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Welcome to the January 5, 2010, email health newsletter of The Herb Growing & Marketing Network.....

The following is blatant self-promotion:
HerbNET is an information site provided by The Herb Growing & Marketing Network....a trade association for the herb industry...we offer a monthly online trade journal The Bu$iness of Herbs, an online resource guide, The Herbal Green Pages,  free classified advertising, conferences, and regional seminars, credit card merchant status, internet design and marketing work; very reasonable hosting rates and lots more....all for only $20 a month.  For full details on us and how we can help you promote your business, go to HerbWorld   

 We help members a lot with a variety of promotion assistance and if you want to know more about that, drop me a line and I'll send you a listing of all the ways we promote your business.   

The January, 2010, HerbNET magazine is online HerbNET - Magazine - Letter From the Herbalist   with profiles on Jaborandi, Jequirity, Jackal Berry Tree, Jing Jie, Ji Xue Teng, Jeffersonia, and Star Jasmine.  Use our "Search" function in the left hand border. It will help you find exactly what you're looking for.  If you enjoy these profiles and want an easy-to-use reference guide with 2300 of them, consider purchasing our Herbalpedia. Searchable, indexed by English and Latin names as well as by Ayurvedic and Chinese names.  For details and to order....click here :-)

I'm starting our online newsletter back up after a two year hiatus.  The problem was I had a massive stoke.  The first year I was lucky if I dragged myself to the computer for an hour after a month in the hospital filled with a dozen prescriptions one nurse admitted they just gave the same batch to almost everyone.  But you're scared and you sort of do what they tell you to do.  Luckily my partner is almost as non-conforming as me.  (He threatened the neurologist with bodily harm after one particularly stupid comment.) 

I got off all the meds except one and I felt better.  I also started taking better care of myself.  It is important to get 7-8 hours of sleep.  And that's particularly hard for a woman who got lots done at night.  And taking steps to lower your blood pressure is really mandatory.  I know.  Mine was 278/170 when I collapsed.  Now an easy to use cuff tells me if it gets too high. 

And I can't say enough good about hyperbaric oxygen therapy for strokes.  It's not cheap and insurance won't cover it for strokes, but it can give you your brain back and that's the most important thing. 

And lose weight if that's a contributing factor to high blood pressure.  There's a million books gathering dust of my shelves, but the only thing that worked for me and my partner was Medifast.  It took no great exercise program, was reasonable in cost, tasted good, and kept us full.  All important for us.  And get over your dependence on sugar and salt.  That was hard.  But I feel (and look) better than I did since my late 20s...and that was many moons ago.

So we're back.  This is sort of like a celebration because it was 2wo years ago on January 1 that my life changed, for the better because of the stroke.

And now for the news.  It'll take a few months to see what direction this newsletter takes, but there sure were a lot of you that wanted it.  

H1N1

And More on the Flu

Doctors in Mexico City Cured 2009 Swine Flu with Homeopathy

Just recently, during the 2009 Mexican Flu outbreak, a small group of Mexico City homeopathic doctors have revealed that homeopathy is up to the task of solving the flu problem. This is good news considering that many over the counter and prescribed pharmaceutical flu remedies not only hazard negative side effects, but they may also not really cure current flu strains.

Homeopathy Flu Therapy Is Not Affected by Viral Mutations
Homeopathy does not depend on one drug or feature particular drugs for curing any type of flu. Homeopathy is a non allopathic healing method that was once the mainstream medicine of the 19th century. Because different remedies and combinations and strengths are prescribed according to exact symptomatic readings, homeopaths can successfully adapt treatments to handle viral mutations. Homeopathy was enjoyed by many until certain moneyed interests almost pushed it out of existence. Now there is somewhat of a resurgence of its use.

