Natural Standard Blog

Natural Standard Book Earns Rave Review

Patrick Morrison, an Honorary Professor of human genetics at the universities of Queens Belfast, Nottingham Trent and the University of Ulster, recently reviewed Natural Standard Herbal Pharmacotherapy: An Evidence-Based Approach in the Ulster Medical Society Journal, and called it “an excellent guide to herbal pharmacotherapies.”

The reference tool provides practical guidance on the use of herbal therapies for medical conditions. It is designed to be an essential part of herbal pharmacy core curricula for healthcare disciplines.

Chapters are organized by medical condition and present supportive evidence, including potential mechanisms of action and dosing, for selected herbal therapies. The chapters also include integrative therapy plans to help clinicians quickly assess patient needs and create cohesive treatment plans.

“This is an excellent book which fills the large gap in evidence that existed in this area,” Dr. Morrison states.

Several resources, including animations, Appendix C, Appendix D, Chapter 31, Grades A-F Tables and References, are available on the Evolve Web site. To order a copy of the book, please click here.

Natural Standard on CBC News

CBC News in Canada consulted Natural Standard for an investigative report on the controversial Herbal Magic® weight-loss program.

The program includes a healthy, calorie-restricted meal plan and dietary supplements. Clients also receive support from personal health coaches.

The report, Magic in a Bottle, questioned the effectiveness of program, particularly two supplements marketed as WM-2000™ and Chromagic™.

WM-2000™ is an herbal dietary supplement that consists of Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), brindall berry (Garcinia cambogia), ginger root (Zingiber officinale), gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre), and kelp (Lessonia nigrescens).

According to manufacturer data, the herbs in WM-2000™ are combined to aid in weight loss and are intended to be used as a part of a complete weight-loss program.

Chromagic™ is a dietary supplement that contains chromium, vanadium, biotin and vitamin B6. According to manufacturer data, Chromagic™ is designed to assist in weight loss, proper insulin functioning and blood sugar regulation. It may also help decrease appetite and sugar cravings; increase muscle mass; regulate cholesterol and help break down carbohydrates, fats, and protein.

However, Natural Standard reviewed the scientific data and found that evidence of safety and effectiveness were lacking for both of these products. Although some of the individual ingredients have been studied, overall, supporting evidence is insufficient for these indications.

To watch the investigative report, please click here.

To learn more about the supplements discussed in the report, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database.

Electroacupuncture May Improve Osteoarthritis Pain

New evidence suggests that electroacupuncture may help improve pain associated with knee osteoarthritis.

The study included 40 patients with chronic pain caused by knee osteoarthritis. They were randomly assigned to either electroacupuncture or sham treatment daily for 10 consecutive days. In the sham group, needles were inserted into non-acupoints, and no electrical current was used.

Before and after treatment, pain was measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index of osteoarthritis knee and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Blood samples were also taken.

The authors found that the electroacupuncture group experienced significant improvements in pain compared to the control group. They also found that electroacupuncture led to increases in endorphins (chemicals that reduce pain and improve mood) and reductions in cortisol (a hormone that is secreted in response to stress).

Although promising, additional research is needed to confirm these findings.

For more information about acupuncture, please visit Natural Standard’s Health & Wellness database.

Natural Standard Publishes New Herb & Supplement Guide

Natural Standard's latest book, Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide: An Evidence-Based Reference, is expected to hit bookstores this month.

The book features 400 concise monographs on popular products, such as ginseng, lavender and glucosamine. The therapeutic effectiveness of each therapy is rated according to Natural Standard's unique A-F grading scale. Evidence tables summarize the available human data and provide a quick reference for clinical decision-making.

Therapies are also cross referenced by medical condition and scientific evidence grade. Other key information, including safety, interactions and dosing, is summarized in a user-friendly format.

To order a copy of the book, please click here.

Exercise for Incontinence

New evidence suggests that maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly may help prevent urinary incontinence in men who had their prostate glands removed.

The study included 165 men who underwent prostatectomies, the surgical removal of the prostate gland, due to cancer. Although urinary incontinence is a common side effect of a prostatectomy, it is usually temporary.

