NATURAL healing

In the past several years, soy has received significant and seemingly well-deserved scientific and commercial attention. It’s a food that offers many health benefits, including the ability to help prevent osteoporosis, reduce the risk of heart disease in both men and women, prevent and reduce cancer risk, and reduce perimenopausal symptoms. Soybeans also contain antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Increased mainstream interest in soy has prompted the development of soy alternatives to many common foods, including tofu hot dogs, soy cheese, soy milk, soy yogurt, soy bacon, soy sausage links, and soy burgers. The increased consumption of soy health-food products is evidenced by the increase in soy milk sales alone, from $2 million in 1980 to $300 million in 1999.

Soy and protective phytochemicals

The health benefits of soy are primarily attributed to a group of chemical constituents in soybeans known as isoflavones, which in turn belong to a class of chemicals known as phytoestrogens, or plant estrogens. Isoflavones are strikingly similar in structure to the estrogens produced by the body, and they demonstrate a variety of hormonal and nonhormonal actions when ingested. Soybeans are particularly high in these interesting compounds, but phytoestrogens are also found in most legumes and are widely distributed in other foods, especially leafy green vegetables. Most commercial soy foods, made from whole soybeans and isolated or purified soy proteins, contain appreciable and bioactive quantities of isoflavones, with the exception of soy oil and soy lecithin, which do not contain any.

Too many chemicals for kids?

There is general consensus that soy-rich diets can be beneficial to adults, but some members of the scientific community speculate that too many isoflavones in the diet can have deleterious effects, particularly on the developing reproductive systems of fetuses and infants. For more than thirty years, soy formula has been given to babies with little concern for adverse effects. However, recent human studies have confirmed that there is a strong correlation between a diet containing soy products and significant changes in the reproductive system. This has led to new concerns about the regular use of soy formula for infants, and perhaps even soy foods for children.

Several scientific studies demonstrate a strong correlation between soy and hormonal activity. It’s known that premenopausal women given a diet high in soy foods experience a lengthening of the menstrual cycle. This is not necessarily a bad thing; in fact, a longer menstrual cycle of thirty to thirty-two days is associated with significantly decreased rates of cancer in Asian women. However, scientists are uncertain as to the effects of high doses of isoflavones in babies and children and cite that in other mammalian species (such as sheep), there have been clearly demonstrable harmful effects to the reproductive capacity as a result of grazing on large quantities of isoflavone-rich plants.

One study from England, the Avon Study, revealed an increased incidence of hypospadias (an abnormal congenital opening of the male urethra on the underside of the penis) in human infants born to vegetarian mothers. The researchers attributed this to a greater exposure of these babies in utero to higher concentrations of phytoestrogens. Studies have confirmed that phytoestrogens from soy can be found in the amniotic fluid after mothers have consumed isoflavone-rich foods, thus passing transplacentally from mother to fetus. Infants taking soy-based formulas are receiving isoflavone quantities five to ten times greater than the amount required to induce changes in the human menstrual cycle. In older children, isoflavones are present in large quantities in the majority of soy foods that they consume. Most studies, however, indicate that the use of soy formula in infants has not led to hormonal changes in children, all the way through puberty.

Soy and food allergies

Another concern over soy foods for kids is that soy is one of the most common food allergens. Food allergies play a primary role in the development of such chronic health problems as atopic dermatitis and asthma, as well as inflammatory bowel disorders. Indeed, soy products can be hard to digest at any age, unless they are fermented prior to eating or are eaten in small quantities as a part of a varied diet. Nutrition researchers internationally are now widely suggesting that whenever possible, breast milk and dairy-based infant formulas are preferable to soy-based formulas. Most soy allergies are outgrown, but effects of food allergies in early life can lead to long-term patterns of eczema, asthma, and bowel troubles.

Soy a nutritional supplement, not substitute

Many parents recognize that dairy is not always healthy for children and that it, too, can contribute to the development of food allergies. Some parents have put their babies and toddlers on health-food beverage alternatives, often soy milk. This practice can lead to mild subclinical deficiencies or severe nutritional deficiencies and failure to thrive, which I have seen in my own practice and which also led to two cases reported in the medical literature of babies hospitalized for severe nutritional disorders. Members of the medical community suspect that this problem is widely underreported. Soy milk and other nondairy beverages are not alternatives to proper infant formula and should never be used as substitutes for these.

Soy milk does not meet the nutritional requirements for many nutrients for older children, either. For example, one study reveals that most commercial soy milks that are fortified with calcium actually provide only 50 percent of the amount claimed on the package because the form of calcium typically used is not highly absorbable. This could easily be rectified with increased calcium added to the diet in the form of other calcium-rich foods or a calcium supplement. Soy milk and alternative beverages, however, cannot be relied upon to provide adequate dietary calcium.

Many children are accustomed to having sweet drinks, particularly fruit juice, throughout the day, a practice that frequently leads to undernutrition due to curbed appetite. Many parents mistakenly assume that soy milk is a healthy alternative to cow’s milk and juice. Although it can be a healthful beverage on an occasional basis, as a daily beverage it may pose many of the same nutritional problems as other sweet drinks—it also reduces the appetite and may prevent children from eating adequate quantities of other foods. Furthermore, regular consumption of sweet beverages by children can lead to decreased immunity and a greater susceptibility to colds and upper- respiratory infections—especially ear infections, leading to some of the same problems as regular consumption of cow’s milk. Soy milk is best used as an occasional beverage, in cereal, and as part of a meal.

