Monday, October 30, 2006

Something old, something new

Today's news is impressive: turmeric helps arthritis (if you're a rat in a recent study). Funny, haven't we been sellling New Chapter's Zyflamend and Natural Factors Turmeric & Bromelain for a while? Yup, the ones people keep coming back for because they work. Both are based on extensive studies you can read on MedLine (service of our US government -- how mainstream can you get?). According to a Washington Post article today, the researchers question the effectiveness/potency of supplements on the market -- they managed to come up with an injectable form. Further reading led me to Ideal Bite again: today's newsletter is about natural pain relief. In one posted comment, someone just sprinkled 1/4 teaspoon of the spice on her food after a painful dental surgery -- and it worked. When will we learn to stand on the shoulders of the past, trust 5000 years of Ayurvedic medicine, 3000 years of Chinese medicine, and our Western tradition?

Demographic studies can be very revealing. A look at Sri Lankans and their use of turmeric connected traditional use with healthy cholesterol levels. Less turmeric, higher cholesterol...and the amounts used in the typical diet were in just teaspoons daily.

Today someone brought me information from the Neem Foundation, that neem can be used to relieve arthritis. What an amazing tree!

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