Just a quick note about that old buggaboo – cellulite. In digging through the small amount of scientific research that has been done on this topic, I  found that it is not well understood.

Cellulite is, for no apparent reason, much more common in men than in women. Good overview information has been published at Cellulite on Wikipedia, although the treatments described are poorly supported according to the weak references cited there.

I’ve decided to launch an information page on cellulite so women can find out where to find good information and which, if any, of the highly touted cellulite remedies have any scientific support.

It turns out that European scientists are much more serious about cellulite research than are American  scientists. I’ve found a small set of good research articles so  far.

The example that I cite at Cellulite Remedies – Any Real Science? is one study that offers hope. I recommend that you take a quick look at what I wrote in that post. Much more will follow there within the next couple of weeks or so. I will notify you here about the science-based approaches to cellulite remedies that I find, as well as about the scams that I uncover, too (this won’t be difficult).

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D

Okay, this is NOT really me doing my online radio show. It is, nevertheless, me doing my local radio show in Phoenix, AZ. Although this show is now off the air, I use it now to call your attention to my online show, which doesn’t originate from a nice studio like this one. I do an online show in part to help folks who either don’t live in my neighborhood or are unable to attend my live presentations.

Nothing is as good for communication as an in-person presentation with Q&A. Nevertheless, my recorded radio show is a good second choice.

The latest installment of my online show came at the behest of several ladies who could not attend my presentation on April 18. Even though the actual presentation was a full hour and was followed by a spirited set of questions afterward, the show here will give you an overview of the basic topic material:

This is my third online broadcast. All of them are listed and linked on the Online Radio Shows page linked at the toolbar above. Links to all new shows will be appearing there as I record them.

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D

The importance of  menopause remedies. A highly interested and motivated group of ladies attended my presentation on Saturday, April 18, at Doctors Nutrition Center in Tempe, AZ. The title of the presentation was, “The Change: Before, During and After.” Women are undergoing change from one stage of maturity to another their whole lives. However, the unpleasant symptoms of what I call ‘transition to menopause’ and of menopause itself attract a lot of attention. The good news is that such symptoms are not normal. The bad news is that achieving normality is not simple, although it is definitely doable. By the way, normality certainly is not possible by any kind of mainstream medical treatment that includes synthetic drugs, especially those used in Hormone Replacement Therapy.

The greatest fears that women have expressed to me revolves around osteoporosis and cancer. The greatest annoyance, for lack of a better word, is the hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and many other outward symptoms that ruin their daily lives. Let me repeat: None of this is normal!

The Medicalization of Menopause and Its Solution

Menopause is not a disorder and should never have been thought of as such. Nevertheless, it has been medicalized to the point where getting relief is a roll of the dice. In reality, getting back to normal is the key. Diet can help. Exercise can help. Stress management can help. Nutritional and herbal supplements can help. Weight management can help. Direct hormone balancing can help. All of these have important roles, and all must be incorporated into a lifestyle that leads to normal health.

This is a huge topic that has yielded thousands of research studies and tens of thousands of books – at the moment the list includes 32,187 books on Amazon alone. Jeez!

Rest assured that most  women worldwide do, indeed,  have normal transitions to menopause and live through normal menopause for the rest of their lives. And the bugaboos of bone loss and cancers of reproductive organs are far, far less common than they are in our society. There is plenty of great information on what you can do to achieve this kind of health. I will be guiding you to the best of that information here. You can start, if you haven’t already, by getting my report, “Brief Guide to Menopause Hormone Balance,” when you subscribe to Natural Health News.

Get a quick peak of  the some of the most important topics by taking a look at the outline that I handed out in my presentation, at this link: Menopause Remedies Presentation Outline. This is a good starting point. It takes a continuing effort for becoming informed about and taking the right action on how to get and stay healthy and feel better. This is more than a hobby. It is your life.

All the best,

Dr. D

Menopause remedies often miss some of the most important underlying causes for menopausal disorders. One of the most commonly overlooked factors is the health of your digestive system and the role of its friendly bacteria for hormone balance.

Gut Bacteria and Estrogen Dominance

A common scenario occurs when you use prescription drugs, especially antibiotics and antacids, and/or have a poor diet. The initial effect is the destruction of your friendly gut bacteria, whose many roles include aiding digestion, strengthening the immune system, and enhancing the excretion of steroid hormones.

