Lähettäjä: Soijuv Lähetetty: 23.11.2005 18:10
Artikkelissa esitellään borrelioosin hoitoa kiinalaisen lääketieteen pohjalta. Spirokeettoja tuhoavia yrttejä ovat Smilax, Ching-hao, Forsythia, Hu-chang, Andrographis, Lonicera stem.
LYME DISEASE:
Treatment with Chinese Herbs
http://www.itmonline.org/arts/lyme.htm
by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon
Lyme disease is the result of a spirochetal infection (Boerrelia burgdorferi) transmitted to humans by deer ticks (mainly Ixodes scapularis, though a relative, I. pacificus is the carrier in the Western U.S.). The infection sometimes results in a serious disease pattern, most often characterized by progressively worsening arthralgia, though a central nervous system disorder or even a heart disorder may arise (1, 2, 3, 10). The disease is named for the town (Old Lyme, Connecticut) where, in 1975, a number of children presenting symptoms similar to juvenile rheumatoid arthritis were eventually found to have acquired this Boerrelia infection.
The occurrence of Lyme disease is regional, being dependent on:
1. the distribution of the ticks that carry the bacteria (prevalent in forested areas in temperate climates, such as northern U.S. and northern Europe);
2. the presence of this particular bacteria in the ticks. The bacteria is carried by animals, particularly mice and deer, that are bitten by the tick; in the endemic area, only about 15-30% of ticks are infected; and
3. exposure of the human population to the ticks, which generally requires living in or venturing into areas where the ticks can be directly encountered.
Contact with a tick does not necessarily mean the disease will be experienced. In fact, it is estimated that only 1-3% of tick bites result in Lyme disease. While the region where infection is a somewhat likely possibility is expanding, the primary distribution still remains limited. As of 1995, it was reported that Boerrelia infections in the U.S. occurred mainly in 8 states of the northeastern U.S. and one Midwest state (Wisconsin). Retrospective studies indicate that there were probably a few cases of this disease many decades earlier, with cases appearing in Massachusetts and Wisconsin in the 1960s, and in northern Europe as early as the 1920s. There is some evidence to suggest cases of this or a very similar disease in Germany-a country that was heavily forested and full of deer-in the 1880s. The reason for the sudden epidemic of the disease during the past 25 years has been the change in land use and lifestyle that occurred, such as new growth of forests in abandoned farm land and movement of city dwellers into the forested countryside, either for recreation or for a new place to live. For those who are at risk for acquiring the infection, a vaccine against Boerrelia burgdorferi has been approved by the FDA and is now readily available.
There is no reference to Lyme disease in the Chinese literature and there may be none for some time, as most of China's forests have been eliminated. There are other spirochetal infections that have been addressed by Chinese physicians and by Chinese researchers conducting clinical trials or laboratory tests of infection-inhibiting properties. The relevant organism most often studied in China is Leptospira, which causes the disease called leptospirosis. This organism is carried by a wide range of animals, and is not uncommon in animals raised for food. In China, it has long been common practice for each family to keep animals, such as pigs and chickens, in and around their homes, so exposure has been possible for a large portion of the population. The bacterium can enter the body through the skin, usually from contact with animal urine. A small outbreak occurred at Fort Bragg in the U.S. in 1942, and the disease was nicknamed Fort Bragg Fever. Its cause was traced to swimming in ponds and streams that had been contaminated by livestock urine. Fewer than 200 cases occur in the U.S. each year, mostly in the warm southeastern states.
TRADITIONAL AND MODERN VIEWS OF LEPTOSPIROSIS AND ITS TREATMENT
The Leptospira infection causes fever and chills, headache, and muscle ache (especially in the shoulders). These symptoms match the Shang Han disease described in the ancient text Shang Han Lun. In fact, the initial course of leptospirosis follows a pattern, over a period of several days, that is somewhat like that described in the ancient text. In the advanced stage, leptospirosis can cause liver disease (with jaundice) or a severe form of meningitis; the symptoms of some cases of advanced Shang Han disease are similar. According to proponents of the general application of the Shang Han Lun as a guide to treatment of disease, the formulas recommended in that text could be used for modern diseases with similar symptom presentation. Accordingly, early stage of spirochetal infection, such as Lyme disease and Fort Bragg fever, might be treated by the same formulas used in the Shang Han Lun (see: A modern view of the Shang Han Lun).
Modern understanding of these infectious diseases may help reflect on the development of Chinese concepts of disease causation and treatment. Shang Han disease occurred most frequently in winter, the time of year when animals were brought into the house, thereby increasing opportunity for exposure to pathogens; thus, exposure of people to cold may not have been the reason that some diseases were observed to occur during the cold season. Similarly, the summer heat syndrome, which often produces digestive system disturbances, may not be the direct result of exposures of humans to the damp, hot climate, but exposure to pathogens that grow in that climate and infect the food and water supplies (see the articles: The six qi and six yin and Pill Curing and Huoxiang Zhengqi Pian).
