[The benefits of essential oils
for good health.]
QUESTION: What is E.P.A. and how is it
good for my health?
ANSWER: Supplemental E.P.A.has anti-inflammatory,
anti-thrombotic and immunomodulatory activities. It also lowers
triglycerides. Supplements using E.P.A., which is a major component
of fish oil, may enhance anti-inflammatory actions in the
body. It is also an immunomodulator of significance. It is easily
obtained by including fresh fish in your diet. By this I mean fish
that are not farm-raised but have an opportunity to ingest plankton,
such as deep run salmon. Studies also show that E.P.A.-rich fish
oil dampens the damaging effects of circulatory problems of neurophilic
activity (WBC or white blood cell) and chronic inflammatory processes.
It should be noted that E.P.A. lowers triglycerides and helps people
with cystic fibrosis reduce the severity of disease. It is vital
in treating Type II Diabetes and it reduces the progression of diabetic
neuropathy. E.P.A. is extremely beneficial for maintaining cell
membrane integrity, and displaces trans fatty acids that often accumulate
in the cell membrane and allows for better cellular elasticity.
QUESTION: What is Evening Primrose
Oil?
ANSWER: Evening Primrose Oil or (EPO)
is derived from the seeds of the evening primrose plant. It is native
to North America and is often regarded as a weed. EPO has anti-inflammatory
and anti-thrombotic effects. The mechanism of EPO is that it affects
the pathways of inflammation, dampening effects of all the inflammants
that the body produces, particularly along the prostaglandin family.
EPO appears to be effective in some cases of rheumatoid arthritis
and may be indicated in other inflammatory disorders. It is also
good in treating ulcerative colitis, as well as diabetic neuropathy
and acute respiratory distress syndrome. In addition, it has reduced
and helped the handling of some cancers, including cancers of the
brain called cerebral gliomas. It is good for dermatitis and also
helps with itching. It is very, very effective and there are very
few contraindications known. Some adverse reactions could be nausea,
flatulence or bloating, but that is pretty rare. It is most effective
taken with meals.
QUESTION: How is fish oil best used?
ANSWER: Fish oils are also known as marine oils or lipids
and they are found in fish, particularly cold-water fish that are
deep running and feed on phytoplankton. The action of fish oil is
as follows. Supplemental fish oils have triglyceride-lowering activities.
They also have anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, and immunomodulatory
actions. EPA and DHA lower triglyceride levels, and they also have
anti-arrhythmic properties for people with heart arrhythmias. They
are “king of the hill” for handling fibrinogen problems
and they prevent platelets from sticking to each other. In addition,
they affect lipid formation in the body and stimulate fatty oxidation
on the liver so that you can lower triglycerides. There is a tremendous
anti-inflammatory action of EPA and DHA, which helps the modulation
of pain in the body. Fish oils are great for cardiac arrhythmias
and they are also used in chemopreventative techniques and chemoprevention
for cancer and tumor shrinking ability.
Fish oils are readily available in any health food store. The best
way to get fish oil, though, is eating cold-water, deep-
running fish that are not farm-raised. Fish oils also have been
proven effective in reducing death in people who have had previous
myocardial infarctions; there has been indication in significant
trials that fish oils reduce sudden cardiac death. In addition,
people who have had angioplasty had successful indications of lowering
the need for additional angioplasties by 13.9%. This is because
fish oil prevents re-stenosis when given in doses of 4-5 grams a
day of mixed EPA and DHA following angioplasty. A daily ingestion
of 3 grams of EPA and DHA can reduce tender joints, morning stiffness
and rheumatoid arthritis. Taking 2.7 grams of fish oil containing
EPA and DHA has shown great results for helping Crohn’s disease;
subjects taking fish oil supplements have significant reduced relapse
rates. Fish oil is used to treat ulcerative colitis, at 3-4 grams
of EPA and DHA daily, and in the largest and longest study to date,
daily supplementation of fish oil shows protection against progressive
renal disease. It should also be noted that it does help eyesight
and retinal neuropathy.
The precautions for fish oils should be noted
if you are already on anti-coagulants such as Coumadin or warfarin.
One should consult a physician before starting fish oil supplements.
It should be noted that, as well as fish oil supplementation and
aspirin supplementation and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs, garlic or gingko can cause prolonged prothrombin times and/or
bleeding disorders. In addition, it is recommended that fish oil
products help the body reduce the oxidative load in general.
QUESTION: What is flax seed oil good for?
