Naomi Martinez

About Naomi Martinez

http://www.H3MP.com

Posts by Naomi Martinez:

February192017

www.UMM.edu

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5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)

Overview

5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a chemical that the body makes from tryptophan (an essential amino acid that you get from food). After tryptophan is converted into 5-HTP, the chemical is changed into another chemical called serotonin (a neurotransmitter that relays signals between brain cells). 5-HTP dietary supplements help raise serotonin levels in the brain. Since serotonin helps regulate mood and behavior, 5-HTP may have a positive effect on sleep, mood, anxiety, appetite, and pain sensation.

5-HTP is not found in the foods we eat, although tryptophan is found in foods. Eating foods with tryptophan does not increase 5-HTP levels very much, however. As a supplement, 5-HTP is made from the seeds of an African plant called Griffonia simplicifolia.

In 1989, the presence of a contaminant called Peak X was found in tryptophan supplements. Researchers believed that an outbreak of eosinophilic myalgia syndrome (EMS, a potentially fatal disorder that affects the skin, blood, muscles, and organs) could be traced to the contaminated tryptophan, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration pulled all tryptophan supplements off the market. Since then, Peak X was also found in some 5-HTP supplements, and there have been a few reports of EMS associated with taking 5-HTP. However, the level of Peak X in 5-HTP was not high enough to cause any symptoms, unless very high doses of 5-HTP were taken. Because of this concern, however, you should talk to your health care provider before taking 5-HTP, and make sure you get the supplement from a reliable manufacturer. (See “Precautions” section.)

5-HTP may help treat a wide variety of conditions related to low serotonin levels, including the following:

Depression

Preliminary studies indicate that 5-HTP may work as well as certain antidepressant drugs to treat people with mild-to-moderate depression. Like the class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which includes fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), 5-HTP increases the levels of serotonin in the brain. One study compared the effects of 5-HTP to fluvoxamine (Luvox) in 63 people and found that those who were given 5-HTP did just as well as those who received Luvox. They also had fewer side effects than the Luvox group. However, these studies were too small to say for sure if 5-HTP works. More research is needed.

Fibromyalgia

Research suggests that 5-HTP can improve symptoms of fibromyalgia, including pain, anxiety, morning stiffness, and fatigue. Many people with fibromyalgia have low levels of serotonin, and doctors often prescribe antidepressants. Like antidepressants, 5-HTP raises levels of serotonin in the brain. However, it does not work for all people with fibromyalgia. More studies are needed to understand its effect.

Insomnia

In one study, people who took 5-HTP went to sleep quicker and slept more deeply than those who took a placebo. Researchers recommend 200 to 400 mg at night to stimulate serotonin, but it may take 6 to 12 weeks to be fully effective.

Migraines and Other Headaches

Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed for migraine headaches. Studies suggest that high doses of 5-HTP may help people with various types of headaches, including migraines. However, the evidence is mixed, with other studies showing no effect.

Obesity

A few small studies have investigated whether 5-HTP can help people lose weight. In one study, those who took 5-HTP ate fewer calories, although they were not trying to diet, compared to those who took placebo. Researchers believe 5-HTP led people to feel more full (satiated) after eating, so they ate less.

A follow-up study, which compared 5-HTP to placebo during a diet and non-diet period, found that those who took 5-HTP lost about 2% of body weight during the non-diet period and another 3% when they dieted. Those taking placebo did not lose any weight. However, doses used in these studies were high, and many people had nausea as a side effect. If you are seriously overweight, see your health care provider before taking any weight-loss aid. Remember that you will need to change your eating and exercise habits to lose more than a few pounds.

Dietary Sources

You can’t get 5-HTP from food. The amino acid tryptophan, which the body uses to make 5-HTP, can be found in turkey, chicken, milk, potatoes, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, turnip and collard greens, and seaweed.

Available Forms

5-HTP is made from tryptophan in the body, or can be taken as a supplement. Supplements are made from extracts of the seeds of the African tree Griffonia simplicifolia. 5-HTP can also be found in many multivitamin and herbal preparations.

How to Take It

Pediatric

5-HTP should not be given to children.

Adult

Health care professionals generally recommend 50 mg of 5-HTP taken 1 to 3 times per day. Some studies have used higher doses, but because 5-HTP can be toxic at high doses, you should talk to your health care provider before raising the dose. Your health care provider can help determine the right dose for you.

For anxiety or depression, the dose is 150 to 300 mg daily.

Precautions

Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, you should take dietary supplements only under the supervision of your health care provider.

Tryptophan use has been associated with the development of serious conditions, such as liver and brain toxicity, and with eosinophilic myalgia syndrome (EMS), a potentially fatal disorder that affects the skin, blood, muscles, and organs (see “Overview” section). Such reports prompted the FDA to ban the sale of all tryptophan supplements in 1989. As with tryptophan, EMS has been reported in 10 people taking 5-HTP.

Side effects of 5-HTP are generally mild and may include nausea, heartburn, gas, feelings of fullness, and rumbling sensations in some people. At high doses, serotonin syndrome, a dangerous condition caused by too much serotonin in the body, could develop. Talk to your health care provider before taking higher-than-recommended doses.

People with high blood pressure or diabetes should talk to their doctor before taking 5-HTP.

If you take antidepressants, you should not take 5-HTP (see “Possible Interactions” section).

People with liver disease, pregnant women, and women who are breastfeeding should not take 5-HTP.

Possible Interactions

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use 5-HTP without first talking to your health care provider.

Antidepressants — People who are taking antidepressant medications should not take 5-HTP without their health care provider’s supervision. These medications could combine with 5-HTP to cause serotonin syndrome, a dangerous condition involving mental changes, hot flashes, rapidly fluctuating blood pressure and heart rate, and possibly coma. Some antidepressant medications that can interact with 5-HTP include:

SSRIs: Citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft)
Tricyclics: Amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil)
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs): Phenelzine, (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate)
Nefazodone (Serzone)

Carbidopa — Taking 5-HTP with carbidopa, a medication used to treat Parkinson disease, may cause a scleroderma-like illness. Scleroderma is a condition where the skin becomes hard, thick, and inflamed.

