There is a perception that there is little or no scientific
basis for natural medicines. I rather
like the science of tradition…3000 years (the first recorded/written
documentation) of historical use for a symptom or condition seems pretty
convincing to me!
It seems Medicine puts some credence on that history as
well, because approximately 50% of the pharmaceuticals developed in the last 50
years were based on plant medicines.
Researchers search the plant for “active ingredients” and then either create
a chemical variation of that ingredient, or find another chemical that
reproduces the effect of the plant’s “active ingredient.” Ie. Tamiflu is designed to recreate the
effect of Elderberry.
But it’s true, natural medicine doesn’t stand up to the
medical standard of research. This is
where people with a single diagnosis are given a specific plant or mixture, and
symptom results are graphed against a placebo.
The flaw in this type of analysis, in my experience, is that identical
conditions may have a multitude of causes.
For example, I have seen patients with sciatica who have
responded to chiropractic and muscular care, while others, based on our diagnostic
process, were found to have multiple intestinal infections creating inflammation,
and responded only to anti-microbial plant medicines. Of the hundreds of cases of sciatica I have
seen, I bet that no two had identical root causes!
But still…is there little to no research on plant medicines that
is of value? I typed American Ginseng
into the database of the National Library of Medicine. I found 407 published articles. By contrast, I searched Prozac…11,485
published articles! Here is a sampling
of page 1 of both….
AMERICAN GINSENG
Improved cognitive performance on 'Working Memory' factor at
3 h with American Ginseng. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25778987
…suggested that American ginseng protects the ovary against Premature Ovarian Failure by regulating prostaglandin biosynthesis (inflammation, these hormones are why we take advil), ovulation, and preventing ovarian aging. High hormone levels (PGE2, FSH, and LH) were reduced, and Estrogen secretion approached normal levels, leading to improved POF (Premature Ovarian Failure, loss of ovarian function before age 40) symptoms and abnormal ovulation. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25705687
(This is one where the researchers are
extracting the “active ingredient” as a result of evidence of heart
protection.) American ginseng is capable of ameliorating cardiac dysfunction
and activating Nrf2, a master regulator of antioxidant defense, in the heart.
This study was designed to isolate compounds from American
ginseng and to determine those responsible for the
Nrf2-mediated resolution of inflamed macrophage-induced cardiomyocyte
hypertrophy. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25882312
Among important components of American
ginseng, protopanaxadiol (PPD) showed more active
anticancer potential than other triterpenoid saponins. In this study, we
determined the in vivo effects of PPD in a mouse cancer model first. Then,
using human colorectal cancer cell lines, we observed significant cancer cell
growth inhibition and apoptosis (apoptosis = destruction of tumor cells). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25704023
RESULTS: American Ginseng significantly reduced experimental colitis measured by the disease activity index scores. This suppression of the experimental colitis …suggested that the ginseng significantly promoted recovery from the colitis. Consistent with the anti-inflammation data, we showed that ginseng very significantly attenuated…colon carcinogenesis by reducing the colon tumor number and tumor load. The ginseng also effectively suppressed inflammatory cytokines. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25535472
In this study a novel neutral polysaccharide (PPQN) was
isolated from American ginseng
roots and its structure and anti-inflammatory activity were investigated. These results indicated that PPQN may have
therapeutic implications in treatment of inflammation and inflammatory-related
diseases. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25434805
PROZAC
Effects of pharmaceuticals on Marine life. Pharmaceutical products affected H.
diversicolor physiology and health. As a benthic top predator, adverse effects
on sea-worms can potentially culminate in ecosystem perturbations. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25899671
This study investigated the route and degree of uptake of
two ionisable pharmaceuticals (diclofenac and fluoxetine)
and one ionisable compound used in personal care products (triclosan) into the
sediment dwelling worm, Lumbriculus variegatus.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25892588
Canine separation-related problems (SRP) (also described as
"separation anxiety" or "separation distress") are among
the most common behavioural complaints of dog owners. Treatment with
psychoactive medication in parallel with a behaviour modification plan is well
documented in the literature, but it is unknown if this is associated with an
improvement in underlying affective state (emotion and mood) or simply an
inhibition of the behaviour. Prior to
treatment (with Prozac), the dogs with SRP responded to ambiguous positions
(unwelcoming positions) in the cognitive bias test negatively (i.e. with slower
running speeds) compared to control dogs (p < 0.05). On weeks 2 and 6 of
treatment, SRP dogs displayed similar responses in the cognitive bias test to
control dogs. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25889323
participants receiving fluoxetine
were less accurate at identifying anger
and sadness and did not show the emotion-potentiated startle effect. There
were no overall significant effects of fluoxetine
on subjective ratings of mood. (Is this
of benefit?) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25864939
…showed feasibility as an effective transdermal delivery
system for FX (Prozac). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25863117
The rest:
1. How another pharmaceutical enhances serotonin activity
increases from Prozac.
2. A substance in marijuana shows evidence of calming.
3. Case study: 16 year old, suicidal…improved with Prozac.
4. Retrospective: Another drug was better than Prozac at
treating breath holding in infants
5. Prozac prescription increases concentrations of Prozac in
sewage.
6. Monkeys were trained to self administer cocaine…Prozac decreased
their seeking behavior.
7. Prozac increased several energy production systems in brain
cells, including increasing cholesterol formation and glucose uptake.
8. The plant medicine effects on compulsive behaviors in mice
was equivalent to Prozac.
I'm not willing to go through the 500 pages...are you? Especially after the sampling of page one? Would you be more willing to look deeper into Ginseng? I would...it sounds like there is value in this plant! And I have...along with the amazing history of Ginseng!
Let me know what you think of this pretty objective analysis!? (Just reporting the facts, ma'am)
