Tag: Kutki

Deflate Fatty Liver disease!

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Many people have fatty liver and don’t even know it. When someone says, “fatty liver”, most people don’t know what that means — including the person saying it! To my understanding, it means everything: fatty acids, like triglycerides, phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol esters, bilirubin, dead red blood cell remnants, iron waste and water! In other words, it means lots of junk is building up in the liver! But the biggest junk is probably triglycerides filled with toxins, which is the main source of fat storage and fat accumulation — hence the term, fatty liver.

Anyone who has fatty liver, needs to look at their ferritin. My ferritin level was once over 280.

Yes, I have had fatty liver!

I have had fatty liver since fatty liver was not even in style — back in the 1980’s when I was 10 years old! I was blood poisoned (I believe) by painful injections in the buttocks, to supposedly manage my asthma condition!

 

Ferritin affects liver health:

To be clear, ferritin protein is where the body first stores excess iron. Do you know how much ions of iron one single ferritin complex carries? Up to 4500! So if your ferritin level is 50, multiply that by 4500 irons!
Now if your ferritin is 280, multiply that by 4500 iron ions!

Do you know what fatty liver is?: so much ferritin, that it turned into hemosiderin! Hemosiderin is the antarctic of iron waste. It is a graveyard of iron and dead lysosomes stuck in the south pole — actually, I meant, liver! In other words, when the body can no longer store excess iron in the ferritin complexes, it is forced to store it in this second option: hemosiderin. This hemosiderin storage system is hard on the body, especially the liver. And, it is hard to get rid of excess iron once it’s stored as hemosiderin.

Don’t get me wrong: low ferritin can also be distressing: it means the spleen is not recycling iron properly! But that can be simply resolved by consuming copper or wholefood vitamin C!
Does anyone know how to get out of the antarctic?

 

Enzymes affect liver health:

When doctors talk about liver enzymes, they are not only talking about the familiar AsT and ALt — they are also talking about such hardly ever tested enzyme(s) as GGT [Gamma-glutamyl transferase]. Actually, most doctors probably don’t even remember what GGT is! Often high when there is toxins in the blood such as from medication or alcohol or when there is hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatic obstruction or bile flow obstruction, GGT insures delivery of amino acids that make the powerful antioxidant glutathione. These amino acids include: glutamate, cysteine (cystine) and glycine.

 

Protein affects liver health:

What we also need to talk about is not only the liver enzymes, but also, the proteins produced by the liver. They also tell a lot by their too high or too low levels — such proteins as serum albumin and globulins! Abnormal numbers of these proteins may signal🚦 some type of dehydration, or worse, liver dysfunction. Chronic liver disease is characterized by a fall in serum albumin concentration and a rise in serum globulins.

 

Gallbladder health is affected by liver health:

Another thing needs mentioning is not only the liver — that very large organ, but its pipeline: the gallbladder!

Many people have liver issues because the gallbladder is stuck with sludge or gallstones! Can you imagine your kitchen sink pipe clogged with chewing gum? Many people nowadays are listening to their doctors recommend having their gallbladders removed, as if gallbladder surgery was an ice-cream treat! Removing your gallbladder is the same thing as removing the sac that holds bile that is needed to digests fats.

That’s why I also look at bilirubin levels — specifically direct bilirubin, to make sure gallbladder is opened (3mm) and working properly. Too high bilirubin (a “compound” from heme, produced in the liver) means gallbladder is clogged! That’s why I use chanca piedra or bhumi amla to unclog the gall-pipe!

 

The history of fatty liver:

There was once a time when doctors would only entertain the term fatty liver if someone consumed alcohol. If you did not fit that category and still complained that you may have fatty liver, then these doctors would say, “Oh, you don’t know what you’re talking about! Stop complaining and enjoy life!” It was only after repeated and vehement complaints that science then began to realize there is fatty liver beyond alcohol fatty liver disease. They labeled it: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD.

As time went by, NAFLD became nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH. As more time went by, NASH became something that led to metabolic dysfunction -associated steatohepatitis or MASH in 2023 because, “nonalcoholic” and “fatty” seemed as if stigmatizing and trivializing the disease, they thought. In other words, science still could not make up its mind about what fatty liver disease is!

And to complicate things even more, we have another new term — i.e., liver disease caused from environmental toxins: toxicant-associated fatty liver disease (TAFLD), which can then lead to toxicant-associated steatohepatitis (TASH), which a more severe form of TAFLD.

 

Liver disease progression:

To simplify things for the purpose of this article, there are three grades of fatty liver: mild, moderate and severe, with up to 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 of fat deposit and fat accumulation, respectively. And there are progressive stages to fatty liver:

– Simple fatty liver (fat only)

– Steatohepatitis (fat accompanied with inflammation)

– Fibrosis (chronic inflammation) 

– Cirrhosis (widespread scarring that greatly impairs liver function).


Much of this is fixable, yes. But severe fatty liver disease with cirrhosis is going to need a lot of work. Be optimistic, but do not be fooled if someone tells you, “the liver is the only organ that regenerates itself and if you cut off a part of it, it will simply grow back!” Welcome them to the real world 🌎 — the liver won’t do anything good unless you work hard enough to fix it!

 

Reverse fatty liver disease:

Luckily, nature has provided ways to accelerate reversing fatty liver disease. It is called herbs! I have studied for years and tried to find the best answers to what the best things to reverse fatty liver disease are. And I think I’ve found them.

It is not milk thistle. Milk thistle is good for liver that is already healthy. It is not burdock root either — though that can be helpful. It is not artichoke extract or swedish bitters either. Yet those can be helpful. 

The herbs that I like to focus on at reversing fatty liver are from ayurveda: kutki, Bhumi amla and amla!

Kutki is a bitter herb that works like a mechanic, going into liver cells, and bringing them back to life. Bhumi amla is like a drainage plunger, unclogging gunk out of the gallbladder. Amla a.k.a Indian gooseberry is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that may help stimulate the regeneration of liver cells,  and facilitate in the repair of damaged tissue. 

But there are other things necessary to accelerate reversing fatty liver disease. They are: choline and  IP6-inosotol.

Choline helps remove fat from the liver, while IP6-inositol helps remove excess iron from the liver. Excess iron is a major cause of fatty liver disease and liver inflammation! Phlebotomy through blood donation can also relieve the body of excess iron in the blood.

 

And of course, eat healthily and properly:

If you have fatty liver disease, junk food and excess sweets are a no no. Excess alcohol is a no no. Eating excess amounts of animal meat is a no no. Animal protein may raise insulin levels to intolerable levels. Excess dairy and eggs are a no no. And foods high in oxalates is a no no. I have compiled a list of the safest, most nutritious foods! If you have fatty liver, you need to load up on B vitamins, as with the choline previously mentioned, but also particularly vitamins B2 (riboflavin) and B5 (pantothenic acid) — found in organic bee pollen — to accelerate the healing process of a damaged liver. Other nutrients include magnesium, copper and phosphorus.

 

Sugar, sugar substitutes, and sugar alcohol may also contribute to fatty liver disease:

When someone says something like too much sugar causes fatty liver, I think one detail in that means, too much high fructus corn syrup and the nasty Maltodextrin that usually comes with it, contributes to fatty liver! So does aspartame. If you like sweet things, look for pure organic honey, coconut sugar, palm sugar, molasses, or even plain old cane sugar. These other sugars, such as sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners are destroying peoples’ livers! Monk fruit (sugar) is up for debate, since it is usually combined with other sugar alcohols to make it taste like sugar.


So, what should you do?:

– If possible, get an ultrasound for the liver.

– Get a blood test checking for:

– Ferritin: should be less than 75

– Ast and ALt should be less than 20

– GGT: should be less than 30

– Serum albumin: should be between 4.1 and 4.8

– Globulin: should be between 2.2 and 2.8

– Direct bilirubin: should be less than 0.3

Herbs:

– Kutki 

– Bhumi amla

– Amla

Supplements:

– Choline 

– IP6- Inositol 

Procedure:

– Phlebotomy (blood donation)

Foods

Eat healthy, limiting alcohol, sweets and excess animal protein. Pay special attention to food containing vitamins B2 and B5. Also magnesium, copper and phosphorus rich food are beneficial to help heal a fatty liver.

Be Set Free from Edema

Posted on by Diogenes II

Edema is a symptom that the body gives us to tell there is something wrong with a major organ. Edema is the manifestation that happens when inside the cells and outside the cells are saturated with water, like a busted pipe within our tissues and organs. This edema can affect anywhere in the body — from the top of the head, to the sole of the feet. In this article, we will cover the most severe form of edema — refractory edema — thereby covering all forms of edema. We will show the mechanism that forms edema, and how to resolve it.

Edema, also spelled oedema, only occurs when and where there is, simply speaking, some type of damage in the body. Refractory edema is a chronic edema that does not respond to diuretic use or sodium restriction. Diuretics is used to flush out excess fluid, and sodium restriction is implemented to reduce fluid retention, since salt holds onto fluid — just like carbohydrates and protein do.  Refractory edema, however, means that the condition is more advanced, and needs to be dealt with more than just adding or taking away nutrients from the diet.

If there is bloating only in the lower right leg, then that is usually considered to be a sign of liver dysfunction — specifically a condition called ascites. If you have ascites, then that means your stomach is most likely also swollen with fluid. If the bloat is only in the lower left leg however, then that may indicate descending colon congestion, left kidney congestion or heart disease. This heart disease could lead to congestive heart failure if left untreated. If both legs are affected, this could mean advanced liver problem that is also affecting the kidneys. If such is the case, there may be also bloating under the eyes as well.

But what causes edema in the first place? Just like a busted pipe will dispense water uncontrollably, so will a busted organ not be able the handle the fluid in the body. The organ that usually starts the cascading failure is, the liver — from injury, that may then lead to a natural inflammatory response, then maybe fibrosis, and if fibrosis is chronic, this could then lead to cirrhosis of the liver. Other events that may lead to edema are hepatitis C and pregnancy. Medication that is damaging to the liver could also be a factor.