Soy and low thyroid

There has also been concern raised in the medical literature that regular consumption of soy foods might inhibit thyroid function, leading to hypothyroidism. Soy-based infant formula has been shown to reduce thyroxine levels in infants with congenital hypothyroidism, requiring supplementation with thyroxine while the infants are consuming soy infant formula. However, the goitrogenic qualities of soy foods may depend most on the overall diet rather than the actual inclusion of soy in the diet. In fact, cruciferous vegetables (including cabbage, kale, broccoli, and collards) are much higher in goitrogens than soy. Although the medical literature does not support the need to avoid the moderate use of soy foods in healthy children or adults, concern about soy and thyroid disease has not been entirely laid to rest.

Sensible soy solutions

So what are parents to do? Should soy foods be eliminated from the diet? Are they safe for children to consume regularly?

There’s a lot that’s unknown about soy foods in children’s diets. At this point, scientists have more questions about it than answers. But we can look to common sense and traditional usage to guide our use. The benefits of including soy in the diet, including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, are evident and appear to be greatest when soy is consumed from early childhood, as is typical in traditional Asian diets. It seems clear that there is great benefit in including soy in the diet from early childhood, but in sensible ways, and as part of an overall healthy diet. Soy is much more than phytoestrogens and other chemicals—it’s a traditional food with a long history of use and can provide many lifelong protective health benefits to us and to our children. Here are some guidelines for the safe consumption of soy foods.

• High levels of soy consumption during pregnancy might expose babies to excessive estrogen levels at a fragile time, and therefore it may be prudent for pregnant women, especially pregnant vegetarians, to rely on a wide variety of sources of protein and consume soy products only in moderation. Avoid high-isoflavone products such as soy supplement powders, and primarily rely on traditional sources of soy such as tofu, tempeh, and miso.

• After birth, breastfeeding is best whenever possible. While isoflavones are present in large quantities in infant soy formula, none have been found in cow’s milk. The isoflavone content of breast milk, regardless of whether the mothers consumed large quantities of soy products, is negligible and insignificant compared to the amounts in soy formula. If you are unable to breastfeed, use soy formula as an alternative to dairy formula only if your baby cannot tolerate dairy. Check with your doctor or midwife about fortified goat’s milk as an alternative to other infant supplements. Never use soy milk as a substitute for proper infant formula or breast milk. Consider waiting until after children are toddlers to introduce soy milk into the diet to prevent food allergies and nutritional deficiencies.

• Most commercial soy products are not traditional foods and are highly processed to achieve their consistency, taste, and appearance. Use soy foods as dietary staples only in their traditional forms—tofu, tempeh, miso, and tamari. Traditionally, soy foods are marinated and well-cooked before being consumed. Soy milk is found in some traditional Asian fare but is not consumed regularly—certainly not on a daily basis. Fermented soy foods are easier to digest, provide the healthy, protective isoflavones needed for beneficial effects, and are lower in phytates, substances found in many grains and legumes that, when consumed in excessive amounts, can interfere with the absorption of minerals. It is not necessary, however, to completely avoid phytates. Some phytic acid in the diet helps chelate heavy metals and thus prevents their accumulation in the body.

The reference list for this article is extensive. If you would like a copy, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to “Soy and kids,” Herbs for Health, 243 E. Fourth St., Loveland, Colorado 80537, or e-mail us at HerbsForHealth@HCPress.com.

NUTRITION

Get your healthy fats the easy way

Ann Louise Gittleman, N.D. M.S., C.N.S.

Do you take a multivitamin every day? If so, you might be surprised to learn that it may not be enough for optimum health. Mounting research suggests that getting the right amount of essential fatty acids is as important as getting your daily vitamins. To help meet daily needs for essential fats, I now recommend a “multi-EFA” to all of my clients as part of their regular supplementation program.

EFAs are necessary to support a variety of cellular processes. They maintain the integrity of cell walls and membranes, generate energy, produce hormones, and help with normal brain, nerve, and eye function. They also aid in combating numerous health concerns such as elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, mental disorders, diabetic neuropathy, menstrual and menopausal discomforts, eczema, psoriasis, and even cancer.

Interestingly, researcher Hugh Sinclair observed the vital connection between fats and disease almost fifty years ago. His remarks, published in the medical journal Lancet, cited an imbalance in fat metabolism as the underlying cause behind a number of diseases occurring worldwide. According to Sinclair, the modern diet—loaded with processed foods and hydrogenated fats and practically void of EFAs—was the primary culprit.

In addition to the health challenges produced by diets high in saturated and trans fats, we have also been experiencing the disastrous results of the no-to-low-fat diet trend of recent years. What the advocates of the no-fat diet didn’t tell us was that omitting the essential fats would set the stage for hair and skin conditions such as dandruff, psoriasis, dryness, hair thinning, and eczema. No-fat diets can also aggravate joint problems, inflammation, and PMS, as well as depression and other mental-health disorders.

The fabulous four

A healthy balance of EFAs is critical to health. In fact, each EFA plays a distinct and valuable role in the optimal functioning of the entire body. Just as you need the right combination of vitamins and minerals, your body also needs the right balance of EFAs for proper metabolic functions. The EFAs include alpha linolenic acid (ALA), gamma linolenic acid (GLA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

ALA

Alpha linolenic acid, predominantly found in flaxseeds, has shown great promise in helping the body with cancer prevention, improving male fertility, protecting against heart disease, and in improving immune function. ALA can also be converted by the body to other essential fatty acids (EPA and DHA) that are well-known for their positive effect on brain function, cardiac arrhythmia, and high blood triglycerides.

GLA

Gamma linolenic acid is recognized for its success in a variety of areas. It’s a PMS soother, arthritis alleviator, and beautifier. GLA is effective especially for cramping, irritability, headaches, and sunburn because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Although GLA can be synthesized from the raw material linoleic acid, found in vegetable oils, there are numerous dietary and lifestyle factors that disrupt this conversion. For example, consumption of sugar, alcohol, trans fats, and lack of minerals and vitamins can prevent the GLA transformation. The richest food source of GLA is borage seed oil.

