi t iv e cul t ur es w ho di ne on
beans, seeds, f i ber y v eget abl es, br ow n r i ce and li t t l e meat hav e had t he r i ght i dea all al ong. Sadl y ,
many of t hese cult ur es hav e begun t o adopt West er n
eat i ng habi t s and ar e now ex per i enci ng di seases l i ke
di abet es, nev er a pr oblem bef or e. The Pima Indi ans
of Ar i zona s Sonor a deser t ar e a good ex ample. For
t housands of y ear s t hey gat her ed f ood f r om t hei r
l and. Whil e f ood v ar i et y w as scar ce, t hey w er e abl e
t o si ngl e out nut r i ent - r i ch pods, cact i , and seeds. By
adding t epar y beans and cor n, t hey had a healt h- pr omot i ng di et t hat kept t hem r el at i v el y healt hy and
f r ee f r om w hat w e r ef er t o as West er n di seases.
Unf or t unat el y , t hi s i s not t he cas e t oday .
A ccor di ng t o av ail abl e st at i st i cs, mor e t han 5 0 per cent of Pi mas ov er t he age of 3 5 suf f er f r om t y pe2 , adul t - onset di abet es. Why ? Because t hese peopl e
gav e up t hei r t r adi t i onal di et f or one t hat w e shoul d
al l r ecogni ze: a diet hi gh i n f at , sugar , and pr ocessed
f oods. As a r esult di abet es has become mor e r ampant and obesit y common. Appar ent ly t he Pimas ar e
par t i cul ar l y suscept i bl e t o adul t - onset di abet es but
i t had r emained dor mant dur ing t he gener at ions w hen
a l ow - f at , hi gh- f i ber , low - sugar diet w as consumed.
What t hi s i mpl i es i s t hat al l of us hav e cer t ain pr edi sposi t i ons t o di sease w hi ch can be t r i gger ed by our
eat i ng habi t s.
We might be abl e t o get aw ay w it h some of our
deplor able eat ing habit s i f w e ex er cised t he w ay our
gr eat - gr andpar ent s di d. But t he r eal it y is t hat w e eat
mor e, consume mor e f at , smoke, use al cohol and caf f eine and t hen sit at a desk al l day . Whi le many of us
hav e become mor e ex er cise- aw ar e, w e ar e st ill consider ed a sedent ar y societ y . Our di et ar y goal s shoul d
be 1 ) t o mov e aw ay f r om animal - based pr ot ei n t o
plant sour ces; and 2 ) t o decr ease sat ur at ed f at s and
sugar and incr ease f r esh f r ui t s, v eget ables, w hol e
gr ains and l egumes. It s a simpl e f or mul a t hat i s possibl e t o incor por at e int o dai ly lif eespeciall y if w e
r eal i ze
it s
pr of ound
heal t h
i mpact .
If
w e become di et consci ous w e w i ll inev i t ably become
healt h consci ous as w ell . Si mpl e diet ar y modif icat i ons
enhanced
by suppl ement use can dr amat i cal ly impr ov e our
h
e
a
l
t
h
and low er t he r isk of di seases many of us now accept
15
as i nev it abl e.
16
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
FIBER
Hippocr at es, t he f at her of medici ne, r ecommended eat i ng w hol e w heat f or it s sal ut ar y ef f ect s upon
t he bow el s. Roman at hl et es t ook hi s admonit i on t o
hear t and at e w hole gr ains, beli ev i ng t hat t hei r
17
Kinds of Fiber
Ther e ar e sev en f or ms of f iber ( i nsol ubl e and sol ubl e) , each w i t h i t s ow n speci f i c f unct ion.
1 . Pect i n
Pect i n sl ow s t he absor pt i on of f ood af t er meal s,
and i s r ecommended f or any one w it h hy pogl y cemi a
or di abet es because bl ood gl ucose l ev el s r i se mor e
gr aduall y . Pect i n al so has t he abi l it y t o hel p r emov e
t ox i ns and met al s, r educe bl ood cholest er ol l ev el s,
and r educe t he r i sk of hear t di sease and gal l st ones.
It can al so bi nd bi l e aci ds t o keep our gal lbl adder s
heal t hy .
Sour ces of pect i n: Car r ot s, beet s, cabbage, ci t r us
f r ui t s, apples, gr apes, bananas, cabbage, okr a and
dr i ed peas, gr een beans, onion ski n and sugar beet
pul p.
2 . Cel l ulose
Cel l ul ose, an insolubl e sour ce of f i ber , is a car bo17
18
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
cel l w al ls and i nhibit s cel l w al l di gest ion by i nt est i nal bact er i a. Li gni n has show n i t s abi l it y t o hel p
l ow er blood ser um chol est er ol lev el s and t o pr ev ent
t he f or mat i on of gal lst ones. It does t hi s by bi ndi ng
w it h bil e aci ds t hat can ul t imat el y cont r ibut e t o t he
f or mat i on of st ones. It is al so t r ansf or med by
i nt est inal bact er i a i nt o a t y pe of l i gni n t hat hel ps
i nhi bit t he act i on of est r ogens w hi ch hav e been l inked
t o t he dev el opment of br east cancer . Ligni n i s r ecommended f or any one w it h diabet es, br east cancer ,
or col on cancer .
Sour ces of l ignin: Fl ax seed, w heat , pot at oes,
appl es, cabbage, peaches, t omat oes, st r aw ber r i es,
Br azil nut s, car r ot s, peas and gr een beans.
5 . Gums
Gums ar e complex pol y sacchar ides t hat ar e w at er
soluble. Their r ole i n plant s is t o r epai r damaged
ar eas. Var i ous gums and mucil agees ar e used i n f at f r ee f oods t o cr eat e t hat gooey , cr eamy t ex t ur e.
Most of t he gums i n t he f ol low i ng li st ar e ex t r uded
f r om t he st ems or seeds of t r opi cal or sub- t r opical
t r ees and shr ubs. They can f or m gel s in t he small
int est i ne and bind w it h acid and ot her or gani c w ast e
mat er ial.
4 . Li gni n
Li gni n i s a non- car bohy dr at e cel l w al l mat er ial
t hat i s made up of chemi cal pol y mer s and ar omat i c
al cohol s. Li gni n cont r i but es t o t he r igi di t y of pl ant
18
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
A gar : A sw eet mucil age t hat can r emain st abl e i n
hi gh t emper at ur es and i s of t en used f or t hi ckeni ng
dai r y pr oduct s and conf ect ions.
A lginat e: Ex t r act ed f r om br ow n seaw eed, i t giv es
f oods a cr eamy t ex t ur e and i nhi bi t s t he f or mat ion of
i ce cr y st al s. ( Thi s is one of t he my st er y i ngr edi ent s
of t en l i st ed on i ce cr eam car t ons.)
Car r ageenan: Anot her seaw eed muci l age t hat i s
t y pical l y used t o gel and emul si f y cer t ai n f oods.
Bran Fibers
The w or d br an r ef er s t o t he f ibr ous cov er ing t hat
sur r ounds cer t ai n w hole gr ai ns. Br an is t echni cal l y
r ef er r ed t o as a cer eal f i ber and i s t he por t ion of t he
gr ain di scar ded f r om w hol e w heat as w ast e i n moder n mi l li ng pr ocesses. Br an has ex cel l ent st ool - bul ki ng capaci t ies and can si gni f i cant l y r educe t r ansi t
t i me. To a gr eat degr ee, br an w as not much consumed af t er t he i nt r oduct i on of r ef i ned f lour s. It s
no coi ncidence t hat as br an consumpt i on dw i ndled t he
i nci dence of cer t ai n so- cal l ed West er n diseases
escalat ed. Br an has t he abi li t y t o hold w at er bet t er
t han any ot her sour ce of f i ber . Dif f er ent cer eal
br ans hav e di f f er ent chemi cal const r uct i on so t hei r
abi l it y t o r et ai n w at er can v ar y , but t hey al l hol d
mor e w at er t han ot her f i ber s.
Oat Bran
Oat br an is made by gr inding t he inner husk of t he
w hole oat gr ain. Ov er t he last decade, oat br an has
enj oy ed a high lev el of publicit y some good, some not
so good. When or iginal scient if ic f indings on t he benef it s of oat br an hit t he media, an oat br an f r enzy
r esult ed. While eat ing oat br an may not get r id of cellulit e, it can help t o low er blood cholest er ol, t her eby
pr ev ent ing hear t disease. St udy af t er st udy has conf ir med t hat consist ent ly eat ing oat br an can low er high
blood ser um cholest er ol as much as 2 0 per cent or
mor e. Ev en alr eady low blood cholest er ol can be
r educed by 5 per cent w hen consuming daily doses of
oat br an. It is t he soluble f iber f ound in oat br an t hat
makes it an impr essiv e f iber sour ce. Remember t hat
oat meal, t he gr ound v er sion of t he w hole oat gr ain,
cont ains about one t hir d less f iber t han t he br an.
19
20
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Autointoxication
Int est inal t ox emi a or aut oint ox icat ion i s l i nked t o
w hat y ou eat because w hat y ou eat det er mi nes t he
ki nd of bact er i a t hat w i ll inhabi t y our bow el . For
ex ampl e, if y ou eat a l ot of compl ex car bohy dr at es,
w hi ch ar e usual l y f iber - r ich, and li t t le pr ot ein, y our
i nt est inal f l or a w i l l pr i mar i ly consist of bact er i a
desi gned t o met aboli ze car bohy dr at es. On t he ot her
hand, i f y our di et is hi gh i n pr ot ei n and low i n compl ex car bohy dr at es, bow el bact er i a w i ll be of t he
pr ot eol y t i c t y pe t hat br eaks dow n and decomposes
pr ot ei n. Thi s t y pe of bact er ia r eleases har mf ul
gases and t ox ins t hat of t en r emai n i n t he col on and
f i nd t heir w ay back ont o t he body . Unheal t hy i nt est i nal f lor a al so cr eat e adv er se chemi cal r eact ions
w hi ch can r esult i n t he pr oduct ion of pow er f ul t ox i ns.
Eat i ng r ef ined f oods, a l ot of meat and l i t t le f iber
causes delay ed eli mi nat ion. Consequent l y , poisons,
such as phenol s, f or m i n t he colon. Some heal t h
ex per t s bel iev e t hat t he pr esence of phenol i n t he
body can be li nked t o a w hole host of di seases r angi ng f r om al l er gi es t o ar t hr it i s t o cancer , back pai n
and ev en ment al i ll ness. The unex pl ai ned i ncidence of
aut oi mmune di seases l i ke lupus may be l i nked t o t hi s
phenomenon.
Boost ing y our f i ber i nt ake w hil e r educi ng animal
pr ot ei n and f at s can decr ease t he amount of pr ot eol y t i c bact er i a i n t he col on w hi ch cont r i but e t o t he
put r ef act i on of f ood w ast e. A ny f ood mat er ial w hi ch
ent er s t he colon i s subj ect t o br eakdow n by t he bact er i al f lor a of t he col on. Di et ar y f i ber r eaches t he
col on i nt act and pr ov i des a maj or sour ce of ener gy
f or i nt est inal bact er ia. In addi t i on, st udi es hav e
show n t hat in as l it t l e as t w o w eeks, i nt est i nal
micr o f l or a can be al t er ed by i ncr easi ng y our int ake
of di et ar y f i ber . Because di et ar y f i ber af f ect s sev er al v it al met aboli c pr ocesses, eat i ng enough of i t i s
cr uci al t o mai nt ai ni ng good heal t h and pr ev ent i ng
di sease. Di seases w hi ch ar e speci f ical l y impact ed by
t he consumpt i on of di et ar y f i ber i ncl ude
appendi ci t is
br east cancer
col it i s
col on and col or ect al cancer
const i pat i on
cor onar y hear t di sease/ chol est er ol
Cr ohn s disease
dent al car r i es
di v er t i cul ar disease
duodenal ul cer s
gal lst ones
hemor r hoi ds
hi at al her nia
hy per t ension
ir r it abl e bow el sy ndr ome
ki dney st ones
obesi t y
per i odont al di sease
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Summary
1 . The l onger w ast e mat er i al st ay s t r apped i n t he
col on, t he mor e t he r isk of pot ent ial l y har mf ul si t uat i ons i ncr eases. When put r ef act ion occur s, t ox i c
compounds ar e cr eat ed. They of t en f i nd t hei r w ay
back int o t he bloodst r eam and t he l iv er has t o f i l t er
t hem out agai n. Thi s pr ocess i s r ef er r ed t o as
aut oi nt ox i cat i on by some heal t h car e pr act i t i oner s.
Some of t he t ox ic compounds i nclude
21
bi le sal t s
v ol at i le f at t y aci ds
heav y met als
pi gment s and pr eser v at iv es
phenol
cadav er ine
but y r i c aci d
bot ul in
put r esci ne
ammonia
cr eosol
sepsi n
COLON CLEANSING
A s I hav e st udied acupunct ur e and it s phil osophy ,
t he not i on of cl eansi ng t he bow el began t o make a l ot
of sense t o me. I hav e seen some impr essiv e r esul t s
f r om bow el cl eansi ng One of my pat i ent s, a 5 4 y ear - ol d w oman, came t o see me f or f at igue. She
had a high chol est er ol count i n t he 3 5 0 r ange and her
t r i gly cer i de l ev el w as appr ox imat el y 1 2 0 0 . She w as
al so chr onicall y t ir ed due t o a met abol i c der ange21
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
22
aci dophi l us
al oe v er a
bl ack w al nut
buckt hor n
bur dock
but t er nut
capsi cum
cascar a sagr ada
f ennel
gar l i c
gi nger
Ir ish moss
pepper mi nt
psy l l ium hull s
pumpki n seeds
r ed cl ov er
senna
sl ipper y el m
FASTING
Fast i ng may seem li ke a r at her dr ast i c measur e t o
t ake t o hel p t he body r id it sel f of t ox i c subst ances,
y et it is consi der ed a saf e and v er y ef f ect iv e
met hod. The idea of f ast i ng i s based on t he bel i ef t hat
abst ai ni ng f r om f ood af f or ds t he body a chance t o
r est f r om t he w or k of di gest ion, assi mil at i on and
el imi nat i on. Inst ead of hav i ng t o spend ener gy on
t hese pr ocesses, t he body can concent r at e on f lushi ng out t ox i ns and ot her har mf ul subst ances t hat
accumul at e ov er t ime. It i s al w ay s a good idea t o
make y our doct or or ot her heal t h car e pr of essi onal
aw ar e t hat y ou ar e f ast i ng. If y ou hav e any kind of a
ser i ous condi t i on, such as di abet es, hy pogl y cemi a,
or i f y ou t ake any medicat i on, make sur e t o check
w it h y our phy sici an bef or e y ou begi n a f ast .
A dv ocat es of f ast ing suggest t hat w e make i t a
r egul ar mont hl y ev ent and usual ly suggest a f ast of
one t o t hr ee day s. Al so, i f y ou f eel y our sel f becomi ng i ll , it helps t o st op eat ing soli d f ood. When y ou
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
f ast , r emember t hat suppl ement at i on and t he use of
good, nut r i t ious f ood af t er t he f ast is compl et ed w i ll
ex t end it s t her apeut i c benef i t s.
Ther e ar e sev er al di f f er ent t y pes of f ast s. J ui ce
f ast s consi st of eat i ng not hi ng but f r eshly squeezed
or ex t r act ed f r uit and v eget abl e j ui ces. Gr een dr i nk
f ast s ut il i ze spir uli na, chlor ophy l l and ot her gr een
f ood suppl ement s. Dr i nk only pur e w at er or di l ut ed
j ui ces w i t h no added sw eet ener s. St ay aw ay f r om
ci t r us j uices. Cabbage, beet , car r ot , cel er y , gr ape,
and appl e j uice ar e r ecommended. Raw cabbage j ui ce
i s good f or ul cer s, cancer , and col on pr oblems.
Using her b t eas w hi l e f ast i ng can al so be ef f ect i v e. Pau d ar co and echinacea her b t eas hel p t o
boost i mmuni t y . Dandel ion, r ed cl ov er , al f alf a, and
chamomi l e t eas det ox i f y t he bl ood and set t l e t he
st omach.
Veget abl e
br ot hs
ar e
al so good. Liquid mi ner al suppl ement s or gar li c
e
x
t
r
a
c
t
s
can also pr omot e heal i ng. Cont i nue t o t ake y our v i t ami n and mi ner al supplement s w hi l e f ast i ng. Don t
chew gum. It w i ll onl y ser v e t o st imul at e gast r i c
j ui ces, maki ng t he f ast uncomf or t abl e.
FOOD ALLERGIES
What i s a f ood al ler gy ex act ly ? Food al l er gi es or
sensit i v i t ies do not t r igger t he same kind of sy mpt oms w e nor mally associ at e w i t h all er gi es such as
sneezing, w heezi ng, hi v es, r unny nose, et c. A f ood
al l er gy is based on some t y pe of i mmune mal f unct i on, w hi ch has i t s or igi ns i n t he di gest i v e sy st em.
23
But y l at ed hy dr ox y t ol uene
Linolei c aci d
Sodi um
py r ophosphat e,
t et r a
Met hy lpar aben
Manganese
gl y c er ophosphat e
Acaci a ( gum ar abi c)
Sodi um acet at e
Pot assi um bi sulf i t e
Manganese hy pophosphit e
Agar - agar
Sodi um aci d py r ophosphat e
Pot assi um met abisulf i t e
Manganese sul f at e
Ammoni um algi nat e
Sodi um alumi num phosphat e
Pot assi um sor bat e
Manganous ox ide
Cal cium al gi nat e
Sodi um bicar bonat e
Pr opi oni c aci d
Mannit ol
Car ob bean gum
Sodi um car bonat e
Pr opy l gal l at e
Met hi oni ne
Chondr us ex t r act
Sodi um cit r at e
Pr opy lpar aben
Sodi um ascor bat e
Ni acin
Guar gum
Met hy lcell ul ose
Sodi um benzoat e
Gl y cochol i c aci d
Tocopher ols
Mono and di gly cer i des
Tocopher ol acet at e
Bent oni t e
Aconi t i c aci d
But ane
Anet hol e
Ty r osine
From G.O. Kermode, Food Addit ives in Human Nut rit ion: Readings from Scient ific American, W.H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco, 1 9 7 8 .
23
24
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
occur soon af t er consumpt ion. If y ou ex per i ence any
of t hese or ot her sy mpt oms, check f or sul f it e cont ent . If y ou suf f er f r om sev er e al ler gic r eact ions or
ast hma, sulf i t es can pose a signi f i cant r i sk t o y our
healt h and may cause y ou t o go int o labor ed br eat hi ng or ev en anaphy lact i c shock.
Foods t hat commonl y cont ai n sulf i t es i ncl ude
canned sea f ood, dr i ed f i sh, f r esh shel l f ish, shr imp,
scall ops, oy st er s, and l obst er . Sul f i t es can be l i st ed
on a pr oduct label as pot assium bi sul f it e, sodium sul f i t e, sodi um bisulf i t e, sul f ur di ox i de, or any ingr edi ent t hat ends i n sulf i t e. Make sur e t o get i nt o
t he habit of checking i ngr edient l abel s. Ask y our
phar macist about t hi s home t est ki t . For mor e inf or mat i on w r i t e t o: Sulf it est Cent er Labor at or i es, 3 5
Channel Dr iv e, Por t Washingt on, NY 1 1 0 5 0, or call
( 80 0 ) 6 4 5- 6 3 35 .
25
SOY-BASED FOODS
I of t en t el l my pat i ent s t hat t he consumpt ion of
soy - based f oods such as t of u or soy - based dr inks
can hel p decr ease t he i nci dence of br east and
pr ost at e cancer . Si gni f i cant sci ent i f ic ev i dence suppor t s t hi s par t icular ef f ect . In addit i on, soy - based
f oods al so hel p t o l ow er t ot al chol est er ol lev el s
w hi le r aisi ng good HDL l ev els. The i sof l av ones
f ound i n soy ar e v er y impr essiv e and shoul d be consumed by ev er y w oman. They hav e t he di st i nct abi l i t y t o bl ock t he ef f ect s of bad est r ogen i n br east t i ssue and hav e mult i pl e ant icar ci nogeni c pr oper t ies as
w el l. I w ould adv i se ev er y one t o add t of u t o t hei r
r eci pes. My ex per i ence w i t h t of u has been t hat i t can
be easil y added t o soups, salads, and many cooked
f oods.
FOOD ADDITIVES
Most of us w ould agr ee t hat as a nat i on w e eat an
enor mous amount of pr ocessed and pr eser v ed f oods.
In f act w hat w e r ef er t o as f ood somet i mes const i t ut es a r eal st r et ch of t he i maginat i on. Mi chael
J acobson, i n t he A pr i l 1 9 7 5 edit i on of Smi t hsoni an,
st at ed, The Uni t ed St at es, not sur pr isi ngl y , has
been t he l eader i n t he genet i c engineer ing of f ood
cr ops and i n t he l abor at or y cr eat i on of new f oods.
Benj ami n Fr ankl in and A br aham Li ncol n, i f t hey coul d
v i si t us, w oul d pr obably hav e some di f f icul t y di st i ngui shi ng bet w een a t oy st or e and a super mar ket .
