Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: If you are having problems with pain or discomfort in the right upper abdomen, it may or may not be related to your gallbladder. The first thing to do is find out from a physician if this is the problem. This might take an ultrasound or other diagnostic tests. Otherwise, you may be trying to find relief for the wrong problem, and/or there may be something serious going on: ulcers, other bowel problems, hiatal hernia to name a few. Having said that, chronic cholecystitis or chronic inflammation of the gallbladder is fairly common, particularly in women. Surgery, endoscopic treatments, anti-inflammatory drugs are the mainstay treatments. Is there an herbal solution? Read more on Chronic GallBladder Problems?|Herbal dan an tang|Cholecystitis| 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…
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…
Herbal Treatment Viral Heart Inflammation |Myocarditis|Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line
Dr.Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: Inflammation of the heart due to viruses, called viral myocarditis, can be EXTREMELY serious. Translation = you could die! If not death, sometimes it can leave you a cardiac cripple, unable to walk, pick up your kids, or anything associated with a good quality of life. Mild myocarditis can come and go away after your viral disease goes away. But, if it does not or the heart muscle is severely damaged, there is not much modern medicine can offer without getting into transplants or pacemakers and things of that radical nature. So, it is best not to get it. If you are unlucky enough, and are averse to standard medical therapy, is there anything in the herbal world that might assist your recovery? Read more on Herbal Treatment Viral Heart Inflammation |Myocarditis|Dr.Steve’s Bottom Line…