Before surgery, the men completed questionnaires about their exercise routines. Men who exercised for at least one hour per week were considered active. After surgery, the men reported any symptoms of incontinence.

The authors found that only 16 percent of "active" men with healthy body weights developed long-term urinary incontinence compared to 41 percent of obese sedentary patients. The rate of incontinence was the same (25 percent) for both obese active men and non-obese inactive men.

The researchers suspect that exercise may improve incontinence by increasing muscle tone, which may improve bladder control.

Various physical therapy techniques have also been used to treat urinary incontinence. Good evidence supports the use of pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegel exercises) and a combination of pelvic-floor neuromuscular electrostimulation and exercises.

For more information about exercise routines, please visit Natural Standard's Sports Medicine database.

Natural Standard Launches Sports Medicine Database

Natural Standard launched a new Sports Medicine database this month to help meet the unique needs of athletes, coaches, trainers and healthcare providers.

Now, readers have quick access to information about common sports injuries, such as fractures and sprains. The review articles feature conventional and integrative therapies, rehabilitation programs and prevention techniques, highlighting the available evidence of effectiveness and safety data.

Individuals can also find out which therapies or products may have performance-enhancing effects and whether or not they are safe. For example, strong evidence suggests that creatine may increase lean body mass and strength. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises consumers to consult their healthcare providers before using creatine. The safety of high doses is unclear, and supplementation may be unsafe in people with kidney problems, bipolar disorder or in those who are dehydrated.

Subscribers can also learn how fat is stored in the body and how to maximize weight loss with proper nutrition, healthy diets and various exercise routines.

For easy navigation, the topics are organized into 11 categories:

• Amino acids
• Antioxidants
• Athletic Performance Enhancement
• Bath & Body
• Cell Metabolism
• Exercise Recovery
• Muscle Building
• Sports Supplements
• Sports-Related Conditions
• Weight Loss & Fat Burners
• Workout Routines.

To learn more about various sports medicine topics, please visit www.naturalstandard.com.

Hydroxycut® Recalled

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall of 14 Hydroxycut® supplements due to reports of serious liver damage in patients who took the recommended dosages. Liver damage linked to Hydroxycut® use has resulted in at least one death and one liver transplant.

The recalled products are marketed as weight-loss supplements under the Iovate and MuscleTech brand names.

So far, the FDA has received more than 20 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice to liver failure. Symptoms of liver damage may include nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, fatigue, weakness, abdominal pain, itching and loss of appetite. Other adverse effects that have been reported include seizures; heart problems and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that may lead to kidney failure.

The FDA has not determined which ingredients or other factors may be associated with the reported health risks.

 

The recalled products include:

• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets®
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets®
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets®
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets®
• Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets®
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets®
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets® (Ignition Stix)
• Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets®
• Hydroxycut Liquid Shots®
• Hydroxycut Hardcore® RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
• Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed®
• Hydroxycut 24®
• Hydroxycut Carb Control®
• Hydroxycut Natural®

 

Hydroxycut Cleanse® and Hoodia® products, two other products marketed under the Iovate or MuscleTech brands, are not affected by the recall.

 

For more information about dietary supplements for weight loss, please visit Natural Standard’s Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

Fitness may Help Prevent Mental Decline in Older Adults

Researchers have discovered that older adults who are in good physical shape may have a reduced risk of mental decline, likely due to healthy blood flow to the brain.

Several earlier studies have shown that taking steps to improve cardiovascular health, such as losing weight, exercising and controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol, may help prevent dementia. However, a clear mechanism has not been identified.

In the latest cross-sectional study, researchers studied 42, healthy postmenopausal women who were 50-90 years old. Some women exercised regularly, while others were sedentary. The women took fitness tests on exercise bikes, and ultrasounds were performed to monitor blood flow to the brain. They also took cognitive tests that measured skills such as memory and reasoning.

The authors found that physically fit women had increased blood flow to the brain during exercise, which was also related to improved measures of cognition.

