and preferably totally, vegetarian. This change is needed not only because most animal foods are too high in estrogen, which causes the problem, but also because studies have shown that a diet low in fiber is linked to FBD and cancer. And fiber is only found in plant foods. A diet low in fiber also contributes to constipation, and women who have fewer than three bowel movements a week are far more likely to suffer from FBD than women who have daily bowel movements. This connection seems to be due to the bacterial flora in the large intestine transforming excreted steroids into toxic substances or allowing these toxic substances to be reabsorbed. A lack of dietary fiber encourages improper bacterial flora. These bad bacteria make an enzyme called glucuronidase that frees estrogen from the glucuronic acid that attaches to it in order to escort it out of the body.

Interestingly, dietary fiber is associated with a decreased risk of breast disease and breast cancer. This protection may be because of the increased amount of estrogen that is excreted. Vegetarian women have a 55% lower level of unbound estrogen in their blood, because they excrete two to three times more estrogen than women who eat meat. Also try taking fiber like flax seeds or pysllium.

For this reason, acidophilus can also help women with FBD, since supplementation with it can help promote the excretion of estrogens. Dr. Christiane Northrup recommends that women with FBD cut out all dairy products for three months. Clinically, I see better results when the dairy products are left out longer to prevent recurrence.

Shifting the balance to a vegetarian diet also reduces the amount of saturated fat in the diet. Low saturated fat diets lower the estrogen in women with FBD and decrease the lumpiness and pain (Am J Clin Nutr 1985; J Natl Cancer Inst 1987; Lancet 1988; Am J Clin Nutr 1989).

FBD & Your LiverHow does the liver fit in to all of this? Well, it is the liver’s job to clear excess estrogen from the body by binding estrogen to glucuronic acid to be excreted in the bile. To do this, the liver requires B6, folic acid and the other B vitamins. Any deficiency in any of these B vitamins can cause FBD. Any stress on the liver, like toxic liver or environmental pollution, may interfere with normal liver function, leading to the build up of excess estrogen, which can cause FBD.

A Canadian Leader in Trusted, Cutting Edge Natural Health Informationby Linda Woolven, B.A., Master Herbalist, Acupuncturist and Ted Snider, B.Ed., M.A.

follow our blog at www.thenaturalpathnewsletter.com Vol. 16 No.6

This condition is so common that up to forty percent of premenopausal women get it. Not only is the condition treatable, many women are able to completely reverse

the problem by using dietary and lifestyle changes and some supplements. Fibrocystic breast disease can be a very painful problem for many women--and scary, since it used to be thought that women who got this illness were more likely to develop breast cancer: this is not the case; although one of the causes of fibrocystic breast disease, iodine deficiency, may be linked to breast cancer. Diet & Other CausesThere are many causes of fibrocystic breast disease. Perhaps the most common one is too much estrogen in the body, whether from too much red meat and dairy foods, which are high in estrogen, or plastics, birth control pills or environmental sources. Other causes include stress, poor diet, candida, sluggish liver, metals, toxins, low thyroid and caffeine. In fact, caffeine is such a culprit that in one study in which women eliminated caffeine altogether, 97.5% improved, and, of the women who cut caffeine way down, 75% improved (Surgery 1981). Foods high in caffeine, like coffee, tea, cola and chocolate, contain methylanthine, which may cause fibrocystic breast disease in women who are sensitive to it. To get the benefits, you need to avoid caffeine long term.

Another important dietary change that needs to be made to recover from FBD is to switch to a high fiber diet that is primarily,

ALSO INSIDE

Easing Cancer Pain

The Most Important Herb for Women

Magnesium & Pregnancy

Hope for Sickle Cell Anemia

Lifesaver: Can Aloe Help HIV?Ten women who were infected with HIV were given aloe. Researchers then compared them to women who were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Women taking the aloe had CD4 count increases and weight gains similar to the HAART group with fewer adverse effects. Though the design of this study may contain flaws, it holds out more hope to people with HIV (J Altern Comp Med 2012;18:850-3).

