'Bogus' Herbal Supplements Fail Ingredient Test: Investigation

An investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s Office alleges that some store-brand herbal supplements sold in New York by Walmart, Walgreens, Target and GNC are "bogus" – in that they "could not be verified to contain the labeled substance, or ... were found to contain ingredients not listed on the labels." Some the ingredients that were detected include mustard and powdered rice.

• By TOM LLAMAS
 

Feb 3, 2015, 2:29 PM ET

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent cease-and-desist letters, dated Monday, to the four retailers demanding they pull the supplements from their shelves and provide additional information about the products tested. Nearly 80 percent of the state’s test results found that the store-brand supplements tested did not contain what is listed on the label, according to a press release from Schneiderman's office.

“In a good number of cases, there was no organic material in the product,” said Marty Mack, Executive Deputy Attorney General for New York. “In some cases, it was sand.”

According to the findings, the store brands of Gingko Biloba and St. John’s Wort at all four stores did not test positive for either herb. Walmart, Walgreens and GNC’s versions of Ginseng and Echinacea also failed their ingredient tests.

Americans spend billions of dollars each year on herbal supplements, with the products extolling health and wellness benefits.

The four companies named in the investigation have released statements to ABC News regarding the situation. A Walgreen Co. spokesman released a statement to ABC News stating the company’s cooperation with the investigation.

“We take these issues very seriously and as a precautionary measure, we are in the process of removing these products from our shelves as we review this matter further,” the statement reads. “We intend to cooperate and work with the Attorney General.”

Target said it is looking into the issue.

“Without the full report, we can't comment other than to reiterate that Target is committed to providing high quality and safe products to our guests,” the statement reads.

While GNC is focused on cooperating with Schneiderman’s office, the company is also standing behind its products.

“GNC tests all of its products using validated and widely used testing methods, including those approved by governing bodies like the United States Pharmacopeia and the British Pharmacopeia,” a statement from GNC reads. “The methodology that we understand has been employed by the University of Guelph in testing our products has not been approved by the United States Pharmacopeia and may not be appropriate for the testing of these herbal products.”

In response, the attorney general's office reiterated it was "confident" in the testing methodology. "The industry has repeatedly attacked those who have conducted testing of these products in an attempt to verify their contents," a statement in response to GNC reads. "The University of Guelph has said that they are confident in their testing procedures and we are confident in our testing procedures. The burden is on the industry to prove that what on the labels is in the bottles."

Walmart initially told ABC News it would be “reaching out to the suppliers of these products to learn more.”

“At Walmart, we want our customers to have complete trust in the products they buy from our stores. It is our expectation that all suppliers conduct their business and produce products that are in full compliance with the law. Based on this notice, we are immediately reaching out to the suppliers of these products to learn more information and will take appropriate action.”

In an updated statement, the company said their suppliers did not report “any issues” with the products cited in the investigation, but the chain will take steps to remove the products from New York stores.

“Based on the testing performed by our suppliers we have not found any issues with the relevant products, but in order to comply with the Attorney General’s request we have stopped selling them in New York,” Carmen Bauza, senior vice president of Health & Wellness for Walmart U.S. said in the updated statement. “We take this matter very seriously and will be conducting side by side analysis because we are 100 percent committed to providing our customers safe products.” 

Full statement from GNC to ABC News: In response to your inquiry, GNC states the following: • We stand behind the quality, purity and potency of all ingredients listed on the labels of our private label products, including our GNC Herbal Plus line of products. • GNC tests all of its products using validated and widely used testing methods, including those approved by governing bodies like the United States Pharmacopeia and the British Pharmacopeia. • The methodology that we understand has been employed by the University of Guelph in testing our products has not been approved by the United States Pharmacopeia and may not be appropriate for the testing of these herbal products. • We will certainly cooperate with the Attorney General’s office in all appropriate ways.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/bogus-herbal-supplements-fail-ingredient-test-investigation/story?id=28684472

P/S: Take note that this article is dated Feb 2015.

Grapefruit not only food that can affect medication

Michelle Healy, USA TODAY4:26 p.m. EST January 22, 2013

Healthwise

From grapefruit to calcium to licorice, some foods and their nutrients can interfere with the way your medicines work.

(Photo: Scott Olson, Getty Images)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Food and beverages can delay, decrease or enhance absorption of medication
• Dietary supplements, including vitamins and herbs, can also interact with medications
• Ask your physician and pharmacist what you should avoid when given a new prescription

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From milk and cookies to chocolate and peanut butter, some foods make a tasty combination. But attention to medical labels, and not your taste buds, is needed when combining certain foods with medications.

