Coenzyme Q10 – What Is It Good For and Does It Really Work

Coenzyme Q10 is the third to most purchased food supplement in the United States, coming in only after omega 3 and multivitamin supplements. There are many claims to the health benefits of Co Q10 and I always like to find the scientific proof to these claims. With Coenzyme Q10 that is not so difficult because the recommendation for Co Q10 are based on basic chemical reactions that happen in every cell of our body. Co Q10 is essential for the creation of ATP in the mitochondria of every cell. ATP is the readily available energy that the cell needs to complete any task needed.

Here is a list of how much Co Q10 different foods

"CoQ₁₀ levels in selected foods^. Food Co enzyme Q₁₀ concentration [mg/kg], Beefheart113, liver 39–50, muscle 26–40, Pork heart 11.8–128.2, liver22.7–54.0, muscle 13.8–45.0, Chicken heart 116.2–132.2, Fish sardine 5–64, mackerel red flesh 43–67, white flesh 11–16, salmon 4–8, tuna 5, Oils- soybean 54–280, olive 4–160, grape seed 64–73, sunflower 4–15, rice bran/coconut Nutspeanuts27, walnuts 19, sesame seeds 18–23, pistachio nuts 20, hazelnuts 17, almond 5–14, Vegetables- parsley 8–26, broccoli 6–9, cauliflower 2–7, spinach up to 10, grape 6–7, Chinese cabbage 2–5, Fruit- avocado 10, black currant 3, strawberry 1, orange 1–2, grape fruit 1, apple 1" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coenzyme_Q10

Dosage

You should take between 3-6 mg per day

Ok so now the question does it really work and for who?

So what does the research say?

For Athletes

This study showed that Co Q10 was not effective in improving performance.

Does exogenous coenzyme Q10 affect aerobic capacity in endurance athletes?

This study showed that Co Q10 was effective in reducing muscular injury.

Reducing exercise-induced muscular injury in kendo athletes with supplementation of coenzyme Q10

For Heart Disease

This study shows how beneficial Co Q10 can be.

Biochemical rationale and myocardial tissue data on the effective therapy of cardiomyopathy withcoenzyme Q10

All I could say is wow everyone who has had heart problems should take Coenzyme Q10.

Overview of the use of CoQ10 in cardiovascular disease

Migraine Headaches

Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized controlled trial

Cancer

CoQ10: could it have a role in cancer management?

Partial and complete regression of breast cancer in patients in relation to dosage of coenzyme Q10

Wow after reading all this research I am going to recommend Q10 to a lot of my clients.


 

Natural Medicine for Arthritis – Best Food Supplements to help Treat and Prevent Arthritis

If you are looking for a form of natural Medicine for arthritis to help you relieve painful symptoms or just doing research for any reason. You probably already know what arthritis is and what the underlying causes of the different forms of arthritis are. But just in case you don't know and are just looking for some natural medicine for arthritis. I am going to give a very brief explanation of what arthritis is.

Arthritis is very simply put damage and inflammation of the joints in the body. Now in order to understand how natural medicine for arthritis can be helpful we need to have a bit of basic understanding of the joints in our body. So let's explain this short and simple. The joints usually effected are synovial joints.

There are three main parts of the joint

1. Bone
   
2. Cartilage
   
3. Synovial membrane and fluid
   

The joint is made of two bone ends coated with cartilage with a space which is filled with the synovial fluid that lubricates the joint so the cartilage slide over each other smoothly. The entire joint is also covered in the synovial membrane which renews the synovial fluids.

Now either because of wearing out of the cartilage (osteoarthritis) or inflammation caused by over stimulation of the immune system (rheumatoid arthritis), the synovial fluid in the joint dries up and the cartilage starts to grind against each other. Eventually what can happen is that even the actual bones can start to rub against each other. This damaging of cartilage and bone causes pain and more inflammation.

