A National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine? I was web surfing, checking out this thing called “alternative”
medicine and I stumbled on some very interesting information. According to the American Pain
Foundation, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
is growing at a rate of 15% each year, with more than $24 billion spent on therapies
outside conventional medicine. In large part because of this growth, the government
established the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 1991,
an organization whose charge is to investigate promising unconventional medical practices. Now, read that last sentence again. The federal
government established this organization and it’s been around for many years
(the NCCAM site says they were established by Congress in
1998, not 1991, however
Congress did pass the legislation [PL 102-170] to provide funding and establish an office
within NIH in October of 1991). First, a couple of definitions, then we’ll get into this
organization a bit deeper. Complementary medicine and alternative medicine can often refer
to the same types of treatment, but they are employed differently. Complementary medicine
refers to treatments that are combined with conventional (allopathic/heroic) medicine,
while alternative medicine replaces conventional medicine. I’ve always had a bit of
problem with such definitions because what is called alternative medicine today was once
the standard of practice, but the above is the definition as of 2005 CE, not 500 BCE.
Anyway, now we know what the government is seeking information about. The following comes from this government agency: The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is 1 of the 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH is one of eight agencies under the Public Health Service (PHS) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
OK, folks, because NCCAM is embedded within NIH, which itself is a
subset of DHHS, that means that the government does officially recognize that there
is something real about alternative medicine. So, those general statements about
“quackery” by the AMA are purely fear tactics on their part. So, let’s see
what it is that NCCAM does. NCCAM is dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science, training complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) researchers, and disseminating authoritative information to the public and professionals.
Our four primary areas of focus are:
Research. We support clinical and basic science research projects in CAM by awarding grants across the country and around the world; we also design, study, and analyze clinical and laboratory-based studies on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.
Research training and career development. We award grants that provide training and career development opportunities for predoctoral, postdoctoral, and career researchers.
Outreach. We sponsor conferences, educational programs, and exhibits; operate an information clearinghouse to answer inquiries and requests for information; provide a Web site and printed publications; and hold town meetings at selected locations in the United States.
Integration. To integrate scientifically proven CAM practices into conventional medicine, we announce published research results; study ways to integrate evidence-based CAM practices into conventional medical practice; and support programs to develop models for incorporating CAM into the curriculum of medical, dental, and nursing schools.
OK, for the doctors in the audience, did you know that CAM was
acceptable practice now? Has anything about this, other that vitriolic condemnation, ever
been mentioned in your medical curriculum? Yeah, I thought not. Why? Because the big
pharmaceutical corporations are still pulling the majority of strings in medical
education, and they simply do not want you to know that there are other ways to do things
beyond writing an expensive prescription to temporarily alleviate symptoms. Now read this
tidbit: NCCAM supports definitive large, multi-center clinical trials; studies of entire systems of traditional and indigenous medicine (e.g., Native American medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine); CAM Specialty Centers of Research; exploratory studies of frontier medicine; and studies of botanicals that are used by the American public to treat many diseases, such as arthritis, cancer, and depression. The Center carries out these activities independently and in collaboration with other NIH Institutes and Centers, other government agencies, domestic and international research institutions, and industry.