Milk and other calcium products, for example, can block the absorption of certain antibiotics. And eating large quantities of chocolate while taking some antidepressants can cause a sharp rise in blood pressure. Even some licorice can reduce the effects of certain blood pressure drugs and diuretics.

A recently published review in the Canadian Medical Association Journal that found an increasing number of prescription drugs could have potentially dangerous interactions with grapefruit and grapefruit juice highlights the importance of consumers being aware of possible food and drug interactions.

It's been known for some time that grapefruit juice can "both increase or decrease the absorption of a small number of drugs," says Hartmut Derendorf, chairman of pharmaceutics at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. Derendorf was not involved in the Canadian review.

"If the drug is metabolized in the gut wall to a large extent and this metabolism is blocked, then the concentrations in the blood will go up. An example is the lipid-lowering drug simvastatin (Zocor)," says Derendorf. "For other drugs such as the antihistamine fexofenadine (Allegra), grapefruit juice blocks the uptake into the bloodstream and the concentrations in blood will go down."

In all such cases there are alternative medications available that will not interact with grapefruit and the other citrus fruits that contain furanocoumarins, the culprit behind the "grapefruit juice effect," Derendorf says. These include Seville oranges (often used in marmalade), limes and tangelos, a cross between tangerines and grapefruit. Sweet oranges, such as navel and Valencia, do not contain furanocoumarins.

There's more attention than ever before being paid to reducing interactions between food and drugs, Derendorf says, and researchers are focused on finding safe alternatives, removing the chemical compounds that cause interactions, and in some cases, changing the genetic makeup of foods so that they do not interfere with medications.

In December, a team at the University of Florida's Citrus Research and Education Center published a paper about ongoing efforts to create a grapefruit hybrid with significantly reduced interaction risk.

Concerns about the interactions between foods and drugs are not limited to prescription medications. Dietary supplements (which also include vitamins, minerals and herbs) can likewise interfere with how some medications work.

"Often, people think that herbal supplements are benign and don't have interactions, and that's absolutely false," says Christine Gerbstadt, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "Most supplements have the exact same chemicals and ingredients as pharmaceutical drugs but simply in a naturally occurring form or lower dose," she says.

Drugs, of course, can have negative interactions with other drugs, and the same can be true of supplements. Calcium supplements, for example, may decrease the absorption of dietary iron, which is why people at high risk for iron deficiency are encouraged to take calcium supplements at bedtime, instead of with meals.

When being prescribed any medication it's important to inform your physician of all medications you're currently taking — prescription, over-the-counter and dietary supplements — to read the patient information material that comes with the medication and to ask about potential interactions, Gerbstadt says.

"Your pharmacist and registered dietitian can also provide a wealth of information," she says. "No one person can know it all, but huge databases are available to help professionals get access to this information."

A sampling of the potential interactions between foods and medications, including some supplements, according to the Food and Drug Administration:

-- Grapefruit juice: Some statin drugs to lower cholesterol, such as simvastatin (Zocor), atorvastatin (Lipitor), and pravastatin (Pravachol); some blood pressure-lowering drugs, such as Nifediac and Afeditab ; some organ transplant rejection drugs, such as Sandimmune and Neoral (both cyclosporine); some anti-anxiety drugs, such as BuSpar (buspirone); some anti-arrhythmia drugs, such as Cordarone and Nexterone (both amiodarone); some antihistamines, such as Allegra (fexofenadine); the anti-malaria drugs Quinerva or Quinite (quinine); and Halcion (triazolam), a medication used to treat insomnia.

-- Licorice: The sweetening compound glycyrrhizin in black licorice may reduce the effects of some blood pressure drugs or urine-producing drugs including Hydrodiuril (hydrochlorothiazide) and Aldactone (spironolactone). It may increase the toxicity risks from Lanoxin (digoxin), used to treat congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms.

-- Chocolate: Antidepressant Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (such as phenelzine (Nardil, Nardelzine) and tranylcypromine (Parnate) are just one category of drugs that shouldn't be consumed with excessive amounts of chocolate and other caffeinated foods. Caffeine can also interact with stimulant drugs such as Ritalin (methylphenidate), increasing their effect, or by decreasing the effect of sedative-hypnotics such as Ambien (zolpidem). Using bronchodilators with caffeinated foods and drinks can increase the chance of side effects, such as excitability, nervousness, and rapid heart beat.

-- Potassium-rich foods (such as bananas, oranges, and green leafy vegetables): Can add to high potassium levels in the body caused by ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitors including captopril (Capoten) and enalapril (Vasotec) prescribed to lower blood pressure or treat heart failure. Too much potassium can cause an irregular heartbeat and heart palpitations.

