Having Shingles increase Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

 

People who have had shingles may have an increased risk of a major cardiovascular event, like heart attack or stroke in the long term. The heightened risk may also be greater for those who are immunocompromised.

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection that causes a painful rash to break out on one part of the body, such as one arm or one side of the torso. It is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), which is the same virus that causes chickenpox.

After a person has chickenpox, VZV stays in their body for the rest of their life. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles. VZV is the only human virus known to replicate in the arteries and lead to vasculopathy, or issues that affect the blood vessels.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found that shingles is associated with a nearly 30% higher long-term risk of a major cardiovascular event, for as many as 12 or more years following the illness.

The availability of a safe and effective shingles vaccine can help to reduce the risk of shingles as well as any cardiovascular complications.

However, Dr. Ashok Krishnaswami, a member of the American College of Cardiology’s Geriatric Cardiology Council and cardiologist in San Jose, California, noted that getting shingles is far from the only risk factor associated with heart disease, so getting vaccinated alone is not enough to prevent cardiovascular disease in the future. 

“Along with that, you should really try to get the other risk factors in control,” he said. 

These include having high blood pressure, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, smoking or being exposed to secondhand smoke, having diabetes or obesity, eating an unhealthy diet, and not getting enough exercise.

Child Malnutrition

Good nutrition is the bedrock of child survival and development. Well-nourished children are better able to grow, learn, play and participate in their communities. They are also more resilient in the face of crisis. 

But according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), today, many children are not getting the nutrition they need to survive and thrive. This is especially true for the poorest and most vulnerable children. 

Now, at least one in three children under 5 is affected by malnutrition in its most visible forms: stunting, wasting and overweight. 

Stunting

Children affected by stunting – some 144 million under the age of 5 – are too short for their age, and their brains may never develop to their full cognitive potential, hindering their ability to learn as children, earn as adults and contribute fully to their societies. 

Wasting

Wasting affects 47 million children globally. Children with wasting are desperately thin, have weakened immune systems and face an increased risk of death: they require urgent treatment and care to survive. 

Overweight

Overweight affects nearly 38 million children under 5 worldwide. As global food systems shift and the consumption of processed foods high in fat, sugar and salt increases, childhood overweight is on the rise in every region of the world, particularly in middle-income countries. 

Less visible forms of malnutrition, such as hidden hunger, can occur when children become deficient in essential vitamins and other micronutrients. These micronutrient deficiencies affect more than 340 million children under 5 globally, delaying their growth, weakening their immune systems and impairing their brain development. 

From pregnancy, through childhood and in adolescence, poor diets are a leading cause of malnutrition in all its forms. Children’s diets are shaped by multiple forces – globalization, urbanization, inequities, environmental crises, epidemics and humanitarian emergencies – that undermine families’ access to nutritious, safe and affordable foods. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the pre-existing crisis of child malnutrition, threatening families’ livelihoods, disrupting the availability and affordability of nutritious and safe diets, and straining the delivery of essential nutrition services – with dire consequences for the most vulnerable children.

Fo-Ti: The Cure to Old Age?

 

Fo-ti is known as Chinese climbing knotweed or “he shou wu,” which means “the black-haired Mr. He.” - Mr. He being a man of Chinese legend who restored his youth and sexual potency by taking fo-ti tea. Its scientific name is Polygonum multiflorum. 

In traditional Chinese medicine, Fo-ti root is employed for its wellness-supporting properties and to energetically nourish the heart and calm the spirit. It has been used in longevity tonics to ward off aging. It is also been used to treat a variety of other conditions, such as constipation and skin problems. Shampoos containing the herb help combat hair loss and graying. It is also brewed into teas and made into pills. 

There are two versions of it:

·        White fo-ti, which is unprocessed and generally used to relieve constipation. It is also used to treat acne, athlete’s foot and scrapes.

·        Red fo-ti, which is typically cooked with a mixture of yellow rice wine and black soybean juice. It can help restore the color of graying hair, combat premature aging and offset erectile dysfunction. It is also used to treat: 

o   headaches

o   muscle soreness

o   high blood pressure

o   tuberculosis

o   diabetes

o   cancer

o   infertility

Some research suggests that a compound found in fo-ti may help treat Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Researchers have found that it may have neuroprotective properties and antioxidant effects. 

