Transcript Integrating Herbs with Conventional Medicine
Integrating Herbs with Conventional Medicine
Linda Diane Feldt RPP, NCTMB Holistic Health Practitioner and Herbalist
Objectives
Identify the difference between nourishing and medicinal herbs Identify how nourishing herbs are provided Identify how medicinal herbs are provided Know reasons to use nourishing or medicinal herbs Learn about 9 popular herbs Learn some of the problems with herbal marketing and preparations Time for questions and individual concerns
Nourishing herbs
Nutrient rich Bio-available Generally considered safe, side effects uncommon Dosage and strength less important Tend to be local, whole, and common Large amounts used, in contrast to medicinal plants Includes tonics Supportive to body systems Long term use is usually beneficial
Nourishing Herbs con’t.
Internal use Infusions Water based Vinegar based Whole plant Cooked Raw (salad) External use Compress Poultice Salve
Medicinal Herbs
Dosage and strength important or critical Tend to utilize more toxic parts of plant Stimulate or sedate More likely to have side effects Are often plants that are less common, or rare Long term use is generally discouraged More extensive knowledge is needed to use safely and effectively
Medicinal Herbs con’t.
Tinctures Alcohol based Glycerin Extracts Capsules
Case Study: Prophylactic Use of Echinacea angustifolia and purpurea Tincture for Management of a Recurrent Staphylococcus Infection
Case Study con’t.
46 yo female CHF Heart cath age 53, followed by staph infection Broad spec. antibiotics no effect Echinacea ang. 30-40 drops every 3 hours Symptom improvement within 2 hours Two days both, stopped Ech. Symptoms returned within 4 hours Ech and Antibiotic together, no symptoms
Case Study con’t.
MD stopped antibiotics, pt. stopped Ech. Symptoms returned Ech. as before - symptoms gone One day without Ech, some symptoms Ech 10 drops day no symptoms For next 7 years, until death, two skipped days symptoms return -proven at least five times
Significant points
Echinacea fought an antibiotic resistant infection Low dose (nourishing) as effective as high dose (stimulating) Low dose safe to use long term Long term use was necessary Mechanism of action for effect of low dose unknown
Popular Herbs
Ginkgo biloba St. John’s wort Garlic Echinacea Goldenseal
The Herbs
Saw palmetto Milk thistle Black cohosh Ginger
Ginkgo biloba
Powdered leaves Tincture or infusion Most ancient tree known Uses: cerebral insufficiency, Alzheimer’s Ds, intermittent claudication, tinnitis
Ginkgo
Increases vascular flow diabetic peripheral vascular disease Raynauds syndrome Other circulatory benefits fro varicose veins, hemorrhoids, eye disorders Affinity for cerebral circulation Inhibits platelet activity factor
Ginkgo
Used to relieve tension, anxiety, elevate mood Contains flavanoids, terpene lactones, ginkgolides A, B, and C, bilobalide, quercetin, and kaempferol. ginkgolides control allergic inflammation, anaphylactic shock and asthma antioxidant
What to watch for
Can increase blood flow Discontinue before surgery Do not use with menstrual flooding Do not use with other bleeding problems (ulcer, bruising, etc.) Not suggested with blood thinners, aspirin, etc.
Gingko biloba & Dementia
52 week RCT, double blind, multi-center Outcomes in 309 pts (ITT): Pt cognition: tx no change, placebo worse (p=0.04) Caregiver assess: tx slight improve, placebo worse (p=.004) Dose: 120 mg/d of EGb 761 Safety: side effects equal Problems: high dropout rate (50% tx, 62% placebo)
Ginkgo & Claudication
Meta-analysis of Egb 761 5 placebo controlled trials Moderate to large effect (0.75 Cohen’s
d
) on pain-free treadmill walking distance Schneider B.
Arzneimforsch
1992;42(4):428-436
Ginkgo - Toxicology
Adverse events GI complaints bruising & spontaneous bleeding Avoid if taking warfarin, heparin, or NSAIDs Can increase insulin levels May increase sedation with trazodone
St. John’s Wort
Hypericum Perforatum
Used as tincture, extract in pill form, topically as oil or salve Popular as anti-depressant.
