The Herbal Insider

Reading, ‘Riting & Ritalin?

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was a rare condition 50 years ago. Today, it is extremely common, affecting an estimated 5-20% of all children in the United States. Previously known by a number of different names (including hyperactivity, hyperkinesis, and minimal brain dysfunction), ADHD is characterized by learning disabilities, short attention span, easy distractibility, impulsive behavior, hyperactivity, and lack of coordination. Although children with ADHD are not mentally retarded, they often do poorly in school and have difficulty making friends.

Conventional medicine has discovered that methylphenidate (Ritalin, a chemical related to the amphetamines) is often effective for children with ADHD. For reasons that are not understood, stimulants like Ritalin produce a paradoxical response in these children: slowing them down and helping them concentrate, rather than speeding them up.

Unfortunately Ritalin has many side effects and does not address the cause of ADHD, it merely suppresses the symptoms. Nevertheless, both teachers and parents sometimes look at Ritalin as a quick fix, or as the simplest way to deal with a complicated problem. Indeed, in some parts of the United States, as many as 6% of grade-school children are on this drug.

Diet: The Source of the Problem?
Dietary factors and nutritional supplements also play an important role in the treatment of ADHD. Some children are exquisitely sensitive to refined sugars and they improve greatly when all of the sugar is removed from their diet. Some children react to artificial colorings (particularly tartrazine, also known as Yellow Dye #5) and other synthetic chemical additives. A substantial proportion of children are allergic to common foods such as milk, wheat, egg, corn, or citrus. Parents, with the help of medical professionals, can put their child on an elimination diet. After about three weeks, if there have been noticeable improvements, the foods and additives are reintroduced one at a time, observing for reactions. Foods that provoke symptoms or behavioral changes are removed from the diet.

Elimination-and-rechallenge diets should be medically supervised to insure that they contain adequate amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals and that the results are interpreted correctly. In my experience, about 50-75% of children with ADHD improve considerably if they exclude the offending foods and/or additives from their diet.

Why the Controversy?
When children with ADHD improve, the results are often dramatic. It is therefore surprising that most doctors do not believe diet has much to do with this condition. This skepticism arises in part from some bad research that appeared in popular medical journals and subsequently received widespread media exposure. For example, a study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine concluded that dietary sugar does not affect behavior or cognitive function in hyperactive children (1994; 330:301-7). In that study, which compared the effects of a high- and low-sugar diet, the so-called “low-sugar” diet actually contained 5.3 teaspoons of refined sugar per day. That amount of sugar is enough to cause symptoms in a sensitive child, rendering comparisons between the two diets meaningless.

Numerous studies have investigated the Feingold diet, which is based on Dr. Ben Feingold’s observation that artificial colors and food-derived chemicals called salicylates contribute to ADHD. A few of these studies found that the chemicals caused only minor problems, and other studies found no effect at all. However, much of the research was seriously flawed.

Vitamin Supplements Are Part of the Equation.
Vitamin supplements have also been used successfully to treat children with ADHD. Some hyperactive children have a deficiency of the neuro- transmitter molecule serotonin. Best known for its relationship to depression, serotonin deficiency also seems to play a role in ADHD. In hyperactive children who had subnormal blood levels of serotonin, treatment with large doses of vitamin B6 (15-30 mg/kg of body weight) was found to work even better than Ritalin (Biol Psychiatry 1979;14:741-51). It should be pointed out that not all children with ADHD are low in serotonin. Furthermore, the doses of B6 used in this study were extremely large and must be monitored by a physician. Fortunately, lower doses of vitamin B6 are sometimes helpful when combined with appropriate diet changes.

Other nutrients, including thiamine, niacinamide, zinc, and essential fatty acids are occasionally helpful for children with ADHD. However, as it can be difficult to predict which nutrients will work for which children, trial-and-error is sometimes necessary to achieve the best results (Learning Disabilities 1982;15:258-64).

ADHD has become an epidemic among American children. Stimulant drugs such as Ritalin, though effective, do not get at the cause of the problem and can also be toxic. A diet free of refined sugars, chemical additives, and allergens, combined with a medically supervised nutritional-supplement program, will often permit children with ADHD to lead perfectly normal lives.—Alan Gaby, M.D. Stevia may also help. SJM

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BREAKING NEWS

Attention men: Selenium supplements (200 mcg daily derived from selenium-rich yeast tablets) were shown in a study of 974 men to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 63%. The men took selenium daily for 4-5 years and their prostate health was followed for another 6.5 years after the supplementation period ended. According to Dr. Larry Clark from the Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, the men in this study had a history of skin cancer, but this protection from prostate cancer is likely to occur in men without this cancer history (Br J Urol 1998;81:730-4).

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Any Way You Spread It

Trans fatty acids are the newest heart disease boogie-man. You may have patted yourself on the back for booting the saturated fat-laden butter out of your diet and replacing it with the “healthier,” unsaturated margarine. But, alas, scientists have discovered a bad side to margarine, too. Namely, the trans fatty acids created when naturally unsaturated fats are altered to be solid at room temperature (found under the name “hydrogenated oils”).

