Happy February! Hopefully it will be short and sweet without any major storms or surprises. I would rather a few inches of snow instead of the ice storms of January.
This month, we answer three more of the most persistent reader questions that have popped up recently at The Herbarium.
Dear Jonathan,
I suffer from sciatica. The pain shooting down my leg makes walking or sitting very difficult and will wake me up at night. What can I do to get rid of this?
Alan
Dear Alan,
Sciatica is a real pain in the, well, you know. My old chiropractor told me not to carry my wallet in the back pocket, especially when driving. It can throw your lower back out and irritate the sciatic nerve. Also check where your belt lies. In some cases it rides right on the sciatic nerve further irritating it.
One easy way to relieve the pain, and verify if it is sciatica is to take an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas and place it on top of your foot where the laces of your shoes would be. The sciatic nerve starts in the back buttocks, runs down the leg, comes up in front of your leg and ends at the top of the foot. If you chill the terminus, it will relieve the pain all the way up.
Chiropractic care is very helpful. Herbally, we use a topical roll-on called Cobrazol. It contains homeopathic ingredients such as cayenne, turmeric and MSM . It also contains rattlesnake and cobra venom ( don’t worry, it is extremely diluted), hence the name, Cobrazol. It is a great anti-inflammatory and pain reliever.(Since discovering Cobrazol I can proudly and honestly say I am a snake oil salesman).
Internally homeopathic hypericum or a Jamaican Dogwood tincture (Piscidia erythrina) has been highly effective.
Jonathan
Dear Jonathan,
The doctor says I have osteopina, and should start a prescription but I am afraid of the side effects. I see ads on television but I am still worried. Is there anything natural to help me?
Elaine
Dear Elaine,
Yes. Osteopina is the early stage of osteoporosis,giving a good indication that repair work is needed.
I understand your concerns as you are not the first person to ask about this condition.
We have a trove of information on osteoporosis.
The first thing needed is a good multi mineral supplement or a calcium-magnesium combination with the proper form of calcium and a balance of magnesium. In a nutshell, calcium carbonate is not a good form of calcium as you age. Calcium carbonate is TUMS, an antacid. Quick science question: if you were to dissolve a bone would you use acid or water? If you do not have enough stomach acid, you aren’t’ going to break down calcium. Without magnesium, you will not absorb the calcium. Without magnesium you won’t activate the vitamin D needed for bone building.
Several of the medications we have seen over the years claim they stop osteoporosis. This is false, and I have the actual admission from the makers of Boniva (Remember Sally Field?) to prove it.
Your body has osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Osteoclasts are large cells that dissolve the bone. ... They are found on the surface of the bone mineral next to the dissolving bone. Osteoblasts are the cells that form new bone. They also come from the bone marrow and are related to structural cells. The medications stop the sloughing off of old bone cells, but that means there is no place for new bone cells. The end result is old bone cells which are not as flexible, if you will. This is why the warnings talk about jaw problems and spontaneous fractures.
How can you have a product that allegedly builds bone and simultaneously contribute to fractures?
Depending on age and other considerations, along with calcium and magnesium, some people need to supplement with betain hydrochloride, the same stuff that should be in your stomach. If you are concerned about the medication, you can at least try supplementation to see if you can stop the bone loss.
I know this is a lot to digest in my shortened version, but we can supply you with plenty of printed material to help you make your decision.
Jonathan
Dear Jonathan,
I keep reading and hearing about turmeric for arthritis, and add it to my soups and smoothies. I have been using it for several months and really don’t feel a difference? What is the truth?
— Ronnie
Dear Ronnie,
The truth is using the turmeric from the grocery store is not going to have much effect. Three reasons for this are: 1) All the major brands irradiate their herbs and spices. This can alter some of the compounds found in the plant. 2) Depending on the source of the turmeric and the growing conditions. 3) It is a cooking spice. The anti-inflammatory compound is curcumin. The plant may contain 5 percent or 20 percent, nobody knows because it was not tested and will be used in cooking.
Medicinally, we look for a guaranteed potency (not a standardized potency) of 95 percent curcumin content. That is what will give you the effect you are looking for.
There is nothing wrong with using the spice for cooking but it will not give you the relief you want.
— Jonathan
Send questions on botanical remedies to: Nature’s RX: Jonathan Evans at Herbarium258@gmail.com, or by regular mail to: The Herbarium, 254 Exchange St., Chicopee, MA 01013. If requesting info, include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