EPA and DHA

Research with the omega-3s EPA and DHA has shown great promise in a variety of areas, including hypertension, high blood triglycerides, irregular heartbeat, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and infant brain development. Both EPA and DHA are deficient in individuals suffering from aggression, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In January 2001, a landmark study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study examined the diets of 80,000 female nurses over the course of fourteen years and found that the risk of stroke due to blood clotting can be reduced by almost 50 percent by eating fish two to four times a week. The authors believe that the benefits were gained through the omega-3 content of the fish.

The “multi-EFA”

While there are food choices that can help you get the balance of EFAs you need every day, this may be difficult if you have a hectic lifestyle. And there are those of us who are simply not flax or fish lovers, so getting all of your EFAs from food may not be as easy as it sounds. The easiest way to boost your daily intake of healthy fats is to look for a multi-EFA combination, which typically contains a blend of borage, fish, and flaxseed oils supplying a balance of EFAs. For a maintenance dosage, try 2 to 4 capsules daily. For those with specific conditions, higher dosages of individual EFAs can be taken as therapeutic supplements. The bottom line is that a daily dose of good fats is a vital component of overall health and well-being. Essential fatty acids should be a part of your basic supplementation program along with your multivitamin and multimineral tablet.

Ann Louise Gittleman, N.D., M.S., C.N.S., is one of the foremost nutritionists in the United States. She is the author of the best-selling books Eat Fat, Lose Weight (Keats, 1999) and Why Am I Always So Tired? (Harper San Francisco, 1999).

Yoga and herbs

Lynda McCullough

Both yoga and herbal medicine are spreading in popularity across the United States, attracting more and more adherents. And just as Ayurvedic physicians (Indian medical doctors) have prescribed both and have known for centuries that they complement one another, many in the United States are finding that combining yoga and herbs is effective for ameliorating stress and for healing or managing more serious illnesses. What form and shape does the intersection of these practices take?

Susan Mead is a Western-trained medical herbalist and yoga teacher who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. Although her herbal practice and yoga classes don’t always directly intersect, she says that there is crossover. When clients approach her for herbal remedies, she also recommends other lifestyle changes, which may include starting a yoga practice. If a yoga student brings up a particular health issue, Mead may offer recommendations for herbs or diet.

Herbal medicine is the main focus of Mead’s practice, but she says, “I see [herbs] as a way to get somebody over the hump while they’re making lifestyle changes. If your body’s having to work really hard just to rid itself of toxins and a stressful life, then what you do on an herbal level won’t be as effective. If you address other issues as well, they won’t have as great a need for the herbs, and the herbs will be able to work better if they are making good lifestyle choices.”

Like an Ayurvedic practitioner, Mead evaluates the needs of each individual who consults her and recommends a holistic approach to treatment. When treating a woman in a nursing home who was aggravated and anxious, she focused on teaching the woman deep breathing exercises and giving her herbs for anxiety. If it had been possible, Mead says, she would have recommended some dietary changes. For people suffering from fibromyalgia, she recommends yoga. “The last thing fibromyalgia patients want to do is move their bodies, but that’s what they need to do more than anything, because movement actually helps to break down the acids trapped in their muscles and tendons that creates some of the pain and discomfort.”

Most fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue symptoms are connected to lifestyle and excess stress, notes Mead, and yoga is a critical tool in healing these illnesses. People suffering from them learn to move gently and to explore how far they can go without feeling pain. They also benefit from drinking two to three quarts of water a day, taking herbal formulas, making dietary changes, and using meditation and relaxation techniques, she says.

This comprehensive approach to healing has long been emphasized in Ayurveda, and it remains important among American practitioners of this ancient medicine. “When we look at it from a traditional perspective,” says Sarasvati Buhrman, an Ayurvedic practitioner and academic director of the Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda in Boulder, Colorado, “the things we want to know about are, are the doshas [operating principles] in balance, and is the digestion working properly? Are all the channels of the body open? How is the consciousness? Is the mind in peace?” Ayurvedic practitioners want to know patients’ emotional and physical states, problems they have, and how long they have had them, she notes.

Treatment then addresses all of these dimensions and affects the patient in multiple ways. “The body chemistry and movement are intimately related . . . we can give herbs and diet for high blood pressure and that will be effective. And we can give yoga treatments and they can be equally effective, and if they’re combined, that’s the best of all.”

For a disease such as osteoporosis, yoga is often more effective than Ayurveda, and for multiple sclerosis, Ayurvedic herbs are more effective than yoga, says Buhrman. “It’s disease by disease. Some are more amenable to one kind of treatment than the other.” Treatment is also dependent on the person and the situation, she says. “Depending on the person and their background and their needs and their lifestyle and what they are actually willing and able to do in their lives, we try to put together a therapeutic program that will work for them.”

This multifaceted approach to healing, which stems from India’s wisdom traditions, has come to the west in “chunks and pieces,” says Buhrman. “Really the only difference between India and here is that we’re still assimilating the knowledge.”

Calendar

November

American Herbalists Guild Symposium 2001: From Plants to Medicines: Honoring Our Relationship to Nature’s Pharmacy. November 9–11 in the Unicoi State Park in Helen, Georgia. The symposium will include more than forty workshops by herbalists including Lesley Tierra, Amanda McQuade Crawford, David Winston, Aviva Romm, and Christopher Hobbs. Separate tracks are available for students and advanced clinicians, with continuing education available for nurses, pharmacists, and naturopathic doctors. Contact the AHG, 1931 Gaddis Rd., Canton, GA 30115; (770) 751-6021; www.americanherbalist.com.

