Calendar Girl
Health Sciences Institute e-Alert
September 01, 2004
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Dear Reader,
Ready for the cold winds to blow? Me neither. But with August now
behind us, chilly weather will soon be creeping in for most of us,
along with cold and flu season.
In the December 2001 HSI Members Alert we first told you about a
remarkable herbal extract (andrographis paniculata) that has been used
for centuries in Ayurvedic (traditional Indian) therapies and
Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat everything from isolated cases
of the sniffles to full-blown outbreaks of influenza. In fact,
Andrographis was credited with halting the spread of the 1919 Indian
flu epidemic.
Early this summer I came across a review of seven different trials
that tested the effectiveness of andrographis on the relief of cold
symptoms. I saved this information until now because who wants to
think about wintertime colds when planning for beach trips and
baseball games?
But with September looming large on the wall calendar, the time has
come to prepare for the inevitable.
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Seven out of seven
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Researchers at the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth in the UK
conducted a survey of medical databases, herbal manufacturer
information and World Health Organization reports to select seven
studies that met the criteria for double-blind, controlled trials. The
combined studies tested the use of andrographis as a treatment for
respiratory tract infection in nearly 900 subjects.
As reported in the journal Planta Medica the UK team analyzed three
studies that tested doses of 48 to 60 mg of andrographis per day
against placebo. Three other studies examined 60 mg of andrographis
per day along with a daily dose of Siberian ginseng versus placebo.
And the seventh trial had subjects taking 180 and 360 mg of crude
andrographis (as opposed to standardized extracts in the other six
studies), measured against a medication for common colds.
In all seven of these studies, subjects who took andrographis after
the onset of cold symptoms reported faster recovery, compared to
subjects who took placebo or medication.
Researchers concluded that andrographis may be effective in treating
"uncomplicated" infection in the upper respiratory tract (throat,
sinuses and ears). Adverse effects were described as "mild and
infrequent." They also noted that preliminary evidence indicated a
possible preventive effect. Further studies will be needed to confirm
that, of course.
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Enzyme protection
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In addition to the seven studies mentioned in the UK research,
previous laboratory trials have shown that andrographis extract
doesn't actually kill the organisms that make you sick � at least not
directly. Instead, it boosts your immune system and stimulates natural
antibodies.
Your body creates some very powerful disease-fighting enzymes. But if
you become ill easily or don't recover quickly from colds and the flu,
it's possible that your production of these antioxidant enzymes has
been compromised. Andrographis protects those enzymes, enhancing your
natural disease-fighting ability.
But andrographis may eventually prove to do more than just bolster
disease-fighting enzymes. Here are some results from trials with lab
animals:
* Research with dogs showed that andrographis may help prevent
myocardial ischemia (inadequate blood circulation in the heart caused
by coronary artery disease)
* A similar study found that andrographis may inhibit the formation of
blood clots
* Diabetic animals treated with andrographis developed lower blood
sugar levels
* Andrographis lowered systolic blood pressure in lab rats bred to be
spontaneously hypertensive
* Andrographis preserved liver function in mice that were given drugs
to impair liver function
The potential of andrographis to influence these conditions in humans
isn't yet known.
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Northern latitudes
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In the December 2001 Member Alert, we told you about Kan Jang, a brand
of standardized extract of andrographis that has outsold all other
cold medications in Scandinavia for 12 years running. The Swedish
Herbal Institute, the formulator of Kan Jang, recommends that you take
one tablet four times daily to fight colds or the flu. Extracts are
standardized to 11.2 mg andrographolides per 200 mg of extract.
Extensive human trials of Kan Jang have only measured the product's
impact on cold symptoms and occurrences. And even though those trials
didn't identify any adverse side effects, you should consult with your
doctor or health care practitioner before supplementing with Kan Jang,
especially if you suffer from high or low blood pressure, a
blood-sugar disorder, or vascular problems. The American Herbal
Products Association also suggests that pregnant or nursing women
avoid using Kan Jang.
Kan Jang can be purchased at dietary supplement stores and through
Internet sites.
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...and another thing
Sometimes you need someone in your corner.
In the e-Alert "No Buts About It" (8/30/04), I told you about the
experience of a friend of mine who nearly found out the hard way that
doctors may recommend uncomfortable or invasive medical procedures
based on suspect test results.
The lesson: Always ask for specifics regarding factors that can create
false positive or false negative test results.
And now � along the same lines � I have another good tip to pass
along.
In an Internet Broadcasting Systems (IBS) article titled "Over-
Medication Sickens Seniors," geriatrician Dr. Mary Cohan discusses
several problems that I've addressed in previous e- Alerts. For
instance, many elderly patients require the care of specialists and
end up visiting more than one doctor on a regular basis. When several
doctors prescribe different medications, the chances for adverse drug
interactions increase, along with the risk of side effects.
And here's the disturbing result of that trend: A recent survey
revealed that older patients suffering from side effects or adverse
interactions account for 20 percent of all emergency room visits.
A friend of mine named Jan experienced this very situation with her
father who had multiple health problems. In deep frustration, Jan and
her family wondered why all of the specialists couldn't get on the
same page. It slowly dawned on her that the doctors had no motivation
to do so; to each of them her father was just one of many patients who
required attention for a few brief minutes at a time.
Finally, she and some family members organized and insisted on a joint
conference between four different specialists. It was quite difficult
to match up their schedules, so the family had to be persistent in
scheduling and rescheduling. When the meeting finally took place, two
of the doctors realized that some of their prescribed drug therapies
needed immediate adjustment.
Obviously, her father couldn't have handled this situation on his own.
Which brings us to this simple health care tip: Get an advocate.
Many patients � especially those who are elderly or who have multiple
health problems � need someone to step forward and coordinate their
health care. That advocate doesn't need to be a health care
professional, they just need to be diligent in asking hard questions,
following up on the answers, and making sure that all of the doctors
involved are aware of the entire scope of diagnoses, tests,
prescriptions, dietary recommendations, etc.
Never assume that a hospital or a nursing staff or a doctor's office
will do any coordinating of the big picture. Patients with complicated
health challenges need an advocate to help do that for them.
To Your Good Health,
Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute
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THROW YOUR GLASSES AWAY FOR LIFE!
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http://www.youreletters.com/t/53233/3786805/504/0/
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To start receiving your own copy of the HSI e-Alert, visit:
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Sources:
"Andrographis Paniculata in the Treatment of Upper Respiratory Tract
Infections: A Systematic Review of Safety and Efficacy" Planta Medica,
Vol. 70, No. 4, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
"Andrographis: Uncommon Treatment for the Common Cold" Maureen
Williams, ND, Healthnotes Newswire, 6/3/04, pccnaturalmarkets.com
"Over-Medication Sickens Seniors" Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc.,
8/16/04, thewbalchannel.com
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