FAQ

Alternative Medicine
Q. What is Alternative Medicine?
A. Alternative Medicine, often referred to with commonly used terms as Complementary Medicine, Natural Medicine, Integrative Medicine or Wholistic Medicine, is a model of medicine that uses a variety of healing therapies and interventions, some of which are quite ancient with thousands of years of experience. Practitioners who practice this type of medicine look at the “whole person”, body, mind and spirit, to identify the root causes and imbalances of illness and disease. These practitioners believe that through nutrition, vitamin, mineral and at times herbal supplementation, along with exercise, stress management and prayer, the body has its own natural restorative powers. In addition to these tenets, this model of medicine takes a least invasive approach (more natural) that fosters a well-balanced, well nourished body that will resist illness and disease, fight infection, heal and age gracefully.

Q. What questions should I ask an alternative/complementary practitioner?
A. For any treatment, we recommend that you ask the provider the following questions:

Q. When I have done Dr. Atkins diet or a fruit and vegetable fast I find exercise difficult. My muscles feel weak. What's missing?
A. You may be missing complex carbohydrates. It is quite possible to be low in the complex carbohydrates, one of the main sources of sustained energy to the muscles. These would include beans and whole grains, or any high fiber food, which have many other health benefits, such as reduction of cancer and heart disease.

You might also need L-glutamine or L-arginine supplements, both of which are amino acids helpful for muscle strength and repair. Typical doses are 2-4 grams of each per day, or up to 8 grams of the glutamine.

Conventional Medicine
Q. What is Conventional Medicine?
A. Convention Medicine, often referred to with commonly used terms as Orthodox Medicine, Western Medicine, Allopathic Medicine, and Modern Medicine is a model of medicine that defines health as the absence of disease. This type of medicines’ focus is on diagnosis and treatment of illnesses and disease and usually looks at one body part at a time. Conventional medicine is divided into specialties of body parts and organs. Its value is in emergency, acute and infectious care. Drugs, surgery and radiation are used most frequently for treatment. Very little emphasis is on prevention.

Q. When I get a prescription from the doctor, I can never understand what the abbreviations stand for. Can you help me?
A. Here are some very common meanings to the abbreviations.
ac - before meals
ad lib - at pleasure
bid - twice a day
cum - with
disp #30 - pharmacist should dispense 30 pills
et - and
gtt - drops
hs - at bedtime
npo - nothing by mouth
pc - after meals
po - by mouth
prn - as needed
qd - every day
qh - every hour
qid - four times a day
Rx - prescription
semis - a half
Siq - let it be labeled
sine - without
stat - immediately
tid - three times a day

Q. What are placebo effects?
A. When doctors do medical research, they are always on the lookout for effects that appear to be due to a treatment but in reality are due to other factors. This is particularly the case when symptoms of an illness are variable and affected by stress or emotions. It is also an important consideration when the signs of an illness are subjective (reported by the patient) rather than objective (measured by a lab test or other equipment). However, even objective testing can be influenced by subjective feelings.

Symptoms are also affected by expectations of the test subject and even the person administering the test. These are the reasons that medical researchers introduce controls to their studies - to find out if the results are due to these expectations. Placebo comes from the Latin word meaning to please - the patient trying to please the doctor by reporting that their symptoms are better as a result of the doctor's treatment. The symptoms may actually be better, because we know that the brain has a strong influence on the healing process. But the symptoms may not be influenced by the treatment, which is what the study is trying to determine. This is what is meant by the placebo effect.

Q. Do I need Premarin(R) after or during menopause, and what are the alternatives?
A. Since the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) study has been halted as a result of more risks than benefits the answer is NO. Bio identical hormones, meaning hormones that are the same as your body produces are a much safer and more effective intervention to assist women during the menopausal years. The use of any hormone should be determined by a saliva test to measure the hormone levels.