-- St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum): Can reduce concentrations of medications in the blood, including digoxin (Lanoxin), used to treat congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms; the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin (Mevacor and Altocor), and the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil (Viagra).

-- Vitamin E: Taken with a blood-thinning medication such as warfarin (Coumadin) can increase anti-clotting activity and may cause an increased risk of bleeding.

-- Ginseng: May increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulants (blood thinners such as warfarin and heparin). Can also increase the bleeding effects of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. Combined with MAO inhibitors such as Nardil or Parnate may cause headache, trouble sleeping, nervousness and hyperactivity.

-- Ginkgo biloba: High doses can decrease the effectiveness of anticonvulsant therapy in patients taking seizure-control medicines Tegretol, Equetro or Carbatrol (carbamazepine), and Depakote (valproic acid).

For more information:

-- Download Avoid Food-Drug Interactions, an online guide by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Consumers League

-- Download What You Should Know About Your Medications, an online guide by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

-- View the list of medications that might interact with grapefruit cited in the Canadian Medical Association Journal article

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/20/food-drug-interactions/1827229/

Other articles of interest:

http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2012/10/grapefruit-interferes-with-medication.html

http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2012/11/grapefruit-with-some-prescription-drugs.html

http://healthticket.blogspot.my/2014/08/grapefruit-not-only-food-that-can.html

Five Natural Alternatives to Antidepressants

February 21, 2014 

Doctors write about 200 million prescriptions for antidepressants every year.1 They’re the most prescribed drugs in the U.S.

But seventy-five percent of people who take them still suffer from at least five different depressive symptoms. Suicidal thoughts are one of them. No thanks.

You can fight depression naturally and get better results. Here are five natural supplements to boost your mood.

1. St John’s Wort: The ancient Greeks were the first to use this herb as a medicine. That was over 2,000 years ago. And they were on to something. St. John’s wort is just as powerful as some SSRIs.

It’s 20 percent more effective than paroxetine, a popular SSRI. About 70 percent of the people who take it improve their depression symptoms.2

2. Folate: Also known as B9, you’ll find it in foods like beef liver, broccoli, asparagus, and avocado. The problem is that you may not be getting enough from your diet alone.

People with depression have lower levels of folic acid in their blood. Taking a supplement brings these levels up. This significantly lowers depression, especially in women. Not having enough also makes you less likely to respond to antidepressants that you may already be taking. 3

3. 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP): You might know that it’s a great way to relieve a headache. It helps you produce more serotonin and endorphins. This is also what makes 5-HTP so effective at fighting depression.

Antidepressants in the Prozac family don’t work any better than 5-HTP. But, of course, 5-HTP doesn’t come with the side effects of those meds.4

4. Probiotics: The probiotic bacteria in your body do more than kill harmful invaders. Your gut bacteria make 95 percent of your body’s serotonin.5 That’s why your gut is called your second brain.

Some researchers go so far as to call some of these bacteria “psychobiotics.”6 They produce serotonin. Probiotics also lower the amount inflammatory cytokines in your blood. Those are toxins that can cross the blood-brain barrier and make your depression worse.7

5. S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe): You might not have heard of this amino acid derivative. But it is in every cell in your body. Italian researchers first discovered it in the 1950s. Not having enough may throw a wrench in your neurotransmitter function.8

When you use it to treat depression, SAMe is just as effective as a prescription antidepressant. The key difference is that people taking it tolerate it much better. It has fewer side effects.9 If you have a deficiency in folate, you most likely are also low on SAMe.10

Sometimes it takes more than a positive outlook to get out of a slump. But antidepressants shouldn’t be your first course of action. They’re too risky. Instead, try out these five natural solutions for fighting depression.

References:

1 http://www.ibisworld.com/industry/antidepressant-manufacturing.html
2 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2234633/
3 http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/
4 http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=21399
5 http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/09/gut-feeling.aspx
6 http://www.elsevier.com/about/press-releases/research-and-journals/are-probiotics-a-promising-treatment-strategy-for-depression
7 http://chriskresser.com/5-uncommon-uses-for-probiotics
8 http://www.originaldrugs.com/blog/general/antidepressant-alternatives/
9 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12418499
10 http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=21460


http://institutefornaturalhealing.com/2014/02/five-natural-alternatives-to-antidepressants

Ten Medicinal Herbs to Boost Your Immunity

By Wendy Warner and Kellyann Petrucci from Boosting Your Immunity For Dummies

 

Medicinal herbs really are nature’s gift. They work wonders at alleviating and preventing many ailments, and herbs are an effective, inexpensive, and convenient way to manage your health.

