Topic from: http://www.wgal.com

January 29, 1997 DR. BOB WGAL

Does "natural" make it better? Weeds and seeds part 1

ANCHOR LEAD: Natural remedies are wildly popular now with an estimated one in three people in this country using them at some point in the year. You find your doctor unwilling or in many cases unable to discuss these remedies with you because their claims are made outside established scientific journals and meetings. In the first of a two part series, Dr. Lanier looks at the alternative medicine market with some tips on how to evaluate them.

Germans influence our choice of automobiles…. AND our choice of health supplements. ( * We almost adopted a version of the German National Health plan a while back – and we are now taking up their weeds and seeds habit – herbs. Up to 70% of German doctors prescribe herbs even though they aren’t studied scientifically – it’s in their culture. The best that we can do is say which ones are probably safe and possibly effective. The first: Ginko 100,000 German physicians wrote at least 10 million
prescriptions for it last year. *) Ginko biloba may help memory and act like a brain vitamin. No overdose warnings and no common side effects. Tired of Valium – Valerian
has been used for the same problems for a 1000 years. It smells like dirty socks, but helps people sleep and it has no hangover. A few people have anxiety with it – just like Valium. For All Saints Health System, I'm Dr. Bob Lanier.

ANCHOR TAG: If you want to know more about the uses and problem associated with the common herbs – or as Dr. Bob says "weeds and seeds" send a stamped self
addressed envelope her to the station. Dr. Lanier has put together a brief brochure outlining what is known about them so far. In tomorrow’s segment, how to find out more from your bookstore and the Internet about weeds and seeds.

REFERENCE: Patient Care 11/1997

January 30, 1997



Weeds and seeds that make you feel better

ANCHOR LEAD: In the second part of his series on herbal therapy called "weeds and seeds" Dr. Bob Lanier examines the most popular herbs and offers you a free handout with references on the Internet and in book stores about where to get more information. 

Herbs may work – but they are slow in comparison to drugs – they aren’t well standardized, and in many cases they aren’t that cheap !! (* Baby boomers are
experimenting with herbs in huge numbers. But should YOU take Ginko Biloba for your memory, St. Johns Wort for depression, Valerian for insomnia? For more information, turn to the German government who developed the best work on herbs through Commisson E – your book store can get it for you, along with the Handbook on Edible Weeds, and the Honest Herbal. It’s fun – but you ought to tell your doctor what you are doing. *) I have information and links on my website – www.askdrbob.com or send a stamped self-addressed envelope to the station. But be careful: Herbal medicines may interact with drugs – they contain chemicals, you know. Some herbs like ephedra can be toxic. For All Saints Health System, I'm Dr. Bob Lanier.

ANCHOR TAG: If you would like a resource sheet on herbs with the books and websites Dr.Lanier mentioned, send a stamped self-addressed envelope here to the
station. Make sure you reference "herbs "

REFERENCE: Patient Care: 1997 / Family Practice Recertification 1997



HERBAL MEDICINE RESOURCE SHEET

About one in three people use some form of herb in the US daily. They stop and start them, often at the same time as taking prescription drugs. In many cases, there is no harm since the chemical doses in herbs is quite low (after all, prescription drugs in many cases are concentrated extracts of naturally occurring chemicals). Some caution is advised that herbs are not substituted for standard medicines – no standard medicine should be abruptly withdrawn. Also it is suggested that you discuss your herbs with your doctor. Be prepared for a knowledge gap since few herbs have been investigated in the scientific journals your doctors reads.

Books to seek:

German Commission E Monographs: Blumenthal, American Botanical Council, Austin, Texas 1997

Handbook of Edible Weeds, Duke, Boca Raton, Fla, CRC Press, 1992

The Honest Herbal, Tyler, Binghamton, NY, Pharmaceutical Products Press, 1993.

WEBSITES WITH A HERBAL TWIST:

HealthWorld Online: http://www.healthy.net

Natural health Village: http://netvillage.com

USDA http://www.ars-grin.gov/ngrlsb

American Botanical Council: http://www.herbalgram.org

THE DANGEROUS HERBS ; BE CAREFUL WITH THESE

Pheasant’s Eye ( adonis vernalis) = heart paralysis

Pasque Flower (Anemone pulsatilla) = heart and nervous system damage

Arnica ( Arnica montana) = stomach and muscle damage

Nightshade (atropa belladonna) = nervous system and respiratory depression

Ipecac (Cephaelis ipecacuanha = vomiting (this is the poison control drug)

Foxglove (Digitalis)= potentially lethal heart damage

Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe) = high blood pressure, nervous system damage

(This is a partial list extracted from Yarnell, E, Messerole L: Toxic Botanicals Alternative and Complentary Therapies,
1997;3(1):13-19)

HERE’S THE LATEST ON ST. JOHNS WORT Bethesda, MD--The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is launching the first U.S. clinical trial of St. John's wort, an herb widely used in Europe to treat depression. The three-year study, sponsored by NIH's Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), will include 336 patients with major depression who will be randomly assigned to one of three treatment arms for an eight-week trial. One-third of the patients will receive a uniform dose of St. John's wort, another third will be given placebo, and the final third will take a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of antidepressant commonly prescribed for depression. In Germany, where physicians routinely prescribe herbs for a variety of medical illnesses, millions of doses of St. John's wort, known also by its botanical name, Hypericum perforatum, are used daily. However, no studies of long-term use have been conducted and published studies have used several different doses. This study will use a standardized preparation containing a 900 mg daily dose of the herb. In addition, study participants who respond positively will be followed for another 18 weeks. The goal of the followup is to determine if patients given St. John's wort have fewer relapses than patients given placebo. Depression, a brain disorder that affects more than 17 million adult Americans each year, costs the nation up to $44 billion in treatment, disability, and lost productivity-a figure comparable to the cost of heart disease. Worldwide, depression is also a leading cause of disability. The illness, often chronic or recurrent, affects mood, thoughts, body and behavior. Common symptoms include sadness, loss of interests, decreased energy, disturbed sleep and hopelessness. When severe, depression can lead to suicide An overview of 23 clinical studies in Europe, published August 3, 1996, in the British Medical Journal, found that the herb may be useful in cases of mild to moderate depression. The National Institute of Mental Health's mission is to conduct and support research on mental illnesses and mental health, including studies of the brain, behavior, and mental disorders. For information, call NIMH (301) 443-4536 or visit the NIMH Website at http://www.nimh.nih.gov. The Office of Alternative Medicine's mission is to identify and evaluate unconventional health care practices. The Office supports, coordinates and conducts research and research training on these practices and disseminates information. For information, call OAM Clearinghouse 1-888-644-6226 or visit the OAM website at http://altmed.od.nih.gov. The Office of Dietary Supplements's mission is to explore the potential role of dietary supplements to improve health care.  The ODS promotes the scientific study of dietary supplements through conducting and coordinating scientific research and compiling and disseminating research results. Watch for the new ODS website in late Fall at http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov. For more information call ODS: 301-435-2920. The National Institutes of Health is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH-National Institute of Mental HealthContact: Elaine Baldwin, NIMH ebaldwin@ngmsmtp.nimh.nih.gov
301-443-4536 Anita Greene, OAM (301) 496-7790