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Herbal RELIEF: Lower Blood Pressure with These 3 Ancient Remedies, Science Confirms

AHA Publisher — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 08:00:15 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – High blood pressure, a major trigger for heart attacks, heart failure and stroke, affects a stunning 45 percent of the adult population in the United States. Unfortunately, high blood pressure medications such as beta blockers and ACE inhibitors come with a long list of possible side effects, including dizziness, fatigue and weight gain. In fact, some have even been linked with an elevated risk of stomach, pancreatic and liver cancer. Many people turn to botanical remedies – such as fennel seeds, lavender oil and German chamomile – to help lower blood pressure. In a published scientific study, researchers examined the molecular “nuts and bolts” behind the blood pressure-lowering properties of these herbs – with impressive results. Let’s take a closer look at the surprising findings. Study Confirms Effects of Traditional Herbal High Blood Pressure Remedies – With a New Twist Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is considered present when readings rise above 130 mm/hG in the top measurement and 80 in the bottom. By the way, the condition has been with humanity a very long time. In fact, records show that high blood pressure – which used to be known as “hard pulse disease” – was being diagnosed and treated as early as 2600 BC! A variety of herbs used in folk medicine, Ayurvedic healing systems and traditional Chinese medicine have been shown in both human and animal studies to lower blood pressure. Recently, a team of scientists at University of California, Irvine, set out to evaluate some of them. In a study newly published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers found that certain herbs can activate a specific potassium channel in blood vessels. This channel, known as KCNQ5, has the effect of relaxing the blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure. In addition, the team was able to identify an alkaloid, aloperine, as the active artery-relaxing molecule. The team also examined the channel-activating ability of other herbs – such as spearmint, tarragon and wheatgrass – with no known effects on blood pressure. Sure enough, they found that these had no effect on the potassium channel. Yet, the traditional hypotensive herbs, which are used across a spectrum of diverse cultures and geographic areas, all shared the identical ability to open the KCNQ5 channel – a finding that the scientists called “striking.” They praised lavender, fennel seed extract and German chamomile as particularly effective in opening the channel. According to study leader Geoff Abbott, Ph.D., a professor of physiology and biophysics in the School of Medicine at University of California, Irvine, the findings of the study could enable the potential development of new therapeutic drugs. Fennel Seeds: Potent Powers in a Tiny Package Used in recipes for their piquant, licorice-like flavor, fennel seeds (Foeniculum vulgare) are also valued in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine as a remedy for coughs, digestive problems and liver disease. Strongly anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant, fennel seeds are currently being investigated for their potential anticancer effects. In addition to displaying the potassium channel-activating powers investigated in the study, fennel seeds are rich in the minerals potassium, calcium and magnesium – which naturally regulate blood pressure. They also contain dietary nitrates, which also lower blood pressure and protect the heart – as well as the beneficial flavonoids quercetin, rosmarinic acid, apigenin and anethole. Natural healers typically advise amounts of 400 mg of fennel seed extract a day. However, consult your own integrative doctor before adding fennel seeds or fennel extracts to your health routine. Lavender: More Than Just a Pretty Scent This purple-flowered, fragrant member of the mint family is a trusted herbal remedy for anxiety, which can cause sudden spikes in blood pressure. Science confirms lavender’s calming effects, with solid studies backing lavender essential oil’s anxiety-reducing and mood-lifting properties. Incidentally, the new study was not the first to investigate lavender’s blood pressure-lowering effects. A study published in the Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research showed that lavender essential oil lowered blood pressure and heart rate in patients who had undergone open-heart surgery. To use lavender essential oil, dilute 3 drops in 9 drops of olive or coconut oil and apply to the back of the neck. You can also inhale the fragrance of lavender oil through an aromatherapy diffuser. However, lavender essential oil is not to be taken internally. Lavender, which is botanically known as Lavandula angustifolia, is also available in capsule form. Natural healers typically advise amounts of 80 milligrams a day. Again, naturally, it’s best to check with your integrative physician before supplementing with lavender. German Chamomile: Time-Honored, Calming Remedy Supported by Science German chamomile, scientifically known as Matricaria chamomilla, has long been used by natural healers to treat a variety of ills, including indigestion, nausea, and skin rashes. The active principle in this time-honored herb is a powerful antioxidant known as chamazulene. Like fennel, German chamomile also contains the flavonoids apigenin and quercetin. Research has shown that German chamomile has mild sedative effects. This means that – like lavender – it can help to ease the anxiety that can cause sudden spikes in blood pressure. German chamomile is available in capsules and may also be brewed into a tea. You can also use chamomile essential oil, either through an aromatherapy diffuser or applied to the skin after dilution with a carrier oil. And, like many essential oils, chamomile oil should not be taken orally. One important note: don’t use chamomile in any form, if you are allergic to any members of the aster family – which includes ragweed and chrysanthemums. Typical chamomile amounts can range from 300 mg to 1,000 mg a day. And, you guessed it: before trying chamomile … get the “thumbs-up” from your own doctor. Of course, it’s always good to say the obvious: never eliminate or reduce prescribed blood pressure medications unless advised to do so by your own healthcare provider. Other steps you can take to manage blood pressure naturally include getting sufficient physical exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a nutritious (organic) diet, and avoiding processed (denatured) salt. As the latest study shows, these three trusted herbal remedies all activate sophisticated molecular mechanisms to help lower blood pressure – and science continues to confirm ancient wisdom. Sources for this article include: ScienceDaily.com, MedicalNewsToday.com, Healthline.com, EverydayHealth.com, Healthline.com, CDC.gov To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Could Beta-Blockers Be a Potential Treatment for COVID-19?