If both extremities are swollen, then this is most likely multiple organ failure. At this stage, the body is losing protein more so than it is designed to, and not being able to replace it. Furthermore, if there is high protein loss, then there is also high potassium loss. This quick and sudden excretion is damaging to the kidneys.

When we say the body is losing protein, what that mostly means is that the blood is losing albumin. Albumin is exactly what it sounds like — the same-like gooey-type clear liquid found in egg whites. This albumin transports nutrients and hormones throughout the body and helps to keep fluid inside of blood vessels and capillaries, and out of tissues and organs. At the loss of albumin, fluid buildup then occurs in the organs and tissues, causing fluid retention a.k.a. edema.

As this albumin and potassium make a quick exit out of the kidneys, they damage the sensitive glomeruli that acts as filters. Ideally, the kidneys allow much less than 1 gram of all proteins to filter out in a day. But when a condition called nephrotic syndrome occurs, the glomeruli processes 3 or more grams of protein leaking into the urine within a 24 hour period. This becomes very stressful and damaging to the kidneys.

This albumin is the most abundant protein in the blood serum, and is made in the liver, composed of some nearly 600 amino acid residues. If the liver is dysfunction, then albumin will not be made properly, if at all. And even when it is made, it may become quickly oxidized by free radicals. So an albumin problem first starts in the liver, then makes its way down to the kidneys.

Edema comes in many forms and have many names. There is peripheral edema, which affects the extremities. Then there is cerebral edema which affects the brain. There is pulmonary edema which affects the lungs. There is also lymphedema, which is directly affected by the immobility of the lymphatic system. I personally developed a form called pedal edema, that affected my lower right leg, ankle and feet — when I accidentally injured myself with the edge of a paint scraper. The treatment by allopathic medicine usually depends by edema type, which could range from something as basic as compression socks, to a more advanced or even holistic type all encompassing treatment.

I had what might have been called pedal edema, for 4 years, before I finally discovered the solution that completely reverse it — in days!

There are a combination of 5 supplements, including herbs, that have repeatedly shown positive results in reversing just about all forms of edema. It goes like this:

Pycnogenol: I took this supplement for 5 days with P5P, and my edema disappeared thereafter. Pycnogenol improves circulation and blood flow.

P5P: I took this synthetic form of B6 for a few days, and my edema disappeared, but came back one week later. Only when I combined it with pycnogenol did my edema disappear for good.

Mangistha: Mangistha gets the lymphatic system moving, thus it is good for edema, especially lymphedema.

Astragalus: Chronic edema damages the filtration mechanism of the kidneys — but this herb fixes that.

Kutki: Most edema problems are really a liver problem — this herb help fix all stages of liver dysfunction, including fibrosis and cirrhosis.

In addition to these, you want to support whole body function with a healthy diet of adequate potassium and other B vitamins. These include: Black beans, asparagus, bok choy, yu choy, parsnip, yam, sweet potato, kohlrabi, crimini mushrooms and lichens. You may also want to reduce excess sugar, since such encourages edema re-activation.

 

 

 

 

 

Optimize Your Testosterone Levels

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Testosterone is a hormone — not a male or female hormone — but just a hormone, that simply happens to be produced some 20 times more in men’s testes than in women’s ovaries. It is also a steroid hormone, which means that it’s fat-soluble — allowing it to penetrate and enter directly into cells, as opposed to non-steroid hormones — which sit on the outside of cells. Testosterone is also an anabolic steroid, which means it builds things and supplies things (like protein) for muscle building and (collagen) for bone building. It is also a sex hormone — which means it makes people competitive, aggressive and sometimes unreasonably sensitive. In this article, I will discuss the pathway that decreases testosterone, and the ways to optimize this hormone.

Many articles point out the analysis that testosterone is produced — or rather, manufactured — in the testes of men, and ovaries of women, and adrenal glands of both sexes. But this hormone is greatly affected by the conditions of one particular organ — the largest internal organ: i.e., the liver. Low testosterone levels do not simply indicate that you need to increase your testosterone levels — it indicates that there is some type of malfunction somewhere — highly suspectably initiated in the liver.

But how is testosterone created?

Our body metabolizes cholesterol from the food we eat and from the synthesis of cholesteryl ester that the liver produces. Cholesterol makes hormones, including the hormone pregnenolone. Metabolized pregnenolone is turned into Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and progesterone. DHEA and progesterone are converted into many other hormones, including testosterone. As previously mentioned, testosterone cannot simply be classified as a male hormone because testosterone can and often do turn into estradiol — a form of estrogen (the so called female hormone). In the bone and brain, testosterone is easily converted to estradiol, by the aromatase enzyme. In the central nervous system, it is this estradiol that serves as the most important feedback signal to the hypothalamus. In many animals, it is this estradiol that masculinizes the brain of the male fetus.

Interestingly, testosterone distribution throughout the body appears surprisingly stingy. Most scientific articles you read will say that about 98 percent of testosterone is strongly or weakly bound to proteins, and about 2 percent is free testosterone, ready for immediate use. Unfortunately, much of what they know about the binding up of testosterone by proteins is pure speculation, based off of hypotheses, and not facts. There are many proteins that are responsible for storing and carrying testosterone, the main ones being sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), human serum albumin (HSA), and to a lesser extent, corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) and orosomucoid. And then we have after these, “free testosterone”. But the “binding up” or distribution of testosterone by protein is greatly influenced by age. If SHBG — which has a strong bind — is being bound to testosterone at a rate of 65 percent, then that person must be somewhere around 65 years old — or young and ill. If the SHBG is 49 percent, then you ought to expect that person to be somewhere around 49 years old! So SHBG percentage increases with age.

In fact, after about age 30, men naturally or unnaturally lose testosterone levels by 1 or 2 percent each year thereafter — so by the time he reaches the age of 60, that man would expect a testosterone loss anywhere from 30 to 60 percent. The increase of SHBG is an indicative sign of increased toxic heavy metals and a decrease in liver function. So protein-binding increase, like that of SHBG, should be an indicator of increased age, or increased disease! Furthermore, when there is increased heavy metals and liver dysfunction, that opens the way for testosterone to turn into estradiol. This explains why so many men experience dramatically increased estrogen levels and lowered testosterone levels after age 50.

And there is that mighty co-relation between cholesterol and testosterone. In fact, cholesterol is the raw material of testosterone; and a defect in cholesterol directly affects testosterone. If your cholesterol numbers are uncomfortably high, then your testosterone numbers may show uncomfortably low. Being that that raw material — cholesterol — is made in the liver, and testosterone is made from cholesterol — alas — a testosterone problem is most likely coming from a liver problem! And if your cholesterol numbers are, conversely, uncomfortably low, then this low may be too low for the necessary production of adequate testosterone.

Low testosterone levels may also be indicative — a sign — that the liver is storing too high amounts of free iron. This is not a good thing. The liver does not like to store high, free iron because, this damages said organ. It may surely prove wise to get [one’s] ferritin levels tested. Any level over 60 is indicative of too much free iron being stored in and dispersed by the liver. This nowadays is a major cause of decreased testosterone levels in both men and women.

Generally speaking, men between the ages of 40 to 60 should seek a total testosterone number of over 500; and optimally, over 650. Premenopausal women should aim for around 35, and postmenopausal, around 30 or higher. Testosterone increase may enhance sex-drive for both men and women. Noteworthy, the most accurate testosterone test results is obtained at around 8 am in the morning.

So to optimize your testosterone levels, consider rejuvenating the liver therefore. An ayurvedic herb called kutki will help do that. It is no coincidence that kutki also reduces high LDL and its cholesterol and that that herb reduces oxidation of LDL and cholesterol. Other herbs that may be helpful for the liver are burdock root and artichoke extract.

There are also other herbs that will optimize testosterone and the liver, namely fenugreek and ashwagandha. It is well known that both fenugreek and ashwagandha indirectly provide the raw nutrients that boost and optimize testosterone levels in both sexes — male and female. Ashwagandha, used short term, increases sperm volume in men, muscle size, bone strength and sleep quality in both sexes — critical assets needed for testosterone optimization. Fenugreek increases libido. Fenugreek may also manage glucose levels in the blood and increase insulin sensitivity. This increased insulin sensitivity works in favor with testosterone production.

And there are minerals that optimize testosterone levels — namely zinc, selenium, boron, and magnesium. For example, zinc prevents the aromatase enzyme that turns testosterone into estrogen from that process,  thereby by default, helping to accelerate testosterone and sperm production in the testes. Magnesium and boron help activate free testosterone. It is important that you obtain the right type of mineral, preferably in the natural food-base form, rather than the synthetic. For zinc, try Nutrigold Zinc Gold, for selenium, try Food Research Selenium E, for boron, try Vibrant Health Super Natural Boron, and for magnesium, try malate, taurate, glycinate and/or citrate.

And there are vitamins that optimize testosterone levels — namely vitamin D, E and K — the fat soluble vitamins. It seems as no surprise that testosterone has an affinity to fat soluble vitamins, since testosterone is a fat-soluble hormone.

Still another supplement to consider in boosting testosterone is a natural form of vitamin C. As I’ve stated, one of the binding proteins of testosterone is, corticosteroid-binding globulin. Corticosteroid is a constituent of the hormone cortisol.  An unbalanced rise in cortisol decreases testosterone production. Taking natural vitamin C reduces that rise in cortisol. There is an herb-berry called amla — very popular in ayurveda — that contains both natural vitamin C, polyphenols, and copper. These nutrients work in synergy to help build back a better liver, intestines, lymphatic system and colon — things that are all needed to optimize one’s testosterone levels.

Then we also cannot forget about the B vitamins. The [stress] hormone ADRENALINE turns [on] cortisone (inactive) into cortisol (active). But the body is suppose to turn cortisol back into cortisone to prevent long term damage, with an enzyme called 11beta-Hydroxysteroid. But for this enzyme to work, we need dietary niacin to turn the [NADP] cycle into ATP — and that’s also why so many men AND women are low on testosterone! The bottom-line here is, we need daily and adequate amount of B vitamins!

