Curcumin and saffron are effective for the treatment of depression and in reducing anxiety

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Studies have found  many people with Depression have chronic inflammation. Anti-inflammatory medicine could be an effective treatment alternative to generally ineffective anti-depressant medications.

A recent study reported that Curcumin (from Tumeric) and/or saffron relieves the symptoms of depression including anxiety , now often experience by people suffering from depression.

Curcumin has strong anti-inflammatory properties and increase levels of BDNF  – an important  protein found in neuron cells that protects the cells from premature death and also improves their function.

But before you rush to the pharmacy or health food store to buy some Curcumin supplements consult an expert who knows about bioavailability of the supplement or see your local herbalist or Integrative heath practitioner.

 

Efficacy of curcumin, and a saffron/curcumin combination for the treatment of major depression: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032716310217?dgcid=raven_sd_via_email

Abstract

Several studies have supported the antidepressant effects of curcumin (from the spice turmeric) and saffron for people with major depressive disorder. However, these studies have been hampered by poor designs, small sample sizes, short treatment duration, and similar intervention dosages. Furthermore, the antidepressant effects of combined curcumin and saffron administration are unknown.

Methods

In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 123 individuals with major depressive disorder were allocated to one of four treatment conditions, comprising placebo, low-dose curcumin extract (250 mg b.i.d.), high-dose curcumin extract (500 mg b.i.d.), or combined low-dose curcumin extract plus saffron (15 mg b.i.d.) for 12 weeks. The outcome measures were the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology self-rated version (IDS-SR30) and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

Results

The active drug treatments (combined) were associated with significantly greater improvements in depressive symptoms compared to placebo (p=.031), and superior improvements in STAI-state (p<.001) and STAI-trait scores (p=.001). Active drug treatments also had greater efficacy in people with atypical depression compared to the remainder of patients (response rates of 65% versus 35% respectively, p=.012). No differences were found between the differing doses of curcumin or the curcumin/saffron combination.

Limitations

Investigations with larger sample sizes are required to examine the efficacy of differing doses of curcumin and saffron/curcumin combination. Its effects in people with atypical depression also require examination in larger scale studies.

Conclusions

Active drug treatments comprising differing doses of curcumin and combined curcumin/saffron were effective in reducing depressive and anxiolytic symptoms in people with major depressive disorder.

Chinese herbs help clear antibiotic resistant Heliobacter pylori infection after failure of triplet therapy with vonaprazan

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Heliobacter pylori is a bacteria that is found in many patients with stomach ulcers and gastritis. Almost 50% of the world’s population are believed to have H.pylori in their stomach , but  many do not have any of the unpleasant symptoms that are associated with gastritis and do not develop ulcers. However for the people suffering from these health problems the eradication of H.Pylori is a critical part of the treatment.

Like many other strains of bacteria. Some strains of H.Pylori are becoming extremely resistant to antibiotics. This limits conventional treatment options for some patients.

Chinese herbs are powerful antibacterial weapons and viable alternatives to current antibiotic protocols . Chinese Herbs also can be used in conjunction with antibiotics to help overcome the drug resistance.

A recent journal article published in Journal of Digestive diseases, reported that a traditional formulation of Wu Zhu Yu Tang has helped eradicate a drug resistant H.Pylori infection when used on combination with antibiotic drugs.

We desperately need more research in using Chinese botanicals for antibiotic resistant bacteria. Drug resistant bacteria infections are on the increase and like climate change it is a global problem that requires us to think outside the box and beyond our own biases . We must work together for solutions for our future and not be solely be influenced  by politics and profit.

ABSTRACT

Vonoprazan, a potassium-competitive acid blocker, is used as a substitute drug for conventional proton pump inhibitors. Recently, vonoprazan has been applied for eradication of H. pylori (HP) infection, and the efficacies of vonoprazan-based triple therapy against HP infection have already been reported. However, treatment sometimes fails in the primary and/or secondary triplet eradication therapy, including with the use of vonoprazan for HP infection. We experienced three cases of refractory HP infection. They were treated with eradication therapy for HP infection with chronic gastritis. After primary triplet therapy with amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and rabeprazole (Case 1) or vonoprazan (Case 2, 3), their urea breath test were positive. Subsequently, patients received secondary eradication therapy with amoxicillin, metronidazole, and vonoprazan (Case 1, 2) or rabeprazole (Case 3), but their urea breath test was still positive. Thereafter, they consulted Kampo treatment. Kampo eradication therapy was given consisting of goshuyuto 2.5 g three-times daily plus rabeprazole 10 mg twice daily for 28 days. Finally, their urea breath test became negative. We successfully treated these cases with goshuyuto and rabeprazole. Goshuyuto treatment is worth trying as another therapeutic option.