AHA Publisher — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 08:00:55 +0000

Interview conducted by Emily Henderson, B.Sc. via News-Medical Net – News-Medical spoke to researchers Dr. Nirmal Robinson, Dr. Vincenzo Desiderio, and Dr. Antonio Barbieri about their latest research into beta-blockers, and how they could potentially be used to treat COVID-19. What provoked your research into the current COVID-19 pandemic? We have been working on adrenergic receptors for a few years, in the context of its role in cancer progression and possibly to target them for cancer treatment. Adrenergic receptors are also involved in regulating the immune system and inflammation. When the initial data on inflammation associated with COVID-19 was published, we realized that the processes involved, namely the activation of inflammatory T lymphocytes and cytokines release, were similar to what we have observed when beta2-adrenergic receptors are stimulated in cancer settings. What are the three stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection? The progression of COVIDS-19 has been divided into three main stages: stage I—viral response, stage II—pulmonary phase, and stage III—hyper inflammation phase. Once the patients enter stage III, they will most likely need ventilation and it becomes difficult to manage. Why is it of high importance that we are able to find an effective therapy to slow down or stop the progression of the virus into its third stage? The third stage is the last and most severe stage whereby the patients are affected by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), requiring ventilation in an intensive care unit. This is the stage in which hyper inflammation due to cytokine storms can induce small blood clots throughout the bloodstream, blocking small blood vessels, causing death. Preventing the progression to this phase could possibly give the needed time for the body to recover as it is not the virus itself that causes the damage, rather the excessive immune response to the virus. Why are patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease at a higher risk of developing a severe infection? It is a known fact that people with diabetes are at higher risk of severe complications from infection in general, as increased blood sugar levels can reduce the ability of the immune system to fight infection. On the other hand, an acute infection might raise sugar levels and make it difficult to control. Similarly, about 30% of hospitalized Flu-patients have diabetes, hence diabetes patients are strongly recommended to receive the flu vaccination. COVID-19 associated severe complications are mainly caused by uncontrollable inflammation following a “cytokine storm” which is the release of abundant inflammatory cytokines that affect blood vessels among other structures. Diabetes patients as well as patients with hypertension are characterized by increased cytokine release and hyperinflammatory state. Also, inflammation will affect the blood by making it thicker putting organs such as the heart, kidney, and lungs under stress. One still unconfirmed theory also suggests that people with diabetes and high blood pressure have higher ACE2 receptors, the viral receptors used by SARS-CoV-2 to access the cells and generate infection, making them easier to infect. In your research, you looked at using beta-blockers to potentially treat COVID-19. What are beta-blockers such as propranolol currently used for? Beta-blockers are a class of medications that work by temporarily stopping or reducing the action of the beta-adrenergic receptors, involved in the body’s natural ‘fight-or-flight’ response. In return, they reduce stress on certain parts of the body, such as the heart and blood vessels in the brain. They are prevalently used to manage abnormal heart rhythm, hypertension and to protect the heart from recurring myocardial infarction. Propranolol is a non-selective beta-blocker because it blocks both beta 1 and beta 2 receptors. Propranolol is no longer used to treat heart conditions, but it has been recently repurposed for several pathologies such as cancer, haemangioma, rheumatoid arthritis, and anxiety. How is the spread of cancer in the lung similar in its inflammatory profile to COVID-19? Inflammation and oxidative stress predispose to the development of cancer and promote all stages of tumorigenesis. Cancer cells, as well as surrounding stromal and inflammatory cells, engage with each other to form an inflammatory tumor microenvironment (TME). Clinical studies using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin have shown that the inhibition of inflammation reduces the incidence and mortality in many cancers. In addition, specific inhibition of cytokines such as interleukin 1β (IL-1β) with canakinumab, significantly reduces the risk of lung cancer development. In our model of melanoma lung metastasis, cytokines produced such as interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, interferon-γ are very similar to COVID-19 infections. What current treatments are being trialed to treat COVID-19? What are some of the limitations of these