And finally, to deal with free, unbound iron building in the liver, try IP-6/Inositol (on an empty stomach) for a few months. Keep in mind that IP-6 chelates not only iron — but also other minerals (and vitamins) like calcium and zinc. So be sure to increase these with food-base supplements, or nutrition.

Though they are becoming increasingly popular, I still cannot recommend either pine pollen or the herb tribulus terrestris for testosterone issues. Pine pollen contains natural testosterone, which may — over time — atrophy the testes, ovaries and other organs from producing testosterone naturally. You do not want to add testosterone to your body — you want to harness and encourage the organs that produce it, to optimize it. Therefore, tribulus terrestris comes with too many side effects, and will not directly optimize or boost your testosterone levels; and is best to avoid, unless you are using it for specific other reasons.

So to optimize your testosterone levels, consider fixing the liver with:

  • Kutki (Burdock root or artichoke extract may work as well)

And, to nutritionally build back the body, try: 

  • Fenugreek
  • Ashwagandha
  • Zinc: Food Research Zinc Complex or Nutrigold Zinc Gold
  • Selenium: Food Research Selenium E ***
  • Boron: Vibrant Health Super Natural Boron
  • Magnesium: DaVinci Laboratories TRI-MAG 300
  • Vitamin D: Nutrigold K2+D3 Gold ***
  • Vitamin C: Amla
  • Vitamin B: Nutrigold B Complex Gold or FOOD RESEARCH B Stress Complex
  • IP-6/Inositol
  • ***Vitamin E: see above – Food Research Selenium E 
  • ***Vitamin K2: see above – Nutrigold K2+D3 Gold

Conquer High Cholesterol

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

We cannot deny the truth that even more than half of all people who suffer heart attacks have “normal” or lower cholesterol levels; or the truth that most elderly people live longer and healthier lives with higher cholesterol levels; or the fact that every cell plasma membrane in our body is made up of cholesterol and that most cholesterol in the body is purposely produced by the liver to help build hormones (including all steroid hormones), vitamin D metabolism, and bile acid production. And we simply cannot deny the truth that much of the human brain is actually made up of cholesterol and that low cholesterol is indicative of depression and memory loss. With all that said though, too much of the “wrong” type of cholesterol, especially when it’s oxidized, is believed to be a major contributor to plaque formation in the arteries, leading to a dreaded condition known as atherosclerosis. This article was a great challenge for me, especially in finding the way to put things in simple terms — but here, I will discuss all the basics of cholesterol in the body, its protein carriers and exactly what we should do to normalize and utilize cholesterol in our body.

Defined as a waxy, whitish-yellow and fat-like substance, cholesterol exists in two forms in the body — and only two: free cholesterol and cholesteryl ester. Free cholesterol is exactly what it sounds like: cholesterol that is in its free state; coming from the fats in our diet, devoid of any enzymatic reaction or protein attached to it. This free cholesterol acts as an antioxidant, fighting cancer, infection and inflammation. Cholesteryl ester — the second form — is what happens to free cholesterol when it is processed in the body from all the enzymatic activities and protein attachments, to make it acclimated and useful to the body’s metabolism. The proteins that carry cholesterol come in many groups. They are officially called lipoproteins because, they contain both lipids (fats) and protein that hold and carry cholesterol. These lipoproteins are classified into: (a) Chylomicrons, (b) Chylomicron remnant, (c) vLDL, (d) IDL, (e) LDL, (f) HDL, (g) Lp(a).

Chylomicrons are unprocessed lipids that come from our diet — the food and fats we eat. They mostly consist of triglycerides. vLDL is the lipoprotein that is produced specifically in the liver, from processed chylomicron remnants. They are still full of triglycerides. LDL is what is produced from enzymatic processes when the triglycerides are removed from IDL and vLDL particles. These LDL mostly contain cholesterol — the same cholesterol that is sometimes oxidized in our arteries, and starting the formation of plaque. HDL — made in the liver and intestine — is the aged-form of LDL, that has been reduced in size and is densely packed mostly with protein. This is the lipoprotein that goes through arteries easily and picks up triglycerides and cholesterol from the various parts of the body and blood, sending them back to the liver to be recycled or excreted out of the body via bile. Lp(a) is a sticky lipoprotein, associated with very atherogenic activity, mostly affects people of African ancestry. All of these lipoproteins can be damaging to our arteries, including the so called “good” cholesterol carried by HDL.

To be clear, lipoproteins like LDL and HDL are not cholesterol! They are what they sound like: lipid/fat attached to proteins. (These are lipid/fat that bind to a special protein called apolipoprotein.) LDL and HDL are lipoprotein particles that hold and transport cholesterol. Calling LDL or HDL  “cholesterol” is like calling an elevator transporting people an, “elevator people”. It is an “elevator transporting people”, just like “LDL cholesterol” is really, “LDL transporting cholesterol”. If there is no cholesterol in the LDL, then it is still an LDL particle regardless, with or without cholesterol — same as an elevator is still an elevator whether or not it is transporting anyone. When you hear of arteries being clogged with LDL cholesterol, oftentimes, these LDL are detached from the cholesterol — forming separate oxidized LDL as well as oxidized cholesterol. LDL and cholesterol only become plaque when they are oxidized. This formation is what leads to what we know as arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.

All lipoproteins can be damaging to the arteries. For example, LDL comes primarily in two patterns: Pattern A — which is large and buoyant; and Pattern B  — which is small, hard and dense. It is this Pattern B that is the “bad cholesterol” associated with plaque formation. MGmin-LDL is another particular form of LDL that is quite sticky, and capable of easily forming plaques in the arteries. HDL comes also in two main forms: A1 — which is considered the desirable form; and A1/A11 — which may serve no discernable purpose in helping the arteries. And further, HDL that carries the apolipoportein C-III is actually quite damaging to the arteries. So HDL type also does matter! (So consider, then, getting the advanced lipid profile, to distinguish these differing patterns of lipoproteins and cholesterol however.)

But what is plaque — and how is it formed. And why is it formed?

When our arteries are damaged by the foods we eat, the toxins we inhale or absorb through our skin, then these toxins damage the inner layers of the blood vessel walls. These toxins bruise the arteries that supply nutrients to the organs because arteries are much more susceptible to injury more so than veins are. When the endothelial layers of these arteries are damaged, then a signal is given, and small oxidized LDL cholesterol comes in to patch up these damages. Then another signal is given for macrophage cells sent by the immune system to engulf these oxidized LDL — the development of what we call foam cells. Then fibrin comes in to clot the area. Then calcium along with other cellular debris byproduct come in to harden and stabilize the region. This is a survival mechanism initiated by the body to prevent a sudden heart attack! But as this progression goes on unimpeded, the arteries begin to narrow, and blood flow becomes jeopardized.

But what should our cholesterol numbers be then? When you get a lipid test, you want your LDL to range anywhere between 130 – 150, 139 being the sweet spot least associated with heart disease, for those not on medication. Your HDL should not be below 40, for below 40 is the start of potential heart disease. And if you are female, that HDL should not be below 50. In fact you may want HDL ideally between 55 and 65. Lp(a) level — which currently is hardly ever tested — should normally be less than 10 mg/dL. ApoB (a.k.a. ApoB100) is the main structural protein of LP(a), which in high levels, is associated with a greater risk for strokes and heart attacks. Normal levels range between 50 to 80 mg/dL. You also want your triglycerides to be below 150, and even more preferably below 100.

But what exactly causes our arteries to bruise in the first place that would cause the need for cholesterol and LDL plaque formation? It is the oxidized fats and oil that we consume — oxycholesterol — that is rancid from the beginning, that causes chaos. It is the chronic lack of certain nutrients in our diet. It is the excess sugar and the insulin resistance that builds in our blood. It is the high animal protein diet that we consume that our pancreas and lymphatic system cannot handle, and that creates high homocysteine levels. And it is the heavy metals and other toxins, like glyphosate and fluoride that we put in our system. These are the causes that wreak havoc on our blood vessel walls.

Personally though, my cholesterol levels were very high over a year ago, especially my LDL section of cholesterol. So I went on a quest, to eat healthy, reduce sugar and reduce excess animal protein, and to avoid all the toxic chemicals and heavy metals found in food and drinks, and even in the air. Then one year later, I rechecked my cholesterol numbers. They were almost exactly the same! My cholesterol numbers did not improve even though I was supposedly doing all the right things! What gives!?

Fixing high cholesterol can be very tricky, and involves specific planning and  following a specific protocol. First, you must find the things that remove excess cholesterol. Then you must find the things to heal the wounded blood vessels. Then you must find the things that prevent the blood vessels from wounding in the first place.

Removing high cholesterol from your blood should never be your primary goal — which is actually the only goal of most cholesterol-lowering drugs. That is why those on these drugs never fix their heart disease problem. In fact, lowering cholesterol for these people is like taking a bandaid off of a wound that never heals! If you remove cholesterol from the arteries, then you must replace that cholesterol with what the arteries need to become healthy again. Furthermore, these medications do not remove the undesirable Pattern B LDL and its cholesterol — but they remove the very needed Pattern A LDL and its cholesterol, creating a worse situation.

So, what will remove the bad type of LDL and bad type of any lipoprotein or cholesterol, what will heal the arteries, and what will prevent this cascade from reoccurring again are the real questions!

To stop the body from producing excess bad cholesterol, black garlic, grapefruit pectin and (a limited small amount of) plant sterols will do that! To heal the damaged arteries, an ayurvedic herb called amla will do that, along with an absorbable form of magnesium, like malate, glycinate, taurate or citrate. To prevent excess bad cholesterol from building in the blood, an ayurvedic herb called kutki will do that — opening up the bile ducts, thus preventing cholesterol and bile from getting stuck in the liver, gallbladder and, consequently, the blood.

