I agree that food sources are the best, but therein lies the problem of soil mineral variance. Without soil, food, or post-injestion tests, how do we know what levels of a nutrient that we are getting?
We don't. On the other hand people tend to think that we need much higher levels of vitamins and minerals than we really do. Look at all the times I have had to tell people not to use B100s because you cannot utilize all the B vitamins in a B50 so you definitely are not going to utilize all the B vitamins in a B100.
The fact is that most nutrients are required by the body in small levels and with the amount we eat per day, plus the body's own production of some nutrients it is not really that hard to get the level of nutrients we need from a decent diet, and maybe minor supplementation. On the other hand wildcrafted herbs are going to be much higher in nutrients than most foods since they grow in richer soils, are subjected to more stresses that raise their active constituents, and are picked fully developed. This is one of the major reasons I prefer herbal based vitamins to synthetic ones.
I've never been a fan of the B complex, testing them out proved almost useless. If anything, the B-50 or B-100 complexes should be split across doses if not used for some theraputic purpose.
I agree, that is why I would like to see a B25 on the market. A person cannot utilize all the B vitamins is B50 so it is largely a waste. B100s are just a bigger waste.
I haven't really stumbled upon posts where you tell people not to use high dose B vitamins. If I were you, I would just point them to references and let them come to their own conclusions.
Actually I have discussed that. Mainly the waste issue as the excess B vitamins are urinated out. But I also mentioned once about the guy who was taking So many B vitamins that he actually developed a neuropathy from it. I also tell people frequently that B6. B12 and folate are not needed in high doses or all the time as these vitamins are stored in the liver so the body maintains a reserve.
You have also pointed out that minor supplementation may be required on a decent diet. However, what if someone you know has a horrid diet with little nutrient dense foods? For example, I know someone that does not like a lot of varieties of fruits or veggies, nor any nut family foods. This person in question eventually develops problems with anxiety, panic attacks, headaches, muscular tension, fatigue, endometriosis type symptoms, history of tonsilitis, history of urinary tract infections, and finally diarrhea. Layer over the symptoms some pharmaceuticals such as an SSRI like Celexa or Lexapro for anxiety, birth control for endometriosis symptoms, and antibiotics for everything else.
Any ideas?
I would at least try to get them on a good herbal based vitamin, especially one with nettle leaf. This will provide some of the magnesium and phytoestrogens they need along with other nutrition. This will also help to support the glandular system and the nettle will also help with the anxiety and urinary tract.
Off the top of my head, add alpha-lipoic acid [thioctic acid], silymarin, and selenium as well to the milk thistle.
One drawback to alpha lipoic acid is that it is also an iron chelator. Removing excess iron is great for people with excess iron but bad for those with certain forms of anemia.
I stick primarily to the herbs such as phyllanthus, picrorrhiza, schisandra, poke (small doses), licorice root, etc.
A good friend just got a diagnosis of Hepatitis C. What herbs, supplements, etc. would be helpful? I am guessing that milk thistle would help, but don't know what else. Any help is appreciated.
First thing that needs to be mentioned is that there are NO lab tests that can confirm the presence of any hepatitis virus. Here is more on that:
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1549308#i
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1549321#i
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1549328#i
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1549335#i
The reason I bring all this up is because hepatitis merely means inflammation of the liver, and it has many causes. There is hepatitis from hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D, E, F and G), hepatitis from herpes viruses, bacterial hepatitis, fungal hepatitis, parasitical hepatitis, chemical induced hepatitis, traumatic hepatitis, and autoimmune hepatitis.
Since the antibody tests nor PCR (viral load) cannot confirm the presence of a hepatitis virus they are worthless as to knowing the cause, and therefore the best treatment. In fact the reason that interferon fails to treat hepatitis so often is because interferon works for viral hepatitis. When the person does not have viral hepatitis though but this is what they are being treated for based on faulty tests the treatment fails. This is why it is so important to address hepatitis for all of its potential causes. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, chemicals/drugs, etc.
I have a hepatitis write up I can send to you that is two pages long. Just send me a person message with an e-mail address I can attach the file to and I will send it as soon as possible. I also have a liver formula full of antivirals, antbacterials, antifungals, anti-inflammatories, etc. It tastes really nasty but it works great. I have had several people let me know that their labs were showing normal after 2 months. It also makes an excellent bitter. Here is more on it that your friend can read:
http://www.mountainmistbotanicals.com/formulas/liver.htm
Dang phone clicked the alert button, sorry.
Not a problem.
I am wondering moreso about your hep write up. May I obtain a copy as well?
Yes, just PM me with an e-mail address the attach the file to.
Does your workplace require annual hep testing? They inject you with something that is supposed to test for an immune response under the skin. If positive, you may have hep or been vaccinated with a reactive hep vaccine, usually outside of the US. If reactive, but without symptoms, then you simply get a chest xray every 5 years or report symptoms on an annual survey.
The only workplace testing I have seen is for TB, which is required for a number of industries here.
I'm under the assumption that you are employed by some medical establishment.
Not in a very long time. I have been working for myself for a number of years. I left the medical field almost 20 years ago.