Wall Street Journal Interviews Natural Standard

Natural Standard Chief Editor Dr. Catherine Ulbricht helped the Wall Street Journal separate fact from fiction in a recent news article about the Chinese herb astragalus.

The article, "Rooting Out the Facts On an Immune Booster," describes the potential immune-stimulating effects of astragalus. Although many manufacturers claim that it enhances immune function, there is a lack of evidence that these effects improve health in humans.

The article states that "scientific studies, mostly in Asia, have found the herb boosts the immune system in humans, but Western studies are scant." According to a Natural Standard Research Collaboration evidence-based systematic review, the immune-boosting properties of astragalus received a grade "C" on a scale from A to F. "'A grade of C means unclear or conflicting scientific information,'" Dr. Ulbricht, senior attending pharmacist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and a co-founder of Natural Standard told the Wall Street Journal.

As with other therapies, astragalus may be unsafe for some individuals. The article points out that "astragalus isn't recommended for people with autoimmune diseases such as lupus or multiple sclerosis, where activating the immune system could be harmful." People who are allergic to members of the pea family may also to be allergic to astragalus. Like other herbs, check with your doctor before using it with other medicines.

To read the full article, please click here.

To schedule an expert interview or book signing with Dr. Ulbricht, please e-mail questions@naturalstandard.com.

For more information about astragalus, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs and Supplements database

Comments

[herbalist]

It's great that more people are recognizing Natural Standard as an authority on integrative medicine. I've been using this database for years, and it's fantastic. It's so difficult to separate fact from fiction when there's so much misinformation on the web (particularly on manufacturers' Web sites).

[stapleigh]

It's a real sign of the times to see the Wall Street Journal recognize Natural Standard as an important source. I think particularly of my parents -- loyal daily readers of the WSJ -- and how skeptical they are of most types of alternative medicine. Reading something like this article on immunity and astragalus would certainly impress them. This is just the type of coverage alternative treatments need to gain respect and validity, and hats off to NS for providing clear information in a very useful format.

[Amy]

Astragalus has other beneficial properties than just boosting one’s immune system. Astragalus has antioxidant properties that may protect cells from damage due to free radicals. It is also a good source of selenium and is used to help lower the blood pressure. I was surprised about the grade that Dr. Ulbricht gave regarding it’s abilities to boost the immune system. Maybe it works better when taken with other supplements. Was this considered?

[Erin]

I read in an article that astragalus is being studied to possibly replace HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) in HIV patients. There is a substance in astragalus that may help prevent or slow down the progressive shortening of a part of the immune system. Does anyone know more about this?

[Kendra]

Very cool to see Natural Standard in the Wall Street Journal.

[J White]

My organization has relied on Natural Standard for many years, and it is exciting to hear that the Wall Street Journal is recognizing it as a valuable source of information as well. It is important to note that herbs like astragalus are not meant for use on their own in traditional Chinese medicine; instead they are combined with a variety of other herbs to create patient-specific formulations. I am glad that the chief editor of Natural Standard advises caution, as there are always those patients that are too quick to jump on any new dietary fad without any scientific support and sometimes end up injuring themselves.

[Semour]

Erin,

To follow-up with your question; if you have access to the Journal of Immunology Web site (http://www.jimmunol.org) the November 15th article written by Fauce SR et al, "Telomerase-Based Pharmacologic Enhancement of Antiviral Function of Human CD8+ T Lymphocytes" should answer your question. You may also find it at PubMed by looking up the article title provided as well. I would tell you what the answer is, but I only have access to the abstract. It looks like a good article though.

[Future Ethnobiologist]

After reading the Wall Street Journal article on astragalus, what Dr. Ulbricht said about the evidence level being a “C” or needs more research spiked my curiosity about the Natural Standard Web site. I went to their Web site and was in such a state of euphoria that I subscribed to them because of the amount of information they have compiled about different herbals/supplements/vitamins. It wasn’t like some Web sites that just state what has been said; Natural Standard actually evaluates all articles in terms of evidence-based medicine, and this makes them an excellent reference to use -- just like PubMed and Lexi-Comp, but is better for CAM than either of the previous databases.

[Future Pharmacist]

This is AWESOME!! I cannot believe a pharmacist helped found and is the chief Editor for a company like Natural Standard. I am a 3rd-year student and had no idea this was a possible job opportunity. I feel like have been brain washed by my school to think the only job opportunities are either hospital or retail. Hospital is not for me because I don’t like working in the basement all day (or being around constant sick people...if I did I would have became a MD), and I dislike patients calling me a “pill pusher” and the overall lack of respect giving in the retail setting. I was considering changing career paths, but the article in the WSJ and the Natural Standard Web site made me WANT to do some more research, and I found that I can do all kind of things!! Not just hospital or retail. THANK YOU, Dr. Ulbricht, I know you don’t know me, but you gave me hope to stay in pharmacy school and maybe do drug information or article peer-reviewing.

[CuriousHighschoolNerdsUnited]

Does natural Standard only look at foreign, native research, or is it any scientific article? Can you explain how you level the field in order to judge the different articles from different countries, and how are they rated? Say for example, if we look at the studies published about astragalus, how do you judge them?) I am curious because this is not the first time I have seen this evidence-based level of efficacy thing. I know not ALL scientific journals are equal (i.e. Scientific America is not at the same level as Nature Journal). Some are more refined in the information they publish, so how would you rate yourself?

[iLikeHerbalsMan]

Is there any other type of warning for us healthy people who want to take astragalus? I see that it isn’t recommended for people who have autoimmune diseases, but what about us everyday average Joe’s? What should I watch for as far as side effects or reactions? Are there other things I should watch out for besides peas if I learn I am allergic to astragalus?