Hormone excretion becomes important when, for example, estrogen has done its work as a chemical messenger and is ready to be deactivated. How is that related to digestion? An indirect indication for this link appeared in a recently released study at the Imperial College of London. This study confirmed that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is likely caused by a gut bacterial imbalance. The importance of this result is that it points to the role of your friendly bacteria in liver health.

Now think about the role of the liver in deactivating hormones. The liver is the main detoxifying organ, and one of its roles is to detoxify hormones so they can be excreted from your body. Now we know that your liver depends on a healthy population of friendly gut bacteria. It can do a better job in detoxifying and excreting hormones when the gut bacteria are healthy. If your liver isn’t functioning properly because your gut bacteria are damaged, unexcreted estrogen can then circulate back into your bloodstream and promote estrogen dominance.

Estrogen dominance is now known as the cause of many health problems for women as well as for men. It is, therefore, an important hormone for keeping in balance with other steroid hormones.

Probiotics and Hormone Balance

Probiotics are dietary bacteria that promote the health of your friendly gut bacteria. The significance of probiotics as one of nature’s menopause remedies is that this type of dietary supplement helps in maintaining hormone balance by enhancing liver health. The role of probiotics in achieving hormone balance, however, is often overlooked.

Research on probiotics shows them to be helpful with at least 100 different health disorders. The keys to getting the best results with probiotic supplements include: 1) the number and variety of bacterial strains in one dose; and, 2) the number of colony forming units (CFU) per dose (equivalent to number of live cells). When you are evaluating products using these two criteria, look for those that have at least 10-15 different strains and at least 15 billion CFU per dose. The best brand that I have found in my research, which fits these criteria, is the iFlora Multi-Probiotic Formula by SedonaLabs.

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D

When I was researching information for my post on the flu cure, I gathered more examples for my hot list of botanical research for antiviral activity. I mentioned that antiviral research has yielded some excellent herbs for everything from flu to HIV, herpes, and the common cold. Just thought I’d point out what this kind of research looks like, in a post on my shingles blog: Great new antiviral herb: Chilean soapbark tree.

This is what good research looks like. And this is the kind of study that will eventually help us a lot more than drugs will, in the face of whatever disease outbreaks pop up on our increasingly overpopulated planet.

All the best in natural health,
Dr. D

MRSA Staph Infections On the Rise

One of the super-bugs, the antibiotic-resistant bacteria that have arisen through the overuse of antibiotics, is on the loose. This one is called MRSA, which stands for “methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.”

MRSA staph infections first arose in hospitals in the 1960s. This photo shows one such infection in a surgical wound, 2 years after the initial surgery. MRSA like this is now in the news because of its escape from hospitals and other healthcare institutions, into the community at large. Life-ruining and even fatal infections are increasing among otherwise healthy people, from high school and professional athletes, to housewives, children, and employees. The first time I heard of this super-bug was in an article in Sports Illustrated about the spread of infections among young athletes. The saddening stories in this article included one about a high school football player who contracted a seemingly minor skin infection and died within 7 days from the spread of MRSA.

Numerous articles are appearing in the news about this deadly bacterium. One of the best and most comprehensive descriptions that I have found of the medical details and symptoms of MRSA staph infections is by Dr. Mark Christensen: MRSA Staph Infections: Coming to a Workplace Near You. What is missing from this and virtually all other articles on MRSA is sound advice on natural solutions to this growing problem. I offer some below. What brings me to writing this article, however, is that modern medicine is launching an all-out blitz against MRSA, which is surely going to make matters worse.

New Research, Same Old Stupid Science

An article in our local newspaper on March 4, 2009, trumpets a brand new study in the search for a solution to MRSA. This study will cost $9 million in grants from government agencies, will take 5 years, and will involve about 3,000 patients. The core of this study will be to resurrect older antibiotics in hopes that something will work.

Keep in mind that methicillin resistance arose because of the over-use of methicillin. The current treatment of choice for MRSA is an antibiotic by the name of vanomycin. Hospital treatment entails using high levels of vanomycin intravenously for several days. It should be no surprise at all that, as of 1996, a new form of staph infection has started to appear in hospitals, first in Japan and now in the U.S. It is called VRSA.

Staphylococcus aureus is a wiley pathogen. Pathogenic bacteria typically are. Very few life-killing toxins will keep them down for long. It is only a matter of time before the latest mega-project to eradicate staph infections will enable the appearance of newer, even more resistant and increasingly deadly forms of this bacterium. This is stupid. Indeed, it fits the classic definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different outcome.

