I have compiled and shared with many physicians a list of 100 potential alternatives to commonly prescribed and OTC pharmaceuticals and synthetics for many of the diseases we confront. I know of very few head-on comparative trials that have been conducted here in the United States. And since our FDA rarely and reluctantly accepts data from overseas, we will continue to wallow in our own ignorance. Remember in our first issue I mentioned my major objectives for my sunrise years. I want to catalyze these comparative head-on trials. Listed below are ten herbs that have been subjects of international scientific studies. I found the results of these studies very interesting. I want the best drugs for me and my family, be they natural or unnatural. Until the comparative head-on trials have been performed, neither you, nor I, nor your physician nor pharmacist, knows that the pharmaceutical is better than the herbal alternative. America and Americans deserve to know.

Ginger
Could ginger be the herbal answer to motion sickness? According to Fulder and Tenne (1996) ginger "has been shown to be as effective as conventional drugs in the prevention of motion sickness in trials at sea and also in careful clinical studies...Ginger, which acts locally on the digestive system, is undoubtedly much safer than the current drugs for motion sickness." Ginger has traditionally been used for its gastroprotective properties in conjunction with motion sickness and dyspepsia.

Kudzu
Alcohol abuse has become a major social, medical, economic, and psychological challenge to society. However, there may be an herbal alternative for the treatment of alcoholism. Daidzein and daidzin, the two major active ingredients in Kudzu, have been shown to significantly suppress free-choice ethanol intake. (Keung, 1993) The exact mechanism for this has not yet been elaborated, although daidzin has been shown to selectively inhibit mitochondrial ALDH, and daidzein has been shown to inhibit ADH. The inhibition of these compounds could lead to an increased bioavailability of ethanol, and consequently a decreased ethanol intake. (Keung, 1993)

Milk Thistle
Liver disease (which can be a deadly side effect of alcoholism) attacks the blood's filtration system, allowing dangerous toxins to remain in the body. Silymarin, the active ingredient in Milk Thistle, has been the subject of numerous European studies investigating its effects on liver disease. A study in Helsinki, Finland showed a statistically highly significant decrease of S-SGPT (S-ALAT) and S-SGOT (S-ASAT) in participants treated with Milk Thistle. (Salmi, 1982) Further studies suggest that silybin, an active component of silymarin, reduces biliary cholesterol concentration. (Nassuato, 1991) The exact mechanism for this reduction is still being elaborated. (Nassuato, 1991) Clinical studies have been performed to determine the bioavailability of a silybin-phosatidylcholine complex, IdB 1016. An increase in plasma silybin levels was detected after IdB 1016 administration, as compared to silymarin alone. The study concluded "that complexation with phosphatidylcholine in IdB 1016 greatly increases the oral bioavailability of silybin, probably facilitating its passage across the gastrointestinal mucosa." (Barzaghi, 1990).

HorseChestnut
Varicosis (varicose veins) afflict many people. One of the first courses of action these people take is expensive and risky surgery. HorseChestnut may offer a safer and less costly solution. A West German study has shown that a commercial HorseChestnut preparation may "have an influence on the collagen content and architecture of the varicose vein, thus normalizing its elastic and contractile properties." (Kreysel, 1983)

Ginkgo
Could Ginkgo be as effective as Cognex(tm) in treating Alzheimer's? We don't know, and we won't know until there have been clinical trials to compare them. Clinical tests have shown Ginkgo vs. placebo to be effective in treating cerebral diseases due to aging. Patients in one clinical study were evaluated at three, six, nine, and twelve months on the geriatric clinical evaluation scale (GCES) after daily administration of either Ginkgo biloba extract or placebo. Significant improvement in the treatment group was noted as early as the third month and it increased later on. (Taillandier, 1988)

Saw Palmetto
Saw Palmetto is an herb that has been studied in Europe for the treatment of BPH. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is believed to be caused by an over production and accumulation of the hormone dihydrotestoterone (DHT). Testosterone is converted to DHT by 5-alpha-reductase via an enzymatic reaction. Patients with BPH have dramatically elevated levels of 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone in the prostate. It is the excess of this androgen that promotes prostate growth. In a clinical trial of 505 patients, Saw Palmetto extract (standardized for 85% sterols) was found to effectively alleviate BPH symptoms in 88% of the subjects tested within 45-90 days. (Braeckman, 1994) Saw Palmetto grown in this country is sent to Europe. Isn't it ironic we are using the synthetic when we have a better, natural alternative here at home growing in the American Everglades.

Cranberry
Cranberry has been traditionally used to treat bacterial bladder infections. Science has set out to prove or disprove that action. There are now clinical trials indicating that cranberry inhibits the adhesion of E. coli to the mucosal cells of the bladder. (Ofek, 1991) One study comparing cranberry juice with placebo, found a bacteriuria and pyuria incidence in 28.1% of the urine samples in the placebo group and in only 15% of the cranberry group. (Avorn, 1994) Science is finally proving what nature and your mother have known for years.