The book Modern Study and Application of Materia Medica (4) provides information about herbs reputed to inhibit Leptospira based on laboratory testing (herb extract applied to cultured bacteria causing them to die) and, in some cases, clinical evaluation (herbs administered to infected patients resulting in clearance of symptoms). The following list of leptospira-inhibiting herbs was culled from the Chinese medical literature:
Isatis leaf Smilax
Isatis root Gardenia
Andrographis Hu-chang
Coptis Chien-li-kuang
Scute Verbena
Phellodendron Sanguisorba
Forsythia Ching-hao
Most of these herbs treat a condition described as damp-heat; many of the herbs have broad-spectrum antibiotic and antiviral properties. The book Thousand Formulas and Thousand Herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine (5), no doubt relying on the same source material, listed the first nine ingredients of the above list as inhibitors of Leptospira; this text also presents five traditional formulas suggested for treating leptospirosis, divided by syndrome:
* Exogenous pathogen invading the qi phase (this corresponds to the initial disease symptoms, which may include a flu-like pattern): Yin Qiao San (Lonicera and Forsythia Formula).
* Summer heat and damp heat misting the three burners (for treatment of skin manifestations of the disease, such as rashes): Sanshi San (Three Stone Powder, made with calamine, gypsum, and red kaolin; this is applied topically).
* Acute jaundice (this is the manifestation of leptospirosis as liver disease): Ermiao San (Red Atractylodes and Phellodendron Powder; this is a general formula for damp-heat).
* Summer heat injuring the lung: Xin Jia Xiangru Yin (Modification of Elsholtzia Combination; the base formula contains elscholtzia, dolichos, and magnolia bark; a common addition is coptis).
* Heat invading the pericardium with liver wind moving internally (this is the manifestation of leptospirosis as meningitis): Zhengan Xifeng Tang plus Angong Niuhuang Wan (Decoction to Subdue Internal Wind plus Pill of Ox Gallstone to Pacify the Palace).
All of the recommended formulas treat a heat syndrome, and include herbs that alleviate damp-heat, though they include few herbs from the list of those that have thus far been shown to inhibit the subject organism in laboratory and clinical tests. The herbal therapies may alleviate symptoms without curing the spirochetal infection, while it is the cure of the disease, defined by freedom from the bacteria, that is the goal of most Western patients and their physicians.
CLINICAL EVALUATIONS
There was considerable clinical research into treatment of leptospirosis in China during the early 1970s (9). It was reported that tablets prepared from equal amounts of the extracts of scute, lonicera, and forsythia, administered three times daily in large amounts were useful for treating mild and moderate cases of the disease. Andrographis extract, in the form of an injection or tablets of the crude extract or of the isolated lactones, was reported to effectively treat leptospirosis. In one evaluation, 31 of 35 cases were said to be cured by the andrographis lactones (mainly diterpene lactones, which are also found in the anticancer herb rabdosia).
More recently, Deng Shifa reported on efforts at prevention and treatment of leptospirosis (6, 7). He administered a decoction prepared from fresh, rather than dried, herbs, using ching-hao, houttuynia, eclipta, imperata, mentha, lonicera stem, humulus (lucao), and rhubarb. This formula only includes one herb, ching-hao, from the list of individual herbs above. The drink was consumed 4-6 times per day (that is, at intervals of 2-4 hours), and it was reported that recovery from symptoms occurred, on average, in about 11 days. The results obtained with the Chinese herbs were similar to those obtained with penicillin, based on cure rate, which was 97%. The same herb formula, with rhubarb deleted, was said to help prevent leptospirosis.
Another spirochete, Treponema, gives rise to two diseases, syphilis (from T. pallidum) and yaws (from T. pertenue). Since these diseases are easily controlled by modern antibiotic therapy, there is little mention of herbal remedies in the literature. Smilax (tufuling), an herb for damp-heat that is included in the list of anti-leptospira herbs, is still prominently mentioned for this application (4, 8 ). In Western herbal practice, a species of Smilax, known popularly as sarsaparilla, was used for treatment of syphilis. This repeated reference to the herb in clinical use supports the idea that smilax may have a reliable inhibitory effect for spirochetal infections. Treponemes have been isolated from the blood of patients with Lyme disease, suggesting that the ticks may harbor both types of spirochetes.
TCM ANALYSIS OF LYME DISEASE
The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) analysis of a new disease, such as Lyme disease, depends on the disease manifestations and the analysis of other diseases that have some characteristics in common with it. The salient features are these:
1. the tick introduces the pathogen into the blood stream directly;
2. the infection typically yields a blotchy red rash, often in a "bull's eye" pattern of red skin coloration and swelling, about 3-20 days after the tick bite;
3. there may be flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, sore throat, nausea, fatigue, swollen glands, stiff neck, aching muscles; and
4. if unresolved there may be recurrences of fever and, usually after several months, arthralgia, usually in the knees, with swelling and hot feeling.
It is estimated that 25-50% of those infected do not get the rash or flu-like symptoms, and that about half of those who experience the rash go on to experience arthralgia. The disease may be interpreted in TCM terms most simply as a heat pathogen entering the blood, which can reside as a "hidden toxin" in some individuals, manifesting disease symptoms later, after some factor activates it.
As an example of traditional prescribing that might be appropriate to Lyme disease, a formula recommended for a heat toxin entering the blood and producing eruption of macules (11) is Lonicera and Gypsum Combination (Liangxue Baidu Tang; Cool Blood and Defeat Toxin Decoction). It contains forsythia, gardenia, scute, and coptis, which are included in the list of anti-leptispirosa herbs, along with gypsum, talc, lonicera, anemarrhena, carthamus, moutan, raw rehmannia, scrophularia, and imperata (the original formula also included horns of antelope and rhino).
