|
A Third Arm for the First World?
James A. Duke
For more than 15 years, now, I have appealed for
clinical comparisons of the herbal alternatives, culinary, edible, and
medicinal plants that clearly have medicinal virtues. In a talk I gave to
some 100 congressional aides and friends, June 17, 2004, on Capitol Hill,
Washington DC, I urged that congress mandate a third arm in any new clinical
trials. The mandate would require that any new clinical trials of
pharmaceuticals include not only placebo and pharmaceutical but one of the
more promising herbal alternatives. I sent them a longer list of the more
promising herbal alternatives. The following compilation lists only some of
the medicinal species mentioned in the Bible. Clinical herbalists could
improve this list. So could interested holistic allopathic physicians. More
importantly, they could also help convince congress that pharmaceuticals
kill 1,000-fold more Americans than do the safer herbs. The third arm
trials, like recent trials with Saint John’swort and saw palmetto, will
often show that the herb is as effective as the pharmaceutical with fewer
side effects. Such third arm clinical trials could provide cheaper and
sounder advice for those 15-25% of Americans who can no longer afford the
pharmaceuticals a/o the doctor to prescribe them. It will not be easy to
achieve this goal, but it’s worth the effort. Only unbiassed clinical
comparisons can show if the herbal alternatives are as good as the
pharmaceuticals or nearly so.
Pharmaceuticals rank with the top killers, like cancer and cardiopathy, in
the US. Herbs are orders of magnitude safer.
I suspect that many, if not all clinical herbalists already believe the
tenet of this paper: herbs are more liable to help a given individual (none
of whom are average) than a pharmaceutical, especially IF.
1. The diagnosis is incorrect (often happens)
2. The patient is deficient in one or more nutrients (almost all of us are)
3. The patient has only six minutes to ask his/her physician if Drug
A.B,C.D,E, F or G is right for him or her.
4. The patient has more than one thing wrong (very often the case).
Biblical Herbs as Alternatives to Pharmaceuticals ???
No one really knows whether these are as good (or as bad) as the
pharmaceuticals until they have been clinically compared. The herbal
alternatives need to be clinically compared, especially since nearly 25% of
North Americans cannot afford the pharmaceutical prescription and/or the
doctor to prescribe them. I recommend we support an amendment to mandate a
third arm in future clinical trials comparing pharmaceuticals and placebos.
That way, we are better equipped to know whether Americans are, in fact,
getting "the best medicines in the world", as we are so often told. With
pharmaceuticals killing more than 100,000 Americans a year, I doubt that we
are getting the best, cheapest and safest medicines. Recent comparisons have
shown that garlic, saw palmetto and st johnswort, to name a few promising
herbal alternatives, are clearly competitive with pharmaceuticals. Could
that be why these herbs are getting so much negative press? The following
list includes a few alternatives worth considering, but only includes
species that are mentioned in the Bible.
Almonds vs Cardiopathic Drugs for Cardiopathy
Almug (Pterocarpus santalinus) vs Vioxx for Colon Cancer
Aloe vs Benzocaine or Lidocaine + Bactine for Burns
Apricot Pits vs Laetrile for Cancer
Balm of Gilead vs Benzaepil (Lotensin) for Hypertension ( aqueous extract of
Commiphora opobalsamum (4 mg/kg iv) depressed systemic arterial blood
pressure by 20% (P < 0.01) and reduced heart rate of anaesthetised rats by
14% ) (X9292417)
Biblical Mint vs Cognex for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) (See papers by N. Perry
on other mint species)
Biblical Rose (Narcissus) vs Galanthamine for Alzheimer’s
Biblical Wormwood vs Antimony for Leishmaniasis ess. oil at 2 ug/ml; aqueous
extract at 4 ug/ml (X11346978);
Black cumin vs Claritin for Hay Fever (X14669258)
Black cumin’s thymoquinone vs Pharm.Antiseptics for Sepsis (Lai and Roy,
2004)
Black cumin’s thymoquinone for Cancer (Lai and Roy, 2004)
Bramble vs Aspirin for Pain (X 14522443)
Brier (Solanum incanum) vs "Curaderm" (solasodine + salicylic acid) for Skin
Cancer
Butcher’s Broom vs Preparation H for Hemorrhoids
Capers vs Tolbutamid for Diabetes ( aqueous extracts have potent
anti-hyperglycemic activity in rats; without affecting basal plasma insulin
concentrations. X15261975)
Carob vs Imodium (Loperimide) for Diarrhea