They w oul d not ev en r ecognize as f oods such pr od25
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
26
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
cose t ol er ance t est ( GTT) as an ef f ect iv e di agnost i c
t ool .
In r eali t y , hy pogl y cemi a is bel iev ed t o cause a
gr eat deal of miser y . Mor eov er , new st udies ar e
r ev eal ing t hat cer t ai n psy chol ogi cal disor der s ar e
di r ect l y l inked t o di st ur bed gl ucose ut i l izat ion i n
br ain cel ls. One st udy i n par t i cul ar show ed t hat
depr essed people hav e ov er al l low er glucose met abol i sm. The t r ut h i s t hat many nor mal and ot her w i se
healt hy peopl e ex per i ence dr amat ic sw ings i n t hei r
bl ood sugar l ev el s. Low blood sugar , i n f act , can i ni t i at e a number of t r oubl esome sy mpt oms.
Hy pogl y cemi a inv olv es a domi no ef f ect . If car bohy dr at es ar e eat en i n ex cess, mor e insuli n t han
usual i s secr et ed i n or der t o compensat e. A s a r esul t
bl ood sugar dr ops dr amat i call y . Gl ucagon, cor t i sol
and adr enali n ar e t hen pour ed out int o t he sy st em t o
hel p r aise bl ood sugar back t o accept able lev el s. Thi s
can inadv er t ent l y r esult i n t he secr et i on of mor e
i nsul i n and t he v i ci ous cy cl e goes on. A chi ev i ng
pr oper bl ood sugar bal ance is t r i cky busi ness and
eat i ng t he w r ong t hings can t hr ow t he sy st em i nt o
ex t r eme r esponses. Hi gh i nsul in secr et ion can cause
subst ant ial changes i n br ain chemi st r y and w r eak
hav oc w i t h our blood l i pids. It i s also t r ue t hat
i ngest i ng caf f eine can adv er sel y af f ect bl ood sugar
l ev el s. Eat ing sugar y f oods can pr opel t he pancr eas,
pi t ui t ar y , and adr enal gl ands i nt o a hi ghl y compl ex
chemi cal r eact ion based on a f eedback l oop. The
i r ony of t his hy pogl y cemi c cy cle is t hat w hen bl ood
sugar dr ops, w e r un f or mor e sugar and per pet r at e
t he di sor der .
If y ou suspect t hat y ou ar e hy pogly cemic emphasize
t he f ollow ing f oods: w hit e meat s, f ish, nut s and seeds,
w hole gr ains including w hole gr ain past as, unsw eet ened y ogur t , v eget able j uices and eggs, low car bohy dr at e v eget ables such as celer y , beet gr eens, chiv es,
cucumber s, let t uce, par sley , r adishes, aspar agus,
br occoli, cabbage, caulif low er , mushr ooms, onions,
pepper s, t omat oes, squash, spinach and zucchini.
Fr uit s should be limit ed t o t w o ser v ings per day and
should be eat en as par t of a meal r at her t han a separ at e snack. Recommended f r uit s include: ber r ies, cant aloupe, coconut , muskmelon, cr anber r ies, casaba
melon, lemons, and limes.
A v oi d al l pr ocessed or enr iched f oods li ke w hi t e
f l our or sugar , qui ck cooking gr ains, ar t i f i ci al
sw eet ener s, caf f ei ne, al cohol , and high f at , empt y
cal or i e f oods l ike doughnut s, past r i es, cakes, and
soda pop.
Eat small meal s t hr oughout t he day suppl ement ed
w i t h pr ot ei n snacks. A snack or mini - meal ev er y
t w o hour s is r ecommended. Raw al monds ar e ex cel l ent . Suppl ement ing any hy pogly cemic di et w i t h
B- complex v i t amins, v i t amin E, pant ot heni c aci d,
and v it ami n C i s desi r abl e. Dr . Ross also adds L- gl ut ami ne, an amino aci d t hat appear s t o boost br ai n
nut r i t i on t o t he mix .
Keep i n mi nd t hat w hen y ou f i r st st ar t t o eat t hi s
w ay , y ou w i l l pr obabl y f eel less t han w el l . You may
27
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
28
all ov er our count r y .
Whole Foods
Eat i ng w hol e gr ai n f oods i nt act and unalt er ed may
be one of t he best t hings w e can do f or our healt h.
Li ke medi cinal pl ant s, w hol e gr ai ns hav e been i nt r i nsi cal l y desi gned w i t h a w ide ar r ay of inher ent compounds w hich pot ent i at e and compl ement each ot her .
We got i n t r ouble w hen w e isol at ed cer t ai n chemi cal s
f r om her bs t o cr eat e sy nt het i c dr ugs and t hr ew
aw ay t he r est , causing a w hol e host of v ar i ous bad
si de ef f ect s t o r esul t . Separ at ing gr ai n const i t uent s
28
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
br east and pr ost at e cancer . The specif i c compounds
i n t hese v eget abl es t hat ar e t hought t o be of v al ue
ar e i ndol es. Indol es bel ong t o a cl ass of phy t onut r i ent s w hi ch hav e been sci ent i f i cal l y show n t o benef i t
t he body i n a number of impor t ant w ay s.
Li ke so many ot her nut r i ent s, anci ent phy si ci ans
w er e w ell aw ar e of t he r emar kable cur at i v e pow er
of t he i ndol es f ound i n cer t ai n v eget abl es. Tw o t housand y ear s ago, Roman pr act i t i oner s pr escr i bed
cabbage
l eav es
to
cur e
an ul cer at ed br east . Today , science has conf i r med
t hat cer t ai n phy t ochemi cal s cont ai ned in cabbage ar e
consi der ed br east cancer pr ev ent at i v e agent s.
Indol e- 3 car bi nol can act ual l y hel p decr ease C1 6
est r ogen and i ncr ease C2 est r ogen, w hi ch i s
bel i ev ed t o decr ease a w oman s r i sk of get t i ng
br east cancer . Indol e- 3 car binol al so assi st s i n
det ox if y ing human t issues, pr omot es hor mone bal ance, and pr ov i des ex cel lent cell ul ar nour i shment .
Indol es ar e par t of a l ar ge cl ass of plant - based
compounds call ed phy t onut r ient s. They i ncl ude all y l
sul f i des f ound in oni ons and gar l ic, indoles f ound i n
v eget abl es belonging t o t he cabbage f amil y , and
di t hi olt hi nones f ound i n br occol i and ot her cr uci f er ous v eget abl es. New phy t ochemical s ar e cur r ent l y
emer gi ng and w e ar e begi nni ng t o gl impse t hei r
ex t r aor di nar y t her apeut ic pot ent ial as heal t h pr ot ect ant s. These r emar kabl e nut r i ent s can boost t he
pr oduct ion of cer t ai n enzy mes w hi ch i nhi bi t t he f or mat i on of mal ignant t i ssue, t hey can block car ci nogens f r om mut at ing DNA, t hey can neut r ali ze t he
ef f ect s of bad est r ogen, and t hey w or k hand i n hand
w i t h ant iox idant s t o pr ev ent f r ee r adi cal damage.
Unf or t unat el y onl y 9 per cent of t he A mer ican popul at i on eat s an adequat e amount of v eget ables and
f r ui t s. Ty picall y only one i n f i v e Amer i cans eat s a
f i br ous or cr uci f er ous v eget abl e i n a day , and onl y
2 8 per cent eat a f r uit or v eget abl e at al l. Remember
t hat t o keep C2 est r ogen l ev el s el ev at ed consi st ent l y , phy t onut r i ent si ncl udi ng i ndol e- 3 car bi nol must
be cont i nual l y consumed. Cl ear l y , suppl ement at i on
of phy t onut r ient s i s w ar r ant ed and can enhance
l ongev it y and i mpr ov e t he qual it y of li f e. It i s i mpor t ant t o r emember t hat i f y ou can t eat br occoli and
cabbage ev er y day , t her e ar e ot her opt i ons. Taki ng
cr ucif er ous v eget abl e ex t r act s as par t of a balanced
supplement can pr ov ide as many i ndol es as sev er al
ser v i ngs of r aw cr uci f er ous v eget abl es.
Isoflavones
Isof l av ones f ound i n some cr uci f er ous v eget abl es
hav e some ex t r aor di nar y heal t h benef i t s. In par t i cul ar , t hey hav e t he abi li t y t o act as a phy t oest r ogens t o pr ot ect agai nst t he dev el opment of hor monal l y l i nked cancer s. One speci f ic isof lav one cal l ed
genist ei n act uall y act s t o r educe t he gr ow t h of
br east cell s. A 1 9 9 3 st udy demonst r at ed i t s abil i t y
t o l i mit bl ood suppl y t o t umor s. These ar e i mpr essi v e cr edent i al s and mor e t han adequat el y suppor t
29
Summary
Our diet ar y obj ect i v es should f ocus on
Incr easi ng our consumpt i on of w hole gr ai n cer eal s and br eads and f r ui t s and v eget ables ( especi al ly cr uci f er ous v ar iet i es) .
Reducing our i nt ake of r ef i ned and pr ocessed
sugar s.
Reducing our consumpt ion of animal and pl ant
f oods hi gh i n f at s, especi al ly sat ur at ed f at s.
Sw i t ching t o monounsat ur at ed oi ls l i ke oli v e oi l
and using f l ax seed oi l or t aking an essent i al
f at t y aci d suppl ement .
Reducing our int ake of hi gh- cholest er ol f oods
such as eggs, f at t y meat s, and st ay i ng aw ay
f r om hy dr ogenat ed f at s alt oget her ( cor n oil ,
mar gar i nes, et c.) .
Reducing our int ake of salt and salt y f oods.
WEIGHT LOSS
If y ou ar e ov er w eight , ev en by as li t t le as 10 or 20
pounds, get t i ng r i d of ex cess f at st or es can be
i ncr edi bl y benef i cial. Did y ou know t hat chol est er ol
sy nt hesis is el ev at ed in ov er w ei ght subj ect s? By
r educing f at t i ssue, cholest er ol i s t ar get ed and
t r anspor t ed t o t he l iv er f or r emov al. If an i deal
w ei ght is mai nt ai ned, f ast ing bl ood sugar lev el s
decl i ne, ser um cholest er ol dr ops, and gl ucose t oler ance i mpr ov es.
Unf or t unat ely , t r y i ng t o init i at e w eight l oss by
di et ing has consist ent ly r esul t ed i n compr omi si ng
heal t h and dimi ni shi ng sel f est eem. Why do 9 7 per cent of all di et s ult i mat ely f ai l? Why ar e 3 3 bi ll i on
dol l ar s spent on w ei ght l oss pr ogr ams t hat don t
w or k? Why ar e w e mor e ov er w ei ght now t han w e v e
ev er been bef or e? The av er age Amer i can has gained
ei ght pounds ov er t he l ast 1 0 y ear s. St at i st i cs t el l
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D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
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D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
MACRONUTRIENTS: CARBOHYDRATES,
FATS AND PROTEINS
Car bohy dr at es, f at s and pr ot ei ns compr i se a cat egor y of compounds cal led macr onut r i ent s. Ov er t he
l ast f ew decades much cont r ov er sy has ar isen
r egar ding how much of t hese macr onut r i ent s w e
shoul d consume as par t of our dai ly diet . Pr esent l y ,
most of us eat a diet w hich i s compr i sed of 1 2 per cent pr ot ei n and appr ox i mat el y 4 2 per cent f at and
4 6 per cent car bohy dr at es. Our obsessi on w i t h f at t y ,
sugar y f oods has cr eat ed a new w ar on f at , w hich i s
not necessar il y al l good i n i t s healt h i mpli cat i ons. It
i s v i t al f or us t o r eali ze t hat i t i s t he t y pe of car bohy dr at e, f at and pr ot ei n t hat w e choose w hi ch i n
many w ay s det er mines w het her i t i s good or bad f or
us.
Al l macr onut r ient s ar e not equal, al t hough f ood
manuf act ur er s w oul d hav e us beli ev e so. For ex ample, a piece of w hole gr ain br ead i s not t he same as a
piece of ar t i f iciall y enr i ched w hit e br ead. When f iber
and br an ar e r emov ed, nut r ient s ar e assimil at ed dif f er ent ly . It s t he same w it h pr ot ei n sour ces. Pr ot ei n
f r om soy beans is not t he same as pr ot ein f r om a
mar bl ed piece of meat . A gai n, w hi le ami no acid cont ent may be simil ar , t he w ay t hese t w o sour ces of
pr ot ein ar e di gest ed and assimilat ed ar e det er mined
by f act or s such as f at cont ent and digest i bili t y . Fat s
ar e an especiall y good ex ample of t he i nequali t y of
macr onut r i ent s. Cor n oil and l inseed oi l ar e not t he
same as oli v e or f lax seed oi l. They ar e all lipi ds, but
t hei r heal t h i mpli cat i ons ar e v er y dif f er ent and can
r esul t i n eit her good or bad biol ogi cal consequences.
We must eat a bal ance of al l t hr ee macr onut r i ent s
i n or der t o f unct ion at opt i mal l ev el s. For some of us
t hat may mean mor e pr ot ein t han f or ot her s. If w e
suf f er f r om any ki nd of bl ood sugar disor der , w e
may need t o eat l ess car bohy dr at es. When i t comes
t o f at s, w e must r eal ize t hat some f at s ar e v er y
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
good f or us if eat en in moder at i on.
Carbohydrate Categories
Car bohy dr at es ar e cl assi f ied accor di ng t o t hei r
chemi cal st r uct ur e. Monosacchar i des ar e single ( or
si mpl e) sugar s; ogli gosacchar i des ar e mult i pl e sugar s; and poly sacchar ides ar e complex mol ecul es
made of sev er al si mple sugar s. Monosacchar i des
hav e t hr ee t o sev en car bon at oms each. It is t he hex oses or si x car bon at oms sugar s t hat w e ar e most
i nt er est ed i n. List ed below ar e di f f er ent hex ose sugar s or simpl e sugar s t hat w e i ngest on a dail y basis.
Monosacchar i des
Fr uct ose ( lev ulose, f r uit sugar ) i s f ound in honey ,
r i pe f r ui t s and some v eget abl es. It has a much
sw eet er t ast e t han cane sugar , easil y dissolv es
w i t hout cr y st al l i zat i on and cannot be absor bed
di r ect l y int o t he bloodst r eam. Thi s may help t o
ex plain w hy peopl e w ho ar e sugar sensi t iv e may get
t he sugar shakes af t er eat i ng a bow l of f r ost ed cor n
f l akes ( sucr ose) but not af t er eat i ng a w hole apple.
Glucose ( al so cal l ed dex t r ose, cor n sugar , or
gr ape sugar ) is t he chemi cal f or m of sugar af t er i t
has ent er ed t he bloodst r eam. Gl ucose i s anot her
name f or blood sugar and is t he car bohy dr at e used on
a cell ul ar l ev el t o dr i v e v ir t uall y ev er y met aboli c
pr ocess. Di et ar y gl ucose i s w at er sol ubl e, cr y st al l i zes r eadi l y and i s l ess sw eet t han cane or w hi t e
sugar .
Galact ose i s a monosacchar ide sugar t hat i s pr o-
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D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
8 0 per cent car bohy dr at e. A gain, t he t y pe of car bohy dr at es consumed is v er y i mpor t ant .
One t hi r d of t he car bohy dr at es w e consume as a
nat i on ar e compr ised of r ef i ned and pr ocessed sugar
pr oduct s. Ref i ned sugar s or w hi t e sugar come f r om
cane and beet sour ces. Pr ocessed sugar s i ncl ude
cor n sugar , cor n sy r up, mol asses and honey . Nat ur al
sugar s ar e f ound i n f r ui t s, f r ui t j uices and v eget abl es. Remember t hat all sugar s ar e not met abol i zed
i n t he same w ay by t he body . Whi l e all car bohy dr at es may ev ent ual ly r ai se bl ood sugar as gl ucose,
t he speed in w hi ch t hey ar e assi mil at ed can hav e
f ar - r eachi ng heal t h ef f ect s w hen i t comes t o insuli n
di sor der s or diseases l i ke hy pogl y cemi a and di abet es.
Diet ar y car bohy dr at es ar e t he body s pr ef er r ed
sour ce of ener gy , and once i n t he body t hey ar e
ei t her bur ned as f uel or st or ed as gl y cogen r eser v es
i n t he muscle and li v er . Though it i s t r ue t hat ov er
t he l ast f ew decades nut r it i oni st s hav e adv i sed us t o
eat mor e car bohy dr at es and l ess f at s and pr ot ei n,
eat i ng a f at l ess diet t hat i s hi gh i n simpl e sugar s
can init iat e signif icant w eight gain, pr edispose us t o
elev at ed blood cholest er ol and def eat t he ent ir e r eason w e cut dow n on f at s t o begi n w i t h. Nonf at or
l ow - f at f oods hi gh in sugar cal or i es can be ev en
mor e f at t eni ng and l ess sat i sf y i ng t han some f at cont aini ng f oods. Mor eov er , w e must hav e a cer t ai n
per cent age of l i pid consumpt i on t o be healt hy and
sl ender .
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
i s t of u. Chicken and t ur key eat en occasionall y ar e
al so good sour ces of pr ot ei n.
Pr ot ei n is consider ed one of t he most abundant
subst ances f ound in our bodi es and is second onl y t o
w at er . Our ski n, muscles, hair , nails, ey es and
enzy mes ar e essent iall y compr i sed of pr ot ein. Unless
w e supply our bodies w i t h pr ot ei n, w e cannot cr eat e
i nf ect i on- f ight ing ant ibodies, r egener at e our t issues
or gr ow . Pr ot ei n is chemicall y composed of car bon,
hy dr ogen ox y gen and ni t r ogen. It s pr i mar y f unct ion
i s t o bui ld and r epair body t issues. Pr ot ei n molecules
ar e made up of or gani c compounds call ed amino aci ds.
These ami no acids ar e l inked end t o end and cr eat e a
st r uct ur e r esembling long, spher e- like chains. The
indiv idual at t r ibut es of each pr ot ein ar e det er mined
by t he nat ur e and shape of t hese amino aci d chai ns.
Tw ent y amino acids ar e r equi r ed t o sy nt hesize pr ot ein and hal f of t hese ar e pr oduced by t he human
body . Essent ial amino aci ds, w hi ch must be obt ained
f r om t he diet incl ude i soleucine, leucine, ly sine,
met hi onine, pheny l alani ne, t hr eoni ne, t r y pt ophan,
and v al ine. Ar ginine and hist idine ar e consider ed
semi - essent ial.
The most common di et ar y sour ces of pr ot ei n ar e
meat , f ish, seaf ood, eggs, dair y pr oduct s, gr ai n
pr oduct s, and l egumes ( w hich i ncl ude beans and
peas) . As w e ment i oned ear l i er , as a nat ion, w e consume much mor e meat t han w e r equi r e. Ex cess pr ot ei n consumpt i on can t ax t he ki dney s, cont r i but e t o
obesit y and cr eat e col on t ox i cit y . NOTE: New st udi es
suggest t hat some peopl e act ual ly need t o incr ease
t hei r pr ot ei n consumpt i on and l ow er t hei r car bohy dr at e i nt ake. Remember , i t s t he t y pe of pr ot ei n y ou
eat t hat count s. The pr oper t i es of specif i c pr ot ei ns
v ar y dependi ng on t he number and ar r angement of
i ndi v i dual amino acids.
Pr ot eins ar e cl assi f i ed as bei ng nut r it i onal ly compl et e or i ncompl et e. Complet e pr ot ei ns such as eggs
ar e able t o i ni t i at e cel l ular gr ow t h. Par t ial l y compl et e pr ot ei n, such as t he gl ut en f ound in w heat , cont r i but es t o phy siologi cal f unct i on but i s mi ssi ng speci f i c ami no aci ds necessar y t o pr omot e gr ow t h.
Incompl et e pr ot ei ns f ound i n cor n, f or ex ampl e, cannot sust ai n l i f e i n and of t hemsel v es. How ev er w hen
combi ned w i t h beans, t hey f or m a compl et e pr ot ei n.
For our pur poses, it i s i mpor t ant t o l ear n w hi ch
f oods cont ai n t he essent i al amino aci ds our bodi es
cannot pr oduce. Meat and dai r y pr oduct s ar e t he
most common sour ces of essent ial ami no aci ds i n
w est er n nat ions. Whi l e plant sour ces of pr ot ei n can
be l acki ng i n some of t hese ami no aci ds, mix ing cer t ai n f oods t oget her can cr eat e a complet e pr ot ei n
f ood as ment i oned in t he ex ample of cor n and beans.
A di et ar y mix of w hole gr ai ns and beans can sat i sf y
t he body s amino acid needs.
The Bi ological Funct ion of Pr ot eins
Pr ot eins ar e t he maj or const i t uent s of ev er y l i v i ng cell and body f lui d ex cept bil e and ur i ne. It is not
di f f icult t o see t hat cel lular r eplacement and t her e-
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D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Vit ami n A
Appl icat i ons: Ant iox idant , acne, night blindness,
immune w eakness, skin disor der s, gast r ic ulcer s,
t issue r epair .
Scient i f i c Dat a: Vit ami n A depl et ion may pl ay a
si gni f icant r ol e in diseases l ike cancer , Cr ohn s di s1
ease and gast r i c ul cer s.