For Prevention try homeopathic remedies that include
a. Baptisia Tinctorea
b. Influenzium
c. Arsenicum Album

In cases of flu, the Mexican doctors recommended the follow Homepathic Remedies:
Aconitum napellus, Actea racemosa, Allium cepa, Ammonium phosphoricum, Antimonium tartaricum, Arnica montana, Arsenicum album, Baptisia tinctoria, Belladonna atropa, Bryonia alba, Camphora, Carbo vegetabilis, Carbolic acid, Causticum, Chamomilla, China officinalis, Drosera rotundifolia, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Euphrasia, Ferrum phosphoricum, Gelsemium sempervirens, Glonoinum, Hepatica triloba, Hyosciamus niger, Influenzinum (corresponding to the epidemic), Ipecauanha, Lachesis trigonocephalus, Lycopodium clavatum, Mercurius vivus, Natrum sulphuricum, Nux vomica, Opium, Phosphorus, Phytolacca decandra, Pulsatilla, Pyrogenium, Rhus toxicodendron, Sticta pulmonaria, Sepia officinalis, Sulphur.

Most Used Remedies in Hemorrhagic Influenza
Arnica montana, Arsenicum album, Baptisia tinctoria, Belladonna atropa, Bryonia alba, Camphora, Carbo vegetabilis, Chamomilla, China officinalis, Ferrum phosphoricum, Influenzinum (corresponding to the epidemic), Ipecacuanha, Lachesis trigonocephalus, Mercurius vivus, Phosphorus, Sepia officinalis, Sulphur.

And, no, you are probably not able to make your own.  This isn’t a tincture.  Homeopathic remedies are a unique formulation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy)

Also for the flu:
Most people can survive without supplementation, but to encourage great health take the following:
.         CoQ10 enzyme. 
.         Resveratrol.  An antioxidant found in grapes, blueberries and cranberries and difficult to get sufficient amounts in food alone
.         Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol).  Boosts immune system protection and provides additional protection again auto Immune diseases, and viruses
.         Norwegian Cod Liver Oil.  The omega 3 essential fatty acids in cod liver oil can help reduce inflammation, protect against respiratory infections, colds, and flu
or       Fish Oil : same benefits but I prefer it
.         Natural Antibiotics like aged Garlic-  Broad -spectrum antibiotic protection against bacteria, virus, and protozoa in the body.  If allergic to garlic (or just can’t stand the smell)  consider using olive leaf extract
         Try an essential oil combination of Cinnamon bark, Clove buds, Lemon, Eucalyptus radiate,
Thyme, Orange, Oregano, Nutmeg, Rosemary, Mandarin, Ginger Root, and Citronella diffused in a Diffuser or rubbed on the bottom of the feet.

We all have heard the usual warnings of plenty of rest, adequate exercise, and washing hands.  But did you know that you should also avoid sugar and processed foods.  They decrease the function of your immune system.  (And make you fat.)  You should also stop drinking soda pop, carbonated drinks, caffeine, and stimulating or energy drinks.  Once you’ve recovered from stopping these you’ll find you feel immensely better overall….and you’ll minimize your chances of getting the flu.

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Pomegranate protects the prostate even more than originally thought

Promegranate improves heart health and protects against prostate cancer as well as helping improve joint health by slowing cartilage loss.  The antioxidants especially the allagitannin compound seem to inhibit the enzyme found in human cancers.  Prostate cancer has long latency periods and intervention through dietary supplements is most beneficial.  Consuming pomegranate juice may help those with a predisposition toward prostate cancer as well as help those men undergoing cancer treatment.
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Walnut-rich diet may boost diabetic heart health

It’s been noted that adding a handful of walnuts to an already healthy diet can help diabetics.  But studies now show that it also leads to a significant improvement in the health of blood vessels decreasing the risk of heart disease.  Cholesterol levels also showed improvement.

