Newsletter #19

5 Top Supplements For Men

by CJ Puotinen

From athletic injuries to cardiovascular and liver health, botanical medicines are a guy thing.

Do some herbs have a special affinity for men? Yes, and the list doesn't stop with ginseng. Here are five important medicinal herbs that help keep men healthy and active.

Arinica (A. montana) is a small alpine herb with yellow flowers in early spring. In an herbal tincture steeped in alcohol, arnica's blossoms are used topically to relieve muscle soreness, sprains, trauma injuries without broken skin, and hyperextensions. Massage oils, made by soaking arnica blossoms in vegetable carrier oils, offer similary benefits.

Arnica sweeps away swelling and congestion by dilating blood vessels and increasing capillary circulation. If applied within minutes of an injury, arnica prevents bruising, swelling, tenderness, inflammation, and pain. Established bruises, muscle sprains, and other injuries begin to improve within hours or overnight.

Because internal use requires medical supervision, US herbal preparations are usually labeled for external use only. It's important to note, however, that homeopathic arnica (in the 6th or 30th potency) can safely be taken internally during the first 12 to 24 hours after a sprain or strain--without the need of supervision.

Applying undiluted herbal tincture topically can lead to sensitization in some cases. Apparently, the component lactone helenalen, which helps to clear inflammation and edema, may occasionally provoke allergic reactions in some individuals. Should arnica tincture lead to topical dermatitis, discontiue use or dilute it in 3 to 10 times as much water as tincture. Overall, arnica is well tolerated and has no other adverse effects. A small bottle of herbal tincture is an excellent first-aid investment.

Astragalus (A. membranaceus) root is a traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herb. It's ideal for men because it helps the body resist infection and cope with strss, while increasing stamina and endurance. The mild diuretic and infection-fighting properties of astragalus make this herb a useful tonic for the urinary tract, and it also is recommended for conditions related to the spleen and lungs. In addition, astragalus increases energy, builds overall health, strengthens digestion, promotes wound healing, stimulates liver repair, slows the progression of congestive heart failure, strengthens cardiovascular performance, and improves memory.

As a tonic, astragalus is traditionally taken for long periods. Although a few astragalus users may report mild diarrhea or abominal bloating, these symptoms disappear when the dosage is reduced. Because of its effect on the immune system, Transplant patients and persons with autoimmune diseases should use astragalus only under medical supervision, as should anyone taking blood-thinning medications. Otherwise, there are no known contraindications or warnings pertaiining to this herb's use by adult men.

Hawthorn (Crataqegus spp.) berry is best known as a heart tonic and as one of the safest herbs in popular use. Its active ingredients include flavonoids and procyanidins, which increase coronary blood flow, stabilize the pulse, and lower blood pressure. Hawthorn also acts directly on the heart muscle to heal damage and improve circulatory efficiency. For centuries, hawthorn has been found to increase heart energy, regulate circulation, and improve digestion, while offering a calming effect.

Because hawthorn's benefits are gentle and gradual, it is most useful in the early stages of heart disease. For those at cardiovascular risk because of family history or lifestyle, hawthorn makes inexpensive insurance. Less effective in the treatment of acute or advanced heart disease, this herb can still be used as a support therapy, even during the rehabilitation period following a heart attack.

Because of possible drug-herb interactions, medical supervision is wise for anyone combining hawthorn with prescription drugs. Hawthorn is not recommended for those with unusually low blood pressure, as its hypotensive effects can cause temporary weakness or fainting.

In Germany, home to dozens of hawthorn-based heart medications, the standard prescription is 1 teaspoon of hawthorn tincture in the morning and another before retiring. In the US, hawthorn is available in tinctures, extracts, capsules, tablets, and teas, both by itself and in combination products.

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) seed has been a popular liver remedy for at least 2,000 years. Its active component, silymarin, contains a large number of flavonolignans, which protect liver cells against many toxins, including the deadly amanita mushroom. James A. Duke, PhD, cites milk thistle's ability to regenerate damaged liver cells, treat cirrhosis and chronic inflammatory liver conditions, and protect the liver from industrial toxins such as carbon tetrachloride. "Even if you don't have liver damage or liver disease," he says, "milk thistle helps improve liver function by helping the liver remove toxins from your body."

Although milk thistle seed is sold as a tea, its silymarin is so insoluble in water that this delivery method releases only 10 percent of its potential activity, and the human digestive tract can absorb only 20 to 50 percent of that small amount. Concentrated extracts, first developed in Europe and now sold around the world, significantly improve silymarin's bioavailability. Milk thistle seed extracts have no reported side effects when used according to label directions.

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) berry, the fruit of a dwarf palm that grows in Florida and the southeastern US, has become synonymous with prostate health. Benign prostatic hypertrophy-or hyperplasia-(BPH) is the bane of middle-aged men. That's because this hormone-related, noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland pinches the urethra and causes urinary urgency, difficulty starting and interrupted sleep caused by the need to get up and urinate.

Numerous studies have shown that saw palmetto berry relieves these symptoms, and two recent European clinical trials involving more than 1,400 men found that saw palmetto works as well as the prescription drug finasteride (Proscar)--with less damage to the libido and fewer erectile problems. In April 2000, a US Pharmacopeia (USP) monograph supported the use of saw palmetto berry in the treatment of BPH. This marked a dramatic policy change for the USP, which until then had published monographs that were critical of medicinal herbs. No adverse side effects have been attributed to saw palmetto berry, although in rare cases stomach complaints have been reported.

Patients with hormone-related cancers should consult an experienced healthcare practitioner before taking it. And, of course, middle-aged men should always have thorough prostate exam as part of their regular checkup.

Selected Sources

*"Every Man and Woman's Guide to Herbal Treatment of Prostate

Enlargement" by Michael Castleman

*"Fructus Crataegi (Hawthorn)" by S.W. Flowers, MD

*"Old Reliable: Hawthorn for the Heart" by Kahlee Keane

*Saw Palmetto Gets Strong Public Boost" by Mark Blumenthal