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Deplet i ng A gent s: A nt i biot i cs, sulf a dr ugs, cont r acept i v e dr ugs, alcohol, cor t isone, est r ogen, miner al oil , cof f ee, some t y pes of i ndoor li ght i ng, ai r
pol l ut ion.
Sour ces: But t er , w hole mi l k, l i v er , f or t i f i ed l ow f at and ski m mi lk, dar k gr een leaf y v eget abl es ( such
as spi nach) and y el l ow and or ange v eget ables ( such
as y ams and squash)
Saf et y : Ex cess consumpt i on of v it ami n A i n ei t her
suppl ement f or m or in cod li v er oi l may r esul t i n
t ox i ci t y . Pr egnant w omen shoul d not t ake ov er
1 0 , 0 0 0 IU, and chi l dr en shoul d av oi d ov er 1 8 , 0 0 0
IU. Taking bet a car ot ene cannot r esul t i n a v it ami n A
ov er dose. NOTE: A ny one w it h di abet es or hy pot hy r oi di sm shoul d not t ake bet a car ot ene as it cannot be
conv er t ed t o v i t amin A .
Int er act i ons: A l ack of zi nc, v i t ami n C, v it ami n E
or pr ot ei n can i nhi bi t t he pr oper absor pt i on and f unct i on of v i t ami n A in t he body .
Recommendat ions: Use a hi gh qual i t y f or m of v i t ami n A w i t h bet a car ot ene. If y ou use f i sh oi l
sour ces, t ake v it ami n E w i t h y our supplement . You
can pur chase nat ur al v i t ami n A as r et i nol or r et i ny l pal mit at e. If t he pr oduct is emul si f ied or micell i zed,
absor bt ion w i ll be enhanced.
Vi t amin D
Applicat ions: Cancer pr ev ent ion, Cr ohn s disease,
epilepsy , hi gh blood pr essur e, ki dney disease, l iv er
di sease, ost eopor osi s, ski n ail ment s.
Sci ent i f ic Dat a: Recent r esear ch suggest s t hat
el der l y peopl e may be def i ci ent i n t hi s v i t amin due t o
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a l ack of sunl i ght ex posur e and di et ar y depl et ion.
St udi es hav e f ound t hat w omen ar e consist ent ly l ow
i n v i t amin D w hi ch may pr edi spose t hem t o ost eo3
por osis.
Deplet i ng A gent s: Mi ner al oil , smog, bar bi t uat es,
chol est er ol l ow er i ng dr ugs, ant aci ds, pr ednisone,
ant i conv ulsi v e dr ugs (dil ant i n) , sedat i v es, i nt est i nal
di sor der s, l i v er and gall bl adder di sease.
Sour ces: Thi s v i t amin i s pr oduced in t he body
w hen w e ar e ex posed t o sunli ght . It i s nat ur all y suppl ied i n cod l iv er oi l , col dw at er f i sh, egg y ol ks, and
but t er . Dar k gr een leaf y v eget abl es al so cont ai n
some v i t amin D.
Saf et y : Tox ici t y can occur , and dosages ov er 5 0 0
IU per day ar e not r ecommended unless super v ised
by y our phy si ci an. Cal ci um should alw ay s be t aken
w it h v it ami n D.
Int er act i ons: Thi s v it ami n play s an i nt egr al r ole i n
t he pr oper met aboli sm of cal ci um.
Recommendat ions: Vit ami n D can be t aken singul ar l y but i s usual ly i ncl uded i n mul t i ple f or mul as or
w it h v it ami n A . Vit ami n D2 is t he most common suppl ement f or m. Calcit r ol i s t he pr escr ipt i on v er si on
of v it ami n D and is onl y used i n cases w her e cer t ai n
di seases pr ohi bit t he conv er sion of v i t ami n D in t he
body .
Vi t amin E
A ppli cat i ons: Agi ng, at her oscl er osi s, f ibr ocy st i c
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
br east disease, chol est er ol , bl ood cl ot s, scar t i ssue,
i nf er t i li t y , car diov ascul ar di sease, hy per t ensi on,
bur ns, headaches, w ound heal i ng, l upus, PMS. NOTE:
Taking v i t amin E w it h f ish oi ls and ot her li pi ds
af f or ds ant iox idant pr ot ect i on f r om f r ee r adi cal s
associat ed w it h r ancidit y and ox i dat i on and pr ot ect s
essent ial f at t y aci ds f r om molecular damage.
Scient i f i c Dat a: St udies hav e show n t hat v i t amin E
has a r el at ionshi p t o el ev at ed r i sks of cer t ai n ki nds
of cancer s, f i br ocy st i c br east di sease and cer t ai n
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neur ologic di sor der s.
Deplet i ng A gent s: Est r ogen, bir t h cont r ol pi ll s,
mi ner al oi l, chlor ine, f ood pr ocessi ng, i nor gani c
i r on, r anci d f at .
Sour ces: Seeds, nut s, pol y unsat ur at ed oi ls, w hol e
gr ains, aspar agus, av ocados, t omat oes, gr een l eaf y
v eget abl es, ber r i es.
Saf et y : Ver y f ew si de ef f ect s hav e been obser v ed
w i t h t his v i t ami n ev en in high doses; how ev er , t aki ng mor e t han 4 0 0 IU shoul d be clear ed w i t h y our
doct or . Do not t ake i r on at t he same t i me as v it ami n
E. A ny one w i t h hy per t ensi on, diabet es or r heumat i c
hear t di sease should not t ake ex cessiv e doses and
begin w i t h small er doses.
Int er act i ons: Vi t ami n E shoul d be t aken w i t h sel eni um and v i t ami n C. It al so i mpr ov es t he ut i li zat i on
of v i t ami n A. Vit ami n E may pot ent iat e ant i coagul ant
dr ugs such as Coumadi n or War f ar in and may al so
boost t he f unct i on of v i t ami n K. It i s also t hought t o
boost t he ant icoagul ant ef f ect of aspir in.
Recommendat ions: Use or gani c sour ces of v it ami n
E w hich ar e bet t er assimi l at ed t han sy nt het i c v ar i et i es. They ar e desi gnat ed by a d as in d- alpha t ocopher ol and sy nt het i c pr oduct s begi n w i t h a dl . Wat er
sol ubl e f or ms of v i t ami n E ar e v er y ex pensi v e and
not necessar i ly w or t h it .
Vit ami n K
A ppl icat i ons: Ost eopor osis, hemor r hagi ng, heav y
per iods, ener gy demands, post - sur ger y , col it i s,
gal l st ones.
Scient i f i c Dat a: A st udy f ound t hat a signif i cant
number of w omen w ho suf f er ed f r om ost eopor osi s
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w er e al so def i ci ent in v it ami n K.
Deplet i ng A gent s: A nt ibi ot i cs.
Sour ces: Gr een leaf y v eget abl es such as spi nach,
dar k l et t uce, br occoli , aspar agus, w hol e w heat ,
w hol e oat s, f r esh peas.
Saf et y : Lar ge doses of sy nt het i c v i t ami n K shoul d
not be t aken dur ing pr egnancy . Ex cessi v e doses can
cause r eddeni ng of t he ski n and sw eat ing. The dev el opment of hemoly t i c anemi a may i ndi cat e a v it ami n
K ov er dose. NOTE: If y ou ar e t aki ng any medi cat i on,
especiall y ant i coagul ant dr ugs, check w it h y our
phy si cian bef or e t aki ng a v i t amin K suppl ement .
Int er act i ons: Vit ami n K can i nt er f er e w i t h t he
act i on of ant i coagul ant dr ugs.
Recommendat ions: Fat - soluble chl or ophy ll i s an
ex cel lent sour ce of v i t amin K and is r ecommended.
Make sur e y ou l ook f or f at - sol ubl e v ar i et i es as
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Water-Soluble Vitamins
Vi t amin B1 ( t hi amine)
A ppl i cat i ons: A l cohol i sm, anemi a, depr essi on,
di ar r hea, ment al il l ness, st r ess, ber i ber i , shi ngl es,
i nf ect ions.
Sci ent i f ic Dat a: Thi amine def i ci enci es hav e been
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l inked t o ment al i ll ness. Ger i at r i c pat ient s w ho hav e
sur ger y may ex per i ence a t hi amine l oss w hi ch may
ex plai n t heir post oper at iv e conf usi on and ment al
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det er i or at i on. A nt ibi ot i cs, or al cont r acept iv es and
sul f a dr ugs may al so decr ease t hi amine l ev el s.
Eat i ng a diet hi gh i n car bohy dr at es i ncr eases t he
need f or t hi ami ne.
Depl et i ng A gent s: St r ess, caf f ei ne, sur ger y ,
ex cess car bohy dr at e consumpt i on ( sugar ) , t obacco,
r aw f i sh and shell f ish, ant ibi ot i cs, or al cont r acept i v es, sul f a dr ugs, muscl e r el ax ant s.
Sour ces: Sunf l ow er seeds, soy beans, br ow n r i ce,
w hol e w heat , peanut s.
Saf et y : Thi ami ne w oul d hav e t o be t aken i n inor di nat el y l ar ge doses t o pr oduce any t ox ici t y . Ther e
hav e been no r epor t s of t ox ici t y in humans w it h or al
suppl ement s of v i t ami n B1 .
Int er act i ons: Adequat e suppl i es of magnesi um
must be pr esent i n or der f or t hi amine t o conv er t t o
f or ms t he body can use. In addi t ion, a f ul l ar r ay of
t he ot her B- v i t ami ns must al so be suppli ed i n or der
f or al l of t hem t o be ut i l ized cor r ect l y .
Recommendat ions: Thi amine hy dr ochlor ide is t he
most common sour ce of t hi s v i t ami n i n nut r it i onal
suppl ement s.
Vi t amin B2 ( r i bof l av i n)
A ppli cat i ons: A nemi a, ar t er i oscl er osi s, baldness,
bl adder i nf ect i ons, car pal t unnel , cat ar act s, hy pogl y cemi a, i mmune sy st em di sor der s, ment al disor der s, muscl e di seases, mor ni ng si ckness, obesi t y ,
si ckl e cel l anemi a, st r ess, depr essi on, t r embli ng.
Sci ent i f ic Dat a: Ribof l av in def ici enci es hav e been
l inked t o cat ar act f or mat i on, psy chiat r ic and emot i onal di sor der s, si ckl e cel l anemi a, and esophageal
8
cancer . Some st udies suggest t hat r ibof l av i n t her a9
py may help t o al l ev i at e car pal t unnel sy ndr ome.
Test i ng of 4 2 adol escent boy s f ound t hat 3 8 per cent
10
of t hem w er e r i bof lav in def ici ent .
Deplet i ng Agent s: A l cohol , di et i ng, t obacco, or al
cont r acept iv es, cof f ee, cooki ng, r adi at ion, ul t r av i ol et li ght , w hit e sugar , est r ogen, ex er ci se, cer t ai n
ant i malar ial dr ugs.
Sour ces: Al monds, or gan meat s, w hol e gr ai ns,
mushr ooms, soy beans, gr een leaf y v eget abl es.
Saf et y : Ribof lav in has no know n t ox i ci t y .
Int er act i ons: Thi amin has a sy ner gi st i c ef f ect
w it h r i bof l av i n.
Recommendat i ons: Most suppl ement s w i l l use
r i bof l av i n as a simpl e compound or w hat i s r ef er r ed
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D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Int er act i ons: A lack of v it ami n B1 2 can r esul t i n
f ol i c acid and melat onin deplet i on.
Recommendat ions: You w il l see t hi s v i t ami n most
commonl y sol d as cy anocobal amin. Met hy l cobal ami ne and adenosy lcobalamin ar e also sour ces of B1 2.
Some ex per t s consider met hy l cobal ami ne t o be mor e
bi oact i v e. Look f or subl i ngual t ablet s f or adequat e
absor babi li t y . Inj ect ions of v i t amin B1 2 ar e al so
av ail abl e.
Biot i n
A ppl icat i ons: Bal dness, depr essi on, der mat it i s,
eczema, l eg cr amps.
Scient i f i c Dat a: New r esear ch has f ound t hat peopl e on di al y si s saw si gni f i cant impr ov ement i n neur ol ogi cal di sor der s t hey suf f er ed as a r esul t of t he
18
t r eat ment by using biot i n suppl ement at i on.
Deplet i ng Agent s: Raw egg w hit es, sulf a dr ugs,
sacchar i n, r anci d f at s, r ef i ned f oods, est r ogen,
w hi t e sugar , al cohol . NOTE: The pr esence of sebor r heic der mat i t i s in i nf ant s may i ndi cat e a biot i n def i ci ency .
Sour ces: Or gan meat s, soy beans, cheese, mushr ooms, eggs, caul if l ow er , nut s, w hole w heat .
Saf et y : Bi ot in i s consider ed nont ox i c.
Int er act i ons: Thi s v it ami n w or ks in t andem w i t h
ot her B- v i t amins as w ell as w it h car nit i ne and coenzy me Q1 0 .
Recommendat ions: You can obt ain t his v i t amin as
bi ocy t i n f r om y east sour ces or as si mpl e biot i n. If
y ou suspect f ood or ot her t y pe of all er gi es, st ay
aw ay f r om y east sour ces.
Choli ne
A ppl icat i ons: Par kinson s di sease, hi gh chol est er ol , ar t er i oscl er osi s, bal dness, mult i pl e scl er osi s, gl aucoma, eczema, al cohol i sm, muscular dy st r ophy , hy per t ensi on, di seases of t he ner v ous sy st em.
Scient i f i c Dat a: Leci t hin is a common sour ce of
choli ne. St udi es hav e show n t hat t aki ng l eci t hi n can
decr ease cholest er ol lev el s and may be an ef f ect i v e
19
w ay t o t r eat at her oscl er osi s.
Deplet i ng Agent s: Wat er , sul f a dr ugs, est r ogen,
f ood pr ocessing, al cohol s, ex cess sugar consumpt i on.
Sour ces: Legumes, gr ai ns, egg y ol ks, caul if l ow er ,
w hol e gr ai ns, l iv er , soy beans.
Saf et y : No know n side ef f ect s; how ev er , v er y
l ar ge doses may pr oduce nausea, dizziness or di ar r hea.
Int er act i ons: The pr oper f unct i on and av ai l abil i t y
of f ol ic acid depends on t he cont r ibut i on of choli ne.
Recommendat ions: Chol ine is av ail abl e as chol i ne
bi t ar t r at e, choli ne cit r at e, chol ine chl or ide or as a
compound f ound i n l eci t hi n cal l ed phosphat i dy l choli ne.
Fol i c Aci d
Applicat ions: Alcoholism, anemia, ar t er ioscler osis,
39
40
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
40
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Vit ami n P ( bi of lav onoi ds)
A ppl icat ions: Br ui sing, v ar icose v ei ns, spi der
v eins, ar t hr i t i s, hemor r hagi ng, cholest er ol l ev el s,
her pes, cat ar act s, i nf lammat i on, phl ebi t i s, bl eedi ng
gums, bl ood cl ot s, col ds, scur v y , hemor r hoi ds,
edema, hy per t ensi on, hemophi l ia.
Sci ent i f i c Dat a:
The pr of ound v al ue of
bi of l av onoi ds i s beginni ng t o emer ge in sci ent if i c
ci r cl es. Whil e t echnicall y not v i t amins, ov er 6 4
v ar iet i es ar e f ound i n t he w hi t e por t i on of ci t r us
f r ui t peel and i n pi ne bar k and gr ape seeds.
Biof l av onoids act as ant i ox i dant s and nat ur al ant i i nf l ammat or y agent s. They shoul d be t aken w i t h v i t 22
ami n C as t hey incr ease i t s absor babi l it y .
Depl et i ng A gent s: A spir in, al cohol , cor t i sone,
ant i bi ot ics, smoking, some pain ki l li ng dr ugs.
Sour ces: Ci t r us f r uit s, oni ons, par sley , ber r i es,
gr een t ea, legumes, gr ape seed ex t r act .
Saf et y : It i s consi der ed nont ox i c.
Int er act ions: Nar i ngi n can i nt er f er e w i t h t he
act i on of caf f ei ne, coumar i n and est r ogens and can
enhance t he ef f ect of ni f edi pi ne, v ar apr ami l ,
f el odi pi ne and t er f enadi ne. Thi s f l av onoid is f ound i n
gr apef r ui t j ui ce.
Recommendat ions: Biof l av onoids r ef er t o compounds such as quer ci t in, nar ingi n, r ut i n, hesper idi n,
gr ape seed ex t r act , et c. Pr oant hocy anidins, w hi ch
ar e f ound i n pine bar k or gr ape seed ex t r act , ar e
al so f l av onoi d compounds and hav e some i mpr essi v e
t her apeut ic ef f ect s. Look f or qual i t y pur e pr oduct s
w hi ch of f er a combi nat ion of bi of lav onoi d t y pes
w i t hout f il l er s.
Endnotes
1 . Hepat ogast roent erology, January-February, 1 98 5 , 3 2 : 34 -3 8.
The New England Journal of Medicine, April 1 9 , 1 98 4 , 3 1 0 :
1 0 23 -3 1. Lancet , Oct . 1 6 , 1 9 82 , 87 6 .
2 . Journal of Clinical Nut rit ion, 1 9 8 2 , 3 6: 1 22 5 -33 . Journal of
t he American College of Nut rit ion 1 9 8 3 , 2: 1 7 3-9 9 .
3 . Clinical Science, 1 9 84 , 6 6: 1 0 3-0 7 . Journal of Bone and Joint
Surgery, 1 9 82 , 6 4 B: 5 4 2-6 0 . Lancet , Feb. 9 , 1 98 5 , I: 3 0 7 -0 9 .
4 . Canadian Journal of Neurological Science, November, 1 9 8 4 , II:
5 6 1 -6 4 . Journal of Nut rit ion, April, 1 9 8 6 , 1 16 : 6 75 -8 1. Brit ish
Journal of Dermat ology, July, 1 9 8 4 , III: 1 2 5 -2 6 . Lancet ,
January, 29 , 1 9 8 3 , 22 5 -28 .
5 . Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Met abolism, June, 19 8 5,
6 0 : 1 26 8 -69 .
6 . Age and Aging, 1 9 82 , II: 1 01 -0 7. Journal of t he American
College of Nut rit ion, 1 9 8 8 , 7 : 6 1 -6 7 . Brit ish Journal of
Psychiat ry , 1 9 82 , 1 1 1 : 2 71 .
7 . Age and Aging, 1 9 82 , II: 1 0 1 -0 7 .
8 . American Journal of Opt hamology, 1 9 3 1 , 1 4: 1 00 5 -09 .
Journal of t he Nat ional Cancer Inst it ut e, April, 1 9 84 , 72 : 9 4 1 4 8 . Pro ceedings of t he Nat io nal Acad emy of Sc ience,
November, 19 8 4, 8 1 : 7 0 7 6 -7 8. American Journal of Clinical
Nut rit ion, Dec. 1 98 3 , 3 8 : 8 84 -8 7.
9 . Proceedings of t he Nat ional Academy of Science, Nov. 19 8 4,
8 1 : 7 07 6 -78 .
1 0 . American Journal of Clinical Nut rit ion, May, 1 9 8 4 , 39 : 7 8 7 -
41
91.
1 1 . Drug Therapy, August , 1 98 4 , 6 2 -7 0 .
1 2 . Journal of t he Nat ional Cancer Inst it ut e, Sept ember, 1 9 8 4 ,
73 : 76 7 -7 0 .
13 . Byollet en Eksperiment al Noi Biologii I Medit siny, 9 4 (9 ), 6 1 64 .
1 4 . Shari Liebermann and Nancy Bruning, The Real Vit amin and
Mineral Book, ( Avery Publishing, New York, 19 9 0) , 1 0 6 .
15 . Biological Psychiat ry, 1 9 8 4 , 9 ( 4 ) : 6 1 3 -1 6 .
1 6 . Annals of Neurology , Feb. 1 9 8 5 , 1 7 : 1 1 7 -2 0 .
At herosclerosis, June, 1 9 8 5 , 5 5 : 3 5 7 -6 1 . Nut rit ion and
Cancer, January-June, 19 8 5, 7 : 43 -5 2.
1 7 . Brit ish Journal of Psychiat ry , August , 19 8 8, 1 5 3: 2 6 6-6 7 .
1 8 . Nephron,1 9 8 4 , 3 6 : 1 8 3-8 6 .
1 9 . Biochemical and Medical Met abolism and Biology, Jan-Feb
1 9 86 , 3 1-3 9 .
2 0 . Lancet , July 2 4 , 19 8 2, 2 17 .
21 . American Review of Respirat ory Disease, Feb 1 98 3 , 1 2 7:
1 43 -4 7 . Oral Surgery , March 1 98 2 , 2 3 1 -3 6 . Annals of
Nut rit ion and Met abolism, 28 , May-June, 19 8 4 , 1 8 6-9 1 .
2 2 . Liebermann, 12 2 .
Minerals
Miner al s, li ke v it ami ns, enable t he body t o car r y
out v i r t ual ly ev er y bi ochemi cal r eact ion needed t o
sust ai n l i f e. Mi ner al s ar e consi der ed nat ur al l y
occur r i ng el ement s t hat come f r om soi l , r ock,
w at er , ani mal and pl ant sour ces. Mi ner al s can be
cl assi f ied as macr o or bulk miner als and mi cr o or
t r ace mi ner al s. Bulk mi ner als, w hi ch ar e needed i n
mor e subst ant i al amount s incl ude cal ci um, magnesi um, pot assium phosphor us and sodium. Tr ace mi ner al s w hi ch ar e only needed in t i ny amount s i nclude
zi nc, copper , i r on, manganese, chr omi um, sel eni um,
and i odi ne.
