Seasonal allergies, American Ephedra and Fenugreek

PRIME — April 2012 By Jonathan Evans Herbal Information Specialist /Business Representative for the Herbarium Special to PRIME Happy Spring! It is good and bad news: As we have had an unusually mild winter, lots of plants are budding and blooming, grasses are growing and pollen, mold, spores etc. are here at a very early time. People have been suffering with early allergy symptoms, but treating themselves as if it were a cold. The pollen and uncovered leaves from last fall have been causing a lot of upper respiratory problems. Fortunately, we are ready with bee pollen, honey, and several allergy remedies. If you have been having a lot of post-nasal drip, some simple remedies such as quercetin, bromelain, freeze-dried nettle leaves and good old vitamin C can help cut down on inflammation and mucous production. Buried Treasure makes a liquid allergy relief product that incorporates several herbs and nutrients that acts very fast. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid that helps inhibit the overproduction of histamine and helps with inflammation. Bromelain is a very powerful enzyme found in pineapple that helps increase the absorption of quartering and is very effective in treating the inflammation of delicate sinus tissue. Herbs such as eyebright help clear up the weepy, allergy stricken eyes, Bayberry helps reduce swollen mucous membranes and is a natural astringent, and Mullein reduces inflammation and fights disease causing microbes, soothes sore throats and relieves coughs. You may see an ingredient in some allergy preparations listed as Brigham tea. This is American Ephedra. Many of you may have heard about athletes and others who have taken ephedrine and had serious side effects. It is not the ephedrine that causes a problem. Pharmaceutical companies have extracted specific chemicals and alkyloids to produce higher levels of ephedrine, which can cause high blood pressure and a rapid heartbeat. A synthetic version of ephedrine, known as pseudoephedrine became the drug product Sudafed, with all the associated side effects. Interestingly enough, the whole plant ephedra also contains other substances that slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure, offsetting the toxic effects of ephedrine. Remember the old commercial line "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature?" Even though the Brigham tea is safe, we still suggest people with high blood pressure limit their intake of the plant. There are also a great variety of homeopathic remedies available to help with allergy symptoms that will not have any adverse side effects. Good luck to all allergy sufferers this year, we are going to need it. Dear Jonathan— I saw a product advertised on television and all over the Internet for helping with low testosterone levels. The main ingredient is fenugreek. Do you know anything about this herb and is it safe. —Bob Dear Bob— Fenugreek is so safe it is recommended for lactating women. Seriously, this product you speak of is a sham. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is traditionally used for lowering blood glucose levels, helping nursing mothers to produce more milk, cleanse the liver and aid digestion. In looking for evidence of helping with testosterone, there is only one vague reference to an alleged study which showed an increase in libido for a small group of individuals. For the ridiculous price these shysters are charging, I would avoid this stuff like the plague. If you are looking for ingredients that really can help increase testosterone, look at zinc, vitamin A, Horny Goat Weed (yes, that really is the name of the plant), pumpkin seeds, and saw palmetto. I will say it again, "believe 50 percent of what you hear and see in these commercials and websites and do not buy their product." Next month we will explore natural ways to lower cholesterol, safely. —Jonathan Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx : Jonathan Evans via e-mail at info@theherbarium.com, or by regular mail at The Herbarium, 264 Exchange Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. If you are requesting additional information from Jonathan, please include a self-addrresed stamped envelope.