Also used for muscle aches, nerve pain, nerve regeneration, for herpes outbreaks, bruising
St. John’s Wort
P450 Cytochrome system Can interfere with effectiveness of other medications Possible rash from exposure to sun (sheep and cows) Use with other mood altering drugs of concern Use by people with manic depressive and other psychological conditions of concern
St. John’s Wort & Depression
Meta-analysis: 23 studies, 1757 pts Mild-mod depression Superior to placebo, rrr =2.67 (1.78-4.01) As effective as TCA’s , rrr=1.10 (0.93-1.31) Fewer side effects than TCA’s Dose: 0.4-2.7 mg Hypericin (standardized extract) Multi-center trial vs. SSRI’s at Duke Linde K, et al. BMJ 1996;313:253-8
St. John’s Wort and Zoloft
Randomized controlled trial St. John’s wort vs. Zoloft vs. placebo effects Side effects Placebo < SJW < Zoloft (p= 0.000
St. John’s Wort - Toxicology
Side effects Theoretical risk - sunburn Herb-drug interactions Studies - digoxin, protease inhibitors, TCAs Case reports - cyclosporine, warfarin, oral contraceptives, theophylline, SSRIs Theoretical - iron Facts & Comparisons Review of Natural Products, Dec 2000.
Garlic (
Allium sativum
)
Uses Lower cholesterol anti-thrombotic lower blood pressure anti-microbial agent Strengthen heart muscle Reduce platelet clumping and clotting Stabilize blood sugar levels
Garlic
Some concern about use if bleeding is of concern Odor Large amounts can great gas Potential decreased platelet aggregation
Garlic
Contains alliin in intact garlic bulb Alliin allicin (crushed) 600 – 900 mg of dried powder (1.3% allicin)
Garlic - Evidence
German Commission E elevated blood lipids prevention of age-related vascular changes 25 studies between 1979-1998 with 2,920 people Mixed results highly dependent on type of garlic preparation
Garlic - Evidence
2 Meta-analyses garlic lowered total cholesterol between 9-12% Meta-analysis Anti-hypertensive - 10% reduction Double blind RCT - 152 subjects for 4 years garlic reduced development of atherosclerosis
Echinacea spp.
E. pallida purpurea angustifolia Use: prevention and treatment of colds, flu One of most popular herbs in US German Commission E supportive for colds, chronic URI, UTI UK - GSL
Echinacea
Stimulating dose not advised with autoimmune and some systemic diseases Can interfere with immune suppression during chemotherapy treatment Stimulating dose should be short term (3-4 days) only No known side effects Concern with steroid treatment - depends on use
Echinacea - Human Evidence
26 controlled trials (many open label) 3 blinded RCT’s on URI 1 showed dose dependent decrease in symptoms and duration of “flu” 2 showed 13-20% relative risk reduction of acquiring URI Dose: 30-60 gtts 1:5 (g/ml) tincture TID
Echinacea Systematic Review
16 randomized or quasi randomized trials Echinacea preparation vs. no treatment or placebo 8 trials on prevention, 8 trials on treatment 3396 patients involved Majority with positive results Cannot say which preparation is best Melchart, D. et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000;2.
Goldenseal
( Hydrastis canadensis)
Used in Native American medicine Taken up by European immigrants Deep forest dweller, endangered species Part used is the root Colds, flu, bacterial diarrhea, intestinal parasites, and ocular trachoma infections
Goldenseal
Endangered herb Internal use has antibiotic effect concern for contributing to antibiotic resistant bacteria Dose, duration, and strength important Can be difficult to self-administer Overused and misused by general public Present in tooth paste, lip balm, herbal mixtures
Goldenseal - Evidence
Antimicrobial activity vs. bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans, helminths, and chlamydia Active components: berberine (anticholinergic, antisecretory, and antimicrobial) beta-hydrastine (astringent) In rats, Goldenseal increases IgM antibodies
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
Hexane extract of dried berries Spasmolytic activity Inhibition of androgen Anti-inflammatory Not an inhibitor of 5 reductase Used for benign prostatic hypertrophy
Saw Palmetto - Evidence
18 RCT’s, 16/18 double-blinded 2939 men, duration 4-48 weeks Decreased nocturia, improved symptom scores vs. placebo Improved symptom score, improved peak urine flow vs. finasteride Dose: 400 mg dry extract BID Wilt TJ, et al. JAMA 1998; 280:1604-1609.
