adding in the good ones. And, as long as it does not come in the form of wheat bran, fiber is a good one. Fiber helps IBS (Lan-cet 1977; Med Klin 1994). Because grains are a common food sensitivity in peo-ple with IBS, try increas-ing dietary fiber from fruits and vegetables.

Helpful SupplementsSince fiber is so important for IBS, it is no surprise that double-blind research identifies psyllium as an effective reliev-er of symptoms (Gut 1987; Gasteronterol Hepatol 1990). Flax seeds are also a good choice.

A number of the supplements and di-etary changes that benefit IBS suggest a role for candida and disrupted flora in the colon as underlying factors. Remem-ber that refined and other sugars are an important factor in IBS, and sugar is the primary food of candida. Psyllium and di-etary fiber may also help in part because fiber positively affects the bacteria in the colon.

Double-blind research has found that probiotics significantly relieve the symptoms of IBS compared to a placebo (Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2008; Pediatrics 2010; J Clin Gastroenterol 2011). Prelimi-nary research also points to grapefruit seed extract capsules, another important candida killer, as a potential IBS fighter (J Orthomol Med 1990). You may also want to try oregano oil, another good candida fighter.

The Most Important Help of AllThe most important supplement for IBS is peppermint oil. Peppermint oil, too, is ef-fective at killing candida. But peppermint oil’s most important contribution to IBS is that it is highly effective at improving the contractions of the intestine and relieving intestinal cramping, while also easing gas and soothing irritation.

Double-blind research has proven peppermint oil’s effectiveness (Br Med J

A Canadian Leader in Trusted, Cutting Edge Natural Health Informationby Linda Woolven, B.A., Master Herbalist, Acupuncturist and Ted Snider, B.Ed., M.A.

visit us at www.thenaturalpathnewsletter.com each month for new health newsVol. 16 No.5

Phot

o by

Ted

Sni

der

Photo by Ted Snider

So many people are now being diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). And conventional medicine of-ten offers little in the way of relief. So what can you do

to treat IBS?

Start With DietThe IBS diet should eliminate food sensitivities, especially dairy, as well as refined sugar, fructose from juice and dried fruit, sorbitol and caffeine too. It should limit refined foods and emphasize fiber rich fruits and veg-etables.

Two thirds of IBS sufferers have intoler-ances to at least one food (Lancet 1982), and many improve when that food is eliminated. The most common culprits are dairy and grains. Refined sugar is also an important contributor (Diabeto-logia 1996). Other sugars can be a big problem too. Some people with IBS have trouble absorbing the lactose in dairy, the concentrated fructose in fruit juice and dried fruit and sorbitol (Am J Gastroenterol 1993; J Clin Gastroenterol 2008). One double-blind study found that when people who have both IBS and lactose intolerance eliminate lactose from their diet, they relieve the symptoms of their IBS (Eur J Gas-troenterol Hepatol 1996). The lactose digesting enzyme lactase may also help.

Having identified and gotten rid of the bad foods, now try

Up to 7% of the population suffers from eczema. The skin becomes itchy, inflamed, dry, and thickened, and may form small, weepy blisters. The skin grows red on the wrists,

face, and inside of the elbows and knees. Eczema is a chronic problem that can be difficult to get rid of. Antihistamines and cortisone cream may relieve the symptoms in some cases, but they do nothing to address the underlying causes. They are also riddled with side effects, such as fatigue,

adrenal burnout, and thinning of the skin. Natural medicine helps, but it does take time. All ec-

zema patients have positive allergy tests, including food allergy. Most eczema patients improve on a diet that eliminates common food allergens.

Top Foods to Avoid The biggest culprit in infants is milk. When milk is

eliminated from the infant’s diet, and from the mother’s if she is breast-feeding, the child tends to get better. If he

does not, it is probably because there are still more allergens. The other most common allergens in both children and adults are wheat, citrus, eggs, fish, soy, tomato, and peanuts. Other problem causers include sugar, alcohol, coffee, caffeine, refined grains, additives, and chemicals. High consumption of animal proteins is also problematic. Food allergens, once they have been avoided for a time, can often be reintroduced slowly and consumed occasionally.

Top Foods to Include The diet should be high in vegetables, whole grains, fruits, le-

ALSO INSIDE

First Herb Ever Approved by FDA

Treating Iron Deficiency Anemia

Curcumin & Cardiovascular Health

Cinnamon & Diabetes

Lifesaver: Vitamin D Prevents Alzheimer’s DiseaseHere’s another way diet can help keep your brain healthy and young. A study of 498 women over the age of seventy-five has found that women who develop Alzheimer’s disease get less vitamin D in their diet than women who don’t. In this study, the risk of Alzheimer’s was 77% lower in the women who got the most vitamin D than it was in the women who got the least (J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2012;67:1205-11).

