Two American Herbs: Saw Palmetto, Black Cohosh

Transcription

1 Two American Herbs: Saw Palmetto, Black Cohosh

2 Herbs as Medicine Plant medicines are the most widely used medicines in the world today. An estimated eighty percent (80%) of the world's population employs herbs as primary medicines. Drugstore shelves in the US are stocked mostly with synthetic remedies. In other parts of the world the situation is quite different. In parts of Europe, for example, pharmacies dispense herbs prescribed by physicians. Information courtesy of Chris Kilham, the Medicine Hunter

3 Synthetic vsnatural What happened to herbal medicine in the US? In the 1930s, synthetic drugs began to replace herbal medicines on pharmacy shelves Synthetic drugs are single ingredient molecules; plant medicines generally contain multiple compounds working in harmony The discovery of germs led to the idea of a specific cure for a specific ailment synthetic drugs were in, and herbal medicine was largely forgotten Medicine derived from plants came to mean one compound extracted from plants, replicated in a laboratory, and mass-produced

4 Examples of Natural Products that Were Used to Develop Prescription Drugs Many synthetic drugs that are well known and used today were first discovered in natural forms Aspirin from white willow bark Digoxin (used to treat heart disease) from foxglove Capsaicin cream for itching and pain from chili pepper Vincaalkaloids used to treat some types of cancer from the periwinkle plant

5 Advantages of Herbal Medicines Can work as effectively as synthetic prescription drugs with fewer or no side effects Are much less expensive than prescription drugs Many have been used for centuries modern research has verified their effects for health

6 North American s Natural Pharmacy Many herbal medicines grow as native plants in North America Some of the less well known include Stoneroot(for heart and kidney disease) Eyebright (for eye problems) Devils club (blood purifier; reducing blood sugar levels) Wild indigo (immune stimulant) 2very well known native herbal medicines are Saw palmetto and black cohosh

7 Saw Palmetto Serenoa repens Found in the southeast United States A fan palm spiky leaves sticking out from the center Medicinal part of the plant is the fruit In the early 1900s, saw palmetto berries were eaten by men to treat urinary tract problems, increase sperm production, and boost libido Until 1950, saw palmetto was officially recognized as a drug to treat urinary problems; along with almost all herbal medicines it fell out of favor in the United States after that but remained very popular in Europe

8 Problems with the Prostate Gland Nightly bathroom trips can be a common occurrence as men get older Cause an enlarged prostate gland (BPH) The prostate gland wraps around the urethra; when it swells it puts pressure on the urethra, reducing the flow of urine; the bladder has to work harder to empty Over time, the bladder becomes very sensitive and will contract when it contains only a small amount of urine Have the urge to urinate more frequently Produce only small amounts of urine at a time Prostate problems are common: 50% of all men over the age of 50 experience BPH and 80% of all men over the age of 70 experience BPH.

9 Saw Palmetto and the Prostate How does it work? High levels of a type of harmful testosterone are associated with BPH. Saw palmetto reduces the conversion of testosterone to these harmful metabolites [dihydrotestosterone] (5-alpha-reductase inhibitor) Similar to the prescription drug finasteride How well does it work? Studies have shown that saw palmetto can significantly reduce the number of nighttime awakenings to urinate and increase urinary flow How much should be taken? 320 mg daily is the typical recommendations; combine with stinging nettle and mg of zinc daily Did you know? Saw palmetto is ½ to 1/3 the price of prescription drugs for BPH; it works faster and with fewer side effects Prescription drugs can cause impotence and reduced libido.

10 Other uses for Saw Palmetto Male and Female Pattern Baldness By reducing dihydrotestosterone (the same metabolite of testosterone associated with BPH) saw palmetto may help reduce hair loss associated with androgenic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness)

11 Black cohosh Grows wild in the woodlands of eastern North American Used by Native Americans as an antiinflammatory, pain reliever, and sedative By the mid 1800 s, black cohosh was associated with female problems and the other uses were forgotten With the discovery of hormone-replacement therapy black cohosh itself was largely forgotten, especially in the United States Black cohosh remained popular in Europe and much of the research on black cohosh was done in Germany

12 Menopause Not a cliff event signaled by the gradual decline of estrogen production As estrogen levels go down, many women experience symptoms Hot flashes and night sweats Weight gain Sleep issues Anxiety or irritability Most common recommendation relieve symptoms with hormone replacement therapy HRT has been associated with increased risk of stroke, cancer, blood clots and Alzheimer s disease

13 Black cohosh for menopause relief Black cohosh has been found as effective as hormone replacement at reducing menopause symptoms without the adverse effects of HRT In one clinical study 46% of women taking black cohosh were free of hot flashes, while no women in the placebo group was hot-flash free Black cohosh is not estrogenic, so it is safe for women with a history of breast cancer Exact mechanism of action not fully understood, but thought to be a selective estrogen receptor modifier binds to brain and vaginal cells, but NOT estrogen receptors in the breast or uterus

14 Benefits of Black Cohosh Reduces hot flashes and night sweats Protects bones from the weakening associated with estrogen loss Eases menstrual cramps Thickens vaginal lining and helps reduce vaginal dryness How much should I take? mg of black cohosh, or use in combination with hops and pomegranate give it time to work!

15 Conclusion Many beneficial medicines can be found growing in our own neighborhoods and parks As more research is applied to these plants, we are finding that traditional healers were right, and these plants ARE safe and effective treatments for many health problems