New study shows certain antibiotics associated with birth defects
Researchers from the CDC analyzed data from 13,155 women who had children with birth defects. They found statistically significant correlations with antibiotic use. Two classes were identified as the main culprits: sulfonamides and nitrofurantoins (commonly used to treat UTI’s e.g., Macrobid). Other classes of antibiotics such as penicillins, erythromycins and cephalosporins seemed safer and were […]
Apple skins have potent anti-cancerous properties
Researchers at Cornell University found that apple skins (from Red Delicious apples) had powerful antioxidant (stronger than vitamin C) and anti-proliferative effects. Specifically they tested certain flavanoids from apple skins against certain liver cancer and breast cancer cell lines and found that both were potently inhibited. This may help explain some of the treatment strategies […]
Sugarcane reduces arsenic poisoning
Oh how I’ve been waiting for this study. Turns out that arsenic poisoning is a big problem in India due to contamination of the water supply and no alternatives. So researchers from Hamdard University in New Delhi noticed that some people who ate a lot of sugarcane didn’t generally get arsenic poisoning. So they hypothesized […]
Chinese herb cuts H1N1 death rate in half
A Chinese herb known as y? zh? c?o (Commelina communis) was recently shown to reduce the H1N1 death rate by more than 50% in mice when administered after infection. If the herb was taken prophylactically (for prevention), the H1N1 virus was inhibited by up to 90%. Thus, ya zhi cao is yet another Chinese herb […]
H1N1 recipes
Today we had our first workshop in our new office space on a very hot topic – H1N1 and how to take care of yourself throughout cold and flu season. We discussed several recipes that you can make at home to boost your immune system as part of your self care plan to avoid getting […]
Tea tree oil kills H1N1 influenza virus
Researchers in Italy recently examined the antiviral activity of tea tree oil. They found that it effectively inhibited H1N1 replication at doses that were not toxic to normal cells. Therefore, you may want to consider diffusing tea tree oil in your office space to help prevent H1N1 infection, and if you have already contracted it, […]
100% H1N1 survival rate with Chinese Herb (in mice)
Researchers have been frantically looking for new and potent antivirals to combat the recent potential epidemics/pandemics of the Swine Flu (H1N1), Avian Flu (H9N2 and H5N1) and others. Chinese Medicinal compounds have shown powerful antiviral effects, so researchers looked into an herb called andrographis that had already exhibited broad spectrum antiviral properties including inhibition of […]
Chinese herbal formula repairs kidney damage due to diabetes
A Chinese herbal formula known as wu ling san was shown to not only reduce blood sugar levels, but to reverse the resulting kidney damage in mice. This is incredibly important if you are diabetic because the kidneys are one of the areas that can lead to serious diabetic complications such as dialysis. The fact […]
Stocking up on Tamiflu? How about Elderberry instead
A recent study looked at the effects of elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L.) on the H1N1 virus. They found that the extract prevents the H1N1 virus from infecting host cells (i.e., you), by binding to particular sites of the virus (called virions) that block prevent the virus from either recognizing your cells or from getting […]
Ginger counteracts MSG toxicity in mice
MSG is now a well known excito-toxin that is found in everything from Campbell’s soup, to El Pollo Loco, to Fridays, Chilies, soy sauce, fish sauce, Doritos, Cheesy-poofs and every type of asian food imaginable. Researchers have recently begun to look into things that could counteract the negative effects of MSG. In this study, they […]