Saw Palmetto - Toxicology
Rats: 80x human dose for 6 months No negative influences Human trials, German Commission E GI disturbances, headache No significant adverse effects Drug interactions Theoretical - Estrogens, oral contraceptives, iron German Commission E reports none
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga
racemosa)
Fresh root tincture or dried root infusion Remifemin, used in Germany since 1950’s Used for hot flashes and night sweats German Commission E: Premenstrual discomfort Dysmenorrhea Menopausal neurovegetative symptoms
Black Cohosh - Mode of action
Steroidal terpenes? isoflavones? others?
Methanol extracts bind estrogen receptors Inhibits estrogen dependent breast tumor cell lines Lowers LH in rats and women, no effect on FSH a Stimulatory effect on endometrium b,c Actein may be beneficial in hypercholesterolemia and peripheral arterial disease a. Duker 1991; b. Stoll 1987; c. Warnecke 1985
Black Cohosh - Clinical Trials
5 RCTs in literature Randomized, head to head trial 60 pts, < 40 yr. old with hysterectomies Estriol vs. conjugated estrogens vs. estrogen-gestegen sequential vs. black cohosh extract Outcome: Kupperman’s Menopausal Index Black cohosh equal to other treatments Lehmann-Willenbrock, et al.
Zentralblatt fur Gynakologie
1998;110:611-8 similar findings: Warnecke, 1985
Black Cohosh Update
Recent RCT 85 breast cancer survivors 59 were on tamoxifen 40 mg/d Remifemin vs. placebo x 2 months No benefit for hot flashes Jacobson JS, et al. J. Clin. Oncol 2001;19:2739-45.
On-going trial at Columbia Univ RCT, 1 year duration hot flashes, endometrial thickness, bone metab, cognitive effects
Black Cohosh - Toxicology
Overdose: nausea, dizziness, nervous system disturbance Mice spread of breast CA Large doses may cause miscarriage. Contraindicated in pregnancy Long term safety unknown
Ginger Zingiber officinale
Used for nausea Helpful for colds and flu Warming herb Many other folkloric uses
Ginger for Nausea & Vomiting of Pregnancy
2 trials show efficacy compared to placebo excess Yang (excess Qi) N not in AM, N worse p eating, N improves p vomiting ginger is too “hot”, use peppermint excess Yin (deficient Qi) N in AM, N better p eating, N worse p vomiting ginger will be helpful Tiran D. Comp Ther Nursing & Midwifery. 2002;8:191-196
How to take ginger
Dose 3-9 grams fresh (or dried) peeled ginger root Tea made from grated fresh root Commercially available capsules NOT ginger biscuits or ginger beer Tiran D. Comp Ther Nursing & Midwifery. 2002;8:191-196
Ginger Root Safety?
Contraindicated in German Commission E 6-gingerol is mutagenic in vitro at high doses Other compounds in ginger are anti-mutagenic Widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine No contraindication in Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (1995) May increase miscarriage
Milk Thistle
Silybum marianum
Protects liver Promotes hepatic cell growth Supports normal liver function Antioxidant
Milk thistle
Hepatoprotective antioxidant activity 1 toxin blockade at the membrane level 1 enhanced protein synthesis 1 antifibriotic activity 1 possible anti-inflammatory or immunomodulating effects 1 Stimulates action of nucleolar polymerase A causing in ribosomal protein synthesis, stimulating regenerative ability and formation of hepatocytes 2 1 Milk Thistle: Effects on Liver Disease and Cirrhosis and Clinical Adverse Effects Summary, Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 21 Sept. 2000. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville MD 2 German commission E monographs
Milk thistle
German Commission E Monographs report No contraindications No known side effects No known interactions with other drugs
Issues around herbal preparations
Preparations Capsules and pills Tinctures and extracts Infusions Teas Effectiveness Herbs in combination formulas Locally grown and wild crafting
Slide credit # 14-48 based on material prepared with Sara L. Warber, MD Suzanne Zick, ND, MPH Leslie Shimp, PharmD
Contact Information Linda Diane Feldt P.O. Box 3218 Ann Arbor MI 48106-3218 734-662-4902 [email protected]
www.holisticwisdom.org
www.moonfieldpress.com
Free Herb Class 2nd Monday of each month, sponsored by the People’s Food Co-op, at Crazy Wisdom Bookstore, Ann Arbor Other classes and workshops listed on the web site.