Thuja Homeopathic Remedy and Warts

Homeopathy is a non-toxic system of medical science originated in Germany by Dr. Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann. Homeopathic remedies are water-based or alcohol-based solutions containing tiny amounts of herbs, minerals, animal products, or chemicals. This method of treatment, is based on the principle that if high doses of a substance cause a symptom, very small doses of that same substance will remedy it. Practitioners of homeopathy treat the person with specially prepared, highly dilute preparations designed to stimulate a healing response and reinforce the body’s talent to heal itself.

Thuja Homeopathic Remedy

The thuja tree, which forms the source for the thuja homeopathic remedy, is a genus of coniferous trees belonging to the Homeopathic Remedy cupressaceae. Just the freshly obtained leaves and twigs of a young one year old thuja plant are used for preparing the homeopathic remedy thuja. Therapists of homeopathy recommend use of pretty dilute thuja, in liquid or pill form, for treatingdepression,  irritability,  warts,  rashes, headache,  runny nose, enlarged prostate, gonorrhea, tiredness, insomnia, fevers, shaking chills, muscle pain, back pain and joint pain. In addition, thuja is  made into homeopathic ointments or creams to be applied to the skin.

Warts

A wart is usually a small, rough growth, typically on a human’s hands or feet however frequently other locations, that can resemble a cauliflower or a solid blister. While can occur anywhere on the body, they are most common on the hands or the soles of the feet. There are as many as ten varieties of warts, the most common considered to be generally harmless. Most warts go away after 1 year or 2, but some last for years or come back after going away.

Thuja occidentalis, the most widespread remedy for various kinds of warts. The type of warts that thuja homeopathic remedy is effective for are the kind that can be very large and called “cauliflower warts”. This homeopathic remedy works to help the body rid itself of the scaly patches that appear, as well as the itchy skin and brown “age spots” that individuals tend to complain of. Warts have been demonstrated to decrease in size and disappear when treated with thuja homeopathic remedy in 6c potency taken daily. This homeopathic remedy is not recommended for plantar warts, but is effective for bleeding or painful warts other than on the feet.

Asafoetida Benefits and Dosage

Asafoetida, also called devil’s dung, is a perennial plant native to the Middle East. The name comes from the Farsi aza (resin) and the Latin foetidus (smelly).  Just grows in parts of Iran, Afghanistan and Kashmir. This interesting herb produces a gum from the roots that is harvested after the plant reaches maturity. Ferula asafoetida resin is produced by solidifying juice that comes out of cuts made in the plant’s living roots. Ferula asafoetida has pungent smell like sulphur, which dissipates on cooking.Indians add it to a spoon of hot ghee to decrease its odor and taste better. Due to the unpleasant odor of raw asafoetida, it is generally stored in airtight containers.

Asafoetida Benefits

Asafoetida is one of the herbal remedies which  used in eastern medicine for treating respiratory tract infections and cough. Antiviral effect has been showed in vitro against the influenza A virus (H1N1). In 2009, researchers at the “Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan” reported that the roots of Asafoetida produce natural antiviral medicine compounds that kill the swine flu virus, H1N1. Ayurvedic therapists use asafoetida in antispasmodic and anti-flatulent mixtures. There is some scientific finding that the chemicals in asafoetida might help treat IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Pungent sulphurous smell of Asafoetida is considered to calm  epilepsy and hysteria.

Dosage

Traditionally, a daily dosage of asafetida resin 200 to 500 mg is used. If used in a raw form can  cause vomiting, nausea and may led to irritation of throat.

Polysaccharide Definition

Polysaccharide Definition. Polysaccharides are polymer carbohydrates made up of many monosaccharides or disaccharides. In other words, polysaccharides are complex sugar molecules made up of many blocks of simple sugar. The sugars are held together by the glycosidic bonds. A glycosidic bond is a covalent bond that joins a carbohydrate molecule to another group that may either may not be a carbohydrate. Their features may vary from their building blocks ie the monosaccharides. When all the monosaccharides in a polysaccharide are the same type, the polysaccharide is named a homopolysaccharideor or homoglycan, but when more than one type of monosaccharide is present they are called heteropolysaccharides either heteroglycans. (The ‘poly’ refers to many, meaning that polysaccharides can have any number of individual sacchardies, from three to ten thousand, contained within its chain)

The number of mushrooms on Earth is  calculated at 140,000, but just 10 percent are known. Usually thought to only support normal bowel function and blood glucose and lipid levels, certain polysaccharides have attracted growing scientific interest for their ability  to exert pronounced effects on immune system function, cancers and inflammation. In especially  for health, they represent an unlimited source of polysaccharides with antitumor and immunostimulatory effects. variety, basidiomycetes mushrooms contain biologically active polysaccharides in fruit bodies, cultured mycelium, culture broth.

