Nattokinase enzyme reverses heart disease without side effects. So why would anyone suggest that it might cause brain hemorrhage? This would be a pretty serious nattokinase side effect. Here is the truth:

Does Nattokinase Cause Brain Hemorrhage?

One study of a person taking aspirin who then added natto (400 mg/day for 7 days) to his meds and had an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) (brain hemorrhage) concluded that nattokinase caused the problem.

Determining cause and effect is the most difficult thing for any scientist to do. The article above mostly serves as a great exercise by jumping to an unwarranted conclusion. If nattokinase actually caused brain hemorrhage, we’d have a lot of natto lovers in Japan dropping dead way too young. I suppose that I would classify this worry in the category of paranoia or propaganda, I’m not sure which.

Dr. D

Treatments for angina include herbs that work well in clinical and animal studies. Finding the best formulas is difficult due to marketing hype that is not supported by research results. Here is how to start.

What Is Angina?

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Angina (angina pectoris) is severe chest pain due to lack of blood (i.e., oxygen) in the heart muscle. The main cause is a coronary artery disease called atherosclerosis, or a clogging of the arteries. Angina typically feels like the chest is being strangled. Severity of symptoms may or may not be associated with fatal heart attacks.

Four types of mainstream prescription drugs are available to treat angina: beta-blockers, nitrates (e.g., nitroglycerin), calcium antagonists, and antiplatelet drugs. Herbal medicine also offers solutions for treating angina. Below is a summary of the top herbs and herb ingredients based on scientific research.

Bromelain

Bromelain is a mixture of protein-digesting enzymes from the stems of the pineapple plant (Ananas comosus). Bromelain is widely used as a component of digestive enzyme supplements and as an anti-inflammatory and fibrinolytic systemic enzyme for treating arterial blockages.

Study: Experimental dosages of 1000-1400 mg daily led to disappearance of symptoms angina in human patients within 4-90 days, depending on severity of blockage. Symptoms returned when bromelain treatment was discontinued. (Source: Acta Med. Empirica)

Hawthorn (Crataegus species)

Effects are due to substances called flavonoids and oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs).

Study: Crataegus extracts given orally to rats (2 percent of the diet) significantly reduced damage to myocardial cells. (Source: Arzneim. Forsch.)

Study: The main flavonoids from Crataegus led to improved coronary flow, heart rate, left ventricular pressure, and speed of contraction and relaxation in perfused isolated guinea pig hearts. (Source: Arzneim. Forsch.)

Study: Crataegus extract (3.3 percent OPCs) diminished accumulation of lactic acid, thereby improving oxygen utilization, in perfused isolated rat hearts. (Source: Arzneim. Forsch.)

Study: 46 patients were given either a tablet with 100 mg of Crataegus leaves or a placebo. Results were that 46 percent of the Crataegus group showed improved EKG readings within 4 weeks, whereby the control group showed 3 percent improved readings. (Source: J. Tradit. Chin. Med.)

Study: Crataegus leaf extract led to decreased oxygen consumption and improved oxygen utilization and heart function when given to dogs. (Source: J. Tradit. Chin. Med.)

Study: 60 patients with mild stable forms of angina were given either a tablet with Crataegus extract (brand: Crategutt novo) or a placebo 3 times daily. EKG readings under exertion improved significantly in the treated group vs. the control group. (Source: Therapiewoche)

Other Angina Treatment Herbs

Additional research has also shown the beneficial effects for treating angina with the following:

Khella (Ammi visnaga): Commercial supplements are widely available for healthcare professionals. Effects are less than those reported for hawthorn. Active ingredients may have toxic effects at clinical doses.

Astragalus membranaceus (currently correct name: Astragalus propinquus): Widely available in supplement form. Better known as an herb for boosting the immune system. One major Chinese study showed significant benefits in treating heart disease in humans. However, treatment was not with any available oral form.

Terminalia arjuna: Important cardiotonic herb in Ayurvedic medicine. One small clinical study (10 patients) showed significant improvement in several indicators of heart health, including lower frequency of angina.

Comments

As far as herbs for treating angina go, hawthorn has been the star of the show in herbal medicine for centuries. Research confirms its traditional uses for treating angina and other heart health issues.

Hawthorn berries are the most common source for supplement products. However, it is not at all clear that this source offers maximum benefit for heart health. Active ingredients also occur in flowering tops and in leaves. Anyone considering the use of hawthorn for heart health should first read any full monograph on this herb before buying or using any herbal preparation.

Bromelain is now commonly incorporated into formulas that contain additional anti-inflammatory proteolytic systemic enzymes. These include nattokinase, serrapeptase, trypsin, papain, and a multi-enzyme mixture called pancreatin. The totality of research on these enzymes for heart health is immense. We now know that bromelain alone is not as powerful as a good enzyme formula that contains some or all of these other enzymes.

All the best in natural health,
Dr. D

Sexual enhancement herbs have a very long folk history. These were medicine before synthetic drugs. Herbal Viagra was not an issue because there was no such thing as Viagra. Herbs are still the best combination for effectiveness and safety for sexual enhancement. Take a look at this video overview for some important pointers.

