Medical Med

Springtime is rapidly approaching and with it comes seasonal allergies. I know that many of you probably dread the mere mention of those words. The good news is that there’s a new product coming to the market that just may help to naturally manage those nagging symptoms.

In the second part of today’s blog, I’m going to highlight some scientific information on a common fruit that may have broader applications than you might imagine. As usual, the health effects are also accompanied by probable health benefits instead of side effects.

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot

Capsaicin is a naturally occurring chemical found in peppers that provides the distinctive hot taste and sensation we’re all familiar with. In folk medicine and modern naturopathy, capsaicin is being used in applications ranging from headache relief to arthritic pain management and even to help support weight loss.

Some brand new research adds to the mythology surrounding this culinary jewel. A study was just presented at the Western Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology that found that a natural, capsaicin-based nasal spray could effectively relieve the symptoms of nasal allergies.

The head researchers of the experiment tested two different capsaicin products. They both contained the same active ingredients, but utilized a “mucoadhesive” technology. This technology allows for the medication to remain in the nose longer and, therefore, requires fewer applications.

24 hay fever sufferers were enrolled in the study. Prior to and throughout the study period they were asked to record the severity of their allergy symptoms. The participants were also instructed to apply one spray of the capsaicin product in each nostril up to 12 times a day. This approach was followed for a 1 week period, after which a two week break was instituted. After the break, the other capsaicin product was tested in the same manner. Several key observations were noted:

• On average, the patients used the sprays between 2-3 times per day.
• The participants reported fewer nasal symptoms, such as itchy, runny and stuffy noses. The frequency of sneezing was also reduced.
• The positive results were in comparison to the pre-treatment reports and the symptom reporting during the break.
• The capsaicin product with the “mucoadhesive” exhibited better results for nighttime symptom management, allowing for better sleep.
• 36% of those using the “mucoadhesive” formulation also noted less of a “burning sensation” in the nose (as compared to the other formulation).

The lead researcher of the study, Dr. Martha White, summarized the study in this way, “Unlike the prescription nasal steroid sprays, this is an all-natural product that has now been demonstrated to provide clinical benefit and is available without a prescription.”

Cherries Jubilee

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” I don’t know if Hippocrates was specifically thinking of cherries when he spoke those often quoted words. But if that was his inspiration, who could blame him?

A group of scientists recently collaborated on a research study involving a variety of different cherries – Balaton, Glacier, Gold, Kordia, Montmorency, Rainier, Regina and Skeena. The reason they were interested enough to do so is because of the many health benefits now attributed to this super fruit.

In particular, the researchers of this study wanted to quantify the amount of antioxidants in the various types of cherries. They also wanted to determine which cherries would provide the greatest COX inhibiting effect. Many over-the-counter and prescription painkillers are synthetic forms of COX inhibitors. They also carry a long list of potential side effects. Some of these medications have even been pulled from the market due to safety concerns. This makes finding a safe and natural alternative all the more pressing.

Here are some of the highlights of the current research on cherries:

• Red sweet cherries (Kordia/Attika, Regina, Skeena) contained the largest amount of a powerful antioxidant called “cyandin-3-O-rutinside”. This type of antioxidant is associated with countering the typical signs of aging. The authors also note possible health perks spanning from anti-cancer effects to anti-diabetic properties, and even extending to an anti-obesity benefit.
• Extracts of Glacier, Kordia, Rainier, Regina and Skeena sweet cherries helped to protect against “lipid peroxidation”. Excess lipid peroxidation can cause cell damage within the body. Cancer and heart disease are two leading conditions that are affected by this harmful process.
• In a test to determine the level of COX inhibition, all the red sweet cherries extracts demonstrated an astounding 80-95% inhibition. The most effective varieties were the yellow cherries, namely the Gold and Rainier varieties.

These laboratory findings are in line with other research that has found similar benefits in other richly pigmented berries. The COX inhibiting effect also opens the door to the possibility of a safer way to manage a variety of pain-related conditions.

You can of course derive many of the benefits noted above by eating fresh cherries. But if they’re unavailable or if you simply can’t eat cherries due to their sugar content, you might consider supplementing with a sugar-free cherry concentrate. These types of supplements generally are sold in the form of capsules or tablets. Liquid cherry concentrates are also available, but they do contain a fair amount of natural sugar.

I can’t promise you that a pepper spray will help to tame your seasonal nasal battles. I wish I could tell you that a concentrated cherry extract will rid you of all your arthritic pain, while at the same time helping to protect you from cancer and heart disease. But that’s beyond what the evidence allows. At this time, we just have some tantalizing clues about the potential of these natural remedies. If you ask me, that’s a pretty good start.

Be well!

Twenty-year-old Manu is a lonely boy. Third child of the presswala of a middle-class locality of Delhi, he is ostracized by friends and people of the neighbourhood, because he gets epileptic seizures. His mother keeps running to different faith healers to find remedy to his ailment, but to no avail. Manu wasn’t born like that but when he was eight-year-old he fell from the terrace of the first floor and sustained head injuries. Since then he has been getting these fits off and on. .
Dr Manjari Tripathi, associate professor of neurology with AIIMS says,

“Epilepsy is a very common neurological disorder, but it is shrouded in misconceptions and ignorance.” There are stigmas attached to epilepsy which emanate from our ignorance. As a result people affected with epilepsy are subjected to discrimination, separation and are made to feel inferior.
My Health Guardian demystifies top five myths attached to epilepsy—
Myth No. 1 People suffering from epilepsy have devil inhabited in their bodies. This doesn’t mean that they are evil but the devil inside them makes them convulse time to time and faith healers resort to various methods (often painful and cruel) to exorcise the evil.
Fact: In our country the commonest causes of epilepsy are—
• Lack of proper care of the baby during the process of delivery– If proper oxygenation of the brain does not occur of the newborn baby during birth due to absence of life support to the child it can cause seizures in the baby.
• Absence of adequate hygiene–it implies not washing hands and raw food products. This also includes eating poorly cooked meat products which harbours the cysts of tapeworms.
• Head injuries–these are common because of chaotic traffic and people do not wear helmets.

Myth No. 2: Do not marry someone with epilepsy. A survey of public awareness at AIIMS revealed that 82% of parents objected to their children marrying someone with epilepsy.
Fact: Persons with epilepsy can marry and have children just like any other. They can seek guidance about dispelling myths from the doctors.

Myth No. 3: Bystanders who witness a seizure will often spray water on the forehead of the person experiencing the seizure of make him or her smell a leather shoe to stop the seizure.
Fact: None of these measures treats or stops a seizure. Just turn the patient to the side making sure that the person is on an even surface and can’t injure him/ her. If the seizure lasts for more than 5 minutes the person needs urgent medical attention.

Myth No. 4: Many traditional healers can cure epilepsy.
Fact: Most seizures are self limiting and they may recur later. The best way to treat epilepsy is to consult a neurologist/epileptologist.

Myth No. 5: Epilepsy is thought to be contagious and so people do not share food with someone affected with the disease.
Fact: Epilepsy is not contagious. In fact, it is the Least contagious disease.

The best part of having epilepsy is that it is a very treatable disorder and a variety of medicines from the most inexpensive to the costliest are now freely available in our country. Most specialists now know how to manage this disease thanks to the efforts of the Indian epilepsy society and association.