Supplement	Dosage	What does it do?
Bromelain	Bromelain should be taken three times a day or as suggested on label, preferably between meals	Bromelain is an enzyme which helps the body to reduce inflammation
Chondroitin sulfate	500-100 mg per day	Helps to strengthen joints ligaments and tendons
Omega 3 fatty acids	1000-3000 mg per day taken with meals	Helps to control inflammation as well as pain
Glucosamine sulfate	500-100mg per day	Help to protect and rejuvenate bones, cartilage and synovial fluids and membrane
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)	500-1000 mg three times per day	Helps to reduce inflammation, aid joint and tissue repair and reduce pain
S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe)	400 mg two times per day	Helps to reduce pain and inflammation Warning – should not be taken if you suffer from depression
Sea cucumber (beche-de-mer)	Should be taken as directed on label	Contains lubricating compounds which are also found in joint and synovial fluids
Silica	Should be taken as directed on label	Helps rejuvenation of bones
Superoxide dismutase (SOD)	Should be taken as directed on label	Antioxidant which protects the joints from free radical damage
Calcium and magnesium + copper, vitamin D3 and zinc	Should be taken as directed on label	They all are helpful to protect and rejuvenate bone and protective tissue

 
These are not the only supplements that can be take to help treat arthritis with natural medicine but the top ten.

Bilberry - Monograph

Common Name – Bilberry

Botanical Name – Vaccinium Myrtillus

Parts Used – Entire Plant

Active Constituents – Bioflavonoids (anthocyanosides), beta-carotene, quercitin, quercitrin

So what is Bilberry good for?

Therapeutic Properties – antioxidant, diuretic, blood vessel tonic, anti-inflammatory

Bilberry can help to keep the blood vessels flexible which helps to increase blood flow

Bilberry can be helpful to diabetic by helping to control insulin levels

Bilberry may be useful as a urinary tract antiseptic

Bilberry may be useful to try and treat allergies as an anti-histamine

Dosage

Dry extract – 240-480 mg per day

Tincture – 15-40 drops three times a day

Berries – one teaspoon dried berries per day

Contraindications

None

Research articles with links

Isolation of high quality RNA from bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruit

Induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and the anthocyanins

One of the famous stories of bilberry is that of the British fighter pilots during World War 2. They said that they could see better during their night time raids when they would eat bilberry jam before going out.

Bayberry - Monograph

Common Name – Bayberry

Botanical Name – Myrica Cerifera

Parts Used – Root bark

Active Constituents – Beta-carotene, gallic acid, myrisic acid, phenol

So what is Bayberry good for?

Therapeutic Properties – astringent, decongestant, febrifuges, circulatory tonic

Bayberry can be used to help reduce fever

Bayberry can be used to help improve circulation

Bayberry can be used as a decongestant

Bayberry can be used to stop bleeding

Bayberry is also good for the eyes and the immune system

Dosage

Tincture – 50 drops twice a day

Tea form – two cups a day

How do you make bayberry tea?

Boil one teaspoon of the dry root bark in two cups for ten minutes, strain out the usd herbs and let cool before drinking.

Contraindications

You should not use Bayberry if you have a history of stomach or colon cancer

You should not use Bayberry when pregnant or nursing

You should not take Bayberry if you have kidney problems

You should not take Bayberry if you have high blood pressure

You should not take Bayberry if you have any gastrointestinal disorders

You should not take Bayberry if you have congestive heart failure


 

Chuchuhuasi - Monograph

Common Name – Chuchuhuasi

Botanical Name – Maytenus Krukovit

Parts Used – Bark

Active Constituents – Anthocyanidins, catechin, maytensine, nocotinyl, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, tannins

So what is Chuchuhuasi good for?

Therapeutic Properties – anti-inflammatory, immune stimulant

Chuchuhuasi may be useful in regulating menstrual cycles

Chuchuhuasi is useful in treating rheumatism, arthritis, back pain and muscle spasms.

Chuchuhuasi is good for treating fever, skin tumors, bronchitis and diarrhea.

Dosage

Tea form – one cup three times a day in between meals

How do you make Chuchuhuasi tea?

Boil one table spoon of dry herb in one liter of water for ten minutes, strain out the used herb and let cool before drinking.