Today mor e t han ev er bef or e w e need t o be t aki ng
mi ner al suppl ement at i on. A gr i cul t ur al pr act i ces
hav e r esul t ed i n miner all y deplet ed f oods w hi ch look
beaut i f ul but can be signi f i cant l y miner al def ici ent .
Int ensi v e f ar mi ng met hods hav e depl et ed nut r i ent s
f r om our soi l s w hi ch suggest s t hat a diet r i ch i n
f r esh f oods does not guar ant ee a di et high in miner al s and v i t ami ns. Remember t hat a v eget abl e cannot
be r i ch i n mi ner al s if it gr ew in l ow - mi ner al soil .
Est i mat es i ndi cat e t hat f ar m soil s in most of t he
w or l d s agr i cul t ur al r egions ar e def i cient i n al most
8 5 per cent of all mi ner al s. Chemi cal f er t i l izer s such
as nit r ogen phosphor s and pot assi um can make pl ant s
gr ow r api dly ; how ev er , t hey do not r epl ace t he f ul l
ar r ay of mi ner al s w hich shoul d be pr esent in good
soi l .
In an issue of August Celebr at ion, Linda Gr ov er
made a v er y enlight ening and somew hat alar ming
comment . She said:
In 1 9 4 8 y ou coul d buy spi nach t hat had 1 5 8 mi l l igr ams of ir on per hundr ed gr ams. But by 1 9 6 5 , t he
max i mum i r on t hey coul d f i nd had dr opped t o 2 7 mi l l igr ams. In 1 9 7 3 , i t w as av er agi ng 2 .2 mi l li gr ams.
That s dow n f r om a hundr ed and f i f t y . That means
t oday y ou d hav e t o eat 7 5 bow l s of spi nach t o get
41
42
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Individual Minerals
Bor on ( t r ace mi ner al )
A ppl icat i ons: Needed f or calci um upt ake and may
be depl et ed in t he elder ly . Can hel p pr ev ent and t r eat
ost eopor osi s and ar t hr i t i s.
Sour ces: Fr esh f r ui t s, v eget abl es ( bor on cont ent
depends on soi l amount s av ai l able).
Saf et y : Taki ng mor e t han 9 mg per day i s not r ecommended. Possi bl e si de ef f ect s hav e been obser v ed
onl y w hen v er y hi gh l ev el s of bor on ar e ingest ed.
Int er act i ons: None know n t o dat e; how ev er , l ow
l ev el s of bor on can cause ur inar y ex cr et i on of cal ci um and magnesium.
Recommendat ions: Look f or sodium bor at e or
bor at e chel at es.
Calci um
A ppl icat i ons: Vi t al f or st r ong bones and t eet h and
t o mai nt ai n r egul ar hear t beat . Calcium al so l ow er s
t he r i sk of col on cancer and pr ot ect s agai nst ost eopor osi s. Cal ci um al so hel ps t o pr ev ent muscl e
cr ampi ng and cal ms t he cent r al ner v ous sy st em.
Or gani c f or ms ar e r ecommended f or max i mum
absor pt ion.
Sour ces: Dai r y pr oduct s, t of u, spinach, kal e,
t ur ni p gr eens, cabbage, col l ar ds, must ar d gr eens.
Saf et y : It i s consi der ed saf e; how ev er , any one
w i t h ki dney di sease, ki dney st ones, cancer or
hy per par at hy r oi dism or w ho t akes cal ci um channel
bl ocki ng dr ugs shoul d not t ake cal cium w i t hout t he
consent of t heir phy si ci an.
42
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
43
44
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
bl es.
Saf et y : No know n si de ef f ect s. It is consider ed
nont ox i c in r ecommended amount s.
Int er act i ons: None know n t o dat e.
Recommendat ions: Hor set ai l i s a r ich nat ur al
sour ce of si l icon. It i s al so sol d as t r ace si l icic aci d
and sodi um met asi li cat e. Some ex per t s r ecommend
t he t r ace f or m f or enhanced bi oav ail abi l it y .
Sodium
A ppl icat i ons: Essent i al f or pr oper w at er and bl ood
pH bal ance, st omach and ner v e f unct ion, sodi um can
be lost dur i ng per iods of ex cessi v e per spi r at i on,
v omi t i ng or di ar r hea. Inor ganic sodi um, w hi ch i s
f ound i n t able sal t can be det r i ment al i f used i n
ex cess.
Sour ces: Pr ocessed, sal t y f oods ( s uch as
cheeses, bacon, l unch meat s, canned ent r ees and
some soda pop) cont ai n hi gh amount s of sodi um. Sal t
r educt ion i s a good w ay t o r educe sodium i nt ake.
Saf et y : Taki ng t oo much sodi um can r esul t i n
w at er r et ent i on, hy per t ensi on, l i v er and kidney
dy sf unct i on and pot assi um depl et i on.
Int er act i ons: In or der t o pr oper l y assi mi l at e sodi um, cal ci um, pot assium, sul f ur and v i t amin D need t o
be pr esent .
Recommendat ions: Li ke phosphor us, most of us
need t o r educe our sodium i nt ake r at her t han boost
it .
Sulf ur
A ppl icat i ons: Vit al f or cel l ul ar pr ot ect i on, sul f ur
has ant i agi ng pr oper t i es and i s needed f or t he f or mat i on of col l agen. It is good f or bl ood pur i f i cat i on,
dandr uf f , acne, hai r , and i r r egul ar menst r ual
cy cles.
Sour ces: Meat , poult r y , eggs and f i sh and in small
amount s in t hiami ne and biot i n. NOTE: Sulf ur is f ound
i n some of t he amino acids of hi gh pr ot ei n f oods.
Gar li c is par t icular ly hi gh i n sulf ur , w hi ch cont r i but es t o i t s t her apeut i c act i ons.
Saf et y : Take as di r ect ed. Saf e dosage r anges hav e
not been est abl ished f or t his mi ner al .
Int er act i ons: Sulf ur can r eact w it h some pr escr ipt ion dr ugs and should not be t aken as a single supplement under nor mal condit ions. To be assimil at ed
pr oper l y , adequat e amount s of v it ami n B1 , B5 and
biot in need t o be pr esent .
Recommendat ions: Sul f ur is usuall y f ound as par t
of t ot al supplement al f or mul as. For some i ndi v i dual s, sul f ur i nt ake shoul d be r educed.
Vanadi um
A ppl icat i ons: Requi r ed f or good cir culat i on and
pr oper chol est er ol l ev els, v anadi um def i ci enci es
hav e been l i nked t o ki dney and hear t di sease.
Vanadi um i s di f f icult t o absor b. It i s used f or goi t er ,
hi gh chol est er ol and hear t disease.
Sour ces: Fi sh, oli v es, di l lw eed, r adishes, v eget abl e oi l s, w hole gr ains, snap beans.
45
46
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
mass.
L- Cy st i ne: Pr ot ect s agai nst copper t ox i ci t y , pr omot es heal i ng and cont r i but es t o i nsul i n f or mat i on.
Gamma- A mino But y r i c A ci d: Consi der ed a nat ur al
t r anqui l izer , it decr eases neur on act iv it y .
L- Glut ami c Aci d: Met abol izes sugar s and f at s and
hel ps t o f i ght br ai n and ment al disor der s.
L- Glut ami ne: Good f or t r eat i ng al cohol ism, sugar
cr av ings, epil epsy , ment al di sor der s and ul cer s.
L- Glut at hi one: A pow er f ul ant i ox i dant w hi ch hel ps
pr ot ect agai nst r adi at i on, smoke, x - r ay s and alcohol .
L- Gly cine: Used f or bipol ar depr essi on, pr ost at e
gl and, and cent r al ner v ous sy st em healt h.
L- Hi st i di ne* : Repai r s t i ssue and i s good f or
r heumat oi d ar t hr i t i s, anemia and all er gi es.
L- Isol euci ne* : Essent ial f or hemogl obi n f or mat i on
and r egulat es blood sugar and ener gy l ev el s.
L- Leucine* : Decr eases bl ood sugar and boost s t i ssue heal i ng, i ncl udi ng bone. Recommended f or post sur ger y conv alescence. An ex cess of t his ami no aci d
can cause hy pogly cemia.
L- Ly sine* : Inhibit s v i r us i nf ect i ons and i s r ecommended f or Her pes si mpl ex , canker s and col d sor es.
L- Met hi oni ne* : Br eaks dow n f at s, det ox i f ies t i ssue and assi st s w i t h chol i ne pr oduct i on.
L- Or nit hi ne: When combi ned w i t h car nit i ne and
ar gi ni ne, it br eaks dow n ex cess body f at .
L- Pheny l al ani ne* : Needed t o make neur ot r ansmi t t er s, ai ds in depr essi on, memor y and migr aines. Can
al so act as an appet it e suppr essant .
DL- Pheny lal ani ne: Suppr esses appet i t e and hel ps
cont r ol ar t hr it i c pai n. Do not use if pr egnant , hav e
hi gh bl ood pr essur e or di abet es.
L- Pr oli ne: Cont r i but es t o t he pr oduct i on of col l agen and st r engt hens j oi nt s and t endons.
L- Ser ine: Cont r ibut es t o st r ong immune f unct ions
and w or ks t o met abol i ze f at s and pr omot e muscl e
mass.
L- Taur i ne: A key component of bi le, good f or chol est er ol l ev el s, hy per act i v i t y , epi lepsy and br ai n
f unct i on.
L- Thr eoni ne* : Helps t o cont r ol epi lepsy and ai ds
i n f or mat ion of el ast i n and col l agen.
L- Tr y pt ophan* : Cont r ibut es t o ser ot oni n pr oduct i on, st abi l izes moods, pr omot es sl eep and st r ess
cont r ol . NOTE: In 1 9 8 9 , all t r y pt ophan w as t aken of f
t he mar ket due t o a bat ch cont ami nat ed w i t h EMS, a
bl ood di sor der . The FDA has r ecal led all pr oduct s
cont ai ni ng t r y pt ophan; how ev er , new modi f i ed
f or ms of t r y pt ophan ar e emer gi ng as mar ket abl e.
L- Ty r osi ne: Impor t ant f or br ai n f unct i on and can
hel p w i t h depr essi on, headaches, anx i et y and f ood
cr av ings.
L- Vali ne* : A ct s as a nat ur al st i mulant and i s
i nv ol v ed i n t i ssue r egener at i on and ni t r ogen bal ance.
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
healt h f ood st or es i n t he f or m of capsul es, pow der s, and li qui ds. Their sour ces ar e usual ly ani mal , y east or v eget able pr ot eins. Br ow n r i ce,
mi lk pr ot ei n and y east sour ces ar e also ut i li zed.
Mor e and mor e compani es ar e of f er i ng ami no
aci d suppl ement s. Some simpl e gui del ines t o f ol l ow include t he f oll ow ing:
Look f or USP ( U.S. Phar macopoeia) or phar maceut i cal gr ade pr oduct s t hat ar e denot ed by t he
l et t er L and by t he w or d cr y st al li ne. NOTE:
Pheny l al ani ne comes i n t he DL f or m.
Look f or f r ee f or m pr oduct s w hi ch ar e much
easier t o digest and assi mil at e and ar e consi der ed l ess al l er geni c. Capsul i zed, pow der ed
f or ms ar e best .
Take amino aci ds ei t her si ngl y or i n combi nat i ons on an empt y st omach w i t h a l i t t l e f r ui t
j ui ce. If y ou t ake t hem w it h meals, t he ot her
nut r i ent s y ou hav e i ngest ed w il l compet e w i t h
t he amino aci ds f or absor pt i on. Make sur e t hat
y ou do not eat f or at least 3 0 mi nut es bef or e or
af t er t aki ng an ami no aci d suppl ement .
Ami no acid t her apy should be shor t t er m, r at her
t han indef i ni t e. Lar ge doses ar e discour aged and
goi ng of f and on t hem i s pr ef er abl e. For ex ampl e, t w o mont hs on, t w o mont hs of f seems t o
w or k best . Chi ldr en shoul d not be gi v en t hese
supplement s unl ess under t he super v isi on of
t hei r phy sici an.
FREE RADICALS
A f r ee r adical is not hi ng mor e t han a mol ecul ar
st r uct ur e w hi ch cont ai ns an unpai r ed el ect r on.
El ect r ons t end t o st ay in pair s. El ect r on pai r s make
up t he chemical bond w hi ch keep mol ecul es f r om f l y i ng apar t . A n unpai r ed el ect r on i s dr i v en by a pot ent
chemi cal f or ce w hi ch compel s it t o f i nd a mat e. Thi s
mol ecul ar i nst inct t o mer ge w it h anot her el ect r on i s
so pow er f ul t hat t he sear chi ng mol ecul e behav es
er r at ical l y , mov i ng about much li ke a w eapon w it hi n
cel l ul ar st r uct ur es. It s r andom and w i l d mol ecul ar
mov ement s w i t hi n cell ul ar mat er i al can cr eat e cel l ul ar damage, w hich can ev ent ual l y r esul t in degener at i on or mut at i on.
47
ci gar et t e smoke
her bi ci des
hi gh f at s
pest i cides
smog
car ex haust
cer t ai n pr escr i pt i on dr ugs
di agnost i c and t her apeut i c x - r ay s
ul t r a- v i ol et l i ght
gamma r adi at ion
r anci d f oods
cer t ai n f at s
al cohol
some of our f ood and w at er suppli es
st r ess
poor di et s
ANTIOXIDANTS
47
48
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
48
Bioflavonoids
Recent ly , t he pr of ound ef f ect of phy t ochemi cal s,
w hi ch ar e der i v ed f r om plant - based f oods i n t he
Walk f or t en minut es t w i ce
a w eek.
Walk f or t en minut es t hr ee
t imes a w eek.
Walk f or f if t een minut es
t hr ee t imes a w eek.
Walk f or t w ent y minut es
f iv e t imes a w eek
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
f or m of Indol e- 3 car binol, quer cet in, hesper idi n, and
nar ingi n, hav e been inv est i gat ed. Cer t ai n t y pes of
bi of l av onoi ds hav e been f ound t o si gni f i cant ly sur pass ot her know n ant iox i dant s i n t heir abi l it y t o
scav enge f r ee r adi cal s. One gr oup of bi of lav onoi ds,
speci f i cal l y know n as pr oant hocy ani di ns, hav e
ex t r aor di nar y ant iox i dant capabil i t i es. The t er m
bi of l av onoi d r ef er s t o a l ar ge f ami ly of chemi cal s
f ound t hr oughout t he pl ant w or ld. Bi of lav onoi ds ar e
somet i mes call ed v i t ami n P; how ev er , t hey ar e not
t echni cal l y v i t ami ns . So w hat ex act l y i s a
bi of l av onoi d? Biof l av onoids ar e phy t ochemi cal s or
pl ant der i v at i v es w hi ch can hav e r emar kabl e ef f ect s
on bi ochemical pat hw ay s in human phy si ol ogy . Ther e
ar e ov er 2 0 , 0 0 0 know n biof l av onoids r egi st er ed i n
chemi cal abst r act s and ov er 2 0 mi ll i on st r uct ur es
t hat f i t i nt o t hei r chemi cal cl assi f icat i on. Obv i ousl y
not al l f lav onoi ds ar e t he same.
For t hi s r eason, sel ect ing t he most biologi cal l y
v aluable compounds i s ex t r emely i mpor t ant w hen
designi ng any supplement w hi ch ut i l izes bi of lav onoi d
compounds. Biof l av onoids occur nat ur al l y in f r ui t s
and v eget ables but t hey ar e subj ect t o r api d decomposit i on and degr adat i on dur ing st or age and cooki ng.
Biof l av onoids ar e consi der ed sy ner gi st s t o v i t ami n C
and must be combi ned w i t h v i t ami n C ( ascor bi c aci d)
f or opt i mal benef i t .
Nar ingen, Hesper it i n and Rut i n
These t hr ee bi of l av onoi ds ar e al so ef f i ci ent
ant i ox i dant s and w or k sy ner gi st icall y w i t h v it ami n
C and t he pr oant hocy ani di ns t o scav enge f r ee r adi cal s. Mor eov er , t hi s par t i cul ar t r i o of f lav onoi ds
has si gnif i cant ant ial l er geni c pr oper t i es. St udi es
hav e indi cat ed t hat t hese compounds can i nhi bit t he
r el ease of hist ami ne, w hi ch is t he chemi cal cause of
a w hol e host of mi ser able all er gi c sy mpt oms. We
hear so much about ant i- i nf l ammat or y dr ugs t oday
and t hey ar e r out i nely pr escr i bed f or a number of
di sor der s. Sev er al l abor at or y t est s suppor t t he f act
t hat t hese f l av onoids can si gnif i cant l y decr ease
i nf l ammat i on by pr ev ent i ng hist ami ne f r om per meat i ng v essel w al l s. Obv i ousl y , any all er gi c condit i on,
edema or ot her i nf l ammat or y di seases w ould subst ant i al ly benef it f r om t hi s v ascular act i on. In addi t i on, if y ou br ui se easi l y , t his gr oup of bi of lav onoi ds
i s par t icular ly desi r abl e. Nar i ngin and hesper it i n
si gni f icant ly pr ev ent capi l lar y f r agi li t y and i nt er st i t ial bl eedi ng.
Quer cet i n
Quer cet i n is anot her r emar kable f l av onoi d. It s
par t i cul ar ant iox idant act i v i t y has been f ound t o hel p
r educe t he r i sk of cor onar y hear t di sease. Quer cet i n
hel ps t o dil at e and r el ax bl ood v essel s and has a pr ot ect i v e ef f ect agai nst cer t ai n t y pes of ar r hy t hmi as.
It is t he maj or act iv e component of Ginkgo bi loba and
may be r esponsi bl e f or t he benef i cial ef f ect s t hat
gi nkgo has on br ain neur ons. Quer cet in has demonst r at ed it s abi li t y t o r educe t umor i ncidence w hi ch
49
WATER
We v e al l hear d ov er and ov er t hat w e shoul d be
dr i nki ng bet w een si x and ei ght glasses of w at er per
day t o ensur e opt imal heal t h. It is al so t r ue t hat most
of us coul d sur v iv e w i t hout f ood f or ov er a mont h,
but w ould per i sh w it hout w at er f or l onger t han f iv e
day s. Today , w hi l e w e may be mor e aw ar e of t he
i mpor t ance of dr inking mor e w at er , much conf usi on
abounds r egar ding pur i t y i ssues, especi al ly t he
v al ue of pur chasi ng w at er and if f luor idat i on poses a
heal t h t hr eat .
Wher e does t he w at er come f r om t hat f l ow s f r om
our househol d t aps? Thi s w at er i s gener al l y col l ect ed in r eser v oi r s f r om sur f ace w at er , w hi ch has r un
49
50
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
out al l v i r uses or par asi t e or gani sms. Our best
al t er nat i v e concer ni ng w at er i t t o pur chase di st il l ed
w at er and add t o it i f possi bl e. Wat er f i lt r at i on sy st ems can be benef i ci al but must be bought w it h caut i on so as t o obt ai n t he best possible sy st em.
For mor e i nf or mat i on on how t o assess t he quali t y of y our dr i nki ng w at er cont act :
Wat er Quali t y A ssoci at i on
4 1 5 1 Naper v il l e Rd.
Li sl e, Il 6 0 5 3 2
(708) 505- 0160
51
t he po w er o f m ed it at ion
Medi t at ion can t ake all sor t s
of f or ms. It can incl ude y oga
w it h deep br eat hi ng, biof eedback t r aining or f or mal t r aini ng
such as t r anscendent al medi at i on. All of t hese t y pes of medit at ion hav e one t hing in common: t hey achi ev e a st at e of
mindf ulness, t he abilit y t o
let t he mind go complet ely blank
by not concent r at ing on one
par t icular t hought . (Ir onicall y ,
w hile t he t er m mindl essness
may seem mor e appr opr iat e,
t he f ul lness concept r ef er s t o
t he not ion t hat w hile t he mind is
f ull, it is not f ocused on any one
subj ect .)
Because I hav e had consider -
qui l i t y w or k w el l . Benson
f ound t hat using w or ds w it h a
par t i cul ar posi t i v e r el i gi ous
connot at ion gr eat ly enhance t he
medi t at i v e sessi on. Select a
w or d or phr ase t hat is spir it ual
in nat ur e. His met hod is simple
t o lear n and t o implement .
Whet her it be his w ay or
anot her , w e shoul d al l pr act ice
medit at ion r egular l y f or 1 5 t o
20 minut es ev er y mor ning or at
least 1 0 t o 1 5 mi nut es t w ice a
day . Medit at ion dissipat es t he
cumulat iv e ef f ect s of st r ess.
