Author Archives: Sarenka Smith

International Blog Spotlight: Thailand

September 15, 2017

The King of Chinese Herbs

Dr. Jira Thawornpradit (Royal Life Clinic – Bangkok Hospital) 

Cordyceps or worm grass is known in Thailand as “Tang Shao”. It is a famous Chinese medicine with diversity of at least 680 types according to the difference of worms and mushroom spores that grow in the worm. The most famous type that has been mostly studied is Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) is found primarily on the Himalaya and Bhutan.

In China, Cordyceps have been registered as medicine since 1964 for immune stimulation, improving functions of lungs, kidneys and liver, preventions of cancers, reduce fats, promote health and fighting free radicals. It also improves sexual ability so is also called “Himalayan Viagra”. Health benefits of Cordyceps was demonstrated in the 1993 Chinese national competition where three female runners broke world records of 1500, 3000 and 1000 meter races. They were examined thoroughly for stimulants but test results came out negative. After a while, the trainer Mr. Ma Zunren disclosed to the public that the racers took Cordyceps drink. The United States Olympic Committee has then legalized Cordyceps because of the health benefits and safety profile.

There have been several studies in animals and human showing biological and pharmacological benefits of Cordyceps, as follows.

  • Reducing blood sugar
    A study among 20 diabetic patients taking 3 grams of Cordyceps resulted in 95% control of blood sugar compared with 54% cases treated with modern medicine
  • Immune stimulation
    Cordyceps stimulate white blood cells, particularly Natural Killer (NK) cells which play key roles in cancer prevention
  • Reconstitute renal functions
    It was found that renal functions of 51 chronic renal failure cases who took 3-5 grams of Cordyceps a day had improved. Furthermore, after one month, complications of renal failure such as high blood pressure, proteinuria and anemia was reduced. At the same time, an antioxidant, superoxide dismutase (SOD) was found to be increased.
  • Improve sexual function
    A study among 22 male subjects who regularly took Cordyceps found a 33% increase of sperms with reduction of deformed sperms by 29%. Another study among 189 male and female subjects who started to lose sexual functions, taking Cordyceps could improve their libido by 66%.
  • Decrease fatigue and increase overall general body functions
    With clear health benefits, evidence on complications and toxicity are still trace. There are some reports on dry month, nausea, and diarrhea. Prescribing Cordyceps for diabetic patients should be careful as they could further reduce blood sugar. However, the major concern is not only on Cordyceps themselves, but on lead poisoning. There have been some reports where lead filaments were inserted to increase weight of Cordyceps in the market.

Cautions and side effects of using Cordyceps may include:

–Among diabetic patients because Cordyceps could further reduce blood sugar
–Among patients on anticoagulants because Cordyceps also possess some anticoagulation properties
–Among those on immune-suppressive therapy because Cordyceps stimulate immune responses

With various pharmacologic effects, coupled with over a century of effective use, Cordyceps requires increased scientific research and further clinical trials.

Cordyceps must be carefully used. Different types of mushrooms and worms have been cultivated. This requires more research. Data among pregnant and lactating women are still inconclusive.

National Celiac Awareness Day

September 13th of each year marks National Celiac Disease Awareness Day. This day was created in order to honor those affected by celiac disease, raise awareness about the disorder, promote educational initiatives, and commemorate the birth of Dr. Samuel Gee who was a pioneer in celiac disease research.

Celiac disease affects approximately 3 million Americans, yet it is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to the very slow, gradual bodily damage, and the fact that the symptoms are so widely varied. Diagnoses of celiac disease can sometimes take years.

This autoimmune disorder is triggered by the consumption of gluten: a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley; when people with celiac disease eat gluten, their bodies mount an immune response that attacks the small intestine—ultimately triggering damage that disables the body from properly absorbing necessary nutrients. This can eventually lead to malnourishment, in addition to loss of bone density, miscarriages, infertility–even the onset of neurological diseases and certain cancers.

There are no pharmaceuticals or drugs that treat or cure celiac disease. The only fully effective treatment for the disease is a 100% gluten-free diet, yet Nexvax2—a therapeutic vaccine designed to protect patients with celiac disease against the effects of gluten exposure—has been largely effective in several randomized controlled trials, through its ability to alter a patient’s immune response to gluten.

In order to learn more about autoimmune and inflammatory disorders like celiac disease, sign up for our Fellowship in Metabolic, Nutritional and Functional Medicine. Module VII: A Metabolic and Functional Approach to Inflammation & Autoimmune Disease primarily focuses on autoimmune and inflammatory diseases through the gut-immune-brain connection.

The Truth Surrounding Hormone Replacement Therapies

September 14, 2017

Earlier this week, JAMA published findings surrounding the uses and consequences of menopausal hormone therapy: a subject that has been considered contentious and controversial for several decades–in large part due to the outcome of the Women’s Health Initiative Study, which was halted prematurely in 2002 because of data that indicated the combination of Premarin (estrogen) and Provera—an artificial form of progesterone known as progestin—increased heart disease and breast cancer.

Yet the results are far more complex and nuanced: most people are unaware of the fact that women who had hysterectomies only received the premerin, while other women received the combination pill. The only increase in breast cancer that occurred was in the latter group; when estrogen is combined with progestin, the ability of estrogen to cause stimulation of breast tissue is increased—yet estrogen alone does not. The group who only received estrogen actually showed a decreased risk of breast cancer; moreover, the estrogen was protective even when women were diagnosed with breast cancer.

Jennifer Landa, MD, Chief Medical Officer of BodyLogicMD, has dedicated her practice to bioidentical hormone therapy and preventive medicine, in order to assist men and women resolve menopausal and andropausal symptoms. Dr. Landa explains that results are often contingent upon the ways in which hormones are administered, in addition to the fact that not all hormones are created equally. “Only someone trained as an expert knows the good and bad, and really understands the studies. When we talk bioidentical, it is a way of saying the same exact chemical structure of what is in our body naturally. People do not realize that there are already plenty of prescriptions with bioidentical hormones.”

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy technically refers to the use of hormones that mimic the endogenous hormones produced by our bodies. Landa clarifies that much of the hormone literature is inaccurate, because most of the studies are conducted with ‘bad’ hormones, like progestin. Landa further discusses a study at Yale, years after the 2002 study—after which women came off of hormones in droves—in which researchers and scientists state that the women only taking estrogen should have stayed on it, and that many more women died of heart disease because they were taken off of their hormones. After retrospectively analyzing and assessing the data of the Women’s Health Initiative study, it was found that women who began hormones during menopause had decreased risks of heart disease. Landa terms this the ‘timing hypothesis,’ stating: “Timing is of the essence in hormone therapy. Unfortunately, many doctors are still not schooled properly in this area. Even the American College of OBGYN has agreed that we should not be taking older women off of hormones, as symptoms will likely recur.”