Well, that statement, right from NCCAM’s website, puts to bed
the claim from the AMA PDR that arthritis cannot be treated with alternatives such as
herbs. It looks to me like these people are studying just about all the fields that the
AMA has declared to be full of quacks. And because they are also funding this research
outside of their own labs, clearly they believe it has some merit. In the area of
arthritis alone, they are currently involved in eight different clinical trials, one of
them being a treatment with fish oils and botanical oils (borage seed in this case). Their
site and the links from it to other NIH sites could keep me busy for many months. What a
treasure trove of information. If you want to check them out, go to http://nccam.nih.gov and start clicking. More on
Oregano I failed to give you a history the first time we talked about this,
so here’s some background: Oregano was used for the first time (that we know of) by
the ancient Greeks. The sweet, spicy scent of oregano was supposedly created by the
Goddess Aphrodite as a symbol of happiness. Ancient Greeks believed that oregano had
purging properties, so bridal couples were usually crowned with garlands of oregano, and
the plants were placed on tombs to give peace to departed spirits. On the other hand,
oregano’s power to heal was also known to the ancient Greeks, so it was used for
medicinal purposes. Also during this time, the ancient Greeks started using it to prepare
culinary dishes. The origin of the name “Oregano”
also comes from ancient Greece. It is a compound from the Greek words oros (mountain) and
ganos (joy), making the meaning be “joy of the mountain,” probably due to the
fact that the oregano roots prohibit the erosion of the mountain slopes by rain, or maybe
it was just because of its fantastic smell. Sometime later, Romans started to use
oregano for the same purposes as the Greeks did and it became a necessary ingredient in
cooking, as well as a famous medicament. From there, the use of oregano passed to the rest
of Europe and ever since then, oregano has become one of the most famous ingredients in
cooking worldwide, as well as an effective raw material for medicinal purposes. (I’m
not sure I can think of a single Italian dish that doesn’t have oregano in it.) Origanum vulgaris grows exclusively in the climate zone containing
the whole Mediterranean Basin and reaching to Central Asia. Origanum vulgaris, often known
as Wild Marjoram, is an extremely invasive plant with a pink flower. Its most important
subdivision is the so-called Greek Oregano (Origanum heracleoticum). Greek Oregano is one
very spicy herb and is by far the best oregano in the world, growing near the
extremely-mineral-rich rocks up in the mountains. Greek Oregano has a flavor so intense
that it numbs the end of your tongue when fresh. Like all culinary oreganos, its flower
is white. It has coarse, ovate, fuzzy leaves and grows up to 16 inches high in
bloom. It is grown in light, fairly rich, well-drained soil with pH 7.0-8.0. Use it to
season fish, meats, salads, sauces, and stews. And, of course, it has medicinal properties
as well.
OK folks, I found another oregano article, and I think it’s
worth reading, if only for the obvious emotion contained within it. The writer sounds
hopeful about the lab results, yet still manages to portray a skepticism borne of distrust
of the potential con artists who always tend to become profiteers when others have
problems. Better Nutrition, March 2002, earth medicine section, “The Fighting Power of Oregano” by Steven Foster
When most people smell oregano they think of one thing – pizza. The flavor and fragrance of this popular herb is inextricably associated with its use in flavoring tomato dishes, primarily Italian cuisine. But while it adds a unique taste to Italian dishes, oregano has even greater value as a healing herb. Its medicinal qualities stem from the rich array of aromatic compounds in its essential oil.
Studies on the biological activity of oregano show a wide range of antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antioxidant properties for the essential oil and extracts. In recent years, oregano has moved from fame as a culinary herb into increasing popularity as a dietary supplement, sparked by interest in the essential oil through aromatherapy. Let’s take a closer look at this fascinating plant – or more precisely – plant category that goes by the name oregano, especially common oregano (Origanum vulgare).
For centuries, oregano has been used as a folk medicine for everything from respiratory ailments to gastrointestinal complaints, from headaches to colds. Various pharmacological studies suggest that oregano and its essential oil are antibacterial, antifungal, expectorant, spasmolytic, and diuretic in effect.
A series of recent studies by Harry G. Preuss, M.D., and colleagues at the Georgetown University Medical Center have shed light on the future potential of oregano oil. His findings were presented at the American College of Nutrition’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, in October 2001. A test-tube study and follow-up using 18 mice separated into three different groups found that oregano oil has significant antibacterial activity against staphylococcus bacteria. And the oregano oil, in test tubes at relatively low doses, inhibited staph growth as effectively as standard antibiotics.
“While this investigation was performed only in test tubes and on a small number of mice, the preliminary results are promising and warrant further study,” says Preuss. “The ability of oils from various spices to kill infectious organisms has been recognized since antiquity. Natural oils may turn out to be valuable adjuvants (definition: an additive that enhances the effectiveness of a medical treatment) or even replacements for many germicidals under a variety of conditions.”