Mushroom polysaccharides prevent oncogenesis, show direct antitumor effect against different allogeneic and syngeneic tumors, and avoid tumor metastasis. Polysaccharides in fungi do not attack cancer cells directly, however produce their antitumor activity by activating different immune responses in the host. The anti-tumor activity of polysaccharides requires an intact T-cell component; their effectiveness is mediated through a thymus-dependent immune mechanism.

Natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages are between the wide array of immune system cells that patrol the body seeking abnormities and other difficulties. When a trouble has been identified, a cellular defense team in the form of messenger molecules is summoned to initiate the proper immune response. This cellular defense system is enhanced when enough levels of polysaccharides are taken.

Various researches indicated that some particular polysaccharides, (those from the cell wall of yeast or those that are present in various plants), can activate the immune system starting from the intestine, even when no intruders are present.  Reishi, shiitake and maitake mushrooms possess beta-1,3-D-glucan, a type of polysaccharide that stimulates the immune cells.

Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma Lucidum)

Most medical mushrooms contain polysaccharides called beta-glucans that increase  DNA and RNA in the bone marrow where immune cells, like lymphocytes, are made. The polysaccharide stimulates macrophage activity to produce TNF-a (tumor-necrosis factor), together with cancer killing interleukins.

A number of polysaccharides present in Ganoderma Lucidum, (beta glucans), have showed  immunostimulating and antitumor properties. This medicinal mushroom can enhance plasma antioxidant capacity and improves immune response in advance-stage cancer patients. Extracts of Ganoderma have showed the capability to stimulate macrophages and to alter the levels of interleukin and TNF. Ganoderma Lucidum (reishi) inhibits proliferation of human lung cancer cells by blocking AP-1 and NF-kB  activation, notes a research reported  in the journal Interactive Cancer Therapies.

Ganoderma Lucidum polysaccharides increase DNA and RNA in the bone marrow where immune cells like this as lymphocytes are made. Researchers inject it into mice for 1 week and then monitored the changes in RNA and DNA in the bone marrow. Increases were approximately 50 percent. Protein in bone marrow also increased by as much as 28 percent. IgG constitutes a important class of antibodies in human serum that act to enhance phagocytosis and neutralize toxins. Ganoderma Lucidum polysaccharides also augments the responsiveness of antibodies, especially IgG, by expanding the “memory” of T-cells.

Maitake Mushroom (Grifola frondosa)

A polysaccharide extract from maitake demonstrated immunomodulatory activities in preclinical trials and hence the potential for clinical use. Maitake (Grifola frondosa) and the maitake D-fraction prepared from them contain a type of polysaccharide, called beta glucan. Most of the studies on maitake D-fraction has been done in Japan using an injectable form of the extract. Grifola frondosa is thought to exert its effects through its ability to activate various effector cells, such as macrophages, T cells and NK cells, as well as superoxide anions and interleukin-1. A 1997 study reported in the “Annals of the New York Academy of Science” found that Maitake D-fraction was able to increase the immune system and inhibit the spread of tumors in mice implanted with breast cancer.

In clinical studies, Grifola frondosa has been found to increase the activity of 3 very important elements of the immune system (macrophages, T-cells, NK-cells ) by among 140% and 200%. A forty-five year old a female with estrogen-responsive breast cancer underwent surgery in 1992 to remove the tumor, which measured 1.8 cm. She received slight chemotherapy with  ADM and 5-FU until Feb 1994. However the cancer recurred in April 1994, the tumor size measuring 0.9 cm. She refused surgery and instead started to take  five grams of maitake powder and 100 mg of Maitake D-fraction every day for 6 months.

Coriolus Versicolor

Coriolus versicolor is a mushroom of the Basidiomycetes class. Contains PSK (polysaccharide-K) and PSP (polysaccharide peptide), which may be able to fight tumor growth as well as boost the immune system. In the 1980s, the Japanese authorities approved  the use of PSK (polysaccharide-K) for treating some types of cancer. Clinical trials has consistently showed the capability of C. versicolor to double and even triple survival rates for patients receiving radiation and chemotherapy.