Tramadol (Ultram) — Tramadol, used for pain relief, and sometimes prescribed for people with fibromyalgia, may raise serotonin levels too much if taken with 5-HTP. Serotonin syndrome has been reported in some people taking the two together.

Dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, and others) — Taking 5-HTP with dextromethorphan, found in cough syrups, may cause serotonin levels to increase to dangerous levels, a condition called serotonin syndrome.

Meperidine (Demerol) — Taking 5-HTP with Demerol may cause serotonin levels to increase to dangerous levels, a condition called serotonin syndrome.

Triptans (used to treat migraines) — 5-HTP can increase the risk of side effects, including serotonin syndrome, when taken with these medications:

Naratriptan (Amerge)
Rizatriptan (Maxalt)
Sumatriptan (Imitrex)
Zolmitriptan (Zomig)

Source: www.umm.edu

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February192017

www.WEBMD.com

5 htp0

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5-HTP is an amino acid. Amino acids are substances that build proteins in your body. 5-HTP is related to serotonin, a brain chemical that affects mood, sleep, and pain. It is available as a supplement and is generally considered safe, although some contaminated supplements have caused dangerous side effects.

Why do people take 5-HTP?

5-HTP supplements may raise levels of serotonin in the brain. Some studies have found that 5-HTP supplements help relieve depression. Some research showed that 5-HTP worked as well as some antidepressants.

5-HTP supplements also seem to help with fibromyalgia symptoms. In some studies, it’s eased pain, morning stiffness, and sleep problems.

People take 5-HTP for other conditions, including insomnia, anxiety, and obesity. There’s not enough evidence to know whether it works for these conditions.

There’s no standard dose for 5-HTP. For depression, dosages range from 150 to 300 milligrams a day. Ask your doctor for advice.

Can you get 5-HTP naturally from foods?

5-HTP is not in food. Your body makes 5-HTP from tryptophan, another amino acid. While tryptophan is in many foods, eating more of these foods doesn’t seem to have much effect on 5-HTP levels.

Source: www.webmd.com

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February192017

www.WEBMD.com

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Melatonin is a hormone found naturally in the body. Melatonin used as medicine is usually made synthetically in a laboratory. It is most commonly available in pill form, but melatonin is also available in forms that can be placed in the cheek or under the tongue. This allows the melatonin to be absorbed directly into the body.

People use melatonin to adjust the body’s internal clock. It is used for jet lag, for adjusting sleep-wake cycles in people whose daily work schedule changes (shift-work disorder), and for helping blind people establish a day and night cycle.

Melatonin is also used for the inability to fall asleep (insomnia); delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS); rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD); insomnia associated with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); insomnia due to certain high blood pressure medications called beta-blockers; and sleep problems in children with developmental disorders including autism, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disabilities. It is also used as a sleep aid after discontinuing the use of benzodiazepine drugs and to reduce the side effects of stopping smoking.

Some people use melatonin for Alzheimer’s disease or memory loss (dementia), bipolar disorder, a lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), insomnia caused by beta-blocker drugs, endometriosis, ringing in the ears, depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), mild mental impairment, nonalcoholic liver disease, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, an inflammatory disease called sarcoidosis, schizophrenia, migraine and other headaches, age-related vision loss, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bone loss (osteoporosis), a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia (TD), acid reflux disease, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), exercise performance, infertility, epilepsy, aging, for menopause, metabolic syndrome, for recovery after surgery, agitation caused by anesthesia, stress, involuntary movement disorder (tardive dyskinesia), changes in heart rate when you move from laying down to sitting up (postural tachycardia syndrome), delirium, inability to control urination, jaw pain, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis), and for birth control.

Other uses include breast cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, head cancer, neck cancer, and gastrointestinal cancer. Melatonin is also used for some of the side effects of cancer treatment (chemotherapy) including weight loss, nerve pain, weakness, and a lowered number of clot-forming cells (thrombocytopenia).

It is also used to calm people before they are given anesthesia for surgery.

The forms of melatonin that can be absorbed through the cheek or under the tongue are used for insomnia, shift-work disorder, and to calm people before receiving anesthesia for surgery.

Sometimes people apply melatonin to the skin to protect against sunburn.

Melatonin may also be injected into the muscle to help treat cancer.

How does it work?

Melatonin’s main job in the body is to regulate night and day cycles or sleep-wake cycles. Darkness causes the body to produce more melatonin, which signals the body to prepare for sleep. Light decreases melatonin production and signals the body to prepare for being awake. Some people who have trouble sleeping have low levels of melatonin. It is thought that adding melatonin from supplements might help them sleep.

Source: www.webmd.com

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February192017

www.DRUGS.com

Melatonin Info0

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What is melatonin?

Melatonin is a manmade form of a hormone produced in the brain that helps regulate your sleep and wake cycle.

Melatonin has been used in alternative medicine as a likely effective aid in treating insomnia (trouble falling asleep or staying asleep). It is also likely effective in treating sleep disorders in people who are blind.

Melatonin is also possibly effective in treating jet lag, high blood pressure, tumors, low blood platelets (blood cells that help your blood to clot), insomnia caused by withdrawal from drug addiction, or anxiety caused by surgery. A topical form of melatonin applied to the skin is possibly effective in preventing sunburn.

Melatonin has also been used to treat infertility, to improve sleep problems caused by shift work, or to enhance athletic performance. However, research has shown that it may not be effective in treating these conditions.

Other uses not proven with research have included treating depression, bipolar disorder, dementia, macular degeneration, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, enlarged prostate, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, nicotine withdrawal, and many other conditions.

