February 2013 The AC Phoenix 3
Old School Remedies Doctors Love
Today, we rely a lot on modern medicine and drugs. But, many times, our grandpar
ents relied on cures that could be found in the kitchen. As it turns out, that trove is
still rich with effective remedies.
In fact, even modern medicine relies on plants more than many of us realize, says
Catherine Utbricht, PharmD, senior attending pharmacist at Massachusetts General
Hospital and chief editor of publications for the Natural Standard Research Collabo
ration, which evaluates scientific data on herbs.
"Practically all of the most widely used drugs have an herbal origin," Ulbricht says.
"The number one OTC medication, aspirin, is a synthetic version of a compound
found in the willow tree. Many statins are based on fungi; and Tamiflu originated
from Chinese star anise."
Following, you'll find a host of age-old remedies whose remarkable effectiveness has
been confirmed by new research. Because botanical medicines can interact with oth
er drugs, consult your doctor before taking them. The exceptions are the common
food items-onions, parsley, and cayenne-when consumed in natural form and con
ventional amounts.
Lemon Balm
Tradition says: Melissa officinalis, a lemon-scented member of the mint family, has
long been used to banish anxiety, boost memory, and aid sleep and digestion. It is
- "good against the biting of venomous beasts, comforts the heart, and driveth away
all melancholy and sadnesse," wrote Elizabethan-era herbalist John Gerard in 1597.
Got a presentation or other stressful situation to deal with? A cup of tea made of
lemon balm may help you sleep soundly the night before and keep you calm and
focused.
Research suggests this plant is effective in extreme situations too. Four weeks of lem
on balm aromatherapy cut agitation in patients with severe dementia, reports a 2002
study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
Lemon balm appears to calm an overactive thyroid (Graves' disease), according to
Eric Yarnell, ND, an assistant professor of botanical medicine at Bastyr University. It
also fights viruses; recent studies indicate that lemon balm cream speeds healing of
oral herpes lesions and reduces the frequency of outbreaks.
Get the benefit: For lemon balm's calming effects, try a daily tea made with one-half
to one full dropper of tincture or 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried herb steeped in 1 cup of
hot water for 5 to 10 minutes, says herbalist Linda Different Cloud, a PhD candidate
in ethnobotany at Montana State University. Ask your doctor first if you take thyroid
medication, as the botanical may change the amount you need. To use topically, fol
low the instructions on OTC creams, such as Cold Sore Relief or WiseWays Herbals
Lemon Balm Cream, available online or at drugstores or health food stores.
Onions
Tradition says: Onions are considered cure-alls in many cultures. In Middle Eastern
traditional medicine, they were prescribed for diabetes. During the early 20th cen
tury in the United States, William Boericke, MD, recommended onions for respirato
ry and digestive problems in his influential medical treatise. Homeopathic Materia
Medica. Believing that onions would help improve athletic performance, ancient
Greek Olympians scarfed them down, drank their juice, and rubbed them on their
bodies before competitions.
Research proves: A stack of new studies has confirmed many old-time uses of on
ions. Their thiosulfinates (sulfur compounds responsible for their smell) reduce dia
betes symptoms and protect against cardiovascular disease. Quercetin, a flavonoid
found in onions, prevents the inflammation associated with allergies and also pro
tects against stomach ulcers and colon, esophageal, and breast cancers. And it looks
like the ancient Olympians had It right: A 2010 study in the International Journal
of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that quercetin extract increased
endurance by 13%.
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Get the benefit: Onions may keep the doctor away even better than apples do. Your
body absorbs quercetin from onions at least 3 times faster than it does from apples
(or from tea, another top source), says a report for the Federation of European Bio
chemical Societies. To get the most thiosulfinates, choose red or yellow onions."The
more colorful, the better,"says Michael Havey, PhD, a USDA geneticist and University
of Wisconsin professor of horticulture. Heat diminishes the thiosulfinates, so eat on
ions raw or lightly cooked, Havey adds."Make them a regular part of a vegetable-and
fruitfilled diet."
Cayenne Pepper
Tradition says: Columbus is credited with transporting cayenne peppers-also called
chiles, after their Aztec name, chil-from the New World to the Old. Consumed in the
Americas for some 7,000 years, the fiery-flavored pods reminded the explorer of black
pepper, a highly prized-and pricey-spice in Europe at the time. The easy-to-grow
chile quickly assumed a central role in traditional cookery and remedies worldwide;
folk medicine practitioners used it for everything from pain relief to aphrodisiacs.
Research proves: Capsaicin, the ingredient that gives cayenne its heat, is best known
today for pain relief-easing muscle aches, postoperative discomfort, and arthritis.
Studies show that it tamps down chemical messengers that transmit pain messages
in the brain. The latest research indicates that the sizzling spice may also assist in
weight control. A 2009 paper in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports
that capsaicin-related compounds helped people lose abdominal fat. Cayenne also
appears to control blood sugar. Study participants who ate a lunch containing cap
saicin had higher blood levels of a sugar-regulating hormone and less ghrelin, the
"hunger hormone,"than those who ate a bland meal, reported the European Journal
of Nutrition last year.
Get the benefit: For pain relief, follow package instructions on OTC capsaicin oint-
' ments and creams, including Zostrix or Capzasin-HP Arthritis Pain Relief, available in
drugstores or online. No dose has been established for weight control: however, cay
enne peppers are on the FDA's Generally Recognized As Safe list, so add fresh chiles
to taste in your favorite dishes (or, more conveniently, powdered cayenne, available
in supermarkets). Chop finely, then cook them in soups and stews or add them un
cooked to salad dressings.
Plantain
Tradition says: Plantain, or Plantago major, a low-growing, oval-leafed plant found
all over the globe, is a traditional remedy for skin ailments. Hildegard von Bingen, a
12th-century Benedictine abbess, healer, composer, and eventually saint, suggested
applying it to insect bites in her renowned medical treatise, Physica. Native Ameri
cans apply plantain poultices to insect stings, wounds, burns, and more, says Differ
ent Cloud, who lives on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North and South Da
kota. (Note: Do not confuse this leafy plant with a very different, banana-like tropical
fruit that happens to have the same name.)
Research proves: The plant's antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties help
heal breaks in the skin, researchers have found, its soothing effects work internally
too: Psyllium, the seed of one type of plantain, is the source of the fiber in some
laxatives.