Antibiotic Herbs to the Rescue

All plants produce antibiotics. They have to, because they are sitting ducks for infection without them. Modern medicine has failed to capitalize on this cornucopia because they are not sources of patentable drugs. Nevertheless, almost every herb that has ever been tested for antibiotic activity shows some. Certain herbs are more powerful than others.

The neat thing about natural antibiotics is that bacteria do not develop resistance to them in a mixture of at least three substances. Whole herb extracts, of course, typically contain dozens of substances that have some level of antibiotic activity. This is a general principle that applies not only to microbes but also to insect pests and to malignant tumors.

If medical researchers spent a fraction of the time and money on evaluating antibiotic herbal preparations for treating MRSA staph infections, we would have a much better chance of controlling this growing problem. In fact, the top 5 antibiotic herbs, basedon activity and availability, are already well known in recent botanical research, so the stage is set for finding multiple good, cost-effective solutions. I’ve provided more details about these herbs below. Keep in mind that this is a short list taken from hundreds of herbs that are known to have antibiotic activity.

1. Creosote Bush: Larrea tridentata

The creosote bush (also known as chaparral tea) produces dozens of flavonoid-type natural products and secretes them into a resin on the surfaces of the leaves and stems. Antimicrobial activities are the foundation for numerous folk medicaly uses by Native Americans, including treatmens for flu, cold sores, skin infections, sore throat, colds, and gonorrhea. Modern research shows the resin to be active against herpes and other viruses (especially HIV and herpes), as well as against bacteria and fungi. If you live in any of the deserts of the southwest U.S. or adjacent Mexico, you can collect your own material from this plant. Otherwise, the best preparation for topical use against bacterial infections is a penetrating spray by LarreaRx.

2. Honey

Although plants are the original source of honey, this is technically an herb/animal combo product because of the role of bees. Nevertheless, recent research published in the Journal of Wound Care (September 2007, vol. 16 no. 8, pp. 325-328) showed that, “Full healing was achieved in seven consecutive patients whose wounds were either infected or colonised with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antiseptics and antibiotics had previously failed to irradicate the clinical signs of infection.” Wow!

3. Garlic: Allium sativum

Here is the title of a recent article in the British Journal of Biomedical Science (2004, vol. 61 no. 2, pp. 71-74): “Antibacterial activity of a new, stable, aqueous extract of allicin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.” What this means that water was used to extract garlic, in such a way that it prevented the breakdown of the active ingredient (allicin). Don’t scientists use cool jargon? You can take advantage of this protocol by using a tea made tea from fresh garlic or by taping freshly ground garlic directly onto a wound. You just have to watch out for a rash that may be caused by the garlic itself.

4. Tea tree oil: Melaleuca alternifolia

This herb receives considerable attention for multiple antimicrobial uses. One report, in the Journal of Hospital Infections (April 2004, vol. 56 no. 4, pp. 283-286) compared tea tree oil with standard medical protocols. Tea tree treatment was more effective than chlorhexidine or silver sulfadiazine at clearing MRSA from superficial skin sites and skin lesions.

5. Grapefruit seed extract: Citrus paradisi

Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) has long been used in agriculture  as a bactericide and fungicide, a mold inhibitor, an antiparasitic for animal feeds, a food preservative and antioxidant, and a water disinfectant. The wide variety of applications of GSE in human health have made this extract a popular supplement that is commonly available in nutrition stores. Regarding MRSA, one recent study in a journal called Burns (December 2004, vol. 30 no. 8, pp. 772-777) evaluated GSE as a potential component of dressings for preventing infections in burn patients. In this study the greatest anti-bacterial effects against MRSA came from a combination of GSE with geranium oil. This just shows how powerful mixtures of herbal products can be together.

All the best in natural health,
Dr. D

Flu Cure is a Legal Issue

I say this because the U.S. Foolish Drug Administration has a monopoly on defining diseases and the drugs for them. (That is why we have so many more diseases now than all of prior human history.) The FDA also does not allow the use of the word ‘cure’ for anything. Example: Saying that vitamin C is a cure for scurvy is illegal according to federal regulations, even though the truth of this statement has been known since at least 1936.

In light of this scenario, I am going to be  careful and never claim the existence of a cure for anything. However, I will point to activities of certain natural products on viruses, in this case flu viruses.