It is not certain whether melatonin is effective in treating any medical condition. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA.

Melatonin is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Important information

Not all uses for melatonin have been approved by the FDA. Melatonin should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Melatonin is often sold as a dietary supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

The use of melatonin derived from animal pineal tissue may carry the risk of contamination or the means of transmitting viral material. The synthetic form of this medication does not carry this risk.

Follow all directions on the product label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use melatonin if you are allergic to it.

Before using melatonin, talk to your healthcare provider. You may not be able to use this medicine if you have certain medical conditions, especially:

diabetes;
depression;
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia;
high or low blood pressure;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or
if you are using any medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection.

It is not known whether melatonin will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this product without medical advice if you are pregnant.

High doses of this medicine may affect ovulation, making it difficult for you to get pregnant.

It is not known whether melatonin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this product without medical advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice.

How should I take melatonin?

If you choose to use melatonin, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. Do not use more of this product than is recommended on the label.

When considering the use of herbal supplements, seek the advice of your doctor. You may also consider consulting a practitioner who is trained in the use of herbal/health supplements.

Use the lowest dose of melatonin when you first start taking this product.

Take melatonin at bedtime, or when you are getting ready for sleep. If you use this product to treat jet lag, take the dose at bedtime on the day you arrive at your destination and keep using this product for 2 to 5 days.

If you take this product to treat other conditions not related to sleep, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions about when and how to take melatonin.

To take the orally disintegrating tablet:

Keep the tablet in its blister pack until you are ready to take it. Open the package and peel back the foil. Do not push a tablet through the foil or you may damage the tablet.
Use dry hands to remove the tablet and place it in your mouth.
Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing. If desired, you may drink liquid to help swallow the dissolved tablet.

Call your doctor if the condition you are treating with melatonin does not improve, or if it gets worse while using this product.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since melatonin is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking melatonin?

Melatonin may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery for a least 4 hours after taking this medicine. This product may also affect your sleep-wake cycle for several days if you are traveling through many different time zones.

Avoid using melatonin with other herbal/health supplements. It can increase your risk of bleeding, seizures, or low blood pressure. Using certain products together can increase these risks.

Avoid coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks, or other products that contain caffeine.

Melatonin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to melatonin: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Although not all side effects are known, melatonin is thought to be possibly safe when taken for a short period of time (up to 2 years in some people).

Common melatonin side effects may include:

daytime drowsiness;
depressed mood, feeling irritable;
stomach pain;
headache; or
dizziness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also:Side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect melatonin?

Taking this product with other drugs that make you sleepy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before taking melatonin with a sleeping pill, antidepressant, sedative, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, seizure medicine, or herbal/health supplements may also cause drowsiness (tryptophan, California poppy, chamomile, gotu kola, kava, St. John’s wort, skullcap, valerian, and others).

Do not take this medicine without medical advice if you are using any of the following medications:

an antibiotic;
aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol);
birth control pills;
insulin or oral diabetes medicine;
narcotic pain medicine;
stomach medicine – lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), ondansetron (Zofran);
ADHD medication – methylphenidate, Adderall, Ritalin, and others;
heart or blood pressure medicine – mexiletine, propranolol, verapamil;
medicine to treat or prevent blood clots – clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) – ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others; or
steroid medicine – prednisone, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with melatonin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this product guide.

Source: www.drugs.com

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February192017

www.NATURALALTERNATIVE.com

Lemongrass Info0

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The name Lemongrass gives away the fundamentals of the herb. It’s a grassy plant with a lemony flavor, but the name doesn’t even hint at its many advantages. Lemongrass is often found in Asian food for its strong flavor, but like many herbs used in Asian cuisine there are quite a few health benefits of lemongrass as well. This herb is accessible from just about any ethnic shop, health food store, online marketplace, or even within the aisle of many supermarkets. It contains antibacterial, curative, and antioxidant properties that make lemongrass a great alternative for a broad spectral range of common ailments.

1) Its Anti-septic
Some research suggests that the antiseptic properties of lemongrass to be more powerful than penicillin and streptomycin when used as a treatment for staph infections. Kathi Keville of the American Herb Association says that if used as a compress or a wash, that lemon grass combats various kinds of skin infections and infected sores due to these antiseptic properties.

2) Has Plenty of Antioxidants
Unstable free radicals interact together with the DNA and proteins of the cells in your system. These interactions can lead to chronic diseases like Alzheimers and cancer. The antioxidants in lemongrass have been shown to stop these reactions.

3) Fights off Infections
While clinical trials are essential to demonstrate these advantages conclusively, the Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases published an article showing how lemongrass can help to stop the growth of certain infections. The study also shows that lemongrass may treat fungal infections, but says that more clinical trials are necessary.

4) Anti-inflammatory
Research conducted by the Indian Institute of Toxicology found lemon grass extracts to be a successful remedy for inflammation. The powerful anti-oxidants in lemon grass reduced oxidative stress in mitochondrial membranes, investigators in the study claim.

5) It is an Oil Combatant
Lemon grass is commonly used within the cosmetics industry. It is found mainly in deodorants, soaps, and colognes not only for the pleasant and fresh aroma but also for its practical advantages. Mixing in 10-20 drops of the oil into a facial wash or conditioner, for example, would help with acne or oily hair as it helps to cut down on the production of oils. Be aware that some people might experience some skin irritation with this use.

6) Helps Heart Problems
Lemongrass can help to dilate and relax the walls of the body’s blood vessels.This may decrease the risk of hypertension as well as other related cardiovascular diseases.

7) Lowers Cholesterol
Based on a university study, lemongrass tea may possess a cholesterol-lowering effect. Consult with your physician prior to your use of lemongrass to deal with high cholesterol to see if it would work for your particular needs.

