Nutrition Month

Showing posts with label ashwagandha. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ashwagandha. Show all posts

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Natural help for the Herpes Virus

Do you suffer from frequent cold sores? Herpes Zoster? Shingles? Genital herpes.

The term herpes generally refers to a sexually-transmitted, double-stranded DNA virus, called herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2. This virus is closely related to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which is the cause of common nonsexually-transmitted cold sores. These two viruses are among the eight members of the herpes virus family to infect humans, causing a variety of illnesses ranging from cold sores to brain infection (encephalitis) to chickenpox to various cancers.

 A significant number of medical institutions place the incidence of oral herpes (HSV-1), which is commonly called cold sores, between 50 and 80 percent among the American population in the fifth decade of life.

Whereas the incidence of genital herpes (HSV-2) in the US is estimated to be between 25 and 30 percent or about one in four adults.

Currently, there is no cure for herpes, or treatment that can eradicate herpes virus from the body at reactivations of the virus.

Non-prescription analgesics can reduce pain and fever during initial outbreaks. There are several prescription antiviral medications for controlling herpes outbreaks, including aciclovir (Zovirax), valaciclovir (Valtrex), and famciclovir (Famvir).

 Since there is no current cure for herpes, almost all of the medications available for treating herpes has been geared towards handling outbreaks and trying to maximize the amount of time between them. There are, however, many natural herpes treatment options that have gained popularity over the past few decades.  

Sexibalm - topical soothing formula has essential oils that with antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. A combination of healing essential oils used directly on the sores is thought to help speed healing during herpes outbreaks.

 Rhodigandha (50 capsules per bottle)- contains adaptogens which help manage stress, thought to be a culprit in triggering outbreaks  

 Octocleanse  - has herbs that with antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. 


 Lysine 1000 mg  It should be noted that the studies that recorded positive results noted a reduction in the frequency of outbreaks and duration of outbreaks, not a complete suppression of outbreaks. This suggests that while lysine appears to be a useful therapy, best results may be obtained by combining it with additional therapies, either natural or orthodox. The dosage of lysine that has been reported to keep herpes in remission and heal lesions varies from person to person. An example of a dose often used during an active herpes flare up is 3,000 - 9,000 mg/day in divided doses for a short period of time. To prevent recurrences, many people take 500-1,000 mg daily. However, dosing depends on many different factors and you should talk to your doctor to determine the right dose for your particular situation.

 FDA Disclaimer

The statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. If a condition persists, please contact your physician. The information provided by myself or this website is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with your physician, and should not be construed as individual medical advice. The testimonials on this website are individual cases and do not guarantee that you will get the same results.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Update on Natural Womens Care and Vita Doc

Dr Tamyra Comeaux is trained and board certified in Gynecology and Anti-Aging medicine. She spent his first 10 years in typical allopathic practice prescribing drugs and following the typical guidelines of traditional medicine. Then many of the prescription drugs she had been trained to give started to be removed from use (Vioxx) or placed under suspicion (Hormone Replacement Therapy).

She realized an entire world of self empowered medicine using lifestyle, nutrition and supplements was being overlooked and underutilized. So in 2010 she formed Vita Doc (teach life) and began creating her own supplement line to improve human performance health and longevity.


Q: You have quite a story, which I feel my readers will really relate to. In your own words, what happened that started you on your path to being a “radical” anti aging doctor?

A: Early in my career of Obstetrics and Gynecology, patients started throwing their hormones away, pregnant women would stop their antidepressants and other medications, and wonder what else they could do to manage their conditions without side effects. I researched natural treatment of various conditions and by the time I finished all those books I thought "I read so many books, I could have a degree in this". So I studied for my Naturopathic Medical Degree. My traditional training left me unprepared for these questions... and I sought answers.

Q: What were the different ideas that you investigated when searching the best that anti aging medicine had to offer? When all was said and done, what have you proven to be the best of the best?

A: To start out I became well versed in bioidentical hormone replacement for both men and women. In the early days of anti-aging medicine that was pretty much the main agenda. But I rapidly branched out and became fascinated with natural supplementation to augment health and longevity. I began to use diet, nutrition and supplement recommendations to help patients, and found out that I was having almost as much success as in the patients who still on their prescriptions. Next came the natural, herbal weight loss supplements to make up for the huge lack of safe and effective weight loss products.