Important Biological Principles for Treating Infections

As you already know, use of a single drug for any kind of microbial infection leads to the development of resistant forms of the offending  microbe. What you may not know is that drug cocktails – mixtures of multiple drugs – do not have the same effect. As scary as it might seem, drug cocktails do better. This is not a common strategy for infectious diseases because the side effects from drug mixtures are too deadly.

Fortunately, this principle holds true for natural products, which is why whole herbs and extracts do not lead to the development of resistant microbes. Moreover, side effects of natural treatments are generally minimal or nonexistent.

A second principle that is supported by excellent research is the synergy among mixed natural products. Mixtures of flavonoids in particular have a boosted effect against flu viruses. This means that the antiviral activity of several flavonoids together is more powerful than any single compound.

The Abundance of Antiviral Herbs

Even a cursory check for the topic, “antiviral,” at CAM on PubMed comes up with 2,477 articles. “Antiviral” and “plants” shows 976 articles. Many of these are reports of antiviral activities of plant chemicals against human viruses. Indeed, 282 of them involve antiviral flavonoids from a wide variety of plants. Not too long ago, I did a comprehensive search for the best antiviral plants and came with a list of 6 outstanding candidates. A new research study at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine is underway to further explore the antiviral potential in several plants.

Larrea tridentata

The Top Antiviral Herb

Out of all of the research that I have done myself, and that I have found in the scientific literature, the top antiviral herb in my view is still the creosote bush, Larrea tridentata. This species produces an abundance of compounds that show activity against HIV, herpes (including shingles and cold sores), influenza, and other viruses.

Antiviral activities of extracts and compounds from Larrea have already led  to a handful of patents, on some of  which I am a co-holder (for example, U.S. Patent No. 5,837,252). And I have commented on its importance in my book, “Shingles Natural Treatment Guide,” at NaturalShinglesTreatment.com.

Yes, I am biased in favor of this plant as one of Mother Nature’s top herbal medicine chests. However, I am following in the footsteps of Native Americans who discovered dozens and dozens of uses for it in their herbal pharmacopeia. One of these uses was for treating stomach flu. If you live in any desert in the southwestern U.S., from Texas to California, you can collect this plant on your own. A more convenient form is currently available as a supplement under the name of LarreaRx.

Other Antiviral Herbs in the Scientific Literature

As I mentioned above, this is a long list. Almost  every plant that has ever been evaluated for antiviral activity shows positive results. Some are even active against flu. The key, however, is to know which ones show the most potent anti-influenza action. To keep this post from being too long, I’ll just say that, besides Larrea, the best ones that I have found, based on published research, include the following: Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), black elderberry (Sambucus nigra), garlic (Allium sativum), green tea (Thea sinensis), and American cranberry (Oxycoccus macrocarpus). If you find yourself in the predicament of looking for a good anti-influenza herb mix, this list would be a great start. And current research will certainly be expanding on these.

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D

Importance of Good Natural Sleep

Here is what is supposed to happen when you sleep: You cycle through a few 90-minute periods between deep and light sleep. The best sleep includes at least 5 of these cycles per night, for a total sleep time of about 8 hours. Anything less than 8 hours of good sleep (with the emphasis on good) will lead to sleep deprivation like our candidate for natural sleep remedies in the photo. All kinds of health problems arise from sleep deprivation, so let’s just agree that a lack of good sleep is bad news.

In light of that comment, how would you like to have an herbal supplement that could do the following?

• Relieve your night-time restlessness and sleep problems
• Boost your mood
• Lower your anxiety
• Calm you down
• Balance your nerves

Natural Sleep Help from the Amazon

Hang on to your hat, because a new wonder herb from a South American tree fits this description and more. The common name of this herb is mulungu, scientifically Erythrina mulungu, a member of the pea family.

The plant kingdom offers a wide variety of herbs that can help you relax, manage stress, and sleep better. I have always loved valerian, hops, and kava kava. Recently, however, I was hunting around to see what other herbs are used elsewhere in the world, and I was delighted to discover mulungu from the Amazon. As I delved into the background for mulungu, I found that it is more than a natural sleep aid. The many uses of this herb are derived from a long history in folk medicine as well as from current scientific research. This is an ideal combination of information that I require for verifying the use of any kind of herbal preparation, so I though I’d just pass it on to you.