Sex Enhancers & Sexual Herbs, Natural Viagra, More Sexy Sex

Every culture throughout human history has discovered natural solutions for sexual enhancement. We do not have to re-invent the wheel here, folks!

All the best in herbal health,

Dr. D

Natural sleep tips come from all cultures over the history of folk medicine. People benefit most from herbs that do not have side effects or leftover drowsiness the next day. They truly relieve stress and anxiety that lead to sleep deprivation. Natural sleep remedies are easy to find and easy to use. See how you can sleep like a baby again, naturally!

Here is the perspective from one medical doctor who has seen the light on how to sleep well. Good sleep sometimes seems like a miracle. Without it, nothing else in life goes right.

Natural Solutions To Sleep Deprivation. READ MORE…

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D

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Depression is one of the most difficult disorders to deal with. However, throughout human history herbs have been used against depression. Anti-depression herbs are helpful in so many ways. I have found the following three articles to be excellent in helping understand what is best to do about depression naturally.

Magnificent Role of Herbal Supplements for Fighting Depression. READ HERE…

Natural Remedies for Depression. READ HERE…

Natural Depression Treatments: Non-prescription Alternatives. READ HERE…

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D

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Herbal sleep aids are known around the world in every culture. They are backed centuries of use as folk medicines. Some also have modern research behind them. These include valerian, kava kava, hops, chamomile, and mulungu.

The certainty that is associated with all natural sleep supplements is that they give your body a chance to relax and do what it is supposed to do for a good night’s sleep. And without the side effects or morning-after sluggishness that comes with so many prescription sleeping pills. Nice!

Herbs For Stress – Best Herbs For Stress Relief

Chamomile helps in relaxation and promotes sleep. It is usually taken in the form of tea. Two teaspoons of dried flowers are to be used per cup of tea. This herb is now being used to prepare several herbal cures in the form of powder …

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All the best in natural health,

Dr. D

Ginkgo Biloba Fails Against Dementia: No Surprise Whatsoever

More than 20 years ago I collected about a thousand scientific research references on Ginkgo biloba. I was curious about the widespread advertising of Ginkgo products for memory and other cognitive issues. What I found was that research on the memory effects of this herb were, at best, very weak. From that point onward I used this topic as an example in my university classes regarding the disconnect between research and marketing.

In spite of what I believe was already well-established knowledge, about 8 years ago our dear old federal government handed out a gigantic research grant (more than $36 million!) for further study of this topic. Unfortunately, the research appears to have been poorly designed and guaranteed to come up with negative results. It came as no surprise to me, therefore, that newspapers headlines citing the failure of Ginkgo biloba to have any effect on dementia started popping up in newspapers nationwide.

The question I have is, why was this study ever funded in the first place? It had no merit beforehand. And now the headlines give a bad name to a valuable herb whose best use is for treating intermittent claudication and other vascular disorders. Of course, intermittent claudication isn’t sexy enough to take to market. Most people never even heard of this disorder.

The Scientific Method Loses Again

Unfortunately, the use of the scientific method for generating multiple testable hypotheses is nowhere to be found in this latest negative megastudy on herbal medicine. If you are not familiar with what this means, then you are in good company. Editors of the Journal of the American Medical Association apparently don’t, either. They accepted the Ginkgo dementia research article for publication on December 23, 2009, that completely fails to use the scientific method.

Indeed, the modus operandi of the lead government agency in support of this kind of research (i.e., NCCAM, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health) is to hand out grants for poorly designed studies that always lead to negative results.

What is the Goal of Ginkgo Biloba Dementia Research?

The result of this research undermines the annual $250 million industry for Ginkgo biloba memory products. By itself this is not a bad thing, in my opinion. It merely confirms the body of research that already existed. As such, the latest research looks like a grand waste of time and money to me.

By the way, one thing that we will never know from this study is whether there might have been a dose-response effect. The researchers started out with a dose of 120 milligrams twice per day as the only possible dosage level. Would twice that amount have shown a positive effect? Or three times that amount? We have no way to know. Dose-dependent effects are curiously missing from almost all such research funded by NCCAM. The better to ensure negative results, I suppose.

All in all, this is yet another example of expensive bad science that undermines the value of a good medicinal herb.

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D

See my blog post at SupplementDocPros.com about how product labels are misleading.

Research on cholesterol and cardiovascular health has a long and controversial history, starting in about 1950. Since that time the following details have emerged:

• Arterial plaque contains cholesterol
• The most abundant substance in arterial plaque is calcium
• About 50% of heart attack victims do not have clogged arteries
• About 90% of heart attack victims have no previous cardiovascular symptoms
• Cholesterol is important for proper functioning of cell membranes
• Dietary cholesterol has almost no effect on serum cholesterol levels
• Cholesterol levels are easy to measure
• Cholesterol levels are easy to control by synthetic drugs called statins
• Statins block the synthesis of CoQ-10, which is crucial for heart health
• There is no such thing as ‘bad’ cholesterol
• Low cholesterol levels, especially when induced by statins, are associated with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease and ALS
• High cholesterol levels do not predict heart disease or mortality
• The only factor that characterizes ALL cardiovascular disorders is inflammation

Several years ago the federal government, with the helpful guidance of the pharmaceutical industry, adjusted its guidelines for managing cholesterol levels. At that time the definition of what was considered too high changed from 300 mg/dL to 200 mg/dL (i.e., milligrams of cholesterol in each deciliter of blood serum, which is a little more than 12 ounces). Under the old guidelines, roughly 13 million people in this country were recommended to take cholesterol-lowering medications. The new guidelines brought this number to 36 million people, which almost tripled the market for cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.

