Posts Tagged ‘immune system’

Siberian Ginseng To Combat Fatigue, Stress And Herpes?

Monday, February 8th, 2010

The root of the Eleutherococcus senticosus plant, conjointly called Siberian ginseng or Eleuthero, is typically used medicinally to combat fatigue, stress and herpes. The plant belongs to the ginseng family, Araliaceae, but is botanically different from true ginseng, Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius. It can grow in colder areas than real ginseng and typically prices less.

The Chinese have used Eleutherococcus for 4000 years for longevity, health, to stimulate appetite and to boost memory. Russians discovered it in late 19th century and studied it within the late Fifties as a ginseng substitute. They studied the plant’s adaptogen properties on concerning 4,300 people. The property “adaptogen” was defined by Lazarev, a Russian scientist, who wished to place a additional precise name to the tonic properties of ginseng-like plants. Adaptogen refers to a substance that promotes adaptation to environmental stress of all kinds. It regulates many physiological functions without targeting one organ in particular. Eleutherococcus was introduced as a medicinal plant in Western Europe and North America in 1975.

Nowadays several folks use it to extend endurance and resistance to stress. Its impact on fatigue, convalescence and concentration problems were partially proven in a recent double blind study on twenty elderly folks . Results indicated that once four weeks of 300 mg of Eleutherococcus per day, it had a positive impact on stress, fatigue and vitality, but results weren’t sustained after eight weeks.

Preliminary studies conjointly recommend that Eleutherococcus promotes immune functions. It absolutely was found to have a pronounced effect on T lymphocytes, cytotoxic and natural killer cells. A German double blind study was conducted monitoring immune functions in 18 people taking 1 tablespoon of Eleutherococcus senticosus extract three times daily compared to those of the eighteen individuals taking a placebo for four weeks. When four weeks, they measured immune cell concentration in blood samples. The cluster taking Eleutherococcus had a higher concentration of all immune cells. Total T-cell numbers increased by 78 percent, T helper/inducer cells by 80 percent, cytotoxic Ts by 67 percent, and NK cells by 30 percent. B Lymphocytes also expanded by 22 percent compared to controls. No facet effects were noted, even 5 months after administration. Researchers concluded that, “Eleutherococcus senticosus exerts a strong immunomodulatory result in healthy normal subjects.”

A double blind study on ninety three folks plagued by recurrent herpes infections indicates that 2g of Eleutherococcus per day could limit or scale back the frequency of herpes infections. But, these findings concern solely herpes virus simplex two, typically causing genital herpes. A 2001 German in vitro study showed that Eleutherococcus had no impact on herpes virus simplex one (HSV-1) cells. HSV-1 sometimes causes oral herpes.

From personal experience, I can say that Eleutherococcus is a real adaptogen plant. I’ve used it successfully to deal with stress, build resistance and limit the frequency of genital herpes outbreaks. It helps me to remain centered while not straining and provides a way of overall serenity.

Eleutherococcus should be taken for many days to point out effects. Nathuropaths usually say twenty one days, but I usually feel an improvement when ten days.

Eleutherococcus is contraindicated for children under 12, pregnant and breastfeeding women and individuals full of hypertension. It may cause palpitations and increase blood sugar when a meal. It has virtually no side effects, aside from gentle diarrhea and temporary sleep perturbations.

Eleutherococcus will be taken as an herbal tea, dried root extract, tincture, or water extract. I sometimes take the tincture as a result of it is more convenient, easier to search out and sometimes contains stronger concentrations of active ingredients. Dosage will vary from ten ml to twenty ml per day during a glass of water. It’s also recommended to stop taking Eleutherococcus for one week each six weeks.

Medical Science Versus Alternative Treatment Options

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Holistic therapy is one of the hot topics of the decade because it is a fantastic conduit to the gap between the body and the spirit during times of illness or pain. Antibiotics can be prescribed while the compromised immune system can be treated holistically. Pain and illness are connected throughout the whole body and the spirit, making it interconnected to more than just pills. The mind and body connection can not crack open a chest and massage a heart back to life. Each medical belief offers some of the most advanced medicine.

Because the lifestyle of alternative medicine might be different, many people shy away from it. Personal training at home instead of a physical therapy office might not suit everyone well. Traditional supplements, nutrition, and spiritual healing frighten many away because they aren’t sure what that really means. When you refer to such things as medicine of a holistic nature, you are talking about much more than just a natural poultice.

In an effort to avoid taking medications that we might not need or want, some of us have combined alternative medical practices into our healing routine. The science that brought us blood thinners is also used in the production of rat poison. They are structurally similar with different doses. When you are sedated you are literally being poisoned to the point of being in a coma like state but not poisoned enough to stop your heart from beating. Interesting concepts when you think about it.

Just because there are bazaar beginnings or strange chemical compounds in traditional medicine doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a firm place in life. Yet in reality there are many times when traditional practices are not cutting the muster, so to speak. The patient is still ill or in pain despite the best attempts to correct it. Bringing the wholeness of the holistic practices right into the picture can often pinpoint what doctors can not.

The most effective way to use each of these methods is to find a reasonable balance. Being aware of what your options are is much more powerful than blindly following one path or another. When you understand that the opposing practice might have a better alternative for you, then you will make a more educated decision. Those who blend holistic medicine into their lives tend to recover at a faster rate than those who don’t.

Holistic practitioners also find that their patients are not usually unhealthily overweight and experience a greater sense of confidence in their likely recovery. Heart and lung problems tend to ease with combined practices, and have lower blood pressure with the combination of treatment methods.

It’s not that our modern and truly fantastic abilities in medical science are not warranted or appreciated. They are necessary and wondrous when there is a need for them. What isn’t necessary is overmedicating the population without informing them fully that there are often other safe choices that they can explore.