December

New Year’s in Peru for 2002. December 27, 2001–January 10, 2002 in the Amazon rain forest. Experience the rain forest, the sacred Inca valley, and Machu Picchu with James Duke and Linda Green. Contact Linda Green, Box 622, Port Clinton, OH 43452; (419) 635-2337; www.omnigreen.com.

The nutrient-packed pumpkin

Marci Jackson

As the pumpkin plants in your garden reach out their arms to stretch in the sun, you can get a jump on menu planning to make these bright globes part of a healthy fall and winter diet.

The orange color of pumpkins shows off the vegetable’s plentiful offering of beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A in the body. A diet rich in beta-carotene may reduce the risk for some types of cancer as well as helping to prevent heart disease, according to Phyllis Balch and James Balch in their book Prescription for Nutritional Healing (Avery, 2000). Pumpkin is also beneficial in the treatment of prostate disorders and irritable bladder. It contains valuable amino acids, vitamins A and B, calcium, and even essential fatty acids in the form of omega-3s and omega-6s.

The zinc found in pumpkins is a key mineral in an overall healthy diet. It is important for prostate gland function and the immune system, and is a necessary component in maintaining the proper concentration of vitamin E in the blood, Balch and Balch write.

Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds have their own health benefits. Although they’re often the part of the pumpkin that gets discarded, the seeds are full of energizing nutrition and are used as an herbal remedy throughout the world. Pumpkin seeds are a power food, offering vitamins A, C, and E, as well as zinc, iron, protein, and B vitamins, writes Karen Sullivan in Natural Home Remedies (Element, 1997). They also harbor the pumpkin’s essential fatty acid content. According to Germany’s Commission E, pumpkin seeds are used for irritated bladder conditions and benign prostatic hyperplasia. In his book Healing with Whole Foods (North Atlantic, 1993), Paul Pitchford writes that pumpkin seeds support the urinary tract and may help expel intestinal worms. They also fight free radicals, earning them a place in cancer prevention. Sometimes called pepitas, the tasty green seeds also have the reputation of acting as an aphrodisiac. Roasted seeds are a popular snack. Unfortunately, while roasting improves the seeds’ flavor, it decreases their omega-3 content, according to Pitchford.

Pumpkin seed oil, pressed from the seeds, is a tasty way to get your “good” fats. It is one of the top nutritional oils, providing a high content of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. I have a friend who discovered pumpkin seed oil in Austria and now uses it in homemade salad dressings to increase his EFA consumption because he enjoys the nutty taste. This deep-green oil is increasingly available at health-food stores. Try a simple salad dressing using two parts apple-cider vinegar, one part pumpkin seed oil, and salt to taste.

Recipes

PUMPKIN-GINGER MUFFINS

Makes 12 muffins

These muffins, with the zing of warming ginger, make a perfect breakfast for chilly fall mornings.

1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
2/3 cup pumpkin pulp
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a muffin pan. In a large bowl, combine the flours and spices. Beat the butter and sugars in a separate bowl until fluffy. Add the egg and pumpkin to the butter mixture, beating thoroughly, then stir into the flour mixture. Add the buttermilk, blending well. Fold in the crystallized ginger.

Fill the muffin pans three-quarters full. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the muffins are golden and spring back to the touch.

SPICED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Makes 2 cups

Experiment with a variation of seasonings such as cayenne pepper, garlic powder, or Cajun seasoning blend to make a zesty and healthy snack.

2 cups whole raw pumpkin seeds
11/2 tablespoons melted butter or olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Scoop the seeds from the pumpkin and place them on a plate. Remove the strings and pulp, and blot with paper towels. Do not rinse. Leave the seeds to dry on the counter for a few days, if possible, but at least overnight. Combine the butter, salt, garlic salt, Worcestershire sauce, and pumpkin seeds. Mix thoroughly and spread in a shallow baking dish. Bake for 1 hour at 275°F, stirring occasionally, until the seeds are golden brown and fragrant.

A spa at home

Indulge in the luxury of a spa without ever leaving home.

Melinda Minton

Can’t break away from your hectic schedule to spend several days at a posh spa? Or maybe you’ve got the time to spare but your wallet can’t fund the experience? Because many of the most popular spa services can be re-created at home, try mimicking the same nourishing, blissful environment in the privacy of your home.

Take a bath

Hydrotherapy (jets that massage soft muscle tissue and aid lymphatic drainage) and phytotherapy (plant extracts or essences added to warm water for therapeutic purposes) baths are traditionally offered at finer spas. Use these treatments in your home bath, or simply add a portable jet nozzle to increase circulation, enhance skin tone, and massage your body into a more advanced state of relaxation.

Shannon Merton, a body worker at Spa Amadeus in Pasadena, California, thinks that baths can be powerfully therapeutic. “Add rosemary to your bath to eliminate the symptoms of depression and PMS,” she says. “Try some lavender to relax and renew your psyche. Add rose petals to soften the water while delicately perfuming your body.” Simply place the fresh or dried plant inside a tea ball or muslin fabric pouch or track down some herbal extracts available at boutiques, health-food stores, and spas.

To revitalize your skin and allow it to soak up these hydrating products, begin with a complete full-body exfoliation. All you need is a loofah, boar-bristle brush, or ayate cloth. Andrea Hesse, an esthetician at Rocco Altobelli Salon in Edina, Minnesota, suggests that you start with clean, dry skin. “Take the exfoliating object and vigorously run the item all over your body. Next, utilize a salt scrub or a ground nut mixture and really rub it into every part of your skin,” she says. “You may want to use the salt glow for the more stubborn parts of your body like your elbows, knees, and feet, while using the less abrasive mixture for your legs, arms, and torso. After you feel sufficiently sloughed, rinse off with tepid water or plunge into a lukewarm bath. Follow with a luxurious hydrating lotion or dry oil spray.”