8) Deals With Stress
The volatile oils of lemongrass also demonstrate significant anti-stress action by regulating particular neuroreceptors when applied to mental performance. These results were found in lab animals and have not been yet been tested for people. As such, consult a physician before using lemongrass extracts to deal with stress.

9) Fights Cancer
A study published in PubMed states that lemongrass extracts can cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in certain cancer cell lines. Nevertheless, these gains haven’t been analyzed in patients, and much more research is necessary before lemongrass extracts may be used for cancer treatment, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Possible Side Effects of Lemongrass

Lemongrass isn’t connected with any bothersome or significant side effects when taken internally in recommended dosages. Cases are reported, however, by which individuals have developed skin rashes after drinking lemongrass tea. Those with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to lemongrass should be sure to avoid it. Lemongrass, along with other essential oils could cause allergic contact skin responses in certain individuals.

Lemongrass might lower blood glucose levels. Blood sugar levels might have to become monitored with a healthcare provider, and medication adjustments might be crucial if this happens. Lemongrass could cause minor increases in liver function tests, as well. Lemongrass is not to be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Because it tends to raise body heat, most people should avoid drinking lemongrass tea in surplus. Make sure that you consult a physician before you begin taking this herb if you’re experiencing any ailment. Promptly cease taking it in the event that you feel any side effect after using this herb.

Source: www.naturalalternativeremedy.com

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February192017

DR. JANE BUCKLE

Lemongrass Info0

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The higher myrcene content in this specific lemongrass oil makes it a powerful pain reliever. (Dr. Jane Buckle stresses the pain relieving effects of this lemongrass.)

Lemongrass is an effective as an antibacterial, effective against both gram- and gram+ pathogens. The citral in lemongrass makes it a skin irritant. Recent research indicates that Lemongrass vapors, by diffusion, are more effective against MRSA than those of any other essential oil tested. This indicates that diffusing Lemongrass to cleanse an area, or inhaling from a personal inhaler could be an effective part of an anti-staph or anti-MRSA routine.

Historically, the herbal form of Lemongrass has been used in traditional Indian medicine for infectious illnesses and fever. Recent research indicates that it has a sedating effect on the central nervous system.

The essential oil is stimulating and invigorating. It is helpful for treating symptoms of jet lag, clearing the head, and relieving fatigue.

Lemongrass essential oil is considered an excellent physical tonic. It is said to boost the parasympathetic nervous system which hastens recovery from illness. Battaglia states that Lemongrass stimulates glandular secretions and muscles to aid in digestion. Thus it could be useful for colitis, indigestion, and gastroenteritis.

Lemongrass is an effective skin toner, said to be effective for tightening open pores. There are those who recommend it for treating acne and oily skin. I do not recommend using it on troubled skin since it can be a skin irritant. Maximum safe dermal dilution is 0.7%.

Source: www.naturesgift.com

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February192017

www.ORGANICFACTS.net

Lemongrass Info0

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Health Benefits Of Lemongrass Essential Oil

The health benefits of Lemongrass Essential Oil can be attributed to its many beneficial properties as an analgesic, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antipyretic, antiseptic, astringent, bactericidal, carminative, deodorant, diuretic, febrifuge, fungicidal, galactogogue, insecticidal, nervine, sedative and tonic substance.

Lemongrass essential oil is extracted through the process of steam distillation of dried lemongrass. Lemongrass is known by the scientific names Cymbopogon Citratus or Andropogon Citratus. The main constituents of its essential oil are Myrcene, Citronellal, Geranyl Acetate, Nerol, Geraniol, Neral, Limonene and Citral.

As the name implies, lemongrass smells just like lemons, but it is milder, sweeter, and far less sour. This grass is used in countless beverages (including tea), desserts and other forms of culinary creations as a flavoring agent, where fresh lemon is not available or is not to be used because of its more potent flavor. It is widely used in Chinese and Thai recipes. It grows and spreads very fast like any other grass and fetches a good price in the market, which makes it a profitable and common item in organic and mainstream markets.

What’s more, lemongrass has many medicinal properties as well. The full explanation of the health benefits are explained below.

Health Benefits Of Lemongrass Essential Oil

Analgesic: Things that are considered an analgesic reduce pain and inflammation. Lemongrass Essential Oil helps relieve pain in muscles and joints, as well as toothaches and headaches resulting from viral infections like cough, cold, influenza, fever, and various poxes. It also helps cure general body pain resulting from strenuous activities and athletics.

Antidepressant: Lemongrass Oil boosts self esteem, confidence, hope and mental strength, and it uplifts spirits and fights depression. This can be very helpful to drive away depression due to failures in their career, personal life, insecurity, loneliness, stagnation, death in the family and many other reasons. This also relieves anxiety. As an antidepressant, lemongrass can be systematically administered to patients of acute depression who are undergoing rehabilitation after acute shock. Basically, take it with your tea and relax.

Antimicrobial and Antibacterial: Lemongrass has antimicrobial properties which makes it an inhibitor of microbial and bacterial growth in the body, both internally and externally. It is also known to be effective in inhibiting bacterial infections in the colon, stomach, urinary tracts, wounds, respiratory system, and other organ systems. while also helping to cure diseases resulting from bacterial or microbial infections such as typhoid, food poisoning, skin diseases, body odor, and malaria (caused due to protozoon).

Anti-pyretic: An anti-pyretic is an agent that brings down very high fevers. This is quite similar to a febrifuge but it is effective on very high fevers as well. This oil can bring down a fever when it is beginning to reach dangerous levels. This property of Lemongrass, which comes from its essential oils, is widely known and utilized. It is often served in tea for this very purpose.

Antiseptic: The antiseptic properties of Lemongrass Oil make it a good application for external and internal wounds as well as an ingredient of antiseptic lotions and creams. The antiseptic properties of this oil do not let the external and internal cuts and wounds become septic.