Indeed, what I found is that herbal preparations of mulungu in its native land include all of the above, plus:

• Hepatotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the liver)
• Stress, anxiety, depression, hysteria, panic disorders, compulsive disorders
• Sedative for insomnia, restlessness, and sleep disorders
• Hepatitis, obstructions, high liver enzyme levels, sclerosis
• High blood pressure and heart palpitations
• Drug and nicotine withdrawal

Tribal and Herbal Medicine Uses

Mulungu has long been used in Brazil by Amazon natives as a natural sedative, to calm an overexcited nervous system and promote restful sleep. However, it is much more than natural sleep remedy. In both North and South American herbal medicine systems, mulungu is considered to be an excellent mild sedative. It is especially important in preparations for treating insomnia and anxiety. In both Peru and Brazil, mulungu is even used for epilepsy.

Although it is not yet well-known in the United States, some herbal practitioners are starting to use mulungu to quiet hysteria from trauma or shock, to calm the nervous system, and to treat insomnia and promote healthy sleeping patterns.

Biological Activities and Clinical Research

The folk medical uses of mulungu have been validated by scientific research in several recent studies in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, the Journal of Natural Products, and the Brazilian Journal of Biological and Medicinal Research. For example, one study using an animal model (correlating to human generalized anxiety disorder, as well as panic disorder) was undertaken on an extract of mulungu. The researchers reported that the mulungu extract had an effect similar to the commonly-prescribed anti-anxiety drug diazepam (former brand name, Valium). It was suggested in this study that the phytochemicals in mulungu may alter certain kinds of neurotransmission similar to that of GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid). GABA is widely used as a supplement for its calming action.

Further research also validated the traditional use of mulungu as an antimicrobial agent for throat and urinary infections. Mulungu demonstrated antibacterial activity in studies on the disease-causing bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Current Practical Uses

Mulungu is not yet widely known in North America as a natural sleep remedy. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful rainforest herb with well-established uses in Brazil and surrounding countries. It deserves and will undoubtedly achieve much more attention as more herbalists and their clients discover the power of this herb for helping people attain optimal wellness through natural stress management. Indeed, mulungu provides the same calming effect of kava kava, whose reputation has been undermined by negative press propaganda about supposed liver damage that has led to unwarranted fears. Moreover, since mulungu has an additional positive effect on the liver, this herb is poised as the new replacement for kava kava.

New Herbal Sleep Aid

I am always looking for ways for people to get better sleep with a natural sleep remedy. Fortunately, regarding the use of mulungu, I didn’t have to call up any of my colleagues in Rio de Janeiro to get some material for me. An herbal importer had also discovered this herb and made it available in the U.S. This is when I got my research team together and created a formula that incorporates mulungu and a couple of other ingredients that are well known to boost good sleep. We came up with what we call, “Mulungu Sleep Formula.” (By the way, in case you ever have the opportunity to create a supplement formula yourself, one of your perks is being able to hold  the cost WAY down. You’ll see what I mean when you hit that link above that takes you to my nutrition store.)

Mulungu and Stress Management

This herb is much more than a natural sleep remedy. People who use mulungu or any other herbs for natural sleep also seem to manage daily stress better. And this leads to more good sleep, and even better stress management. What a great way to get live!

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D

Natural Health Nutrition – Where’s the Common Sense?

Today I feel inspired to get into teaching mode, plus throw in a little biochemistry just because I can. It is the Mad Professor that is still in me.

Think for a moment about the silliness of the longtime favorite label, “all natural.” This pops up so often on foods, beverages, supplements, talk shows, infomercials, ads of all kinds, etc., that it is enough to make me gag. Even my university students, bless their naïve little hearts, used this phrase so often that I finally had to include a special lecture on it every semester in my integrative medicine class. “All natural” should mean something, although this meaning has been corrupted by two forces: 1) the mindless belief that if something is all natural, it is somehow automatically good for you; and, 2) government regulations. This subject has become such a gigantic mess that I am challenged by where to start.

Role of the Fraudulent Drug Administration (aka, FDA)

This rogue government agency is owned by Big Pharma and Big Fooda (OK, I made up that term, you get the picture) and is way too understaffed. It is not the guardian of human health that American mythology tells us it is. It acts more like a puppet that is controlled by the biggest and baddest puppeteer. According to Global New Products Database, “All Natural,” was the third most frequent claim made on food products launched in the US in 2007, appearing on 2,617 products. It ranked fourth most popular claim for beverages, used on 542 items.