After menopause (the cessation of the menstrual cycles) women do often benefit from estrogen replacement therapy but the risks are too great today as we know them. There are many alternatives that are safer and should be explored. Menopause is associated with hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, and loss of bone density (osteoporosis). Estrogen is still being prescribed to treat hot flashes, osteoporosis and heart disease however, the jury is no longer out and the clinical indications are clear in that all of this information about the benefits of Premarin is now debunked due to increased risks.

Because this information is finally getting into the hands of the consumers the use of this dangerous therapy has dropped significantly and is no longer an ideal therapy, nor was it ever!
Premarin(R) is a mixture of estrogens derived from pregnant mares' urine (thus the name), which is not the same as that found in humans. The estrogens in horse urine (including estrone, equilin, and equilenin) are stronger than the balance of human estrogens, which consists mainly of estriol, estrone, and estradiol, in approximately an 8:1:1 ratio. Stronger estrogens pose more of a risk of side effects and long term health problems than the proper human estrogen balance.

Among the potential problems with Premarin(R) are an increased risk of gallstones, breast tenderness or enlargement, fluid retention, migraines, depression, and excessive blood clotting in the veins (thrombophlebitis). The Journal of the American Medical Association says that no form of hormone therapy that combines estrogen and progestin is worth the elevated risk of breast cancer or heart disease.

Supplements of natural progesterone (not Provera(R), which is a synthetic analogue of progesterone) helps to balance the estrogen. This further reduces risks, and provides some of its own benefits. Progesterone appears to increase bone density, as opposed to simply slowing the loss. Even at 72 years old, natural progesterone may help you to build bone density. As your body can make estrogens from progesterone, sometimes it provides all the benefits you need without taking the additional estrogens.

Increased soy products in the diet (such as tofu, tempeh, and miso) appear to help as a mild estrogen source to reduce hot flashes and breast cancer. Cultures with a high soy intake have low incidence of these problems, presumably because of the estrogenic isoflavones such as genistein that they contain. This does not mean that one should overdue their consumption of soy products. The use of them in moderation is a good and safe intervention. Elimination of sugar,sodas, animal protein, caffeine and alcohol will reduce the urinary excretion of calcium. Dietary supplements of the mineral boron (3 mg daily) also appear to help maintain bone density.

Essential fatty acids, vitamin E and bioflavonoid supplements can help to treat or prevent hot flashes. A good rule of thumb is 1000 mg of mixed bioflavonoids twice a day, 400-800 IU of vitamin E, and supplements of 240 mg gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, found in evening primrose oil, borage oil or black currant oil).

Black cohosh is an herb that has been well studied and shown to be helpful with many of the symptoms of menopause. A standardized extract of black cohosh has mild estrogenic activity, and has been shown to help with hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, and other symptoms of menopause. Whether it helps with osteoporosis is not as clear, but it is very likely considering its biochemistry. Vitex agnus-castus is another herb that is effective for the symptoms of menopause.

Q. What is a double-blind test?
A. We have all heard of "double-blind" studies, but what does that mean? And are they always the essential standard of scientific data that we need to be confident that our information is accurate and helpful to our health?

A clinical trial is a prospective study in which the participants are placed into two groups based on a random division (to avoid bias in subject selection), and the subjects are not aware of which group they are in, the treatment or the control (a single-blind study). If the researchers also do not know which group is which before they break the code (they are coded for later evaluation) it is called a double-blind study. This is important because just knowing you are in treatment can influence the outcome – through the power of the mind to influence healing.

Even when the researchers know which group is which, they may pass subtle hints to the subjects, subconsciously or otherwise, that may influence the results. If the treatment is with medication, the control group is given an inactive pill called a placebo. Thus you will see references to "randomly-assigned, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trials." (And some people refer to a triple-blind study where no one knows what is going on.)

Medical practitioners like to see "randomly assigned, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over, clinical trials" in order to be sure that the results are meaningful, but the vast majority of medical practice as it is actually being done in the doctor’s office every day is not supported by such scientific data. This does not mean that the practice is wrong or bad, but only that medicine is an art as well as a science, and we can appreciate and benefit from the wisdom and understanding of the practitioner as well as the science of medicine.

