Thank you for supporting one of the internet’s only free, non-profit and 100% clinical alternative medical databases in existence! In only six short months our project has taken on grass roots momentum (pun intended) with a huge increase in website traffic, website link-ups and thousands of new Facebook members. As always, please help us grow by sharing this newsletter and the website with anyone you think may benefit from the information. Our goal is to improve the dialogue between alternative and conventional medicine by focusing on legitimate clinical research.
GreenMedInfo.com goes Solar!
We are thrilled to announce that GreenMedInfo.com has moved to an entirely Solar-Powered dedicated hosting service.
Why did we make this move?
#1 ) We want GreenMedInfo.com to be authentically green from the inside out, and not just a site paying "lip service" to a movement that has become increasingly watered down by non-environmentally friendly industries. Ultimately, we would like to feel good about what we are doing and how we are doing it. Likewise, as a user of GreenMedInfo.com, we want you to feel good about your experience in every way possible.
#2) Due to the massive size and dynamic nature of our databases, GreenMedInfo.com is uniquely labor intensive and consumes a large amount of power. Conventional website hosting draws from energy sources which are not sustainable and have toxic effects to the environment (fossil fuel and nuclear energy). By switching to
aiso.net’s 100% solar-powered hosting service we minimize environmental impacts and support technology which will help to increase general access to free, carbon-neutral energy. (For a live view of the Solar Panels we use click here)#3) GreenMedInfo.com’s website traffic has grown rapidly and if projections hold steady, we will be serving the information needs of a thousand or more visitors a day. To get a jump on this growth, and using the philosophy "if you build it, they will come," we are now fully prepared for anticipated growth without it adversely effecting the experience of those who have already found us.
We’re Honored GreenMedInfo.com would like to thank Dr. Walter Goodpastor for his generous donation towards this month’s hosting fees, and to keeping this site 100% advertisement free. Dr. Goodpastor is an accomplished naturopathic doctor with over 25 years of experience in various positions in university level teaching and research at major universities and the US Veterans Administration. We encourage you to learn more about the good work he does at his website: www.ahealthierlifestyle.com
What’s New on GreenMedInfo?
#1: GreenMedInfo’s article count continues to grow, with new ways to search the database.
As of this newsletter, GreenMedInfo contains a total of 10,145 articles that can accessed through of 1,647 Ailments and 1,202 Substances.
The database can be further divided and searched by Pharmacological Action, e.g. "anti-inflammatory," Therapeutic Action e.g. "acupressure," Common Medical Procedure Dangers, e.g. "vaccination" and Problem Substances, e.g. fluoride.
#2: Our Facebook Page reached 2600 new members!
If you are a facebook member, please join our thriving, active discussion group on the GreenMedInfo.com fanpage. Every day the newest research is posted as it surfaces, with plenty of knowledgeable discussion and elaboration. Please join us here
#3: What is our most visited Page out of 10,000?
The page containing the article "Opening Pandora’s Bread Box: The Critical Role of Wheat Lectin in Human Disease" is our #1 visited page with over 1,000 visits a month. Next month the focus will be on wheat intolerance in acknowledgement of national Celiac Disease month and we will explore this research in greater depth.
Featured Clinical Sprouts
Is there a safe and effective natural alternative to Alzheimer/Parkinson’s drugs?
Huperzine A, an alkaloid extracted from a plant native to India, demonstrated greater efficacy than the drugs donepezil (ARICEPT) and rivastigmine (EXELON) in raising brain levels of acetylcholine and dopamine in freely-moving rats.
Comparative studies of huperzine A, donepezil, and rivastigmine on brain acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in freely-moving rats.
Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2006 Sep ;27(9):1127-36. PMID: 16923332
AIM: To assess the effects of cholinesterase inhibitors huperzine A, donepezil and rivastigmine on cerebral neurotransmitters in the cortex and hippocampus in freely-moving rats. METHODS: Double-probe cerebral microdialysis and HPLC with electrochemical detection were used to detect neurotransmitters. RESULTS: Our results showed that huperzine A (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 micromol/kg, po) dose-dependently elevated extracellular acetylcholine (ACh) levels in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus. Oral administration of donepezil (5.4 micromol/kg) or rivastigmine (1 micromol/kg) also elicited significant increases in ACh in the mPFC and hippocampus. The time course of cortical acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition with the 3 inhibitors mirrored the increases of ACh at the same dose. The marked elevation of ACh after oral administration of huperzine A (0.5 micromol/kg) and donepezil (5.4 micromol/kg) was associated with a significantly increased release of dopamine (DA) in the mPFC or hippocampus. None of the 3 inhibitors affected norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in the mPFC and hippocampus. The effects of huperzine A and rivastigmine did not depend on the route of administration, but donepezil was less efficacious by the oral route than by ip injection. The ability of huperzine A to increase ACh levels was unchanged when tests were performed after multiple oral administration of the drug at 0.5 micromol/kg, once per day for 30 d. CONCLUSION: The present findings showed that, in molar terms, huperzine A had similar potency on increasing mPFC ACh and DA levels as compared to the 11- and 2-fold dosages of donepezil and rivastigmine, respectively, and had longer lasting effects after oral dosing.
See all Huperzine Citations
Is there a safe and effective natural alternative to Anti-Anxiety Drugs?
Kava was judged to be well-tolerated and as effective as the drugs Buspirone and Opripramol in the acute treatment of out-patients suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Abstract Source:
Kava-Kava extract LI 150 is as effective as Opipramol and Buspirone in Generalized Anxiety Disorder–an 8-week randomized, double-blind multi-centre clinical trial in 129 out-patients.
1: Phytomedicine. 2003;10 Suppl 4:38-49. PMID: 12807341
OBJECTIVE: An 8-week randomized, reference-controlled, double-blind, multi-centre clinical trial investigated Kava-Kava LI 150 in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD; ICD-10: F41.1). METHOD: 129 out-patients received either 400 mg Kava LI 150, 10 mg Buspirone or 100 mg Opipramol daily for 8 weeks. At week 9, subjects were seen to check for symptoms of withdrawal or relapse. Primary outcome measures comprised the HAMA scale and the proportion of responders at week 8. Secondary measures were the Boerner Anxiety Scale (BOEAS), SAS, CGI, a self-rating scale for well-being (Bf-S), a sleep questionnaire (SF-B), a quality-of-life questionnaire (AL) and global judgements by investigator and patients. RESULTS: In 127 patients (ITT) no significant differences could be observed regarding all efficacy and safety measures. About 75% of patients were classified as responders (50% reduction of HAMA score) in each treatment group, about 60% achieved full remission. CONCLUSION: Kava-Kava LI150 is well tolerated and as effective as Buspirone and Opipramol in the acute treatment of out-patients suffering from GAD.
See all Kava Kava Citations
Another Perspective on Statin Drugs…
There is a predominance of paid and free advertising out there for the purported positive effects of statin-drugs in the mass media, despite the fact that many of the serious adverse effects such as muscle damage are not adequately represented. There are also indications that statin drugs increase the risk of certain cancers, have negative effects on nerve function, and adversely effect myocardial (heart) tissue. I have taken all of these studies and posted them under the heading "Statin Drugs" on the new "Problem Substances" taxonomy. I hope that this will provide the much needed "other perspective" so people can get a more balanced understanding of not just the highly tauted benefits but also the serious risks associated with this category of drugs.
Another Useful Database….
As you know the GreenMedInfo.com project exists in order to provide clinical evidence to supplement the already burgeoning, if not sometimes also dubious anecdotal body of information on the internet today on "natural cures." Sometimes , however, the MEDLINE database from which we draw our information does not have adequate information on natural substances that we know are therapeutic but can not adequately prove. This is why I would like to introduce you to EarthClinic.com, a community created database of purely anecodotal feedback on the benefits of natural substances. Members vote on a potential remedy to assess its value, which while not a "clinical" methodology is still a highly valid one.
View other useful databases listed on GreenMedInfo.com under "Additional Resources"
Other useful links….
A fanpage which gives continual live research updates from
the project, and helps me spread the word about the project.
This month the fanbase grew to well over 1,000 members.
Sayer’s research archive and blog at www.SayerJi.com
Please Help Spread the Word about Evidence-Based Natural Alternatives.
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