Contraindications

Chuchuhuasi should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women

Research articles with links

Antimutagenic, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Maytenus krukovii bark

Guarana - Monograph

Common Name – Guarana

Botanical Name – Paullinia

Parts Used – Seeds

Active Constituents – Adenine, caffeine, D-catechin, saponin, tannins, theobromine, theophylline

So what is Guarana good for?

Guarana is good as a general tonic.

Guarana can help to cleans out the intestines.

Guarana increases mental alertness, improves stamina and improves endurance.

Guarana may be useful in treating headaches, urinary tract irritation and diarrhea.

Dosage

Dry herb as capsules – 150–500 mg per day

Herbal tea – one to three cups a day

How to make Guarana tea?

Add one or two grams of crushed seeds to one cup of water and boil for ten minutes, strain out used herb and let cool before drinking.

Contraindications

Should not be taken by pregnant or nursing wemon

Should not be taken by people who suffer from high blood pressure or heart conditions

Research articles with links

Pharmacological activity of Guarana (Paullinia cupana Mart.) in laboratory animals

Improved cognitive performance in human volunteers following administration of guarana (Paullinia cupana) extract: comparison and interaction with Panax ginseng

Gravel Root - Monograph

Common Name – Gravel Root

Botanical Name – Eupatorium Purpureum

Parts Used – Flowers and Root

Active Constituents – Euparin, Eupatorine and Resin

So what is Gravel Root good for?

Therapeutic Properties – Diuretic, anti-lithic, anti-rheumatic, stimulant, tonic, astringent, relaxant

Gravel Root can help with the treatment of kidney stones and gravel.

Gravel Root may be helpful in the treatment of urinary tract infections.

Gravel Root may be useful in the treatment of prostate disorders.

Gravel Root may also be useful for treating rheumatism.

Dosage

Tincture – 20-40 drops three times a day

Tea form – three cups per day

How do you make Gravel Root tea?

Boil one teaspoon of dry Gravel Root in one cup of water for ten minutes, strain out the used herb and let cool before drinking.

Contraindications   

There are no known contraindications

Research articles with links

Antiinflammatory activity of the antirheumatic herbal drug, gravel root (Eupatorium purpureum): further biological activities and constituents

Warning Cinnamon Causes constipation When Eaten in Excess

Well I think that as much as people say that it grosses them out to talk and think about problems related to defecating, everyone is interested to read about it. This is very natural because it is something that we all have in common.

So this is a bit of a story that has a very important lesson to be learnt from it. This past weekend friends who came to us for the weekend had brought for desert a cinnamon cake. Now this was no normal cinnamon cake, this was the best cinnamon cake I had ever eaten, really rich and tasty with lots of cinnamon. You know how sometimes you eat a cinnamon pastry and it's a bit week on that gooey cinnamon flavor. Well this was nothing like that I`ll tell you that much. So I indulged, ate a lot of this cake. Now the next morning things just were not flowing the way they usually do for me and I usually have a pretty good flow if you know what I mean. I figured it was be because I hadn't eaten enough fiber at dinner so at lunch I made sure to eat lots of salad. But we had another guest over for Saturday lunch that brought these really good cinnamon cookies. Low and behold my slight problem kept on through Sunday as well.

Now I use cinnamon a lot when treating diarrhea so it binding power is nothing new to me. But it wasn't until Sunday afternoon when I looked for something to satisfy my sweet tooth and saw what was left of the cinnamon cake sitting in the fridge that I realized the source of my problem. Well I didn't eat any more of the cinnamon goodies and by Monday it was business as usual.

Cinnamon is a great herbal remedy when used properly but in excess its binding capability can cause constipation.

If you are constipated or suffer from constipation regularly you should avoid all cinnamon products altogether.

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Gotu Kola - Monograph

Common Name – Gotu kola

Botanical Name – Centella Asiatica

Parts Used – Nuts, Roots and Seeds

Active Constituents – beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, camphor, kaempferol, saponins, stigmasterol

So what is Gotu kola good for?

Gotu kola helps to eliminate excess fluids.

Gotu koal help decrees fatigue and depression.

Gotu kola stimulates the nervous system and is considered to be a brain tonic.

Gotu kola helps to promote healing.