Herbal Remedies
Q. What should I do if an ADVERSE EVENT happens with herbal medicine?
A. Contact the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Adverse Events with Herbal Medicines-1-800 FDA-1088. If this is an emergency situation, dial 911 and/or consult with the Poison Control Center in your area; National Poison Control Center is 1-800-962-1253.

Q. Are there any herbal remdies for the common cold?
A. Listed below are some herbal remedies. There are several options. Find one that works best for you.

Echinacea is at the top of the list. This Native American remedy has become the most popular herbal remedy in the US. Laboratory and clinical studies show it activates white blood cells to fight off viruses and bacteria. It’s best used at the first sign, sniffle or scratchy throat. Ask any herbal specialist or pharmacist how to use it best.

Astragalus has been used by the Chinese for centuries. It has immune-boosting capabilities and antiviral activity.

Elderberry better known as Sambucus Canadensis is another Native American remedy. Laboratory research has shown that an extract of the berries inhibits the growth of viruses, especially influenza.
Garlic does a lot more than keep your friends away. Before penicillin was discovered, this pungent herb was used to treat infections on the battlefield. Garlic has direct antiviral activity. The best way for quickest results is to mash one or two raw cloves, mix them with a little raw honey and eat them quickly. If this does not suit your palate, crush the garlic in a green leafy salad with vinegar and oil dressing. If neither of these ways are palatable, take one or two garlic capsules 3-4 times per day.

Horseradish makes a spicy experience. It provides temporary relief for stuffed sinuses without breaking down the immune system.

Zinc and Vitamin C are old standbys. Zinc lozenges soothe throat pain. The brand Cold-eeze has been documented as providing the greatest relief through a study by the Cleveland Clinic. Vitamin C taken before and during the onset of invaders keeps the immune system stimulated and ready for battle. Linus Pauling the, the grandaddy of Vitamin C research used 10 grams per day. Yes, that is 10-1000 mg capsules daily!

Q. What is Saw Palmetto?
A. Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a small palm tree, up to 8-10 feet high, that grows in the southeastern coastal states of North America. The tree has large, fan-like leaves, and the berries produced by the tree are about the size of a grape, with a deep reddish-black to brown color. These berries have a long history of use in botanical medicine for disorders of the urinary tract, especially by Native Americans. If you are reading the medical literature or magazines on saw palmetto, you may see it called Sabal serrulata, Serenoa repens, or by the trade name Permixon®, but these are all names for the same botanical.

More recently, extracts from saw palmetto berries have been medically researched in Europe for their benefits in treating disorders of the prostate gland. These oily extracts are fat soluble, and are called liposterolic extracts. (Sterols are the same base molecules that you find in cholesterol and steroid hormones.) Most of the research on saw palmetto comes from France and Germany, where the use of botanical medicines is more accepted and better researched than in the United States.

Its main use is in treating benign enlargement of the prostate, and the resultant symptoms related to obstruction of urine flow. The typical dose is 160 mg twice a day of the standardized extract.

Q. Is bilberry a useful herb for vision?
A. Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), is a relative of the common blueberry, but contains more of certain therapeutic compounds. It has a high content of a variety of anthocyanosides, which improve capillary and connective tissue strength. As with many plant pigments, it has antioxidant activity which protects us from free-radical damage. Bilberry also stimulates the production of visual pigment, which can help with night vision (the story has it that British aviators used it to help them with night missions during the war). I commonly recommend 100-300 mg daily of standardized extract.

Remember that any supplement program is not meant to substitute for a healthy diet, and there are always other nutrients that work together for various physiological functions (with vision, they include carotenoids, such as lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene, vitamins E and C, flavonoids and trace minerals).