Continued on Page 4 Continued on Page 2THE NATURAL PATH

The Natural Path is written by Ted Snider and Linda Woolven, a master herbalist, acupuncturist and solution-focused counselor with a practice in Toronto. For an appointment, call (416) 782-8211. Linda is the author of The Vegetarian Passport Cookbook and Smart Woman’s Guide to PMS and Pain-free Periods; Linda and Ted are the authors of Healthy Herbs, The Family Naturopathic Encyclopedia and Sex & Fertility: Natural Solutions.This newsletter is intended for educational purposes only and is in no way intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For health problems, consult a qualified health practitioner.

THE NATURAL PATH

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treating FBD (N Engl J Med 1965; Cancer Res 1981; J Am Coll Nutr 1984). Vitamin E works on women with FBD and PMS by normalizing circulating hormones. 600 IU of vitamin E a day has been shown to normalize elevated levels of pituitary hormones FSH and LH, often seen in people with FBD.

Also try indole3-carbinol to help shrink growths.

The mushrooms, reishi, shiitake and maitake, can also shrink growths.

Other useful nutrients for treating FBD include immune support herbs like shiitake, astragalus and reishi mushroom; antioxidants like vitamin C and selenium; nutrient rich foods like spirulina; liver support herbs like dandelion, burdock, Oregon grape root and milk thistle; fat dissolving nutrients like lecithin and mass shrinking herbs like pau d’arco and poke root. Some have found lymph supporting herbs like red root, echinacea, calendula and cleavers to be of aid as well.

Topically, many women have found success using castor oil packs on the breast, four times a week, for an hour or more. Castor oil packs help alleviate the pain and inflammation and can be used for detoxifying purposes. Other useful topical agents include using green clay packs, four times a week for detoxifying and poke root applied topically daily. Poke root has been used traditionally to help get rid of all kinds of lumps, including breast lumps.

You can also try acupuncture, which is great at relieving stagnation and breaking up lumps and for reducing stress, another cause of FBD.

Try taking vitamin B6, 100 mg to 200 mg a day throughout the cycle, taken with the other B vitamins to relieve breast pain. It is also a good idea to try liver herbs such as milk thistle, dandelion root, ginger, artichoke and Oregon grape root.

You can also try increasing glucuronic acid by supplementing calcium D-glucurate.

Supplements for FBD Another problem that has been found in people with FBD is their prolactin levels. Taking flax seed oil will help normalize prolactin levels. Since it is known that excess estrogen can cause FBD, another approach that is getting very good results in treating FBD is to adjust the hormone balance, using safe, natural methods. Wild yam cream is used to help increase progesterone levels safely and naturally. Dr. Mauvais-Jarvis has found that patients with FBD have decreased progesterone to estrogen levels, and that 95% of women with FBD experience breast pain relief when a natural progesterone cream was rubbed into their breasts.

Since the herb chaste tree berry works by balancing estrogen/progesterone levels, slightly favouring progesterone, this makes it an ideal choice for treating FBD. Chastetree berry can also correct prolactin levels. Chaste tree berry usually takes three months to take effect, with long term results obtained after one full year of continuous use.

Clinical studies have shown that people with FBD can recover using iodine therapy (Can J Surg 1983). Supplementing with iodine reduces breast tenderness, serum prolactin levels and breast lumps even in women with so called normal thyroid function. Some have suggested that this success indicates either that these women were actually suffering from low thyroid function or low levels of iodine. Most people do not get enough iodine in their bodies, since many people live in the goitre belt: an area where the soil is depleted of iodine, and, therefore, the food is low in iodine as well. Kelp, dulse, nori, hijikae, and other sea vegetables provide a good source of iodine and can be used as a food in soups, salads, stews, pastas or what ever you like, or they can taken in convenient tablet form.

Some, but not all, double-blind studies have shown vitamin E to be very useful in

Fibrocystic Breast Disease

How to Help

Curcumin

If the herb turmeric and its active ingredient curcumin were better known and better utilized, a lot more people would be feeling a lot better. So, it’s time we shine a spotlight on

curcumin.

