Archive - Health Matters

Health Matters

Some of my thoughts on "Health Matters", especially related to nutrition.What is the same about WATERING YOUR POT PLANTS and taking any meds or supplements? Say you had a set amount of water to give your plant at the same time(s) every day. Some days it would most likely end up with too much or too little water. Plants, like our cells, are living things and depending on the air, the sun and the soil they’re growing in, the temperature and they may need more or less water on any given day. These factors, like our environments, are constantly changing. We can grow healthy plants when we water them based on their needs, and they communicate those needs to us by how much water they suck in or let pool above the soil, by the texture and color of their leaves. It’s a give and take process, depending on the plant, as opposed to a standard “prescription” or dose of a supplement.Now think about how we take meds or even supplements over a longer term.We have to "listen" to our bodies. If our muscles are aching or weak, if our skin is peeling off, if our blood runs out too fast on a minor cut..AND we are taking some meds or supplements.. then first please consider the side effects of the meds/supplemenets. Their dose may be wrong for us, usually too high as meds are NOT a basic NEED, unlike water. Drugs are designed to help but can really only be prescribed in "average" doses. We need to "watch" how they are working on us, just like watering plants.

Milk thistle is one of my favourite feel-good supps I have used over many years. My knees are gimproving although I still have a twinge in my left knee, right kneee now fine.. I haven't taken consistently but maybe I should give it a try

Liver-Supporting Botanical May Also Improve Joint Health

by VRP.com

In a recently published clinical trial, researchers evaluated a popular botanical known for its role in liver health to determine if it also has anti-inflammatory activity in subjects with osteoarthritis of the knee.

In this study, silymarin, a constituent of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) long used to support liver health, was compared to 2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), piroxicam and meloxicam, in 220 patients with painful knee osteoarthritis (OA). Study subjects received one of 5 possible treatments: 300 mg per day of silymarin, 20 mg per day of piroxicam, 15 mg per day of meloxicam, or a combination of silymarin with piroxicam or meloxicam.

At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of treatment, subjects were evaluated for serum levels of cytokines interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-8, and the complement proteins C3 and C4. Interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-8 are cell signaling molecules and pro-inflammatory mediators. Complement proteins C3 and C4 are immune system proteins believed to play a role in some diseases such as arthritis.

The results showed that supplementation with silymarin significantly reduced serum levels of pro-inflammatory interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-8, C3, and C4 after 8 weeks compared to the levels at the beginning of the study. Piroxicam reduced interleukin-8, but did not reduce interleukin-1 alpha. Meloxicam significantly elevated serum levels of interleukin-1 alpha but did not affect interleukin-8. Additionally, the NSAIDs showed a slight increase in serum levels of complement proteins after 8 weeks. However, combining silymarin with piroxicam, but not meloxicam, significantly reduced the cytokines interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-8 and serum levels of complement proteins C3 and C4.

The researchers concluded, "Silymarin reduces the elevated levels of interleukins and complement proteins, when used alone, or in combination with NSAIDs for the treatment of knee OA."

Reference:

Hussain SA, Jassim NA, Numan IT, Al-Khalifa II, Abdullah TA. Anti-inflammatory activity of silymarin in patients with knee osteoarthritis. A comparative study with piroxicam and meloxicam. Saudi Med J. 2009 Jan;30(1):98-103.

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Health Matters

Low dose naltroxene + Alpha lipoic acid

Milk Thistle, Silymarin may help joints, arthritis