It has also been linked to improvements in learning and memory in research on mice. Some studies also suggest that fo-ti may contain compounds that can help treat inflammation, high cholesterol and cancer. 

Another study found “surprisingly high estrogen activity” in fo-ti. This suggests it might provide a potential estrogen replacement source for menopausal women. And because of  this estrogen-like effects, you should be cautious about taking fo-ti if you have a history of estrogen-related breast, ovarian, uterine, or prostate cancer. 

When it comes to using fo-ti for constipation, certain compounds in the herb have a laxative effect. Those compounds are called anthraquinones. However, they may also cause liver damage in both raw and processed forms. 

Common side effects of taking fo-ti include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting. It may also lower your body’s potassium level, leading to symptoms such as muscle weakness. It can also cause an allergic rash in some people, besides causing liver damage. And if you are pregnant, you should avoid taking products that contain it. 

Herb for Aging Men - Pygeum Bark

 

Pygeum is an African cherry tree. Pygeum bark has been used as a medicine for a long time. It can improve the symptoms of several diseases and pathologic conditions:

1) BPH

Pygeum is commonly used in the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). This is a clinical condition in which the prostate size becomes enlarged. It is usually seen in older men, and it causes uncomfortable urinary problems such as poor urine flow and nighttime urination. It can be used with saw palmetto, stinging nettle root, and/or bee pollen to treat BPH.

Other urinary problems in men include increased frequency and urinary retention, pain during urination, blood in the urine, dribbling or/and unsteady streamline during urination. These symptoms can also be controlled by using pygeum appropriately.

2) Prostate Cancer

The symptoms of prostate cancer are similar to BPH symptoms. These patients may also have blood in semen. In such prostate problems, the use of pygeum helps to normalize the epithelium of the prostatic tissue. It increases the anti-estrogenic activity, which is known to aggravate cancer. It decreases fibroblast activity and may stop the progression of cancer. Additionally, pygeum reduces the effects of free radicals and degradative enzymes in the bladder. 

Moreover, recent studies show it can actually inhibit tumor growth. Pygeum prevents the translocation of the androgen receptor into the nucleus of the cancer cell. This inhibits the expression and growth of cancer cells. 

3) Prostatitis symptoms

Prostatitis may occur because of microbial infection in the prostate. For example, the bacteria that leaks from the urethra into the prostate. This causes an immune reaction and inflammation in the area. The strong anti-inflammatory potential of pygeum can alleviate the symptoms naturally.

Pygeum bark contains several bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory activity. For example, triterpenes, which are lipid-soluble compounds that inhibit enzymes that affect the prostate.

The other component is phytosterol. It inhibits the androgen synthesis by blocking the prostaglandin and the arachidonic acid pathway synthesis. It works great to prevent any further prostate growth.  Sometimes, it can help to treat the obstruction in the urinary tract. So, it also contributes to eliminating residual urine.

4) Kidney disease

When the cause is bladder infections, pygeum bark provides symptomatic relief of urinary tract infections. 

5) Symptoms of malaria

Clinical studies show this plant can be used in the treatment of malaria. It can actually improve symptoms such as fever with rigor and chills. It may also improve the intestinal problems associated with malaria. 

Actually, the bark plant is not only anti-inflammatory, but also a powerful antioxidant. As such, pygeum reduces the effect of free radicals and degradative enzymes. In malaria, free radicals are attacking the red blood cells and destroying them. This is why the effect of pygeum can be of great importance in this disease. 

6) Reduces fever-related symptoms

When these and other causes are treated, the fever can also improve. Using pygeum can help to reduce fever and the symptoms associated with it. Chills, seizures in children, and other consequences of fever can improve by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandin. Thus they will no longer stimulate the brain center that controls the temperature. 

7) May treat stomach aches

When pain and abdominal distention are caused by inflammation, pygeum can help. It can be very useful in abdominal pathologies and common gastrointestinal symptoms. One clear example is gastritis. In this condition, the acid levels of the stomach are increased. The stomach is made to work with acids, but not at this rate. Thus, gastritis can cause pain and discomfort. 

Through inhibition of the prostaglandins that produce acid, pygeum can improve stomach pain.

8) Boost libido

Pygeum can boost libido. It could be useful in males for common conditions such as erectile dysfunction.

Chemicals in the plant, such as the phytosterols and ferulic acid, can help to increase the secretions of the prostate and its functions. When the prostate is well nourished, the quality of the semen improves. This leads to an improved fertility rate. 