So fixing high cholesterol is an at least four steps:

1. Removing bad cholesterol through black garlic, grapefruit pectin and a small amount of plant sterols. Black garlic contains compounds that directly impact the well-being of blood vessel walls. I do not recommend regular garlic or raw garlic, which can actually damage the blood vessels even more. Also, plant sterols containing beta-sitosterol, beta-sitostanol, stigmasterol, and avenasterol will also lower cholesterol numbers. But this must be done on a limited basis — safely about twice per week — else plant sterols may have an opposite effect, increasing heart disease symptoms. The best natural source of plant sterols is probably sea buckthorn berry oil, which may be used more frequently.

2. Using amla because it contains natural vitamin C and copper, which are the nutrients needed to fix damaged blood vessels. In fact, an unusual rise in LDL or decrease in HDL is a sure indicator that natural vitamin C and copper needs to be increased in the diet! Acerola may work as well — at doses of about 500 mg per day.

3. Adding an absorbable form of magnesium, such as magnesium taurate, will actually mature LDL into HDL. In other words, magnesium increases the good HDL particles carrying cholesterol back to the liver for excretion!

4. Adding the bitter herb kutki stimulates bile flow. This bile flow frees trapped cholesterol from building up in the blood. It also prevents the liver from over-producing too much cholesterol. Kutki also prevents cholesterol from becoming oxidized. Other herbs that may help include artichoke extract and burdock root.

Update: Recently, I’ve found an ayurvedic herb that shows power in healing many heart ailments. It may even lower oxidized LDL and its cholesterol. That herb is called Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna).

I cannot recommend red yeast rice or niacin for cholesterol problems. Some red yeast rice products contain mycotoxins, such as citrinin, which is damaging to the liver. Niacin in high doses can create a situation of insulin resistance — the very thing someone with high cholesterol is trying to avoid. And though niacin may raise HDL numbers, it may be the ineffective form of HDL that’s being raised!

Even the plant sterols that I do recommend, should be short term — 3 months — twice per week, since plant sterols are poorly understood, and can cause a condition known as sitosterolemia in people with genetic defects.

Defeat Diabetes

Posted on by Diogenes II

­

Diabetes — type 2 diabetes i.e. — cannot simply be defined as high blood sugar or having too much sugar in the blood. High blood sugar is only a symptom of diabetes. What diabetes really is is a metabolic dysfunction affecting the entire biological system of the body, including the endocrine system, the circulatory system and the lymphatic system. These systems malfunctioned because of a disruption of the flow of energy into cells and the metabolic waste out of cells. We often think of insulin as the hormone that guides glucose into cells. But insulin has a greater, multipurpose task — to guide potassium, magnesium and other minerals out of and back into cells. If there is not adequate potassium or magnesium in these cells, then these cells cannot utilize glucose — the birth of insulin resistance.

So, we see that insulin resistance happens for a reason — because the cells do not have the minerals to metabolize the carbohydrates and protein we digest. You might think the simple solution may be to add potassium and magnesium to our diet, so that insulin can then allow glucose into the cells. But that would be the case only if enough damage has not already been done.

In the days, weeks, months or years that cells were not allowing insulin to usher glucose into them — insulin resistance — these cells were suffering malnutrition and dying. The blood vessels on the farther regions of our body, like the toes and feet, where blood circulation was jeopardized, took the brunt of the hit. Hence we often hear of diabetics becoming amputees. During those years when these cells were suffering from malnutrition, the blood took a hit, with high levels of insulin and glucose roaming, with no place to go, and causing destruction where ever they lay. The blood then became thick. Then the liver took a hit — because the liver needs aging, thin blood to turn into bilirubin and to make bile for that liver. Then the liver took a greater hit, by becoming congested with thick glue-like bilirubin from thick blood, that was not properly becoming the constituent of bile.

Furthermore, the cholesterol ingested from food and made by the liver piled up with no where to go due to the lack of proper bile formation and flow. Then the bile in the liver and gallbladder became sludge. Then the sludge became intrahepatic stones, and extrahepatic stones in the gallbladder. Then the gallbladder became clogged, unable to release bile for digesting fats and other nutrients from foods. Then the cholesterol that constituted a part of bile raised circulating cholesterol numbers because of being stuck in bile. Then our triglycerides — the stored sugars in fat cells — started rising in the liver and in the blood. So now, not only do we have high blood sugar and high insulin, but we also have high blood cholesterol, high bilirubin, high triglycerides, and yes, eventually even high blood pressure!

Then that clogged blood and clogged liver now clogs the pancreas. Now the pancreas which delivers enzymes and hormones across its narrow pancreatic duct or directly into the bloodstream, begins to misfire, producing either too much insulin and then as time goes by, too little insulin. Now not only do we have a fatty liver, from high triglycerides forming — we now have a fatty pancreas, an exhausted fatty pancreas working on overdrive.

Now the lymphatic system which usually drains large metabolic waste, and large protein debris, turns into a highway with a major traffic jam at all of the hundreds of major lymph nodes. This is manifested visibly with an enlarged stomach, and a stiff neck desperately needing a massage.

Then the kidneys — which do the hardest work – filtering junk from the blood, take a hit. They can no longer filter these large particles and other toxins that should have been processed already by the liver, the pancreas and the lymphatic system. The kidneys then become like a clogged fishing net that is unable to drain out the seaweeds of filth caught in the mesh lines of its net. Now we have high uric acid building up in the kidney walls and the ureter, leading to sciatic pain for some people. Now we have kidney stones slowly forming, constituting mainly of calcium, for some other people.

So now we see that diabetes is not just a high blood sugar problem — it is an internal pandemic of great bodily proportion. Reducing sugar intake at this point will not fix the problem — it only delays it. Fixing the problem involves nourishing the cells with the nutrients they need, like potassium, magnesium, copper, zinc and sodium, while simultaneously repairing the damages that cascaded from a lack of such nutrients, and the great damages that high insulin and glucose in the blood created.

Fixing this internal diabetic pandemic involves reshaping a fatty liver into a healthy liver, a fatty pancreas into a vibrant pancreas and opening the pancreatic ducts and bile ducts that have been clogged with sludge or gallstones; and removing uric acid or kidney stones from the walls of the kidneys. All of this involves eating healthy foods, staying properly hydrated, staying away from unhealthy foods and unhealthy drinks, using herbs and other supplements that nourish the body instead of harming it.

These herbs that help the system work properly again include bitters, like artichoke, kutki, guduchi, andrographis, ginger, swedish bitters and others like them. Manjistha is needed to help clear the traffic jam in the lymphatic system. Things that help the system also include lumbrokinase enzymes to help rebuild and clear up the pancreas. (Boluoke is a patented lumbrokinase enzymes product made from real earthworms.) Dandelion is also needed for proper kidney function, and olive leaf extract for the blood.

In dealing with slowing the rate of glucose absorbing or building in the blood, there are excellent herbs to deescalate the process of hyperglycemia, namely fenugreek (my favorite); quality, organic jiaogulan tea (gynostemma pentaphyllum) and banaba leaf (not banana).

There are vitamins that will help metabolize glucose more efficiently, especially vitamin B1 (thiamine), which is greatly depleted when there is too much sugar in the blood. So we need to replace this vitamin. Brands like allithiamine or thiamax in small doses, for a short period of time, would be ideal.

There are minerals that will help metabolize glucose more efficiently, especially chromium, potassium and magnesium. A natural food-base source of chromium is: Nutrigold Chromium Gold. Potassium rich food include yam and coconut water. Magnesium is found in leafy greens and supplements like magnesium malate or taurate.

But what are the main culprits that causes us to develop diabetes in the first place? Perhaps that answer lies in the world of consuming excess animal products, like muscle meat, fish, chicken, eggs and milk. These foods when used in excess, and especially when fried, often, cause insulin to raise higher than even consuming sugary foods. Furthermore, often eating these foods fried or grilled create damaging advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) to develop in the blood and clog blood vessels and capillaries from receiving the nutrients they truly need.

But how do we know we have diabetes in the first place? Good question! Frequent thirst and irritating nightly urination are classical indicators. Diabetes is a silent killer, and most people who have it, or are developing it, do not know either, until some dramatic event calls them into action. Most doctors test glucose levels which indicate the amount of glucose in the blood at that specific moment. But the glucose test can be deceptive. It may show normal even when something is terribly wrong. A more accurate test is the HbA1c test. This test tests for glucose attached to haemoglobin in blood from the prior two or three months. An ideal number should be between 4% to 5.6%. And 5.7% to 6.4%  indicates pre-diabetes. And 6.5% or greater is full blown diabetes. Another test is called the HOMA-IR (i.e. Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance). This tests for the amount of fasting insulin in the blood, that your body needs to keep your blood sugar levels in check. An ideal number should be less than 1.0. The normal HOMA-IR value for a healthy adult ranges from 0.5 to 1.4. And 2.0 to 2.9 indicates some insulin resistance. And 3.0 or greater is full blown insulin resistance! High fasting insulin is indicative of inflammation. Inflammation raises LDL cholesterol.

So where should we start in preventing or reversing diabetes?

  • To manage excess glucose and excess insulin in the blood immediately, use chromium, vitamin B1 and fenugreek, as mentioned above.
  • To fix the liver, try a bitter herb, like artichoke extract or kutki.
  • To keep the lymphatic system flowing, try manjistha.
  • To fix the pancreas, try lumbrokinase enzymes, specifically Boluoke, which is a natural product and not synthetic.
  • To heal the kidneys, try dandelion root.
  • To revitalize the blood, try olive leaf extract. 
  • And of course, eat properly, avoiding the wrong type of milk, excess animal muscle meat, and avoid excess fried foods, while simultaneously increasing magnesium and potassium rich vegetables like bok choy, yu choy, asparagus, yam, black beans, kohlrabi, parsnip, (crimini) mushrooms and black garlic.