Indeed, a recent study funded by the California Walnut Commission found that the fatty acids present in walnuts and fish oil may work in different ways to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

According to findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (May 2009, Vol. 89, pp. 1657S-1663S), a diet supplemented with walnuts led to reductions in cholesterol levels, while a fish diet led to reductions in blood levels of triglycerides.
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Mesothelioma is considered a death sentence, the only variable is how long you have.  Marie Augustine was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma three years ago and given a prognosis of six months to live.  Too weak for chemotherapy and radiation her family investigated various alternative modalities.  Today she is alive, thanks in part to the holistic therapies that she tried and the support of her family.  According to her story as reported in the Lake Cowichan Gazette, Marie used Chinese medicine, an herb called Pawpaw, and various other “alternative health programs” to help manage her mesothelioma.  In discussing her improvement with Pawpaw, Marie is quoted as saying, “Within a month I noticed the difference.  It was slow, but noticeable.”

Pawpaw (Asimina) is a genus of small clustered trees with large leaves and fruit, native to North America.  Its edible fruits (sometimes referred to as “Indiana Bananas”) have been used for food for centuries. Recently, stem bark extracts have been shown to have potent antitumor effects in the laboratory.  According to studies performed at Purdue University, “Extracts of paw paw are among the most potent of the 3,500 species of higher plants screened for bioactive compounds in our laboratories…[they have] powerful cytotoxicity, in vivo antitumor, pesticidal, antimalarial, anthelmintic, piscicidal, antiviral, and antimicrobial effects…encapsulated extract has been effectively used by certain cancer patients as a botanical supplement product.”  To date there have been no published studies on the use of Pawpaw in mesothelioma.

Other long-term mesothelioma survivors like Rhio O’Connor and Paul Kraus have used various herbs as part of their healing regimen including Astragalus, Cat’s Claw, and Pawpaw.

To read the entire article go to http://www.survivingmesothelioma.com/news/view.asp?ID=0088 

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Turmeric and black pepper are extracts that may combat breast cancer.

Researchers from the University of Michigan report that curcumin, found in turmeric, and piperine, found in black peppers, decreased the number of stem cells while having no effect on normal differentiated cells.

The researchers used doses equivalent to 20 times to potency of what could be consumed through the diet – however, such potencies are possible from dietary supplements, said the researchers. Because the research is in vitro and relatively preliminary, the Michigan-based researchers cautioned against taking adding curcumin or piperine supplements to their diet at this time.

Furthermore, the researchers found that normal, non-cancerous stem cells were unaffected by the compounds, which appeared to selectively target the cancer stem cells.

Curcumin is a natural pigment that gives the spice turmeric its yellow color. Recent studies have investigated its potential to lower cholesterol levels, improve cardiovascular health, reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and diabetes as well as cancer-fighting properties.

Source: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1007/s10549-009-0612-x
“Targeting breast stem cells with the cancer preventive compounds curcumin and piperine”
Authors: M. Kakarala, D.E. Brenner, H. Korkaya, C. Cheng, K. Tazi, C. Ginestier, S. Liu, G. Dontu, M.S. Wicha

Coffee and tea may cut the chance of developing diabetes by 25% reports a new study. 

Each cup of daily coffee or tea correlates to a 7% reduction in the risk of diabetes according to the Archives of Internal Medicine.  Coffee has been linked to reduced risks of certain diseases especially of the liver and diabetes.  In 18 studies of coffee and 7 on tea showed that there was a significant lowering of the risk of developing diabetes. This is for daily consumption, not the occasional latte.  And it’s not the caffeine, because decaffeinated coffee has the same effect.  Source: Archives of Internal Medicine
Volume 169, Issue 22, Pages 2053-2063, “Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, and Tea Consumption in Relation to Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis”  Authors: R. Huxley, C.M.Y. Lee, F. Barzi, L. Timmermeister, S. Czernichow, V. Perkovic,

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We'll see you next month....and if you have any suggestions of what you'd like to see on HerbNET, drop me a line.

Maureen Rogers
The Herb Growing & Marketing Network
and HerbNet's Slave
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