I'm one of those people that has an allele found in about 5% of people of European extract. It is called CYP3A4*22 - a genetic SNP that causes reduced generation of this liver enzyme. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully evaluate supplements that are substrates or inhibitors of CYP3A4, as this particular enzyme is used to metabolize about 50% of all pharmaceuticals, as well as some common foods and supplements as listed in the paragraph above,
"While the beneficial effects of the commonly consumed herbal products by cancer patients is uncertain, data from human studies suggest that some of these supplements are capable of interacting with chemotherapeutic agents. It is therefore prudent and advisable to avoid the concomitant use of anti-cancer drugs and herbal products, especially echinacea, garlic, ginseng, grapefruit juice, milk thistle, and St John's wort."
A reduced version of this enzyme effectively increases the AUC of the medicines/metabolites that are processed by CYP3A4 - not only chemotherapeutics. I believe that is why some people have adverse effects from common meds taken at recommended dosages. I am one of these people, and I must take 1/2 dose of various medicines in order to avoid nasty side effects. If a reader has a long history of using the children's dose because it works fine and avoids headaches and such, he might have this allele.
Thank you for raising this, it's good that presence of the allele may not mean you have to totally exclude beneficial therapeutics, but you need to exercise caution and it may be the reason for an adverse reaction.
Interesting then to compare to experience of Stephen Harrod, herbalist. He insist on using only angustifolia. And only in the beginning, because echinacea works only on the surface of cells. Because pure angustifolia i could not find, i used mixed and it works very well in the beginning of painfull throat.
The research seems to bear that out, but not by a large margin due to other synergistic compounds in E purpurea. Out of preference I would try angustifolia if I could get it.
The key to is you have to start taking it immediately at the sign of first symptoms. Frequency and quantity are the biggest reasons people think herbs don't work. Potency/quality also matters, but don't overthink it. Thanks for the reminder, I have a lot of herbs on hand, but am out of this one. (Herbs you run out of are a good sign that they get used first! Lol)
Fantastic! I've been very impressed with the literature on Olive Leaf extract. Anti-viral, anti-inflammatory,
even evidence it might be anti-amyloid. In particular, I was intrigued by anecdotes of its use by alternative practitioners to restore CD4/CD8 balance in HIV/AIDS patients. The hydroxytyrosol component is also very fascinating. Dr. Levy has a limited lit review on that component. Would love to get the word out if you find it compelling. I've been trying to identify the simplest/affordable solutions so that people aren't going nuts buying 20 supplements. Echinacea is a great one, very easy to grow in a pot at home, on a balcony, in a garden, etc. People need medicines that don't depend on supply chains.
Great thing about a lot of these, like Artemisia or Echinacaea is that regardless of what bans they try to bring in on the supplements you can just set them in a pot or border and grow your own.
Sweet Annie (Artemesia) smells glorious, it volunteered on our property and is considered a weed! I love to trail my hands along her leaves as I pass by. She is most welcome here, and I totally agree that these ways are the people's medicine. But we need to get the word out about buying and sharing seeds, and how to save and store them.
Love your mindset, great post and comments thread š
Thanks! We would like to get funding to research Artemisia further to extend its global reach from malaria to assisting the vaccine injured, with heavily suppressed immunity.
I've used echinacea for years. I used it for one really bad strain of flu that was going around and was able to keep working while the rest of them were suffering badly. I think the trick is to take a lot of it. Farmers used to feed it to their horses. I took a lot of it in the winter, and it was like I could feel the heat from it.
Yes I've always had a few drops but will take it much more seriously now. It's incredible it starts working within 5 minutes, as soon as it hits your stomach!
I'm one of those people that has an allele found in about 5% of people of European extract. It is called CYP3A4*22 - a genetic SNP that causes reduced generation of this liver enzyme. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully evaluate supplements that are substrates or inhibitors of CYP3A4, as this particular enzyme is used to metabolize about 50% of all pharmaceuticals, as well as some common foods and supplements as listed in the paragraph above,
"While the beneficial effects of the commonly consumed herbal products by cancer patients is uncertain, data from human studies suggest that some of these supplements are capable of interacting with chemotherapeutic agents. It is therefore prudent and advisable to avoid the concomitant use of anti-cancer drugs and herbal products, especially echinacea, garlic, ginseng, grapefruit juice, milk thistle, and St John's wort."
A reduced version of this enzyme effectively increases the AUC of the medicines/metabolites that are processed by CYP3A4 - not only chemotherapeutics. I believe that is why some people have adverse effects from common meds taken at recommended dosages. I am one of these people, and I must take 1/2 dose of various medicines in order to avoid nasty side effects. If a reader has a long history of using the children's dose because it works fine and avoids headaches and such, he might have this allele.
Thank you for raising this, it's good that presence of the allele may not mean you have to totally exclude beneficial therapeutics, but you need to exercise caution and it may be the reason for an adverse reaction.
Interesting then to compare to experience of Stephen Harrod, herbalist. He insist on using only angustifolia. And only in the beginning, because echinacea works only on the surface of cells. Because pure angustifolia i could not find, i used mixed and it works very well in the beginning of painfull throat.
The research seems to bear that out, but not by a large margin due to other synergistic compounds in E purpurea. Out of preference I would try angustifolia if I could get it.
I ordered some today. Thank you. ā¤ļøš
The key to is you have to start taking it immediately at the sign of first symptoms. Frequency and quantity are the biggest reasons people think herbs don't work. Potency/quality also matters, but don't overthink it. Thanks for the reminder, I have a lot of herbs on hand, but am out of this one. (Herbs you run out of are a good sign that they get used first! Lol)
Great thing is that to reduce cytokines like IL-6 & IL-8 you can benefit within minutes regardless of viral load.
Fantastic! I've been very impressed with the literature on Olive Leaf extract. Anti-viral, anti-inflammatory,
even evidence it might be anti-amyloid. In particular, I was intrigued by anecdotes of its use by alternative practitioners to restore CD4/CD8 balance in HIV/AIDS patients. The hydroxytyrosol component is also very fascinating. Dr. Levy has a limited lit review on that component. Would love to get the word out if you find it compelling. I've been trying to identify the simplest/affordable solutions so that people aren't going nuts buying 20 supplements. Echinacea is a great one, very easy to grow in a pot at home, on a balcony, in a garden, etc. People need medicines that don't depend on supply chains.
That lit review sounds interesting.
Great thing about a lot of these, like Artemisia or Echinacaea is that regardless of what bans they try to bring in on the supplements you can just set them in a pot or border and grow your own.
Sweet Annie (Artemesia) smells glorious, it volunteered on our property and is considered a weed! I love to trail my hands along her leaves as I pass by. She is most welcome here, and I totally agree that these ways are the people's medicine. But we need to get the word out about buying and sharing seeds, and how to save and store them.
Love your mindset, great post and comments thread š
Thanks! We would like to get funding to research Artemisia further to extend its global reach from malaria to assisting the vaccine injured, with heavily suppressed immunity.
I've used echinacea for years. I used it for one really bad strain of flu that was going around and was able to keep working while the rest of them were suffering badly. I think the trick is to take a lot of it. Farmers used to feed it to their horses. I took a lot of it in the winter, and it was like I could feel the heat from it.
Yes I've always had a few drops but will take it much more seriously now. It's incredible it starts working within 5 minutes, as soon as it hits your stomach!
Thank you for this! Echinacea had kind of dropped off my radar
Lactuca, the lettuce family, thanks and noted to investigate further š¤