Q: I have always wondered this, how does one go about formulating your own supplements? How much research went into getting yours just right?

A: The first step is to decide what your goals are with the supplement. Is it a performance enhancer? is it a basic health and longevity supplement?- is it for weight loss? etc. Then hopefully you have a strong background in herbs and nutrition (I have a separate Masters Degree in Holistic Nutrition) pharmacology and biochemistry (the undergrad science degree and the MD cover that). That allows you to understand the compounds you are dealing with on a very “human” level, then you research the literature to see what is out there and what has been done in animals, human cell lines and human studies. That alone will get you to “unique” status in the world of supplementation since most people aren’t making their supplements this way. Next I look for combinations of things that will boost the efficacy of the supplement to do what I want it to do and to give the person taking it real results. I rarely try to make a single supplement since I think it is far less likely to be useful in the body. That is why people who get on my stuff stay on it! Next you need a clinical practice willing to let you “test your theories”! I had and still have people ready and willing to be my beta testers. That said when I start with a supplement I take it myself for at least 3 months and I push the doses way higher than what I am going to sell to make sure they are safe and there is a large margin for error. I tried to make things people can't overdose on!

Once it’s been through the testing phase and I have tweaked it to work as well as possible with the input of my compounding pharmacists and chemists I then bring it to market. The entire process often takes at least 6 months. In terms of research hours it’s an ongoing thing. I spend the bulk of my days looking for new info both on new possible products and those already out there. It’s fascinating because when you hit the research right you find your product growing in value years later when new research comes out. People call me all the time and say "Dr. Oz talked about something you have on his show today!" My customers appreciate knowing they are getting something that is going to be way ahead of the curve and they get to use it first.


Q: If we could stop Telomeres from shortening, is it possible for humans to literally live forever?

A: The only truly immortal cell lines in our body, germ cells and the most undifferentiated stem cells are immortal because telomerase, the enzyme that lengthens telomeres and the same enzyme that TA-65 turns on, allows them to maintain healthy telomere length in spite of duplicating themselves. So in theory this is very possible but there are a lot of details we need to work out. We do know this much though, long telomeres are good for your health and longevity so it’s best to start as soon as you can to add length or at least slow down telomere loss. We also know that a small group of people have an overactive telomerase and they live longer than most, often exceeding 100. The problems is we probably need to start telomerase therapy every early in life something no one is doing, to “catch up” to the losses. If you are 60 or 70 telomerase therapy is going to help you immensely but to make up for the damage you’ve done in those years just by aging you’ll probably need both telomerase therapy and stem cells. I did Spectracell's telomere test on myself, and I became interested in supplements that improve telomere longevity. I have several that I use.




  Octovite
Acai/Resveratrol/Macqui- (Antioxidant Formula)
Dr. Comeaux's COQ10 with Omega 3 Dietary Supplement, 60 softgels




Q: Is there anything else going on at Vita Doc, that my readers might feel is important or any great news coming out soon you can share with us?

A: I am always working on something and the next couple of months will see the release of several new products. I have formulated an estrogen blocker, because estrogen dominance is prevalent in both males and females and is associated with fibrocystic breasts, breast and prostate cancer, abdominal fat gain, and fibroids. Hormone balance is very important and does not always respond to the addition of more hormones. Also, I have reformulated a the Female Balance by adding Maca and Horny Goat for additional libido support.

FDA Disclaimer

The statements and products shown on this website have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration.

These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Those seeking treatment for a specific disease should consult a qualified integrative physician prior to using our products if possible.



Female Balance Ultimate

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Natural Alternatives for Pain Relief

Herbal Alternatives for pain relief
A new study has found that healthy people who take certain
NSAID (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
pain relievers may increase their risk of heart attack and stroke.

People commonly use NSAIDs, especially OTC formulations, to reduce fever and relieve pain caused by conditions such as arthritis, headache, toothache, back pain, muscle pain, menstrual cramps or minor injury.

Previous studies linked NSAIDs and cardiovascular risks in persons with other high risk factors or established heart disease, however this study is the first to measure the increased cardiovascular risk caused by NSAIDs in healthy people.

“We conducted this study to answer whether any specific NSAID carried a risk of cardiovascular adverse events among healthy individuals and to explore if there were safer alternatives within the group of NSAIDs,” study authors said.

Researchers in Denmark studied 1,028,437 healthy Danish individuals with an average age of 39 from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2005 for increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality with the use of rofecoxib (Vioxx), diclofenac, celecoxib, naproxen and ibuprofen.

