Vitamin D show promise for bone health, cancer

By Jonathan Evans Herbal Information Specialist/Business Representative for the Herbarium, Special to PRIME It's almost Spring! This month I have a collection of news for you. I like to deal with heart issues after February. Everyone is bombarded during "Heart Month" but who is listening? So, now that I have your attention... Hawthorn Berry (Crategus oxyacantha) is perhaps the best cardio- tonic in the world. Noted European hawthorn researcher R.F.Weiss says some research shows it helps stabilize cardiac activity by abolishing tachycardia and other arrhythmias. Hawthorn tends to help normalize both high and low blood pressure. Antispasmodic and sedative properties have also been observed. Spasms of the arteries, venous insufficiency and, most recently, restless leg syndrome have been treated successfully with Hawthorn. Another product that can help with cardio vascular problems is Rejuvetol. A corny name but a good general formula . My mother-in-law, God rest her soul, used it for many years for varicose veins and circulation. Some promising news on the cancer front, and it was rather serendipitous. A study was designed to monitor how Vitamin D helped bone health with only a secondary interest in the possible lowering of cancer risk. Surprise! Mother Nature apparently smacked the researchers upside the head with the results showing a 60 percent lower cancer risk over four years, far outdistancing the bone health results. Another study published in "Blood", the official journal of the American Society of Hemotology showed vitamin K-2 arrested and even reversed arterial calcification induced with anti-coagulant medication use. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that aids in bone formation and blood clotting. The best sources are dark green veggies such as spinach, kale and broccoli -- the very veggies Americans seem to avoid. Even after all the years I have been involved with herbal remedies, these gifts from the Creator never cease to amaze me. Recently at bowling (yes, I and 70 million Americans bowl. It's fun and a lot more complicated than you think) one of the league members was sitting out the game due to rib injuries sustained in a fall. He was one hurting puppy, so I gave him some BF&C. It is an old formula used for healing broken bones, sprains strains and such. About an hour later he came back to me to say his ribs were feeling better. He showed up at Herbarium the very next day. I saw him the next week and he reported his ribs were doing very well, the pain had stopped when he gets in and out of bed and is able to get a good night's sleep. I used BF&C some years ago after cracking three ribs. This happened in August. My doctor told me I would be hurting until Christmas. Little did he know the secrets of the herbs. I saw him again after four weeks and was completely healed. He said that was impossible "for a man my age." I nearly decked him. Lastly, I am being dragged into the 21st Century, kicking and screaming but I do want to invite you folks to follow us on the Herbarium blog. You will find us at theherbarium.blogspot.com. 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.