TREATMENT OPTIONS IN THE WEST
Medical studies suggest that if the Boerrelia infection can be treated soon after it occurs with antibiotics, there is strong likelihood of it being eliminated quickly and completely. The current medical treatment for Lyme disease is a course of therapy using doxycycline, amoxicillin, penicillin, or erythromycin. These are taken orally except in severe cases in which they may be administered intravenously instead. Many of those who become infected spontaneously recover within days or months even without antibiotics (no doubt, the bacteria eventually succumbs to the immune system). For those who have the infection for months prior to treatment without improvement, antibiotics may need to be administered for several months before the infection finally resolves, and some cases may entirely escape cure with this therapy due to the characteristics of the bacteria (ability to avoid the immune system by antigenic changes on its surface and ability to avoid antibiotic inhibition by infiltrating areas of the body, such as the joints, that have lower levels of exposure to the drug).
The absence of direct clinical evaluation of Chinese herbs in relation to Lyme disease means that there is some difficulty recommending that this method be used in lieu of the currently accepted course of antibiotics. Some individuals may wish to attempt to increase the chances of success with antibiotics or even shorten the duration of treatment with antibiotics by combining a Chinese herbal treatment, and a few individuals may wish to try using Chinese herbs alone, saving the antibiotic therapy as a back-up. One would apply herbs that are reputed to inhibit other spirochetes (since these should have an excellent chance of inhibiting this one), as well as any herbs that might treat the specific symptoms or the patient's constitution.
The Seven Forests herb formula tablet Isatis 6 provides isatis leaf, hu-chang, and andrographis from the list of herbs given above, and the Seven Forests formula Forsythia 18 provides forsythia, gardenia, scute, phellodendron, and coptis, which are also on that list. Together, these formulas may provide the bacterial inhibition that is sought from Chinese herbs in a convenient form of administration (suggested dosage would be 3-5 tablets of each formula, three times daily). As with treatment of any infection, the intended application is a high dosage for a few days or weeks. Since the formulas fall into the category of clearing heat, persons with symptoms and signs indicating a constitutional cold syndrome would probably do better to have a personalized formula made (e.g., extract granules), combining the desired anti-bacterial ingredients (which have a cold nature) with herbs for addressing the constitutional imbalance.
The single herb ching-hao may be of interest in treating this disease. This is an herb for damp-heat that is one of the most effective herbal agents for treating malaria, another parasitic disease (though a very different pathogen) introduced directly into the blood stream by an insect (mosquito). It was included in the formula recommended by Deng Shifa for treatment and prevention of leptospirosis. Aside from being listed as an anti-spirochete based on laboratory evaluation, this herb also helps regulate the immune system in cases of autoimmune disorders. For example, it is found useful in treating the autoimmune attack against connective tissue (mainly skin and joints) in patients with lupus (9). The arthralgia experienced by persons with advanced Lyme disease may involve some autoimmune component (at this time, it is unclear whether persistence of the bacteria is solely responsible for persisting symptoms or if there is an induced autoimmune process that contributes to the symptoms).
Further, if the symptoms of arthralgia have already developed, then herbs traditionally used for that purpose would also be administered (selection of ingredients would depend on symptom presentation and constitutional factors). Lonicera stem, included in the treatment for leptospirosis described by Deng Shifen, may be of interest, as it is used like lonicera flower as an anti-toxin agent, but is considered a specific treatment for arthralgia.
Based on the analysis that has been presented here, for patients willing to take a decoction or dried decoction, the following is proposed as a base formula that may be modified, if deemed necessary, for individual needs:
Anti-Spirochete Mixture
(equal parts)
Smilax
Ching-hao
Forsythia
Hu-chang
Andrographis
Lonicera stem
When using a decoction, the dosage of individual herbs should be 12-15 grams for a one day dose. Using dried decoctions, a daily dosage of 15-18 grams of the mixture would be appropriate. Three times per day dosing is a usual recommendation for the treatment of infections.
REFERENCES
1. Biddle W, A Field Guide to the Germs, 1995 Henry Holt and Co., Inc., New York.
2. Karlen A, Man and Microbes, 1995 G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York.
3. Lane K (executive editor), Merck Manual of Medical Information, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA.
4. Dong Zhi Lin and Yu Shu Fang, Modern Study and Application of Materia Medica, 1990 China Ocean Press, Beijing.
5. Huang Bingshan and Wang Yuxia, Thousand Formulas and Thousand Herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine, vol. 1, 1993 Heilongjiang Education Press, Harbin.
6. Deng Shifa, Preliminary study on the prevention and treatment of leptospirosis with traditional Chinese medicine, Lianing Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1985; 9(5): 15-17.
7. Deng Shifa and Sheng Rixin, Treatment of leptospirosis with Qixian Drink, Zhejiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1991; 26(7): 293-294.
8. Hong-Yen Hsu, et al., Oriental Materia Medica: A Concise Guide, 1986 Oriental Healing Arts Institute, Long Beach, CA.
9. Hson-Mou Chang and Paul Pui-Hay But (eds.), Pharmacology and Applications of Chinese Materia Medica, (2 vols.), 1986 World Scientific, Singapore.