Gotu kola is good for varicose veins as well as heart and liver function.

Dosage

Tincture – 30-50 drops three times a day

Tea form – one cup three times a day

Contraindications

May cause dermatitis when used topically

Research articles with links

Centella asiatica accelerates nerve regeneration upon oral administration and contains multiple active fractions increasing neurite elongation in‐vitro

Natural Remedy for Poison Oak

Friends of ours that are out in California for the summer called us up this morning to say hello. My wife spoke to them for a lot longer than I did and when she got off the phone she said that the oil I make work really well for treating poison oak. Now I make a lot of oils for a lot of different things and the last oil I made was for respiratory problem so it took me a second to figure out what she was talking about. Before our friends had left I gave them a natural first aid oil that I had developed with a friend of mine when we had a clinic together. I am going to tell you how to make it because it is very simple and yet very effective in treating all forms of skin irritation.

First I would prepare medicinal calendula oil. I would then take a ten ml dropper bottle and put fifteen drops of lavender essential oil and fifteen drops of tea tree essential oil. I would then fill the rest of the bottle with the medicinal calendula oil. This oil is great for cuts, burns, bites and now I know even for poison oak.

Bee Propolis – What is it good for and does it work?

Bee Propolis is a material that bees collect from different plants. The bees use the propolis in the building of their hives. Bee Propolis has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and immune stimulating properties. Many people take Bee Propolis to help prevent sore throat and in the treatment of colds, flu, strep throat, mouth ulcers, tonsillitis and acne.

Research articles

Antibacterial properties of propolis (bee glue).

Bee propolis versus placebo in the treatment of infertility associated with minimal or mild endometriosis: a pilot randomized controlled trial. A modern trend

Goldenseal - Monograph

Common Name – Goldenseal

Botanical Name – Hydrastis Canadensis

Parts Used – Roots and Rhizomes

Active Constituents – Berberine, beta-carotene, canadine, chlorogenic acid

So what is Goldenseal good for?

Therapeutic Properties – Laxative, tonic, alterative, detergent, opthalmicum, antiperiodic, aperient, diuretic, antiseptic, deobstruent

Goldenseal can be helpful in treating ulcers of the mouth and stomach.

Goldenseal can help to improve digestion.

Goldenseal can help to regulate menses and to decrees uterine bleeding.

Goldenseal can help to strengthen the immune system, increase the effectiveness of insulin and to cleanse the body.

Goldenseal can help to prevent cold, flu and sore throat from developing if taken on time.

Research show that golden seal may be helpful in lowering LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels.

Dosage

Best taken in tincture form

Tincture – 40-60 drops three times a day

Powder – 4-6 grams per day

Contraindications

Don't take for more than three weeks at a time

Take a break of at least two weeks between uses

Should not be used by pregnant or nursing mothers

Research articles with links

Immune modulation of macrophage pro-inflammatory response by goldenseal and Astragalus extracts

The medicinal plant goldenseal is a natural LDL-lowering agent with multiple bioactive components and new action mechanisms

Goldenseal is now considered to be a endangered herb due to over harvesting and destruction of natural habitat. When purchasing goldenseal products, try to purchase only those that have been grown organically or with care for the propagation of this wonderful plant medicine.

Ginkgo - Monograph

Common Name – Ginkgo

Botanical Name – Ginkgo Biloba

Parts Used – Leaves and Seeds

Active Constituents – amentoflavone, apigenin, beta carotene, bilobalide, ginkgetin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, luteoli, myristic acid, p-coumaric acid, porcyanidin, quercetin, shikimic acid, stigmasterol, tannin, thymol.

So what is – good for?

Therapeutic Properties – circulatory tonic, brain tonic, blood thinner, antioxidant

Ginkgo helps to improve brain function by increasing blood flow to the brain. This help to bring oxygen and other nutrients to the brain which in turn helps the brain to function better.

Ginkgo can be helpful in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer`s disease

Ginkgo can be helpful in the treatment of depression, migraines and multiple sclerosis.

Ginkgo can be helpful in the treatment of atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure and diabetes.