Source

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1751-2980.12537/abstract?campaign=wolacceptedarticle

 

References

Nagata, Y., Nagasaka, K., Koyama, S., Murase, M., Saito, M., Yazaki, T., Komatsu, N., Murase, T., Uehara, T. and Taniuchi, N. (), Successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori with a herbal medicine, goshuyuto (Wu Zhu Yu Tang), plus rabeprazole after failure of triplet therapy with vonoprazan: a report of three cases. Journal of Digestive Diseases. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1111/1751-2980.12537

 

 

Green Tea Extract protects against Stroke

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A study suggests the  powerful extract of green tea namely EGCG can protect against injury in cerebral infarction a cause of stroke.

 

Here’s the science abstract and it is heavy.  What is saying is that the EGCG can affects biochemistry pathways that cause a cerebral infarction, which is a type of ischemic stroke resulting from a blockage in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. It can be atherothrombotic or embolic.

What we don’t know is what dose (the amount of the substance) and the dosage (the frequency of dose and over what timeframe)  could have make the significant difference in preventing stroke. However it is another positive report that EGCG can help prevent debilitating health problems. There are many benefits of green tea, but the best way to receive these benefits is to take a quality supplement containing EGCG. The alternative is  drinking 20-40 cups of green tea a day!

-Epigallocatechin Gallate Inhibits Asymmetric Dimethylarginine-Induced Injury in Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

(−)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the main polyphenol component of green tea (leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant). EGCG has been reported to protect human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) against injury in several models. However, the exact mechanism is still unclear. In the current study we found that EGCG protected against asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)-induced HBMEC injury, and inhibited ADMA-induced reactive oxygen species production and malondialdehyde expression. At the same time, we found that pretreatment with EGCG attenuated the upregulation of Bax and the downregulation of Bcl-2, thus confirming the cellular protective properties of EGCG against ADMA-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that EGCG inhibited ADMA-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p-38, whose inhibitors relieved HBMEC injury. In conclusion, EGCG can protect against ADMA-induced HBMEC injury via the ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK pathways, which are involved in the underlying mechanisms of HBMEC injury in cerebral infarction.

Source: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11064-016-1898-9

No deaths from supplements, minerals, amino acids and herbs

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Original Source 

http://www.kingswaycompounding.com.au/no-deaths-from-supplements-minerals-amino-acids-herbs/

by Andrew W. Saul

(OMNS, Jan 12, 2016) Not only are there no deaths from vitamins, but there are also no deaths from supplements, minerals, amino acids and herbs. The most recent (2014) information collected by the U.S. National Poison Data System, and published in the journal Clinical Toxicology (1), shows no deaths whatsoever from dietary supplements across the board.

No deaths from minerals

There were zero deaths from any dietary mineral supplement. This means there were no fatalities from calcium, magnesium, chromium, zinc, colloidal silver, selenium, iron, or multimineral supplements. Reported in the “Electrolyte and Mineral” category was a fatality from the medical use of “Sodium and sodium salts” and another fatality from non-supplemental iron, which was clearly and specifically excluded from the supplement category.

No deaths from any other nutritional supplement

Additionally, there were zero deaths from any amino acid or single-ingredient herbal product. This means no deaths at all from blue cohosh, echinacea, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, kava kava, St. John’s wort, valerian, yohimbe, Asian medicines, ayurvedic medicines, or any other botanical. There were zero deaths from creatine, blue-green algae, glucosamine, chondroitin, or melatonin. There were zero deaths from any homeopathic remedy.

But when in doubt, blame a supplement. Any supplement.

There was one death attributed to a “Multi-Botanical Without Ma Huang or Citrus Aurantium.” It is interesting that they knew what was not in it but did not know what was in it. This is hearsay at best, and scaremongering at worst. There was one death alleged from some “Unknown Dietary Supplement or Homeopathic Agent.” This, too, indicates complete lack of certainly as to what may or may not have been involved. One fatality was attributed to “Energy Products: Unknown.” First of all, energy drinks or “products” are not nutritional supplements. But more importantly, how can an accusation be based on the unknown? Equally unscientific are the two deaths attributed to “Energy Products: Other.” Well, what products were they? These are no more than vague, unsubstantiated allegations. Claiming causation without even knowing what substance or ingredient to accuse is baseless.