Rofecoxib, marketed as the brand name Vioxx, is no longer available in the United States. Merck voluntarily withdrew the drug from the market in 2004 after studies showed an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Vioxx was widely used in the U.S. before its withdrawal, generating $2.5 billion in sales revenue in 2003.

Diclofenac, marketed as brand names Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Voltaren-XR and Zipsor, and Celecoxib marketed as Celebrex are only available by prescription in the U.S., while consumers can purchase ibuprofen over-the-counter (OTC) as brand names such as Advil, Motrin, Midol and Nuprin. Naproxen is available by prescription, but consumers can also purchase naproxen (Aleve) over-the-counter.

According to Healthday News, compared to people who took no NSAIDs, researchers of the study found that patients taking diclofenac had a 91% higher risk of death from heart attack and stroke, much higher than the 66% increased risk for those taking rofecoxib (Vioxx). People taking the largest doses of diclofenac saw risk of heart attack doubled and for those taking the largest doses of rofecoxib (Vioxx) risk tripled.

Perhaps the most relevant study finding for U.S consumers self-medicating with OTC ibuprofen products is that ibuprofen showed a 29% higher risk of stroke.

Researchers found no increased risk of heart attack or stroke with use of naproxen. Their analyses of celecoxib were not conclusive.

“Because treatment with NSAIDs is so widely distributed in the general population, it is also of great importance that a safe alternative is found when NSAID treatment cannot be avoided. The safety of naproxen has been much debated, but it is widely accepted that naproxen is probably the NSAID with the safest cardiovascular risk profile, and our results support this assumption,” the researchers said. “Our results suggest that naproxen could be a safer alternative when NSAID treatment is required.”

The study appears in the June 8, 2010 issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, a Journal of the American Heart Association.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires drug labels for NSAIDs to warn of increased risk of heart attack or stroke associated with long-term continuous use of the drug. The Denmark study population had a median exposure time to NSAIDs of 14 days, indicating short-time exposure in most individuals.

Retrieved from http://newyorkcity.injuryboard.com/fda-and-prescription-drugs/popular-nsaid-pain-relievers-increase-risk-of-heart-attack-and-stroke.aspx?googleid=282136


See our list of natural alternatives to NSAIDS below:

Some of the side effects and health risks associated with taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) include stomach bleeding, ulcers, nausea, rash, headaches, dizziness, liver and/or kidney damage, and according to a recent Denmark study, NSAID use can increase the risk for heart attack and stroke (see article above). it is important to know about safer alternatives for reducing inflammation and pain. Natural products also support, rather than interrupt, the healing process. There are several choices when it comes to natural anti-inflammatory products. Keep in mind that not everyone responds the same. As long as there is no medical reason to not use a natural product, give it time to take effect. If you don't see results in a reasonable period of time, try another product.


1) ResVita Ultimate (Formerly Maqui/Resveratrol/Acai Ultimate)
Contains Resveratrol, Alpha Lipoic acid, and Green Tea

Alpha lipoic acid is thought to work as an antioxidant in both water and fatty tissue, enabling it to enter all parts of the nerve cell and protect it from damage.Preliminary studies suggest that alpha lipoic acid may help. In one of the largest studies on the use of alpha lipoic acid, 181 people took 600 mg, 1200 mg or 1800 mg of alpha lipoic acid a day or a placebo. After 5 weeks, alpha lipoic acid improved symptoms. The dose that was best tolerated while still providing benefit was 600 mg once daily.
Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is great for stiff muscles—it has nine muscle-relaxing compounds, more than just about any other plant.

Resveratrol, a phytochemical derived from grape skin, is also abundant in members of the Polygonum genus, widely used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol were first described in 1997 after an animal model determined its primary activity to be the inhibition of COX-1.17Then a study led by some of the same researchers from Cornell Medical College in New York City revealed resveratrol's COX-2 inhibitory effects.18
A compound found in plants such as grapes can protect intervertebral disc cartilage and reverse cartilage damage, which may have implications for treating disc damage responsible for back pain, according to research published in the Nov. 15 issue of Spine. Xin Li, M.D., Ph.D., from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and colleagues investigated the effect of the phytoestrogen resveratrol, found in plants including grapes and red wines, on bovine disc cells. Previous work had shown that resveratrol could protect articular cartilage from damage, the study authors note.




