America's Pharmacist - September 2000

Arthritis is a painful inflammatory condition of the joints affecting millions of Americans. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Other types of arthritis include gout, ankylosing spondylitis,
and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Osteoarthritis is the age-related deterioration of cartilage in the joints. As the cartilage is worn down, friction between bones causes a characteristic grinding sensation in the joints. Accessory muscles, ligaments, and tendons around the joints become atrophied and result in pain, stiffness, and, in some cases, deformation.

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America's Druggist - November 2000

As the average life expectancy of women increases, many can expect to spend as much as one-third of their years in a postmenopausal state. The characteristic symptoms of menopause are due to hormonal fluctuations and are similar to the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Symptoms of menopause can include hot flashes, anxiety, sleep disturbances, depression, nausea, loss of libido, vaginal dryness, increased masculinization, vertigo, and headaches. The risk factors for some diseases also greatly increase with the loss of estrogen. The major health concerns associated with menopause are osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.

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America's Pharmacist - December 2000

Many of the changes associated with aging among men are a result of a decline in hormone levels, giving rise to the term andropause. The hormonal changes in men during andropause parallel the alterations women experience during menopause. For men, androgens (testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone) decline, as do prolactin, growth hormone, and insulin growth factor. Symptoms of andropause occur in men at a later age than women at menopause, and with a more gradual onset.

Lifestyle and nutritional support for men's health can begin at any age. A healthy diet and adequate intake of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals benefit adults of all ages. The role of a low-fat diet, widely acclaimed in preventing cardiovascular disease, also plays an important role in the prevention of some cancers. Some botanical agents used to support prostate health and sexual function include saw palmetto, pygeum, and stinging nettles root.

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America's Druggist - February 2001

Approximately 70 percent of the U.S. population is overweight, and some 39 percent are classified as obese, which is defined as being 20 percent above one's desirable weight. Americans spend billions of dollars annually on diets and weight loss programs. At anyone time, about one-third of American women and one-fourth of American men are attempting to lose weight.

The formula for weight loss is simple – expending more calories than one consumes. One of the ways people attempt to lose weight is by reducing their caloric intake with some type of diet. These attempts can often reduce the intake of essential nutrients, which makes the body feel like it is starving and can result in rebound binge eating. Reducing caloric intake can also cause the metabolic rate to slow down, which defeats dieting efforts. People on low-calorie diets generally do not take in adequate protein, causing the breakdown of protein from lean muscle tissue in the body.

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America's Pharmacist - April 2001

Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic autoimmune syndrome with symptoms of chronic aches, pains, and stiffness with trigger points or specific sites of exaggerated tenderness. The symptoms may vary from day to day, ranging from moderate discomfort to severe disability. Fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic types of pain that is diagnosed, with as much as 4 percent of the population suffering from this disease. Fibromyalgia bears a striking resemblance to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and mainly affects women aged 25 to 50 years, with the female-to-male ratio being approximately 10:1.

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America's Pharmacist - May 2001

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Literally, hundreds of billions of dollars are spent on this one condition alone each year. Clearly, Americans have become better educated regarding how to improve the overall health of their cardiovascular system, yet the disease continues to take thousands of lives each day. We are fortunate that research is showing us how exercise, diet, and the proper use of dietary supplements may be of substantial benefit. In fact, we are seeing that the current dietary supplement revolution may offer some interesting therapeutic options to help prevent and combat cardiovascular disease.

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America's Pharmacist - June 2001

Men and women experience different challenges in the aging process because of their unique anatomical and psychosocial makeup. Coronary heart disease, stomach and lung cancers, and alcoholism strike more men than women. As they age, men may experience greater loss of lean body mass than women; male pattern baldness; and possibly, loss of sexual function. Perhaps the most common age-related disorder among men is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH can interfere with quality of  life and sexual function, and may increase the risk of prostate cancer, the most common type of cancer affiicting men today. Some botanical and nutritional agents used to support prostate health and sexual function are listed below.

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America's Pharmacist - August 2001

The process of repair and regeneration following injury represents one of the most fundamental defense mechanisms of an organism against the environment. Wound healing in individuals generally occurs over a reasonable length of time. However, there are reasons that wounds may not heal appropriately, such as in impaired immunity, diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, immobility, poor nutrition, and the like. From a nutritional perspective, there are many things that an individual may do to assist the healing process as well as botanical preparations that may be used topically.

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America's Pharmacist - September 2001

Infections of the urinary tract represent a wide variety of syndromes, including urethritis, cystitis, prostatitis, and pyelonephritis. Urinary tract infections are one of the most commonly occurring bacterial infections in medicine today and account for 7 million patient visits annually. It is estimated that 20 percent of women will suffer a symptomatic urinary tract infection some time in their lives, with many having multiple recurrences.
Under normal circumstances, the urinary tract is generally resistant to infection and colonization by bacteria, owing at least in part to the properties of urine itself. Its low pH, high concentration of urea, and extremes in osmolality help to inhibit or kill many microorganisms.

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America's Pharmacist - October 2001

Pain is the number one reason why people seek medical advice. The pathophysiology of pain perception is very complex and not well understood.  Stimulation of receptors known as nociceptors is the first step leading to a pain sensation. Bradykinins, hydrogen ions, potassium ions, prostaglandins, histamine, luekotrienes, and serotonin sensitize nociceptors. Once sensitized and activated, the receptor sends an action potential along A-delta or 0 afferent nerves to the spinal cord. A-delta fiber stimulation results in sharp localized pain whereas stimulation of 0 fibers results in a dull, diffuse, aching pain. These afferent, nociceptive nerve fibers synapse in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The pain transmission will eventually reach the brain via ascending pathways that allow the brain to distinguish sharp localized pain from dull aching pain.

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