Goodbye, wrinkles

Glycolic acid and enzyme peels, used to treat pesky lines, can get pricey at the spa. Reap the same benefits of this professional treatment without spending your entire paycheck. According to Gail Montgomery, an esthetician at Spa Atlantis in Pompano Beach, Florida, “glycolic acids are typically fruit extracts and lactic acid that can be found in milk products. These mild and absolutely natural products work by gently exfoliating the outer dead skin layers and encouraging renewed dermis production.”

The dead skin—which keeps out hydrators, looks crepe-like, and accentuates wrinkles—really needs to be stripped away in an aggressive fashion twice a month, according to Montgomery. At home, simply apply a treatment serum under your normal night cream. (See recipes on page 19.) The only contraindication to using fruit and lactic acid products is that you will be more prone to sun damage and burning. Because of this increased vulnerability to the sun, Montgomery suggests only applying the products in the evening and wearing sunblock faithfully during the day.

Masking is also an effective method of decreasing those lines, because it nourishes the skin while hydrating its top few layers. Blood is naturally brought to the surface and acts as a healant. “Masks should be applied on a weekly basis and should be specific to your skin type and ultimate goals,” suggests Lisa Ryan, an esthetician at Ocean Place Salon and Spa in Long Beach, New Jersey. The easiest way to mask is to apply the mixture to a clean, dry face. You should also apply a protective hydrator to the delicate skin around your eyes. “Your mask should be applied to the entire face, avoiding the mouth, nostrils, and eye area. Leave the mask on for a good twenty minutes to capture the full benefits of the treatment,” Ryan advises. Apply your mask before a hot bath or while sipping herbal tea. (Steam increases the mask’s effectiveness by opening the pores and allowing the nutrients to enter the skin more easily.) Cleanse with tepid water. Then close and refine the pores after the treatment with a few splashes of cool water. Always finish with an oil-free lotion or heavier hydrating cream.

Recipes

MINT-ROSEMARY BATH

Makes 2 baths

Herbal infusions made from one or more herbs can be a wonderful addition to any bath. Aromatic and therapeutic, these baths are really quite simple to concoct.

3 cups dried mint leaves
1 cup dried rosemary
1 cup dried lemon verbena
2 cups boiling water

Add the mint, rosemary, and lemon verbena to the boiling water. Place in a tightly sealed bottle and store in a cool, dark place. Allow the mixture to steep for 1 to 2 days. Strain the infused water with a cheesecloth or screened colander and refrigerate until ready to use. Add 1 cup to each bath.

THERAPEUTIC MUSTARD BATH

Makes about 3 cups

This intensely therapeutic bath utilizes the warmth of mustard to open pores and release toxins, and provides drawing and cleansing actions with the salts and clay. Combined with essential oils, these bath salts leave your skin feeling soothed and refreshed.

2 cups borax
1/2 cup dead sea salt
1/2 cup mustard powder
2 cups Epsom salts
8 drops each of the following essential oils: black spruce, eucalyptus, rosemary, wintergreen, and ginger

Combine all of the ingredients. Scoop 3 to 4 heaping teaspoons into bath water. Allow the mixture to dissolve. Store the remainder in a tightly sealed container.

SALT GLOW BODY SCRUB

Makes about 10 applications

Rejuvenate from limb to limb and remove dead skin with this easy-to-make body scrub.

3 cups finely ground kosher salt or Dead Sea salts
1 cup of a dried herb, finely chopped (I recommend rosemary, mint, or lemon verbena)
11/2 cups extra-virgin olive oil
12 drops essential oil such as lavender, peppermint, or lemon

Blend all of the ingredients. Generously apply in circular strokes to your body—except the face—while taking a shower or just before stepping into the bathtub. Store the remainder in a tightly sealed container.

FACIAL SCRUB AND BODY EXFOLIATOR

1 cup nuts and/or seeds (I recommend almonds, flaxseeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds, or a combination)
2 teaspoons dried chamomile buds
2 cups kaolin or French red clay (available in health-food stores)
1 cup aloe vera juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

In a food processor or blender, grind the nuts and/or seeds until they’re chopped, not powdered. Add the remaining ingredients and continue to mix. Use a dollop or two to clean your face, or leave on for 20 minutes if you’re doing a mask. Store in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container.

GLYCOLIC TREATMENT SERUM

Makes about 12 applications

Glycolic acid exfoliates dead skin and encourages new skin to form, creating a more hydrated appearance.

20 to 25 red seedless grapes, whole
1/4 of an orange, with peel
1/4 of a lemon, with peel
1 cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon aloe vera juice

In a blender or food processor, finely grind all of the ingredients. Using a piece of cheesecloth or a finely woven muslin cloth, separate the liquid into a container. Apply a generous teaspoon or so to freshly cleansed skin in the evenings. Be sure to treat the neck area as well. Refrigerate between uses.

VEGETABLE MASK

This mask is perfect for any skin type. Make it fresh each time to tap into the nutrients of the various vegetables.

1 cup fresh parsley
1/2 carrot, unpeeled
4 slices cucumber, unpeeled
1 small tomato
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon cornmeal

In a food processor, combine the parsley, carrot, cucumber, and tomato and blend until finely chopped. Add the honey and cornmeal to form a pasty consistency. Pack the mixture heavily on your face, making sure to avoid the mouth, nostrils, and eye area. Allow the mask to remain on for at least 20 minutes, or until dry and caked. Remove by vigorously splashing tepid water onto your face, followed by a splash of cooler water. Be sure to finish this process by applying a hydrating cream.