Curcumin & CancerCurcumin is one of the most promising and exciting cancer treatments. Curcumin is loaded with promise for both the

prevention and treatment of cancer. It fights cancer at all stages of cancer formation: initiation, promotion,

progression and metastasis. It attacks cancer in many ways: it decreases proliferation (Clin Immunol 1999), inhibits angiogenesis (Mol Med 1998) and increases apoptosis (Clin Immunol 1999).

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels that supply nutrients to tumours and allow them to

grow. Inhibiting this process chokes off the tumour and starves it. Apoptosis, unlike chemotherapy, is a very safe way

of killing cancer cells without harming the healthy cells around them. Curcumin is very versatile, helping against prostate, breast, colon, skin, liver, cervical, stomach and oral cancer. In fact, curcumin helps fight virtually any form of cancer. Research has found curcumin to powerfully induce apoptosis in even the toughest cases of prostate cancer, the hormone independent variety (Prostatic Cancer Prostatic Dis 2000). Recent research has found that when smokers with precancerous lesions of the rectum are given 4g of curcumin, there is as much as a 40% reduction in the formation of lesions (Cancer Prev Res 2011).

Fibrocystic Breast Disease

How to Help

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from Page 1

The Most Important Herb for Women

Magnesium Eases Leg Cramps of Pregnancy

Omega-3 and Sickle Cell Anemia

NATURAL PATHNEWSFL ASH

A review of controlled studies has one again shown that chastetree berry is the most important women’s herb out there. Seven out of eight studies on chastetree berry extract and PMS found that the herb was effective. Overall, researchers concluded it was safe and effective for PMS. Two studies on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) found that chastetree berry was effective, though not as effective as Prozac. PMDD is characterized by depression, anger, anxiety and irritability prior to a period. Two studies looked at elevated prolactin, which can cause lack of periods and infertility.

Chastetree berry was better than a placebo and as good as

the drug bromocriptine. Overall, the herb

caused less side effects than the drugs.

(PlantaMed 2012;doi:10.1055

/s-0032-1327831)

The curved red blood cells of sickle cell anemia are capable of carrying less oxygen than healthy red blood cells. This deficiency can lead to shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches and cold hands and feet. In sickle cell crisis, it can even lead to severe pain and organ damage. 128 people with sickle cell anemia were given either a placebo or an omega-3 supplement for a year. The ones who got the omega-3 supplement had several advantages, including fewer sickle cell crises and being less likely to become severely anemic or to require blood t r a n s f u s i o n s . These benefits were statistically significant.

(Am J Clin Nutr 2013;97:37-44)

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Pregnant women can experience painful muscle cramps in the calves. So researchers set out to see if magnesium supplements could help. They gave either 300mg of magnesium or a placebo to eighty pregnant women for four weeks. 86% of the women on magnesium had at least a 50% reduction in cramps compared to only 61% of the women on the placebo. 70% of the women on magnesium had at least a 50% reduction in the severity of their cramps compared to only 49% of the women on the placebo.

(Matern Child Nutr 2012;doi:10.1111/j.1740-8709.2012.00440.x)

Curcumin is one of the most promising and exciting cancer treatments. . . . It fights cancer

at all stages of cancer formation: initiation, promotion,

progression and metastasis.

Easing CanCEr PainMuch is written about how to prevent and treat cancer. But people suffering from cancer often suffer from a lot of pain, and not much is written specifically about how to deal with the pain of cancer. Since dealing with the pain is such an important part of making life for cancer patients more positive, let’s take a look specifically at natural help for cancer pain.

BUTTERBURThough it is much better known for the pain of migraines and menstrual cramps, this powerful antispasmodic herb is one of our favourites for the pain of cancer too. For people with cancer, butterbur is an important pain killer. Herbal cancer expert Donald Yance calls butterbur a tumour analgesic with neurosedative and spasmolytic properties. We have seen it work really well.

CORYDALISCorydalis, or Turkey corn, is very commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for pain,

especially abdominal pain and menstrual pain. It is also used for chest pain. Though little discussed, this herb is one of the most effective

herbal pain killers. Corydalis may inhibit the perception of pain by the brain and possess sedative properties. Along with butterbur, corydalis is one of the best remedies for pain caused by cancer. It is an especially valuable painkiller in the advanced stages of cancer. Interestingly, though this herb is not well known in the west, it showed up in a number of 19th and early 20th century cancer formulae, including John Scudder’s cancer formula and Eli Jone’s cancer syrup.