Agaricus Blazei Murill

Agaricus blazei Murill is an edible, medicinal mushroom of Brazilian origin. In 1960, a Japanese grower and researcher named Takatoshi Furumoto discovered it and sent it to Japan in 1965 for study. The polysaccharides and antiangiogenic compounds present in Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) are thought to be responsible for its antitumor effects. In addition to the beta 1-3 glucan found in most other medicinal mushrooms, the Agaricus also contains a unique beta 1-6 glucan.

The antitumor activity of Agaricus extracts have been attributed to the induction of apoptosis of cancer cells and the activation of natural killer cells. Cellular and animal model studies have shown that agaricus mushroom may also stimulate immune cells to enhance the production of cytokines. At the “Medical Department of Tokyo University“, mice with cancerous tumors were fed with ABM. The cancerous tumors were eliminated in 90 percent of the mice. Also for those mice fed with the agaricus as a preventative agent, injected with the strong cancer-causing Sarcoma 180, 99 percent of them demonstrated no tumor growth.

Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC®)

The patented AHCC®  (Active Hexose Correlated Compound), is a polysaccharide-rich mushroom-based ingredient derived from the mycelia of select basidiocymetes. Has been improved in Japan for use in treatment of cancer.Due to a special  manufacturing process, AHCC has a low molecular weight. The small size of AHCC molecules translates to increased absorption and increased efficacy compared to  reishi, maitake, and shiitake mushrooms.

Active Hexose Correlated Compound, is unmatched in that while most mushrooms contain primarily betaglucans, AHCC is many rich in alpha-glucans, a different  species of polysaccharide with very potent immunomodulating properties. Proven effects of AHCC; 1-Boost the production of cytokines. 2-Increasing the activity of Natural killer (NK) cells by as much as 300-800%. 3-Increasing the number of T cells by as much as 200%. 4-Increasing the number of dendritic cells.

Astragalus Membranaceus

Astragalus polysaccharides, extracted from the root of Astragalus membranaceus, have extensive pharmacological and powerful immunomodulatory properties. Has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. While there are multiple species of astragalus, most astragalus supplements contain Astragalus membranaceus.

Experiments in animal-based has shown that astragalus membranaceus seemingly works by stimulating different factors of the immune system, including enhancing phagocytic activity of monocytes and macrophages, increasing interferon production and NK (natural killer) cell activity, enhancing T-cell activity, and potentiating other antiviral mechanisms. Clinical  trials show astragalus membranaceus infusion  very effectual at improving and restoring T-cell functioning,  improving bone marrow activity, and augmenting interferon response. Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that astragalus extract boosted the cell-destroying ability, or cytotoxicity, of the conventional immune system drug interleukin-2  by helping cells of the immune system.  In a study done with 115 patients on chemotherapy, over 80% showed higher white blood cell counts when taking Astragalus.

Fermented Noni Juice (Morinda Citrifolia)

Noni is the general name for Morinda citrifolia, a small evergreen tree found in Polynesia. The fruitjuice of noni contains a polysaccharide-rich substance with antitumor activity in the Lewis lung peritoneal carcinomatosis model. Noni possesses antitumor activity by stimulating immune factors like Tumor Necrosis Factor, NK cells (Natural killer cells) etc. to attack the tumor. Researchers at the “Department of Pharmacology in the University of Hawaii“, demonstrated conclusively that the high polysaccharide content of Morinda citrifolia inhibits tumours in mice. An immunomodulatory polysaccharide-rich substance (Noni-ppt) from the fruit juice of noni has been found to possess preventive and medicinal effect against the immunomodulator sensitive sarcoma 180 tumour system.

Goji Berry

Goji is a bright orange-red berry that comes from a shrub that’s native to China. Researchers discovered unparalleled polysaccahrides in goji berries that have not been discovered in any other herb source to date. Goji berries contain the polysaccharides called LBP1, LBP2, LBP3, and LBP4. In animal-based experiments, goji berry has been shown to improve the immune system by increasing the lymphocyte transformation rate and by improving the phagocytosis function of macrophages. In addition increases the activity of natural killer cells, T lymphocytes and cytotoxic cells. One clinical trial of elderly participants demonstrated that in 67 percent of cases, goji  taken daily for 3 weeks led to a three-fold increase in lymphocyte T-cell transformation and doubled the activity of white cell interleukin-2.

