Natural Healing: Bitter is Better Befriending the Bitter Herbs

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There’s increasing interest in herbs that provide a natural way to regulate hormones and to prevent estrogen-based cancers. Rather than resulting in an oversupply of hormones, researchers are discovering that many plant-based hormones gently signal the body’s responses while blocking the more carcinogenic forms of hormones such as estrogen. The Pusan National University in Korea decided to test out one of the most potent sources of plant estrogens: pomegranate (Punica granatum). Researchers there found that the fermented juice, seed oil, and a water extract of the seed covering may help prevent breast cancer by inhibiting estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells. Pomegranate seed oil was particularly effective. Pomegranate’s estrogen-modifying action is thought to be caused by compounds called polyphenols, which inhibited estrogenic activity 55 percent and cancerous lesions by 47 percent in mammary glands. These compounds also reduced oxidation by decreasing enzyme activity up to 79 percent. Plus, pomegranate fruit is a strong antioxidant that is also good for the heart. During a three-and-a-half month Israeli study, cholesterol dropped 20 percent in volunteers who drank pomegranate juice. It increased factors that protect against lipid oxidation 29 percent in only two weeks and greatly reduced the size of lesions associated with hardening of the arteries and produced less clumping of blood cells compared to a control group.

Sources: Kim, N. D., et al. “Chemopreventive and Adjuvant Therapeutic Potential of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) for Human Breast Cancer.” Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 2002, 71(3): 203–217.

Aviram, M., et al. “Pomegranate Juice Consumption Reduces Oxidative Stress, Atherogenic Modifications to LDL, and Platelet Aggregation.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000, 71(5): 1062–1076.

Antioxidants for IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can be very bothersome, causing chronic, sometimes severe diarrhea, pain, spasms, belching, nausea, heartburn, and loss of appetite. It is estimated that 10 percent to 25 percent of the U.S. population suffers from it, although the cause and cure eludes doctors. Researchers now suspect that the symptoms may be caused by free radicals produced by the colon’s inflamed lining. Five herbs often used to treat the condition—slippery elm (Ulmus rubra), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), Mexican yam (Dioscorea villosa), and tormentil (Potentilla erecta)—were all found helpful in easing the symptoms. Except for Mexican yam, all five herbs proved to be strong antioxidants. The study’s researchers, who worked with the Academic Department of Adult and Pediatric Gastroenterology and Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry in London, England, feel that herbs may provide “novel” remedies to treat IBS. In another study, an extract of artichoke leaf (Cynara scolymus) also relieved the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome when 279 volunteers who had at least three of the typical symptoms of IBS took two capsules of a standardized extract (320 mg each) per day for six weeks. The treatment was rated as good or excellent by 84 percent of the participants and there were no serious side effects reported.

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