The Physical and Mental Value of Dietary Herbal Supplements

Herbal Supplements and
Health
The physical and mental value of

dietary herbal supplements.
Origin of Herbal Medicine
 Primitive men and women treated
illnesses using plants, animal parts, and
minerals not part of a common diet.
 Physical evidence goes back 60,000
years to the burial site of a Neanderthal
man who was buried with 8 species of
plants.
 Seven of these plants are still used in
medicine today.
Herbal Supplements Today
 A resurgence of interest in herbal medicine
originated in the 1970’s.
 This movement began with people’s
disillusionment with modern medicine- its
high cost and inability to cure everything.
 The partisans of this resurgence were more
enthusiastic than knowledgeable. No laws
were made about labeling products and
outrageous claims were made about the
abilities of herbal supplements.
 Despite the importance of plants in
medicine, the FDA considers some
herbal remedies to be worthless or
potentially dangerous.
 Now herbal products can only be
marketed as food supplements and
must have the FDA’s approval to make
specific health claims.
Uses of Herbal Supplements
 Physical
 For the treatment of sickness and disease.
 Athletic and Weight-loss purposes.
 Mental
 For the treatment of memory loss,
depression, sleep, and stress.
Treatment of Sickness and
Disease
 All herbal medicines can be prepared as
a tea.
 Drink a glass 3 times a day, use the
dried leaves of the plant, and usually
use about half an ounce of the herb.
Common Herbs
 Aloe Vera
 Claims: “Cure all” tonic, for
the treatment of acne,
burns, minor wounds
 Effective for the topical
treatment of wounds,
burns, and frostbite.
Aloe Vera
 Effectiveness varies with

product.
 Advised not to use for
internal uses.
 Could lead to abdominal
cramping, diarrhea, loss of
potassium, discoloration of
urine.
Garlic
 Claims: Antibiotic,
antiviral, general cure all,
lowering of blood
pressure, cholesterol, and
regulation of circulatory
system.
Garlic
 Well studied herb.
 Shown to lower
cholestreol by 9-
12% in 8-16 weeks
of use.
 May also possess
antibiotic activities.
 Large doses may
cause heartburn.
Garlic
 Used in Europe as
an approved remedy
for cardiovascular
conditions and for
the use of the flu
and colds.
Ginger
 Claims: Treatment of
Arthritis, heart tissue,
motion sickness and
nausea.
 Proven to be effective
in nausea, motion
sickness, and arthritis.
 It is possible that it
treats heart tissue but
not likely.
Ginger
 However, there are many precautions for the

use of ginger.
 The use of ginger may inhibit the chemicals
involved in platelet aggression.
 This leads to increased and prolonged bleeding.
Peppermint
 Claims
 Muscle Spasms
 Abdominal Pain
 Diarrhea
 Irritable Bowl Syndrome
 Chills and nausea
 Convulsions
 Headaches
Peppermint
 Has only been proved to decrease muscle
spasms.
 Overuse can lead to heartburn,
esophageal sphincter relaxations, irritation
of mucous membranes, and allergic
reactions.
Mental Supplements
 There are several very popular mental
supplements designed to aid in memory, stress,
depression, sleep, and other mental related
problems. Although there are only a few of the
herbal supplements they are widely used and
accepted by the public. There are many claims
regarding the effectiveness of these
supplements, and the only difficult problem is
discovering which claims are true and which are
false.
Ginkgo Biloba
Claims and effects
 Improved memory
 Reduce Alzheimer’s
effects
 Helps hearing loss
 Helps depression
 Helps calm asthma
Ginkgo Biloba
 Ginkgo balboa extract increases
blood flow to the brain by
inhibiting blood platelet
aggregation and by regulating
blood vessel elasticity. It has
also been shown to improve
blood flow through major blood
vessels and capillaries.
Does It Work????
NO!!!
Ginkgo Biloba
In extensive studies and various research
experiments, ginkgo biloba has been
shown to be completely ineffective
against fighting memory loss, hearing
loss, depression, and asthma. There is
not enough well documented evidence
to prove conclusively that ginkgo does
not work when used in extremely large
quantities.
Ginkgo Biloba
Side Effects
 Mild Gastrointestinal
Upset
 Mild Headaches
St. John’s Wort
St. John’s wort has been used to
 Prevent depression
 Decrease Stress Levels
 Help nervous conditions
 Decrease severity of bacterial infection
St. John’s Wort
How it works:
Hyperforin is a
serotonin reuptake
inhibitor. It is the
compound in the
plant and suspected
as having
antidepressant
effects.
Does It Work????
YES AND NO
????????
St. John’s Wort
 Has been proven to be mildly helpful in
very mild to moderate cases of
depression. The more serious the case,
the less that St. John’s Wort helps. In
the worst cases of depression, it can
actually hurt the situation.
St. John’s Wort
Side effects
 In cases of major
depression, it may
worsen the case.
 Blurred vision,
constipation, urinary
retention, and
excessive
drowsiness.
Sleep Aids
There are many different herbal sleep
aids that are considered safer than, and
sometimes as effective as prescription
sleep aids. These herbs can help sleep
by using aromas or teas.
Sleep Aids
Claims and effects:
 Helps Insomnia
 Helps all chronic
sleep disorders.
 Helps with
headaches and
restlessness.
Sleep Aids
Some examples of herbal sleep aids are:
 Chamomile
 Hops
 California Poppy
 Catnip
 Lemon Balm
 Lavender
 Passion Flower
 Skullcap
 Valerian Root
Do They Work????
YES!!!
Sleep Aids
Herbal sleep aids do work, and actually
with little to no side effects. They are
successful at calming and relaxing the
body and assisting in the reduction of
insomnia and other various sleep
disorders.
Exercise and Diet Supplements
In Today’s World, Many People