Another study presented at the same meeting combined edible oils from fenugreek, cumin, and pumpkin seed as well as oregano oil, and found that the oils may enhance insulin sensitivity and lower blood pressure in diabetic rats. According to Dr. Preuss, “Our results suggest that combinations of various edible oils improve glucose metabolism in these diabetic rats, and they may be important in the treatment of different forms of diabetes, as well as the high blood pressure that often accompanies it. We are encouraged by the results of this small study and plan to conduct more research to try to find new ways to treat diabetes with fewer side effects.”
A soon-to-be published study by Dr. Preuss and colleagues looked at the potential of oregano oil in Candida albicans (candida), and found that oregano demonstrated antifungal powers in these test-tube and experimental studies, against both systemic and skin infections. Oregano has a rich tradition of historical use as a folk medicine, while the vast majority of scientific studies on oregano deal with its chemistry, quality and commercial production. Most studies looking at health benefits have been laboratory studies not involving humans or higher organisms.
However, a recently published preliminary clinical study on oregano and its effect on parasites was conducted by researchers at Health Explorations Trust, in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Biotics Research Corporation of Houston, Texas. Thirty-three adult patients with chronic gastrointestinal complaints and fatigue were tested for evidence of enteric parasites in their stools. Fourteen of the patients tested positive, 13 of whom completed the study. For a six-week period they received four tablets of an emulsified oil of oregano, three times a day – 600 mg of the emulsified oil daily.
This small human study provides the first evidence of antiparasitic effects of oregano oil in humans.
Oregano oil can be ingested via a tea. Simply pour a quart of hot water over a tablespoonful of the finely ground herb, then drink as needed, perhaps sweetened with honey. For a bath, place four ounces of the finely cut herb in a cloth bag and steep in a full bath of hot water.
In European traditions, oregano oil is taken by placing five to six drops of the essential oil on a teaspoonful if sugar, taken two or three times daily.
Like many essential oils, oil of oregano has significant antibacterial and antifungal abilities. However, just because these effects can be achieved in a laboratory does not mean that these effects translate to humans when ingested. With the recent anthrax scare, some marketers have suggested – even promoted – the antibacterial activity of oregano oil for anthrax. But there is no credible evidence to suggest that oregano oil could be directly useful for treatment of anthrax. The Federal Trade Commission has done consumers a service by warning such purveyors to cease with questionable, fraudulent claims.
The minute quantities of oregano and its essential oil used in flavoring food products are generally recognized as safe. But it can be moderately irritating to the skin and to the mucous membranes, and rare allergic reactions have been reported from contact with the pure essential oil. Therefore, oregano oil, like all essential oils, should be used with respect. Wise precaution. I have recommended to many folks that no pure
essential oil should be taken internally, at least not at full strength. Luckily, no one
is, to my knowledge, currently promoting the internal use of pure essential oregano oil.
There is a formulation that has shown great success, where oregano oil is cut at 0.1% in
an olive oil base. With this formula, you could ingest all of it you want because there is
no toxicity inherent in oregano – you could drink it in quantities that would kill
you if it were a regular medicine. Oregano oil has been proven to attack mycotoxins (test results
available on request) at the molecular level, changing the chemistry of the toxin,
basically turning them inert, and thereby destroying their ability to do harm. As an added
side benefit, because oregano is a solvent, the application of oregano oil to fungi also
destroys their ability to even produce any mycotoxins. Chemical drugs (those that your doctor prescribes) act by attacking
(poisoning) the cell wall receptors. That means they will kill not only the germs but have
a high probability of killing the patient’s good cells as well. Essential oils (from
plants) act by breaking down (molecular disassembly process) the molecules of the toxins
and disabling or even killing the fungi, while being entirely harmless to healthy human
cells when used in the proper mixture. Now, before you start proclaiming oregano as the new wonder drug, I
have to ask you this: If you were to call your doctor and ask him, “If I could hand
you a natural organic substance that has no side effects and will produce better results
than a prescription medicine, would you consider giving it to your patients?” I
guarantee he will hang up on you. Medicine makers, and those who write the scripts for
medicines, have a name for the competition; it’s called quackery, and I guarantee
your doctor will think you are a quack. The challenge of the public mindset is that they all perceive what
the doctors and the pharmaceutical companies are telling them is based on science. The
reality is that it is actually based on nothing more than hype. In the context of modern
drugs having any ability to cure anything, Dr. Marsha Angell says, “The modern drugs
have no scientific basis.” Everything about this system is driven solely by the
profit motive. Product
Testing I read a lab test that says that one teaspoon of refined sugar –
a level teaspoon, not the heaping dessert spoon(1) that most people put in their coffee – is enough food source
(and their favorite food source too) to turn a single fungus into 1,000,000,000 fungal
organisms. That includes feeding, multiplying, feeding those through their splitting, then
feeding the multitudes until there are approximately one billion fungi by the time that
teaspoon of sugar is consumed. Now, doesn’t that make you want to quit eating sugar?