Herbs can help many conditions. If you suspect vitamin or mineral deficiencies, lack proper rest, are under chronic stress, or get numerous colds or infections, you probably have a lowered immune system and medicinal herbs may help.

If you’re considering herbs to boost your immune system, discuss your particular needs with a health practitioner who understands your individual situation. Some herbs for the immune system may enhance or interact with the action of synthetic medications and should be monitored by an herbalist or a doctor who understands how herbs interact with other treatments.
 

Enlarge 1 Tap the healing powers of aloe vera. You can either keep an aloe plant at home or purchase aloe vera from a natural health store. You can use aloe vera topically or take it orally. If you’ve never eaten aloe before, start slowly. Any aloe vera plant you consume needs to go through quality assurance standards. Having certification by the International Aloe Science Council and purchasing your aloe from a natural products retailer or health food store increase your probability of a healthier plant. However you include aloe in your healing arsenal, just include it! It’s the wonder gel of herbal superfoods and deserves all the accolades it receives.	Enlarge 2 Astragalus works by stimulating the immune system. Chinese medicine has many little herbal gems. One of them is astragalus, an herb that’s been used for centuries in China. This plant is harvested for its roots and has many healing properties. You can buy the loose leaves and simmer slices in teas or soups. You can also get it in capsules, extracts, and powders. Astragalus can amp up the immune system and even help you beat the flu or stop a cold in its tracks.	Enlarge 3 Cat’s-claw contains chemicals that stimulate the immune system, helping you fight viruses. This medicinal herb helps lower blood pressure and acts as a diuretic, helping the body lose excess water. Studies show that cat’s-claw may even kill tumor cells. Cat’s-claw is particularly useful against the aches and pains of arthritis. The anti-inflammatory nature of this medicinal herb may provide relief from both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Enlarge 4 Use echinacea to treat or prevent colds, flu, or other infections. This herb has been used in many households for quite some time at the first sign of sniffles and colds. Even gargling with it for sore throats is effective. Some evidence suggests that echinacea may be used to treat or prevent upper respiratory infections. Some people even use echinacea for success in treating skin conditions, such as skin wounds, burns, eczema, psoriasis, UV radiation, herpes simplex, bee stings, and abscesses.	Enlarge 5 Elderberry plus some zinc is like the dream team for colds and flu. This herb works amazingly to enhance the immune system and also reduce inflammation, lower fever, and sooth the respiratory tract, and it has powerful antioxidant power to boot. Elderberry prevents the flu virus from attaching to the cell, so it shortens the duration and lessens the severity of the flu. One of the biggest bonuses of elderberry is its fantastic taste, making a sweet elderberry syrup or tincture.	Enlarge 6 Ginseng is used as a tonic to combat weakness and fuel your body with extra energy. Although ginseng’s superpower lies in its ability to give you energy, it has a host of other attributes, including healing bronchial disorders, improves fatigue symptoms, and helps with inflammatory diseases, like arthritis.
Enlarge 7 The healing virtues of hyssop are due to its oil, which has a stimulating affect that promotes expectoration. Hyssop is cultivated for its flower tops, which are often steeped in water to make an infusion for use as an expectorant to thin and loosen mucus. Hyssop also helps with asthma, arthritis, and wound healing. It comes in tablet, capsule, tea, dried herb, or tincture forms. The most favored way to take hyssop is in warm water, such as in a tea, because it provides more of a catalyst to loosen mucus.	Enlarge 8 Scientists have identified many healing substances in licorice root. The herb’s key compound is called glycyrrhizin (which is super sweet — about 50 times sweeter than sugar, in fact). Licorice root can prevent the occurrence of and heal ulcers, cleanse the colon, relieve heartburn and indigestion, lower cholesterol, enhance immunity, and many other things.	Enlarge 9 Nettle, also called stinging nettle, may be your answer if you have hay fever or other allergies. Nettle is a great natural alternative to antihistamines — which don’t actually change the allergic process but just block its expression. Steroid nasal inhalers used for treatment of hay fever and other seasonal allergies can be effective, but some of the steroids are bound to get into the rest of the body, and these hormones weaken the immune system.
Enlarge 10 St John’s wort acts as a natural antidepressant. In some countries, St John’s wort is commonly prescribed for mild depression, especially in children and adolescents. Studies show that this herb is superior to placebo in patients with major depression and is as effective as standard antidepressants. Another huge benefit is that St John’s wort has fewer side effects than standard antidepressants. There have also been benefits in using St John’s wort as a pain reliever for nerve pain.