Are Taking Herbal Supplements to
Increase Their Energy and Weight
Loss.
How many of you have seen
this?
 Magazines and
tabloids often carry
ads for herbal
supplements, usually
accompanied by a
man with a body like
Brad Pitt or a woman
who looks like she’s
walked straight out
of “Baywatch”.
Do They Really Work?
 Despite these
claims, some
experts have serious
doubts about the
efficacy of these
herbal remedies as
answers for weight
loss and energy.
Exercise and Diet Supplements
Common supplements:
 Exercise:
 Ginseng
 Bell pollen
 Weight Loss:
 Ephedra
Ginseng
 Most common form

is Asian ginseng
 A perennial herb of
northern China,
Korea, Japan, and
Russia
 Must be grown for 5
years before
harvested
Ginseng
 The root is the most

widely used part
 Harvested in the fall
just before
defoliation
Ginseng
 How it works?
 Not known…it is suggested that ginseng
increases cerebrovascular flow
 Dosage:
 Usual daily dose is 200mg
Does it Work?
In a 9-week, double blind, placebo-

controlled trial of 30 highly trained
athletes, treatment with ginseng
produced significant improvements in
aerobic capacity.
But…
Does it Work?
There were negative results in an 8 week,

double blind trial that followed 31
healthy men in their twenties and
another 8 week trial which showed that
ginseng improved aerobic capacity in
people who did not exercise, but gave
no additional benefit to those who did.
Bee Pollen
 Referred to as
nature’s most
complete food
 Praised in the Bible
and ancient Chinese
texts
What is Bee Pollen?
 It is the male seed of a flower blossom

which has been gathered by the bees
and to which special elements from the
bees has been added. The honeybee
collects pollen and mixes it with its own
digestive enzymes. One pollen granule
contains from one hundred thousand to
five million pollen spores, each capable
of reproducing its entire species.
Bee Pollen
 Bee pollen rejuvenates your body,

stimulates organs and glands, enhances
vitality, and brings about a longer life
span. Bee pollen's ability to consistently
and noticeably increase energy levels
makes it a favorite substance among
many world class athletes and those
interested in sustaining and enhancing
quality performance.
Bee Pollen
Bee Pollen contains:

-25% complete -14 beneficial fatty
protein acids
-18 amino acids -11 carbohydrates
-12 vitamins -Basically everything
-28 minerals needed for human
-11 enzymes survival
Bee Pollen and Exercise
 Produces an accelerated rate of

recovery-normal heart rate and
breathing
 It provides energy, stamina, and
strength, and enhances performance
levels.
 Improves second performances
Does it Work?
 Numerous studies
have shown that
taking Bee Pollen
does in fact increase
your energy and
stamina during
exercise and
repeated events
Ephedra
 Also known as “Ma Huang”

 Popular diet supplement in the U.S.
 Has been used in Chinese medicine for
thousands of years
How Does it Work?
 Ephedrine alkaloids-
naturally occurring
compounds which
act as a mild
stimulant
 Enhances energy
 Similar to caffeine
How Does it Work?
 Stimulates fat
metabolism
 Burns fat and sugar
more effectively
 Reduces appetite
 Mobilizes stored fat
and carbohydrate
reserves
Does it Work?
 Numerous studies have shown that

ephedra is effective for losing weight
 It is most effective when used with
caffeine
 Popular diet supplements containing
ephedra are Metabolife and MetaboMax

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Herbal Supplements and

The physical and mental value of

 Effectiveness varies with

 However, there are many precautions for the

In Today’s World, Many People

 Most common form

 The root is the most

In a 9-week, double blind, placebo-

There were negative results in an 8 week,

 It is the male seed of a flower blossom

 Bee pollen rejuvenates your body,

Bee Pollen contains:

 Produces an accelerated rate of

 Also known as “Ma Huang”

 Numerous studies have shown that

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