The bottom line is that the widespread use of statins is clearly based on a false premise that cholesterol causes heart disease. Nevertheless, annual sales of statins worldwide exceed $25 billion. The issues of cholesterol and human health disappeared from the realm of wellness long ago and have been replaced by issues of money and politics. This is in spite of the well-known and lengthy list of side effects of these drugs, including unexplained muscle weakness, cramps, twitching, slurred speech, difficulty in walking or motor skills, nerve pain, depression, memory loss, and impotence. Indeed, this money machine continues to grow in spite of recent research on two drugs, Zetia and Vytorin, which shows that they don’t even work.

Maintaining Your Body’s Natural Balance

Cholesterol and overall lipid (fat) balance is still important, because every cell membrane in your body depends on cholesterol and other lipids for proper functioning. The way your cells handle lipids says a lot about your general state of health. Controlling them with drugs is just not the best choice for real wellness. It you have been frightened into taking statin drugs, it is time to find a doctor who will work with you to get off of them. Several natural approaches will ensure that you are on the right track. Since inflammation is at the root of cardiovascular disease, the most important strategy that you can adopt, which also offers benefits against many other chronic conditions, is to address inflammation with a combination of good anti-inflammatory and fiber supplements, the right eating plan, optimal exercise, stress and lifestyle management, and hormone balance.

Plant biochemists have pulled their hair out over the widespread misuse of the term laetrile. (Okay, that’s my story for my own male pattern baldness, and I am sticking with it!) The main issue is the mix up between a natural product and what we chemists call a semisynthetic one.

Amygdalin – The Real Natural Product

Apricot pits and many other kinds of seeds contain a natural product that is called amygdalin, which is often used synonymously with laetrile. They are not the same.

Amygdalin consists of the following parts: a benzene ring, a nitrile (cyano) group, and two molecules of glucose together in a side chain. Although these parts can be put together in several ways, only one particular combination is called amygdalin. Chemist are very picky that way.

Laetrile – The Semisynthetic Product

Laetrile consists of the following parts: a benzene ring, a nitrile (cyano) group, and one molecule of glucuronic acid as a side group. The question about what this molecule is can be resolved by simply knowing the origin of the word laetrile. It comes from the detailed name of the molecule, which is laevomandelonitrile.

Why Is This Important?

The body of research on laetrile as a natural cancer cure is littered with confusion about which molecule was used in any one patient group or lab animal experiment. To make matters worse, early researchers campaigned to get amygdalin or laetrile – it is not clear which – approved as a vitamin, B-17.

Vitamin B-17 is now available commercially, although it is almost certainly amygdalin most of the time. Company representatives do not generally know enough about the subject to provide clarity on their own vitamin B-17 products.

Do Laetrile and Amygdalin Have the Same Anticancer Activity?

That is the key question. It can only be answered theoretically, based on the supposed mechanism of action of laetrile. It goes like this:

Enzymes in tumors cleave the glucuronic acid group off of the intact laetrile molecule. The remaining parts then disintegrate spontaneously into two pieces: a molecule of cyanide and a molecule of benzaldehyde. Supposedly, once the cyanide molecule is released inside the tumor, it goes about killing the cancer cells.

Amygdalin breaks apart the same way, after enzymes in the tumor cleave off the glucose side chain. According to this behavior, amygdalin should have the same mechanism of action against cancer as laetrile does.

Enough Chemistry – What is the Bottom Line for Treating Cancer?

Since laetrile is chemically modified from amyglalin, it may occur as a 50-50 mixture of active and inactive forms. For this reason, a stable concentration of amygdalin should provide the best chance for full anticancer activity.

The key word here is stable. If you have a product that is supposed to be vitamin B-17, or amygdalin, or laetrile, it may be giving off an odor of cyanide (like the odor of bitter almonds or of ground up apple seeds). The stronger the odor, the more of the active ingredient it has lost.

Are Laetrile/Amygdalin Valuable a Cancer Treatment?

More than 80 years of research, from several labs and clinics around the world, shows strong support for a positive answer to this question. Another indication is that this treatment, especially in combination with other treatments, became so good that it was made illegal and chased out of the U.S.

The closest laetrile/amygdalin-based treatment clinics have been in Mexican border towns, especially in Tijuana. Unfortunately, legal problems arising because of certain sections of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have led to closures of some of these cancer clinics.

Natural cancer cures are still as good as they always have been. It is just that getting access to them has become more of a challenge in recent years.

All the best in natural health,

Dr. D