Addendum:

  • Intermittent fasting done correctly will also help
  • So does exercise
  • So does reducing stress, thereby improving sleep quality

My Most Cherished Herbs

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Herbs are used as fragrances, spices for food and for medical purposes. It is the latter that I’m concerning about in this article. I’ve read of the many benefits herbs can be on one’s health, especially if used properly in tea-form. I’ve also been using various herbs for years, and I will say that I’ve been truly amazed at some of the results. They do work, if you know which ones to take, for what reason to take them and what time to take them.
I have a list of about fifty herbs that have more than piqued my curiosity. But for the sake of sanity, time and practicality, I have narrowed my focus on nine special herbs, that have done and can do wholesale health benefits on one’s constitution. The nine herbs I will focus in this article are:

1. Guduchi
2. Kutki
3. Manjistha
4. Red root
5. Olive leaf extract
6. Amla
7. Ashwagandha
8. Turmeric
9. Eclipta Alba

Guduchi

Of all the herbs I love, guduchi often comes to mind first when I think of a healing herb. It is like a low-dose multivitamin, filled with important minerals like magnesium, calcium, copper and selenium. It is most famous for being a prized ayurvedic herb for liver function.

Guduchi a.k.a. Tinospora cordifolia a.k.a. Amrita a.k.a. Giloy is an immune system booster. It helps increase activity of macrophage cells. It enhances the efficiency of white blood cells. It alleviates allergic rhinitis a.k.a. hay fever a.k.a. seasonal allergies. These allergies that are often a sign of a compromised immune system are sensitive most famously to pollen in the air. Guduchi reduces nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing and sneezing caused by these allergens.

I personally use guduchi as a liver and kidney detoxifier, and a blood cleanser. It truly tonifies the blood, moving toxins from the extremities and placing them in a position to be detoxified by the liver and out of the alimentary canal.

Guduchi has a heating effect on the internal organs, opening up pores for better nutrient absorption, oxygen absorption and better breathing. It works wonders for asthma and respiratory infections.

Guduchi is also anti-inflammatory, reducing uric acid build-up, thus also reducing ailments like rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Other herbs like ginger and (the fruit) amla increase the effectiveness of guduchi with these conditions. Guduchi and amla powder made into a paste may alleviate many skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis.

Guduchi may also have adaptogen-like properties, able to balance hormones and reduce stress.

Guduchi has been used in folklore as a cancer cell/tumor inhibitor, capable of repairing damaged DNA and preventing damages to our DNA.

For those with high blood sugar, guduchi may be a good option. It is known to slow the rate of digestion of carbohydrates/sugar, thus lessening the body’s need for excess insulin. Be cautious when taking diabetic medications with guduchi — blood sugar may become too low.

Guduchi is best taken as an infused herb, meaning, you boil water, then pour it with the herb powder, and consume it as a tea.

Kutki

When it comes to liver health and fixing liver diseases such as fatty liver, cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis, I cannot think of anything stronger or better than kutki. Kutki is another bitter herb that is renowned in ayurveda for reversing liver damage. If you have gallstones and liver stones, if your liver is not producing enough bile, think kutki!

Kutki a.k.a. picrorhiza kurroa is a difficult plant to grow. It is the root that is mostly used for medicinal purposes. It may take up to two years before harvesting. Beware of farmers looking for a shortcut.

Kutki protects against fatty liver of almost any cause. It’s ayurveda’s premier liver, gallbladder herb. If you are thinking about doing a liver flush, consider kutki first. It contains picroside I, picroside II and kutkin, which are compounds believed by science to be the sources of its healing power. Kutki is very effective at causing cholagogue — stimulation of bile flow from the liver into the intestines — for the digestion of fat, and the lubrication of the intestines. It may also reduce excess bilirubin and excess liver enzymes.

Kutki is both a bitter and pungent herb, which is unusual. Most herbs are either one or the other. The benefits of bitter is that it cools the body from excessive heat. The purpose of pungent is that, like hot and spicy herbs, it has a cleansing effect, without actually being hot and spicy, like hot pepper. These properties produces proper levels of stomach acid, spleen heat and detoxifies environmental toxins such as cadmium, and even food toxins in alcohol.

Secondary to helping heal the liver, kutki may reduce circulating triglycerides and oxidized LDL cholesterol — without affecting HDL levels.

Manjistha

Manjistha a.k.a. Rubia cordifolia a.k.a. Indian madder is another cherished ayurvedic herb. It specializes in reinvigorating and moving the alkaline fluid within our lymphatic system. The fluid in our lymphatic system moves in an upward direction, from our feet and legs, up toward our stomach area, where it is coiled and concentrated in a sac-like system known as the cisterna chyli. This is where lymph fluid often gets clogged. Here is where manjistha also works its magic, unwinding clogged pathways of this drainage system. Manjistha is also known for many other things consequently, being a blood purifier, and a skin rejuvenator.

Prime constituents in manjistha include purpurin, munjistin, xanthopurpurin and pseudopurpurin. Secondary metabolites include alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and anthraquinones. A natural antioxidant, manjistha may enhance other antioxidant markers, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione S. transferase (GST).

Manjistha is useful for treating calcium deficiency, relieves mentrual pain and menstrual hormonal imbalances. It is also said to destroy tumors, heal diabetic ulcers and remove gallstones.

Among the skin conditions that may see an improvement from manjistha include psoriasis, eczema, and acne. It overall may present you with a more healthy, glowing skin tone.

Manjistha seems to have an affinity for women’s health. Not only may it improve skin tone — providing a more youthful appearance — it, by removing excess heat from the body, also provides relief for liver and kidney function, and balancing hormones in the process. If you are suffering from amenorrhea, you may want to give manjistha a try. Being that it improves all moving liquid in the body — the blood, interstitial fluid, lymph, urine — no wonder how it may be good at improving our immune system and balancing hormones. It also may reverse edema.

Manjistha stem and especially root are what’s mostly used as the healing properties. Look for only organic and sustainably sourced manjistha. Manjistha root is red and has traditionally been used as a dye through various cultures — careful, as it may stain your teeth.

Red Root

Red Root a.k.a. Ceanothus (americanus) a.k.a. “Jersey tea” is a nitrogen fixing shrub. In that, it makes blood flow easier without thinning the blood. Therefore, avoid this herb if you are on blood thinners and coagulants. Red root is an immune system booster, capable of reducing mucus by stimulating the mucous membrane and by acting as an expectorant. It also may relieve sore throat, strep throat and the flu and cold viruses. It provides inflammation defense, microbial defense, respiratory support and lymphatic support.

Like manjistha, red root works on the lymphatic system, specifically the lymph nodes. We have over 500 lymph nodes throughout our lymphatic system. Red Root is effective against swollen, inflamed lymph nodes. It also supports and protects another important lymphatic organ: the spleen. A proper working spleen produces clean blood.

Red Root is for temporary use only. It may interfere with iron and other mineral absorption. As previously mentioned, it should not be taken with blood thinners and coagulants.

Olive leaf extract

Olive leaf extract is one of the safest herbs to consume on the regular basis. Prized since ancient Egypt, and perhaps before, olive leaf is indeed from the fruit tree we know so well that produces olives and olive oil. This herb is a natural antioxidant that truly boosts the immune system, helping to destroy viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Both a preventative and curative herb, olive leaf extract contains a polyphenol called oleuropein, which may manage some forms of hypertension (high blood pressure) if used regularly.  Then there are other antioxidant  metabolites produced, like hydroxytyrosol, only found in this herb.

As an antioxidant and immune system booster, olive leaf extract may inhibit the over-activation of mTOR (a cellular intermediate that helps build things like muscle and even carcinogenic agents), reduce DNA damage, increase the activity of the antioxidant glutathione peroxidase, and thus fight tumors and cells associated with cancer.

Olive leaf extract is also good for some skin conditions, especially shingles.

Olive leaf extract is NOT a full spectrum antibiotic. Don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t reduce candidiasis . Also do not take this herb with other antibiotics — they may cancel each other’s effectiveness out.

Amla

Amla a.k.a. Emblica officinalis a.k.a. Indian gooseberry is not an herb, but rather a fruit that grows on an herb tree of the same name. Amla is used for both preventative and therapeutic purposes. It contains a small amount of vitamin C. However this vitamin C is potent due to polyphenols which keeps it intact. Amla is an antioxidant which may lower inflammation, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and prevent LDL oxidation.

Amla may promote longevity through mechanisms not yet fully understood by science. What is known is that it contains tannoids which may reduce cataract and diabetic retinopathy, thus making amla somewhat neuroprotective.

In lab tests, amla decimates cancer cells, including lung cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian and colorectal cancer. This is partially due to the fact that it protects our DNA from heavy metal damage, and also raises intracellular levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD).

Amla is good for moving the bowels and also the lymphatic system. If you are suffering from constipation or a sluggish bowel, consider amla as a preventative and therapeutic agent for this purpose. If your lymphatic system is stagnant, higher doses of amla will eventually get it moving. Alma is included in an ayurvedic blend of berries to alleviate constipation, known as triphala.

Being a source of natural,stable vitamin C, amla is many more times potent than ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is falsely claimed to be vitamin C, when really it is only the outer protective coating of true vitamin C. True vitamin C contains an enzymatic form of copper known as tyrosinase, which amla does have.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha root is now known to be a very powerful adaptogen, meaning, it knows how to adapt the body’s stress response and homeostatic balance from external and internal influences. It reduces excess cortisol (excess cortisol may cause inflammation, raise insulin and deplete other important hormones like dopamine and testosterone).

Ashwagandha increases progesterone levels in both men and women. Progesterone burns fat — so ashwagandha burns fat by increasing progesterone. Not only does it burn fat, it also increases muscle size (especially in the quadriceps), strength and endurance. It may reduce fat  deposits at the waistline.

Ashwagandha may improve every aspect of human sexuality, increasing sexual arousal, particularly in women, being women have more progesterone than men, and ideally leading to more good estrogen in women. It also lubricates the vagina, increases — to a noticeable extent — sperm quantity and motility. Orgasm between both sexes are enhanced with ashwagandha.