10. Robbins SL, Cotran RS, and Kumar V, Pathologic Basis of Disease, Third Edition, 1984 W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, PA.
11. Hsu HY and Wang SY, The Theory of Feverish Diseases and Its Clinical Applications, 1985 Oriental Healing Arts Institute, Long Beach, CA.
KIINALAINEN LÄÄKETIEDE BORRELIOOSIN HOIDOSSA
Valvojat: Jatta1001, Borrelioosiyhdistys, Bb
KIINALAINEN LÄÄKETIEDE BORRELIOOSIN HOIDOSSA
Viimeksi muokannut Bb, Su Huhti 18, 2010 17:32. Yhteensä muokattu 4 kertaa.
Lähettäjä: Soijuv Lähetetty: 24.11.2005 8:43
Tutkin yhtä yrteistä, Andrographista, ja ainakin tämän selvityksen mukaan sen käyttö on turvallista - käyttöä ei suositella raskaana oleville. Yrttiä on käytetty vuosisatoja Aasiassa mm. erilaisiin infektiotauteihin erityisesti virustauteihin:
Background
Andrographis paniculata, (AP), also known commonly as "King of Bitters," is a member of the plant family Acanthaceae, and has been used for centuries in Asia to treat GI tract and upper respiratory infections, fever, herpes, sore throat, and a variety of other chronic and infectious diseases. It is found in the Indian Pharmacopoeia and is the prominent in at least 26 Ayurvedic formulas; whereas in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Andrographis is an important "cold property" herb: it is used to rid the body of heat, as in fevers, and to dispel toxins from the body. In Scandinavian countries, it is commonly used to prevent and treat common colds. Research conducted in the '80's and '90's has confirmed that Andrographis, properly administered, has a surprisingly broad range of pharmacological effects, some of them extremely beneficial:
* Abortifacient (can abort pregnancy... although ayurvedic tradition allows it to be taken for short duration during pregnancy. We advise all women to avoid its use during pregnancy as a precaution. In almost every other respect Andrographis has an extremely low toxicity.)
* Acrid (hot: in this case, slightly rubifacient to the skin)
* Analgesic (pain killer)
* Anti-inflammatory (reduces swelling and cuts down exudation from capillaries... antiflammatory action probably mediated, in part, by adrenal function)
* Antibacterial (fights bacterial activity... although Andrographis appears to have weak direct antibacterial action, it has remarkably beneficial effect in reducing diarrhea and symptoms arising from bacterial infections.)
* Antiperiodic (counteracts periodic/intermittent diseases, such as malaria)
* Antipyretic (fever reducer - both in humans and animals, caused by multiple infections or by toxins)
* Antithrombotic (blood clot preventative)
* Antiviral (inhibits viral activity)
* Cancerolytic (fights, even kills, cancer cells)
* Cardioprotective (protects heart muscles)
* Choleretic (alters the properties and flow of bile)
* Depurative (cleans and purifies the system, particularly the blood)
* Digestive (promotes digestion)
* Expectorant (promotes mucus discharge from the respiratory system)
* Hepatoprotective (protects the liver and gall bladder)
* Hypoglycemic (blood sugar reducer)
* Immune Enhancement (increases white cell phagocytosis, inhibits HIV-1 replication, and improves CD4+ and T lymphocyte counts)
* Laxative (aids bowel elimination)
* Sedative (a relaxing herb, though not with the same effect as the accepted herbal sedatives: valerian root, hops, skullcap, etc.)
* Thrombolytic (blood clot buster)
* Vermicidal (kills intestinal worms)
Andrographis has been used as a medicinal herbs for centuries in not one, but several different medical traditions, which is the subject of other sections below.
Morphology / Chemistry
Andrographis paniculata is an annual - branched, erect - running 1/2 to 1 meter in height. The aerial parts of the plant (leaves and stems) are used to extract the active phytochemicals. It grows abundantly in southeastern Asia: India (and Sri Lanka), Pakistan and Indonesia - but it cultivated extensively in China and Thailand (1), the East and West Indies, and Mauritius (2). Normally grown from seeds, Andrographis is ubiquitous in its native areas: it grows in pine, evergreen and deciduous forest areas, and along roads and in villages. Because of its well-known medicinal properties, it is also cultivated - quite easily, because it grows in all types of soil. Moreover, it grows in soil types where almost no other plant can be cultivated, particularly "serpentine soil," which is relatively high in aluminum, copper and zinc. Such hardiness helps account for its wide distribution.
The leaves contain the highest amount of andrographolide (2.39%), the most medicinally active phytochemical in the plant, while the seeds contain the lowest. (3). The other medicinal chemicals are also bitter principles: diterpenoids viz. deoxyandrographolide, -19ß-D-glucoside, and neo-andrographolide, all of which have been isolated from the leaves. (4).
andrographolide - called The primary medicinal component of Andrographis is andrographolide. It has a very bitter taste, is a colorless crystalline in appearance, and is called a "diterpene lactone" - a chemical name that describes its ringlike structure (see diagram at left). Besides the related bitters cited above, other active components include 14-deoxy-11,12- didehydroandrographolide (andrographlide D), homoandrographolide, andrographan, andrographon, andrographosterin, and stigmasterol - the last of which was isolated from an Astrographis preparation (5).