Still, other benefits can be lifted. For example, it is known that the androgen-blocking capacity of pygeum can improve hair health. Pygeum bark can be made into hair loss prevention shampoos with saw palmetto and stinging nettle root.

Mindfulness Meditation Works to Reduce Anxiety

The new research adds more evidence to the use of mindfulness as a powerful mental health tool.

Mindfulness meditation, a practice including breath awareness and body scanning, is as effective at treating anxiety as a commonly-used antidepressant.  Practicing a certain form of mindfulness helps relieve symptoms of anxiety as well as a popular antidepressant.

In a new clinical trial, it was found that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) was as effective as escitalopram (Lexapro) in treating anxiety disorders in some people.

As a treatment for anxiety, MBSR had fewer side effects. But the practice was more difficult to maintain. It is more time-consuming and difficult to stick with for some people. It can also be an intense experience.

On the other hand, about 80% of those using drug reported at least one side effect, including increased anxiety, trouble sleeping, decreased libido, headaches or nausea, though most reported mild side effects.

“The drug works great. But it’s not for everyone, some people might be particularly hesitant about side effects,” said Dr. Elizabeth Hoge, director of the Anxiety Disorders Research Program and associate professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical Center. 

Anxiety disorders are characterized by habitual worrying thoughts about the future, typically revolving around bad outcomes and a person's inability to control larger aspects of their lives. Anxious thoughts can trigger a physiological response, like increased heart rate or breathing, which can then trigger even more anxiety. 

"That sort of thing snowballs," said Dr. Hoge. "With meditation, people can practice not letting the thoughts be overwhelming and learn to put them aside." 

Mindfulness effective at curbing symptoms of anxiety and depression by allowing a person to become more aware of their thought processes and eventually interrupt them. 

Mindfulness brings people back to the present—through breath and body awareness, along with moving meditations—to help better regulate the body's stress response to those future thoughts, and rewire how a person relates to anxiety. 

It is important to note that learning how to control these thoughts does not mean not having them at all. Rather, it means shifting one's mindset from allowing worries to take control of their mind and body, to recognizing that they are having an anxious thought, acknowledging it, and letting it pass without causing a reaction. 

This interrupts the feedback loop before it even starts, according to Dr. Hoge, who recommends reframing a thought like "I'm scared I'm going to fail this exam" to "I'm having a thought about failing this exam." 

However, according to Dr. Stephen Ferrando, director of psychiatry at Westchester Medical Center and chairman of psychiatry at New York Medical College, anxiety disorders often exist alongside other conditions, such as depression, and some people will benefit more from medication than mindfulness-based interventions. 

"People with anxiety disorders experience a sense of loss of control and lose their sense of internal agency and ability to change. Their focus is outward and on the future."

“Not all patients, such as those with psychosis or an unstable mood disorder, or severe post-traumatic stress, can actually participate in mindfulness until their symptoms are reduced,” he said. 

Health Benefits of Cilantro

Cilantro is the leaves and stems of the coriander plant. Cilantro is also the Spanish word for coriander.

Cilantro is a bright green herb commonly used in Mexican, Asian and Middle Eastern cooking, as well as other cuisines around the globe. Both the soft feathery green serrated cilantro leaves as well as the stems are used in most dishes. They sprinkle it atop guacamole, salads, beans, stir-fries, soups, fish, curries and more. In many Asian recipes cilantro might be referred to as Chinese Parsley or coriander leaves.

Cilantro is a good source of nutrients. A quarter cup of raw cilantro leaves (about the size of a golf ball) provides 16% of the daily value (DV) of vitamin K, which supports bone health according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. 

It also offers 5% DV of vitamin A and 2% DV of vitamin C—two vitamins that are important for immune function. 

Beyond its vitamin value, cilantro also offers up important compounds called antioxidants, especially polyphenols which prevent or delay certain types of cell damage that would have otherwise contributed to premature aging and heightened disease risk. 

Traditional medicine has long used parts of the coriander plant (including cilantro leaves) for pain, inflammation, gastrointestinal problems and the herb may have cardiovascular (heart) benefits, such as helping to regulate blood pressure and heart rhythm due to its high antioxidant content. 

Some people loathe cilantro as they find the flavor soapy, acrid or pungent due to the smell of a compound in cilantro called aldehydes. Additionally, because cilantro is often consumed raw, it poses the risk of being contaminated with bacteria that would have otherwise been killed via cooking. 

