Natural Healing Remedies That Even MDs Recommend
Brent A. Bauer, MD, FACP
Mayo Clinic
The most recent government-funded survey reports that about one in five American adults take supplements to prevent and/or treat health problems. Most supplements currently on the market have not been adequately studied—but some have been tested and now are being recommended even by conservative health institutions.
Caution: Supplements may cause problems when combined with drugs and/or other supplements or when used by patients with certain health problems, such as hypertension. Always talk with your doctor before starting to take a supplement.
It’s common for different brands of the same supplement to have different amounts of the active ingredient. This makes it difficult to recommend specific doses, so follow the dosing recommendations on the labels.
Here are eight supplements that really work…
GINKGO FOR MEMORY LOSS AND LEG PAIN
Ginkgo biloba, made from the leaf of the tree, is a vasodilator—it widens the arteries and improves circulation in the body. It also has antioxidant effects, which means it fights cell damage.
Ginkgo appears to improve “cerebral insufficiencies”—confusion and other cognitive symptoms that occur in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It won’t reverse dementia, but it may slow the progression and help patients stay mentally sharp longer.
Ginkgo also has been used to treat intermittent claudication—leg pain caused by insufficient blood flow. For patients with intermittent claudication, ginkgo can modestly improve their walking distance—say, from about 10 yards to 15 or 20 yards.
Drawbacks: Ginkgo can increase the effects of anticlotting drugs and may raise blood pressure when combined with thiazide diuretics, used to control high blood pressure.
GINSENG FOR BRAIN DECLINE
Athletes sometimes take the herb ginseng to improve their stamina and physical performance. It also is reputed to improve alertness and sexual performance.
While research generally hasn’t supported these uses, studies indicate that ginseng can improve mental abilities—reaction times, concentration, logical thinking, etc. It may improve physical energy, but studies are inconclusive. Many people who take ginseng regularly say that they feel better, even when there isn’t a measurable difference in their mental/physical functioning.
Drawback: May elevate blood pressure in some patients.
GLUCOSAMINE/CHONDROITIN FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS
Glucosamine is made from the skeletons (chitin) of shellfish. Chondroitin is typically made from cow or shark cartilage. Both glucosamine and chondroitin are thought to aid in cartilage repair and growth and to reduce inflammation. They’re usually taken in combination, but it’s not known if this is more effective than taking either one alone.
A study published last year in The New England Journal of Medicine looked at more than 1,500 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. The study found that the supplements weren’t better than a placebo for most patients—but those with moderate-to-severe symptoms did improve slightly when taking the supplements.
Yet many earlier studies indicate that glucosamine/chondroitin is effective for osteoarthritis. One European study reported that glucosamine worked better than the popular pain reliever acetaminophen. Because the supplements are extremely safe and may help, they’re probably worth a try.
Drawback: Stomach upset, but this is rare.
SAM-e FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS
Supplemental S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) is similar to a compound that’s naturally present in the body. It plays a role in the production and regulation of hormones and helps maintain cell membranes.
A number of studies indicate that SAM-e works as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen, at relieving joint pain from osteoarthritis. Other research suggests that it’s helpful for mild-
to-moderate depression—but these studies are inconclusive.
Drawback: May increase the effect of some antidepressants.
SAW PALMETTO FOR THE PROSTATE
It is used in Europe to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH). Men who take it may experience improved urine flow, less inflammation and urinary urgency, and fewer nighttime awakenings to urinate. Some studies suggest it reduces symptoms as effectively as the drug finasteride (Proscar).
A recent study found that saw palmetto had little benefit—but this might be due to the particular patient population or how the herb was used. The preponderance of evidence indicates that it helps and that it’s far less likely than drugs to cause side effects.
Drawbacks: Mild stomach upset. Also, may increase bleeding in patients with bleeding/clotting disorders.
VALERIAN FOR INSOMNIA
This is a tranquilizing herb that helps reduce insomnia and possibly anxiety. It acts on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain—the same receptors that are affected by such drugs as Valium.
People who take valerian before bedtime tend to fall asleep more quickly than if they hadn’t taken the herb, and they have improved quality of sleep.
Drawbacks: Excessive sedation. People should not take valerian when they need to drive, operate machinery, etc. Also, may cause headaches.
BLACK COHOSH FOR MENOPAUSE
Women who take black cohosh, made from the roots of the black cohosh plant, can expect to have a 40% to 50% reduction in both the severity and frequency of hot flashes. It helps reduce menopausal mood swings as well. While a recent large study did not find a positive effect from black cohosh for hot flashes, it has a low incidence of side effects and is worth trying.
Drawback: Mild stomach upset.
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Brent A. Bauer, MD, FACP, director of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program and a physician in the department of internal medicine at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
He is associate professor of medicine in the College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and medical editor of Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth newsletter. He also is medical editor of Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine (Time).
Reprinted with the permission of:
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