Astringent: An astringent helps the stoppage of blood flow by contraction of the blood vessels. If someone is bleeding profusely, you need to utilize an astringent to speed up clotting of the blood and stop the flow to save his or her life. The fact that lemongrass is an astringent helps in a different way too. It promotes contraction of gums, hair follicles, muscles, skin and blood vessels, thereby preventing loosening and falling out of teeth, hair loss and it reduces the flow of blood through the vessels. Some of these properties can be life-saving, so lemongrass is an essential source of astringent.

Carminative: Lemongrass Essential Oil can efficiently handle trouble people might have with excess flatulence. It not only helps to remove gas from the intestine, but also stops further gas from forming. Furthermore, it provides the excess gas a safe downward passage by relaxing the muscles in the abdominal region.

Deodorant: Lemongrass Oil is far better than many of the synthetic deodorants that are a big expense, a heavy impact on the environment, and have limited lasting power. Also, those types of deodorant can sometimes produce irritation on the skin and can exacerbate certain allergies. Lemongrass oil can be a far better choice as a deodorant because it does not do any of these things. In a diluted form, it serves as an efficient deodorant without any side effects. The best thing about this is that it is herbal, so there is no damage to your body or the environment.

Diuretic: Lemongrass Oil increases urination, both in frequency and in quantity. This may sound not that important but it can be very beneficial for health. When a person urinates, fats are lost from the body, because 4% of the volume of urine is composed of fats. Obviously, the more you urinate, the more you lose fat. Urination also promotes digestion and inhibits the formation of excess gas. It removes excess water from the body and reduces swelling. Its most important contribution is that it removes toxins from the body, not to mention its ability to reduce blood pressure. That is the reason that most pharmaceutical medications for lowering blood pressure induce frequent urination. Urination also helps clean out the kidneys.

Febrifuge: Lemongrass Oil helps bring down fevers by battling the infections from which the fever is caused, as well as by increasing perspiration, which induces sweating out of toxins.

Fungicidal: Lemongrass Oil has good fungicidal properties and may be used to cure fungal infections, both external and internal.

Galactogogue: Galactogogue is a substance or an agent that increases the formation of milk in the breasts. It also enhances the quality of that same milk. This property is very helpful for lactating mothers and the babies who need that vital source of food. Lemongrass oil is a Galactogogue. Apart from increasing milk production, it also helps babies in another way. Babies are prone to infections, so the antimicrobial and antibacterial properties of Lemongrass oil are also absorbed in the milk and thus indirectly help the baby avoid such infections.

Insecticidal: Lemongrass is quite popular as an insect repellant due to its insecticidal properties. It kills insects and also keeps them away, but there isn’t enough research to know exactly which insects it affects, so there is no promise on cockroaches!

Nervine: Lemongrass Essential Oil acts as a tonic for the nerves and the nervous system in general. It helps cure many nervous disorders such as shaking hands or limbs, nervousness, vertigo, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and convulsions, sluggishness, and lack of reflexes. It strengthens the nerves throughout the body and stimulates them.

Sedative: Being a sedative is perhaps one of the most important and most appreciated medicinal properties of Lemongrass Oil. It has a great soothing, sedating and calming effects on mind, cures inflammations, itching of skin and it relieves tension and anxiety. This feature can help patients of insomnia as well.

Tonic: An agent which tones up and boosts health is a tonic. Lemongrass Oil is a tonic in a very clear sense. It tones all the systems functioning in the body, such as respiratory system, digestive system, nervous system and excretory system and facilitates absorption of nutrients into the body, thus providing strength and boosting the immune system.

Other Benefits: Lemongrass essential oil helps to cure cellulite, fungal infections and digestive problems, while simultaenously reducing excessive perspiration.

A Few Words of Caution: It is likely to irritate the skin and produce other types of irritations too. Hence it should be avoided during pregnancy, and kept away from the eyes.

Blending: Lemongrass Essential Oil combines beautifully with the essential oils of Basil, Cedar Wood, Coriander, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Lavandin and Tea Tree.

How to make lemongrass oil?

Lemongrass oil can be produced relatively easily, through a standard steam distillation process. While it is easier to simply purchase your own pre-distilled variety, you can make lemongrass oil by taking two lemongrass stalks and either crushing it or mashing it with a mortar and pestle. The oil will be released, and it can be collected in a jar. Place the stalks in the oil mixture and let it sit for at least two days for maximum potency.

What is lemongrass oil good for?

Lemongrass oil has been widely praised by people around the world due to its analgesic, antimicrobial, diuretic, astringent and nervine effects. It can help to relieve pain, boost mood, protect the integrity of the immune system, speed up wound healing, stop excessive bleeding, prevent body odor, detoxify the body and stimulate the production of milk for breastfeeding women. It can also impact hormone levels and lower fevers.

How to use lemongrass essential oil?

There are a few different ways to use lemongrass essential oils, including topical and internal applications. You can choose to drink diluted lemongrass oil for its anti-inflammatory and hormone-modulating effects, and is also commonly used as an additive in teas and beverages as a flavoring agent. Finally, you can topically apply lemongrass oil to the skin, particularly in the case of acne or other skin irritations.

Where to buy lemongrass oil?

From the smallest natural health suppliers to major big-box stores, such as Walmart and Target, you can easily access and purchase lemongrass essential oil. Health stores like GNC and herbalists are also reliable sources to find this beneficial oil. You can make your own lemongrass oil, but the process is a bit lengthy.

Source: www.organicfacts.net

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February192017

www.FOXNEWS.com

Kanna Info0

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Among the many thousands of plants used medicinally around the world, about a hundred or so are mind and mood-modifying. Now, a plant from South Africa has made its way to North America, and it too promises significant mind enhancing effects.