Both growing region and seasonality play a role as to the concentration of these diterpene lactones. Andrographis appears to grow best in the tropical and subtropical areas of China and Southeast Asia. The highest concentration of the active components is found just before the plant blooms, making early fall the best time to harvest. In those parts of Asia where Andrographis is sold commercial as medicine, a variety of lab methodologies are used to ensure a standardized level of andrographolides: thin-layer chromatography, ultraviolet spectrophotometry, liquid chromatography, and volumetric and colorimetric techniques.
Extraction is usually performed using ethanol, and liquid extracts or tinctures are the most common form of dispensing the product. When consumed, andrographolides appear to accumulate in organs throughout the viscera. In one study, after 48 hours, the concentration of labelled andrographolide was 20.9%, brain; 14.9%, spleen; 11.1%, heart; 10.9%, lung; 8.6%, rectum; 7.9%, kidney; 5.6%, liver; 5.1%, uterus; 5.1%, ovary; and 3.2%, intestine. (6). Absorption and excretion is rapid: 80% is removed within eight hours via the kidney (urine) and G.I. tract. Ninety percent is eliminated within forty-eight hours.
Known Mechanisms of Action
Andrographis paniculata has been extensive studied, most of it in the last half of the 20th century, and much of it concentrating on "AP's" pharmacological composition, safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action. (1,7,8 ). A good deal of this research has centered around a screening technique called signal transduction technology - probably best explained in a seminal work by Jean Barilla, M.S.:
"All cells in the body contain receptors on the surface of the cell membrane that surrounds the cell. These receptors function to bind hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters, and other molecules that regulate (or in the case of cancer, disturb) cell function. Once a molecule binds to the receptor, a chemical message is transmitted to targets in the cell or to other molecules in the cell, which carry the message further. The message will eventually reach the nucleus of the cell where the genetic material (the DNA) is stored. The DNA will be activated and the cell will respond according to what type of cell it is. An example would be a message to make a particular protein, such as insulin, by a cell in the pancreas. The receptor, its cellular target, and any intermediary molecules are referred to as a "signal transduction pathway." Signal transduction technology involves the study of these pathways that affect cell function. Any point in this pathway may be affected by cancer-causing toxins or by viruses. In the case of cancer, changes in the components or in the timing of cellular events can cause abnormal cell division. Uncontrolled cell division results in a tumor or in the spread of cancerous cells. Other diseases can also develop when the signals are disturbed.
"Many of the steps are involved in signal transduction are well understood, although research can be done to fine-tune an understanding, of these pathways. Investigating what can go wrong at such a basic level (inside the cell) allows researchers to detect diseases at a much earlier stage -- before there are obvious symptoms and when there is still a good chance to correct the problem.
"Scientists at many U.S. companies are using signal transduction technology to determine the effects of natural and synthetic components on the signal transduction pathways in the cell, in particular those involved in cell division... Several applications of signal transduction technology in the development of compounds with therapeutic potential have been reviewed in an excellent editorial published in Genetic Engineering News in January 1996. (9)
"One of the criticisms made by the conventional medical and scientific community regarding dietary supplements is that their development and use have been based on folklore, not science. Using signal transduciton technology to investigate the effect on a botanical or other nutrition supplement on the cell-level processes of cells is good science. This approach will legitimize the nutritional approach to the prevention and treatment of disease and speed the process of development of new and more effective supplements. Importantly, this technology avoids the use of animal testing, which often lasts for years before a supplement is approved for human use; not using animals is an additional benefit those who consider animal testing to be inhumane. In addition to saving time and animals, this technology reduces the costs involved in getting a supplement to market - a saving which will be passed on to consumers...
"Using signal transduction technology, extracts of AP (Andrographis paniculata) have been found to counteract interference with the cell cycle. Such interference is the basis for the development of cancer or infection with viruses such as HIV-1. Andrographolides are thought to enhance immune system functions such as production of white blood cells (scavengers of bacteria and other foreign matter), release of interferon, and activity of the lymph system. Interferon is a protein (called a cytokine) made by cells in response to viruses. It is a potent antiviral agent and is also antiproliferative (stops the growth of viruses). The lymph system is an important part of the immune system. Briefly, it is another circulatory system (like the vascular system) that carries a fluid, the lymph. The lymph carries away the by-products of cellular metabolism and also acts as a shuttle for invading bacteria and viruses, taking them to the lymph nodes where the white blood cells (lymphocytes) destroy them. Andrographis, a superb immune system enhancer, is even more effective when combined with immune stimulators, such as the herb Echinacea, and with zinc and vitamin C... Andrographolides may also be useful in cancer therapy [see below].
"Several studies have looked at the disposition of andrographolide in various organs of the body.(10) Biodistribution experiements have been done in experimental animals. Following injection of radioactively labeled andrographolide, this compound appears to be widely distributed in the body. High concentrations are noted in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and other organs with high blood flow, including the colon, spleen, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Andrographolide appears to have a relatively short half-life of approximately two hours. The term "half-life" refers to the time when the concentration of the compound in the body is half of what it originally was when it entered the body. This is what is left after the compound has been metabolized (broken down), changed into other forms (called metabolites), and excreted by one of several routes (urine, feces, exhaled air, sweat, or other body excretions). Compounds with short half-lives need to be given often since they do not stay in the body for long. Andrographolides are excreted fairly rapidly from the body via the urine and gastrointestinal tract. In some studies, 80 percent of the administered dose of andrographolide is removed from the body within eight hours, with excretion rates of more than 90 percent of the compound within forty-eight hours.
