Mainstream media gets study results wrong again

PRIME – July 2013 By Jonathan Evans Herbal Information Specialist for the Herbarium Happy summer to all. Before I get to your questions this month, I would like to comment on the state of America's news media and the atrocious manner in which health information is disseminated by it. Recently there were two stories that caught my attention. See if you can find the flaw in the reporting. News of fish oil's effectiveness in treating heart disease came under fire. It seems a Meta analysis (defined by Merriam Webster as a quantitative statistical analysis of several separate but similar experiments or studies in order to test the pooled data for statistical significance) showed fish oil was not very effective in treating atrial fibrillation. Okay, I accept that, considering fish oil is used as an anti-inflammatory and atrial fibrillation, which refers to the heart's rhythm, is a mechanical problem. What got reported in the media was that fish oil does not help with heart disease. It appears reporters really did not read the study, or they have absolutely no understanding of health issues. The study cited stated how good the omega oils are for heart health and lowering cholesterol. It also included data on 68,000 participants. Not good enough said the talking heads… further study is needed. Meanwhile people stopped taking their fish oil capsules. A study recently showed carnitine, a compound found in red meat, increases the risk of heart disease. Carnitine occurs naturally, and is available in supplement form. Numerous pub-lished peer reviewed studies (including one from the Mayo Clinic) showed carnitine helps boost energy, and treats a variety of conditions including Alzheimer's, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis and helps strengthen cardiovascular function. The negative story was splashed all over the news. Guess how many people were involved with the bad news? Ten individuals – yep just 10 people and the world is turned upside down, meanwhile a study involving 68,000 wasn't good enough… does this make any sense at all? Pain from shingles, carpal tunnel This month, Jonathan answers reader's questions about two conditions that have received a lot of attention recently. Dear Jonathan, My husband has shingles and is in the fourth week of it. His rash is the area from his back, the left side and on his stomach. While the rash seems to be drying out and healing pretty well, he is still experiencing a great deal of pain in the rash area and up into his chest, lower abdomen and upper back. Is there anything you can recommend to help relieve the pain? Thank you, Sue Dear Sue, It's good to hear the rash is drying up and healing. The next thing to try is a homeopathic remedy called Hypericum and Jamaican Dogwood tincture. Hypericum is a very dilute form of St. Johnswort that helps to quiet the nerves, while the dogwood (Piscidia erythrina) is a nerve sedative and antispasmodic specific for nerve pain, especially shingles. To help with further or future outbreaks we have a topical oil to rub on and/or herbal combinations to take orally in hopes of driving the virus into dormancy or killing it. – Jonathan Dear Jonathan, I am getting attacks of carpal tunnel syndrome. My hands just don't work right, and are numb or painful. We have been discussing surgery, but I hope you can suggest something less radical. – Art Dear Art, Yes, there are several approaches that can be helpful for this condition. Depending on the cause of the carpal tunnel, we have suggested using extra vitamin B complex and an herbal formula called BF&C. It worked very well for many years. With the increase of computer users, a newer formula called MSM750 has been getting really good results. It is a combination of MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) and anti-inflammatory herbs such as turmeric and Devil's Claw. The nice thing is, this new treatment works really fast, has no negative side effects and is very inexpensive. The MSM750 formula can also be used for any kind of inflammation from plantar fascistis to strained muscles and arthritis. – Jonathan Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx: Jonathan Evans via email at info@theherbarium.com, or by regular mail to: The Herbarium, 264 Exchange St., Chicopee, Mass. 01013. If requesting additional information from Evans, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.