Cassia (Saussurea) vs Antibiotics for Tuberculosis (JNP61:1181)
Chickpea (a/o lentil) vs HRT for Prevention of Cardiopathy and Osteoporosis
Chicory(Prebiotic) and Lactobacillus (Probiotic) vs Cipro for Bladder
Infections
Cinnamon vs Tolbutamid (Orinase) for Diabetes
Coriander vs Chelation for Lead and Mercury Overdose (Ess. Oil comparable to
sorbic acid at preventing the slimy spoilage of Vienna sausage. (Nakatani,
1994)
Cotton’s gossypol vs. Unknown Pharms as Reversible Male Contraceptive
Cumin vs Glibenclamide for Diabetes mellitus (X12220968) ( antimelanomic
farnesol and perillaldehyde; anticancer beta-elemene, eugenol, limonene,
alpha-pinene, and linalool)
Dandelion vs Interferon for Hepatitis
Date vs Amphotericin B for Candidiasis (Tackholm and Drar (1973) report that
pollen of a male date palm mixed with water is a charm against
childlessness. Pollen contains estrone, like pomegranate fruits)
Dill vs Simethicone for Gas
Faba Beans vs Pharm LevaDopa for Parkinson’s
Faba Bean, Grape , Garlic, Lentils (Chickpea), Olive Oil, Onion (Biblical
Diet) for Cardiopathy,
Fenugreek vs. Silicone for Micromastia
Fenugreek vs Zocor for High Cholesterol
3Fenugreek:1 Fennel (Hildegard’s suggestion for cancer of the penis)
followed by beer barley cakes (Substitute dill with anethole for the fennel)
Fig (and Benzaldehyde) vs Laetrile for Cancer (Kings ii)
Flax vs Etoposide for Cancer
Flaxseed vs. Fluoxetine (Prozac) or Sertraline (Zoloft) for Depression (for
vegetarians)
Frankincense vs Celebrex for Arthritis (In the Bible, Frankincense is
mentioned 16 times for worship, 3 times in Solomon's garden, twice as a
tribute of honor, and only once as merchandise.
Garlic vs Chemo for Cancer
Garlic vs Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) for Bladder Infection (if not Anthrax)
Garlic vs Zocor for High Cholesterol (and Alzheimer’s via antiamyloid
activity (X 15277073)
Grapeseed vs Pharms for cardiopathy, diabetes, enteroparasites, fibromyalgia,
gout, parkinsons (See White et al; Herbal Drug Store)
Henna vs Benadryl for Poison Ivy
Ivyleaf Extract (Prospan) vs Robitussin for Bronchitis (X12725580)
(X12006725:
Juniper vs Etoposide for Cancer
Laurel vs Sumatriptan for Migraine
Lentils vs Zocor for High Cholesterol
Lettuce(seed oil) vs Diazepam (Valium) for Insomnia (FT67:215)
Madonna Lily vs Nystatin for Candidiasis (Bulb extract more active than
flower extract;e isolated compounds were inactive. X12501491)
Mallows vs Robitussin for Bronchitis (2 in CR2)
Mandrake (dangerous) vs Transdermal Scopolamine for Vertigo:
Milkthistle vs Interferon for Hepatosis
Mustard (better horseradish, but not mentioned per se in the Bible) vs
Dristan for Sinusitis
Myrrh vs Synthroid for Hypothyroidism
Myrtle Oil vs Glibenclamide for Diabetes mellitus (X15234770)
Nettle vs Claritin for Hay Fever
Nettle vs Celebrex for Arthralgia (British clinical studies show
improvement)
Olive Oil vs Zocor for High Cholesterol
Onion vs Pharms for Diabetes
Pomegranate vs HRT for Syndome X (Clinical trials for the latter; Herb
Clip43832)
Poppy vs Percoset for Pain
Rocket (Oroth of Kings 2) vs Lorenzo’s Oil for Adrenoleukodystrophy
Rue (Homeopathic) vs Pharms for Neurocysticercosis (X11317525)
Russian olive vs Pharms for Prostate Cancer Prevention
Saffron vs Pharms for Cancer Prevention (Lai and Roy, 2004; X15239370)
Spikenard vs Ritalin for Hyperkiness (Attention Deficit Disorder (MPI)
Sweetcane (Pure sugar) vs Honey a/oPropolis for Topical Infections
Tares (dangerous ergotized grass) vs Ergotamine (Ergostat) for Headache
Thorn (Ziziphus) vs Imodium for Diarrhea (X 11167035; X 12826300)
Turmeric vs Celebrex for Arthritis and Colon Cancer Prevention
Turmeric vs Pharms for Cancer Prevention (Lai and Roy, 2004)
Walnut Oil vs Fish Oil (and Suicidogenic Antidepressants Pharms) for Mania
Walnut Oil vs Zocor for High Cholesterol (X12934760)
Watercress vs Celebrex for Colon Cancer
Watermelon’s Lycopene vs Pharms for Prostate Cancer Prevention
Willow vs Aspirin for Backache (X12017748)
The species listed above have been with us at least 2 millennia as all are
mentioned in the Bible. I believe that man evolved in Africa and then
radiated out from Africa, close to the Holy Land "Bridge," the evolutionary
Exodus preceding the Biblical Exodus. Evolving emerging mankind would have
encountered most of the climatically adapted herbs mentioned in the Bible
during the evolutionary a/o Biblical Exodus , thru the Middle Eastern
fertile crescent into Europe and Asia, and finally Australia, Polynesia and