Licorice
Clinical trials have compared deglycyrrhizinated licorice with accepted ulcer pharmaceuticals, and even indicate it is superior. (Kassir, 1985) Glycyrrhizic acid has been shown synergetic with other components for ulcer treatment. Deglycyrrhizinated extract (DGE) reduces gastric-juice secretion and prevents or reduces acaetylsalicylic-acid-induced in-flammation. (Bisset, 1994) ABC (1994) confirms that licorice, commonly used in Arabian, Asian and European traditional medicine, is often recommended for duodenal and gastric ulcers. It is soothing to mucous membranes. Baker (1995) even takes its antiulcer activity back to King Tut's tomb. Even with this evidence, licorice is still not accepted as an ulcer treatment. More comparative trials are needed to bring this herb into acceptance. Once again the burden of proof lies with herbal medicine.

Echinacea
During the cold and flu season, many folks rush to their local health food store in search of Echinacea. One study of Echinacea purpurea used a purified polysaccharide, acidic arabinogalactan, to test effectiveness in stimulating macrophages. (Luettig, 1989) Arabino-galactan not only amplified cytotoxicity against micro-organisms, but also stimulated production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL-1), and interferon-beta2. (Luettig, 1989)

Valerian
With all the stress prevalent in today's society, it's no wonder that anxiety and insomnia have reached epidemic proportions. As I mentioned in the last "News from the Herbal Village," some 40 million Americans suffer chronic sleep disorders. One study suggests the sedative effect of valerian may be attributed to its action on the GABA-benzodiaz-chloride channel receptor complex. (Mennini, 1993) A study in Sweden recently reported that 89% of subjects given valerian before retiring reported improved sleep, and 44% reported "perfect sleep." There were no side effects, and nightmares were nonexistent. (Lindahl, 1989)

Avorn, J. et al. 1994. Reduction of bacteriuria and pyuria after ingestion of cranberry juice. JAMA. 271:751-754.

Barzaghi, N. et al. 1990. Pharmacodynamic studies on IdB 1016, a silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex, in healthy human subjects. Eur. J. Drug Metab. Pharmacokinet. 15(4):333-338.

Bisset, N.G., ed. 1994. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. (English translation of Wichtl, 1984, 1989). CRC Press. Boca Raton, FL. 556 pp.

Braeckman, J. 1994. The extract of Serenoa repens in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a multicenter open study. Curr. Ther. Res. 55:7.

Fulder, S., and M. Tenne. 1996. Ginger as an anti-nausea remedy in pregnancy--the issue of safety. Herbalgram No. 38:47-50.

Holtmann, S., et al. 1989. The anti-motion sickness mechanism of ginger. Acta Otolaryngol. 108:168-174.

ABC (American Botanical Council). 1994. Herbs and Health - An Introductory Guide to Herbal Healthcare. 8 pp.

Baker, M.E. 1995. Endocrine Activity of Plant-Derived Compounds: An Evolutionary Perspective. P.S.E.B.M. 208: 131-138.

Kassir, Z.A., et al. 1985. Endoscopic controlled trial of four drug regimens in the treatment of chronic duodenal ulceration. Ir. Med. J. 78:153-156.

Keung, W.M., and B.L. Vallee. 1993. Daidzin and daidzein suppress free-choice ethanol intake by Syrian Golden hamsters. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 90:10008-10012.

Kreysel, H.W. et al. 1983. A possible role of lysosomal enzymes in the pathogenesis of varicosis and the reduction in their serum activity by Venostasin. VASA. 12:377-382.

Lindahl, O. and L. Lindwall. 1989. Double blind study of a valerian preparation. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 32(4):1065-1066.

Luettig, B. et al. 1989. Macrophage activation by the polysaccharide arabinogalactan isolated from plant cell cultures of Echinacea purpurea. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 81(9):669-675.

Mennini, T. et al. 1993. In vitro study on the interaction of extracts and pure compounds from Valeriana officinalis roots with GABA, benzodiazepine and barbiturate receptors in rat brain. 54(4):291-300.

Nassuato, G. et al. 1991. Effect of silibinin on biliary lipid composition. Experimental and clinical study. J. Hepatol. 12:290-295.

Ofek, I. et al. 1991. Anti-Escherichia coli adhesin activity of cranberry and blueberry juices. N. Engl. J. Med. 324:1599.

Salmi, H. A., and S. Sarna. 1982. Effect of silymarin on chemical, functional, and morphological alterations of the liver. A double-blind controlled study. Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 17:517-521.

Taillandier, J. et al. 1988. Ginkgo biloba extract in the treatment of cerebral disorders due to aging. Longitudinal, multicenter, double-blind study versus placebo. in E. W. FŸnfgeld, Ed. Rškan (Ginkgo biloba). Recent Results in Pharmacology and Clinic. Berlin, Springer-Verlag. 291-301.