2) FatBurner
Contains White willow bark, Garcinia, green tea and cinnamon

White willow bark is one of the oldest home analgesics, dating back to 500 b.c. in China. Modern research confirms old-time wisdom, showing it helps back, osteoarthritic and nerve pains. Willow bark contains apigenin, salicin and salicylic acid, which provide anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-neuralgic actions. At the end of a four-week study of 210 individuals suffering from back pain, reported in the American Journal of Medicine in 2000, 39 percent of those who had received 240 mg of salicin daily were essentially pain-free, compared to 6 percent of those given a placebo.

Cinnamon is considered a pain-killer due to its prostaglandin-inhibiting action.
Garcinia kola appeared to have clinically significant analgesic/anti-inflammatory effects in knee osteoarthritis patients. Garcinia kola is a potential osteoarthritis disease activity modifier



3) Rhodi Ultimate (Formerly Rhodigandha)
contains Rhodiola and Ashwagandha, Acai, Pomegranate
For people who suffer from neurological disorders, rhodiola rosea may be able to offer the comfort needed to enjoy day-to-day living. The herb acts as a muscle relaxant and also regulates blood flow.
For those who suffer from fibromyalgia, rhodiola rosea regulates the adrenal glands which may not be producing enough cortisol. Cortisol is used by the body to reduce muscle stress and pain. In some people, the adrenal glands secrete too much cortisol and a person may not have enough to sustain them throughout the day. Rhodiola rosea is used to help the adrenal gland slow down and secrete enough cortisol for the entire day. This helps a person who is suffering from fibrolmyalgia to sleep through the night and function normally throughout the day.
Ashwagandha also relaxes blood vessels and stimulates circulation and has an anti-inflammatory and tonic effect in rheumatic and autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Animal studies have found that naturally occurring steroids in ashwaganda are more potent than treatment with the synthetic steroid hydrocortisone for controlling inflammation. Ashwagandha is also used in the treatment of low back pain and sciatica.





The products and the claims made about specific products have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

20 benefits of taking Ashwagandha

A powerful tonic and adaptogen, Ashwagandha helps reduce stress and promote overall well-being. Ashwagandha is a traditional Ayurvedic herb used in India for more than 3,000 years and is often referred to as “Indian Ginseng. Ashwagandha works as an adaptogen, promoting the body's ability to maintain homeostasis and resist stress. It prevents or minimizes imbalances that may lead to disease, whether from poor diet, lack of sleep, mental or physical strain, or chemical toxins in the environment. Ashwagandha can be used by both men and women.



1. A plant with several medicinal properties, is known to help treat disorders such as fatigue

2. Because of its anti-stress properties, Ashwagandha is useful in treating stress-related illnesses. Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center also evaluated the effects of the herb and found that extracts of the Ashwagandha had activities that were similar to GABA that might tell us why the herb is so effective in providing stress relief.

3. It has been administered as a natural anti-depressant with no side effects. A study involving 25 individuals with depression found that ashwagandha supplementation over a period of two months offered noticeable improvement in both anxiety and depression symptoms.

4. It has also been used to enhance sexual potency for men and women and is widely recognized for its rejuvenating properties. Ashwagandha root was used historically as an aphrodisiac. This herb is mentioned in the ancient Kama Sutra as an herb to be used for heightening sexual experience, This herb has the ability to restore sexual health and improve overall vitality while promoting a calm state of mind. Laboratory studies show it can produce nitric oxide which is known to dilate blood vessels.

5. Ashwagandha which has been called the “Indian Ginseng” has an amazing quality that is rare among medicinal herbs. It is generally acknowledged to have the ability to revitalize and improve human memory.

6. Hair loss may be caused by a lot of things. One factor is a weakened immune system. Ashwagandha provides hope to those having hair loss problems. Ashwagandha makes you feel energized and healthier. It stops stress, increases vigor and may help regrow lost hair.

7. Ashwagandha has been the subject of several recent, significant, independent studies, which point to its possible, promising effectiveness in stimulating the thyroid, and subsequently relieving the effects of hypothyroidism, or under active thyroid, including weight gain, depression, constipation and sluggishness

8. Helps control the levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which may mean less belly fat!

9. Can be used as a natural alternative for menopause. Ashwagandha is helpful in dealing with sleeping trouble, alleviating stress, increasing stamina and balancing hormones by working with the adrenal glands. The antioxidants in ashwagandha help reduce symptoms like mild hot flashes, anxiety and depression associated with menopause.