Which is exactly what Le Anne did, cold-turkey. But you know me… I chose to exit
slowly, and I like my beverages sweet, so I decided to try an alternative suggested by
Doug Kaufmann: Stevia. Stevia Rebaudiana is a small plant native to Paraguay and
Brazil. It was found in 1887 by a South American scientist who learned of it from the
Guarani Paraguayan Indians. They called it Caa’-ehe (or Kaa’he-e), which means
“Sweet herb” or “honeyleaf.” A couple French chemists began to unravel
Stevia’s secrets in 1931 with exploratory extraction work on the leaves. Their
research yielded a pure, white crystalline compound, which is 100-300 times sweeter than
table sugar and having no toxic effects in laboratory animals. In 1971, a Chinese researcher became so interested in Stevia that he
applied for residency in Brazil and Paraguay. The non-chemical method of extraction (via
alcohol) recorded in herbal manuscripts of Chinese emperors became the standard method of
extraction for Stevia. It removed the undesirable green color and bitter aftertaste found
in Stevia leaves. Dozens of studies have shown Stevia to be a safe supplement for the
human diet and it is currently used extensively throughout the world in a variety of ways.
The way I intend to use it is as a sugar substitute. The last time Lannie and I went to Sturgis, we whipped into the local
supermarket, visited the sugar aisle, and found nothing but aspartame and saccharin as
sugar substitutes. So, after collecting some greens from the veggie section, we popped
into the local health food store. Sure enough, they had Stevia, in two forms: liquid and
crystalline powder. After some label reading and hem-hawing, I got a box of the crystals. The next morning, when the coffee was ready, I found that Stevia has
a fragrance and an herby taste unto itself. I tried a full packet (1/4 tsp, supposedly
equivalent to 2 tsp of sugar – this stuff has some filler so as to not be 300 times
as sweet as sugar) and discovered two things: the coffee was too sweet and it didn’t
taste like coffee. At least not like the coffee I am used to tasting. But, after coffee I
have a cup of Lannie’s homemade herbal tea, so I put half a packet (1/8 tsp) of
Stevia in that and it was quite acceptable. My mouth was expecting an herby taste, so it
didn’t object to an added herby taste on top of that. Half a packet was sufficiently
sweet, so it works in that aspect at least. As for the coffee, that’s still
debatable. I’ll either have to switch to a stronger coffee or get used to
herby-tasting coffee (or the third: quit drinking coffee). Eliminating the sugar is the
goal, so the keep-using-sugar option can’t continue very long. Oh, and of course, your tastes may vary. J Note 1: If you look in your silverware tray and pull out the
spoons, most people will have two sizes (some have more): one that they call a teaspoon
and one that they call a tablespoon. If you will actually play with your official
measuring spoons (those used to cook from a recipe), you will discover that what is in
your silverware drawer is a dessert spoon and a (not round) soup spoon. Both hold more
than what the name we typically call them by implies. So if you give yourself two heaping
dessertspoons full, you’re probably in the neighborhood of 3-5 actual teaspoons. |