Pelargonium Sidoides Side Effects and Benefits

Umckaloabo or Pelargonium sidoides is a native plant of coastal mountainous regions of South Africa. The name “Umckaloabo” is derived from 2 regional vocable; “umkhuhlane,” meaning fever and cough concerned ilness, and “uhlabo,” meaning chest pain. An ethanolic extract of the roots of Pelargonium sidoides has been sold in Germany under the name Umckaloabo since 1983.

Umcka Benefits and Clinical Trials

Umckaloabo and their constituents have immunomodulation and antibacterial effects that help fight infections, particularly in the respiratory tract. It has a unparalleled pharmacological activity which is ideal for the  therapy of respiratory tract infections; It activates anti-viral defence, fights bacteria, and is mucolytic.

Umckaloabo extracts have been shown to have antibacterial effects against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms. Researches demonstrated that P. sidoides improves complementary anti-infective effects to group A streptococci. Decreases bacterial adhesion to intact epithelial cells and therefore protects the organism from bacterial colonization and infection.

In a 2005 study analyzed the effect of umckaloabo on group A-streptococcus, bacteria that can causes skin and throat illness such as strep throat. Researchers determined the umckaloabo decreases bacterial adhesion to the cells that form a protective layer in the throat,  and renders inactive decaying cells in the mouth, thus protecting against infection and recurrent infections.

patientRandomized controlled a clinical trial 103 patients with nasal congestion, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, sneezing, scratchy throat, headache, muscle aches, and fever were evaluated. After 10 days of therapy 78 percent of treated patients 32 percent of the placebo group had complete relaxation of symptoms. A double-blind study of 133 participant who had only come down with the common cold found that use of a standardized umckaloabo extract at a dose of 30 ml three times daily significantly decreased the severity and duration of symptoms as compared to placebo.

In a study 124 adults with a Bronchitis Severity Score (BSS) of greater than 5 points were randomized to umckaloabo or placebo for 7 days. Patients who were administered umckaloabo had a greater decrease in “Bronchitis Severity Score” than those on placebo. In a clinical study with 468 participant with bronchitis received 4.5 ml  of the P. sidoides extract or a placebo for seven days. Important differences were found between the 2 group, with the umckaloabo extracts group reporting less severity of bronchitis symptoms. At the start of the study, 67 percent of the patients were unable to work. Just 16 percent of the umcka extract group was unable to work while 43 percent  of the placebo group was still unable to work.

EPs 7630 is a specific extract from the roots of the P. sidoides. This product has been the subject of 20 clinical studies involving more than 9,000 patients, including 3,900 children. Clinical studies have shown that EPs 7630, an aqueous ethanolic extract from the roots of umckaloabo, is an effective therapy for respiratory tract infections.

Scientists at the “University Hospital Freiburg” analyzed 406 patients throughout 7 day-long clinical trial. Three of the four groups received different doses of EPs 7630, 3 times daily. The last group received a placebo 3 times daily. The experts used a scoring method to evaluate the overall change in bronchitis symptoms and noted that all 3 EPs 7630 therapy groups saw a noteworthy reduce in symptoms compared to the placebo group. In a randomized, double-blind study in Germany, 217 patients with acute bronchitis received umckaloabo or placebo 3 times a day for 7 days to treat symptoms of acute bronchitis. Participants taking the EPs 7630 reported noteworthy development in ease of  breathing, cough, chest pain during cough, and mucus levels.

Dosage

The recommended adult  dose of the standardized root extract is 30 drops 3  times daily. For children 6-11, this dose is usually reduced to 20 drops 3 times daily. For different respiratory tract problems, 30 drops of a certain extract (EPs 7630) has been taken three times daily for 10 days. For acute pharyngitis, 20 drops of EPs 7630 solution has been taken 3 times daily for 7 days in children 6-11 years old.

Pelargonium Sidoides Side Effects

Adverse effects are rare and have consisted usually of skin rash or mild gastrointestinal upset. Refrain in individuals with a known allergy to umckaloabo, its constituents, or members of the plant family Geraniaceae. Is not recommended in pregnant or breastfeeding women due to a lack of sufficient evidence. They  should not be used, in children under the age of 6 years without consulting a physician.