ANSWER: Flax seed oil also known as Linseed Oil. It is rich
in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is present in flax seed oil
in the form of triglycerides. Typically we have heard that the Mediterranean
diet is high in ALAs and appears to lower the risk of coronary heart
disease and certain types of cancer. Flax seed oil may have anti-inflammatant
and anti-thrombotic effects as well as antiproliferative activities
for cancer. Flax seed oil may be indicated in hyperlipidemia to
reduce platelet aggregation and lower lipids in general. Reduced
atherosclerotic plaques and antiplatelet activity can prolong bleeding
time but it is really significant and often flax seed oil can represent
a viable alternative to daily aspirin regimen. It should be noted
that the oil can reduce platelet aggregation as well as lower cholesterol.
Lignins have been shown to block some of the cancer inducing effects
of the endogenous estrogens. Human trials are clinically underway.
The bioavailability of omega-3 fatty acid
in rich product should lead to improvements in food supply. Studies
suggest that omega-3 rich eggs lower cholesterol levels, platelet
aggregations and blood pressure. The poultry industry has seized
upon this by feeding their hens flax seed in order to increase the
beneficial fatty omega-3 acids. The only contraindication that I
see with flax seed oil intake is that women who are pregnant should
not use supplemental flax seed because of the theoretical possibility
that these lignin-containing substances might induce menstruation
and/or prolonged bleeding time. Also, hemophiliacs and people taking
warfarin should probably stay away from it. All these supplements
such as flax seed oil and the fish oils mentioned prior to this
should be utilized with extreme care upon blood thinners and anti-inflammatants.
A decision will have to be made to do one or the other.
QUESTION: What are the benefits of vitamin
E?
ANSWER: Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential
for human nutrition. Deficiency states of vitamin E exist in humans
and the risk of certain degenerative disorders such as coronary
heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer can occur by not taking
enough vitamin E. Fat malabsorption syndromes can affect vitamin
E involvement and absorption. These disorders include hepatic or
biliary disease, as well as problems of pancreatitis or short bowel
syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and other problems dealing with
the uptake of fats in the intestinal system. Vitamin E deficiency
can lead to many different problems, such as ataxia, or the inability
to have coordinated muscle movement, as well as skeletal muscle
disease and retinopathy of the eye.
Vitamin E is present in the human plasma and the most effective
vitamin E is alpha-tocopherol, also the most costly. However, I
do recommend a mixed tocopherol as a good supplementation. Vitamin
E is found in plants and animals and some blue-green algae and all
of the unrefined edible vegetable oils, including wheat germ, safflower,
sunflower, cottonseed, canola, and olive oils, are 50% in tocopherol
content in the form of alpha-tocopherols. These substances are very
important and they are utilized by the body very well. They maintain
membrane elasticity and allow significant antioxidant activity.
Vitamin E’s antioxidant activity is very important in anti-thrombotic
activity as well as the other mentioned supplements before anticoagulants.
It is neuroprotective, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory and
it also stabilizes against viral actions.
Vitamin E has been found to decrease plasma production of thrombin
and has a special role in the balancing mechanism of the body and
lowest portion of the cerebellum, controlling respiratory, heartbeat,
and normal autonomic nervous system function. Vitamin E is widely
recognized for treating asthma and rheumatoid arthritis and protecting
against air pollution. It is also good in the treatment and prevention
of Alzheimer’s disease and particularly useful in preventing
cataracts. Vitamin E may help to reduce some muscle cramps as well.
My recommended dosage is 400 international units of mixed tocopherols
and 200 units of alpha-tocopherol per day.
There is a significant benefit for vitamin
E in neurological recovery of spinal cord compression injuries.
It helps the spinal cord bring about protective changes present
to help the individual heal in a quicker fashion. It also protects
against UV light to skin changes and can reduce instances of skin
cancer. However, it should be noted that, because of the possibility
of prolonged bleeding time, high doses of vitamin E supplementation
should be stopped about one month before any surgical procedures
and may resume following a recovery from those procedures. Supplemental
vitamin E must be used with care and caution for pregnancy and,
as always, consult your family physician and/or chiropractic physician
in the utilization and proper administration of supplementation.
George A. Forster, DC, AP, NMD is a lecturer
for Life Chiropractic College and past president of the American
Chiropractic Thermographic Society. Dr. Forster can be contacted
at the Zephyrhills Chiropractic and Acupuncture Clinic. (813)
782-9564.
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