Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: The endothelium (or inner lining) of blood vessels uses nitric oxide (NO) to signal the surrounding blood vessel smooth muscles to relax. This results in vasodilation (opening up of the relaxed blood vessels) and increased blood flow. NO also inhibits platelet aggregation, and white blood cell adhesion to the endothelium, which reduces atherosclerotic plaque formation. This helps prevent, retard and possibly treat cardio-vascular disease. People with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and hypertension often have problems with available NO in their body. So what do herbs have to do with this? Read more on Traditional Chinese Herbs and Cardiovascular Health |Nitric Oxide| Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line…
Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: Have you ever wondered why some prescription meds come in a dark bottle or need refrigeration? They won’t “spoil” like food might, but often sunlight or warm temperatures will cause them to become inactive and stop working. It stands to reason that many Traditional Chinese Herbs (and others) have the same limitation, being sensitive to heat and light. Read more on Keep Your Herbal Medicines Safe and Potent | Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line…
Dr. Steve’s Bottom Line: Forgetting things? Afraid of forgetting things soon? Can’t remember what you just read? Hmmmm….could be brain aging. It happens to all of us, and we know a lot more now about what causes it, but modern science is struggling to get us some therapeutic answers to help avert those premature senior moments. For eons the Chinese herbal, yokukansan (YKS), has been used in a variety of clinical situations for treating symptoms associated with age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Does it work? Read more on Who Wants a Younger Brain? Herbal Yokukansan May Help|Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line…
Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: Tanshinone IIA one of the active ingredients in the traditional Chinese herb danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge), which is widely used in treatment of cardiovascular disorders, including high blood pressure. Does it work? Read more on Sudden Cardiac Death Natural Protection with Danshen Herb |Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line…
Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: This entry is not encouraging for parents wishing for a natural way to reduce steroid dosage for their asthmatic kids. But, let me repeat the warning from the study I’m about to discuss: these are kids and parents should be careful in making decisions for kids, as well-intentioned as they may be, involving “popular” natural methods that may not work and CAN CAUSE DEATH in the event that standard medications (like steroids) are changed without medical supervision. This blog focuses on information that DOES work, but when you use the scientific method, you also have to accept that things are not always what they seem to be and sometimes things DON’T work as proposed. So, what did they find? Read more on CUF2 Herbal therapy for children with steroid dependent asthma |Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line…
Cholesterol Problem? Possible Herbal Solution|FuZi FPS|Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line
Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: High cholesterol is a significant problem, although not the only reason for cardiovascular disease. Keeping cholesterol in a normal range involves diet, exercise and….sometimes your doctor tells you to consider statin pharmaceuticals. Always listen to your doctor, but while you are working on weight reduction and an exercise program (you ARE doing that right?)…you may be tempted to check out what might work in the alternative herbal world. What might help and what is hype? Read more on Cholesterol Problem? Possible Herbal Solution|FuZi FPS|Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line…