The wide tissue and organ distribution and the immune-stimulating and regulatory actions of AP make it an ideal candidate in the prevention and treatment of many diseases and conditions. Some of the biological effects and potential treatment properties of extracts of AP are summarized above in the Background section." (11)
----------------
Artikkeli jatkuu:
http://www.altcancer.com/andcan.htm#112
Tutkin yhtä yrteistä, Andrographista, ja ainakin tämän selvityksen mukaan sen käyttö on turvallista - käyttöä ei suositella raskaana oleville. Yrttiä on käytetty vuosisatoja Aasiassa mm. erilaisiin infektiotauteihin erityisesti virustauteihin:
Background
Andrographis paniculata, (AP), also known commonly as "King of Bitters," is a member of the plant family Acanthaceae, and has been used for centuries in Asia to treat GI tract and upper respiratory infections, fever, herpes, sore throat, and a variety of other chronic and infectious diseases. It is found in the Indian Pharmacopoeia and is the prominent in at least 26 Ayurvedic formulas; whereas in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Andrographis is an important "cold property" herb: it is used to rid the body of heat, as in fevers, and to dispel toxins from the body. In Scandinavian countries, it is commonly used to prevent and treat common colds. Research conducted in the '80's and '90's has confirmed that Andrographis, properly administered, has a surprisingly broad range of pharmacological effects, some of them extremely beneficial:
* Abortifacient (can abort pregnancy... although ayurvedic tradition allows it to be taken for short duration during pregnancy. We advise all women to avoid its use during pregnancy as a precaution. In almost every other respect Andrographis has an extremely low toxicity.)
* Acrid (hot: in this case, slightly rubifacient to the skin)
* Analgesic (pain killer)
* Anti-inflammatory (reduces swelling and cuts down exudation from capillaries... antiflammatory action probably mediated, in part, by adrenal function)
* Antibacterial (fights bacterial activity... although Andrographis appears to have weak direct antibacterial action, it has remarkably beneficial effect in reducing diarrhea and symptoms arising from bacterial infections.)
* Antiperiodic (counteracts periodic/intermittent diseases, such as malaria)
* Antipyretic (fever reducer - both in humans and animals, caused by multiple infections or by toxins)
* Antithrombotic (blood clot preventative)
* Antiviral (inhibits viral activity)
* Cancerolytic (fights, even kills, cancer cells)
* Cardioprotective (protects heart muscles)
* Choleretic (alters the properties and flow of bile)
* Depurative (cleans and purifies the system, particularly the blood)
* Digestive (promotes digestion)
* Expectorant (promotes mucus discharge from the respiratory system)
* Hepatoprotective (protects the liver and gall bladder)
* Hypoglycemic (blood sugar reducer)
* Immune Enhancement (increases white cell phagocytosis, inhibits HIV-1 replication, and improves CD4+ and T lymphocyte counts)
* Laxative (aids bowel elimination)
* Sedative (a relaxing herb, though not with the same effect as the accepted herbal sedatives: valerian root, hops, skullcap, etc.)
* Thrombolytic (blood clot buster)
* Vermicidal (kills intestinal worms)
Andrographis has been used as a medicinal herbs for centuries in not one, but several different medical traditions, which is the subject of other sections below.
Morphology / Chemistry
Andrographis paniculata is an annual - branched, erect - running 1/2 to 1 meter in height. The aerial parts of the plant (leaves and stems) are used to extract the active phytochemicals. It grows abundantly in southeastern Asia: India (and Sri Lanka), Pakistan and Indonesia - but it cultivated extensively in China and Thailand (1), the East and West Indies, and Mauritius (2). Normally grown from seeds, Andrographis is ubiquitous in its native areas: it grows in pine, evergreen and deciduous forest areas, and along roads and in villages. Because of its well-known medicinal properties, it is also cultivated - quite easily, because it grows in all types of soil. Moreover, it grows in soil types where almost no other plant can be cultivated, particularly "serpentine soil," which is relatively high in aluminum, copper and zinc. Such hardiness helps account for its wide distribution.
The leaves contain the highest amount of andrographolide (2.39%), the most medicinally active phytochemical in the plant, while the seeds contain the lowest. (3). The other medicinal chemicals are also bitter principles: diterpenoids viz. deoxyandrographolide, -19ß-D-glucoside, and neo-andrographolide, all of which have been isolated from the leaves. (4).
andrographolide - called The primary medicinal component of Andrographis is andrographolide. It has a very bitter taste, is a colorless crystalline in appearance, and is called a "diterpene lactone" - a chemical name that describes its ringlike structure (see diagram at left). Besides the related bitters cited above, other active components include 14-deoxy-11,12- didehydroandrographolide (andrographlide D), homoandrographolide, andrographan, andrographon, andrographosterin, and stigmasterol - the last of which was isolated from an Astrographis preparation (5).
Both growing region and seasonality play a role as to the concentration of these diterpene lactones. Andrographis appears to grow best in the tropical and subtropical areas of China and Southeast Asia. The highest concentration of the active components is found just before the plant blooms, making early fall the best time to harvest. In those parts of Asia where Andrographis is sold commercial as medicine, a variety of lab methodologies are used to ensure a standardized level of andrographolides: thin-layer chromatography, ultraviolet spectrophotometry, liquid chromatography, and volumetric and colorimetric techniques.