Continued on Page 4 Continued on Page 2THE NATURAL PATH

The Natural Path is written by Ted Snider and Linda Woolven, a master herb-alist, acupuncturist and solution-focused counselor with a practice in the Toronto area. For an appointment, call (416) 782-8211. Linda is the author of The Vegetarian Passport Cookbook and Smart Woman’s Guide to PMS and Pain-free Periods and Sex & Fertility Natural Solutions and Linda and Ted are the authors of Healthy Herbs. This newsletter is intended for educational purposes only and is in no way intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For health problems, consult a qualified health practitioner.

from Page 1

THE NATURAL PATH

4 The Natural Path Vol. 16, No.5

have found impressive powers of arti-choke to relieve abdominal pain, gas and bloating. And one preliminary study found that artichoke leaf extract im-proved symptoms in 26% of people with IBS (J Altern Complement Med 2004).

In an unexpected result, two double-blind studies have found that melatonin helps IBS sufferers (Gut 2005; J Clin Gastroenterol 2007).

Stress and IBSThough stress does not cause IBS, once you have IBS, it does make it worse. Two thirds of people with IBS do bet-ter when their conventional treatment is combined with psychotherapy and relaxation methods, like acupuncture, than when they do conventional treat-ment alone. So relaxing herbs may also help.

Herbal CombinationsApproaching IBS from all of its different angles, a formula that includes an anti-spasmodic herb, like crampbark or pep-permint; a calming herb, like skullcap or valerian; a liver herb, like artichoke; a soothing herb, like slippery elm, chamo-mile, or licorice; and a gastrointestinal antiseptic that restores proper flora in the colon, like goldenseal or grapefruit seed extract, works very well.

For soothing the digestive system, herbalist Christopher Hobbs suggests combining one part flax seed, one part marshmallow root, and one part fenu-greek, with a quarter part licorice and a quarter part caraway seed: an excellent formula whenever you need to sooth the

digestive tract. Ginger

root is also par-

ticularily ef-fective. Aloe

vera juice can also be very useful.

Taking the Irritableout of

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Taking the Irritableout of

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Eczema

1979; Br J Clin Pract 1984). Peppermint oil reduces abdominal pain, bloating, gas and bowel movement frequency in about 80% of people, according to one well designed double-blind study (J Gastroenterol 1997). One double-blind studies found that there was a greater than 50% improvement in

symptoms in 75% of people given pep-permint oil compared to only 38% of

people given a placebo (Dig Liver Dis 2007).

Two meta-analyses of con-trolled studies have concluded that peppermint oil helps re-lieve the symptoms of IBS (Ali-ment Pharmacol Ther 1994; Am J Gastroenterol 1998).

Most recently, a double-blind study found that enteric

coated peppermint oil led to significantly more peo-

p l e being free from abdominal pain and discomfort than did a placebo. The severity of abdominal pain was also significantly reduced compared to the placebo. Peppermint oil also significantly improved their quality of life (Dig Dis Sci 2010).

But the most important and exciting peppermint oil study of all found that, when combined with caraway oil, the pep-permint oil was even more effective than the drug cisapride (Arneimittlforschung 1999).

Other double-blind research has also found this combination ef- fective. Peppermint oil combined with caraway oil in both enteric coated (Arzneimittelforschung 1996) and non-enteric coated (Pharmazie 1999) capsules has been found to significantly re-duce the symptoms of IBS.

Double-blind research has also found that half that dose is ef-fective for helping older children with IBS (J Pediatr 2001).

More HelpSeveral studies

Peppermint

Artichoke

gumes, seeds and nuts. If any animal protein is consumed, the best choices are fatty fish, such as mackerel, herring, and salmon, since they are high in essen-tial fatty acids (EFAs) and can help to de-crease inflammatory prostaglandins that cause the skin inflammation. Otherwise, animal protein is strongly implicated in eczema. The best EFAs include flaxseed oil and hemp oil. These oils actually inhibit inflam-mation and decrease allergic response. People with eczema have an EFA defi-ciency, or they are deficient in zinc, which helps in the conversion of EFAs. Take 1 to 2 tbsps a day of EFAs.

The Role of Low Stomach Acid People with eczema often have low stom-ach acid. The best remedy for low stom-ach acid is to take hydrochloric acid pills. Herbs or enzymes that help with the diges-tive system are also a good idea. Wide-spectrum plant enzymes are useful, or bit-ters that tone the entire digestive system and help to increase secretions so that food is properly digested and absorbed. Take HCL or digestive enzymes before each meal.

The Role of Stress Stress can aggravate eczema. So it is a good idea to take relaxant herbs during an attack to try to decrease stress and re-duce the itching. Use herbs such as linden flower, valerian root, scullcap, passion-flower and hops.