The truth: no man, woman or child died from any nutritional supplement. Period.

References:

Mowry JB, Spyker DA, Brooks DE et al. (2015) 2014 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS): 32nd Annual Report, Clinical Toxicology, 53:10, 962-1147.

 

Chinese Herbs show potential for treating Arthritis

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Chinese Herbs show potential for treating Arthritis via control of autoimmune pathways

 

Chinese herbal formulas are used all over the world to relief symptoms of arthritis, but how they affect the body’s immune system is still an area of research. A recent study by Venkatesha et al, investigated how commonly used formulas, herbs and bioactive components   affected the complex pathways of our immune system.

The laboratory results showed how herbs and active components directly inhibited the immune system mechanisms that promote inflammatory responses and contribute to the symptoms such as swelling and pain.

This study proved some Chinese herbs/formulas including green tea extract (EGCG),  show great potential and it concluded these herbs and plants show promising resource for future medicine, but this is the biomedical model and until new medicines are developed we as practitioners can use our current knowledge of Traditional formulas to help people experience a better quality of life.

Conclusion from Study (This is open access so you can download the whole paper)

Plant-derived natural products offer a vital and promising resource for new therapeutic agents for RA and other autoimmune diseases. Practioners of the traditional systems of medicine prefer to use herbal extracts, either singly or in a formulation using multiple herbs. However, as part of its drug discovery process, the pharmaceutical industry frequently solicits purified herbal compounds which possess bioactivity that replicates, albeit exceeds, the bioactivity of the parental herbal extract. An unforeseen but not unexpected scenario in that case is that the purified compounds might be more potent, but at the same time they also might be more toxic, than the whole natural extract. Carefully planned dosing studies with suitable modifications in the product following an active collaboration between the academia and the industry would help further expand the applications of natural products in the treatment of autoimmune and other disorders. Similarly, there is a need for practioners of the mainstream (allopathic) medicine and those of CAM to work together on the use of these products for the treatment of various diseases. This is important to anticipate and manage unwanted interactions between conventional (allopathic) and CAM products being used concurrently by patients with autoimmunity and other diseases.

 

Shivaprasad H. Venkatesha, Brian Astry, Siddaraju M. Nanjundaiah, Hong R. Kim, Rajesh Rajaiah, Yinghua Yang, Li Tong, Hua Yu, Brian M. Berman, Kamal D. Moudgil, Control of autoimmune arthritis by herbal extracts and their bioactive components, Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Available online 15 February 2016, ISSN 1818-0876, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajps.2016.02.003. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S181808761600009X)

Studies how Chinese herbs can increase chances of pregnancy during IVF

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Trial One

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of Erzhi Tiangui Granule (ETG) on DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) 1 protein expression in endometrium of infertile women with Kidney-yin Deficiency syndrome.

Methods: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted. Sixty-six (66) infertile patients who had Kidney-yin Deficiency syndrome and who were to undergo in vitro fertilization–embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a control group according to a random table. Besides gonadotropin (Gn) therapy in both groups, the treatment group received ETG for 3 menstrual cycles before IVF, and the control group received placebo granules. The ETG and the placebo granules were made with similar color and shape, as well as in the same packaging. The scores of the Kidney-yin Deficiency syndrome were assessed. Other outcome measures included the dosage and duration of Gn, the number of retrieved oocytes, the rate of high-quality oocytes, the rate of high-quality embryos, the fertilization rate, and the clinical pregnancy rate. DNMT1 protein expression in the endometrium was measured in the midluteal phase.

Results: The difference in the syndrome score change before and after treatment between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). The dosage and duration of Gn were significantly lower in the treatment group than those in the control group (p<0.05). The high-quality oocyte and embryo rates, and clinical pregnancy rate were all higher in the treatment group than those in the control group (p<0.05). The fertilization rate was not significant when compared to the placebo group. No difference was found in the number of retrieved oocytes between the two groups. The DNMT1 protein expression in the endometrium was much more abundant in the treatment group than that in the control group (p<0.05).

Conclusions: For the infertile patients undergoing IVF, the Chinese recipe for tonifying the Kidney as an adjunct treatment could reduce Gn dosage and treatment duration, alleviate clinical symptoms, and improve the clinical pregnancy rate. The increased level of DNMT1 protein expression after treatment may lead to enhanced endometrial receptivity. This finding may explain the improvement in clinical pregnancy rate.

 

Trial Two

In 20016 a Chinese Clinical trial studied the effects of a Chinese herbal formula on infertile women under going IVF.

