Neal Barnard, M.D.
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 The use of vitamin b6 in carpal tunnel syndrome began with the observation that some, although not all, people with the syndrome are low in the vitamin on blood tests.5,6 That suggested that perhaps correcting the vitamin deficiency might eliminate the pain. And in fact, several studies have shown it reduces swelling and the tingling or discomfort in the hand and sometimes makes the condition go away. |
Bill Gottlieb
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 He recommends a magnesium/malic acid supplement called Fibro-Care, which includes the nutrients magnesium glycinate, vitamin b6, thiamin, vitamin C, and manganese, all of which are necessary for energy production. Magnesium is particularly crucial because people with CFS are typically deficient in the mineral, Dr. Teitelbaum says.
Dr. Teitelbaum's recommended dose is six tablets of Fibro-Care a day for a total of 450 milligrams of magnesium and 1,800 milligrams of malic acid. Because of the magnesium, some people may get diarrhea at this dose, Dr. Teitelbaum cautions. |
| Scientific studies show that vitamin b6 helps clear up chronic pain and chronic pain syndromes," he says. He recommends taking a high-potency B-complex supplement that supplies a daily dose of 50 milligrams of most of the B vitamins.
MSM: Get the Pain-Relieving Sulfur Your Body Needs
Do you eat lots of processed foods? Are you under constant stress? Then you're a typical American. Those two lifestyle factors rob your body of sulfur, a crucial anti-inflammatory, tissue-healing, anti-pain nutrient, Dr. Braly says. |
| Look for a product with 1,500 milligrams of both GLA and vitamin C and 500 milligrams of vitamin b6. Use as necessary, following the directions on the label.
POTASSIUM: Eat a Banana Every Day
"Potassium is one of the most important minerals for relieving dry eye symptoms," says Dr. Grossman, noting that his patients with the
PROFESSIONAL CARE
Artificial tears are the standard medical treatment for dry eyes, says Edward L. Paul Jr., O.D., Ph.D., an optometrist, holistic nutritionist, and director of Atlantic Eye Associates in Hampstead, North Carolina. |
| B6 AND EVENING PRIMROSE OIL: To Process Estrogen
Elias suggests that women with fibroids take 100 milligrams a day of vitamin b6 and 1,000 milligrams a day of evening primrose oil, which supplies the essential fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Both of these supplements help the body process estrogen, he says.
MULTIVITAMIN/MINERAL SUPPLEMENT: To Boost Healing
Elias also recommends a high-potency multivitamin/mineral supplement to be sure that you're getting all the nutrients your body needs to heal. Follow the dosage recommendations on the label. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 Do not use it with vitamin b6 or with protein supplements containing the amino acid histidine, since these supplements counteract the antibacterial effect of berberine. Avoid the formula entirely if you have gallstones.
Dong Quai and Peony Powder
Also known by its Japanese name, toki-shakuyaku-san, this formula combines dong quai and peony with alisma, atractylodis, hoelen, and ligusticum. It has been used in TCM for centuries to treat continuous mild cramping in the lower abdomen during pregnancy. |
Bill Gottlieb
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| Magnesium aids in the absorption of vitamin b6.
Dr. Holder recommends 50 milligrams of B6 once a day as a preventive dose or three times a day as a therapeutic measure, along with 400 milligrams of magnesium.
Moving beyond the Pain of Grief
The death of a loved one may be the most profound emotional experience that we will ever have to endure. Unfortunately, there's no quick "cure" for such grief. There are alternative approaches that can help ease your pain in a time of sorrow, however.
One key is to allow yourself to fully feel all of the painful emotions that you experience after a loss. |
Ronald L. Hoffman, M.D.
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 As an alternative, I first prescribe complete rest accompanied by vitamin b6 supplements, which act as a pain blocker and are especially helpful with this condition. B6 can also act as a natural diuretic, relieving some pressure caused by water retention.
An Ergonomic Work Station
-c3C-
If you find yourself developing troublesome aches and pains after long hours typing at the computer, you should definitely take steps to prevent serious or chronic injury. Here are some helpful measures:
Start with your chair. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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 Vitamin B6 and magnesium are the two most important nutritional supplements for treating PMS.
The four most useful herbs in the treatment of PMS are angelica or dong quai, licorice root, black cohosh, and chasteberry.
The use of progesterone creams should be reserved as the last choice after other natural measures have failed. |
Neal Barnard, M.D.
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| GLA has also been used in combination with vitamin b6 (100-150 mg per day) for premenstrual symptoms, including breast pain.8
Borage oil is less well known than evening primrose oil, but it has an advantage in that it has a much higher GLA concentration, so you get more effect with less oil. The appropriate dose of borage oil is 1,000 to 1,500 mg (which provides roughly 240-360 mg of GLA) per day. A reliable source for ordering these products is Health From the Sun, Sunapee, New Hampshire, 800-447-2229, and they are also found at health food stores. |
Grace Ross Lewis
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 The latest heart healthy information advises us to eat a variety of foods rich in vitamin b6 and folic acid. These vitamins help to break down homocysteine.
