Tag Archives: Milk Thistle

Ailments and Conditions, Antioxidants and Superfoods, FAQ's/ ABC's, Herbs, Herbal Formulations, Quick Tips

The Born Again’s Second Coming

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Last week we began our exploration of ways to go beyond cleansing or rejuvenating the body and actually regenerate the vital systems within. We started with the skin and worked our way in to the musculoskeletal frame that houses and supports our internal organs. This week we go even deeper to touch two critical contributors to our health and wellbeing.

Adrenal Awareness

The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys and are responsible for producing many of the body’s major hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Proper functioning of these glands is not only crucial to our physical health but also to our emotional health as the adrenals produce the four main stress hormones that help us overcome and recover from taxing, threatening situations. They are consequently highly susceptible to wear and tear. So above all, proper stress management is crucial to their healthy functioning. Some signs and symptoms of adrenal dysfunction include:

  • general weakness
  • fatigue and/or lethargy
  • headaches and/or dizziness
  • drops in blood pressure upon standing
  • fainting
  • recurrent infections
  • moodiness and depression

If you are experiencing any of these, please make your doctor aware so they can assist you in developing an appropriate treatment plan. And if regeneration is deemed a viable option, then supplementing actual raw adrenal glandular extract is a means of doing so.

The previous century’s advancements in endocrinology lead some medical professionals to view organ dysfunction more as a consequence of the body’s attack on itself than the result of its lacking nutrients. The attacks are similar in nature to but much much milder than a receiving body’s attack of a transplanted organ. Supplementation of the actual gland could calm the attacks and enable a distressed gland to heal itself and resume normal functioning. Glandular therapy was born from this hypothesis and is currently used to correct the dysfunction of many organs including the kidneys, pancreas, spleen, thyroid and pituitary glands. It is however still a controversial therapy that should not be considered lightly. So, caution should be exercised when seeking out glandular therapy and choosing the corresponding glandular extracts as many are sourced from mature animals that may have been exposed to antibiotics and growth hormones. The best glandular extracts will come from the younger, organically raised animals.

Liver Love

The various roles of this vital organ definitely make it worthy of its own post, perhaps even its own blog; but for now, I’ll stay focused on its unmatched ability to regenerate itself. The liver can naturally re-grow itself and restore its function from as little as 25% of its original tissue. Because the liver is involved in so much- digestion, blood sugar balance, fat metabolism, energy production, detoxification and the regulation of thyroid function. If and when it gets sick, the whole body feels the brunt. Liver dysfunction can be brought on by the build-up of toxins like pesticides, insecticides and preservatives in the body; low protein, high carb diets that also contain a lot sugar, saturated fat and processed foods; over-eating that causes the liver to overwork; and pharmaceutical and recreational drugs and alcohol which put tremendous pressure on the liver to excrete their toxic components. Naturally we’d prefer to avoid these scenarios; but when damage has been done, appropriate support must be called in.

  • Breaking Down Toxic Build-Up

Alpha Lipoic Acid is a potent antioxidant that is naturally present in all cells and capable of working in both water and fat based body tissues. It helps the body to regenerate other antioxidants and get them out and working again.

  • Replenishing Protein

Amino acids provide the fuel for most bodily functions and are used by the liver to perform its many duties. Amino acids can be supplemented in pill, powder and liquid forms and are available both individually and grouped. Free form amino acids require no digestion by the body to be used and are quickly absorbed and put to action where needed.

  • Counteracting Excess

Glutathione, an extremely potent antioxidant enzyme, is actually produced in the liver. “It detoxifies harmful compounds so that they can be excreted through the bile”*, and, it is believed capable of protecting the liver from damage created by excessive alcohol intake. But merely supplementing glutathione has not yet been determined effective in increasing the body’s levels; study indicates it better to support the body’s ability to create its own. Enter NAC.

The body uses other nutrients to create glutathione-glutamic acid, glycine and cysteine. N-acetyl  cysteine (NAC), the more stable form of cysteine, has been found to be the most effective for the production of the antioxidant. It is available in supplemental form, in a range of potencies; however, a 600mg dose is thought to be the most beneficial. NAC should not be used by insulin dependent diabetics.

  • Confronting the Over the Counters

To safeguard your supply of glutathione look towards silymarin, the antioxidant components found within the seeds of the Milk Thistle herb. Silymarin increases the liver’s glutathione levels, as well as promotes the growth of new liver cells. Additionally, silymarin protects the liver from drugs and their toxic byproducts.

Silymarin can be supplemented by taking milk thistle, and milk thistle is available in capsules, tinctures and teas. But remember, the herb loses much of its antioxidant potency in water. So, therapeutic benefits are better obtained from the encapsulated and tinctured forms.

Quick Reminder

Even though we’ve covered many bases between the adrenal glands and liver, we can’t neglect the all important intestinal tract; and its regeneration is especially important following a cleanse because the thorough cleansers tend to strip the colon of its protective organisms. So, don’t forget to restore intestinal flora with a probiotic supplement of at least 10 billion CFU’s and keep the healthy bacteria growing with prebiotics found in fruits, whole grains and legumes.

Happy rebirthing!

Until next week, BeWell!

**Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, the A-Z Guide to Supplements. New York: Avery of Penguin Putnam Inc, 2002.

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Blends and Mixtures, FAQ's/ ABC's, Herbs, Herbal Formulations, Quick Tips

Sweet Dreams

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Sleep deprived?