Treatment method:

Members of both groups went through the standard preparatory treatment for IVF. In addition, the treatment group started taking herbs from day three in their menstrual cycle throughout the cycle up to the day of HCG administration.[1] The  members of the treatment group were orally administered 10 grams each time, three times per day of Er Zhi Tian Gui Ke Li (Two Ultimates Tian Gui Granules). This consisted of unspecified amounts and/or proportions of:

Nu Zhen Zi (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi)
Han Lian Cao (Herba Ecliptae)
Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii)
Tu Si Zi (Semen Cuscutae)
Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis)
Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Albae)
Sheng Di (uncooked Radix Rehmanniae)
Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong)
processed Xiang Fu (Rhizoma Cyperi)
Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae)

More about participants

Altogether, there were 122 patients enrolled in this two-wing comparison study, all of whom suffered from infertility and were being treated with IVF. These 122 patients were randomly divided into two groups of 61 women each, a treatment group and a comparison group. In the treatment group, 20 women were 25-29 years old, 32 were 30-34 years old, and nine were35-39 years old. In the comparison group, the numbers of cases these ages were 18, 36, and seven cases respectively. In the treatment group, 20 cases had been infertile for 1-2 years, 25 cases had been infertile for 3-4 years, seven cases had been infertile for 5-6, and nine cases had been infertile for seven or more years. In the comparison group, these numbers were 18, 21, nine, and 13 respectively. In the treatment group, there were 37 cases of primary infertility and 24 cases of secondary infertility. In the comparison group, these numbers were 40 and 21 respectively. Therefore, in terms of age, duration of infertility, and type of infertility, these two groups were considered statistically comparable for the purposes of this study. In addition, all these women met the criteria for kidney qi and yin dual vacuity infertility. Exclusion criteria included use of sex hormones within three months, cardiovascular, liver, or kidney disease, neurological or psychiatric disturbances, or and allergic constitution.

 

 

References

Trial One

Lian Fang, Wang Rui-Xia, Ma Feng-Mei, Sun Zhen-Gao, Wang Li-Hong, and Shi Lei. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. April 2013, 19(4): 353-359. doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0410.

 

Trial Two

On pages 439-441 of issue #6, 2006 of the Zhong Yi Za Zhi (Journal of Chinese Medicine), Lian Fang et al. published an article titled, “A Clinical Study on the Treatment of 61 Cases of Infertility with Er Zhi Tian Gui Ke Li (Two Ultimates Tian Gui Granules) Combined with In Vitro Fertilization.” A summary of this article is presented below.

For more information go http://bluepoppy.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm/feature/1045/images

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) as an adjunctive treatment for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and heart failure.

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Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) as an adjunctive treatment for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and heart failure.

Design: Studies on biomedical treatment plus CHM versus biomedical treatment alone in treating patients with DCM and heart failure were retrieved from PubMed and other major databases (1980–2011). Meta-analysis was performed on the overall effects on effective rate, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular diastolic end diameter, and other outcome measures.

Results: Twenty-seven studies with 1887 patients were included. Compared with biomedical treatment alone, biomedical treatment plus CHM showed significant improvement in effective rate (relative risk, 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19–1.34), left ventricular ejection fraction (%) (mean difference, 5.88; 95% CI, 3.92–7.85), left ventricular diastolic end diameter (mm) (mean difference, −2.78; 95% CI, −5.15 to −0.42), and other outcome measures. Most adverse events observed in the studies were not severe and resolved without special treatment.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicated that biomedical treatment plus CHM is more effective than biomedical treatment alone in treating patients with DCM and heart failure. However, further studies with long-term follow-up, systemic adverse events evaluation, and other ethnic groups are still required to verify the efficacy and safety of CHM as an adjunctive treatment in all patients with DCM and heart failure.

Comments

Cardiomyopathy describes diseases of the heart muscle in which the heart muscle fibres themselves become enlarged, thickened or rigid. These changes affect the function of the heart and its efficiency of pumping blood around the body. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of heart failure in men and as you might guess it means enlarged heart muscles. Enlarged muscle fibres results in thinner structures that weakly and insufficiently contract to move the blood from one chamber in the heart to the next and through the arteries.

In TCM there are many herbs compounds that have been identified as being effective in treating heart failure. “True Warrior Decoction” Zhen Whu Tang ” can decrease resistance of blood flow  and reduced blood viscosity, and decreased workload on the heart. Some of the herbs in this formula disperse fluid by promoting urination. The clearance of fluid means less work for the heart. This action is the same as diuretics which are often described to patients suffering from cardiomyopathy.