Extraction is usually performed using ethanol, and liquid extracts or tinctures are the most common form of dispensing the product. When consumed, andrographolides appear to accumulate in organs throughout the viscera. In one study, after 48 hours, the concentration of labelled andrographolide was 20.9%, brain; 14.9%, spleen; 11.1%, heart; 10.9%, lung; 8.6%, rectum; 7.9%, kidney; 5.6%, liver; 5.1%, uterus; 5.1%, ovary; and 3.2%, intestine. (6). Absorption and excretion is rapid: 80% is removed within eight hours via the kidney (urine) and G.I. tract. Ninety percent is eliminated within forty-eight hours.
Known Mechanisms of Action
Andrographis paniculata has been extensive studied, most of it in the last half of the 20th century, and much of it concentrating on "AP's" pharmacological composition, safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action. (1,7,8 ). A good deal of this research has centered around a screening technique called signal transduction technology - probably best explained in a seminal work by Jean Barilla, M.S.:
"All cells in the body contain receptors on the surface of the cell membrane that surrounds the cell. These receptors function to bind hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters, and other molecules that regulate (or in the case of cancer, disturb) cell function. Once a molecule binds to the receptor, a chemical message is transmitted to targets in the cell or to other molecules in the cell, which carry the message further. The message will eventually reach the nucleus of the cell where the genetic material (the DNA) is stored. The DNA will be activated and the cell will respond according to what type of cell it is. An example would be a message to make a particular protein, such as insulin, by a cell in the pancreas. The receptor, its cellular target, and any intermediary molecules are referred to as a "signal transduction pathway." Signal transduction technology involves the study of these pathways that affect cell function. Any point in this pathway may be affected by cancer-causing toxins or by viruses. In the case of cancer, changes in the components or in the timing of cellular events can cause abnormal cell division. Uncontrolled cell division results in a tumor or in the spread of cancerous cells. Other diseases can also develop when the signals are disturbed.
"Many of the steps are involved in signal transduction are well understood, although research can be done to fine-tune an understanding, of these pathways. Investigating what can go wrong at such a basic level (inside the cell) allows researchers to detect diseases at a much earlier stage -- before there are obvious symptoms and when there is still a good chance to correct the problem.
"Scientists at many U.S. companies are using signal transduction technology to determine the effects of natural and synthetic components on the signal transduction pathways in the cell, in particular those involved in cell division... Several applications of signal transduction technology in the development of compounds with therapeutic potential have been reviewed in an excellent editorial published in Genetic Engineering News in January 1996. (9)
"One of the criticisms made by the conventional medical and scientific community regarding dietary supplements is that their development and use have been based on folklore, not science. Using signal transduciton technology to investigate the effect on a botanical or other nutrition supplement on the cell-level processes of cells is good science. This approach will legitimize the nutritional approach to the prevention and treatment of disease and speed the process of development of new and more effective supplements. Importantly, this technology avoids the use of animal testing, which often lasts for years before a supplement is approved for human use; not using animals is an additional benefit those who consider animal testing to be inhumane. In addition to saving time and animals, this technology reduces the costs involved in getting a supplement to market - a saving which will be passed on to consumers...
"Using signal transduction technology, extracts of AP (Andrographis paniculata) have been found to counteract interference with the cell cycle. Such interference is the basis for the development of cancer or infection with viruses such as HIV-1. Andrographolides are thought to enhance immune system functions such as production of white blood cells (scavengers of bacteria and other foreign matter), release of interferon, and activity of the lymph system. Interferon is a protein (called a cytokine) made by cells in response to viruses. It is a potent antiviral agent and is also antiproliferative (stops the growth of viruses). The lymph system is an important part of the immune system. Briefly, it is another circulatory system (like the vascular system) that carries a fluid, the lymph. The lymph carries away the by-products of cellular metabolism and also acts as a shuttle for invading bacteria and viruses, taking them to the lymph nodes where the white blood cells (lymphocytes) destroy them. Andrographis, a superb immune system enhancer, is even more effective when combined with immune stimulators, such as the herb Echinacea, and with zinc and vitamin C... Andrographolides may also be useful in cancer therapy [see below].
"Several studies have looked at the disposition of andrographolide in various organs of the body.(10) Biodistribution experiements have been done in experimental animals. Following injection of radioactively labeled andrographolide, this compound appears to be widely distributed in the body. High concentrations are noted in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and other organs with high blood flow, including the colon, spleen, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Andrographolide appears to have a relatively short half-life of approximately two hours. The term "half-life" refers to the time when the concentration of the compound in the body is half of what it originally was when it entered the body. This is what is left after the compound has been metabolized (broken down), changed into other forms (called metabolites), and excreted by one of several routes (urine, feces, exhaled air, sweat, or other body excretions). Compounds with short half-lives need to be given often since they do not stay in the body for long. Andrographolides are excreted fairly rapidly from the body via the urine and gastrointestinal tract. In some studies, 80 percent of the administered dose of andrographolide is removed from the body within eight hours, with excretion rates of more than 90 percent of the compound within forty-eight hours.