Dosage

Tincture – 10 drops three times a day

GBE – 120-160 mg 2-3 times a day

Contraindications

Should not be taken by pregnant or lactating women

People who take prescription blood thinners or regularly take over the counter pain killers should consult a healthcare provider before taking ginkgo

Research articles with links

A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of Ginkgo biloba for dementia

Clinical efficacy of Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 in dementia of the Alzheimer type

Clinical improvement of memory and other cognitive functions by Ginkgo biloba: review of relevant literature.

After reading all these research articles I think would like to get so ginkgo biloba for myself. Hey if ginkgo can improve not just memory but also alertness now that sounds great.

By the way GBE stands for Ginkgo Biloba Extract

What is Bee Pollen and what is it good for?

Bee pollen is a powder like substance that is produced by the flowers and then collected by the bees. It is rich in protein (10-15%) and contains a wide range of nutritional materials. Bee pollen contains B complex vitamins, vitamin C, amino acids, essential fatty acids, enzymes, carotene, iron, copper, calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, plant sterols and simple sugars.

What can bee pollen be good for?

Bee pollen has anti microbial properties to it. It can be helpful in treating fatigue, cancer, depression colon disorders and allergies.

Bee pollen may cause allergic reactions (0.05% of the population) so take a small amount at first to make sure you are not one of the few who are allergic.

Anemia – Top Five Natural Food Supplements to Help Treat Anemia

Anemia is either a reduction of either red blood cells or the amount of hemoglobin in the blood.

Top five natural food supplements for treatment of anemia

Supplement	Dosage	Additional information
Raw liver extract (best from organic beef source)	500 mg twice a day	Contains all of the nutrients needed for the production of red blood cells
Blackstrap molasses	1 teaspoon taken twice a day	Has iron and B vitamins
Folic acid with biotin	800 mcg folic acid and 300 mcg biotin two times a day	Needed for the builing of red blood cell
Floradix Iron + Herbs	Two teaspoons two times a day	Contains iron in a form that is non toxic, easily absorbed and from a natural source
Vitamin B12 injections or sublingual form	Injections are as prescribed by a physician, sublingual form 2,000 mcg three times a day	A must for the production of red blood cells

Noni juice (Morinda citrifolia): hidden potential ... [Am J Kidney Dis. 2000] - PubMed result

Do you remember Noni Juice? It was one of the many fad supplements that have gone through the market of natural health products. this is a link to a case of some one who read all the great stuff about this healing juice and said "Hey I gotta get me some of that Noni juice".

Well the Noni juice, as it turned out was not good for him. He had kidney problems and was keeping to his low potassium diet. But who would of thought that this new wonder juice could be bad for anyone?

Well this goes to show us all that not every new supper herb is good for all of us. And also what happened to the Noni juice? I have not herd about it in a while. Well I am sure that there is some new supper anti-oxidant herb that they found out in the amazon.

I just get really upset when health becomes this big business, where every one is just trying to promote their product and not thinking about creating healthy living for the people of the world.

Wow I really must hope and pray that I don`t become one of those.

Noni juice (Morinda citrifolia): hidden potential ... [Am J Kidney Dis. 2000] - PubMed result

Natural Medicine Treatment for Fever Blisters, Oral Herpes and Herpes Simplex 1

All of the above are really the same thing.

The chances are that if you are reading this you know exactly what I am talking about. They usually come out when you get sick, are under a lot of stress or just made out with someone new. It starts with very mild irritation on the lip usually in one spot ant then the blisters form, those ugly little white areas of inflamed skin. Then if you are lucky they scab up after a couple days and after about a week or so the hole story is nothing but history, until the next brake out.

Well it doesn't have to be that way. From my experience taking 500 mg of L-Lysine, which is an amino acid found in any protein rich food, can keep those out brake from happening.

Also if you act fast and as soon as you start to feel the very first signs of an out brake, you can do two thing and be over with the whole story within two days.

Keep L-Lysine and tea-tree oil in your house at all time. As soon as you start to feel any inflammation of your lip, start this treatment. Take 1000 mg of L-Lysine 4 times a day on a empty stomach. And start putting tea-tree oil on the inflamed area. You can put the tea-tree on as much as you want the more the merrier. Just put a drop on your finger and apply it to the irritated area of the lip.