10. Great for those who suffer from mild anxiety and want to try a natural remedy. A study done in 1991 at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center indicated that extracts of ashwagandha had GABA-like activity. This may account for this herb’s anti-anxiety effects.

11. One small study found ashwagandha root was able to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and had a diuretic effect.

12. Ashwagandha is used in India to treat mental deficits in geriatric patients, including amnesia.

13. For a 2008 study, scientists tested ashwagandha's effects on human cartilage and found that the herb may help protect against inflammation and cartilage damage associated with osteoarthritis.

14. Helps with fertility. In a study men and women were given root powder of W. somnifera for 3 months. Results showed decrease in stress, improved the level of anti-oxidants and improved overall semen quality in a significant number of individuals. The treatment resulted in pregnancy in the partners of 14% of the patients.

15. Ashwagandha has been used to reduce the symptoms of drug withdrawal.
16. Eases alcohol withdrawal symptoms. In 2009, researchers from the National Institute on Drug Dependence at Peking University in Beijing evaluated the benefits of using traditional herbal remedies in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. While there's no data on humans identifying the advantages of using Withania somnifera for alcoholism treatment, the study, published in the "American Journal of Drug Alcohol Abuse," found that ashwagandha may help addicts reduce alcohol intake. Ashwagandha can be used to complement proven medications for drug withdrawal treatment, and possibly, prevention of relapse.

17. Relives adverse effects caused by alcohol consumption (hangover) especially when combined with Rhodiola. extracts from Rhodiola Rosea will sober up most people within less than an hour and have you wake up feeling like a night of drinking never took place. After all, a hangover is just leftover toxins from too much alcohol and adaptogens will help flush them out.

18. Ashwagandha also has antioxidant properties and therefore is beneficial for anti aging

19. Can help with Asthma symptoms. Many times asthma attacks are caused by allergies. Because adaptogens work so well on allergies, they can also greatly reduce the number and severity of asthma attacks. Asthma attacks can also be induced by stress; adaptogens take care of that too.

20. Ashwagandha has been found to have important healing effects on solid tissues, skin support, connective tissue, lymph tissues, blood vessels, and mucous membranes. Ashwagandha has found its most successful applications in treatment of conditions involving venous insufficiency, tissue inflammation and infection, and post-surgical healing.


IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

The statements on this website and this web page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. FDA laws do not allow any nutritional product to claim relief from or curing of any disease; only FDA approved drugs can make statements or claims of disease cure.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Quit Smoking… Natural Help

Quitting smoking can be extremely difficult. The physical withdrawal symptoms can be quite extreme and the psychological addiction can sink its claws into your mind stronger than you think.

There are several herbs with a traditional reputation for helping people quit smoking. These herbs exert varying effects that will ease the process of smoking cessation. This is a description of how some of the products contained here will aid smoking cessation.

Have you tried Zyban and/or Chantix?
Were they too expensive? Were you afraid of the side effects?

Did you try quitting cold turkey, but the stress and cravings were too much?

It is very difficult to stop smoking. All the popular advice and therapies do not have great success rates.
Doctor's advice = 2%
Psychological help = 2%
Hypnosis = poss 23%
Nicotine gum = 13%
Nicotine patches = 13%

Acupuncture and exercise can also help.
Hypnosis does appear to have a good success rate, but properly monitored data is difficult to obtain. Overall, willpower and simply going 'cold turkey' appears to achieve the best results. Maybe trying herbs in conjunction may increase success.

Herbalith

Valerian: One of the premier sedative herbs used to aid people with anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Valerian is clearly one of the herbs of choice in smoking cessation to deal with the issues of insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety.

Passion Flower: promotes calmness and relaxation, which will help with the irritability you may experience.

L-Tryptophan: a naturally occurring amino acid, widely believed to help calm cigarette cravings as you try to quit smoking. It builds the neurotransmitter serotonin. This neurotransmitter is extremely important in balancing our sleep patterns and filtering all sensory input, so the brain is not overloaded or overwhelmed by excessive sensory information it receives. Optimal levels of serotonin also help us to be more hopeful, optimistic, patient and more able to respond thoughtfully and carefully.