“This study identified strong associations between physical fitness, vascular function and cognition, and provides new understanding regarding the mechanisms by which fitness positively impacts cognition with aging. The implications of this research are considerable and warrant future investigation,” the authors concluded in the January 2009 issue of Neurobiology of Aging.

For more information about integrative therapies to help treat or prevent age-related cognitive disorders, please visit Natural Standard’s Comparative Effectiveness database.

Safety of Tanning Beds Questioned

Although tanning beds have been marketed as a possible safe alternative to outdoor sun, evidence shows that ultraviolet (UV) rays are harmful, regardless of where they come from.

 

Three recent papers published in the journal Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research suggest that the UV rays in tanning beds increase the risk of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. According to the authors, UV rays harm the skin by causing DNA damage, photo-aging and skin cancer.

 

A review article by Marianne Berwick, an epidemiologist at the University of New Mexico, suggests that tanning beds are not safer than sun exposure. In fact, Berwick concluded that tanning beds may be associated with an even higher risk of melanoma. She calls for future studies and states "because of this uncertainty, the data do not support a claim that sun beds are safe, and such claims should be should be considered misleading."

 

These papers come just months after the Indoor Tanning Association launched a nationwide campaign questioning the link between UV exposure and melanoma. They claimed that tanning actually improved health since UV exposure helps the body produce vitamin D.

 

David Fisher, president of the Society of Melanoma Research and lead author of one of the studies, claims that these purported health benefits are overstated, and the potential risks outweigh any possible benefit. Fisher argues that people can maintain healthy levels of vitamin D by eating a healthy diet and possibly taking supplements.

 

"Whereas genetic and other factors undoubtedly contribute importantly to skin cancer risk, the role of UV is incontrovertible, and efforts to confuse the public, particularly for the purposes of economic gain by the indoor tanning industry, should be vigorously combated for the public health," David Fisher and his colleagues wrote.

For more information about tanning, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database. 

Do Energy Drinks Need Warning Labels?

According to researchers from Johns Hopkins University, energy drinks should bear labels stating their caffeine content and warning of their potential health problems. Although some drinks, like Red Bull®, contain moderate amounts of caffeine, others were shown to be equivalent to more than 14 cans of Coca Cola®.

Cola-like soft drinks are not required to list their caffeine content either, but the  the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits the amount of caffeine in these drinks to 70 milligrams per 12 ounces. There is no such limit for energy drinks. This is because manufacturers of energy drinks market their products as dietary supplements, which are regulated differently than food.

In the article, published in the September issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence, the authors write, “The absence of regulatory oversight has resulted in aggressive marketing of energy drinks, targeted primarily toward young males, for psychoactive, performance-enhancing and stimulant drug effects.”

The researchers contacted more than 20 energy drink manufacturers to find out the caffeine content of their beverages. They found that the energy drinks contained anywhere from 50 to 505 milligrams of caffeine per serving, with Whoop Ass® containing the least and Wired X505® containing the most. In comparison, the authors state that coffee has about 200 milligrams of caffeine per 12-ounce serving and Coca-Cola® has 34.5 milligrams per 12-ounce serving.

The authors caution that energy drinks can have dangerous health effects, especially in children. “There are increasing reports of caffeine intoxication from energy drinks, and it seems likely that problems with caffeine dependence and withdrawal will also increase. In children and adolescents who are not habitual caffeine users, vulnerability to caffeine intoxication may be markedly increased due to an absence of pharmacological tolerance.”

The American Beverage Association released a statement on Wednesday, stating that energy drinks are safe when consumed appropriately. In fact, they claim that “energy drinks can be part of a balanced lifestyle when consumed sensibly.”

The American Beverage Association also states that energy drinks generally contain about half the amount of caffeine found in coffeehouse coffee. “Specifically, a 16-ounce regular blend coffee at a popular coffeehouse contains 320 milligrams of caffeine, while a comparable size mainstream energy drink contains about 160 milligrams. So those suggesting that energy drinks should require warning labels need to be aware of the slippery slope this would create: to be consistent, products at coffeehouses also would require such unnecessary labeling.”

For more information about energy drinks, please visit Natural Standard’s Health & Wellness database.