Now take a look at one of the most common sweeteners that is added to products that claim to be all natural – high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The FDA has to contend with a back and forth battle between the Corn Refiners Association, which says HFCS is all natural, and the Sugar Association, which says it isn’t. The issue is that HFCS is extracted, hydrolyzed, separated, traumatized, folded, spindled, and mutilated in ways that make a chemist’s heart flutter, then added to foods and beverages.

This just means that HFCS is no longer raw material. It goes through several chemical steps to become the final product. Does that mean it is no longer all natural? FDA’s ruling, which fluctuates, depends on which of the two opposing special-interest groups greases the most palms with the most money. The bottom line is that, as always, don’t count on your government to give you good advice. In my opinion, HFCS is to be avoided regardless of what any agency decides.

Natural Health Therapies – Not Always Warm and Fuzzy

Now if we just focus on natural natural ingredients from herbs and other organisms, a short list would include the following:

• MSG
• Strychnine
• Morphine
• Cocaine
• Botox
• Ricin

These are just a few that pop into my head. Ricin, which is a all natural product of castor beans, is such a powerful toxin that possession of it is illegal. You already know about botox (botulism toxin!), morphine, cocaine, and strychnine. MSG is so nasty that food manufacturers have come up with 17 ways to hide it from being obvious on a food label. All of these are “all natural.”

Natural Health Alternative No. 1 – The Easy Case of Vitamin E

The chemical gobbledygook, “alpha-d-tocopherol,” indicates one of several forms of naturally occurring vitamin E. The chemical structure is a tocopherol molecule that comes in “D” form and an “L” form, which are kind of like the mirror images of your left and right hands. They are not identical, although one looks like the other in a mirror. When a living organism makes tocopherol, enzymes guide the formation of the “D” form. Likewise, enzymes use the same form in biological reactions. The “L” form is inert.

It you look at a few example vitamin supplements that contain vitamin E, you will find some that contain “DL” tocopherol. This means that vitamin E was transformed from some other molecule in a flask, without enzymes. The resulting mix is only half as active biologically as the natural “D” form because half of the mix is the “L” form. Okay, that is an easy one to evaluate.

Natural Health Alternative No. 2 – The Not So Easy Case of Bioidentical Hormones

This is a huge issue for millions of women who undergo hormone therapy for menopause. I have enough information to write book on this, so I’ll really keep it short for now and promise more on the topic soon. Supplement manufacturers have perpetrated the “bioidentical hormone” terminology to imply that hormone supplements are all natural. Hmpf!

Take a look at the chemical structure of progesterone below. Chemists discovered it and determined its structure in the first half of the twentieth century. This structure is the only molecule that is called progesterone. By looking at the structure, you would not be able to tell whether it came from a natural source or was made in a laboratory from fire, air, earth and water (i.e., the favorite starting materials for chemists).

Now take a look at the structure of diosgenin, which comes from plants (most notably certain species of yams). Diosgenin is very similar to progesterone in many respects. Indeed, commercial progesterone is made by chemically modifying diosgenin. That is the progesterone that is in supplements such as progesterone creams.

Bioidentical Progesterone is Not Natural

Progesterone is progesterone is progesterone. Your body (men AND women need it) doesn’t distinguish the all-natural form from the form that chemists make from diosgenin. Progesterone supplements are just fine. They just aren’t all natural.

Thanks for reading my semi-rant. I feel better now.

All the best in natural health,
Dr. D

Acai Science or Acai Scam?

Calling acai scams such a nasty name is pretty harsh. I’ll just say that most of the information on the Internet is simply repeated, out of ignorance, from a few original sources. The original sources are the scams. Just for fun I’m going to show you how a scientist (me) evaluates the marketing hype behind the big acai scam.

What I did was to go to one of my favorite medical databases and simply look up all of the references to published research on the scientific name, Euterpe  oleracea, which is the name that scientists use for the species of palm tree that produces acai berries (which are not really berries, by the way). I’m going to give you the Cliff Notes version of the results first, then I’ll append the complete list with summaries of results.