You may be tempted to use ashwagandha often for the reasons stated above — however, ashwagandha is for temporarily use only. An over-consumption of this herb can cause an overreaction of everything else. It may become irritating to the stomach’s mucosal layer, causing a form of gastritis.

Ashwagandha, additionally, is good for brain function, focus and memory. It has gaba-mimicking qualities, being anti-anxiety and depression reducing. This herb is currently being tested as a natural remedy for Alzheimer’s disease. Damaged neurons are being restored in lab tests when given this herb.

Be careful where and who you buy ashwagandha from. Not all ashwagandha are equal. Some brands may provide all the benefits listed, while others — not even one. There are compounds in ashwagandha that if not dosed properly, will not provide the claimed benefits. One of those compounds is known as withanolides. Being a skeptic myself, I personally do not believe this is the main ingredient that makes ashwagandha what it is. I believe there is much more to learn about this great herb.

Ashwagandha is also a great sleep aid. This may seem contradictory, being this herb is usually used in the morning to stimulate and get us through the day. However, taking ashwagandha 2 hours before bedtime will reveal its adaptogenic effect in helping you to sleep.

As noted earlier, ashwagandha is not for everyday use. It may increase autoimmune activity and make things worse. It may worsen thyroid disorders, increasing unwanted thyroid hormonal levels. It may irritate the gastrointestinal tract and give rise to ulcers. It may decrease blood pressure and make things worse if you are already on hypertension medication. It is advised to stop using ashwagandha two weeks before surgery, as it may exacerbate bleeding. For these reasons, I believe it is best to use ashwagandha as a decocted tea, meaning, you boil the herb parts or powder in water for a period of time, let the sediments settle for discarding, and drink the hot liquid portion.

Turmeric

A very popular spice in Indian cuisine, turmeric has made its way as an in-demand herb from ayurveda. From the same family as ginger, turmeric has anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties. Turmeric is being studied for its ability to destroy tumors and cancer cells.

Lab tests done have revealed turmeric is capable of fighting certain cancers, like prostate, colorectal and bladder cancer, arresting these cells, bursting them and causing apoptosis. Metastasis and tumor growth were reduced. The mechanism how this is done is not fully known.

Anti-inflammatory compounds in turmeric, interleukin-I and interleukin-II, control cytokines from wreaking havoc and more inflammation by lowering the body’s ability to send pain signals to the brain. This makes turmeric an ideal source for chronic pain relief, such as general arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.

Turmeric may reduce your need for exogenous antioxidants by raising the body’s own antioxidant levels, superoxide dismutase, glutathione and catalase. This thus protects cells against DNA damage.

Turmeric may improve cognitive function — reducing anxiety and depression. It may improve memory and focus. It is actually currently being studied for its ability to reverse Alzheimer’s disease.

Turmeric when consumed is not evenly distributed throughout the body though.  It is not even absorbed easily by the body. Coconut oil or black pepper (piperine) must be added to increase turmeric’s absorption rate — and they do this quite well. Furthermore, foods containing quercetin inhibit turmeric’s absorption. And to make things even more complicated, black pepper is an allergen for many people.

Turmeric is not for daily consumption. There may be a reason why the body does not absorb turmeric well by itself. It is not one of those herbs you should take everyday. In fact, right now many people are abusing turmeric by taking too much of it. The thinking is if a little is good, a lot must be better. This is truly not the case. An over-consumption of turmeric in lab tests have resulted in increased mTOR and ACTUAL increased cancer cell formation, liver damage and decreased testosterone levels. As an herb high in oxalates, too much turmeric may chelate certain important minerals and vitamins out of the body, like copper and biotin. On a positive note though, turmeric also help chelate toxins and heavy metals out of the body, like mercury, lead and unbound iron.

1/4 teaspoon of turmeric three times per week may be the ideal, safe dosage of this herb.

Eclipta alba

Eclipta alba may never become a famous herb like the others. It is quite unique and different than any of the others listed. Also known as False Daisy, Eclipta prostrate, Bhringraj and Yerba de Tago, Eclipta alba is a species of the sunflower family and whose leaves are known as a liver tonic, a hair tonic and color rejuvenator and may even grow back hair on some people who have lost theirs. It is also an immunostimulant.

I personally have used this herb orally for many months in the hopes of obtaining my lost hair back. It did not work. I didn’t grow any extra hair, but I also didn’t loss more. To my understanding, for this herb to grow hair, it ought to be made into a paste and placed on the scalp area needed; and it should be used in conjunction with other herbs/supplements to obtain the desired effects. The petroleum ether extract of this herb has been used along with other herbs — Citrullus Colocynthis and  Cuscuta Relexa — in repeated studies to produce hair regrowth.

Eclipta Alba may benefit the liver — mainly consisting of coumestans i.e. wedelolactone polypeptides, and flavonoids. Coumestans are known to possess estrogenic activity. Wedelolactone possesses a wide range of biological activities and is used for the treatment of hepatitis and cirrhosis. Thus, Eclipta Alba may be both reparative and nourishing to a damaged liver.

This explains the other benefits associated with consuming Eclipta Alba: cooling the blood, healing eye problems, healing skin problems such as eczema and acne, antibacterial and anti-hemorrhagic. This herb is also noted to lessen anger in participants who use it. In Chinese medicine, anger is stored in the liver — if the liver is free and working properly, anger does not store, but is released.

As previously mentioned, this herb contains immunostimulatory properties. It may increase B-cell count, as well as macrophage activity. It may also even  inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Lab tests have revealed a reduction in hepatic, kidney and glioma cancer cells.

As with most herbs, there is often some compound that would prevent continuous usage. As previously mentioned, Eclipta Alba contains estrogenic compounds. This will be compromising to men whose hormonal balance is already compromised with too much exogenous estrogen. Man boobs may appear, hair loss and enlarged prostate may manifest. Also, for women, a hormonal imbalance may occur between estrogen and progesterone levels, with too much exogenous estrogen, leading to painful periods, or even amenorrhea. So for these reasons, Eclipta Alba should be used with caution and at the right time and amount.

You may have noticed most of these herbs share common denominators: they are immune system boosters, cancer fighters and liver rejuvenators! It is best to consume them either decocted or infused in tea form, and separating the tea from the residual sediments. Herbs should also be consumed ideally 3 times per week and generally no more. They also should be rotated so that our cells do not become overly adapted to them.

Caution should be taken while using herbs with any medication, if pregnant or breastfeeding and two weeks before surgery. Typical side effects — though rare — may include: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, stomach upset, skin rash, anemia, constipation and/or diarrhea.

 

Some of these herbs can be purchased at the recommendations below:

 

 

 

Belly Fat: The Root Cause

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

When your stomach is permanently bloated with ‎belly fat, think the worst, but hope for the best — you may have fatty liver. Fatty liver is a serious condition since a healthy liver is of vital importance to overall health. If the liver and its bile storage sac — the gallbladder — are clogged, then every other organ is affected — every other organ is clogged. Even the blood is clogged.

I have been looking like I was pregnant since I was 3 years old. I always had a hard, bloated stomach — and I always suffered from chronic constipation because of stress, a dysfunctional family, bad grades, poverty and loneliness.
I surprisingly overcame my constipation at the age of 20 simply by taking vitamin B1 (50 mg) for four days. Wow!!!

But the bloated, hard stomach continued. I realized I had damaged my liver and intestines almost permanently with the stress and bad choices I had made.
Insulin is a major cause of belly fat, visceral fat, fatty liver, ascites, or whatever you may want to call it. But I would like to add something else.

Our small intestine is long — very long. Ranging from 9 feet in length, up to 34 feet; but typically between 15 to 20 feet in length. If there is a traffic jam, guess what? Big problems. So I’ve learned if there is something wrong with the stomach, then there is something wrong with the liver, the gallbladder, the bile duct, the pancreas, the spleen, the intestines, the blood, and the lymphatic system. Wow! Where to start then?

Recently, I’ve been noticing a lot of products sold within the United States is enriched (wheat) flour, meaning fortified with iron, meaning synthetic iron filing, meaning rusting the organs. Could these synthetic iron filings be causing a disruption in the gut? Could it be damaging the pancreas? Could it be one of the causes, if not the main cause of insulin resistance, and thus belly fat? Could it be that we have too much free iron in us, wreaking havoc, in us?

A chronic bloated stomach, or belly fat, is a blatant indication that your internal organs are not working properly. Your endocrine system and the hormones it produces are not working properly. Your process of detoxification and elimination are compromised. Your lymphatic system, which can also be regarded as a drainage system, is most likely clogged somewhere. The lymph nodes may be even building toxins and becoming swollen. In severe cases, your blood may become so toxic from metabolic waste backing up, that it may have no choice but to use your own skin as a source of dumping site. Thus you develop the manifestation of skin disorders: psoriasis, eczema, acne. And the list goes on.

From personal experience, soft belly fat may not be that dangerous. It could simply be fat accumulation, namely subcutaneous fat, caused by hormonal imbalance. However, if the belly fat is hard and bloated, that may be indicative of something more serious. It may indicate small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or something like too much insulin in the blood! Even more troubling, it may indicate visceral fat, meaning, fat is accumulating around the organs, vital organs — especially the liver. The liver is a living organ that needs space, and needs to breathe. Fat accumulation around this organ is sinister, filled with carbon dioxide, toxins and metabolic waste. This type of fat stifles the liver, and prevents it from performing its vital duties.

When the liver is stifled and prevented from doing its duties, the blood takes a hit. It becomes thick and dirty. When the blood loses its vitality, the lymphatic system takes a hit. Instead of draining toxins and metabolic waste, it too becomes clogged and polluted, like a toilet bowl filled with sewage that just won’t flush! Then the heart takes a hit – the birth of hypertension and heart disease!

As I indicated earlier — so long as we’re not practicing any other obvious bad habits — the food we eat may be the main culprit for these cascading events. Manufacturers are processing food in such a way, they deplete all of the nutrients out of them. These manufacturers think they are doing us a favor by putting these nutrients back in synthetic form. But vitamins and minerals made in a lab does not come close to the real thing, even though chemistry-wise, they may look like the real thing. Our bodies will indeed accept these chemically derived nutrients for a while. But eventually, microscopic damage will slowly build up into inflammation and autoimmune diseases that could have been avoided if we were consuming real food, the way nature intended.