Sceletium tortuosum, known by the native San people of South Africa as “Kanna,” enjoys a long history of native use – as early as 1662. The San people used to pick the plant, bury it to ferment it, then dry it. Once dried, sceletium was eaten, used as a snuff or even smoked, to produce its potent effects. The plant was also sometimes used as currency.

A good way to describe the effects of sceletium is through a simple metaphor. Think of your mind as a reasonably well-tuned four cylinder engine. About half an hour after consuming between 50 – 100 milligrams of sceletium, your mind is more like a twelve cylinder, turbo-charged racing engine. Soon your mind is overcome with startling clarity, a feeling that anything is possible, and a seemingly endless capacity for ideas and mental work. If coffee is a pick-me-up, sceletium is a jet ride to mental brilliance.

The staggering effects of sceletium seem primarily due to a group of alkaloids, notably mesembrine, mesembrenol and tortuosamine. These compounds interact with receptors in the brain, enhancing the production of dopamine, which is our primary inner pleasure chemical, and prolonging the activity of serotonin, a critically important mood compound. The net effect of sceletium ingestion is a feeling of tremendous well being, heightened awareness, mental alertness and a keen-mindedness that is quite pronounced.

But there is far more than just a feel good effect and terrific mental stimulation to sceletium. The plant appears to be a first-rate anti-depressant and anti-anxiety aid. It could potentially be used by people with low mental energy, mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety disorder.

In one study of the effects of sceletium reported in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, the main alkaloids of the plant demonstrated the capacity to extend the activity of serotonin. This activity, known as SSRI, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibition, is essentially how pharmaceutical antidepressant drugs work. The difference with sceletium is that it is a multi-compound plant and does not appear to demonstrate comparable hazardous effects of antidepressants, which can include gastrointestinal disorders, loss of sex drive, insomnia and exacerbated depression.

One major difference between sceletium and other agents used to manage depression or anxiety is that sceletium is available as an herbal supplement and does not require a prescription. Most people tolerate sceletium well, although there are some reports of mild headaches among users.

In its long history of use, no significant adverse effects of sceletium have been noted. This makes sceletium a worthy candidate for consideration in cases of depression and anxiety. Is sceletium a miracle cure? No. Will sceletium erase all cases of depression and anxiety? No. But sceletium will likely enjoy a significant spot in the market as an unusually effective mind and mood enhancer, and a good first option for mild to moderate mood disorders.

Source: www.foxnews.com

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February192017

www.SCELETIUM.org

Kanna Info0

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Sceletium – Kougoed – Kanna – A natural mood elevator

Sceletium tortuosum is a small groundcover plant native to Southern Africa. For hundreds of years the Hottentots of Southern Africa used Sceletium tortuosum as a mood enhancer, relaxant and empathogen. It is also known as Kanna or Kauwgoed, Kougoed and Canna.

Historically Sceletium tortuosum (Kanna) was chewed, smoked or used as snuff producing euphoria and alertness which gently fade into relaxation. If chewed in sufficient quantity Sceletium has a mild aneastheticeffect in the mouth, much like kava, and is used by the San tribes if you are about to have a tooth extracted, or in minute doses, for children with colic. A tea made from Sceletium/Kanna is sometimes used to wean alcoholics off alcohol.

History of Kanna

Sceletium tortuosum has a long history of use in South African. In fact it is in it’s 4th century of recorded use there. With written records dating back to 1662, Sceletium was a bartering currency. Traditionally, the prepared dried plant material (called Kanna or Kougoed) was chewed and the saliva swallowed, but it has also been made into teas and tinctures. Less commonly, it has been reported that it used to be inhaled as a snuff, or smoked, usually with the addition of other herbs.

Kanna was used in rural areas in very small doses as a treatment for colic in infants, added to a teaspoon of breast milk, and this use still survives in some local communities.

Chemistry and Pharmacologyof Kanna

The mood-elevating action of sceletium is caused by a number of alkaloids including mesembrine, mesembrenol and tortuosamine which interact with the brain’s dopamine and serotonin receptors. Mesembrine is a major alkaloid present in Sceletium. Mesembrine has been demonstrated to be a potent serotonin-uptake inhibitoand serotonin releasing agent.

This receptor-specific activity, and receptor activities also found on nicotinic, dopamine and nor-adrenaline sites certainly validate the traditional mood-elevating uses, and suggest additional therapeutic and wellness potential.

By isolating this and other bio-chemically active compounds, researchers are now confirming what many people have known for many hundreds of years, that Sceletium has a remarkable ability to effectively treat symptoms of anxiety.

Mesembrine is an alkaloid which is derived from the Sceletium Tortuosum plant and is now being acknowledged as a key active component in the ability of the plant to produce beneficial effects which are closely related to it are the alkaloids mesembrenone, mesembrenol and tortuosamine, which are also present and produce very similar effects to mesembrine.

Fermenting Kanna increases mesembrenone and decreases mesembrine.

It is a confirmed serotonin (re)-uptake inhibitor, as understood by the US Patent office, which means that it regulates the effects of one of the brain’s most important neurotransmitters.

Benefits and Uses of Kanna

Tablets and capsules of Sceletium / Kanna are being used successfully by a number of psychiatrists, psychologists and doctors with excellent results for anxiety states and mild to moderate depression; and they can also be used by the lay public as supplements to elevate mood and for stress and tension.

In addition to Sceletium’s common use for the stress and mental fatigue of modern industrial living, Sceletium has been used as a natural supplement in:

uplifts the mood
decrease anxiety, stress and tension
gives you energy

Sceletium elevates mood and decreases anxiety, stress and tension. Kanna has also been used as an appetite suppressant by shepherds walking long distances in arid areas. In intoxicating doses it can cause euphoria, initially with stimulation and later with sedation. Long-term use in the local context followed by abstinence has not been reported to result in a withdrawal state. Kanna is not hallucinogenic, and no severe adverse effects have been documented.