America. For these reasons my genes have probably been familiar longer with
Afican cowpea, then Biblical chick pea, faba bean, and lentil; then Oriental
mungbean and soybean; and finally American anasazi, kidney, lima, navy, and
string beans. Thus my genes have known genistein (which occurs in all the
beans listed above) more than 2,000,000 years. The listed Biblical herbs
each contain hundreds of biologically active phytochemicals with which my
genes have coevolved, for 2000 if not 2 million years. Synthetic
Pharmaceuticals have been known to my genes less than 200 years. Thus my
genes have had 1-2 orders of magnitude more time to adapt to the
phytochemicals. If my genes traversed thru the Holy Land, they will have
long known many of the phytochemicals in most of the Holy Land foods and
medicines. In evolutionary time, my genes have probably developed
homeostatic relations with many of the biologically active compounds that
make the plant medicinal. This is why I advocate the "Feed a Fever; Feed a
Cold" approach. The medicinal foods present a menu of biologically active
phytochemicals from which your body homeostatically mines those it needs,
excluding those familiar phytochemicals it does not need. Thus your body,
under the direction of your genes, has developed mechanisms for dealing with
the usual phytochemicals, while the genes and hence the body are at first
naive to new synthetic pharmaceuticals. For that reason, one can expect more
dramatic effects and side effects from new pharmaceuticals, the most heavily
advertised. My body knows better (than my naturopath, my nutritionist, my
herbalist, my chiropracter, my aromatherapist, my nurse practitioner, my
physicians’s assistant, my reflexologist, my shaman, my physician, my
computer programmer, and even my preacher ) which phytochemicals my body
needs. Given a soup and salad and herbal tea containing these chemcials, my
body mines them for the needed nutrients. Congress , if charged with
protecting American health and the health care system, should know which
natural food "farmaceuticals" are as efficacious as the more dangerous
synthetics. No one can know until they are clinically compared. That’s why I
urge congress to mandate the third arm, comparing the safer herbs with the
more dangerous pharmaceuticals, which latter kill more than 100,000
Americans a year. In those few comparisons so far, the medicinal herbs and
food plants have come out looking surprisingly (to some, not me) promising.
If congress won’t insist on clinical investigations and comparisons, maybe
some religious hospital should get involved in comparing the Biblical herbs
with the pharmaceuticals.
Or better yet, let’s invite Bill Gates to really help the Africans (and
Americans) by analyzing some 1000 of the more promising medicinal plants and
1000 of the more promising phytochemicals and analyzing the data in a
genomic fashion. Such an analysis, coupled with the results of clinical
comparisons, could better advise us which herbs were best for which people
for which maladies. Then perhaps Americans and Africans will be getting
better medicine than they get today.
Duke, J. A. 1983.
Medicinal Plants of the Bible. 233 pp. Trado-Medic Books, Buffalo,
NY. Treats over 100 Biblical species, with illustrations mostly by Peggy K.
Duke. Apparently out of print.
Duke, J. A. 1997.
The Green Pharmacy. Rodale Press, Emaus PA 18098-0099. 507 pp. ISBN
0-87596-316--1(hardcover)ISBN-57954-124-0 (paperback)
Duke, J. A. 1999.
Dr. Duke’s Essential Herbs (13 Vital Herbs You Need to Disease-proof
your Body - Boost your energy - Lengthen your Life). Rodale Press. Emmaus PA
18098. 240 pp. $24.95 ISBN- 1-57954-183-6 (Hard Cover)
Duke, J.A. 1999.
Herbs of the Bible- 2000 Years of Plant Medicine. Interweave Press,
Loveland CO. 241 pp.. $34.95. ISBN 1-883010-66-7
Duke, J. A. 2000.
The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook. Rodale Press. 282 pp. $19.95
ISBN- 1-57954-184-4
Duke, J. A. 2001. with Michael Castleman.
The Green Pharmacy Anti-aging Prescriptions - Herbs, Foods, and Natural
Formulas to Keep you Young. Rodale Press, 560 pages. Emaus, Pa. $29.95.
ISBN 1-57954-198-4(Hardcover)
Duke, JA, Bogenschutz-Godwin, MJ, DuCellier, J and Duke, PA. 2002. CRC
Handbook of Medicinal Plants. 2nd. Ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 936 pp
Duke, JA, Bogenschutz-Godwin, MJ, DuCellier, J and Duke, PA. 2002.
CRC Handbook of Medicinal Spices. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 348 pp.
$119.95. ISBN-0-8493-1279-5
Back to
Stitch in Time
|