Read the labels of the food you buy. Beware of anything listed as:

Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate {Vitamin B1}, Riboflavin {Vitamin B2}, Folic Acid) 🔻 Hydrogenated Rapeseed 🔻 Maltodextrin 🔻 Aspartame 🔻 High Fructose Corn Syrup 🔻 Ascorbic Acid 🔻 Soy Lecithin 🔻 Invert Sugar 🔻 Artificial Color 🔻 Canola Oil 🔻 Palm Oil and Carrageenan.

Often, on these labels, “enriched flour” usually tops the list, meaning, this is the main ingredient. Like I said earlier, enriched flour is simply a fancy word for, among other things, synthetic iron filings. If iron is not absorbed properly in our bodies, then, like tools left out in the rain and environment, it will rust our organs. Iron is notorious for rusting our liver. Iron needs a carrier, like hemoglobin or haptoglobin to perform its functions properly. If it is free and unbound, as is the case with “enriched flour”, then it is no longer a mineral. Like mercury, lead, and arsenic, it is now a heavy metal, wreaking havoc and puncturing holes where it should not be. The body thus considers it a foreign object, and treats it as such — because it is. Now comes the birth of what we may call gluten intolerance or celiac disease or autoimmune disease. Now comes leaky gut, gallstones in the gallbladder, pancreatitis, insulin resistance, diabetes, Hashimoto’s, Parkinson’s disease and a host of other diseases science has no clue what causes them. Or so they claim.

So what is the solution? Eat healthy. Eat fresh vegetables, especially leafy greens, and fruits, especially berries, made by nature, which gained their life-force from the sun. Avoid synthetic unless you don’t have a choice. Drink natural spring water that contains minerals. Eat small amounts of animal meat and their organs, that when they were alive were allowed the graze out in the sun on natural, organic grass, that grow in pristine, rich, mineral soil. Consider certain sea-foods like oysters, harvested from pristine waters and rich in mineral content, on a limited bases.

But the damage done may have been so strong, that we may need to take it a step further. We may need to add certain healing herbs to fix and cleanse the liver, blood and lymphatic system. For the liver, the ayurvedic herb kutki is legendary for rebuilding damages done to it. For the lymphatic system, another ayurvedic herb called manjistha will unclog it, thus simultaneously cleansing the blood. Olive leaf extract has been made famous since biblical times as a healing herb for general health and well-being.

I personally follow these recommendations listed. In addition, I may occasionally include a heavy metal detox with IP-6 – inositol, to chelate unbound iron out of my body. I may also include modified citrus pectin, to bind and chelate any other toxins or heavy metal out of my system. It is not a quick process. It may take months before seeing noticeable results. Keep in mind that herbs should typically be used only three (3) times per week, and are best decocted or infused into tea form. Keep in mind also that IP-6 chelates not only unbound iron, but calcium and zinc as well. So be sure to be re-instituting your body  with food rich in these minerals after the process.

Osteoporosis: The Root-Cause

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

A condition whereby the bone becomes brittle and weak, developing tiny holes, and causing the potentiality of fracture — that is osteoporosis. This is the dis-ease that works silently and stealthily — causing no pain — until suddenly, there is a fracture! I have found osteoporosis, and its forerunner osteopenia, are caused by the most fascinating of reasons. And it’s not a need for more dietary calcium, as is widely believed amongst allopathic practitioners.

Our liver is the singular, largest organ within our body. Its priority is to store, to detoxify and to produce bile. This bile is stored in the gallbladder, ready to be triggered into the bile duct when especially fat is ingested. If the bile provided for fat breakdown is insufficient, then the fat remains undigested, causing a cascade of malfunction initiating in the small intestines, then in other parts of the body. When fat is not absorbed, calcium is not absorbed either. The blood then seeks its necessary requirements of calcium from the bones: the birth of osteopenia!

But what causes the liver to malfunction and minimize its production of bile? It is stones formed — intrahepatic stones and gallstones, made up of calcium deposits, cholesterol and heavy metals, clogging the liver from performing its natural duty. Among the heavy metals, unbound iron is often the greatest offender.

The elderly tend to be set and stubborn in their ways. A stubbornness towards  taking calcium is no exception. Someone they love and trusts told them calcium was the best thing for bone and osteoporosis. Be patient with them — I too use to think calcium was the Holy Grail of minerals. But of course, it’s not — I was wrong.

Anyone taking high doses of calcium supplements may soon suffer from depression. They will suffer from depression not because of their osteoporosis, but because an increase in calcium decreases magnesium, and that creates a magnesium to calcium ratio imbalance. A magnesium- calcium imbalance is the root of depression. We should be taking magnesium to regulate calcium, and NOT calcium supplements to regulate anything.

What is bone? Bone is a living tissue, breaking down and regenerating itself on a microscopic level at any given moment. It is highly made of protein collagen. Protein collagen is soft, but made hard and flexible by calcium and other minerals. But even more, what is inside bone? Bone marrow! What minerals are in bone marrow? Vitamin A, vitamin K2, copper, manganese, magnesium, silica, selenium, iron — correct? Collagen protein is made of many things, the least of which is calcium.

Silica is more important than calcium for bone health, and is needed for bone density, flexibility and even for calcium absorption. Silica, or its more absorbable form — orthosilicic acid — needs stomach acid to work. To those who are taking antacids, beware. Antacids neutralize stomach acid and mineral absorption!

The mineral boron is also well known by science to play an important and critical role in both bone and joint health and proper functioning. Boron activates cells known as osteoblast, which are responsible for creating new material to build new bone.

The main culprit for osteoporosis is an iron toxicity in the liver, wreaking havoc on bile production. Unbound iron may also be leaching into bone marrow and the bone itself, puncturing little holes and making bones brittle. Our diet should only consist of 1 mg of iron per day. Look around the elderly’s kitchen — don’t be surprised to see stuff loaded with enriched wheat flour, which basically means, synthetic iron and synthetic B vitamins. To get rid of this excess iron, you need ionic boron!

Menopausal women are susceptible to osteopenia and osteoporosis due to hormonal levels dropping significantly. Men with low testosterone are also vulnerable to osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Contrary to popular belief, milk may not make the bones strong from calcium. Milk contains phosphorus. Phosphorus competes with calcium for absorption — phosphorus often being in the winner. Be careful with the over-consumption of phosphorus. All forms of sodas are culprit.

So what have we learned? To fix osteoporosis:

We need to fix the liver to jump-start the adequate production of bile again

We need to remove gallstones and intrahepatic stones

We need to stop taking calcium and things that contains synthetic iron such as breakfast cereals.

For liver health and revitalization, an ayurvedic herb called Kutki has been renowned for rejuvenating a dying liver. A bile acid supplement called TUDCA can increase bile flow.

Start taking magnesium (glycinate or malate), vitamin K2-MK7 in the trans form, bioavailable boron (such as Vibrant Health Super Natural Boron), bioavailable silica (such as bamboo extract or Florasil) and something with natural copper in it (like black sesame seeds). These are the critical nutrients needed to build strong bones again. Natural vitamin C contains copper. Acerola or amla are excellent sources.

Restless Leg Syndrome: The Cause and the Correction

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a condition whereby there is an irresistible urge to move the legs due to dis-ease of the legs and feet. This simple act of moving the legs, or similar body part, effectively causes temporary relief of symptoms — an itch you cannot scratch, the feeling of tiny creatures crawling in your legs. The RLS condition most often occur at rest, and often at night, thereby preventing the person from being able to rest or sleep. Medical science has termed this condition as idiopathic, meaning of unknown cause.

I speculate the origin of this dis-ease may reside in the world of liver and gallbladder malfunction, leading to:

– heavy metal toxicity, mainly unbound iron toxicity disguised as iron anemia, caused by a lack of especially bioavailable copper to regulate the iron

– a lack of vitamins, namely certain B vitamins, especially thiamine (B1) and folate (B9),

– a lack of natural vitamin C that would otherwise maintain collagen, prevent bleeding and balance other minerals, and

– a lack of absorbable magnesium to buffer inflammation and toxicity. (Some people have claimed spraying magnesium on their legs and feet gave them almost instant relief.)

This liver and gallbladder malfunction then lead to neurological effects, and disturbances of the magnetic field of the body. Some people have even reported a relief of symptoms just by rubbing dry soap on their calf area and feet. Could it be the ingredients in soap are acting like a buffer to the magnetic disturbances — could it be a grounding effect to static electricity?

When the body becomes acidic, inflamed and heated, this attracts not only cholesterol (oxidized or otherwise), but also pathogens to the area site. The affected area literally becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses or fungi, caused by said toxicity and chronic lack of nutrients.

If you are having restless leg syndrome, then you are most likely suffering from a liver problem to some degree. The liver is not metabolizing the nutrients out of the foods you eat properly, and the bile from the gallbladder is not properly binding toxins to be expelled out of the body. This then leads to a build up of toxins, and clogging of the gallbladder with stranded toxic bile.

Many of us have liver congestion due to the fact that the gallbladder is filled with gallstones — not allowing bile to flow and recycle properly to digest and metabolize our foods.
There are two ayurvedic herb, namely, kutki and guduchi, that heal most liver problems, gallbladder dysfunctionality and even spleen and pancreatic malfunctions.
A defected liver causes a mineral deficiency of every kind. Vitamin B deficiency is surely partly due to the fact that your liver is not working properly.
I recommend taking natural vitamin B found in either of these two forms:
1. Bee pollen
2. RNA/DNA (RNA/DNA is made from brewer’s yeast, which contains natural B vitamins.)

In addition I recommend taking:
P5P: This is the co-enzyme form of vitamin B6 which is involved in more than 200 metabolic processes. It is the most absorbable form of vitamin B6. It also aids with magnesium absorption.
I also suggest taking:
grass-fed butter, which will provide you with natural vitamin B12.