Research Behind Acai Berry Scam

A total of 9 publications came up in my search. The earliest was published in 2004 and the most recent one in 2008. The main results are listed below:

• 2004 Anthocyanins and similar phytochemicals were isolated and evaluated for antioxidant activity and pigment stability.
• 2005 Several commercial and non-commercial samples of acai fruit pulp were found to have antioxidant activity; very little of this activity was due to the anthocyanins
• 2006 Anthocyanins from fruits were found to be potent inhibitors of nitric oxide
• 2006 Seed extracts show potent antioxidant activity, mostly from as yet unknown ingredients
• 2007 Extracts of acai pits show vasodilator effect on rat tissue
• 2007 Acai fruits have good nutritional value
• 2008 Acai fruit pulp and oil inhibit growth of colon cancer cells in culture; effect is not due to anthocyanins
• 2008 Class of phytochemicals called lignans discovered; showed protective effect on breast cancer cell cultures that were stressed by hydrogen peroxide
• 2008 Showed acai pulp to be equivalent to applesauce in increasing plasma antioxidant capacity

Do Research Articles Support Acai Scams?

In a word, no. The research has nothing to do with the marketing of any acai scam. Now go look up what you can find on acai for weight loss, then compare what you find with the list of research results below.

You may also run into a handful of articles at EzineArticles.com that advise you to drink acai juice to prevent cancer. After doing many years of research on cancer cell cultures myself (in my case, brain cancer cells), I can tell you that research on cell cultures rarely has anything to do with cells in a whole person. The reference above from 2008 regarding colon cancer is very, very, very preliminary. Did I say VERY preliminary? No advice whatsoever can be taken from this lone article.

Acai Scams are Here to Stay

Many supplement manufacturers have jumped onto this bandwagon. Customers in my store come in regularly to ask about acai for weight loss and other health benefits. My recommendation is always that acai berry contains some antioxidants that are probably beneficial. It is the new berry on the block. Another one will come along soon. Fruits juices litter the supplement landscape. They are all good to some extent. However, the information about acai has reached a level of silliness that I regard as a scam. The big Acai Scam.

What About Folk Medicine?

We don’t always have to rely on scientific research to guide us. It is too slow to find out most the answers we want. This is where old knowledge can be helpful, especially when herbs have a folk medical history. Unfortunately, the acai berry is more well known as a poor man’s fruit juice than as a medicinal herb. People in Brazil, where acai palms are cultivated, are probably laughing in their beer about all the hullabaloo regarding acai. You can read about this plant from the point of view of a naturopathic doctor at RainTree Nutrition to see what I mean.

Now for the Gory Scientific Details

I welcome you to scan the references that I dug up. This is a lot of detailed information that only scientists like me get excited about. Enjoy! You can get even more information by looking up the PubMed ID numbers for the complete abstracts of these articles. Titles of the articles are in boldface. Don’t scientists have a way with words? A typical full reference, as those below, includes title, journal citation, author names, and address of the lead institution.

1: Pharmacokinetics of anthocyanins and antioxidant effects after the consumption of anthocyanin-rich acai juice and pulp (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in human healthy volunteers.

Mertens-Talcott SU, Rios J, Jilma-Stohlawetz P, Pacheco-Palencia LA, Meibohm B, Talcott ST, Derendorf H.

Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA. smtalcott@tamu.edu

J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Sep 10;56(17):7796-802.
PubMed ID: 18693743

SUMMARY: Compared acai pulp, clarified acai juice, applesauce, and a non-antioxidant beverage. Plasma antioxidant capacity was significantly increased by the acai pulp and applesauce. Individual increases in plasma antioxidant capacity of up to 2.3- and 3-fold for acai juice and pulp, respectively were observed. The antioxidant capacity in urine, generation of reactive oxygen species, and uric acid concentrations in plasma were not significantly altered by the treatments.

2: Lignans and other constituents of the fruits of Euterpe oleracea (Acai) with antioxidant and cytoprotective activities.

Chin YW, Chai HB, Keller WJ, Kinghorn AD.

Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, 500 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.

J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Sep 10;56(17):7759-64.
PubMed ID: 18656934

SUMMARY: Identified examples of a class of phytochemicals called lignans. Showed that a handful of these can protect certain type of breast cancer cells in culture against stress caused by hydrogen peroxide.

3: Absorption and biological activity of phytochemical-rich extracts from açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) pulp and oil in vitro.

Pacheco-Palencia LA, Talcott ST, Safe S, Mertens-Talcott S.

Department of Nutrition and Food Science and Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.

J Agric Food Chem. 2008 May 28;56(10):3593-600.
PubMed ID: 18442253

SUMMARY: Polyphenolic mixtures from both acai pulp and acai oil extracts inhibited proliferation of human colon cancer cells by up to 90.7%. None of the polyphenolics included anthocyanins. No comparison was made on potential inhibition of normal cells.