Candida Connection Many people with skin problems have an unbalanced gut environment. Overgrowth of yeast, such as candida, and lack of friendly flora lead to decreased absorp-tion of nutrients and inflammatory con-ditions in the skin, since that can cause leaky gut syndrome. Leaky-gut syndrome occurs when matter that should stay in the intestines passes into the blood-stream, causing allergies, inflammation, skin, and other problems. Anyone who has eczema should try taking probiotics, such as aci-dophilus and bifidus. A just released study of children being treated medically for eczema found that adding a probiotic led to significant improvement compared to a placebo (Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2012).

Bioflavonoids Bioflavonoids help the activity of vitamin

C, increasing its effectiveness. They are also great for inflammatory and allergic conditions. They work by inhibiting the in-flammatory process. Quercetin is the most important flavonoid for the inflammation of eczema. It actually stops the release of the inflammation causing histamine into the body, preventing allergic reactions. Take 400 mg twenty minutes before each meal. Because of its fla-vonoids, and for other reasons, the herb Ginkgo biloba may prove helpful.

Vitamins A, E and C Vitamin A helps de-velop and maintain skin. It is of particular use to those who suf-fer from thickening of the skin, commonly seen in eczema pa-tients. Vitamin C helps the immune system and can be helpful for treating allergies. Take 1 to 10 g of the calcium ascorbate form a day. Both vitamins E and C are involved in skin health. Vitamin E can help to prevent scar-ring. Take 400 IU of mixed tocopherols a day.

Zinc Zinc helps an enzyme produce hydrochloric acid in the stomach. It also helps to convert essential fatty acids to anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. Since there is a connection between low stomach acid and eczema, zinc can be of particular help to those with eczema. Take 45 to 60 mg a day, with 3 mg of copper for balance.

Herbs for Eczema The herbs licorice and Coleus forskolii are both extremely valuable in treating eczema. They help to reduce excessive histamine production. Take 1 to 2 gm of licorice, three times a day. Of Coleus forskolii, take 50 mg, standardized to contain 18% forskolin, three times a day. Burdock seed and root have been used for centuries in the treatment of skin dis-eases. It is an alterative herb: a herb that gradually changes the condition of the body to reduce morbid matter, clearing away tox-ins. Burdock is also a blood purifier and a diaphoretic that helps the sweat glands to flush out toxic wastes. Take 40 to 80 drops of a tincture, three times a day.

Traditional Herbal Formula

For skin problems, burdock is often com-bined with dandelion root, a herb that cleanses and strengthens the liver and kidneys and also aids digestion; sarsa-parilla, an anti-inflammatory, alterative, and diaphoretic herb (a herb that induces sweating) that clears heat from the body;

sassafras, another alterative herb, dia-phoretic, and a blood purifier; yellow dock, an alterative herb and a blood tonic that also clears toxins from the liver; and red clover, an alterative herb that is used for skin dis-eases. Usually, a tea is decocted: 4 tsps of the herbs mixed with 4 cups of cold water, boiled, covered, and then simmered for 40 minutes. Drink three cups a day.

Topical Help Applying chamomile and licorice root topi-cally is great for ec-zema. These two herbs have been shown to work as well or better

than cortisone cream when applied topi-cally (Br J Clin Pract 1958; Z Hautkr 1985; Z Hautkr 1988; Planta Medica 1990), with-out the side effects. Another study found topical chamomile to be about 60% as effective as .25% hydrocortisone cream (Meth Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 1983). Other topical help comes from herbs such as calendula, comfrey and aloe vera. Apply as creams or in poultices three times or more a day.

Final Helpful Touches Be sure to get all toxins and chemicals out of your environment. Eat organic food and use only personal and household cleaners that are made from natural in-gredients. Chemicals increase the load on the immune system, and many people with eczema react to them. Also try to avoid exposure to cardboard and metal against the skin. These two substances seem to aggravate eczema. Linda has seen several clients whose children were reacting to metal jewellery, metal objects that the child played with, and even to a metal headboard. It may seem strange, but sometimes this last step can make all the difference and help to clear up a stubborn case of eczema.

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Curcumin & Cardiovascular Health

The First Herb Ever Approved by the FDA

More Evidence Cinnamon Helps Diabetes

CausesLow iron can be caused by excessive blood loss from ulcers, aspirin or heavy menstrual bleeding. It can also be caused by parasites, infection, drinking too much milk or not get-ting enough iron in your diet. If you are getting enough iron in your food and are still anemic, then iron absorption may be the prob-lem.