The healt h benef it s of lear ning
t o r emai n in a quiet st at e ar e
t r emendous. Medi t ai on can
enabl e us t o i mpr ov e many
51
52
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
PA RT
Nutrient Deficiencies
Def ici enci es of v ir t uall y any si ngle nut r i ent can
negat iv ely i mpact t he i mmune sy st em; how ev er ,
cer t ain compounds ar e v it al t o i mmune f unct i on. One
of t hese is zinc. Zi nc as a si ngl e def i ciency can cause
sev er e i mmune i mpai r ment . Zi nc def i ci enci es ar e
r at her common; a f act w hi ch cer t ai nl y has v er y
i mpor t ant heal t h i mpl icat i ons f or all of us. It i s
i nv ol v ed i n at l east 9 0 met al li enzy mat i c r eact i ons i n
t he body many of w hich ar e immune- r elat ed. A ny
i ndi v i dual w ho i s compl aining of di sease suscept ibil i t y or cat ches ev er y t hi ng t hat comes al ong, may
w ant t o t ur n t o i mmune- bui l ding her bs li ke ast r agal us or echinacea. Whi le t hose ar e cer t ainl y benef i ci al , i f t his per son i s lacking i n zi nc or any ot her
nut r i ent , t hat concer n must be addr essed f ir st .
Unquest i onabl y , i mmune- bui ldi ng her bs w il l w or k
54
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Ten y ear s ago w e w er e t ol d t hat ex er ci se w as onl y
ef f ect i v e if y ou ex er ci sed f or 3 0 t o 4 0 mi nut es, 3 t o
4 t i mes a w eek at 7 0 t o 8 0 per cent of y our max i mum hear t r at e. We ar e discov er i ng t hat f or sedent ar y peopl e, mi ni mal ex er ci se such as a l ei sur el y
st r ol l or gar dening can be v er y benef i ci al and shoul d
be st r ongl y encour aged. View s ar e al so emer ging on
how much t i me w e shoul d spend ex er c i si ng.
Resear ch now i ndi cat es t hat t hr ee t en minut e bur st s
of ex er ci se can be j ust as good as a t hi r t y mi nut e
session.
55
t hat t hose pat ient s w ho r an cont r ol l ed t heir depr essi on much bet t er t han t hose w ho w er e t r eat ed w i t h
psy chot her apy . Ev en if y ou can onl y get out t hr ee
day s a w eek, t he emot i onal benef it s of r egular ex er ci se cannot be ov er st at ed.
56
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
w h y d o d r u g s p r o d u c e sid e ef f ec t s?
Most pr escr i pt i on dr ugs
w r eak mor e hav oc on our
healt h t han t he or iginal ailment
t hey w er e designed t o t r eat .
While no one w ant s t o disput e
t he lif esav ing v alue of ant ibiot ics, st er oidal ant i- inf lammat or ies, et c., dr ugs ar e r out inely ov er - pr escr ibed and pose
signif icant healt h r isks as w ell.
Dr ugs t hought t o be saf e hav e
killed or maimed t housands of
people. For ex ample, t halidomide, once pr escr ibed t o pr egnant w omen f or mor ning sick-
many aches and pains hav e accompani ed t he depr essi on. Regul ar ex er ci se can help t o all ev i at e st if f
muscl es and j oint s and can boost t he di gest i v e sy st em so el imi nat ion i s mor e ef f i ci ent . Si mply put ,
w hen y ou ex er cise, y ou sl eep bet t er , br eat he easi er , and t hi nk cl ear er . Remember , any w ei ght l oss
pr ogr am t hat does not incor por at e ex er cise as a pr i mar y component w il l alw ay s f ail .
damaged by dr ugs.
The ov er - pr escr i pt ion of
ant ibiot ics is a per f ect illust r at ion of a good t hing gone bad.
Usi ng ant ibi ot ic t her apy f or
ev er y t hi ng f r om a v i r al l y
caused sor e t hr oat t o a hangnail
has r esult ed in t he dev elopment
of ant ibiot ic- r esist ant bact er ia, w hich may ev ent ually cr eat e a moder n day plague f or
w hich t her e is no cur e. In ot her
w or ds, ant ibiot ics cannot cur e
t hese r esist ant st r ains of bact er i a. And t aki ng ant i biot ics
machi ner y and l abor at or y t est s. By cont r ast , nat ur al heal t h pr act it i oner s ask det ail ed quest ions concer ni ng ev er y aspect of a per son s l if e, includi ng t he
spi r i t ual and incl ude t he pat i ent i n t he heal ing
pr ocess. In many i nst ances, doct or s hav e f or got t en
how t o t r ul y car e f or t hei r pat i ent s and do l it t l e
mor e t han scr at ch out pr escr ipt i ons. Nat ur al pr ot ocol s hav e l ong r ecognized t he ef f ect of negat iv e at t i t udes and emot i ons on t he phy si cal body .
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
st r ai n on our immune r esponses. Consequent l y , our
body becomes mor e v ul ner abl e t o neopl ast ic ( cancer - causi ng) pr ocesses. These hor mones, i ncl udi ng
cor t i sol , adr enali ne and pr ol act in, inhi bi t t he act i v i t i es of w hit e bl ood cel l s, i nhi bi t t he amount of l y mphocy t es pr oduced and cause t he t hy mus gl and t o
act uall y shr i nk.
St udies hav e f ound t hat t he incidence of br east
cancer w as si gni f icant ly hi gher i n t he w omen w ho
had ex per i enced a t r aumat ic emot ional ex per i ence
dur ing t he si x y ear s bef or e t hey dev eloped t he
t umor . Many ot her st udies suppor t t he v er y damagi ng ef f ect s of st r ess on i mmunit y , i ndi cat ing t hat
t hat T- cell act iv it y i s dr amat icall y i mpair ed i n peopl e w ho lose t hei r spouses, l ose t hei r j obs or ex per i ence ot her emot ionall y upset t i ng ev ent s. When t he
st r ess becomes chr oni c, chemi cal changes occur i n
t he body , i nadv er t ent l y cr eat i ng an env i r onment
w hi ch pr edi sposes t o disease.
t ense muscl es
i r r it abil i t y
anger out bur st s
r aci ng or i r r egul ar hear t beat
i ncr eased use of dr ugs, al cohol or t obacco
f or get f ul ness
cr y i ng
nai l bit i ng
l oss of sel f - conf i dence
t eet h gr i ndi ng
becomi ng acci dent pr one
back or neckaches
f lut t er y st omach
hear t bur n
57
58
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
y ear s.
Each of us w i l l i nev i t abl y suf f er f r om il l ness,
depr essi on, inj ur y , or di sappoi nt ment as i nt egr al
par t s of our mor t al ex i st ence. No amount of change
w i ll enabl e us t o escape t hese ex per i ences. What w e
can do is t o li v e our li v es i n such a w ay t hat w e ar e
abl e t o handle w hat ev er f or ms of st r ess w e may
encount er . Lear ni ng t o cont r ol our minds and l et go
of t he count l ess st r essf ul t hought s t hat cr oss
t hr ough our neur al pat hw ay s i s a w onder f ul begi nni ng.
VISUALIZATION THERAPY
A coll eague of mi ne has w r it t en sev er al ar t i cl es
on t he pow er of heal i ng w or ds. He w as t r ai ned as an
i nt er n i n t hi s appr oach and has ex t ensiv ely st udi ed
t he ef f ect of pr ay er and v i sual i zat i on on di sease. He
i s of t en asked t o compar e t his t her apy w it h ot her
nat ur al pr ot ocol s l ike acupunct ur e and chi r opr act i c
and w hich one he w ould ut il i ze i f he w er e st r anded on
deser t i sland. Wi t hout hesit at i on, he say s he w oul d
choose t o t ake t he t i me t o r el ax w hil e v i sual izi ng t he
body heal i ng i t sel f . Thi s ki nd of self - t r eat ment can
be lear ned and used by ev er y one on a r egul ar basis.
It i s v er y easy t o put i nt o pr act ice and i s consider ed
a f or m of medit at i on. It can be i nst ant ly used t o bet t er r elat i onships, at t it ude, heal t h or ev en body
f unct i ons l i ke bl ood f low or i mmune f unct i on.
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
59
Educat i on i n Nat ur al
Medi ci ne i s Cr uci al t o
Ef f ect i ve Heal i ng
It s alw ay s int r i gui ng t o hear how and w hy a medi cal doct or chooses t o embr ace unor t hodox t her api es
f or di sease. My st or y has ev ol v ed ov er a number of
y ear s as a pr act icing phy si ci an w ho r out i nel y del i v er ed 1 6 0 babies per y ear , per f or med hundr eds of
sur gical pr ocedur es and saw v ir t uall y ev er y ail ment
suf f er ed by human bei ngs. I di scov er ed t hat many of
my pat ient s w ould come t o me and essent i all y say ,
f ix me.
Whi le many of my pat i ent s r esponded t o conv ent i onal t r eat ment s, a si gni f icant gr oup t hat nev er
seemed t o i mpr ov e gr ew i n number . A s I ponder ed
t he dil emma of det er mi ni ng w hat t r eat ment s t o
at t empt f or t hese i ndi v i dual s, I di scov er ed a r at her
i nt er est i ng f act : conv ent ional medi cine i s r at her
r i gi d in i t s appr oach t o pr obl emat i c di sease; t r eat ment opt i ons must be ex panded t o f it t he specif i c
needs of each pat i ent . It w as dur i ng t his t i me i n my
pr act ice t hat I j oi ned t he f acul t y in t he r esidency
pr ogr am at McKay - Dee Hospi t al i n Ogden, Ut ah, and
subsequent l y began t o ex pl or e v ar i ous al t er nat i v e
t r eat ment s and t heir appli cat i ons.
I w as sur pr ised t o l ear n t hat t he UCLA Medi cal
School st udent s and phy sicians w er e l ear ni ng t o per f or m acupunct ur e. I w ant ed t o be among t hem.
Thr oughout t he cour se, I became acquai nt ed w i t h a
number of Chi nese her bal f or mul as t hat I i ncor por at ed i nt o my pr act i ce. The w or d spr ead quickl y
t hr oughout my communi t y . Soon, I f ound my self conf r ont ed by many di f f er ent peopl e cur i ous i f t hei r
her bal pr epar at i ons w er e l egi t imat e. Their i nqui r i es
mot i v at ed me t o l ear n mor e. I f ound t hat i ncor por at i ng her bal t her api es i n conj unct i on w it h acupunct ur e
and body / mind i nt er v ent i ons seemed t o be a sur pr i si ngl y ef f ect i v e t r eat ment t r i o.
The pat ient i s al w ay s t he r eal benef i ciar y of doct or s inv est igat ing alt er nat i v e medici ne. A mong t he
many al t er nat i v e t her api es, pat i ent s may f i nd mor e
ef f ect i v e met hods f or t r eat i ng v ar i ous di seases.
J ust as doct or s adopt new i deas and met hods,
pat i ent s must be equall y open t o adj ust i ng t hei r w ay
of t hinking si nce some al t er nat i v e t her api es l i ke
acupunct ur e may be qui t e unli ke mor e f ami li ar conv ent ional t her api es. Most obj ect ions by pat i ent s t o a
new t her apy v ani sh as t hey i ncr ease t hei r under st anding. When pat i ent s ar e w i ll i ng t o open a book or
ask quest i ons, t hey bet t er under st and a new t her apy .
No singl e phi l osophy of di agnosi s or t her apy suppl i es us w it h al l t he answ er s. Nev er t hel ess, t he best
t r eat ment st r at egies hi nge on i nt egr at i ng v ar i ous
healt h car e met hodologies.
60
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
pi es i nt o t heir pr act ices i f it w er e not f or t w o det er r i ng f act or s: f ir st of all , doct or s spend ei ght y ear s
or mor e i n school concent r at i ng on t hei r i ndi v i dual
special t y ; t ime i s ex t r emely t i ght and t he not i on of
t aki ng addi t i onal t i me t o lear n about al t er nat i v e
t her apies i s not par t icular ly appeali ng. Second, ev en
i f a phy sici an w ant ed t o i nv est i gat e al t er nat i v e
medi ci ne, r eli abl e school s and cour ses of i nf or mat i on ar e har d t o f ind. It i s not easy f or a doct or t o
obt ai n t his ki nd of i nf or mat ion but it is cer t ai nl y
possibl e f or any phy si ci an w ho has enough desi r e.
Medi cal pr act ices w hi ch hav e ev olv ed ov er t he
l ast f i f t y y ear s ar e not t he onl y t her apies av ai lable.
Medi ci ne has dev ol v ed f r om an ar t dedicat ed t o t he
heali ng and pr eser v at i on of l i f e, t o one gui ded by t he
l at est , high- pr iced phar maceut i cal dr ug desi gned t o
t ar get di sease sy mpt oms. We l i v e in a soci et y t hat
i s qui ck t o medi cat e i t sel f w i t hout looking i nt o t he
pr ocesses and i nt r i caci es of di sease.
Dr . Mal com Todd, a f or mer pr esi dent of t he
A mer ican Medical A ssoci at ion, put i t best w hen he
sai d, Thus f ar , phy si ci ans hav e show n l i t t l e obj ect i v e int er est i n pr omot i ng heal t h and pr ev ent i v e
car e. We act uall y hav e a di sease or ient ed cur e sy st em, r at her t han a heal t h or i ent ed car e sy st em i n
t hi s count r y t oday .
It i s t r agi c t hat i n our v igor ous at t empt s t o t r eat
a number of dev ast at ing di seases, many of us hav e
ov er l ooked t he pr of ound i mpact of nat ur al t her api es.
For cent ur i es, t he pr incipl es of nat ur al heali ng hav e
been based on
The heali ng pow er of nat ur e
Doi ng no har m t o t he pat i ent
Ident if y ing and t r eat i ng t he cause of disease, not
j ust i t s sy mpt oms
Pr omot i ng t he r ol e of phy sician as t eacher as
w el l as heal er
Most of us w oul d li ke t o f i nd a doct or t hat is or i ent ed t ow ar d t he use of nat ur al t her api es and l ucki l y , i ncr easi ng number s of medi cal doct or s ar e
becomi ng i nt r i gued by al t er nat i v e f or ms of t r eat ment . Mor e and mor e publ icat i ons, aut hor ed by medi cal doct or s w ho hav e embr aced nat ur al heal t h
t r eat ment s, ar e appear ing on new sst ands. Medi cal
j our nals ar e f ull of ar t i cl es on ant i ox idant s, v it ami n
and mi ner al t her apies and t he pr of ound healt h i mpli cat i ons of di et and ex er ci se.
Medi cal school s w hich now of f er cour ses i n al t er nat i v e medi c i ne i nc l ude Har v ar d, Col umbi a,
Geor get ow n and Duke. Today , t her e ar e 1 4 accr edi t ed chir opr act ic coll eges i n t he Unit ed St at es.
T he Nat i onal Cancer Inst i t ut e i s act i v el y
r esear chi ng r ai nf or est plant s and some i nsur ance
companies ar e begi nni ng t o cov er al t er nat i v e t r eat ment cost s. Ost eopat hs and chi r opr act i t i oner s r ecognize t hat t he neur oendocr i ne sy st em coor di nat es
v ir t ual l y al l body f unct i ons and r el y on manipul at i on
of t he spi ne t o r est or e t he pr oper ener gy f low and t o
60
pr omot e heal i ng. Nat ur opat hs use her bali sm, massage, nut r i t i on and mani pul at ion t o di agnose and
t r eat di sease. Emphasis on f ast i ng, hy dr ot her apy ,
nut r i t ion and t he el i mi nat i on of al cohol , cof f ee,
t obacco, et c. ar e i nt egr al t o t his hol ist i c appr oach.
Homeopat hy i s based on t he beli ef t hat mi nut e
amount s of cer t ai n subst ances w hi ch act ual l y mimi c
di sease sy mpt oms can cur e. Homeopat hic r emedi es
ar e appr ov ed as ov er - t he- count er medi cat i ons by
t he Food and Dr ug A dminist r at i on.
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
per cent of ur inar y t r act i nf ect i ons ar e caused by E.
col i a bact er i a t hat r esi des i n t he lar ge i nt est i ne
w her e i t cont r i but es t o f r i endl y f l or a act i on. When i t
makes i t s w ay i nt o t he ur et hr a, t hough, an i nf ect i on
can r esul t . The ot her 1 5 per cent of inf ect i ons ar e
caused by ot her bact er ia t hat al so l i v e i n t he bow el.
Bact er i a must cli ng t o t he w al l s of t he bladder i n
or der t o cause an i nf ect i on. Fr ee- f l oat i ng bact er i a i n
ur i ne ar e w ashed aw ay and do not cause inf l ammat i on.
When bact er i a col oni ze i n t he w all s of t he bl adder ,
dest r uct iv e enzy mes t hat dest r oy t he bl adder li ni ng
ar e r el eased. As a r esult , capi ll ar y bl eedi ng occur s
and bl ood ent er s t he ur ine. A f t er ex per i ment i ng w i t h
v ar ious t heor i es, i t w as concl uded t hat cr anber r y
cont ains a nat ur al subst ance t hat keeps t he bact er i a
f r om adher i ng t o t he bl adder , f l ushi ng t hem out i n
t he ur ine ( t his act i v e ant iadher ence ingr edient f ound
i n cr anber r y i s cur r ent l y i n t he pr ocess of becomi ng
a pat ent ed medici ne.)
Consi der t he i mpl icat i ons of t he ex per i ment s
r esult s: Ur inar y t r act i nf ect i ons ar e ex t r emel y
common and w hi l e gener all y not l i f e- t hr eat eni ng,
t hey cost mi ll i ons of dol l ar s i n dr ug t r eat ment s and
t i me l ost f r om w or k. Mor eov er , r epeat ed ant ibiot i c
t her apy r esul t s i n incr eased suscept ibil i t y . If t he
maj or i t y of t hese inf ect i ons could be pr ev ent ed,
enor mous amount s of money coul d be sav ed and
spent on mor e w or t hy endeav or s. Cr anber r y i s a
r el at i v el y inex pensi v e, nat ur al and ex t r emel y saf e
w ay t o pr ev ent and t r eat ur i nar y t r act inf ect i ons.
How many ot her nat ur al her bal agent s ex i st f or di seases w e ar e qui ck t o medi cat e w i t h pot ent and r isky
chemi cal dr ugs?
61
62
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Some pat i ent s may not f i nd t he hel p t hey ar e l ooki ng f or f r om al t er nat i v e t her api es. And, as a doct or ,
I don t r el y st r ict l y on alt er nat iv e t her api es. If I f eel
a pat i ent w oul d be bet t er of f w i t h a conv ent i onal
t her apy , t hat is w hat I r ecommend. Somet i mes I f eel
a pat i ent w oul d be bet t er of f i f t hey used bot h conv ent ional and alt er nat iv e t her api es.
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Her bs can be t aken in dr i ed f or m and ar e usual l y av ail abl e in capsules, as t eas, ex t r act s or
t i nct ur es. New deli v er y sy st ems such as subl i ngual dr ops or cr eams may pr ov i de ev en bet t er
assimi lat i on.
Gi v e chi l dr en onl y a f r act ion of t he adul t dose
dependi ng on t hei r age. Don t gi v e chil dr en under
t he age of t w o any suppl ement unl ess y ou check
w i t h y our phy si ci an. Chi l dr en si x t o t w el v e can
r eceiv e one f our t h of t he adult dose. Chi l dr en
t w el v e t o eight een can r eceiv e t hr ee f our t hs of
t he adult dose.
Read t he cont r adict i ons of cer t ai n her bs and
make sur e y ou do not hav e a condit i on or ar e
t aki ng dr ugs w hi ch may cause an unw ant ed
i nt er act i on.
Keep all her bs out of t he r each of chi ldr en.
63
i ng cer t ai n her bs t oget her cr eat es a bet t er t her apeut i c ef f ect can be suppor t ed by cl inical st udi es.
It s i mpor t ant t o r emember t hat t he i nt er act i on
bet w een cer t ain bot anicals can be ev en mor e i mpor t ant t han t he indiv idual pr oper t ies of each cont r i but i ng her b. Well - desi gned her bal f or mul as can ex er t
i mpr essi v e t her apeut ic ef f ect s on a number of mal adi es.
A not her of t he adv ant ages of blending her bs i s
t hat v ar i ous sy mpt oms can be t r eat ed si mul t aneousl y . Most her bal bl ends ar e compr i sed of w hat mi ght
be cal l ed domi nant pl ant s, ( w hi ch ar e usual l y
r esponsible f or pr i mar y t her apeut i c act i ons) , and
passi v e her bs t hat ser v e t o soot he, suppor t and
pot ent i at e.
St i mulat or y her bs ar e usual ly bit t er and ar e nicel y compl ement ed by ar omat i c, car mi nat iv e and
demul cent her bs. For ex ampl e, senna i s a st i mul at or y and dy nami c bit t er her b w hich i nit i at es col on
muscl e cont r act ion. A ddi ng a car minat i v e her b, l i ke
gi nger , t o senna ser v es t o soot he t he st omach and
pr ev ent gr i pping w hi ch may occur if senna w as t aken
al one. The addit i on of capsicum or ginger t o any her b
f or mul a act s as a cat al y st , incr easi ng t he ef f ici ency
of each i ndi v i dual her b. Her bs l i ke pepper mint ar e
pot ent i at ed by capsicum. Mor eov er , t he ment hol
cont ai ned i n pepper mi nt helps t o bal ance out t he
hot nat ur e of t he capsi cum. A good her bal blend
w il l combi ne st imul ant her bs w it h nour ishing, pr ot ect i ng and cl eansi ng v ar iet i es.