Theanine: a natural amino acid found small amounts in green tea and certain mushrooms. As a supplement, it crosses into the brain and completes against exciting neurotransmitters—this directly competes with nicotine. L-theanine has a wonderful calming effect with little potential for side effects and is a perfect adjunct for smoking cessation. It also improves focus and concentration. It does not cause sedation during the day, but does improve natural sleep at night.

Tyrosine: is a nonessential amino acid, meaning it can be made within the human body. It is a building block for several important neurotransmitters, which help nerve cells communicate and affect mood. This may help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms of nicotine.

Rather than acting as a herb to stop smoking, turmeric is thought to aid in the removal the cancer causing agents from the lungs.
Rhodigandha

Ashwagandha: derived from a plant belonging to the pepper family, found in India and Africa. Steroid chemicals known as withanolides, present in the roots of the plant, are felt to provide for many of its medicinal properties. Being similar to cortisol, withanolides may provide feedback to the brain, thus moderating cortisol secretion by the adrenal glands. These chemicals also have anti-inflammatory effects and direct calming effects on the brain. Ashwagandha also contains potent anti-oxidants. The net effect is increased tolerance to stress, thus ashwagandha is often referred to as an “adaptogen”. Increased stress tolerance is very desirable for smoking cessation. Ashwagandha has been consumed by humans for thousands of years in India and Africa and is well tolerated with little potential for side effects.

Rhodiola Rosea is the latest natural remedy to join the arsenal of natural anxiety and stress reducers. Studies of Rhodiola Rosea show that it stimulates neurotransmitters and enhances their effects on the brain. This includes the ability for the brain to process serotonin which helps the body to adapt to stress. Since adaptogens improve the body's overall ability to handle stress, it has been studied to identify it's effects on biological, chemical and physical stress. Rhodiola is suggested to improve symptoms of withdrawal in mice.

Female Balance

Black cohosh: Is commonly used by women to help them stay balanced during their monthly cycle and for hot flashes. However, it is also known to be a safe sedative that relieves nervousness and anxiety, which makes it useful for the irritability, restlessness, and nervousness associated with quitting smoking.

Korean ginseng: Is one of the most popular herbs in the world for stimulating energy and helping the body to deal with stress. This property enables ginseng to help alleviate the fatigue and anxiety related to quitting smoking. Ginseng is known to help reestablish balance in the body’s systems, which can be helpful to smokers as their bodies adjust to the absence of nicotine.

Motherwort: Has properties that enable it to act as a sedative, inducing tranquility in times of anxiety associated with quitting smoking.

Valerian: The exact mechanism is unclear, but valerian root seems to interact with GABA receptors in the brain, causing a sedative effect. Since many nicotine cravings are caused by stress and anxiety, this calming effect may help stave off cravings.

Gotu Kola Smoking lowers the memory of smokers. This problem can be solved by appropriate intake of Gotu kola which is useful to improve memory. It also plays an important role in improving the blood circulation throughout the body. Thus, it helps in controlling the damage caused by smoking to some extent.

The FDA has not evaluated any of these statements or this treatment and there is no guarantee of cure with this treatment. Results may vary.


Thursday, March 24, 2011

Hair growth herbal support for hormonal imbalances

Hair loss affect about 70% of women during perimenopause. The symptoms of perimenopause usually last for the whole menopause transition (until the mid 50's), but some women may experience them for the rest of their life. Menopause is not an illness, but a natural process in a woman's body. The symptoms of menopause are just indicators of changes between the hormones estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. These changes result in a hormonal imbalance in a woman's body and cause the common menopause symptoms. A woman can experience hair loss during other parts of her life also, hormonal imbalance is not always limited to the menopausal transition. Even men experience hair loss during andropause.

Hair loss occurs when the diet is inadequate in the B vitamins - especially B6, biotin, inositol and folic acid; and the minerals magnesium, sulfur and zinc. The B vitamins, especially B5 (pantothenic acid and B3 (niacin), are especially important for hair growth.

Certain essential amino acids are found to control the thinning and thickening of hair in laboratory animals. For example, when rats were fed a diet deficient in magnesium, they lost their hair in bunches. The situation was even more serious with some other B-vitamins. When rats were fed a diet low in biotin or inositol, they became hairless! This nutrient-deficient condition was found to be reversible. When the rats were fed a diet that was rich in B vitamins, it resulted in the complete restoration of hair.