Reishi

 

Reishi, also known as the “mushroom of immortality”, is a formidable fungi that has been revered for its beneficial properties for millennia.

Reishi is a polypore mushroom, growing in damp, dark forests and the occasional rotting log. It is increasingly cultivated on logs, sawdust, and woodchips as the polypore mushroom becomes more popular. The fruiting body has a red veneer exterior with a fanlike, renal-shaped appearance. Bitter in flavor, reishi continues to gain global attention as a mushroom of health and divinity. 

Reishi contains over 400 different bioactive compounds including triterpenoids, polysaccharides, nucleotides, sterols, steroids, fatty acids, proteins, peptides and trace elements. The bioactive compounds in Reishi mushrooms work on a cellular level, providing support to bodily systems that help them function optimally. The mushroom proteins contain all the essential amino acids our body needs to stay healthy. The low total fat content and high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids are considered significant contributors to Reishi’s health value.

As reishi mushrooms contain polysaccharides, specifically beta-glucans, which are known to support overall wellness and the body’s immune defenses to stay feeling healthy, it is often consumed as an adaptogen to balance the body and mind. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, reishi was typically employed as a tonic herb to support the body’s vital energy or Qi. It is used to balance Qi, ease the mind and relieve cough and asthma, and is recommended for dizziness, insomnia, palpitation and shortness of breath.

Potential uses of Reishi mushrooms include: 

• Alleviating common anxiety and restlessness 
• Supporting healthy lung function
• Managing occasional sleeplessness 
• Strengthening the processes of the immune system 
• Providing powerful antioxidants for cellular health 
• Helping the body adapt to environmental stresses

There are over 2,000 different species of Reishi mushrooms. Ancient Chinese texts discuss the six colors of reishi.

The most common and well-known color is the red variety. The other colors are blue, yellow, black, white and purple. 

Red Reishi (Ganoderma lingzhi)

Red reishi is the best known of all Reishi fungi. The most popular species is Ganoderma lingzhi (or lucidum). 

The red Reishi is known to support the healthy function of internal organs like the liver, lungs and heart. Of all the varieties, red is traditionally considered to be superior to other colors because of its high polysaccharide content, such as beta-glucans. It also has very high antioxidant content and thus supports cellular health and functional inflammatory responses. 

Black Reishi (Amauroderma rugosum)

It shows a similar antioxidant capacity to most medicinal mushrooms. The black Reishi has been used in interesting folk practices throughout Asia. 

Purple Reishi (Ganoderma sinense)

Similar in genetic composition to the red Reishi, it is sought after for its more delicate taste and immune-system supporting benefits. 

Yellow Reishi (Ganoderma curtisii)

With a biochemical profile very similar to red Reishi, containing the same beneficial polysaccharides, it has many of the same health-promoting benefits as the more common red variety, such as anti-tumor, supporting the immune system and the liver as well as antibiotic.

Blue Reishi (Trametes versicolor)

Blue Reishi, or sometimes called green Reishi, is more well-known as Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) or Yunzhi in Chinese. This mushroom grows all over the world and is one of the most popular functional mushrooms. 

Turkey Tail is very well known in Asia since two effective cancer-fighting drugs have been developed from it: Polysaccharide K (PSK) in Japan and Polysaccharide Peptide (PSP) in China. It is also loaded with prebiotics, which helps maintain a healthy gut balance and helps reduce indigestion.

In addition, Turkey Tail supplements can help promote healthy cellular responses in cats and dogs suffering from malignant cell growth. The beta-glucans in Turkey Tail mushrooms also help to balance the immune responses in dogs with auto-immune disorders. 

White Reishi (Laricifomes Officinalis)

More commonly known as Agarikon, white Reishi was used as a treatment for tuberculosis and smallpox. Recent studies have shown it to possess antimicrobial properties. 

As the Reishi mushroom is a hard, dense polypore, so you might not necessarily eat it as food. Once it is processed into a powdered extract, it can be used in recipes, taken in capsule format, decocted as a tea, blended into warm beverages and coffees, or employed as an ingredient in culinary creations.

In general, Reishi is a very safe medicinal plant with few side effects or risks. However, if you are taking anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, or high blood pressure medication — or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding — be sure to talk to your doctor before supplementing with Reishi.