Sceletium is also being used as a natural anti-depressant that is said to be safer than many pharmaceutical alternatives.

Individuals suffering from depression and anxiety can benefit from Sceletium.

Mesembrine works thus:

The brain is made up of countless neurons, which transmit signals to each other only by jumping the gap (synapse) to neighboring neurons. The signal cannot however jump the synapse without assistance.
The message can only travel when the neuron releases a neurotransmitter to fill this gap and allow the signal to transient via it.
The receiving neuron has many points on its surface that which act as potential locks, each of which is known as a receptor and is effected by a particular type of neurotransmitter. When sufficient amounts of the neurotransmitter are received by the relevant receptor, a nerve impulse is started and the message continues to its ultimate destination. To permit recovery of the neuron to receive new messages, the brain takes away the neurotransmitter from the neuron receptors and permitting it to be sent back to the originating nerves, a process known as re-uptake.
In individuals suffering from depression, the neurotransmitter serotonin (also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine) is lacking. Mesembrine slows down the re-uptake process, making it more probable there will be more serotonin in the relevant receptors, greatly increasing the possibility that there will be sufficient levels to set up the signal transfer in all neighboring neurons.
Mesembrine allows the brain to function with reduced levels of serotonin, allowing time for natural levels to build up, whereupon the mesembrine dosage can be reduced or eliminated.

Doses of Kanna

A typical dose is between 50mg and 100mg once or twice day, usually taken after breakfast and after lunch. Less commonly this can be increased to 100mg twice a day, if necessary. In drug rehabilitation programs, under a physicians or psychiatrists supervision, the dose needed may be as high as 200mg twice a day.

Side Effects of Kanna

Very few people experience side-effects. The reported side-effects include occasional episodes of:

Mild headache
Slight nausea, no vomiting
Soft stool or loose stool with no cramping
Transient increase in anxiety or irritability an hour after initiating
treatment, which resolves after an hour or so
Insomnia: corrected by lowering the dose or taking the product not later than midday
A feeling of sedation: corrected by taking the product as a single 50mg dose at night

NO severe adverse effects have been documented from using Kanna.

Contraindications

There have been no confirmed reports of drug interactions, However, because of the neuro-receptor activities of Sceletium there may be interactions with other pharmacokinetic drugs. People taking any psychiatric drug (including all anti-anxiety drugs, sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants and anti-psychotics and so-called designer or recreational drugs) or any cardiac medications, are advised not to take Sceletium-containing products.

As with most supplements and modern drugs, safety in pregnancy for Kanna has not been established.

Sceletium is used to rebalance the brain and nervous system and thereby relieve symptoms of depression. Combined with other well known herbs, this formulation has been proven to be extremely effective and safe.

Sceletium and Mesembrine

The Distribution of Mesembrine Alkaloids in Selected Taxa of Kanna and their Modification in the Sceletium Derived `Kougoed’
Michael T. Smith , Courtney R. Field , Neil R. Crouch and Manton Hirst
Univ. Natal, Botany Dept., Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Natal Herbarium, Ethnobotany Programme, National Botanical Institute, Kaffrarian Museum, Kingwilliam’s Town, South Africa
Twenty species from nine genera of the Mesembryanthemaceae (Aptenia, Bergeranthus, Delosperma, Drosanthemum, Glottiphyllum, Lampranthus, Oscularia, Ruschia, and Sceletium) as well as the reportedly psychoactive preparation `kougoed’, prepared from `fermenting’ Sceletium tortuosum, were screened for the presence of the mesembrine alkaloids. Using gas chromatography (GC) with a nitrogen-phosphorous detector (NPD) three putative alkaloids were detected in Sceletium tortuosum whose mass spectra corresponded to those of 4′-O-demethylmesembrenol, mesembrine and mesembrenone. All the Mesembryanthemaceae plants investigated were shown to have Dragendorff-positive compounds on thin layer chromatograms (TLC); those containing mesembrine alkloids, as shown by later GC MS analysis, exhibited similar Rf values to the Sceletium alkaloids. Howev! er, using the technique employed in this study which encompassed the use of column and gas chromatography, the only genus containing mesembrine alkaloids to any significant extent was Aptenia. Alkaloid levels were found to be extremely low in all other taxa investigated. When a `modern’ technique for the preparation of a fermented Sceletium product, `kougoed’, was carried out it was found that levels, as well as the ratios, of the three alkaloids changed markedly. Substantial increases in total alkaloid levels were observed when the Sceletium material was crushed and bruised prior to drying for alkaloid extraction whereas no such changes occured when intact plants were oven dried at 80°C prior to alkaloid extraction. It is speculated that of the many potentially usable Mesembryanthemaceae plants available to the indigenous peoples, Sceletium was selected because it is the only genus with alkaloid levels high enough to! eli cit a psychoactive response. The traditional preparation technique also appears to have evolved as a method of producing a dry, stable, and relatively palatable preparation of increased pharmacological activity.
Keywords: 4′-O-demethylmesembrenol, ethnopharmacology, `kougoed’, mesembrenone, mesembrine, Mesembryanthemaceae, pharmacological activity, psychoactive, Sceletium

The Distribution of Mesembrine Alkaloids in Selected Taxa of Kanna and their Modification in the Sceletium Derived `Kougoed’
by Smith MT, Field CR, Crouch NR, Hirst M
Originally published in Pharmaceutical Biology 1998; 36(3): 173-179.
Michael T. Smith , Courtney R. Field , Neil R. Crouch and Manton Hirst
Univ. Natal, Botany Dept., Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Natal Herbarium, Ethnobotany Programme, National Botanical Institute
Kaffrarian Museum, Kingwilliam’s Town, South Africa