Nettle sting may bring arthritis relief

Evelyn Leigh

The practice of urtication—intentionally inflicting nettle stings upon one’s body—is not for the faint of heart. But a new clinical study suggests that this folk remedy for arthritis pain may deserve a closer look. The small British study is the first to scientifically investigate this particular traditional use of the plant, which is still employed by various cultures around the world.

According to the placebo-controlled study, daily application of fresh stinging nettle to painful joints was significantly more effective than a placebo in relieving pain. The study participants were twenty-seven people with osteoarthritis pain at the base of the thumb, none of whom had ever used nettle as a treatment before. For a placebo, the investigators chose white deadnettle (Lamium album), which resembles stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) but does not sting. Participants were told that two different kinds of nettle were being studied and that they might experience a mild stinging sensation.

Participants applied stinging nettle leaf to the painful joints once daily for one week; then, after a five-week period of no treatment, repeated the procedure using deadnettle. Neither the researchers nor the participants were aware of the treatment order. Participants reported significantly greater reductions in pain and disability after treatment with stinging nettle. Twenty-three of the participants reported that the slight rash and itching caused by the live nettles was “acceptable;” two found it “unpleasant but not distressing;” the remaining two participants did not complete the study. The researchers concluded, “The stinging nettle is a freely available plant and its sting seems a safe treatment for musculoskeletal pain.”

Before designing the clinical study, the same research team conducted exploratory interviews with eighteen people who had used nettle stings in the past to treat a variety of painful conditions, from osteoarthritis to tendinitis and back pain. All but one of the participants reported that nettle had been effective in relieving their pain, and several considered themselves “cured.” While this type of information is purely anecdotal, it points the way for interesting future research.

These new studies add to a growing body of evidence supporting the use of the nettle plant in the treatment of arthritis. Two clinical trials conducted since 1996 showed that consumption of stewed nettle leaf in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs significantly enhanced the effectiveness of the arthritis drugs for people with osteoarthritis. Whether or not consumption of nettle leaf alone relieves arthritis pain remains to be investigated.

Nettle’s botanical name, Urtica, is a Latin word meaning “to sting.” (The technical term for hives, urticaria, is derived from the same root word.) A brush with live nettles results in a mildly painful, itchy rash that can last anywhere from an hour to more than a day, depending on the severity of the sting and the sensitivity of the individual. The stinging sensation comes from chemicals delivered by tiny, hollow hairs that cover the entire plant. One of these chemicals, formic acid, is the one that puts the sting in red ant bites. Nettles’ stinging hairs are inactivated when the herb is dried or cooked. 8

References

Randall C., et al. “Randomised controlled trial of nettle sting for treatment of base-of-thumb pain.” Journal of the Royal Study of Medicine 2000, 93: 305–309.

Randall C., et al. “Nettle sting of Urtica dioica for joint pain—an exploratory study of this complementary therapy.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine 1999, 7: 126–131.

Jungle Medicine (Citron Bay, 2001)

Connie Grauds

From a small heartland town, a pharmacist journeys deep into the primal Amazon jungle in search for that which heals beyond conventional medicine. There she apprentices to a jungle shaman who takes her to the ragged edge of her sanity as he reveals to her the mysteries of healing. Emerging as a shamana, Connie Grauds brings us a new spirited medicine. . .one that infuses medicine for the body with spirit for the soul.

Grauds, one of Herbs for Health’s editorial advisers, started her career as a Western-trained HMO pharmacist. Her story is a remarkable journey of the spirit—one that takes the reader deep into the heart of the Amazon.

When Grauds was in her early forties, nearly twenty years into her pharmacy career, her life began to crumble around her. She was completely disillusioned with her work, her marriage fell apart, and she learned she had thyroid cancer. Grauds also developed carpal tunnel syndrome, which eventually forced her to quit her job. All of these events caused Grauds to “. . .[fall] into a profound despair, a spiritual crisis that no conventional therapy and no prescription in my pharmaceutical bag of miracle drugs could cure.”

Through, as she writes, “a series of seemingly random events,” Grauds ended up in the Amazon rain forest near Iquitos, Peru. She became an apprentice for shaman don Antonio, who became a profound healer for Grauds as well.

In the Amazon, Grauds’ ideas about the limitations of Western medicine became more clear. After her first day there, she knew she wanted more. “Now, after twenty-four hours with don Antonio, I felt more certain than ever that I, too, wanted to become a shaman, whatever that meant,” she writes. As time went on, Grauds found that the apprenticeship heightened her ability to communicate directly with plants. She learned that a jungle shaman’s mysterious healing practices are a blend of medicine and spirit and that shamans are experts on the healing properties of the jungle’s rich plant medicines. She discovered that shamans have an intimate relationship with the healing spirits of nature, especially the plant spirits.

Jungle Medicine is a wonderful story, both for plant lovers and for those interested in the spiritual or “unexplainable” aspects of healing. Grauds tells her story with humor, courage, wisdom, and a refreshing sense of wonder and self-discovery.

Ordering information:
Paperback, 206 pages, $15. Available from Grauds’ website, www.junglemedicine.net, or by calling (415) 453-4937.

Varro Tyler 1926–2001

Steven Foster

On August 22, 2001, the herb world lost one of its leaders, Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D. Tip, as he was affectionately known to his friends, had returned from Austria the previous night after celebrating his fifty-fourth wedding anniversary with his wife, Ginny. Tip had his morning coffee, read the paper, then went to his desk as usual. To borrow a Shaker phrase, he was quietly and peacefully “gathered” later that morning.