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/ten-medicinal-herbs-to-boost-your-immunity.pageCd-storyboard,pageNum-11.html#slideshow

Five powerful herbal tinctures to boost your immune system

Monday, December 17, 2012 by: Jonathan Benson, staff writer



(NaturalNews) The beauty of the natural world extends far beyond just the aesthetic characteristics that make plants and shrubs visually appealing. Some of the most powerful healing and immune-boosting agents in existence can actually be found growing unassumingly in fields, forests, and jungles around the world -- and many of them have yet to be fully realized for their therapeutic potential. Still, there are plenty of herbs we do already know about that have demonstrable, scientifically-proven health benefits you can begin taking advantage of today.

Here are five such herbal tinctures you and your family can take for their powerful immune-boosting properties:

1) Astragalus. ( Huang Qi ) 黃耆  A powerful tonic long used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), also known as milk-vetch and locoweed, is one of the most potent and restorative food plants you can consume to improve your immunity and "strengthen the exterior," as the ancient Chinese would say. Said to tonify the spleen, blood, and "chi," astragalus herbs help boost energy levels; restore damaged immunity; regenerate tissue; inhibit the growth and spread of cancer; and strengthen the heart, liver, and lungs, among other functions. (http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/astragalus-000223.htm)

"Astragalus is a powerful 'non-specific' immune system stimulant," says the website Blessed Maine Herbs. "Instead of activating our defense system against a specific disease organism, astragalus nourishes immunity by increasing the numbers and activity of roving white blood cells, the macrophages. As an immunostimulant, astragalus engages and activates every phase of our immune system into heightened activity."

2) St. John's Wort. Commonly used as a treatment for mild depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, and pain, St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is another immune-boosting herb that contains an array of antioxidants, flavonoids, essential oils and other compounds that work synergistically to reduce inflammation and promote healing and wellness. Because of its strong antiviral and antibacterial properties, St. John's Wort is an effective "bug" cleanser that eases the overall burden on the immune system.

Interestingly, researchers have learned that St. John's Wort both increases and decreases immunity depending on the function, which is why it is also considered to be an adaptogen, or tonic, just like astragalus. When fighting harmful pathogens or viruses, St. John's Wort boosts immune capacity in order to wards off disease. But when it comes to wounds and other injuries that typically elicit an inflammatory response, St. John's Wort minimizes this response as much as possible to protect the body against further damage. (http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2005/10/18/st-johns-wort/)

3) Sage. You might not think of it as much more than a common cooking spice, but sage (Salvia officinalis) contains a unique combination of disease-fighting compounds that make it a powerful immune protector. According to Blessed Maine Herbs, sage contains an impressive array of antioxidants, trace minerals, essential oils, and other nutrients the help reduce stress, which is a common cause of disease, as well as fight the aging process.

Native American tribes actually used to chew the leaves of sage as a strengthening tonic because the herb is both a broad-spectrum, all-natural antibiotic and a powerful immune stimulant. If you suffer from frequent sore throats, upper respiratory illnesses, or infections, sage is a great option for not only overcoming these conditions, but also building up your own innate immunity so that these conditions do not come back in the future (or at least not as often).

4) Garlic. Garlic (Allium sativum) gets a lot of attention here at Natural News, and this is not an accident, as this powerful herb possesses so many health benefits that it is almost impossible to list them all in one article. But if vibrant immunity is something you are serious about, incorporating garlic into your health arsenal is essential, as it fights harmful bacteria and viruses; targets detrimental parasites and fungi, and boosts immune function.

"Garlic is rich in antibiotic powers and strengthens the immune system," states Blessed Maine Herbs. "Garlic is also active against herpes simplex, influenza B, HIV and many other serious illnesses," adds the site, noting that garlic is also rich in organic sulfur, or methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a necessary nutrient for regenerating cells; maintaining proper organ function; regulating blood sugar; and resisting disease. (http://www.naturalnews.com/026797_sulfur_organic.html)

5) Hyssop. Numerous passages in the Bible's Old Testament refer to hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) as a ceremonial cleansing herb, which is where many people will likely recall hearing about the plant, if they have even heard of it at all. But this ritualized use is not an accident, as hyssop really does contain a variety of healing agents such as caffeic acid, camphor-like constituents, essential oils, and other compounds that strengthen immunity and protect the body against foreign invaders.

Patients with AIDS symptoms, for instance, have experienced incredible success and recovery as a result of taking hyssop, as the herb cleanses the blood. Hyssop also rids infected cells of other common viral diseases such as herpes and influenza, as well as treats colds, coughs, congestion, asthma, and sore throats, among other conditions.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.blessedmaineherbs.com/herforhealim.html

Source: Five powerful herbal tinctures to boost your immune system