NATURAL HEALING (2)

Herbal treatment has been and is still being widely researched and discussed in the scientific world. As we saw in our previous blog that it is important to know how the herbs work and their interactions with drugs and other foods. Especially for Sickle Cell Anemia, where many opt for alternative herbal treatment to avoid the vicious cycle of side effects from pharmaceutical drugs Today we look at some of the herbs commonly used, their uses, risks and interactions.

 

*SELECTED HERBS,THEIR COMMON USES AND RISKS

COMMON NAME	SCIENTIFIC SOURCE NAME	CLAIMS AND USES	RISKS
Aloe(gel)	Aloe Vera	Promote wound healing i.e. leg ulcers	Generally considered safe.
Chamomile(flowers)	Matricaria chamomilla	Relieve indigestion.	Generally considered safe.
Garlic(bulbs)	Allium sativum	Lower blood lipids and blood pressure.	Generally considered safe; may cause garlic breath, body odor, gas and GI distress. Inhibits blood clotting.
Ginger	Zingiber officinale	Prevent motion sickness, nausea	Generally considered safe.
Ginkgo(tree leaves)	Ginkgo biloba	Improve memory, relieve vertiligo	Generally considered safe; may cause GI distress, dizziness. May Inhibit blood clotting.
Ginseng	Panax ginseng(Asian) P.quinquefolius(American)	Boost immunity, increase endurance.	Generally considered safe. May cause insomnia and high blood pressure.

Note: Allergies may occur for some herbs.

*Adopted from Table H18-2, Whittney.E and Rolfes.S, Understanding Nutrition, 10th Edition.

 

 

Herbal Remedies for Sickle Cell Disease #10003

 

**HERB AND DRUG INTERACTIONS

 

HERB	DRUG	INTERACTION	PATIENT GUIDELINES
Chamomile(flowers)	Anticoagulant(blood thinners) Warfarin	Prolong bleeding time.	Avoid taking with sedatives or alcohol.
Garlic(bulbs)	Aspirin,Warfarin	Prolong bleeding time.	Avoid use after surgery.
Ginger	Aspirin,Warfarin	Prolong bleeding time.	Use only briefly during pregnancy. Avoided by patients on anticoagulants or have a history of gallstones.
Ginkgo	Anticoagulant Acetaminophen	Blood thinning effect. Enhance effect.	Absorption is unaffected by food intake.
Ginseng	Asian-Anticoagulants American-Corticosteroids	Blood thinning effect hence increased likelyhood of hemorrhage. Enhance hormonal response.	Do not use with patients undergoing steroid therapy.
Licorice	Thiazide medications Potassium Cortisol	Counteract effects. Increased leading to Sensitivity to glycosides. Prolongs half-life which leads to Hypokalemia, high blood pressure and edema.

** Adopted from

i)Table H18-3, Whittney.E and Rolfes.S, Understanding Nutrition, 10th Edition.

ii)Herb and Drug Interactions in Manual of Clinical Nutrition Management.

 

Well folks those are some of the herbs we can look at today but please hit us up if you have questions on any other herbs of interest. Drop us a comment on your experience in using herbal remedies or ay questions you have about herbal remedies.

 

Love Life!

Joyner Musombi

 

 

NATURAL HEALING I

So far in SCA management, bone marrow transplant has been the only cure for SCA. But complexities in finding a suitable donor, normally a compatible family member, and the precarious nature of the procedure, make it necessary to find alternative therapy. Alternative therapy, which is often the use of natural remedies and herbs, may be used in place of or in addition to conventional therapies to promote a patient’s health status. Herbalism is the use of herbs for healing and has been used over the centuries to cure diseases.

Herbal treatment has been a great area of study in SCA management.  Even Flo  is one of the well researched herbal blends that aids in the management of SCA naturally. EvenFlo is a natural analgesic that helps replenishes blood flow, combats blood deficiencies such as anemia and alleviates symptoms from lack of proper blood flow, including dizziness and shortness of breath. It also reduces body pain by containing Ferulic Acid, which prevents spasming. EvenFlo also treats chronic pain through the anti-inflammatory and microcirculation properties of several herbs found in the formula. It has been clinically studied to show can increase hemoglobin and can reduce sickle cell crisis pain, naturally without side effects.

Read More on Even Flo HERE

Natural Healing Sickle Cell #10003

Herbal Precautions  

It is important for SCA clients as well as for the rest of the population to consult with their physician when you resort to turn to herbal remedies. Now just because plants are ‘natural’ it does not mean that they are beneficial or safe. This is because herb-drug interactions can create problems. They may inhibit a drug while some herbs may be toxic to our health!!! They can have grave effects to our health like causing organ damage and/or failure. Herbs are dietary supplements and that aid the body to function at optimum when there’s a need to bring it back to balance.

It is imperative to have the following information when considering alternative therapies:

• True identification of herbs.
• Purity of herbal preparations. Check for additives in dietary supplements.
• Appropriate uses and contradictions of herbs. When and how are the herbs used?
• Effectiveness of herbs. Look at research reports to validate claims of effectiveness.
• Variability of herbs. Not all species are equal in their properties. Some may lack beneficial properties found in others or may be poisonous while others are not. This applies to different parts of the plant too.
• Accuracy of labels. Some labels may have info on the species and quantities of active ingredients which may be false.
• Safe dosages of herbs. This should be given in consideration to changing concentration of active ingredients from one batch of supplements to the next.
• Interactions with other herbs and drugs. Herbs may interfere with, or potentiate, the effects of other herbs and drugs.
• Adverse reactions and toxicity levels of herbs. Clients may have allergic reactions among other undesirable reactions to certain herbs.

When using an alternative therapy, consulting a physician is highly recommended to enable you to come up with a comprehensive treatment plan as well as avert any problems. Healthy living involves making wise choices with regards to the type of the therapy we decide to follow and the benefits and risks involved whether great or small.

Do you have any experience with herbal remedies for healthcare management? Let know how it was for you in comparison to other pharmaceutical drugs.

Let’s catch up next time for more on natural healing and herb news!!

Love life!!!

Joyner Musombi