The Science of Natural and Pharmaceutical Medicine

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. 

Oh…come on…don’t make me read the rest!  That’s 13 of the 20 on page one!  The POINT...there are several studies on page one of the search for American Ginseng that offer value.  What does page one of Prozac tell us?  Granted, there are over 500 more pages of prozac research, while less than 30 more pages of Ginseng research.  

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)