April 2001

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Contents

Concerned About Cow Tissue in Your Supplements?

Complimentary Therapies First Choice for Depression Sufferers

Tai Chi May Help Elderly Arthritis Patients

Study Shows that HIV Patients Use Complimentary Therapies

Massage Stimulates Infant Growth

Healthy Herbal Ideas for Pets

Herbal Profile: Foxglove

Recipes: Pet Treats!

Book Reviews

Book Recommendations

Music Selections

Chat Schedule

Marketplace

Herbal Conferences

Concerned About Cow Tissue in Your Supplements?

You should be.  According to the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA), about 200 dietary supplements comprising 0.5% of the total U.S. market contain cow tissue - including brain and spinal tissue - that may be contaminated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), more commonly called "mad cow disease."  Consumption of brain and spinal cord tissue from cows infected with BSE is widely believed to be the source of the human brain wasting illness known as new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD).

Now the NNFA, the world's largest dietary supplements industry group, has issued new guidelines to manufactures stating the need to to eliminate all bovine (cow) neurological tissue from their products.  However, this guidance is merely a recommendation and has little, if any, regulatory merit.  Therefore, it's still very much a "buyer beware" scenario for the consumer.

What can you do?  Read labels!  If you're not sure about an ingredient listed on a label, call the manufacturer or ask your doctor or pharmacist.  Incidentally, one of the most common forms of bovine tissue listed on a dietary supplement is hypothalamus - a type of cow brain tissue thought to support hypothalamic functioning in humans.

The U.S. federal government has already moved to place an import ban on any bovine central nervous system products originating in European countries that have seen cases of BSE.  Most manufacturers and raw materials distributors use purification techniques in the manufacturing process, but there is currently no way to identify or remove the infectious proteins known as "prions" that are thought to cause BSE.

The United States Pharmacopoeia is currently initiating quality programs geared to keep contaminants out of herbal products, vitamins, and other dietary supplements. (See Herbal Musings Newsletter, March 2001.)

Complimentary Therapies First Choice for Depression Sufferers

According to a survey conducted by researchers at Harvard, only on-third of all depression patients surveyed depend on conventional treatments while more than half make alternative and complimentary therapies their treatment of choice.

The survey involved more than 2,000 subjects who were quizzed on their health status during a telephone interview.  Roughly 7% reported experiencing severe depression in the previous year and 9% indicated they are prone to anxiety attacks.  The researchers noted that depression and anxiety were the most common conditions treated with alternative medicines.

Here are some other interesting results that came out of the survey:

  10% of the group used spiritual healing

  One in five subjects used relaxation

  Two-thirds of those seeing a mental health counselor for anxiety and depression also reported using alternative remedies

  60% of those having anxiety attacks reported that alternative remedies were effective

  52% of those suffering from depression reported that they were helped by alternative remedies

Source:  American Journal of Psychiatry 2001;158:289-294

Tai Chi May Help Elderly Arthritis Patients

Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese system of movement and exercise, may provide relief of arthritic symptoms in the elderly, according to a recent preliminary study.

The study involved men and women between 68 and 87 years of age who had chronic joint pain.  After 10 weeks, those participants who practiced 16 movements reported significantly less pain than those who did not.  The researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio believe that Tai Chi may have helped these people by improving circulation and promoting joint surface repair.

Source:  Journal of Nursing Scholarship 2001;32:377

Massage Stimulates Infant Growth

This is something that a lot of mothers and fathers already suspected but, according to the Indian Journal of Medical Research, the proof is in the baby.

Researchers from the University College of Medical Sciences in Delhi studied the affect of oil massage on 125 infants, all 1-2 months of age.  The babies were divided into five groups with one group remaining as the control and the others given massages with herbal oil, mineral oil, sesame oil and the last a mixture of vitamin E and mineral oil.  Mothers were instructed on how to massage their baby's legs, back, arms, chest, abdomen, face and head -in that order - for a period of 10 minutes over four weeks.

Upon completion of the study, researchers noted that weight, body length, head circumference, girth of arm and leg was increased in the four groups that received oil massage.  However, the most notable gains were observed in the group being massaged with sesame oil.  This group also evidenced a significant increase in the blood flow through the femoral artery, the main artery supplying the leg.

Source:  Indian Journal of Medical Research 2000;112:212-217

Study Shows that HIV Patients Use Complimentary Therapies

Researchers from the University Hospitals of Cleveland presented the results of a recent study at the 8th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections:  82% of more than 300 HIV subjects interviewed used a total of 567 different alternative therapies to combat their illness.

Micronutrients and vitamins led the list in 40% of alternative treatments.  Herbal supplements, particularly St. Johns Wort and Echinacea, comprised 26% of the treatments and 25% were related to teas and non-invasive therapies, such as massage.  The remaining 6% consisted of protein supplements and anabolic steroids.

Interestingly, 60% of those using alternative remedies had informed their doctor of the fact.  Yet, the researchers discovered that the use of alternative therapies was rarely recorded in the patient's medical files.

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Herbal Profile...

Healthy Herbal Ideas for Pets

It's that time of year again.  Fleas will soon be looking for a place to breed, namely on your pet.  Here's a few simple solutions to help keep our furry friends in good health.

Grooming Aide - This formula will help to deter fleas and help heal dry skin.

1 cup distilled water

2 drops citronella oil

4 drops rosemary oil

3 drops cedarwood oil

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.  Using a flea comb or brush, dip into the solution and work into your pet's coat, taking care to get down to the skin.  Rinse comb or brush in clean water after each application to avoid re-infesting with flea eggs.

Herbal Flea Collar - Use an organic cotton collar or any collar that is absorbent.

1 tsp. vodka or gin

4 drops garlic oil

4 drops cedarwood oil

4 drops thyme oil

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.  Soak the collar in this mixture until completely saturated.  Remove and allow to air-dry thoroughly before putting on your pet.

~ Recipes ~

Doggie Chews

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Add the oil, molasses, broth and eggs and mix well.  (Mixture will be stiff.)  Roll out or press onto clean surface and either cut into two-inch bars or cut with a cookie cutter.  Bake chews on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350'F for 25-30 minutes, or until browned.  Note:  Chews will become hard treats if you turn off the oven after baking and allow them the "rest" in the oven for 1-2 hours.  Makes approximately 24 chews.