So in summary, your restless leg syndrome may be caused by a defected liver, clogged gallbladder, heavy metal toxicity, iron build up, mineral deficiency, acidity, inflammation, and pathogenic infection. For these, take:

• Kutki for the liver (1/4 teaspoon), or

– Guduchi for the liver (1/4 teaspoon)

• Ionic or chelated copper to help regulate unbound iron (1.5 mg to 2.5 mg)

• Bee pollen for the B vitamins, or

– RNA/DNA for B vitamins

• P5P for extra absorbable B6 (25 – 50 mg)

• Grassfed butter for B12

• Acerola or amla for natural vitamin C

• Magnesium glycinate or malate (400 mg or more), and

• Natural antibiotics, such as olive leaf extract, pau d’arco and oil of oregano to destroy pathogens.

High Blood Pressure, Clogged Arteries, Heart Disease: All One Disease

Posted on by Diogenes II

 

If you’ve had a non-congenital heart attack, that means one thing: you have gallstones in the gallbladder and intrahepatic stones in the liver, both hard and soft! The liver is the body’s physician; if this is clogged, then it causes a cascade of all other sorts of illnesses. Heart disease is a legendary manifestation of liver problems.

When the liver is clogged, it slows down on doing what it needs to do, like keeping the blood clean. When the blood becomes polluted because of a faulty liver not rejuvenating it, then the lymphatic system also becomes clogged. The lymphatic system is part of a defense mechanism of the body known as the immune system. The immune system keeps things that want to hurt the body at bay. The blood is like a faucet while the lymphatic system is like a drainage — when the drainage gets clogged, bad things happen. When the immune system becomes defenseless, toxins from food and the environment, oxidation creating free radicals, pH imbalance from a stressful internal environment, and bacteria and other pathogens who love stressful environments begin to invade the body internally. The liver should actually be considered a part of our immune system, therefore.

When the liver loses its functionality, the blood takes a hit, then the lymphatic system takes a hit, then the kidneys take a hit. Then the tissues and other organs take a hit. Then cholesterol and inflammation start forming. The undigested protein, along with rogue calcium start clogging vital organs and the arteries that supply them. Then arteries start stiffening. Then blood pressure starts rising. Then the heart becomes larger, trying desperately to keep up with a demanding situation. Then what we know as heart disease starts manifesting. The ultimate penalty to this cascading, stressful event is heart disease, then inevitably, a heart attack.

But it all started with what went into our mouths — the foods we ate — the foods that our liver didn’t like and found hard to process. Simultaneously, the stress of it all caused a naturally confident liver to become shy and timid, and lose its ability to express itself. The liver —  the largest organ internally — becomes weak and angry.

Most high blood pressure — 98 percent of it — are categorized as idiopathic, meaning medical science has no idea what’s causing it. Medical science is baffled by high blood pressure because they are only focused on the blood. Medical science is not looking at the entire picture — the cascading events leading up to hypertension.

Heart problems, such as palpitations, are liver, bile and gallbladder problems rather than directly heart problems! If you have heart problems, you have a broken washing-machine, and the dirty clothes are piling up! The broken washing machine is your liver filled with stones — intrahepatic stones. The pipeline to the washing machine is your gallbladder. It is clogged with stones and sludge too. The detergent that should be running in the washing machine is bile, but since it has become thick or clumpy, with cholesterol-backup and other toxins, it doesn’t flow anymore. The dirty clothes is your heart, which is being affected. In order to clean your clothes (the heart), you must first fix the broken washing machine (the liver) and the pipeline (the gallbladder).

What physicians are apparently not taught in Medical School is that it requires 11 oxygen molecules to make one cholesterol molecule. Now what is that mineral that carries oxygen? Iron. So when cholesterol is being oxidized, what that really means is that it’s being rusted by – a buildup of, you guessed it — IRON!

So, how to fix the washing machine breakdown?
Bitters! The liver loves bitters. If you fix the liver, you automatically fix the gallbladder. If you fix the gallbladder, you automatically fix the bile problem. Bile will start flowing again. We make a lot of bile each day, or at least, we should — up to 4 cup or more, per day!
–
So there is hope. There are ayurvedic herbs and other things that will fix liver problems and gallbladder problems and dissolve intrahepatic stones in the liver and gallstones in the gallbladder. Among the best are:
–
1. Kutki: very good at healing most liver problems.
2. Guduchi: very good for the liver, spleen, pancreas and blood — full of macro and micro nutrients. Good to add it with ginger. 
3. TUDCA: which is a water soluble bile acid, will dilute thick bile in the liver and gallbladder, making it flow more efficiently.
–
Specifically pertaining to the heart and for relief of chest pain, you must watch what you eat — being sure to favor leafy greens and stems and root vegetables. Leafy greens are healing because they were once out in the sun, absorbing its nutrients and life. In addition to changing your diet, drinking adequate spring water or pure coconut water to hydrate your cells and avoiding stress are practical things to improve liver function. There are also specific herbs and supplements that will speed up the recovery of high blood pressure, clogged arteries, chest pain, atrial fibrillation and general heart disease. Among the best are:
1. Arjuna: Above all — this ayurvedic herb has become my number one go-to for heart conditions. I’ve suffered chronic chest pain for over 20 years, and arjuna is most effective and long lasting at resolving that issue for me.
Arjuna works by improving the left ventricle function of the heart. The left ventricle is that chamber of the heart responsible for “pumping” oxygenated blood back into the rest of the body.
2. Hawthorn flower/leaf/berry:

(The flower is the most effective part that heals the heart.) This herb also subsides chest pain, but arjuna is more long lasting. Not all hawthorn sold on the market are effective — you must be sure to obtain quality brands. Hawthorn Supreme from Gaia Herbs is a good brand.

3. Ubiquinol: This is the absorbable form of Co Q10. Your body converts Co Q10 (otherwise known as ubiquinone) into ubiquinol. Uniqunol energizes the cells of the heart’s many mitochondrias. Take100 mg per day.

4. Dan Shen: This herb — also known as Salvia miltiorrhiza  — is found in traditional Chinese medicine — it actually dissolves blood clots, and reduces arterial plaque. You will find this in a Chinatown herbalist store. (Do not take this herb if you are on any anticoagulation medication, as it may exacerbate the anticoagulation effects and lead to excess bleeding!)

5. Grapefruit inner of peel/Mesocarp/Albedo (must be organic) or grapefruit pectin. Good for lowering oxidized cholesterol, and keeping the arteries clean, grapefruit  pectin can also be purchased in supplement form, but tends to be adulterated because of the expense in making pure pectin. Pectasol-C seems to be a good choice though. (Avoid mixing anything grapefruit with prescription drugs, since it inappropriately magnifies the effects of these drugs!)

6. Pure pomegranate juice is said to lower high blood pressure in about two weeks.

7.  Vitamin K2 (MK-7) in the trans form. Vitamin K2 is very different in function from Vitamin K1. Vitamin K1 is involved in blood clotting, while K2 is involved in removing calcium from all the wrong places of the tissues and arteries, and putting it in all the right places, such as bones and teeth. Calcium acts as a cement in the body, hardening at whatever site it lay. Too much of it in the arteries will harden, stiffen and clog them, setting the stage for heart disease. But K2 keeps it away from all these soft, sensitivity places; and puts it where it belongs.

There are many versions of K2. It is important that you get it in the more absorbable and longer lasting form of MK-7, which is found in natto — a Japanese fermented soybean product.

8. Food-base vitamin E: Vitamin E keeps the blood vessels nourished, thus helping to prevent both oxidation or new clot formation. Vitamin E also supports the muscular system of the body, including the heart — which is 100% muscle. But be sure to supplement on only food based vitamin E, found notably in such foods as asparagus and — in moderation — organic sunflower seeds.

9.  Magnesium Taurate: The left atrium of the heart is concentrated with magnesium more so than any other part of the human body. That is the part of the heart that prepares oxygenated blood to be “pumped” back into the rest of the body!

Magnesium works slowly in rebuilding a damaged heart. Don’t expect to see a relief of chest pain after taking magnesium for 2 days. We lose magnesium slowly, daily and yearly. Though it is critically important to every cellular process in the body, and life is useless without it, and the body needs lots of it, it may take years of continuous supplementing to help heal a defected heart.

A small amount of vitamin B6 in the form of P5P and/or coconut oil greatly enhances the absorption of magnesium into the cells! Super Magnesium Taurate from Green Organic is an excellent choice.

10.  Boluoke: This patented product is a naturally sourced lumbrokinase enzyme(s) made from real earthworms — good at dissolving clots and fibrins, thereby increasing blood circulation and oxygen to tissues. It may also reduce chest pain quickly. I put this last on the list of 10 because, it is expensive. To work, this product must be taken on an empty stomach,  away from food.

And there is that hardly ever noticed, but inextricable relationship between heart disease and lung disorder. This is because just as blood flows through the circulatory system of the heart, it also must flow through the pulmonary system, which is the lungs. That is why slow, deep breathing can lower blood pressure in minutes!

One technique to strengthen the heart is to sleep at night with your face covered in blanket, or sheet. Doing this will make you inhale more of your own carbon dioxide, slowing down your breathing. While oxygen is good for you during the day — speeding up your breathing, carbon dioxide, though acid forming, is good for relaxing you at night! It slows your breathing, improves lung function and heals your liver.

There are also herbs to better optimize lung function, such as mullein, African geranium, rosemary, astragalus and guduchi.

The longer you wait to resolve health issues of the heart naturally, the longer it will take to fix even after you decide to do all these right things. So if you have a heart condition, treat it as an emergency, and deal with it with deliberate priority. And the sooner you will begin the healing process before it becomes too late.  These supplements and procedures I’ve listed will help set you on the right road.

Other things that may help with heart and circulatory conditions are:

  • Pycnogenol
  • Pure black sesame oil
  • Olive leaf extract
  • Japanese green tea