The wide tissue and organ distribution and the immune-stimulating and regulatory actions of AP make it an ideal candidate in the prevention and treatment of many diseases and conditions. Some of the biological effects and potential treatment properties of extracts of AP are summarized above in the Background section." (11)
----------------
Artikkeli jatkuu:
http://www.altcancer.com/andcan.htm#112
Viimeksi muokannut Bb, Su Huhti 18, 2010 17:33. Yhteensä muokattu 4 kertaa.
Lähettäjä: Soijuv Lähetetty: 24.11.2005 9:07
Ruotsalaiset tutkivat Andrographiksen vaikutusta kaksoissokkotutkimuksessa. Yrtin käyttäjät voivat selvästi paremmin kuin vertailuryhmä. Ruotsissa yrttiä on käytetty vuosien ajan Kan Jang nimisenä valmisteena esim. influenssan hoitoon. Sitä sai aikanaan Suomestakin mutta se on jostain syystä poistunut markkinoiltamme. Kyselin asiaa parista luontaistuotekaupasta ja he ihmettelivät tuotteen poissaoloa - epäilivät siitä olleen todellista hyötyä ja se olisi sen vuoksi poistettu myynnistä.
Hallehalsan Clinic, Ulricehamn, Sweden jan.melchior@swipnet.se
"To determine whether Kan Jang can really hang up the progression of colds, researchers at the Hallehalsan Clinic recently carried out two randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials with a total of 225 patients suffering from uncomplicated upper-respiratory-tract infections (Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Pilot and Phase III Study of Activity of Standardised Andrographis paniculata Herba Nees Extract Fixed Combination (Kan Jang) in the Treatment of Uncomplicated Upper-respiratory Tract Infection, Phytomedicine, Vol. 7(5), pp. 341-350, October 2000).
46 subjects took part in a pilot study carried out by the Swedes, and 179 patients participated in follow-up work. Andrographis paniculata was taken three times daily for a minimum of three days and a maximum of eight days during the pilot study, and for exactly three days in the second investigation. The primary outcome measures in the patients' self-evaluations were muscle pain, extent of coughing, throat discomfort, headache, nasal symptoms, eye irritations, and body temperature. The physicians' fixed-score diagnoses were based mainly on the patients' signs and symptoms associated with the ears, nose, eyes, oral cavity, lymph glands, and tonsils.
Total symptom scores showed a moderate tendency toward improvement with Kan-Jang use in the pilot study, while in the follow-up investigation both the total symptom score and total diagnosis score showed highly significant improvement for Andrographis-paniculata users, compared with the placebo group. The throat was the area of the body most influenced by Andrographis-paniculata ingestion; in both studies throat signs and symptoms showed the most significant improvement.
How might Andrographis paniculata actually work? The mechanisms are not yet clear, but it is believed that andrographolide is antagonistic to something called platelet-activating factor (PAF). Platelets are small components of the blood involved in clotting and immune-system activities, and PAF can spur inflammation in response to infection."
Ruotsalaiset tutkivat Andrographiksen vaikutusta kaksoissokkotutkimuksessa. Yrtin käyttäjät voivat selvästi paremmin kuin vertailuryhmä. Ruotsissa yrttiä on käytetty vuosien ajan Kan Jang nimisenä valmisteena esim. influenssan hoitoon. Sitä sai aikanaan Suomestakin mutta se on jostain syystä poistunut markkinoiltamme. Kyselin asiaa parista luontaistuotekaupasta ja he ihmettelivät tuotteen poissaoloa - epäilivät siitä olleen todellista hyötyä ja se olisi sen vuoksi poistettu myynnistä.
Hallehalsan Clinic, Ulricehamn, Sweden jan.melchior@swipnet.se
"To determine whether Kan Jang can really hang up the progression of colds, researchers at the Hallehalsan Clinic recently carried out two randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials with a total of 225 patients suffering from uncomplicated upper-respiratory-tract infections (Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Pilot and Phase III Study of Activity of Standardised Andrographis paniculata Herba Nees Extract Fixed Combination (Kan Jang) in the Treatment of Uncomplicated Upper-respiratory Tract Infection, Phytomedicine, Vol. 7(5), pp. 341-350, October 2000).
46 subjects took part in a pilot study carried out by the Swedes, and 179 patients participated in follow-up work. Andrographis paniculata was taken three times daily for a minimum of three days and a maximum of eight days during the pilot study, and for exactly three days in the second investigation. The primary outcome measures in the patients' self-evaluations were muscle pain, extent of coughing, throat discomfort, headache, nasal symptoms, eye irritations, and body temperature. The physicians' fixed-score diagnoses were based mainly on the patients' signs and symptoms associated with the ears, nose, eyes, oral cavity, lymph glands, and tonsils.
Total symptom scores showed a moderate tendency toward improvement with Kan-Jang use in the pilot study, while in the follow-up investigation both the total symptom score and total diagnosis score showed highly significant improvement for Andrographis-paniculata users, compared with the placebo group. The throat was the area of the body most influenced by Andrographis-paniculata ingestion; in both studies throat signs and symptoms showed the most significant improvement.
How might Andrographis paniculata actually work? The mechanisms are not yet clear, but it is believed that andrographolide is antagonistic to something called platelet-activating factor (PAF). Platelets are small components of the blood involved in clotting and immune-system activities, and PAF can spur inflammation in response to infection."