 

Article Source

Effectiveness of Chinese Herbal Medicine as an Adjunctive Treatment for Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Patients with Heart Failure

Hongyuan Bai, MD,1 Yafeng Li, MD,2 Ke Han, MD,1 Min Gong, MD,3 and Aiqun Ma, MD, PhD1

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

Antioxidant properties of Chinese Herbs may help prevent neurodegenerative diseases

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Abstract

Age is the leading risk factor for many of the most prevalent and devastating diseases including neurodegenerative diseases. A number of herbal medicines have been used for centuries to ameliorate the deleterious effects of ageing-related diseases and increase longevity. Oxidative stress is believed to play a role in normal ageing as well as in neurodegenerative processes. Since many of the constituents of herbal extracts are known antioxidants, it is believed that restoring oxidative balance may be one of the underlying mechanisms by which medicinal herbs can protect against ageing and cognitive decline. Based on the premise that astrocytes are key modulators in the progression of oxidative stress associated neurodegenerative diseases, 13 herbal extracts purported to possess anti-ageing properties were tested for their ability to protect U373 human astrocytes from hydrogen peroxide induced cell death. To determine the contribution of antioxidant activity to the cytoprotective ability of extracts, total phenol content and radical scavenging capacities of extracts were examined. Polygonum multiflorum, amongst others, was identified as possessing potent antioxidant and cytoprotective properties. Not surprisingly, total phenol content of extracts was strongly correlated with antioxidant capacity. Interestingly, when total phenol content and radical scavenging capacities of extracts were compared to the cytoprotective properties of extracts, only moderately strong correlations were observed. This finding suggests the involvement of multiple protective mechanisms in the beneficial effects of these medicinal herbs.

Highlights

► Oxidative stress plays a role in neurodegenerative processes. ► Thirteen herbal extracts tested for protection against H2O2 induced cell death. ► Polygonum multiflorum was the most potent antioxidant and cytoprotectant. ► Total phenol content was strongly correlated with antioxidant capacity. ► Antioxidant activity is moderately correlated with cytoprotective ability.

 Introduction

For millennia, herbal medicines consisting of whole herbs or plant parts such as leaves, stems, roots and seeds have been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of specific ailments, to maintain and restore body balance and to increase longevity (Suk, 2005). Many of the drugs available in Western medicine have been directly isolated from plants or are hemi-synthetic molecules based on the molecular scaffolds of natural products. While Western medicine mainly focuses on the identification and isolation of single active constituents from plants that interact with single therapeutic targets, TCM aims to reverse the underlying “imbalance” between the body and the environment that is thought to cause disease (Cheng, 2000). This often involves the use of complex mixtures of herbs containing multiple chemical groups and compounds with diverse biological and pharmacological actions. It is believed that compounds not only act synergistically with other compounds from the same plant, but also may enhance the activity or counteract the toxicity of compounds from other plants (Howes and Houghton, 2003). A recent study, investigating the antioxidant properties of a herb which is used extensively in TCM, Polygonum multiflorum, found that the radical scavenging abilities of two of its main active components, emodin and quercetin, were lower than crude leaf, stem and root extracts of the herb (Lin et al., 2010). Furthermore, while studies with traditional herbal medicines such as Fuzhisan (Bi et al., 2011) and herbal extracts such as Panax ginseng(Lee et al., 2008) have shown success in slowing cognitive decline; results of clinical trials with single “active” compounds, such as curcumin from Curcuma longa (Hamaguchi et al., 2011) and huperzine A fromHuperzia serrata (Rafii et al., 2011) have not been successful.

Full Article can be found here http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197018612002860

Cytoprotective properties of traditional Chinese medicinal herbal extracts in hydrogen peroxide challenged human U373 astroglia cells

  • a Dept. of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
  • b Molecular Medicine Research Group, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
  • c CompleMed, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
  • d LIPA Pharmaceuticals, Minto, NSW, Australia

Can Chinese Herbs help new mothers well-being and Quality of life after giving birth?

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Use of herbal dietary Supplement Si-Wu-Tang and Health Related Quality of Life in Postpartum Women: A population-based correlational study.

Source:
Chang P-J, Lin C-C, Chen Y-C, et al. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Volume 2013 (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/790474

Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the association between women’s use of herbal dietary supplement Si-Wu-Tang during the postpartum period and their health-related quality of life.