Heavy intake of vitamin supplements, in some cases, have resulted in stimulating hair growth. Men deficient in vitamin B6 often lose their hair. When they are deficient in folic acid, some men became completely bald! As in case of animals, when normal intake of theses vitamins were restored, the hair also returned in most instances.

If your hair loss begins around the onset of menopause, you can maintain hormonal balance (and hence hair thickness) with herbs containing plant-based estrogens, such as dong quai (Angelica sinensis) or ashwaganda (Withania somnifera), suggests Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D., a naturopath and author of Healthy Healing (Healthy Healing Publications, 1997). Other herbs that exert mild estrogenic effects include damiana (Turnera diffusa), black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and sage (Salvia officinalis).

Some people believe that hair loss is a result of bad genes and stress. These may be true at some point but a healthier and thicker hair won’t just fall off your scalp just like that, right? There are lots of vitamins out there that can make your hair and nails thicker and your skin firmer. Why not start early and naturally thicken your hair strands before they start to get thin and fine?

For example, B vitamins—namely B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, biotin, folic acid, and so on can effectively prevent hair loss if taken regularly. Did you know that the majority of hair loss happens when a person’s diet is deficient in B vitamins? B vitamins are essential for hair regrowth, hair strengthening, and overall hair health, including scalp health. Without B vitamins, old and brittle hair will shed and no new hair follicles are made to replace fallen hair.

Other vitamins and minerals that are important to hair loss prevention include Vitamin A, C, and E and trace minerals such as manganese and zinc. Zinc stimulates hair growth by enhancing our body’s immune function. Vitamin E helps in better blood circulation all over our body, including our scalp. The more freshly oxygenated blood that passes through our scalp, the more the scalp can stimulate hair growth. Manganese controls levels of calcium, which in huge uncontrolled numbers can lead to hair loss.

If there’s one thing in nature that contains all of the above vitamins and minerals that are needed to prevent hair loss, it’s none other than the Acai Berry! Yes, it is one of today’s “super fruits” because of its abundant content of essential vitamins, minerals, and other bio-nutrients.

Essential fatty acids (flaxseed oil, primrose oil, and salmon oil are good sources) improves hair texture. Prevents dry, brittle hair. (Found in Female Balance and Fish oil)

Vitamin C aids in improving scalp circulation. It is important to maintain capillaries that carry blood to the follicles. (Found in Maqui/Resveratrol/Acai Ultimate)


Vitamin E increases oxygen uptake, which improves circulation to the scalp. It improves health and growth of hair. Since hair health is tied to the immune health, vitamin E is believed to stimulate hair growth by enhancing the immune function. (Found in Maqui/Resveratrol/Acai Ultimate)

Deficiency in zinc can contribute a lot to hair shedding because without zinc and other related minerals, you hair shafts get weakened, causing hair breakage and very slow hair regrowth. Zinc benefits for hair include promotion of cell reproduction, tissue growth and repair of broken tissues. It also maintains the oil-secreting glands that are attached to your hair follicles, thus decreasing their chances of falling off. (Zinc is found in Octovite)

Coenzyme Q10 - Improves scalp circulation. Increases tissue oxygenation. It is also very important for heart health. (Found in Fish Oil/Coenzyme Q10)


Incorporating green tea into your diet may help combat or help prevent hair loss. One of the most powerful antioxidants in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Studies conducted by the Saitama Cancer Center Research Institute in Japan and the Seoul National University College of Medicine both show evidence that EGCG stimulates hair growth. (Found in Maqui/Resveratrol/Acai Ultimate)

Ginkgo Biloba has been in use in China for more than 5 centuries, from last 2 decades even Europe is widely using this tree's extracts for various purposes. Ginkgo Biloba possess special property of helping regulate the blood circulation in a body, when the extract is taken. The use of Ginkgo Biloba will boost the blood flow to the peripheral parts of the body and the fine capillaries, both of which indicates scalp as one of the parts. The increased circulation will hence bring more oxygen and more nutrients to the scalp, these nutrients are basically essential vitamins A and E along with some other important nutrients which are in our blood after digestion but are not transported to the right place to act, just because of lack of circulation. So when a hair follicle gets it right amount of oxygen and necessary nutrients it will automatically start hair repair and will promote hair growth. (Octovite contains Gingko Biloba)

If your previous hair growth remedies have not worked, consider a vitamin and herbal combination therapy. Hair loss can be a feature of adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism, which are other hormonal imbalances. Be sure to consult your practitioner to rule out treatable causes of your hair loss.


