Basil? Apparently, aside from its antibacterial and other health benefits, basil contain volatile oils that has anti-inflammatory properties, which basically act the same way as your over the counter aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen (source). Want more scientific proof? Check out this animal trial published in Fitoterapia.

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Anti-Inflammatory Powers of Basil

I’ve found an article that cites 20 alternatives to ginger for curing sore throat! The options range from something as simple as salted water gargle to herbs I’m not that familiar with, such as Goldenseal root, betony and Hyssop. There are also the more common remedies such as echinacea, chamomile, and honey/lemon juice. The common denominator among these remedies? Most of them have antibacterial properties. Some may be anti-inflammatory, too.

Photo Credit: Ben Cumming via Flickr

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Home Remedies for Sore Throat

There’s an herbal extract that has recently been demonstrated in a clinical trial to shorten the duration of the flu. Take note, it’s not a cure, it just speeds up recovery… or so do the data indicate. The results of the study were published in the International Journal of Medical Research.

In a clinical trial, flu patients given Sambucol recovered in 3.1 days compared to 7.1 days for those given placebo.

A previous study published by The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that nearly 90 percent of flu patients given Sambucol were completely free of symptoms within two to three days, as compared to at least six days with placebo.

What is the active ingredient in Sambucol? Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra)

How does it work? This article in WEbMD offers a possible mechanism:

It’s likely that antioxidants called flavonoids — which are contained in the extract — stimulate the immune system, writes Thom. Also, other compounds in elderberry, called anthocyanins, have an anti-inflammatory effect; this could explain the effect on aches, pains, and fever.

An older report on Nutraingredients also quotes the developer saying:

“Flu viruses are covered by tiny protein spikes of hemagglutinin, which they use to attach to, and infect, healthy human cells. While working on my doctoral thesis we isolated key active substances within black elderberry that disarm hemagglutinin and thus stop the first step of viral invasion.”

Has anyone tried this stuff? Knowing that flu is viral, I normally just resign myself to toughing it out. I’ve never had a flu that was unbearable for more than a week, anyway. For those of you who always suffer more severe symptoms, consider getting the flu shot.

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Sambucol Elderberry Extract Eases Flu

According to the results, the top five prescribed homeopathic remedies were:

• Arnica montana (for injury, bruising)
• Rhus toxicodendron (joint symptoms, headache)
• Cupru m metallicum (cramp, poor circulation)
• Pulsatilla (PMT, menopausal symptoms, breast feeding problems) and
• Sepia (PMT, menopausal symptoms, fatigue).

The top five prescribed herbal remedies were:

• Gentian (poor appetite, digestive problems)
• Cranberry (urinary tract infection)
• Digestodoron (indigestion, heartburn, constipation)
• Evening primrose (PMT) and
• Laxadoron (constipation).

Other troubling results include the indication that homeopathic prescribing is most prevalent among infants and children, even though the scientific bases for their healing properties are rather weak, if not non-existent.

So, who do we blame if consumers turn to alternative medicine? The manufacturers, with their misleading sales pitches, or the medical practitioners who prescribe them?

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Doctors Prescribe Homeopathic and Herbal Medicines

However, nobody knows whether they are really effective, and what dosage is necessary.

Researchers from the University of Arizona set out to determine whether (and how) turmeric works as an anti-arthritic using animal models.

Dr. Funk and her colleagues then tested in animal models a whole extract of turmeric root, only the essential oils, and an oil-depleted extract containing the three major curcuminoids found in the rhizome. Of the three extracts, the one containing the major curcuminoids was most similar in chemical composition to commercially available turmeric dietary supplements. It also was the most effective, completely inhibiting the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.

How does turmeric work?

The researchers found that the curcuminoid extract inhibits a transcription factor called NF-KB from being activated in the joint. A transcription factor is a protein that controls when genes are switched on or off. Once the transcription factor NF-KB is activated, or turned on, it binds to genes and enhances production of inflammatory proteins, destructive to the joint.

Based on this, the researchers say that it appear that turmeric works in the same way as other anti-arthritic pharmaceuticals currently being developed, which target NF-KB.

What about the dosage?

Extrapolated from the data from the animal trials, the effective dose seems to be the equivalent in humans of 1.5 milligrams per day of a portion of the turmeric root that makes up 3% of dried turmeric powder.

Naturally, these will all have to be verified in human clinical trials, before turmeric supplements can be recommended as an alternative therapy and possibly preventative strategy against rheumatoid arthritis. But, at least, this is promising, and an indication that not all alternative treaments are bogus.

The results of the abovementioned study will be published in the November issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism (DOI: 10.1002/art.22180). for an overview, here are the press releases from EurekAlert:

Turmeric prevents experimental rheumatoid arthritis, bone loss, University of Arizona study shows
Turmeric supplements show promise in treating arthritis

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Turmeric Supplements May Treat Arthritis

“Swellings and pains in the joints, ulceration, those of a gouty nature, and sprains, are generally improved by a copious affusion of cold water, which reduces the swelling, and removes the pain; for a moderate degree of numbness removes pain.”

But what is it in mint that relieves pain? I used to think it’s just a sort of diversion, a trick to make the mind focus on the cooling sensation instead of the pain. Well, it turns out I’m partially correct.

Scientists from the Universtiy of Edinburgh have identified chemical compounds in mint oil and relatd compounds that act on a nerve receptor on the skin, called TRPM8, which is activated by the cooling chemicals or cool temperatures. When activated, it inhibits the ‘pain messages’ being sent from the locality of the pain to the brain.

The researchers are optimistic that these compounds may one day offer relief for those who suffer from chronic pain, including those with arthritis or those who have had nerve damage or spinal injury following major accidents.

Quite a feat, eh? Now who says herbal medicine is pure quack?

Er, Mojitos, anyone?

[Photo: Matchstick]

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Pain Relief from Mint