December 2010 [Volume 9, Issue 12]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Food Myths: Bamboozled By The Soy Hype
• Herb of the Month – Ginkgo biloba (yin xing yi)
• Ask an Acupuncturist

Food Myths: Bamboozled By The Soy Hype

By Marlene Merritt, DOM, LAc, ACN

What I've seen in my years of adding nutrition to my practice, is that a lot of people "know" certain things about food. "Know" in the sense that we don't question the thought anymore. Like we "knew" that low-fat diets were healthy, right? (see my article titled "Big, Fat Lies" in December).

Or that we "know" eggs can raise your cholesterol. So let's look at a big myth that when you actually learn all the facts, makes you wonder how we got so bamboozled.

Let's start with the myth that soy is a health food. Years ago, China and Japan planted soy beans, NOT as food for people, but for the sole reason of returning nitrogen to the soil since growing rice was especially nitrogen-depleting. They knew better than to eat soy, as it was particularly difficult to digest, causing gas and bloating. However, at some point someone figured out that if you buried it for six months and fermented it, it didn't cause those symptoms. And so miso, tempeh, soy sauce, and natto were created.

Read the full article.

Herb of the Month – Ginkgo biloba (yin xing yi)

What is ginkgo biloba? What is it used for?

Ginkgo is one of the oldest and adaptable species of trees in existence. Ginkgo biloba trees existed before the Ice Age; some trees even survived the atomic blast at Hiroshima in 1945.

A single ginkgo biloba tree can live as long as 1,000 years and grow to a height of 120 feet. It has short branches with fan-shaped lives and produces an inedible fruit (but an edible inner seed).

Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is produced from the tree's leaves. It is one of the best researched herbal medicines on record, with more than 400 published studies conducted on GBE. It is the most frequently prescribed herbal medicine in Germany and France and is rapidly becoming one of the most used herbal medicines in the U.S.

Ginkgo biloba extract increases circulation to the brain and the extremities. It makes platelets less sticky, which helps prevent embolisms and artherosclerosis. By increasing blood flow to the brain, ginkgo biloba may prevent mental deterioration and dementia in elderly patients; some small studies have shown that GBE may slow (or even stop) the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Because of its ability to improve circulation, GBE has been used for a variety of vascular conditions, including Raynaud's syndrome, impotence caused by impaired blood flow, and claudication in the legs. There is some evidence that GBE may also reduce some symptoms of PMS, including fluid retention, congestion and breast tenderness.

How much ginkgo biloba should I take?

Most practitioners recommend taking 120 milligrams daily, in two or three divided doses of 50:1 extract standardized to 24% flavone glycosides. For more serious cases of dementia of Alzheimer's, up to 240 milligrams may be taken.

What forms of ginkgo biloba are available?

Dried ginkgo biloba is available in capsule form. GBE is also found in tinctures and fluid extracts. Make sure that ginkgo biloba products are standardiced to contain 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones.

What can happen if I take too much ginkgo biloba? Are there any interactions I should be aware of? What precautions should I take?

When taken in recommended doses, ginkgo biloba is very safe; however, there have been isolated cases of gastrointestinal disorders, headaches and dizziness in patients taking excess amounts. Because it decreases the effectiveness of platelet aggregation, it should not be taken with blood-thinning agents such as coumadin or warfarin.

Because there is a lack of data concerning GBE's effects during pregnancy, it should be used with caution by pregnant and lactating women. Ginkgo biloba should not be given to children and infants. As with all supplements, patients should consult with a health care provider before taking ginkgo biloba.

Ask an Acupuncturist

Question About Arthritis Pain: My Mom is suffering from knee pain and also stiffness in the joints like hip and fingers. and also there is a swelling in the ankle. She is having this problem for last 5 yrs. Can this be cured by acupuncture treatment? If so, can she continue with allopathy medicines along with acupuncture treatment? and how many sittings will be required to show the improvement? Please help me in getting this clarified.

Answer: Her symptoms can be relieved by acupuncture treatment. I can not say how your mother will respond without seeing her in person. Patients do respond differently to acupuncture treatment. In general, she should start with a series of ten to fifteen acupuncture treatments. She should have three treatments per week. After this initial series she can evaluate how she is feeling, if her symptoms are less. It can then be determined if she will need more treatment sessions. Yes, she can continue with her allopathic medicines until they are no longer needed.

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