Maqui Resveratrol Acai Ultimate has Vitamins A,C,E and Green Tea (and many other ingredients)

Female Balance has Dong Quai, Damiana, Flaxseed, Magnesium and Vitamins A, B, C and E (and many other ingredients)

Rhodigandha contains Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Acai, Pomegranate, Blueberry, and Bilberry



Octovite contains Omega, Gingko Biloba, Zinc, vitamins A,C,E (and many other ingredients)




Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Female Sexual Dysfunction



Not only can eating an unhealthy diet make you fat, it can also send your sex drive crashing, as nutritional deficiencies wreak havoc with your hormones and vital organs.

Not only that but carrying too many excess pounds can kill your confidence and leave you feeling not sexy in the bedroom.

Research has found that eight out of 10 of us suffer from a diminished libido at some point.

It could be that since the kids were born just finding enough energy has been a struggle, or perhaps you’ve resigned yourselves to the fact that after a while the passion in all relationships tends to dull.

But not only is sex fun at any age or stage in a relationship, it’s also one of the best ways to reduce stress and anxiety, and a guaranteed way to burn off calories.

I know that this is a difficult topic for people to address with their practitioner. For men, there are proven remedies with scientific support widely available and covered by insurance, with commercials galore. For women... not so much.

According to an article published in the journal of the American Medical Association in 1999, 43% of women in the U.S deal with sexual dysfunction. Hormonal changes in the body are one contributing factor for loss of libido. Many prescription medications have sexual side effects and just meeting the daily stresses of life can cause anxiety and over tiredness, which in turn can diminish sexual desire.

I have had women who tried their husband's Viagra or Cialis. Some women report success, some do not. Some women respond to DHEA or testosterone implants, which elevate the sex hormone levels until they degrade in 3-6 months.


















Although recent reports have apparently shown that testosterone seems to affect women's
interest in sex, their levels of male hormones -- androgens -- are not clearly tied to sexual function, according to a report in the March 2011 Journal of the American Medical Association.

It has been theorized that low androgen (testosterone) levels are, at least in part, to blame when a woman has little interest or enjoyment in sex, but supporting evidence for this notion has been lacking,
Dr. Susan R. Davis, from Monash University in Victoria, Australia, and colleagues note.

The researchers assessed sexual function and measured levels of various androgens, such as
testosterone, in 1021 randomly selected women who were free of any thyroid disorder, did not
have polycystic ovarian disease, and were not taking any psychiatric medication. A standard
questionnaire, the Profile of Female Sexual Function (PFSF), was administered to all the participants. No androgen measurement was associated with any area of the PFSF assessment, the team reports.

By contrast, a low level of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) did correlate with low sexual desire, arousal, and responsiveness.

The results contradict the idea of using testosterone to treat low sexual desire disorder, the researchers conclude.
Rather, they say that, taken together with what is already known, the results suggest that
"sex steroids influence female sexual function," but that there is no specific level of androgens in women that can be classified as a deficiency.

DHEAS levels can be elevated by the simple suplementation of USP grade DHEA. 50 mg taken twice
a day for 2 weeks had a significant effect on how 87% of women had a positive effect and increasaed levels of DHEA & DHEAS. (See Volume 774, NYAS).









Female Balance gently yet powerfully brings a woman’s body into a deeper state of equilibrium which balances hormones, increases libido and sexual response, reduces symptoms of PMS and improves the relationship between a woman and her body.



Balance female hormones
Enhance libido
Ease symptoms of PMS
Ease symptoms of Menopause
Improve emotional balance









Ashwagandha root is an herbal remedy from the ayurvedic tradition of India that has been used for centuries to promote strength and stamina. It is considered an "adaptogen", a term used to describe herbs that improve physical energy, increase immunity to colds and infections, and increase sexual capacity. Ashwagandha has mainly been used to restore male libido, cure impotence and increase male fertility. Recently, studies suggest that Ashwagandha is also effective in enhancing female libido. Rhodiola also combats fatigue, enhances memory, boosts the libido, regulates menstrual cycles and has been used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and diabetes. Research by Russians began in 1931 when Rhodiola Rosea was found to increase the libido. The health benefits of pomegranate juice are widely known but researchers have recently uncovered an unexpected side effect - it can also boost male and female libido. These three ingredients are combined in Rhodigandha.