For the last couple years, it seems that my need for sleep has grown. I’ve never been a fan of early rising, but I do know that in my younger years I could function on 3-5 hours, even sans caffeine, without
feeling on the brink of a crash. That is absolutely not the case now. Perhaps it is the stress and craze of life at the moment. The work days and weeks are longer and that does require more energy. And let’s be real, most of us don’t have the freedom and luxury to fight for our right to sleep. Life demands, we
rise to the occasion, sleep takes to the back burner and we make the often empty or half full promise to make it up later in the week. And we can make up the lost hours, sleep in a day or two if we’re lucky and feel more rested. But rest is only one of the many advantages of sleep. What cannot be made up as
easily are the other crucial processes that occur while we sleep: cellular repair, regeneration, protein production, stress hormone reduction, and growth hormone production to name a few.

Ultimately, it is up to each of us to make room in our daily lives for the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep. But on those days that adequate rest seems unattainable, a natural aid can help enhance the quality of our sleep and allow for more biological benefit during the abbreviated time. Please note however that these natural alternatives are still sleep aids and, as such, capable of disrupting our natural cycles when overused.  Best bet is to resort to them only when necessary and for no more than 7 consecutive days at a time. Your physician can provide more specific guidelines based on your individual needs. Most importantly, never combine even a natural sleep aid with alcohol or other pharmaceutical aids and consult with a medical professional if you suspect you are suffering from a chronic sleep disorder. As for those of us experiencing the occasional lack of sleep:

Melatonin, a hormone naturally produced by the body, is available as an over the counter
supplement in potencies ranging 1 to 5 milligrams. Unique benefits are attributed to each the 1mg, 3mg and 5mg doses. Recent research and study indicates that Melatonin also acts as an antioxidant, halts tumor growth and therefore may be a cancer preventative. Supplemental Melatonin circulates the hormone prior to its natural release in our system, thereby altering our own natural sleep rhythm. 1-2mgs can be used to fall asleep more quickly, 3mg to sleep more soundly through the night, and 5mg is known to be helpful in regulating sleep cycles.  Jet lagged travelers supplement in 3 – 5mg doses for this purpose. Because the brain’s pineal gland secretes Melatonin at night and in darkness, people working the “grave yard” shifts are often deficient and more in need of supplementation than others. There are no foods known to increase the body’s Melatonin levels, but sleeping in total darkness will boost your production without supplementation.

Valerian Root, considered a sedative herb, has a very strong calming effect  on the nervous system and has been used for centuries to fight insomnia. Supplemented by itself or alongside other calming substances, it is available in tablets, capsules, teas and tinctures. Despite its centuries’ old use, or maybe because of it, Valerian’s reputation has been mixed and to date the science community deems the available research inconclusive. Though there are no known toxicity issues, some clinical study participants have reported side effects with excessive and prolonged use. Increase sleepiness, grogginess, upset stomach, dizziness and headaches are the most commonly reported; yet it should be noted that those effects have also been experienced and reported by study participants who received a placebo instead of Valerian Root. Additionally, studies have been conducted to gauge the safe and appropriate potency of the herb; and when unpleasant side effects have occurred, the dose used has usually been equal to or greater than 900mg.Taking doses between 450 and 600mg has shown some positive impacts on sleep quality -decreasing the time elapse before falling asleep and reducing the number of times users wake during sleep without stunting alertness or concentration the morning after. Caution should be exercised when taking Valerian for extended periods of time due to some reports of emotional numbness and agitation after prolonged use.

The tincture extractions of Valerian Root are thought to be the most effective for sleep promotion. Perhaps because some of the herb’s active oils are sensitive to high temperatures and may be stripped by the boiling water often used to prepare teas. Many of us enjoy a nice cup of tea before bed, and if this is your preferred method of supplementation keep the water temperature out of the boiling range.

L-Theanine is an amino acid derived from tea leaves and isolated from the Boletus Badius mushroom.
It can be supplemented alone, but it is often used in conjunction with other nutrients for stress relief, mood enhancement and insomnia. It increases Dopamine and GABA levels in the brain and consequently helps to balance emotions and inhibit over activity of the nervous system. L-Theanine seems to work synergistically with both calming and energizing herbs enhancing the other nutrients’ primary
action. Additionally, it acts as an immune booster by increasing the ability of the body’s T-Cells to fight disease. Because it is relatively new to the science community’s attention, research and study are somewhat limited, but its popularity and consequent use as a supplement are growing. An effective dose
for stress reduction has not been firmly established, but to date there are no known toxicity issues with higher doses and few reported adverse reactions. Headache, dizziness and stomach upset are among them. The doses used to treat anxiety range 200-250mg and sleep formulas may contain between 20 and 50mg of L-Theanine. The FDA recommends limiting our daily intake to no more than 1200mg /day.

Currently, my favorite sleep supplement is Beauty Sleep by ResVitále.The full two capsule serving combines 3mg of Melatonin with 50 mg of L-Theanine. It also features a detoxifying Liver blend of Milk Thistle, Turmeric and Artichoke as well as Organic French Red Wine extract for added antioxidant
protection.  My experience with this product is a deeper more restful sleep even when the duration is shortened. I do wake feeling more refreshed and I haven’t experienced any grogginess, headaches or lack of focus the following day. Vegetarians and those more sensitive to allergens can also use this product as it contains no gelatin, corn, soy, wheat, yeast or lactose!

Once again use the natural alternatives as directed by their makers, with care and respect for their potency.

Sweet Dreams and BeWell