Sources of IronThe perfect foods for iron deficiency are the green leafy vegetables. They are rich in iron, folic acid, vitamin C, betacarotene and chlorophyl, all of which are crucial for fixing the prob-lem. Chlorophyll stimulates hemoglo-bin and red blood cell production. The fat-soluble chlorophyll found in green plants is also very similar to the hemoglobin in red blood cells and is good for anemia. The blue-green algae spirulina is a rich source of fat-soluble chlorophyll, as well as iron, folic acid, B12 and betacarotene, and is great for treating anemia. Spirulina has been successfully used to treat anemia in Japan.

Other good sources of iron include legumes, whole grains, beets, alfalfa, cherries, prunes, apricots, wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, seeds and nuts.

Iron AbsorptionIf you’re not absorbing enough iron, you could be low in hydrochloric acid and may want to

take hydrochloric acid with your meals. Poor absorption can also be caused by chronic diarrhoea, antacid use, parasites, high intake of calcium, tea, coffee, egg yolk or wheat bran. Vitamin A is also important for iron absorption (Nutr Res 1992; Lancet 1993). Sometimes iron deficiency anemia is not because of not enough iron or loss of iron, but because there is a deficiency of vitamin A, which leads to defective iron

transport. Perhaps that is why one study found that vitamin A taken with iron is more helpful than iron taken alone (Am J Clin Nutr 1988). Another vitamin that should be taken with your iron supplement is vitamin C. Vitamin C

has been shown to increase the absorption of iron (Ann Nutr Metab 1990). 500-1,000mg of vitamin C with each meal could be enough to increase your body’s iron stores. Bitters, like yarrow, yellow dock root, dan-delion root and gentian will also stimulate the digestion of iron. Supplementing Iron And, of course, if you are iron deficient, you can always supplement your diet with iron. Take 30mg twice a day between meals, or three times a day with meals if it bothers your stomach, for six months to a year until your serum ferritin tests are normal. Even then a maintenance dose of 18mg a day may be nec-essary. Easily Absorbed Herbal Sources of Iron There are also tons of easily absorbed iron rich herbs. You can try nettle, burdock root, red clover, horsetail, rose hips, alfalfa, parsley and watercress. Dandelion leaf is loaded in iron as well as vitamins C and A. Yellow dock root is a specific for anemia. Seaweeds like kelp are also good. As are unrefined black strap molas-ses and chlorella.

Iron Deficiency Anemia

NATURAL PATHNEWSFL ASH

Photo by Ted Snider

Taking curcumin, the active ingredient in the herb turmeric, may be as beneficial for blood vessel health as exercising. Thirty-two healthy, but sedentary, post-menopausal women were put in a group that took 150mg of curcumin a day or in a group that exercised or in a group that did neither. After eight weeks blood pressure had dropped in the curcumin and exercise group but not in the control group. Blood vessel elasticity, an important factor in atheroscle-rosis, also improved in both treatment groups but not in the control group. The improvements in the curcumin and exer-cise groups were similar.

(Nutr Res 2012;32:795-9)

This double-blind study gave either 120mg cinnamon extract, 360mg cinnamon extract or a placebo to sixty-six type II diabetics for three months. All of the people were being treated with the diabetes drug gliclazide. While there was no significant change in the placebo group, there was significant improve-ment in both cinnamon groups in fasting blood glucose and in HbA1c. HbA1c is the best mea-sure of long term blood sugar and diabetes control. The greatest improvement was seen in the higher dose cinnamon group.

(Nutr Res 2012;32:408-12)

2 The Natural Path Vol. 16, No.5 3 The Natural Path Vol. 16, No.5

For the first time ever, the FDA has approved an orally administered herb.Corfelemer (Fulyzaq), derived from the South American herb sangre de drago (which is available in Canada), has been approved by the FDA for the common di-arrhoea experienced by people with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy. The approval was based on a study that showed clinical response in 17.6% of HIV patients compared to only 8% in patients given a placebo. Fulyzaq is the only therapy approved by the FDA for this use.

(FDA News Release, “FDA approves first anti-diarrheal drug for HIV/AIDS patients,” Decem-ber 31, 2012)

The form of iron that is, unfortunately, most commonly dispensed,

ferrous sulfate, can cause constipation,

nausea and bloating. Instead, go for the

superior forms of iron: ferrous succinate, fum-erate or glycine amino acid chelates. These forms not only do not

cause these problems, but are better absorbed.

Nutrients for the Dry, Chapped Skin of Winter

INTERNALEssential Fatty Acids

Vitamin EVitamin C

B VitaminsBetacarotene

Grapeseed ExtractCoenzyme Q10

Kelp

EXTERNALAloe vera Calendula

ChamomileChickweed

Vitamin E creamCoQ10 cream

Marshmallow root creamrosa mesqueta oil

jojoba oil

Photo by Ted Snider

For more information on sangre de drago, visit our blog at

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Eczema