VITAMIN KThough best known for its role in combatting osteoporosis, the little discussed vitamin K has shown very powerful pain killing effects for cancer. As an added bonus, it also possessesantitumour activity.

ECHINACEAThis very popular immune boosting herb can also help fight pain in advanced cancer.

PAU D’ARCOA promising anticancer herb, this South American herb has also shown analgesic properties.

LIPOIC ACIDThe lactic acid and peruvic acid generated by cancer cells cause severe muscle pain. Lipoic acid helps reduce pain by reducing the production of these acids. Lipoic acid is also helpful for treating the pain and numbness caused by chemotherapy or radiation induced neuropathy.

MOUTH SORESAnother painful side effect of chemotherapy and radiation are mouth sores. Amongst the several helpful natural remedies for this painful side effect, some of the most effective are propolis (applied topically to the sore), chamomile, licorice and acidophilus.

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Butterbur

Curcumin

A review of curcumin research has concluded that curcumin not only helps fight cancer at all the stages and in all the ways just mentioned, but that it also increases the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation while protecting against their devastating side effects. The review concluded that “[E]xhaustive research and numerous investigations . . . suggest that curcumin has great potential in the prevention and cure of cancer” (Curr Probl Cancer 2007).

Curcumin & Heart HealthCurcumin helps heart health in a number of important ways. It lowers cholesterol and triglycerides and protects cholesterol from free radical damage (Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1992; Age 1995). Curcumin can also help protect against atherosclerosis by preventing blood platelets from sticking together (Thromb Res 1995; Arzneimforsch 1986) and by reducing elevated levels of fibrinogen (Mech Ageing Dev 2000), which can cause atherosclerosis. Very recent research has also shown that curcumin is valuable for blood pressure and blood vessel health. In fact, it may be as beneficial as exercise. Thirty-two healthy, but sedentary, post-menopausal women were put in a group that took 150mg of curcumin a day or in a group that exercised or in a group that did neither. After eight weeks, blood pressure had dropped in the

curcumin and

exercise group but not in the control group. Blood vessel elasticity, an important factor in atherosclerosis, also improved in both treatment groups but not in the control group. The improvements in the curcumin and exercise groups were similar (Nutr Res 2012).

Curcumin & HIV/AIDSCurcumin may also benefit people with HIV. A number of studies suggest that curcumin can inhibit the replication of HIV, and one study found that large doses of curcumin raise CD4 counts in HIV positive people (Int Conf AIDS

1994). CD4 immune cells are deficient in people with HIV.

Curcumin & InflammationOne of the most important uses of curcumin is as an antiinflammatory. Curcumin works as well, or almost as well, as the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug phenylbutazone for rheumatoid arthritis (Indian J Med Res 1980) and as well, or better, for postoperative inflammation (Int J Clin Pharmacol 1986). In the most recent rheumatoid arthritis study, curcumin was compared to the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug diclofenac sodium. The effect of the two treatments was significant and equal. People using the herb gave more positive assessments of their treatment than people using the drug. Since the herb worked at least as well as the drug with fewer adverse effects, the researchers declared the herb the superior treatment (Phytother Res 2012). Curcumin also helps with osteoarthritis. When people with

osteoarthritis of the knee were given either ibuprofen or turmeric extract standardized for curcuminoids, 91% of those taking the herb reported moderate to high satisfaction versus 80.4% taking the drug (J Altern Comp Med 2009).

Curcumin & DigestionCurcumin is also valuable for digestive problems, perhaps because it increases the output of bile. It is great for gas and bloating. In one study, 87% of people with indigestion improved after one week. After a week on a placebo, only 53% of people had improved (J Med Assoc Thai 1989). Some small, recent studies hold out the hope that curcumin can help Crohn’s disease (Dig Dis Sci 2005). And research shows that it can also help irritable bowel syndrome (J Alt Comp Med 2004).

The Many Uses of Curcumin