Methods: This is a population-based correlational study. We used multistage, stratified, systematic sampling to recruit 24,200 pairs of postpartum women and newborns from the Taiwan National Birth Registry in 2005. A structured questionnaire was successfully administered to 87.8% of the sampled population. Trained interviewers performed home interviews 6 months after the women’s deliveries between June 2005 and July 2006. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form (SF-36) was used to measure the quality of life of the women along with the frequency of Si-Wu-Tang use.

Results: Si-Wu-Tang use after delivery improved women’s score for bodily pain and also improved their score for mental health when used more than 10 times. In addition, there were increases in general health and vitality scores in the group who continuously used Si-Wu-Tang more than 10 times after using Sheng-Hua-Tang.

Conclusion: Use of Si-Wu-Tang after delivery may be associated with women’s health-related quality of life especially for those who previously used Sheng-Hua-Tang.

Can Chinese Herbs Relieve Transitory Anxiety?

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Background

Recent research has established correlations between stress, anxiety, insomnia and excess body weight and these correlations have significant implications for health. This study measured the effects of a proprietary blend of extracts of Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense (Relora®) on anxiety, stress and sleep in healthy premenopausal women.

Methods

This randomized, parallel, placebo controlled clinical study was conducted with healthy, overweight (BMI 25 to 34.9), premenopausal female adults, between the ages of 20 and 50 years, who typically eat more in response to stressful situations and scores above the national mean for women on self-reporting anxiety. The intervention was Relora (250 mg capsules) or identical placebo 3 times daily for 6 weeks. Anxiety as measured by the Spielberger STATE-TRAIT questionnaires, salivary amylase and cortisol levels, Likert Scales/Visual Analog Scores for sleep quality and latency, appetite, and clinical markers of safety. The study was conducted by Miami Research Associates, a clinical research organization in Miami, FL.

Results

The intent-to-treat population consisted of 40 subjects with 26 participants completing the study. There were no significant adverse events. Relora was effective, in comparison to placebo, in reducing temporary, transitory anxiety as measured by the Spielberger STATE anxiety questionnaire. It was not effective in reducing long-standing feelings of anxiety or depression as measured using the Spielberger TRAIT questionnaire. Other assessments conducted in this study including salivary cortisol and amylase levels, appetite, body morphology and sleep quality/latency were not significantly changed by Relora in comparison to placebo.

Conclusion

This pilot study indicates that Relora may offer some relief for premenopausal women experiencing mild transitory anxiety. There were no safety concerns or significant adverse events observed in this study.

More about this Study

Hou Pu (Magnoliae Officinalis) is warm herb that treats Qi stagnation in the abdominal and chest. It also resolves phlegm and helps dries dampness. Hou Pu is used to treat diarrhea , abdominal pain , cough with phlegm and wheezing.
Huang Bai (Phellodendron amurense) is a cold herb that has as strong action in draining fire downwards and resolving diarrhea. Huang Bai targets the lower jiao and in Western medical terms is useful for treating urinary problems; night sweats, vaginal discharge. Such symptoms are related to damp heat in the lower jiao.
The active ingredients in Relora are Magnolia officinalis bark extract, Phellodendron amurense bark extract, rice powder, gelatin capsules (sourced from http://www.besttreatmentforanxiety.com).

Comments

I had never heard of transitory anxiety before this trial and I looked it up. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI) is the definitive instrument for measuring anxiety in adults. The STAI clearly differentiates between the temporary condition of “state anxiety” and the more general and long-standing quality of “trait anxiety.” The essential qualities evaluated by the STAIS-Anxiety scale are feelings of apprehension, tension, nervousness, and worry. Scores on the STAIS-Anxiety scale increase in response to physical danger and psychological stress, and decrease as a result of relaxation training. On the STAIT-Anxiety scale, consistent with the trait anxiety construct, psychoneurotic and depressed patients generally have high scores. This is different to General Anxiety disorder, which is a recognised pathology characterised by chronic anxiety and worry even when there are no stressors present or nothing to worry about.

Is there validity in doing a clinical trail on transitory anxiety and stress, which seems to me to be a highly personal condition? What is one person’s distress is another person’s eustress. The trail used biomarkers and other measurements to capture symptoms associated with stress and anxiety. This provided the clinical evidence. However the underlying condition is arguably so variable over time because of the social-psychological factors of stress.

References

Effect of a proprietary Magnolia and Phellodendron extract on stress levels in healthy women: a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Nutrition Journal 2008
Douglas S Kalman1*, Samantha Feldman2, Robert Feldman3, Howard I Schwartz4, Diane R Krieger5 and Robert Garrison6