4: Characterization of the acai or manaca (Euterpe oleracea Mart.): a fruit of the Amazon. [Article in Spanish]

Neida S, Elba S.

Laboratorio de Análisis de Alimentos, Departamento de Procesos Biológicos y Bioquímicos, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela.

Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2007 Mar;57(1):94-8.
PubMed ID: 17824205

SUMMARY: Results of dry-weight analysis of two harvests at different times in 2005 indicated that acai has a general content of lipids (49.4% and 33.1%), proteins (13.8% and 9.3%), ash (5.2% and 2.2%)  and total dietary fiber (27.3% and 18.0%). Polyphenols were 5.02 and 2.20 g/100 g; tannins 0.70  and 1.37 g/100g; anthocyanins 0.73 and 1.60 g/100g and the antioxidant capacity 88.03 and 87.87%, respectively. It is concluded that the acai or manaca Collected in the Venezuelan Amazon has a high nutritional value.

5: Endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaí) extracts in mesenteric vascular bed of the rat.

Rocha AP, Carvalho LC, Sousa MA, Madeira SV, Sousa PJ, Tano T, Schini-Kerth VB, Resende AC, Soares de Moura R.

Department of Pharmacology and Psychobiology, IBRAG, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Vascul Pharmacol. 2007 Feb;46(2):97-104.
PubMed ID: 17049314

SUMMARY: Extracts of açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) stones (i.e., fruit pit) induce a vasodilator effect in isolated rat tissue. The vasodilator effect suggest a possibility to use such extracts in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

6: Total oxidant scavenging capacity of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) seeds and identification of their polyphenolic compounds.

Rodrigues RB, Lichtenthäler R, Zimmermann BF, Papagiannopoulos M, Fabricius H, Marx F, Maia JG, Almeida O.

Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Department of Food Chemistry I, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 11-13, D-53115 Bonn, Germany.

J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Jun 14;54(12):4162-7.
PubMed ID: 16756342

SUMMARY: The antioxidant capacity of methanol and ethanol seed extracts from Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) exhibited good antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals, similar to the capacity of the pulp. The antioxidant capacity against of the seed extract fractions indicates that the procyanidins contribute substantially to the overall effect. In addition, however, other compounds that have not yet been identified are responsible for a large part of the observed antioxidant capacity.

7: Inhibitory effects of Euterpe oleracea Mart. on nitric oxide production and iNOS  expression.

Matheus ME, de Oliveira Fernandes SB, Silveira CS, Rodrigues VP, de Sousa Menezes F, Fernandes PD.

Departamento de Farmacologia Básica e Clínica, ICB, Caixa Postal: 68016, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21944-970 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Sep 19;107(2):291-6.
PubMed ID: 16635558

SUMMARY: Results showed that the fractions obtained from fruits were the most potent in inhibiting NO production, followed by those from flowers and spikes. The more pronounced effect was observed in the fractions in which the concentration of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-rhamnoside were higher. This shows potential cardiovascular benefits.

8: Total oxidant scavenging capacities of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaí) fruits.

Lichtenthäler R, Rodrigues RB, Maia JG, Papagiannopoulos M, Fabricius H, Marx F.

Institute of Nutritional and Food Sciences, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.

Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2005 Feb;56(1):53-64.
PubMed ID: 16019315

SUMMARY: The antioxidant capacities of 11 commercial and non-commercial samples of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) fruit pulp were studied with the total oxidant scavenging capacity. The antioxidant capacities of all purple açaí samples were found to be excellent against peroxyl radicals, good against peroxynitrite and poor against hydroxyl radicals compared with common European fruit and vegetable juices. The contributions of the anthocyanins to the overall antioxidant capacities of the fruit were estimated to be only approximately 10%. Obviously, compounds not yet identified are responsible for the major part of the antioxidant capacities of the açaí fruit pulp.

9: Phytochemical composition and pigment stability of Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.).

Del Pozo-Insfran D, Brenes CH, Talcott ST.

Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Florida, P.O. Box
110370, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0370, USA.

J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Mar 24;52(6):1539-45.
PubMed ID: 15030208

SUMMARY: Anthocyanin and polyphenolic compounds present in açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) were determined and their respective contribution to the overall antioxidant capacity established. Cyanidin 3-glucoside (1040 mg/L) was the predominant anthocyanin in açai and correlated to antioxidant content, while 16 other polyphenolics were detected from 4 to 212 mg/L.

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D