Varro Eugene Tyler, Jr. was born December 19, 1926, in Auburn, Nebraska. His father was a lawyer and an amateur botanist who instilled his love and knowledge of plants in his son. When Tyler was just twelve years old, he took a job at a local apothecary under the tutelage of the owner, Mr. Long, who initiated him in “the mystery and art of the apothecary.” One of the young apprentice’s assignments was to mix ingredients for Long’s Grippe Capsules. Here Tyler became familiar with ingredients such as crystalline quinine from South America, cascara sagrada bark from the Pacific Northwest, and asafetida collected in the mountains of Afghanistan. Undoubtedly, the experience captured his imagination. His desire to enroll in chemistry courses at the University of Nebraska was put on hold by military service during World War II. Upon returning, he enrolled in the pharmacy program at the University of Nebraska. In 1947, he married a fellow undergraduate, Virginia May Demel. One of his fraternity brothers and fellow students, who did not favor the name Varro, jokingly began calling him “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too.” From that teasing emerged the name “Tip,” the nickname by which he was known for more than five decades—including by his fellow fraternity brother and friend, Johnny Carson.

In 1949, Tyler received a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from the University of Nebraska. Soon after, Tyler’s primary professor, Arthur E. Schwarting, a pharmacognosist who shared Tyler’s interests in pharmacy and botany, left for the University of Connecticut. After a year of studying plant sciences at Yale on a Lilly Fellowship, Tyler followed Schwarting to Connecticut. He received his Master’s degree from the University of Connecticut in 1951, followed by a Ph.D. in pharmacognosy in 1953. His first publication was “The Separation of Ergot Alkaloids by Paper Partition Chromatography” (with A. E. Schwarting), published in the Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association in 1952.

For the next fifteen years, most of Tyler’s publications focused on the chemistry and biological activity of fungi. He was a leading expert on ergot, a tiny fungus that occurs on rye and other grains. His professional experience included a stint as an associate professor at the University of Nebraska from 1953 to 1957. He accepted a position as associate professor and director of Drug Plant Gardens at the University of Washington from 1957 to 1961. The fungi-rich woods of the Pacific Northwest proved a perfect laboratory for his interest in mushrooms. In 1961, he was appointed professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacognosy at the University of Washington, a position he held until 1966. Opportunity for a sabbatical took Tyler and Ginny to the Institute für Biochemie der Pflanzen Deutsche Academic der Wissenschaften in Germany, from 1963 to 1964. The institution proffered an honorary doctorate on him in 2000. That initial year in Germany sparked Tyler’s interest in German phytomedicine, for which he became the recognized expert in the United States in the decades to follow.

In 1966, he accepted a position as dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences at Purdue University (later to become dean of the Schools of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences) until 1986. Ironically, West Lafayette, Indiana, home of Purdue, is in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, the name from which his nickname was derived. Given his stellar administrative and diplomatic skills, in 1986 Purdue appointed Tyler executive vice president for academic affairs (second in command at Purdue University), a position he held until his “retirement” in 1991. From 1991 to 1997, he returned to teaching in an endowed position created for him as the Lilly Distinguished Professor of Pharmacognosy. As of January 1, 1997, he became dean and Distinguished Professor of Pharmacognosy Emeritus at Purdue.

During his long and distinguished career, Tyler produced more than 280 scientific papers and eighteen books. His books included editions of Pharmacognosy (fifth through tenth editions), the standard textbook on the subject, along with Tyler’s Honest Herbal, Herbs of Choice, and Hoosier Home Remedies. Unknown to most in the herb world, Tyler had another life as a philatelist. He was an acknowledged international expert on stamp forgeries, particularly bogus Japanese stamps, a subject on which he wrote several books.

On a personal note, I began a correspondence with Tyler in 1988. We first met at the Herbs ’89 Symposium held in San Jose, California, in July of 1989. We shared a collecting interest in the novels of pharmacist John Uri Lloyd. I knew that Tyler had a complete collection—except for one title. I happened to have two copies of that obscure novel, The Right Side of the Car, and took it to him. That first meeting solidified a friendship that I enjoyed for more than a decade. I visited Tip and Ginny several times in West Lafayette during the 1990s. My favorite beer, Pilsner Urquell, was also Tip’s favorite beer. He always had it on hand when I visited. That trivial, shared appreciation became a focal point around which we could debate sometimes-differing views on herbal philosophies.

Despite the fact that I hold no professional degree, Tyler respectfully treated me as a colleague. I was honored by Tip’s asking me to coauthor a chapter on herbs and phytomedicinals for the eleventh edition of the American Pharmaceutical Association’s Handbook of Non-Prescription Drugs. In 1997, he invited me to co-author the fourth edition of his controversial Honest Herbal, a book that had become the herbal that herbalists love to hate. It was published in 1999 under the title Tyler’s Honest Herbal. Naturally, I had submitted the manuscript with my name on the title page as the second author. When I received the published book, I was indeed surprised to see that my name came first on the cover and title page. Tyler’s only significant editorial change on the galley proofs of the book, unknown to me, was to elevate me to senior author. This speaks volumes of the kind of man Tyler was.

Tip was the consummate gentleman, always direct in his thoughts, words, and actions, deeply honest, and always respectful of others’ views. Despite achieving high professional honors, his ego was steeped in simple humility. Tyler was a gentle giant in the world of medicinal plants, whose impact toward rational herbalism will be with us for decades to come. Tip, we will miss you.

Facts on Tyler’s professional life were derived from an article by his long-time administrative assistant, Linda Michael. Michael, Linda. “Tyler Retires: Sort of.” The Purdue Pharmacist, Summer 1997, 2–5.

Pamper your peepers

Sharon Niederman

Those of us who spend hours a day in front of a computer know that staring at the screen for extended periods of time can lead to eyestrain. While we may not be able to change our work venue or lessen the hours we spend at the computer, we can learn to take better care of our eyes.