ABSTRACT
Twenty species from nine genera of the Mesembryanthemaceae (Aptenia, Bergeranthus, Delosperma, Drosanthemum, Glottiphyllum, Lampranthus, Oscularia, Ruschia, and Sceletium) as well as the reportedly psychoactive preparation `kougoed’, prepared from `fermenting’ Sceletium tortuosum, were screened for the presence of the mesembrine alkaloids. Using gas chromatography (GC) with a nitrogen-phosphorous detector (NPD) three putative alkaloids were detected in Sceletium tortuosum whose mass spectra corresponded to those of 4′-O-demethylmesembrenol, mesembrine and mesembrenone. All the Mesembryanthemaceae plants investigated were shown to have Dragendorff-positive compounds on thin layer chromatograms (TLC); those containing mesembrine alkloids, as shown by later GC MS analysis, exhibited similar Rf values to the Sceletium alkaloids. Howev! er, using the technique employed in this study which encompassed the use of column and gas chromatography, the only genus containing mesembrine alkaloids to any significant extent was Aptenia. Alkaloid levels were found to be extremely low in all other taxa investigated. When a `modern’ technique for the preparation of a fermented Sceletium product, `kougoed’, was carried out it was found that levels, as well as the ratios, of the three alkaloids changed markedly. Substantial increases in total alkaloid levels were observed when the Sceletium material was crushed and bruised prior to drying for alkaloid extraction whereas no such changes occured when intact plants were oven dried at 80°C prior to alkaloid extraction. It is speculated that of the many potentially usable Mesembryanthemaceae plants available to the indigenous peoples, Sceletium was selected because it is the only genus with alkaloid levels high enough to! eli cit a psychoactive response. The traditional preparation technique also appears to have evolved as a method of producing a dry, stable, and relatively palatable preparation of increased pharmacological activity.

Source: www.sceletium.org

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February192017

DR. EDRALIN LUCAS

Mango Info0

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While it may not get the publicity of some of the superfruits like blueberry and acai, the addition of mango to the diet may be part of a future solution for obesity and diabetes.

According to a recent animal study conducted by a research group lead by Edralin Lucas, an associate professor in Nutritional Sciences in the College of Human Environmental Sciences at Oklahoma State University, incorporating mango in the diet could aid in reducing body fat and controlling blood sugar.

“Mango contains many nutrients and other bioactive compounds that can provide various health benefits aside from what we investigated,” Lucas said. “It is high in fiber, vitamins A and C, as well as other minerals and phytochemicals. In addition to the positive effects on body fat, blood lipids and glucose, it is not associated with serious side effects such as negative effects on bone that is linked with the use of rosiglitazone, a drug commonly used to lower blood sugar.”

Lucas, along with her co-investigators Penelope Perkins-Veazie, Brenda Smith, Stephen Clarke and Stanley Lightfoot conducted the project, which was funded by the National Mango Board, to determine the effectiveness of mango flesh in modulating blood glucose and lipid values in mice fed a high fat diet to induce obesity.

Obesity and consumption of high fat diet are associated with the development of many chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Drugs such as rosiglitazone and fenofibrate are often prescribed to treat these diseases by lowering blood glucose and lipids. However, these drugs often have side effects ranging from liver enlargement and fluid retention to heart failure and increased risk for bone fractures.

“Our findings demonstrate that mango flesh is a promising alternative that can be useful in reducing body fat and blood glucose,” Lucas said.

For their study, Lucas and her colleagues chose the Tommy Atkins variety of mango and the mango flesh was freeze-dried, ground into a powder and added to a standard mouse diet. They formulated six diets with various additives including a regular mouse diet, which had 4% total calories from fat, and five high fat diets with 35% total calories from fat. One diet was only high fat, while the other four high fat diets also contained 1% mango powder, 10% mango powder, fenofibrate or rosiglitazone.

“We used the Tommy Atkins mango variety because it is one of the most commonly available to consumers in the U.S.,” Lucas said.

After adjusting the high fat diets to have similar carbohydrate, fiber, protein, fat, calcium, and phosphorous content, the team assigned eight mice to each of the six diets and allowed them to eat and drink at will for two months.

Following the two month period, Lucas and her team found no statistically significant differences in body weight among the mice, but the amount of body fat was varied according to the diets. Both diets containing mango had comparable effects with those of rosiglitazone and fenofibrate in reducing body fat. The mice consuming diets with mango or the two drugs had body fat levels similar to those mice eating the standard control diet.

In addition to the positive effects of mango on body fat, the mango-containing diets also exhibited glucose and cholesterol lowering properties. In fact, the 1% mango diets have a similar or even a more pronounced effect in reducing blood glucose than the diet containing rosiglitazone.

The team also observed that mango affected several factors involved in fat metabolism. Mango was shown to reduce the circulating level of the hormone leptin. This hormone is produced by fat cells and its concentration in the blood is directly proportional to the body fat content. As body fat stores increase, the levels of leptin in the body also increase. Leptin also plays a key role in regulation of appetite and energy intake and expenditure. In this study, mice receiving the high fat diets containing mango had significantly lower levels of leptin than mice eating the high fat diet alone.

Lucas said human studies should be done to confirm their findings and further investigation should focus on understanding how and what components of mango are responsible for its effects on body fat, blood glucose and lipids. However, she said the findings demonstrated that the addition of mango to the diet may help prevent metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of conditions like obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and high blood pressure that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

“We will soon be conducting a human study to investigate whether the addition of mango to the diets of pre-diabetics will help them control their blood sugar and whether incorporation of mango into the diet of overweight people will help them reduce body fat,” Lucas said. “We are also investigating how mango reduces body fat and blood glucose.”

This study is among the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of mango pulp in modulating hyperglycemia and reducing body fat in response to a high fat diet. Lucas said she hopes the findings will encourage people to make better food selections.

“We would like to see people try to make healthy food choices such as including many fruits and vegetables like mango in their diets,” she said. “It would help prevent many chronic diseases including obesity and diabetes.”

Source: www.humansciences.okstate.edu

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