Nutrition
Q. Do I need to be concerned about the pesticides and insecticides used on fruits and vegetables?
A. If you can buy organic, it is preferable. According to the Environmental working Group and the Consumers Union, the two groups review pesticide data from the USDA and FDA, the following is a list of produce most likely to contain toxic pesticide residues:

One of the pesticides found on apples, peaches and green beans is methyl parathion, an organophosphate pesticide that can affect the central nervous system.

Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set lower limits for methyl parathion and several other pesticides, which will be gradually phased in over the next six years.
It’s not necessarily the toxic residues on the fruits and vegetables alone, but a combination of toxicity we are exposed to from all other food sources that create a negative affect on the state of health. It’s best to avoid as much pesticide and insecticide exposure as possible to decrease the chances of illness and disease.

Q. What are flavonoids?
A. Many of our vegetable sources of nutrition are rich in pigments called flavonoids, or bioflavonoids, that are not only colorful and attractive but are also important sources of health benefits. They help to prevent serious diseases and the degenerative problems associated with oxidative free-radical damage. Hundreds, if not thousands, of these flavonoids occur in plants that are common in ethnic diets around the world. Unfortunately, Americans eat very few fruits and vegetables, so they miss the many benefits of these substances. (The most common "vegetable" that kids eat today is—you guessed it, french fries! which is not really a vegetable at all, but a carrier for highly processed and overcooked hydrogenated fats, while potatoes themselves have virtually no fat.) Even more exciting, the medical literature now supports the view that supplements of flavonoids can be healing substances that can substitute for drugs for many patients or reduce the doses of medication that they need. Many of the flavonoids have recently been included in the term "phytochemicals," which just means "plant chemicals." Flavonoids protect against cancer and heart disease and they enhance the activity of vitamin C.

One good example is quercetin. It is a yellow-green flavonoid found in red and yellow onions (but not in white onions), although the amounts found in foods are relatively small compared to therapeutic doses. In allergic reactions, histamine is released from mast cells in the tissues. The membranes of these cells are stabilized by quercetin, so their histamine is not released as readily, thus reducing the allergic response. (Interestingly, a synthetic flavonoid called "cromolyn sodium" is used for allergies under the brand name Intal®). Effective doses of quercetin range from 800-1200 mg daily, far higher than the amount found in foods. This is important because sometimes people may try supplements in too low a dose, and then give up without getting results.

Vitamins and Minerals
Q. How do I know if I am buying a quality product? There are so many different vitamins and manufacturers?
A. There are a number of programs the supplemental industry has developed that support the implementation of internal quality control, university research and clinical studies using dietary supplements and validated testing methods for herbal products.

Since 1990, the industry’s trade association, the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) has been randomly selecting supplement makers’ manufacturing facilities for analysis to see if the label matches the content.

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. The main standards are, purity, not watered down, safety, not contaminated or toxic, and efficacy, it performs as advertised. An independent certifying body will inspect supplement makers’ manufacturing facilities to see if NNFA-specified (FDA approved) GMP standards are being met.

Other important validations are that vitamin bottles should have an expiration date and the company should have a money back guarantee.

Another great and growing resource to find QUALITY in natural supplements is the website www.consumerlab.com. This site provides consumer and healthcare professionals results from independent labs on several dietary supplements. It’s a good site to do some comparison shopping and to learn more about the companies that are producing these products.

Another good link is The Natural Pharmacy, www.tnp.com This site enables consumers to make sound decisions on natural dietary products. It provides a balanced approach of how to evaluate the need of healthcare interventions from both the conventional and natural prospective.

All of the above resources will assist you as a consumer to make valid decisions when purchasing dietary and herbal supplements. Be sure to stay connected to www.preservion.com for more consumer friendly tips….

Health Disclaimer: The information provided on this site should not be considered as personal medical advice. Readers should research and consult with appropriate healthcare practitioners on matters related to their personal health and well-being. The information and opinions on this site are believed to be accurate and scientifically sound, based upon the best judgment available to the author. References are noted where appropriate. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions. Copyright © 2007, Preservion, Inc. All rights reserved