If butter is bad for you and margarine is worse, what’s a person to do? Try to keep your use of spreadable fats to a minimum. But when you do use them, spread on a smaller amount of butter or a low-fat tub margarine, or experiment with olive oil as a bread “dip” at the dinner table.

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HERB OF THE MONTH

GINGKO BILOBA

Gingko leaves have been used for almost 5,000 years in Chinese herbal medicine. The traditional uses include for respiratory tract ailments and memory loss in the elderly.

What does it do?
The active compounds in gingko have antioxidant activity and lessen the unhealthy clumping of blood platelets. These two actions may help ginkgo prevent circulatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and support the brain and central nervous system (CNS) (Recent Results in Pharm & Clinic; Berlin, 1988,32-6).

Gingko increases circulation to both the brain and extremities of the body. This herb supports healthy circulation in the large vessels (arteries) as well as the smaller vessels (capillaries) (Arzneim-Forsch Drug Res 1990;40:589-93).

Gingko’s antioxidant activity in the brain is of particular interest. The brain and CNS are particularly susceptible to free radical attack. Free radical damage in the brain is widely accepted as being a contributing factor in many disorders associated with aging, including Alzheimer’s disease (Age 1993;16:23-30).

How much should I take?
A standard amount of Gingko herb to use is 550 mg (taken two to three times daily). Gingko may need to be taken for six to eight weeks before desired effects are noticed. As a tincture, ginkgo can be used in the amount of 0.5 ml three times daily. We stock Gingko Leaf in powder or cut and sift and also as a tincture.

Are there any side effects?
Gingko is essentially devoid of any serious side effects. Mild headaches (for a day or two) and mild upset stomach have been reported in a very small percentage of people. Gingko bulk or Gingko capsules

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SUPPLEMENT OF THE MONTH

VITAMIN E
Vitamin E, also known as tocopherol, is a powerful antioxidant that protects cell membranes and other fat-soluble parts of the body. As an antioxidant, vitamin E protects LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) from free radical damage and in this way might reduce the risk of heart disease. Two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that both men and women who supplement with at least 100 IU of vitamin E per day for at least two years have a 37-41% drop in the risk of heart disease (1993;328:1444-9, 1450-6). Vitamin E has been linked to the prevention or treatment of many health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, cataracts, diabetes, fibrocystic breast disease, menopause, premenstrual syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis.

How much do I need?
The most commonly recommended dose of vitamin E for adults is 400-800 IU per day. The natural form of vitamin E (identified as d-tocopherol) is more active in the body than the synthetic dl-tocopherol form. Most doctors of natural medicine advise people to use only the natural (“d”) form of vitamin E. In health food stores, the most common forms of vitamin E are d-alpha tocopherol, d-alpha tocopheryl (acetate or succinate) and “mixed tocopherols.”

What foods provide vitamin E?
Good sources of vitamin E include wheat germ oil, nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, whole grains, egg yolks, and leafy green vegetables. However, almost all vitamin E research shows that positive results require hundreds of units per day—an amount easily obtained with supplements but impossible from food sources alone.

Can I take too much vitamin E?
Vitamin E toxicity is very rare; supplements are widely considered to be safe in amounts far exceeding the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin E.

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Decipher the Code

Here’s a key to help you figure out the sometimes unfamiliar
terms that crop up when browsing in the supplement aisle.

Antioxidant
Vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, and the mineral selenium are among the best known antioxidants—but the family of antioxidants is much larger than these few examples. Antioxidants protect the body from harmful compounds called free radicals that, if left unchecked, contribute to cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and other degenerative diseases.

Buffered
Some acidic vitamins, such as vitamin C, can irritate the digestive tract when consumed in large doses. Buffered supplements contain special compounds to protect the GI tract.

Chelated
Chelated minerals are chemically bound to another compound, usually an amino acid, and in some cases improve absorption of the mineral.

Organic or Natural
The body does not distinguish between organic, natural, or synthetic forms of many nutrients. The exceptions are the natural or organic forms of selenium, chromium, and vitamin E, which are better absorbed and used by the body than their synthetic counterparts.

Phytonutrient
Any substance derived from fruits, vegetables, or other plants that prevents or treats disease, such as extracts from green tea, red wine, soy, and many others. Also called phytochemical or nutraceutical.

Time-released
Time-released supplements are designed to dissolve slowly in the intestines to spread out absorption for a longer time.

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Cran-Max

It is a proven fact that significant health benefits are obtained by using the Whole Cranberry
Cran-Max is 100% pure cranberries produced from pure cranberry fiber and infused with cranberry juice concentrate in a proprietary process. This process enhances and intensifies the natural beneficial constituents of the whole cranberry without the addition of sugars, preservatives, flavorings, or coatings. Also makes a great tea.

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Folic Acid: A “Must” for Women

The evidence is now irrefutable: the B vitamin folic acid reduces the occurrence of neural tube defects (such as spina bifida) by at least 50% in unborn children if women take this B vitamin daily before conception and through the early weeks of pregnancy. Consequently, all women of childbearing age are recommended to consume 400 mcg of folic acid each day.

Even so, according to a survey from the March of Dimes, less than half of women take a folic acid-containing supplement daily or occasionally (J Am Med Assoc 1998;279:1430).