64
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
t ur i es af t er t he bi r t h of Chr i st and is w i del y pr act i ced t oday along w it h di sci pl ines li ke acupunct ur e.
Or ient al her bal medici ne of f er s t he w est er n w or l d a
v er it able t r easur y of t r i ed and t r ue t r eat ment s,
w hi ch, f or t he most par t w e hav e not used unt il
r ecent decades.
Tr adi t i onal Chinese medi cine dat es back as f ar as
2 , 5 0 0 B.C. and r ecor ded pr act i ces and discipl i nes
ar e st il l used by moder n pr act i t i oner s. The Chi nese
hav e al w ay s v i ew ed di sease as an i ndi cat ion t hat an
i mbal ance or di sr upt i on i n har mony has occur r ed
w i t hin t he del icat e and i nt er w ov en sy st ems of t he
w hol e per son. Consequent l y , medi ci nal t her api es ar e
designed t o r eal i gn and r est or e t his balance, enabl i ng
t he body s ow n r est or at i v e pow er s t o w or k mor e
ef f i ci ent ly . Her bs or bot ani cal ex t r act s ar e t he most
i mpor t ant ex t er nal agent s and augment ot her t her api es such as acupunct ur e.
The Chi nese medi cal sy st em i s based on t he t heor y of el ement s, a sy st em t hat i ncor por at es f i v e
el ement s t hat const i t ut e ev er y w ay in w hi ch human
bei ngs i nt er act w it h t hei r env i r onment . The el ement sw ood, f i r e, ear t h, met al , and w at er ar e
consider ed l i nked t oget her and sy ner gi st i cal ly r el at ed. Each of t hese ar e connect ed w i t h speci f i c emot i ons and par t s of t he human body , seasons, t ast es,
col or s and sensat i ons. In or der t o mai nt ai n bal ance
and good, t he element s must be har moniously r el at ed w it h none bei ng t oo domi nant ( di sease may dev el op) . Chinese pr act it i oner s became ski l led i n l ooki ng
at v ar i ous par t s of t he body in t er ms of t hese el ement s and t hey di st i ngui shed w hen one needed t o be
emphasi zed or t r anqui l i zed. T he f i v e el ement s
i ncl ude t he f ol low i ng:
Wood
Season: spr i ng
Tast e: sour
Emot i on: anger
Par t s of t he body : l i v er , gal l bladder , t endons,
ey es
Water
Season: w int er
Tast e: salt y
Emot i on: f ear
Par t s of t he body : kidney s, bl adder , ear s, hai r ,
bones
Metal
Season: f al l
Tast e: pungent
Emot i on: gr i ef
Par t s of t he body : l ungs, lar ge i nt est ine, nose,
ski n
64
Earth
Season: Indian summer
Tast e: sw eet
Emot i on: w or r y
Par t s of t he body : spl een, st omach, mout h, muscl es
Fire
Season: summer
Tast e: bi t t er
Emot i on: j oy
Par t s of t he body : hear t , smal l i nt est i ne, t ongue
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
65
66
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
si on.
Scient i f i c Updat es: Moder n r esear ch has suppor t ed t he use of black cohosh f or hy per t ensi on and car 10
di ov ascul ar di sor der s. Black cohosh can hel p t o
t r anquil i ze an i r r i t able or ex ci t ed ner v ous sy st em
w hi le st i mul at i ng cer t ain CNS f unct i ons w hi ch pr omot e nor malcy . Recent ly , t he v al ue of bl ack cohosh
as a ut er i ne t oni c has been suppor t ed by cl ini cal
11
r esear ch. Cur r ent ex per i ment at ion st r ongly suggest s t hat bl ack cohosh has ant i- i nf l ammat or y pr op12
er t i es. Bl ack cohosh signif i cant l y r el ax es ner v es
and smoot h muscl e and i s ef f ect i v e i n t r eat i ng i r r i t at ed ner v es and gener al r est l essness. The Russi ans
hav e r ecent l y appr ov ed bl ack cohosh ex t r act f or use
as a cent r al ner v ous sy st em t oni c and a t r eat ment
13
f or hi gh bl ood pr essur e.
Saf et y : Black cohosh i s consi der ed saf e al t hough
pr egnant w omen shoul d consul t t hei r phy si ci an
bef or e using it . Av oid l ar ge doses.
Complement ar y Agent s: Valer ian r oot , hops, w ood
bet ony , scullcap, chamomi le, passionf low er , mul lein,
mar shmallow , squaw v i ne, mel at onin, calcium/ magnesium and B- complex .
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
adv ant age of buckt hor n s abil i t y t o r el ease i t s
act i v e pr i nci ples i n t he smal l int est ine r at her t han
27
t he st omach.
Saf et y : Take as dir ect ed i n appr opr i at e doses as
an ex cess may cause i nt est i nal gr ipping. Pr egnant or
nur sing w omen should av oi d t his her b due t o i t s lax at i v e ef f ect .
Complement ar y agent s: Cascar a sagr ada, r ed
cl ov er , pumpki n seeds, cul v er r oot , mar shmal low ,
sl i pper y elm, dandel ion, black w alnut , quassi a, gi nger , aci dophi l us, v it ami n A, v i t ami n E, B- compl ex ,
bi of l av onoi ds and mar ine l i pids.
67
68
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Saf et y : Cat ni p i s consider ed a saf e bot ani cal medi ci ne if used appr opr i at el y .
Complement ar y A gent s: Ginger , f ennel , pepper mi nt , papay a, capsicum, saw pal met t o ber r y , my r r h
gum, cal ci um car bonat e, pepsin and acidophi lus.
t i on.
Compl ement ar y Agent s: Val er i an r oot , skul l cap,
hops, w ood bet ony , black cohosh, mul l ein, mar shmal low , passionf l ow er , pepper mint , v it ami n B- compl ex , v i t amin C, v it ami n A, cal ci um/ magnesi um and
mel at onin.
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
um suppl ement at i on. Cor nsi lk i s consi der ed a mil d,
nont ox i c her b.
Complement ar y Agent s: Buchu, par sley , uv a ur si ,
cr anber r y , j uni per ber r i es, mar shmall ow , v it ami n
C, bi of l av onoi ds, pr oant hocy ani di ns, B- compl ex ,
v it ami n E, magnesi um, pot assi um, copper , and mi ner al and elect r oly t e suppl ement s.
69
70
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Scient i f i c Updat es: Labor at or y t est s hav e f ound
t hat compounds cont ai ned i n echi nacea hav e t he abil i t y t o r e- ar r ange and r ecogni ze enzy me pat t er ns i n
78
t he body . The abi li t y of t his her b t o boost i mmune
79
f unct i on deal s w it h t hy mus gl and st i mul at i on. It can
act uall y st i mul at e t he pr oduct i on and act ion of i nt er 80
f er on. Echinacea may hel p t he body neut r al i ze car 81
ci nogenic subst ances. The chemi cal cont ent of echi nacea pr omot ed i mpr ov ed r esist ance t o al l sept i c or
82
i nf ect i ous condi t i ons.
Saf et y : Hi gh doses of echinacea may occasi onal l y
cause nausea and dizziness. Thi s her b has not ex hi bi t ed any obser v ed t ox ici t y ev en i n hi gh doses.
A ny one suf f er i ng f r om any t y pe of kidney disor der
should not t ake echinacea f or l onger t han one w eek
i nt er v als due t o possi bl e ex cr et e miner al imbal ance.
Heav y or pr ol onged use of t hi s her b is not r ecommended.
Complement ar y A gent s: A l f alf a, capsi cum, gi nger , gi nseng, cat s cl aw , gol denseal , ast r agal us,
gar li c, v it ami n C, bi of l av onoi ds, v i t amin A, bl uegr een algae, B- complex v i t ami ns, cal cium/ magnesi um and zi nc.
71
72
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
has been f ound t o l ow er cholest er ol , boost car di ov ascul ar f unct i on, pr ev ent blood clot s, i ncr ease st ami na and pr ot ect cell s f r om r adi at i on. Cont i nui ng
r esear ch on gi nseng i s cur r ent ly under w ay .
A ppl icat i ons: A ging, dr ug w i t hdr aw al , depr essi on, di abet es, col ds, hy per t ensi on, r adi at ion pr ot ect i on, impot ence, l ung di sor der s, pr ost at e gl and
di sease, compr omi sed immuni t y and sex ual dy sf unct i on.
Scient if i c Updat es: A st udy publ i shed i n The
A mer ican J our nal of Chi nese Medi ci ne r epor t ed t hat
gi nseng can moder at e t he ef f ect s of a high- chol es103
t er ol diet i n bot h r at es and humans. Cl i nical t est i ng has f ound t hat gi nseng can pr ev ent cel lul ar dam104
age f r om r adi at ion ex posur e. Ginseng can incr ease
sper m count , low er blood sugar and hel p t o t r eat
105
al cohol i sm.
Saf et y : Gener all y r ecognized as saf e, ginseng
should be pur chased f r om r el i abl e sour ces t o ensur e
pur it y and pot ency . A st udy publ i shed in a 1 9 7 9
i ssue of t he J our nal of t he A mer i can Medical
A ssoci at i on er r oneousl y r epor t ed t hat gi nseng causes high blood pr essur e and i r r i t abi li t y . The st udy
w as subsequent ly di scr edit ed. If used i n r easonabl e
amount , gi nseng i s consider ed nont ox i c.
Complement ar y Agent s: Got u kol a, gi nkgo, St .
J ohn s w or t , bee pol l en, saw pal met t o, w i l d y am,
DHEA , v it ami n- B compl ex and ant iox i dant ar r ay .
73
74
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Complement ar y Agent s: Chi ckw eed, cascar a, bil ber r y , dong quai , sar sapar i ll a, gi nseng, gi nkgo, capsi cum, l i cor i ce, v i t ami n C, biof l av onoi ds, v i t amin E,
v it ami n D, zi nc, bee pol len and bee pr opoli s.
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
75
76
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Complement ar y Agent s: Al f al f a, dong quai, dandel i on, black cohosh, damiana, got u kola, gi nseng, Ir i sh
moss, li cor i ce, sar sapar i l la, queen of t he meadow ,
v it ami n A , v it ami n C, biof l av onoids, v it ami n E, cal ci um/ magnesi um, phosphor us, pot assi um, zi nc,
phy t onut r i ent s, blue- gr een al gae and bee pol len.
Def ini t i on: Chi nese medici nal pr act i t ioner s use
l emon gr ass t o t r eat col ds, abdomi nal dist r ess and
headaches. It i s al so consider ed a bl ood cleanser and
a good r emedy f or f ev er s. Lemon gr ass helps t o
ex pedi t e t he r emov al of mucus f r om t he body dur i ng
i nf ect i ons.
A ppl icat i ons: Colds, digest i v e upset s and f ev er .
Sci ent if ic Updat es: Lemon gr ass is r eput ed t o
slow t he dischar ge of mucus, as w el l as r educe
mucus dischar ge i n r espi r at or y condi t i ons, due i n
12 9
par t t o i t s ast r ingent pr oper t ies.
Saf et y : Use i n appr opr iat e dosages as di r ect ed.
Complement ar y Agent s: Sage, blessed t hist l e,
mar shmal l ow , mul l ei n, pl eur i sy r oot , cat ni p,
chamomi l e, sl ipper y elm, v it ami n C, bi of lav onoi ds,
pr oant hocy anidi ns, v i t amin A and cal cium/ magnesi um.
Def i ni t ion: West er n her bal pr act it i oner s hav e pr escr i bed l obel i a f or a w i de v ar i et y of ai l ment s and
pr i ze i t as a t her apeut i c her b. Because i t has t he
abi l it y t o i nduce v omi t ing, i t has been t he subj ect of
some cont r ov er sy . It is an ef f ect i v e and pow er f ul
agent f or t r eat i ng br onchit i s and ast hma and can
di lat e t he br onchiol e t ubes. It al so act s as a pot ent
r el ax ant f or t he cent r al ner v ous sy st em.
A ppli cat i ons: A ll er gi es, ast hma, ar t hr i t i s, br onchi t is, col ds, coughs, cr oup, emphy sema, epi lepsy ,
f ev er , i nsomnia, lung di sease, migr aine headaches,
mumps, pl eur i sy , pneumoni a, t oot haches, w hoopi ng
cough and w or ms.
Sci ent i f i c Updat es: In t he past , l obel ine w as
appr ov ed f or use by t he FDA as a det er r ent t o smok135
i ng i n cases of ni cot i ne w i t hdr aw al . Lobel i a i s consi der ed an ef f ect iv e ex pect or ant based on it s abil i t y
t o st i mul at e t he adr enal glands t o r el ease cor t icost er oi ds t hat pr omot e t he r el ax at i on of br onchi al
13 6
muscl es.
Saf et y : Misuse of l obel ia can r esult i n v omit i ng.
Lobel i a should be t aken in ex act pr escr i bed dosages.
Ov er dosi ng on l obel i a can cause ser i ous side ef f ect s.
Compl ement ar y
A gent s:
Capsi cum,
gar l i c,
l icor ice, comf r ey , f enugr eek and mull ei n.
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
C, v it ami n A, and niaci n.
77
ast r i ngent and ant i sept i c pr oper t ies. It has been used
t o t r eat mout h di sor der s and is st i ll pr ized i n cer t ai n
par t s of t he w or l d as a pr ecious commodit y .
A ppl i cat i ons: Congest i on, i ndi gest i on, gas,
ul cer s, ir r i t abl e bow el sy ndr ome, ul cer at i v e col it i s,
di v er t i cul it i s, Cr ohn s disease, w ound heal ing, sor e
t hr oat s and gingiv it i s.
Sci ent i f i c Updat es: My r r h nor mal i zes mucous
membr ane act i v i t y . 1 45 Because t he mucous l i ni ng of
t he st omach is so impor t ant f or it s pr ot ect i on f r om
st omach aci ds, my r r h i s consi der ed a v al uabl e
di gest i v e ai d. In addi t i on, i f t oo much mucus i s
secr et ed in t he gast r oi nt est i nal t r act , di gest i on i n
i mpair ed. My r r h hel ps t o ensur e t he pr oper f unct i on
of mucous secr et i ng gl ands and ex er t s an ant i sept i c
1 46
and ant i bact er i al act i on at t he same t ime.
Saf et y : My r r h has a mil d ut er ine st i mulant act i on
and should be av oi ded i n pr egnancy .
Compl ement ar y Agent s: Gi nger , f enugr eek, cat ni p, pepper mi nt , f ennel , capsicum, aci dophi l us, saw
pal met t o, sl i pper y el m, calci um/ magnesium, v i t amin A , v it ami n B- compl ex , v i t amin E and digest iv e
enzy mes.
78
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
t i on. It has t he abi li t y t o cont r i but e t o bl ood cleansi ng w hi ch makes i t a f av or it e choi ce f or t he t r eat ment of skin di sor der s. It is also consider ed a glandul ar t oni c.
A ppli cat i ons: Acne, anemi a, blood pur if i cat i on,
f ev er , i ndi gest i on, i mmune sy st em, i nf ect i ons,
eczema, j aundi ce, li v er di sor der s, psor iasis, ski n
ai lment s, st aph i nf ect i ons and v agi nal y east inf ect i ons.
Sci ent i f ic Updat es: Labor at or y st udies hav e conf i r med t hat Or egon gr ape has a si mi l ar bact er i oci dal
ef f ect as goldenseal . 1 4 7 The ber ber ine and hy dr ast i ne
her bs hav e some impr essiv e cr edent i als i n t hei r
nat ur al ant i bi ot ic ef f ect .
Saf et y : Gener all y consi der ed saf e i f t aken as
di r ect ed. Ber ber ine cont aini ng her bs shoul d not be
used f or long per i ods of t ime or i n l ar ge dosages.
They ar e not r ecommended f or pr egnant or nur si ng
w omen.
Compl ement ar y Agent s: Gol denseal , bar ber r y ,
gar l i c, echi nacea, my r r h, dandeli on, bur dock, capsi cum, v i t amin A , v i t amin C, bi of lav onoi ds, aci dophi l us and bl ue- gr een al gae.
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
t i v i t y , hy per t ensi on, car di ov ascular di sease, ast hma, hor monal i mbalances and st r ess.
Scient i f i c Updat es: Rel at iv ely unknow n i s t he f act
t hat passi onf l ow er cont ai ns low l ev el s of ser ot oni n,
1 62
a neur ot r ansmi t t er t hat nat ur al l y cal ms t he br ain.
It is t he har mane al kal oi ds i n t he her b w hi ch hav e
demonst r at ed t hei r abil i t y t o r el ax smoot h muscl e
and ex pand t he cor onar y ar t er i es of t he hear t ,
16 3
A ddit i onal r esear ch
decr easi ng bl ood pr essur e.
has al so f ound t hat passi onf l ow er ex er t s an ant i i nf l ammat or y act i on maki ng i t usef ul f or condi t i ons
1 64
l i ke ar t hr i t is.
Saf et y : No know n t ox ici t y .
Complement ar y A gent s: Val er i an r oot , hops, capsi cum, pepper mi nt , chamomi le, melat oni n, GABA
and calci um/ magnesium.
79
80
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
cont ains seeds w hich hav e signif icant ant ipar asit ic
pr oper t ies and ar e r out inely used t o r ej uv enat e t he
pr ost at e gland. As a r ich sour ce of zinc, t hey ar e highly r ecommended f or t he male r epr oduct iv e sy st em.
Pumpkin seeds ar e highly nut r it ional.
A ppl icat i ons: Pr ost at e di sor der s, i nt est i nal par asi t es.
Scient i f i c Updat es: Recent Sw edi sh cl i nical t r i al s
f ound t he t hat oi l const i t uent s of pumpkin seed combi ned w i t h saw pal met t o ef f ect i v el y t r eat ed an
15 5
enl ar ged pr ost at e gl and. Pumpki n seed has a r ep156
ut at i on of bei ng a non- i r r i t at i ng di ur et i c.
Pumpkin seed cont ai ns a r ar e ami no aci d cal l ed
my osin f ound i n t he seeds of cer t ai n Cucur bi t a
species, w hi ch i s t he pr i mar y pr ot ei n const it uent of
1 57
muscl es.
Saf et y : Take as dir ect ed.
Complement ar y A gent s: Saw pal met t o, kel p, gar l i c, bl ack w al nut , r ed clov er , cascar a sagr ada,
quassia, buckt hor n, aci dophi lus, bee pol l en, bee
pr opoli s, B- complex , v i t ami n E, bi of l av onoids, phy t onut r i ent s, bl ue- gr een al gae, zinc and el ect r ol y t e
supplement s.
t he st omach and pr ev ent s t he f or mat i on of acid subst ances dur i ng digest i on. 1 67 It i s said t o be one of t he
best r emedies of nox ious subst ances i n t he al i ment a1 68
r y canal r esul t i ng f r om i nadequat e digest i on.
Saf et y : Because of it s pot ency , it is bet t er t o t ake
quassia i n her bal f or mul at ions t han alone t o av oi d
st omach i r r i t at ion and nausea.
Compl ement ar y A gent s: Bl ack w alnut , cascar a
sagr ada, gar l i c, buckt hor n, ginger , pumpki n seed,
r ed cl ov er , pepper mi nt , v i t ami n E, v i t amin C,
bi of lav onoi ds, pr oant hocy ani di ns, B v it ami ns, aci dophi l us, phy t onut r ient s and blue- gr een al gae.
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
car a sagr ada, sar sapar i l la, al f al f a, quassia, bl ack
w al nut , kel p, blue- gr een algae, phy t onut r i ent s, v i t ami n C, bi of lav onoi ds and aci dophil us.
81
Def i ni t ion: Know n f or i t s use i n t r adit i onal st uf f i ngs and meat di shes, sage can si gni f icant l y r educe
ex cess per spi r at i on and soot he mout h and gum
sor es. It i s an ar omat i c her b w hose f r agr ance has
al so been used t o pr omot e f eel ings of w el l bei ng and
r el ax at i on.
A ppli cat i ons: Canker s, coughs, di abet es, digest i v e disor der s, f ev er , lar y ngi t is, memor y , mout h
sor es, nausea and w or ms.
Sci ent i f ic Updat es: Sage r elax es per ipher al blood
v essels, r educes per spir at i on, sal i v at i on and lact at i on. It i s a nat ur al ant ibi ot i c and can r educe blood
18 0
sugar and pr omot e bi le f low . The ast r i ngent pr oper t i es of sage make i t usef ul i n t r eat ing cold sy mpt oms, and r el iev i ng t he ir r it at i on of canker s or
1 81
Sage is al so cr edit ed w i t h bei ng a
mout h sor es.
1 82
pot ent ant i ox i dant .
Saf et y : Pr egnant or nur si ng w omen shoul d check
w it h t hei r phy sici an bef or e t aking sage. A ny one w i t h
epi l epsy should not use sage f or pr ol onged per i ods of
t i me.
Compl ement ar y A gent s: Thy me, pepper mint , v er bena, ginger , chamomil e, l emon gr ass, blessed t hi st l e, pl eur i sy r oot , capsi cum, f enugr eek, saw pal met t o, v i t amin C, biof l av onoids, pr oant hocy ani di ns,
v i t amin A and cal ci um/ magnesi um.
81
82
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
aci ds, mar i ne li pi ds, digest iv e enzy mes and aci dophil us.