methods so far? At the moment approximately 360 drugs are in human trials to treat COVID-19, but dexamethasone (a corticosteroid) has been proven to be significantly effective in clinical trials. Anticoagulants (usually low molecular weight heparins) are also used to reduce blood clots in blood vessels. Corticosteroids are broad anti-inflammatory drugs that depress the entire immune system, so while they are able to mitigate inflammation, they also reduce the ability of the immune system to fight the virus. An ideal therapy should target only the dangerous components of immune responses that are responsible for the adverse inflammatory reactions caused by specific cytokines, and spare the ability of the immune system to control the virus. Can you describe how you carried out your research into beta-blockers and their potential effectiveness as a treatment for COVID-19? Our research is based on our investigations into the beta-2 adrenergic pathway in cancer. Beta-2 adrenergic receptor (ADBR2) is highly expressed in many kinds of cancers and contributes to cancer growth and spread (metastasis). We have shown that targeting ADBR2 can reduce cancer growth and metastasis thus can be used as an adjunct therapy with the current therapy and help in overcoming drug resistance. ADBR2 is normally expressed on blood vessels, lungs, and cells of the immune system. We believe that blocking ABDR2 can reduce potentially dangerous immune responses without depressing the entire immune system. Many supporting pieces of evidence show that the major symptoms of COVID-19 infection are associated with over-activation of what is called Th17 response and β2-AR signals have been described to have a central role in promoting Th17 response in disease such as rheumatoid arthritis. Non-selective beta-blockers have been used in clinical settings to reduce inflammation and Th17 response. So, we believe that a similar effect can be obtained in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists have been shown to be effective in dissolving blood clots. For these reasons, we suggest that beta-blockers such as propranolol should be considered for clinical trials to treat COVID-19. What did you discover? We have highlighted the similarity between cancer lung metastases microenvironment and COVID-19 in terms of inflammation and cytokine profile. We have also pointed out that targeting the adrenergic pathway might be an effective way to reduce inflammation and prevent cytokine storms, thus reducing the risk for patients to enter the most severe phase 3 of the disease. We strongly believe that this strategy is worth pursuing in a clinical setting. Can you describe the mechanism behind beta-blockers that help to reduce inflammation and rebalance our immune system? β2-adrenergic receptors are expressed by all the cells of the immune system, including T and B lymphocytes, dendritic cells (DCs), and macrophages. The specific role of adrenergic signaling in regulating immune responses and inflammation is still under debate. However, evidence support that activation of β2-adrenergic receptors leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which trigger the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, catecholamines (activators of β2-adrenergic receptors) can promote the development of the inflammatory lymphocytes (specifically the Th17 response) which has been recognized to be responsible for the severe immune reaction associated with COVID -19. In cancer patients, propranolol reduces this inflammatory response, as well as the disease-associated anxiety. Another cytokine IFN- γ can exert direct antiviral effects on infected cells as well as neighboring cells. Interestingly, propranolol does not lower the levels of this anti-viral cytokine. Therefore, we think that beta-blockers could balance the immune system against SARS-CoV2 by reducing the inflammation that is lethal to patients but at the same time preserve the cytokines which are beneficial to kill the virus. Do you believe that your research could potentially help to cure COVID-19? Beta-blockers do not prevent virus replication and spread. On the other hand, the strategy we propose could help in mitigating the cytokine storm induced inflammation in COVID-19 patients thus reducing the lethality. What are the next steps in your research into beta-blockers as a potential treatment for COVID-19? Beta-blockers such as propranolol has been used for decades and are very safe drugs, therefore we believe that it is worthy to conduct a clinical trial on COVID-19 patients at the early stage of the disease to prove its effectiveness. Where can readers find more information? Barbieri A, Robinson N, Palma G, Maurea N, Desiderio V, Botti G. Can Beta-2-Adrenergic Pathway Be a New Target to Combat SARS-CoV-2 Hyperinflammatory Syndrome?-Lessons Learned From Cancer. Front Immunol. 2020 Sep 30;11:588724. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.588724. PMID: 33117402; PMCID: PMC7561388. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.588724/full To read the original article click here.

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