Reprogram your “blink rate”

The image on the computer screen is not a stable one. Rather than a solid black-and-white image, the computer picture is composed of pixels that appear as miniscule dots, flickering at high rates of speed. Our brains try to make sense of this by constantly telling our eyes to refocus.

Because the brain is on alert trying to pick up these signals, we blink less. Normal blink rate is around twenty times a minute, but at the computer, we blink only about half as much as we should. To reprogram your blink rate, consciously blink several times the next time you restart your computer. Try doing this exercise each and every time you boot up your computer. Or better yet, type a reminder into your screen saver.

Consider computer glasses

Another source of stress for our eyes is the physical distance we sit from our computer screens. While normal reading distance is 14 to 16 inches, our monitors typically sit 26 to 28 inches away. While it may not be possible to move your screen closer, computer glasses may alleviate the problem. Designed for the specific work distance between your eyes and your screen, computer glasses should be used for the specific purpose of computer work and then left at your workstation.

And if you typically wear bifocals, your eyes may be under additional stress, since you tend to raise your head and lean in toward the screen. Invisible bifocals (the ones that don’t show any line between top and bottom half of the lens) may be a better choice.

Take a break

Difficult as it may be—considering there’s e-mail to be checked and reports to be written—taking a breather from the computer will ultimately ease eyestrain. Make it a point, every fifteen minutes, to look up and away from your screen. Gaze as far as you can into the distance. If you’ve got a window, look at the horizon. If all you’ve got is a wall in front of you, look at that for a minute or two.

Here are few more helpful hints for those experiencing computer eyestrain.

• Larger print is always better than smaller print.
• Black text on a yellow or rosy background tends to be more soothing.
• Consider purchasing a laptop; it’s easier on the eyes because it comes closer to the standard reading position.

PRACTITIONER PROFILE

Name: Kathi Keville

Age: 50

Hometown: Northern California Sierra Nevadas

Occupation: Herbalist and aromatherapist; director of the American Herb Association; author of many books including Aromatherapy for Dummies (IDG, 1999) and Herbs for Health and Healing (Rodale, 1998); co-author of Women’s Herbs, Women’s Health (Botanica, 1998).

Education and training: Bachelor’s degree in art from the University of California, Long Beach; certified massage therapist; studied with various herbalists throughout the 1970s.

How did you first become interested in alternative medicine?
I began to study herbs in 1969. There were so few places to find information, so a lot of my original training was in my garden. I joined the Herb Society of America, so my original introduction to herbs was anything but medicinal. I had a wonderful culinary herb garden with more than fifty different species. I’d give tours of my garden and tell people about the medicinal uses of these herbs. I really just considered it folklore. It never dawned on me just how potent these plants really were until I got sick and started using them myself.

In the early seventies I was really sick with the flu. I began reading Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss and realized I had an entire pharmacopoeia right outside my front door. I used the herbs in my garden to make a tea, and as soon as I felt better, I went to my medicine cabinet with a waste bucket and threw everything away!

What would you say to someone considering alternative medicine?
Unlike when I was getting started, there is so much information available, it’s overwhelming. Look for a recognized, well-known herbalist; look for hands-on experience—that’s the way to go. Be careful of information on the Internet. There’s a lot of useful information out there, but there’s also a lot of garbage. Be sure to go to reliable sites and then see which links they recommend. Here are the ones I recommend:

• American Herb Association:
www.jps.net/ahaherb
• Christopher Hobbs:
www.christopherhobbs.com
• National Association of Holistic
Aromatherapy: www.naha.org
• United Plant Savers:
www.plantsavers.org
• American Botanical Council:
www.herbalgram.org

What do you see happening with the interaction between Western and alternative medicine?
My dream is that eventually more clinics will be established that have different types of practitioners—naturopaths, herbalists, osteopaths—and people will be referred to who is the most appropriate to treat them. Western medicine is certainly a part of this healing puzzle, and all modalities should be able to work together. I’d like to see Western medicine change and become more holistic and develop therapies for individuals instead of treating people like cattle. This dream is already somewhat of a reality in parts of Europe. In Germany, for example, doctors prescribe hawthorn instead of or in conjunction with digitalis. So this is happening in the western world, it’s just happening a little slower in the United States, but I do think it will happen. People are very dissatisfied with certain aspects of Western medicine, especially HMOs, and will eventually demand more individualized treatment.

What is your daily routine of alternative therapies?
I try to practice what I preach. I have a very good diet based on whole grains. I try to avoid sugars and I try to eat organically grown food. I get plenty of exercise. I love to bike and hike, and I do yoga. I take a lot of herbs and rotate my plan according to what I need. I usually take more than what I need by incorporating them into my diet, since I use myself to understand the effects. For example, I eat lots of tonic herbs—burdock root, dandelion leaves, purslane—and constantly throw them into sauces and soups.

What are your hobbies?
I take an African dance class and a medieval singing class. I first got into medieval singing because I found out the class was doing songs of Hildegard of Bingen. She was a twelfth-century herbalist who’s well-known for many things including music and painting. Another hobby of mine is storytelling.

Do you have any funny stories to share?
I tell my students it’s important to label their products, so I should know better. However, there was the time I added peppermint oil to a jug of distilled water and forget to re-label it. A couple of visitors poured it into their car’s radiator. They looked horrified when they started it up, but that car had the sweetest exhaust! Another time, I whipped up a beautiful batch of facial cream. I poured the cream into a mayonnaise jar that still had the label on it and stuck it in the refrigerator. An hour later, I was in my office when I heard screams coming from the kitchen. My family had bitten into sandwiches spread lusciously with neroli and jasmine “mayonnaise.” There’s a similar story about the cocoa butter suppositories, but I needn’t go on. The moral of this story is label everything!

—Kelli Rosen