Do this and you will be done with the out brake very quickly.

Take the L-Lysine every day and you may not get another brake out.

Good luck

Sundew - Monograph

Common Name – Sundew

Botanical Name – Drosera Rotundifolia

Parts Used – Aerial Parts

Active Constituents – glycosides, flavonoids, resins, carotins, tannins, organic acids

So what is Sundew good for?

Therapeutic Properties – Anti-spasmodic, demulcent, anti-microbial, aphrodisiac, expectorant

Sundew can helpful in the treatment of tracheitis, bronchitis and asthma.

Sundew can be helpful in the treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcers.

Sundew can be used topically for minor skin irritations.

Dosage

Tincture – 10-20 drops three time a day

Dry herb in tea form – 1-2 grams per cup three cups per day

How do you make sundew tea?

Add one tea spoon of dry Catnip herb to one cup of boiling water, cover and let steep for five minutes, strain out used herb and enjoy.

Contraindications

Should not be used during pregnancy and nursing

Research articles with links

Antimicrobial activity of aerial parts of Drosera peltata Smith on oral bacteria


 
Sundew – A plant that really garbs you (if you are an ant)

Sundew is a beautiful plant with glistening tentacles on its colorful leaves. Now the glistening tentacles of sundew are attractive to more than just our human eye but insect senses as well. The glistening is a sweet and very sticky secretion that attracts and then traps insects. Sundew is a carnivorous plant, that's right sundew is a plant that eats insects. The tentacles on the leaf of all Drosera or sundew plants are so sensitive that they even cause the leaf to bend in toward its middle when they detect an insect in order to get a better bite. After the insect is trapped the plant secrets digestive enzymes which break down the insect so that it can be absorbed into the plant to supplement its diet.


 

 

Catnip - Monograph

Common Name – Catnip

Botanical Name – Nepeta Cararia

Parts Used – Leaves and Flowers

Active Constituents – volatile oils, Thymol, camphor, citieonellal, geranio, caryophyllene, rosemarinic acid and others

So what is Catnip good for?

Therapeutic Properties – Lowers fever, carminative, improves apatite, strengthens sleep, helps with stress, helps to prevent diarrhea.

Catnip can be good to help treat coughs, colds, flu and to help to bring down temperature in the case of a fever.

Catnip is suggested by many herbalists for treatment of chronic bronchitis and diarrhea.

Catnip can be used to treat flatulence's, poor apatite, poor digestion and diarrhea.

Catnip is a great herb to help with stress and difficulty falling asleep.

Dosage

Tincture – 30-60 drops three times a day

Tea – three cups a day

How do you make catnip tea?

Add one heaping tea spoon of dry Catnip herb to one cup of boiling water, cover and let steep for five minutes, strain out used herb and enjoy.

Contraindications

Should not be taken with sedatives or sleeping pills

Research articles with links

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the essential oil and methanol extract of Nepeta cataria

Grandmother Twigleaf meditates over a cup of Catnip tea

As winter starts to spread its frosty fingers through the forest and the earth is already thick with the fall leaves. Life begins to slow down after the summer months which always seem to be so abundant with activity. Grandmother Twigleaf is always happy to see her exited grandchildren. But when they leave she needs to have her cup of catnip tea to help her relax. Normally she only drinks catnip tea when she has trouble falling asleep. But during the summer months full of family and excitement she has her catnip tea every afternoon to help her relax. Now as winter starts to seep in through the smallest openings around the door and windows, grandmother Twigleaf sits down to a hot cup of catnip tea to help her deal with some slight anxiety she is having about the coming cold months of the winter. As she sips on the warm catnip tea she feels more relaxed. She begins to feel calm and at ease. She pictures in her head all of her grandchildren and how nice it is to see them grow. She remembers the same feelings she had when her own children were young and these thoughts warm her heart while the catnip tea warms her stomach. As she finishes her catnip tea she fully reclines her chair and decides to take a short nap.