83
84
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
Complement ar y Agent s: Val er i an, hops, skul l cap,
mar shmal l ow , mul l ei n, chamomil e, bl ack cohosh,
mel at oni n, lav ender , v it ami n B- complex and cal ci um/ magnesium.
Endnotes
1 . Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D. The Scient if ic Validat ion of Herbal
Medicine, Keat s Publishing, Connect icut , 1 98 6 , 2 .
2 . P. De Froment . Unsaponif iable subst ance f rom alf alf a f or
85
86
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
9 9 . Ginger. The Lawrence Review of Nat ural Product s: Fact s
and Comparisons. St . Louis: Nov. 1 9 9 1 .
1 0 0. Weiner, 16 4 .
1 0 1. F. Juguet , et al., Deceased cerebral 5 -HT1 A Recept ors
during aging: reversal by Ginkgo biloba ext ract , J. Pharm
Pharmacol., April, 19 9 4: 4 6 (4 ), 3 1 8-2 8 .
1 02 . G. Vorberg, Ginkgo biloba ext ract (GBE): A long t erm
st udy of chronic cerebral insuf f iciency in geriat ric pat ient s,
Clinical Trials Journal, (1 9 8 5 ) 2 2 , 14 9 -57 .
1 0 3 . Deanne Tenney, Ginseng, Woodland Press, Pleasant Grove,
Ut ah: 19 9 6, 2 0 .
1 0 4. Ibid., 2 1.
1 05 . Ibid., 3 1.
1 0 6 . Louise Tenney, 7 6.
1 0 7 . Mowrey, 1 58 .
1 08 . Rit a Elkins, M.H. Goldenseal, 1 6 .
1 0 9. Ibid., 1 7.
1 10 . List , vol. 2 -5 .
1 1 1. Ibid.
1 1 2. R.N. Chopra. Indigenous Herbs of India. 2 nd ed. Art s Press,
Calcut t a: Chopra R.N. et al. 1 9 3 3 .1 1 3 Bet t y Kamen.
Gymnema Ext ract . Let s Livd. Sept . 1 9 8 9 , 4 0-4 1 .
1 14 . Journal of Et hmorpharmacology. 1 9 86 , 14 3 -46 .
1 15 . Flynn, 47 .
1 1 6 . Guinness, 3 1 1.
1 17 . Hawt horn. The Lawrence Review of Nat ural Product s:
Fact s and Comparisons. St . Louis: May, 1 9 8 7 .
1 1 8. Murray and Pizzorno, 3 83 .
1 1 9 . R. Blesken, Crat aegus in cardiology, Forsch Med, 1 10 ,
1 9 92 : 2 9 0 -9 2
1 2 0. Mowrey, 3 2 .
1 2 1. Mowrey, 16 4 -65 .
1 2 2. Ibid., 8 3 .
1 2 3. Ibid., 8 4.
1 24 . Flynn, 52 .
1 2 5 . Ibid., 1 3 0 .
1 26 . Holmes, 3 6 6 .
1 2 7. Mowrey, 1 2 3 .
1 28 . Ibid., 2 68 .
1 2 9. Rit chason, 1 33 .
1 3 0 . C.H. Cost ello and E.V. Lynn. Est rogenic subst ances f rom
plant s: gly cyrrhiza glabra. Journal of t he Am erican
Pharmaceut ical Associat ion. 39 , 1 77 -8 0 , 1 9 50 .
1 3 1. Ody, 6 5 .
1 32 . Guinness, 3 1 5 .
1 3 3. Michael Murray N.D. The Healing Power of Herbs. Prima
Publishing, Rocklin, Calif ornia: 1 9 92 , 4 31 .
1 3 4. Licorice. The Lawrence Review of Nat ural Product s: Fact s
and Comparisons, June, 1 9 89 .
1 3 5. Murray, Healing Power of Herbs, 24 1 .
1 3 6. Ibid.
1 37 . Jack Rit chason, 1 45 .
1 3 8 . P.H. List and L. Hoerhammer. Hagers Handbuch der
Pharmazeut ischen Praxis. Vol. 2 -5, Springer-V erlag: Berlin. P.
Schauenber and F. Paris. Guide de Plant es Medicinales.
Delachaux et Niest le, S.A., Neuchat el, Swit zerland: 1 9 6 9 . R.W.
Wr en. Pot t er s New Ency clopedia of Bot anical Drugs
Preparat ion. 7t h ed. Healt h Science Press, Rust ingt on, England:
1 97 0 .
1 3 9. Marshmallow The Lawrence Review of Nat ural Product s:
87
88
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
1 8 4 . Ibid., 19 .
1 8 5. Ibid., 2 8 7 .
1 86 . Leung, 1 5 2.
1 8 7 . J. Braeckman. The ext ract of Serenoa repens in t he t reat ment of benign prost at ic hyperplasia: A mult i cent er open
st udy. Current Therapy Res. 5 5 , 77 6 -85 , 1 9 9 4 .
1 88 . Mowrey, 7 7 .
1 89 . B.A. Kurnakov. Pharmacology of skullcap. Farmakologiia I
Toksikologiia. 2 0( 6 ) , 7 9 -8 0 , 1 9 57 .
1 9 0. S. Shibat a, M. Harada, and W. Budidarmo. Const it uent s of
Japanese and Chinese crude drugs. III. Ant ispasmodic act ion of
f lavonoids and ant hraquinones. YAKUGAKU ZASSHI. 8 0 , 6 2 024, 1960.
V. Usow. Farmakologiia I Toksikologiia. 2 1 ( 2 ) 31 -3 4, 1 9 5 8 .
A.F. Gammerman and I.D. Yourkevit ch, eds. Wild Medicinal
Plant s. Bello-Russia Publishers, Academy of Science, Inst it ut e
of Experiment al Bot anics and Microbiology, Minsk: 1 96 5 .
1 9 1. T. Usow. Farmakologiia I Toksikologiia. 2 1 (2 ), 3 1 -3 4 ,
1 9 58 .
1 9 2 . Pederson, 1 57 .
1 9 3 . Shook, 1 6 3 .
1 9 4 . Barney, 9 8 .
1 9 5 . Ibid., 13 6 .
1 9 6. Ibid., 2 9.
1 97 . Rit chason, 2 2 6 .
1 98 . Ibid.
1 99 . Murray, 29 6 .
2 0 0. Guinness, 3 24 .
2 0 1 . Velma Keit h and Mont een Gordon, The How To Herb Book,
Mayf ield Publishing, Pleasant Grove, Ut ah: 19 8 4.
2 02 . Guiness, 32 4 .
2 03 . Ibid., 2 33 .
2 0 4 . B.S. Bart on. Collect ions f or an Essay Toward a Mat eria
Medica of t he Unit ed St at es. 3 rd ed. Edward Earle and Co.,
Philadelphia: 1 8 1 0 .
2 0 5 . J.L. Harwell. Plant Rem edies f or Canc er. Cancer
Chemot herapy Report s. July, 1 9 -2 4 , 1 9 60 . 20 6 R. Benigni.
The presence of ant ibiot ic subst ance in t he higher plant s.
FITOERAPIA. 1 9 (3 ), 1 -2 , 1 9 48 .
2 0 7 . U. Boet ers. Treat ment of aut onomic dysregulat ion wit h
v alepot riat es
( V alm ane) .
Muenchener
Medizinische
Wochenschrif t . 3 7 , 18 7 3-1 8 76 , 19 6 9. V . Kempinskas. On t he
act ion valerian. Farmakologiia I Toksikologiia. 4 (3 ) , 3 0 5-3 0 9,
1 96 4 . R. Klich and B. Gladbach. Childhood behavior disorders
and t heir t reat ment . Medizinische Welt . 2 6( 2 5) , 12 5 1-1 2 54 ,
1 9 75 .
2 0 8 . P.D. Leat hwood and F. Chauf f ard. Aqueous ext ract of
valerian reduces lat ency t o f all asleep in man. Plant a Medica.
5 4 , 1 44 -4 8, 1 98 5 .
2 0 9. Mowrey, 13 1 .
2 10 . Ibid. 2 4 0.
2 11 . Barney, 1 0 .
2 1 2 . John R. Lee, M.D., Nat ural Progest erone: The Mult iple Roles
of a Remarkable Hormone, BLL Publishing, Sebast opol,
Calif ornia: 1 99 3 .
2 13 . Daniel P, Mowrey . The Scient if ic Validat ion of Herbs. Keat s
Publishing, New Canaan, Connec t icut : 1 9 8 6 , 1 9 3 . T.V .
Zinchenko, and I.M. Fef er. Invest igat ion of glycosides f rom
bet onica of f icinalis. Farmat sevt Zhurnal. 1 7( 3 ) , 35 -3 8, 1 9 62 .
2 1 4. Rit chason, 2 55 .
88
21 5 .
21 6 .
21 7 .
21 8 .
21 9 .
22 0 .
Mowrey, 19 .
List , vol. 2 -5 .
Mowrey, 2 07 .
Rit chason, 2 6 2 .
Ibid.
Grieve, 8 6 5.
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
89
A n Over vi ew of Ot her
Nat ur al Suppl ement s
ACIDOPHILUS
Def i ni t ion: Cer t ai n subst ances w hich sour , such as
act i v e cul t ur ed y ogur t , but t er mi l k and cer t ai n
cheeses , cont ai n Lact obaci l l us aci dophi l us t hat
enhance di gest i on and el i mi nat i on by ef f ect iv ely
di gest i ng pr ot ei ns i n t he bow el. A ci dophi lus al so
hel ps t o det ox i f y har mf ul bact er ia by hel pi ng t o
r est or e f r i endl y bact er i a t hat keep cer t ai n
micr oor gani sms in check. Non- dai r y sour ces of aci dophi l us ar e av ai l abl e. Al l sour ces, w het her l iquid or
capsule, shoul d be r ef r i ger at ed and t aken on an
empt y st omach i n t he mor ni ng. Check ex pi r at i on
dat es bef or e pur chasi ng any aci dophil us pr oduct s.
A ci dophi l us suppl ement s shoul d be t aken af t er
ant i bi ot ic t her apy or t hei r ef f ect s w i l l be neut r al i zed.
A ppl i cat i ons: const i pat i on, y east i nf ect i ons,
mout h sor es, col on pr oblems, f ungal and bact er i al
i nf ect ions, di ar r hea, high bl ood cholest er ol , indigest i on and mal nut r it i on.
Saf et y : Aci dophil us i s consider ed saf e but any one
suf f er i ng f r om an al ler gy t o mil k pr oduct s should use
onl y non- dair y aci dophi l us pr oduct s.
Recommendat ions: A ci dophi lus can be t aken i n
capsule, t ablet , l i qui d or edibl e f or ms such as but t er mi lk, y ogur t , et c. A lw ay s check f or ex pi r at i on
dat e and use guar ant eed bact er ial count pr oduct s
w it h l act o and bif i do bact er i a.
90
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
BEE POLLEN
Def ini t i on: Bee pol l en i s a f ine pow der y subst ance
t hat has been coll ect ed f r om t he st amen f ound w i t hi n f l ow er blossom and st or ed by honey bees i n honey comb hi v es. It i s consider ed a highly nut r i t i ous and
compl et e f ood and cont ai ns a r i ch suppl y of B- compl ex v i t ami ns, v it ami ns C, A, E, car ot enoids, f oli c
aci d, ami no aci ds, a w i de ar r ay of miner als and
some essent ial f at t y aci ds.
A ppl icat ions: Most al ler gies, anemi a, ast hma,
at hl et i c endur ance, chr oni c f at i gue, i mmune sy st em
di sor der s, i mpot ence, i nf er t i li t y , kidney disor der s,
menopause, pr ost at e di sease and ulcer s.
Saf et y : A v er y small per cent age of t he popul at i on
i s all er gi c t o bee pol l en. If y ou suf f er f r om pol l en
al l er gi es, y ou shoul d use bee pol len w i t h caut i on.
St ar t w i t h a v er y small gr anul e and w or k up t o l ar ger doses. If y ou ex per i ence t hr oat it chi ng or any
ot her all er gi c sy mpt om, di scont i nue use immedi at el y . Using pol len t hat has been har v est ed f r om l ocal
bees helps t o av oi d al ler gic r eact ions.
Recommendat ions: Bee pol len can be pur chased as
a pow der , gr anul es, canned, chew able w af er s, capsul i zed or i n t abl et f or m. It shoul d be pur chased f r om
a r el i able sour ce and kept r ef r iger at ed. It has been
used f or cent ur i es t o pr omot e st ami na and longev i ty.
BEE PROPOLIS
Def ini t i on: Bee pr opoli s i s a r esi nous subst ance
gat her ed by honey bees f r om deci duous t r ee bar k and
l eav es. It is a st i cky mat er i al t hat bees use t o seal
hi v e holes or cr acks. Bef or e i t i s used in t he hi v e,
90
BENTONITE
Def i ni t ion: Bent oni t e i s a hi ghl y absor bent clay l ike subst ance t hat hel ps t o l if t i mpact ed w ast e mat t er w hi ch has accumul at ed on t he w al ls of t he gast r oi nt est i nal t r act . It is usuall y used in colon cleansi ng pr ogr ams and w it h enema t her apy . It shoul d be
used under t he di r ect i on of a healt h car e pr act i t ioner .
A ppli cat i ons: Bl ood and col on pur i f i cat i on, const i pat i on, par asi t i c inf ect i ons, and f ood all er gi es.
Saf et y : Bent oni t e t her apy shoul d be used under
t he car e of a heal t h car e pr of essional. Check w i t h
y our doct or bef or e using any col oni c t r eat ment .
Recommendat ions: Bent oni t e i s usual l y sol d as a
pow der and shoul d be used j udi ci ousl y .
BIOFLAVONOIDS
Def ini t i on: Bi of l av onoi ds ( al so r ef er r ed t o as
f l av onoi ds ) compr i se a gr oup of pl ant pi gment s
t hat pr ov ide ex cel l ent cel lul ar pr ot ect i on by modif y i ng t he act i on of al l er gens, car cinogens, and v ir uses. Bi of l av onoi ds ar e r esponsible f or giv ing pl ant s
and t hei r bl ossoms col or pi gment and ar e al so f ound
i n t he w hit e mat er i al l ocat ed j ust beneat h t he peel of
ci t r us f r ui t s. Whi le t hey ar e not t echni cal ly v i t amins, bi of l av onoi ds ar e somet imes r ef er r ed t o as
v i t amin P. They ar e r emar kabl e f r ee r adi cal scav enger s and i ncl ude hesper et i n,
hesper i di n,
quer cet in, er i odi ct y on, and r ut in. Because t he body
cannot pr oduce bi of l av onoi ds, t hey must be suppl i ed
t hr ough diet or supplement at i on..
A ppli cat i ons: Br ui sing, bl eedi ng ( i ncluding heav y
menst r ual ) , high chol est er ol , cat ar act s, or al her pes, al l er gi es, ast hma, l iv er di sease and gum di sease.
Saf et y : Ex cessiv ely hi gh doses may cause diar r hea.
Recommendat ions: Biof l av onoids ar e usual ly combi ned w it h ot her v i t ami ns such as v i t ami n C and ar e
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
gener al ly t aken i n capsul e or t ablet f r om. Some ci t r us der i v ed pow der s t hat can be mi x ed w it h li qui d
ar e al so av ail abl e. When buy i ng any v it ami n pr oduct ,
make sur e t hat i t cont ains adequat e amount s of
bi of l av onoi ds.
BOVINE CARTILAGE
Def i ni t i on: Bov ine car t i lage helps t o pr omot e
w ound heali ng and inhi bi t inf l ammat ion. Compounds i n
bov ine car t il age hav e t he abi li t y t o block angiogenesi s, t he pr ocess by w hi ch t umor s ar e f ed by a net w or k of new bl ood v essel s.
A ppl i cat i ons: Rheumat oi d ar t hr i t i s, psor i asi s,
ul cer at i v e col it i s, l upus, f i r m t umor s, connect i v e
t i ssue di seases and inf l ammat or y j oi nt condi t i ons.
Saf et y : Bov i ne car t i lage i s consi der ed a nont ox i c
subst ance i f t aken as di r ect ed.
Recommendat ions: Make sur e t o pur chase cl ean
and pur e dr ied- pow der f or ms t hat come f r om cat t l e
w hi ch ar e di sease and hor mone f r ee. Li ke shar k car t i lage, bov i ne v ar i et i es must be t aken i n r at her l ar ge
doses i n or der t o w or k. Loose pow der ed f or ms ar e
much mor e pr act i cal , al t hough t he capsul ized pr oduct can be used pr ev ent at iv el y .
CELL SALTS
Def ini t i on: Cel l sal t s ar e t r ace miner als t hat compr i se t he 1 2 compounds bel i ev ed t o cont ai n t he
act i v e i ngr edi ent s used i n t he pr act i ce of t r adit i onal
homeopat hy . On a cell ul ar l ev el , chel at ed t r ace mi ner als ar e absor bed up t o 8 0 per cent bet t er t han
unchelat ed or inor gani c miner als. Ty pi cal cel l sal t s
i ncl ude magnesium phosphat e, cal cium sulf at e, sil i ca
ox ide, et c. They ar e usuall y t aken in t abl et f or m and
pl aced under t he t ongue t o di ssol v e.
A ppl icat i ons: A v ast number of ai l ment s. Ev er y
di sor der has a par t i cul ar cel l salt f or mul a.
Saf et y : Mi ner al ov er doses can occur but cel l sal t
t her apy i s consi der ed saf e.
Recommendat ions: Cel l sal t s ar e of t en sold as
number ed homeopat hi c pr epar at i ons under v ar i ous
l abel names and should come f r om r el i abl e sour ces.
CHITOSAN
Def ini t i on: Chi t osan i s a f i ber - li ke pr oduct made
f r om gr ound shr i mp shel ls t hat inhibi t s f at absor pt i on. It i s not digest i bl e and has t he abi l it y t o absor b
many t i mes i t s w ei ght i n f at s, pr ev ent i ng t hei r
absor pt ion t hr ough t he i nt est i nal w al l .
A ppl icat i ons: Obesit y , hi gh cholest er ol, hy per t ensi on, hear t bur n and gout .
Saf et y : Consi der ed nont ox i c but any one w i t h a
shell f ish al l er gy or w ho i s pr egnant or nur si ng
91
shoul d not use chi t osan pr oduct s. Like f i ber suppl ement s, chit osan can i nhibit t he absor pt ion of l i pi dbased v i t amins and shoul d be t aken at a di f f er ent
t i me. Dr i nk at least ei ght gl asses of w at er per day
w hen t aki ng chi t osan supplement s.
Recommendat ions: Chi t osan comes i n capsules and
pow der s and shoul d be t aken j ust pr ior t o eat i ng a
meal w it h f at cont ent . Four t o ei ght capsul es per meal
is t he usual amount r equir ed t o absor b adequat e
amount s of f at . Using simpl e chi t osan f or f at absor pt ion is bet t er t han blends w hich do not cont ain enough
of t he compound t o be ef f ect i v e.
CHLORELLA
Def i ni t ion: Chl or el la ar e single- cell ed gr een al gae,
t hought t o hav e t he r i chest cont ent of chl or ophy ll .
They ar e t r adit i onal ly used as a bl ood de- t ox if i er .
Chl or el l a cont ains an i mpr essi v e ar r ay of v i t ami ns
and miner als including 1 9 ami no aci ds, RNA and DNA.
Li ke ot her f or ms of al gae, it i s r ecommended f or
bl ood buil di ng, boost i ng t he i mmune sy st em and
i nhi bit i ng bot h bow el and blood t ox i ci t y . Test i ng i s
under w ay t o ev al uat e i t s phy cocy ani n cont ent f or
cancer t r eat ment . Li ke spir ul i na, chl or el l a can hel p
t o pr ot ect against ul t r av i ol et r adi at i on.
A ppl i cat i ons: Bl ood bui l der , bl ood pur i f i er ,
cat ar act s, chr oni c diseases, chr onic f at igue, di abet es, f ood suppl ement , hepat i t is, hy pogl y cemi a,
gast r i t i s, glaucoma, obesi t y and w ei ght loss.
Saf et y : It is impor t ant t o obt ai n any t y pe of bluegr een algae f r om a r el iable sour ce t o ensur e pur i t y .
Ex cess ingest ion of chlor ell a may cause f at igue.
Recommendat ions: Chl or el la is av ai lable i n capsul es, t abl et s, pow der , f l akes, f r eeze- dr i ed cr y st al s, pr emeasur ed packet s and ex t r act s. It can be a
good sour ce of v i t ami n K. Make sur e t o l ook f or pur e
pr oduct s.
CHLOROPHYLL
Def i ni t ion: Chl or ophy ll i s t he gr een pi gment t hat
pl ant s use t o car r y out t he pr ocess of phot osy nt hesi s. The gr eat er amount of chl or ophy ll , t he gr eener
t he pl ant . A s a f ood suppl ement , mi ner al - r i ch
chl or ophy ll pr ompt s t i ssue r epai r , pur i f i es t he blood
and t he l i v er and hel ps t o bui l d r ed blood cel l s. It al so
w or ks as a nat ur al deodor i zer and t issue healer . In
addi t i on, chl or ophy l l can i nhi bi t t he gr ow t h of inf ect i ous mi cr oor ganisms, sani t ize t he colon and t r eat
gum di sease. It al so pr omot es t he pr oli f er at i on of
f r i endl y i nt est i nal f lor a. Chl or ophy ll can al so be an
ex cell ent sour ce of v i t ami n K.