27. What is coenzyme Q10?
It is an enzyme substance, similar to a vitamin, that aids organ and muscle cells and is purported to improve energy and slow the aging process. Research is being done to determine if it aids heart, lung, or Huntington disease patients.
28. What is the meaning of the term "umami"?
Science tells us that we can determine four tastes: salty, sweet, sour, and bitter. Umami is the fifth taste. |
Neal Barnard, M.D.
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| In one study of ten subjects and a follow-up study with eleven subjects studied at the University of Texas at Austin, researchers John Ellis, Karl Folkers, and their colleagues found that vitamin b6 could eliminate carpal tunnel symptoms, although not necessarily rapidly. While some subjects benefited within a few weeks, in others it took up to twelve weeks to work.15,16
In a way, the vitamin's benefits come as no surprise. It has long been known that the body uses B6 to make neurotransmitters, the chemicals that conduct our nerve messages, including those that affect the way we feel pain. |
| When patients who are taking anti-inflammatory drugs add vitamin b6 to their regimen, they get better pain control with less medication.21
It may also be useful in preventing a relapse. Researchers using B6, along with other B vitamins, in patients with acute back pain found that it cut the relapse rate in half over the following six months.22 Large-scale clinical trials have not yet been conducted.
A safe dose of B6 is 50-150 mg per day. Daily doses of 200 mg or higher should be avoided, however, as they are associated with nerve damage.
The amino acid tryptophan may also help. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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| Supplementation with vitamin b6 can also be useful, since this vitamin helps the body break down tryptophan.
I Deep breathing and other relaxation techniques, as well as yoga, can be useful for both adults and children who have asthma, even if it is possible to practice these techniques for only a few minutes a day. Relaxation and visualization techniques can be especially useful for controlling asthma attacks in children. In addition to building physical strength and flexibility, yoga teaches steady, controlled, deep breathing. (See RELAXATION TECHNIQUES in Part Three. |
| You can increase the effectiveness of vitamin b6 by also taking a B-vitamin complex. Additional vitamin Bj (thiamine) in the complex increases the uptake of B6 and increases circulation. It may take up to three months to see results.
J Be moderate in your consumption of foods that contain or lead to the production of oxalic acid, which can promote joint problems if eaten in large quantities. Such foods include asparagus, beets, beet greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, eggs, fish, mustard greens, parsley, rhubarb, sorrel, spinach, and Swiss chard. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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| Zinc, vitamin b6, and vitamin C are perhaps the most critical. Supplementation with these nutrients has been shown to increase thymic hormone function and cell-mediated immunity.
Zinc is perhaps the critical mineral involved in thymus gland function and thymus hormone action. Zinc is involved in virtually every aspect of immunity. When zinc levels are low, the number of T cells is reduced; thymic hormone levels are lower, and many white blood functions critical to the immune response are severely lacking. All of these effects are reversible with zinc supplementation. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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| Vitamin B6 aids energy production within the blood vessels supplying the brain, supporting them and also helping them avoid painful constriction. 5-HTP is especially useful in treating chronic headaches in children, and headaches in adults if there is also sleep disturbance. Take this supplement every other day for three months.
I For recurrent headaches, keep a diary of all foods eaten for several days to see if any specific food or foods are causing the problem.
_) If you get a headache every time you exercise, see your health-care provider to rule out heart problems. |
Bill Gottlieb
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| Thiamin: 25 milligrams
Vitamin B6:100 milligrams
Pantothenic acid : 50 milligrams
Folic acid: 400 micrograms
Beta-carotene: 15 milligrams
Vitamin C: 1,000 milligrams
Vitamin E: 400 international units
Calcium: 500 to 1,000 milligrams
Magnesium: 100 to 400 milligrams
Zinc: 15 milligrams
MAGNESIUM: A Calming Mineral
Extra magnesium (more than what's in most multivitamin/mineral supplements) will help calm ADHD symptoms, says Dr. Block. In addition to a multivitamin/mineral supplement, she recommends 500 milligrams a day of magnesium. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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| Do not take these herbs with supplemental vitamin b6 or with protein supplements containing the amino acid histidine. Do not use goldenseal if you have cardiovascular disease or glaucoma.
3Do not use echinacea if you have an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Do not use it if you have a chronic infection such as HIV or tuberculosis. 4Milk thistle may cause mild diarrhea. If this occurs, decrease the dose or stop taking it.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Eat more fiber, either by eating fiber-rich foods such as whole-grain cereals and breads or by taking a fiber supplement. |
Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D.
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 The small amount of vitamin b6 you need (the RDA is 2 milligrams a day for men and 1.6 milligrams for women) is easily obtained from many foods. If you have Parkinson's disease and are on levodopa, consult the list of foods on page 364. A single 3V2-ounce portion of braised beef liver contains 0.91 milligram of B6 and a medium baked potato has 0.7 milligram. Together, these will satisfy the minimum daily requirement and cost you only 381 calories. Three ounces of any whole-grain cereal will also suffice. Do not be too stringent in avoiding B6. |
the Editors of PREVENTION
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 In one German study of 175 women with PMS, a chasteberry extract relieved six typical complaints of PMSbreast tenderness, bloating, headache, constipation, depression, and inner tension more effectively than vitamin b6. One-third of the women who took chasteberry for three menstrual cycles experienced complete relief of their symptoms.