A ppli cat i ons: Anemi a, blood t ox icit y , ex posur e t o
r adi at i on and ul cer s.
Saf et y : No know n t ox i ci t y . Use i n appr opr i at e
doses.
Recommendat ions: Chl or ophy ll i s av ail abl e i n l i qui d and capsuli zed suppl ement s. Look f or high qual i t y
sour ces. Fat - sol ubl e chlor ophy l l is pr ef er able t o
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D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
CHONDROITIN SULFATE
Def ini t i on: Chondr oit i n sul f at e is a pr omi si ng new
supplement . When combined w it h glucosamines sul f at e, i t helps t o al lev i at e t he painf ul sy mpt oms of
ost eoar t hr i t i s and can f aci li t at e car t i lage heal ing and
r egener at i on in af f ect ed j oi nt s. The chemi cal const i t uent s of chondr oi t in help t o cr eat e spaces i n t he
mat r i x enhanci ng f l ex i bi l i t y and cushi oni ng by
enabli ng i t t o hold mor e w at er . Chondr oi t i n i s a nat ur all y occur r ing compound f ound i n j oint t i ssue.
Ini t ial dat a suggest s t hat bot h chondr oi t in sulf at e and
gl ucosami ne sulf at e may be t he most v aluable and
ef f ect i v e nat ur al t r eat ment f or ar t hr it i s.
A ppl icat i ons: Ost eoar t hr i t is, r heumat oi d ar t hr i t i s, gout , lupus, connect i v e t issue di seases, bur si t i s, j oint t r auma.
Saf et y : Consider ed nont ox i c, al t hough side ef f ect
st udi es hav e not been conduct ed f or longer t han a
si x - y ear t i me per iod.
Recommendat ions: Look f or suppl ement s l abel ed
ei t her chondr oit i n sulf at e or mucopol y saccr i ar i des.
These pr oduct s shoul d be phar maceut ical gr ade t o
ensur e pur i t y and pot ency . Thi s compound i s usual l y
f ound i n capsul e or t ablet f or m. NOTE: Chondr oit i n
sul f at e should al w ay s be used i n combinat i on w i t h
gl ucosami ne sul f at e.
COENZYME Q10
Def i ni t ion: Coenzy me Q1 0 i s a subst ance w hi ch
r esembl es v i t amin E and is f ound i n l i v i ng cell s.
Nat ur al suppl i es of t hi s par t i cul ar compound
decr ease w i t h age. Recent st udi es hav e f ound t hat
r e- supply ing t he body w it h coenzy me Q1 0 may si gni f icant ly r educe hy per t ensi on and hear t di sease and
enhance t he immune sy st em. Cur r ent st udi es ar e
under w ay using coenzy me Q1 0 as a t r eat ment f or
A IDS. In addi t ion, t hi s subst ance has been show n t o
enhance w ei ght loss, heal per i odont al di sease, r el iv e
angi na and inhi bi t t he agi ng pr ocess on a cel l ul ar
l ev el . It has al so demonst r at ed i t s abil i t y t o r educe
t he mor t ali t y r at e of labor at or y ani mal s suf f er i ng
f r om leukemia and t umor s.
A ppl i cat i ons: Car di ov ascul ar di sease, cancer ,
hi gh bl ood pr essur e, r espir at or y di sease, ast hma,
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
ment al i ll ness, Al zhei mer s di sease, candida, obesi t y , mul t i ple scl er osi s, per i odont al disease, gast r i c
ul cer s, w eakened immune sy st ems and AIDS.
Saf et y : Al w ay s l ook f or pur e and r el iable sour ces
of coenzy me Q1 0 . Suppl ement s should be st or ed in a
dar k, cool env i r onment .
Recommendat ions: The most common f or m of
coenzy me Q1 0 is in capsul ized f or m. Sof t gel caps
t hat ar e l i pi d- based ar e r ecommended. Thi s compound i s al so commonl y i ncl uded in ant i ox i dant combi nat i ons and car diov ascul ar f or mul at ions.
CREATINE
Def init i on: Cr eat i ne i s consi der ed a nat ur al l y
occur r i ng nut r ient f ound i n skelet al muscl es t hat i s
compr i sed of ar gini ne, gly cine and met hioni ne ( t hr ee
ami no aci ds) . Cr eat i ne assist s in pr ov i di ng muscl e
f i ber s w i t h t he ener gy needed t o f acil i t at e qui ck and
f or cef ul mov ement s. Whi le most of t he body s cr eat i ne i s obt ai ned f r om diet ar y sour ces, usi ng it i n
supplement f or m t o enhance muscle bui l ding and at hl et i c per f or mance is cur r ent ly i n use. Sev er al cli ni cal st udi es suggest t hat cr eat i ne suppl ement at i on
al l ow s f or mor e ener gy st or age, incr eased st ami na,
st r engt h and sy nt hesis of pr ot ei n and l ean muscl e
mass.
A ppl icat i ons: A t hl et ic endur ance, muscle buil di ng
and w ei ght l oss.
Saf et y : No signif i cant long- t er m st udi es on t he
saf et y of cr eat ine ex i st . It s usage f or sev er al
decades i s consi der ed r el at i v el y saf e w i t h an
i ncr ease i n muscle mass. Shor t - t er m si de ef f ect s
r epor t ed by at hlet es using l ar ge doses of cr eat i ne
i ncl ude di ar r hea, gas and i nt est i nal upset . Cr eat i ne
should not be used by any one suf f er ing f r om any
medi cal pr obl em w it hout t heir phy si cian s appr ov al.
Peopl e suf f er ing f r om ki dney disor der s shoul d not
t ake cr eat ine.
Recommendat ions: Cr eat ine i s best ut i l ized i n
pow der f or m. Ex act measur ement s can be obt ai ned
w i t h speci f i c di spensi ng cups packaged w i t h pow der ed f or ms.
DESICCATED LIVER
Def ini t i on: When li v er is r educed t o a concent r at ed and dr y pow der ed st at e i t i s consi der ed desi ccat ed. Thi s par t icul ar f or m of li v er i s easy t o capsul i ze
or add t o ot her heal t h f or mul at i ons. Desiccat ed l iv er
i s r ich i n ir on and a number of v i t al v it ami ns and
mi ner al s. It s pr i mar y f unct i on i s t o buil d r ed bl ood
cel l s, maki ng i t an ex cel l ent suppl ement f or any
debil i t at ed condi t ion.
A ppl icat i ons: A nemi a, chr oni c f at igue, w eakness,
st r ess, l i v er di sease and at hl et ic endur ance.
Saf et y : Desiccat ed l iv er t hat comes f r om or gani cal l y r ai sed beef i s r ecommended.
Recommendat ions: Pow der or t abl et f or ms ar e
av ail abl e. Make sur e t he pr oduct i s 1 0 0 per cent
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pur e.
DHEA
Def i ni t ion: DHEA i s t he most abundant hor mone
f ound i n mammal s and pl ay s an int egr al r ol e i n a
number of v i t al phy si ological pr ocesses. It signi f i cant l y cont r i but es t o i mmune f unct ion, suppli es t he
bi ochemi cal bui lding blocks f or t he sy nt hesis of
ot her hor mones and has r ecent ly been l inked t o many
ot her biologi cal f unct i ons. Like coenzy me Q1 0 , i t
di mini shes w i t h age, a f act t hat has li nked DHEA
depl et i on w it h al most ev er y maj or degener at iv e di sease. It i s consider ed a signif i cant ant i agi ng compound and i t s deplet i on has been l i nked t o st r ess
ex posur e.
A ppli cat i ons: Lupus, r heumat oid ar t hr i t i s, psor i asi s, di abet es, pr ost at e di sease, menopause, hi gh
chol est er ol and obesit y .
Saf et y : DHEA supplement at i on should be done w i t h
t he consent of y our phy si ci an. Whil e no si gni f i cant
r eact i ons hav e occur r ed t o suppl ement at i on, some
minor acne has occur r ed i n some people. DHEA i s not
r ecommended f or any one suf f er i ng f r om br east ,
ov ar ian, ut er i ne or pr ost at e cancer si nce t hese can
be hor monal l y st i mulat ed mal ignanci es. Long- t er m
ef f ect s of ex t ended supplement at i on w i t h DHEA hav e
not been st udied.
Recommendat ions: Tablet s or capsul es of DHEA
ar e av ail abl e. Look f or st andar di zed pot ency and
pur e pr oduct s w i t h no f i l ler s. NOTE: DHEA l ev els can
be assessed t hr ough a blood t est .
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D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o Na t u r a l Me d i c i n e
DMAE (DIMETHYLAMINOETHANOL)
Def ini t i on: DMAE i s a compound w hi ch, among
ot her t hi ngs, is consider ed a neur ost imul ant . It has
been used f or ev er y t hi ng f r om memor y and l ear ni ng
enhancement t o i ncr eased st ami na. It is most commonl y used as a mil d st imul ant t hat boost s ener gy
w i t hout i nt er f er i ng w i t h sl eep pat t er ns. DMA E i s
bel i ev ed t o cont r i but e t o i ncr eased ment al aw ar eness and st amina w it hout t he signif i cant side ef f ect s
of caf f ei ne or amphet amine dr ugs. In r elat i on t o
w ei ght loss, DMAE al so cont r ibut es t o height ened
met abol i sm and t her mogenesis by boost ing ener gy
l ev el s and by hel ping r educe body f at st or es w hil e
bui l di ng muscle. It is t hought t o w or k in t andem w i t h
her bs l i ke ephedr a t o hel p max imi ze t her mogenesi s,
al t hough no cl inical st udi es suppor t i ng t his act i on
ex ist .
A ppl i cat i ons : Memor y i mpai r ment , l ear ni ng
enhancement , st amina, w eight loss and t her mogenesi s.
Saf et y : DMA E can hav e si gni f i cant si de ef f ect s i f
t aken i n lar ge quant it i es or if ov er used. Insomni a,
headaches, muscle st i f f ness abov e t he neck or in t he
l egs i ndi cat es t hat DMA E dosages ar e t oo hi gh. Whil e
t her e ar e no adv er se r eact i ons t o DMA E on r ecor d,
any one w it h mani c- depr essi v e i ll ness and epi lepsy
should not use DMAE w i t hout t he appr ov al of t hei r
phy si cian. The r ul e w i t h DMA E i s t o begi n w i t h t he
smal l est possible dose. When DMAE i s incl uded i n
f or mul at i ons, i t s amount i s usuall y pr opor t i onat e t o
i t s t her apeut i c pur poses.
Recommendat ions: DMAE can be f ound i n cer t ai n
seaf ood and is nat ur al l y pr esent i n v er y mi nut e
quant it i es in br ain t i ssue. It i s consi der ed a nut r i t i onal suppl ement and i s av ai l abl e i n capsules, li qui ds
or pow der ed f or ms. DMAE may be added t o v ar i ous
f or mul as desi gned t o boost ener gy , f ight f at i gue or
bur n f at . NOTE: If usi ng t he li qui d f or m of DMA E,
r ef r i ger at i on i s r equi r ed t o pr eser v e pot ency .
ENZYMES
Def i ni t ion: Enzy mes ar e bi ochemi cal compounds
composed of pr ot ei n w hi ch i nit i at e and r egul at e v i r t ual ly ev er y f unct i on of t he human body . Enzy mes
ar e essent i al f or li f e and cannot be manuf act ur ed
sy nt het ical l y . Each and ev er y enzy me has a speci f i c
f unct i on and r ecent r esear ch st r ongl y suggest s t hat
t he heal t h r amif i cat i ons of enzy me t her apy i s only
j ust now emer gi ng. Our cul t ur e s ov er consumpt i on
of cooked f oods has r esul t ed i n enzy me depl et i on,
pav ing t he w ay f or a v ar i et y of disor der s and di seases. Onl y r aw f oods cont ai n enzy mes w hi ch conv er t st or ed ener gy f or use, ut i l ize ingest ed f ood,
det ox if y har mf ul subst ances, and i ni t i at e and gov er n
al most ev er y biochemical r eact i on needed by al l
body sy st ems. Cooki ng dest r oy s most of t he enzy me
cont ent of f oods. Suppl ement al enzy mes can be made
f r om ani mal enzy mes such as pancr eat in or pepsi n or
f r om plant sour ces such as asper gi l lus, papay a or
pi neappl es. Digest iv e enzy mes i ncl ude amy l ase, pr ot ease and l i pase. Pr ot eol y t i c enzy mes i ncl ude
br omel i n, papai n, pect inase and pancr eat in.
A ppli cat i ons: A ll er gi es, di gest i v e di sor der s, const i pat ion, colon diseases, ul cer s, hear t bur n and
aut oi mmune diseases.
Saf et y : Use as di r ect ed.
Recommendat i ons: Ov er - t he- count er v ar i et i es
come i n t abl et s, capsul es, pow der s, gums and l i qui d
f or ms and may be combi ned i n ot her f or mul at ions
cont ai ni ng her bs, ant iox i dant s, et c. Take j ust pr i or
t o eat i ng and bet w een meal s i f y ou l ike.
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
be obt ai ned f r om di et ar y sour ces) ; and ev eni ng
pr i mr ose oi l, t he r i chest sour ce of GLA ( l inol ei c
aci d) f ound any w her e. ( Bor age oi l is al so r ich i n
omega- 6 f at t y acids.) A ny one w i t h hor mone- r el at ed
cancer s shoul d l i mi t t hei r i nt ake of pr i mr ose oi l and
use black cur r ent i nst ead.
A ppl icat i ons: Hi gh bl ood pr essur e, hear t di sease,
ar t hr it i s, br east cancer , psor iasis, eczema, w ei ght
l oss, mul t i pl e scl er osi s, br ai n f unct i on, and PMS.
Saf et y : Di abet i cs shoul d not t ake f i sh oi l . Ot her
sour ces of essent i al f at t y aci ds ar e hi ghl y r ecommended, i ncluding eat i ng f r esh col dw at er f i sh. If y ou
must t ake f i sh oi l , t ake a v it ami n E suppl ement al so.
Recommendat ions: Use li qui d or capsul i zed li qui d
f or ms. Pr oduct s t hat need r ef r i ger at i on and come i n
dar k or l ight pr ot ect ed cont ai ner s ar e pr ef er able.
Combinat i on capsul es w hi ch cont ai n a v ar iet y of
essent ial f at t y aci ds ar e al so good.
FIBER SUPPLEMENTS
Def ini t i on: Fi ber suppl ement s ar e pr oduct s compr i sed of one or a combi nat i on of f iber sour ces t hat
can be combi ned w i t h cer t ain her bs and ot her suppl ement s i n or der t o pr ov i de mor e di et ar y f iber and
col on healt h. Today , f ew of us eat t he r ecommended
2 5 t o 4 5 gr ams of f iber per day and coul d benef i t
f r om t he many heal t h adv ant ages of i ncr eased
di et ar y f iber . A number of supplement s ar e av ail abl e
and can be added t o l i qui d. They ar e also av ail abl e i n
bar f or m or as dr y supplement s.
A ppl icat i ons: Car di ov ascular heal t h, high chol est er ol , obesi t y , cancer pr ev ent at i v e, bow el di sor der s, const ipat ion, v ar i cose v ei ns and hemor r hoi ds.
Saf et y : Fi ber i s consider ed saf e i f i t is di et ar y i n
nat ur e and not t aken i n such ex cess t hat diar r hea of
obst r uct ion could occur . Dr i nk pl ent y of w at er w hen
t aki ng f i ber and i f y ou suf f er f r om any t y pe of col on
di sor der or di gest i v e sy st em di sease, check w i t h
y our doct or bef or e addi ng a f i ber suppl ement . Take
v it ami n and mi ner al suppl ement s at di f f er ent t i mes
t han f i ber as absor pt i on may be i mpair ed.
Recommendat ions: Fiber suppl ement s commonl y
i ncl ude her bs such as al oe v er a, cascar a sagr ada,
r hubar b, sl i pper y el m or acaci a w hich hel p t o t oni f y
and heal t he mucous membr anes of t he col on. The
pr i mar y f iber sour ce of most pr oduct s i s psy l li um
al t hough t her e ar e ot her sour ces. These i ncl ude
psy l l i um, w hi ch has a col or l ess t r anspar ent
muci l age t hat f or ms ar ound i t s i nsol ubl e seed; br an,
w i t h i t s low sol ubi li t y and good w at er - hol di ng pr oper t i es; gums, w hi ch f or m a homogenous adhesi v e
gel at i nous mass i n t he l ow er i nt est i ne t o ex pedi t e
w ast e t r ansi t ; met hy l cel lulose, w hose sl ow solubil i t y cr eat es a v iscous sol ut ion f or ex pul si on; and
i spaghula husk, w hi ch sw ell s r api dl y t o f or m a
muci l age.
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GLUCOSAMINE SULFATE
Def i ni t ion: Gl ucosami ne sulf at e hol ds some v er y
ex c i t i ng pot ent i al as a saf e t r eat ment f or
ost eoar t hr it i s and ot her i nf l ammat or y j oi nt condi t i ons. It i s a nat ur al ly occur r ing ami no- monosacchar i de f ound i n t he j oi nt s of mammals. When t aken as a
di et ar y supplement , gl ucosami ne appear s t o signi f i cant l y r est or e nor mal bi ochemi st r y i n suppor t i ng
t he r ebui l ding and heali ng of ost eoar t hr i t ic car t i l age.
A gl ucosami ne def i ci ency has been l i nked t o
ost eoar t hr it i s. Some st udies hav e suppor t ed t he
abi l it y of glucosamine t o heal ant i - i nf l ammat or y di sease.
A ppli cat i ons: Ar t hr i t i s ( especi al l y ost eoar t hr i t i s) , car t i l age i nj ur ies, connect i v e t issue disease,
j oi nt pain and TMJ .
Saf et y : Consider ed nont ox i c, easil y t ol er at ed and
absor bed. Rar e side ef f ect s i ncl ude nausea or st omach upset . Take w it h meal s.
Recommendat ions: Look f or phar maceut ical gr ade
pr oduct s w i t h st r ong pot ency and guar ant eed pur i t y .
Thi s suppl ement should al w ay s be t aken i n conj unct i on w i t h chondr oi t i n sulf at e f or max i mum benef it .
Dosages shoul d be hi gher ini t i all y w it h a t aper ing of f
ov er t ime. Result s w i ll be not i ceable w i t hin a mont h
t o si x w eeks.
GLUTATHIONE
Def i ni t ion: This compound i s t echnicall y a pr ot ei n
w hi ch i s sy nt hesized i n t he l i v er f r om t hr ee ami no
aci ds ( cy st eine, glut ami ni c aci d and gl y cine) . It is a
pow er f ul ant i ox idant agent . It seems t o hav e some
r emar kable pr ot ect i v e pr oper t i es against r adi at i on,
chemot her apy , heav y met als, t ox ins and ot her poi sons. When combi ned w i t h selenium, i t i s par t i cular l y hel pf ul ; i t f or ms an enzy me gal l ed gl ut at hione
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HOMEOPATHY
Def ini t i on: Homepat hy i s a sy st em of medi ci ne
dev el oped i n t he 1 9 t h cent ur y based on t he concept
of li ke cur es l ike. Essent i al ly , subst ances ar e
used t o pr oduce t he same sy mpt oms as t he t r oubl i ng
di sease. These subst ances, al so cal l ed cell salt s, ar e
heav ily dilut ed and int r oduced int o an inf ect ed sy st em. Homeopat hi c pr act i t i oner s see sy mpt oms as
posit i v e si gns t hat t he i mmune sy st em i s i n act i on.
Mor e t han 2 , 0 0 0 homeopat hi c r emedi es ex ist and
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ISOFLAVONES
Def i ni t ion: A cl ass of phy t ochemi cal s f ound i n
soy beans t hat w er e i sol at ed in t he 1 9 7 0 s and hav e
v er y impr essiv e br east cancer - i nhi bit i ng pr oper t i es. These pl ant est r ogens hav e t he abi l it y t o block
t he negat i v e act ion of est r ogen in br east t i ssue. One
of t hese isof lav ones, genist ei n, act uall y r educes
t he gr ow t h of br east cell s and inhibi t s t w o key
enzy me pat hw ay s t hat cont r i but e t o t he f or mat ion of
a t umor .
A ppli cat i ons: Br east cancer , br east cancer r i sk,
hor monal i mbal ances, PMS, menst r ual i r r egul ar i t i es
and menopause.
Saf et y : Consi der ed nont ox i c if used as dir ect ed.
Recommendat ions: Of t en t hese v aluable phy t ochemi cal s w i l l be combi ned w i t h cr uc i f er ous
ex t r act s ( i ndol es) f or added pr ot ect i on agai nst t he
bad ef f ect s of est r ogen associ at ed w i t h t he dev elopment of br east t umor s. Eat ing soy bean pr oduct s l i ke
t of u i s a good sour ce of t hese compounds.
LECITHIN
Def i ni t ion: Leci t hin is a v i t al compound necessar y
t o mai nt ai n t he heal t h of cel l membr anes w hi ch
D o c t o r s Gu i d e t o N a t u r a l Me d i c i n e
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