"The balancing effect of the herb is gradual and typically occurs over a 3- to 6-month period," says Beverly Yates, N.D., a naturopathic physician with the Natural Health Care Group in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle. |
American Medical Publishing
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| Also, try vitamin b6 supplement. Recent studies show that B6 may be very effective in lessening chances of asthma attacks.
No 10 Coumadin This is a blood thinner used for preventing heart attack and strokes. Also known as Warfarin.
Potential dangers Coumadin is closely related to a substance used for rat poison. This drug can cause gangrene, fatal internal hemorrhaging, hideous birth defects and allergic reactions bad enough to kill. The maker of Coumadin warns doctors that: "Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from oral-contraceptive use. |
Simon Mills and Kerry Bone
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 In a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, comparative trial, 175 women with PMS received either chaste tree or vitamin b6 (pyridoxine) over three cycles. Patients received chaste tree (3.5-4.2 mg of a 9.5-11.5:1 extract) each day or one capsule of placebo twice daily on days 1-15 and one capsule of pyridoxine (100 mg) twice daily on days 16-35 of the menstrual cycle. Some patients did not complete the trial or were excluded from analysis. The premenstrual tension syndrome scale decreased for both treatments but chaste tree treatment was superior to pyridoxine overall. |
| The seeds, stems and leaves of Ginkgo contain 4'-0-methylpyroxidine, which can cause vitamin b6 deficiency symptoms, including convulsions. Poisoning has occurred in China and Japan (prior to 1960) where the stems are eaten as a luxury food or in times of food shortage. This toxin has been measured at levels of 42 Ug per gram fresh weight of Ginkgo stem. Of the medicinal preparations tested, the highest concentration of 4'-0-methylpyroxidine conferred a daily dose of 60 ug of the toxin. In contrast, the acute oral toxic dose was measured at 11 mg/kg in guinea pigs. |
Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreed, MD, CNC, James B. LaValle, RPh, ND
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 If you have white spots under your nails, try taking 50 milligrams of vitamin b6 (pyridoxine) and 30 milligrams of zinc daily for three to six months. If you take any of the B vitamins individually, you should also take a B-complex supplement at a different time of day. Take zinc with food to prevent stomach upset. If you take over 30 milligrams of zinc on a daily basis for more than one or two months, you should also take 1 to 2 milligrams of copper each day to maintain a proper mineral balance. |
| In addition, you can take 250 milligrams of pantothenic acid three times daily and 100 milligrams of vitamin b6 (pyridoxine) twice a day, between meals, for up to five days in a row as needed for symptoms.
¦ Taking 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, plus an equal amount of bioflavonoids, at least three times daily may have a beneficial effect, especially if started approximately six weeks before the hay-fever season arrives.
¦ Bioflavonoids enhance the effect of vitamin C and help to stabilize the mast cells, which secrete histamine. |
| Pantothenic acid assists adrenal function and vitamin b6 is important for the synthesis of many hormones.
¦ Vitamin C and bioflavonoids have anti-inflammatory properties, act to strengthen tissue, detoxify the blood, and promote healing. Three times a day, take 500 to 1,000 milligrams of a vitamin-C formula that contains bioflavonoids, particularly rutin.
¦ Vitamin E helps to maintain proper hormonal balance. |
| Take 50 milligrams of vitamin b6 twice a day for two weeks, between meals. Then take 50 milligrams once daily for three weeks, between meals. Thereafter, take a good B-complex formula or a multivitamin and mineral supplement to maintain healthy levels of this vitamin.
¦ Vitamin B12 can help to increase energy and improve mood. Take 300 to 500 micrograms twice a day. If you take any of the B vitamins individually, you should also take a B-complex supplement at a different time of day.
Take Aurum muriaticum 30x or 15c three times daily for up to three days. |
Neal Barnard, M.D.
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 Reduce to 100 IUs per day if you have high blood pressure.
4. vitamin b6, 100 milligrams per day.
5. Avoid caffeine and keep alcohol consumption to a minimum.
Saw palmetto is extracted from a type of palm tree and has been shown to prevent the conversion of testosterone to DHT and to reduce prostate symptoms in clinical tests.29 The flax oil provides essential fatty acids and vitamin E is used to protect the flax oil against oxidation.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer differs from prostate enlargement in that cancer cells can invade neighboring tissues and spread to other parts of the body. |
the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing
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 Magnesium may help your body convert oxalates into other substances, just like vitamin b6. Foods high in magnesium include seeds, nuts, beans, avocados, and broccoli. Add any of these to your next salad for a healthy treat.
Plant protein. Kidney stones are more common in developed countries, and a high intake of animal protein may be to blame. High levels of dietary protein can increase urinary calcium and decrease urinary citrate, which raises your risk of kidney stones. Animal protein is also a major source of purines, which can increase the risk of uric acid stones. |
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