Hanya Gaber
In theory, the best option for treating our symptoms is medication. In practice, our remedies are one call to Mama away. We choose our family remedies based on experience, but do we know the science behind how they work?
Honey:
The antimicrobial properties of honey are attributed to its enzymatic glucose oxidation reaction, its high osmotic pressure, low pH, low protein content, high C:N ratio, low redox potential (due to high level of reducing sugars), and hydrogen peroxide content.
This allows honey to inhibit the growth of yeast and bacteria. This antimicrobial has the minimum required concentration needed for inhibiting bacterial and fungal growth completely.
Honey also has anti-inflammatory activities as phenolic and flavonoids compounds that suppress the inflammatory effects of COX-2 and Nitric Oxide. Immunoregulatory activities are demonstrated through the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta and IL-6, as well as increasing T and B lymphocytes, antibodies, eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes and natural killer cells generation during both primary and secondary immune responses.
Honey has been proven to help in wound-healing and has been used before any modern chemicals were discovered due to its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It also induces the release of cytokines from leukocytes to begin tissue repair.
Studies show that there is strong evidence indicating the role of honey in treating diabetes mellitus (DM) Type-1. Clinical trials held on Type-1 and Type-2 DM patients showed a dramatic decrease in their glycemic index upon intake of honey, in comparison to sucrose or glucose in Type-1 DM, yet similar values in Type-2.
Cinnamon:
Cinnamon is a very health beneficial spice that tackles a wide range of activities. Cinnamon is proven to be a potent anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer agent and coagulant.
Its anti-inflammatory effect is due to inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the CNS through multiple pathways. It also activates NF-κB, a protein that plays a critical role in regulating the survival, activation and differentiation of innate immune cells and inflammatory T cells.
Cinnamon is a very potent treatment for primary dysmenorrhoea. The main component of cinnamon has an antispasmodic effect. It also inhibits prostaglandin synthesis to reduce the inflammation and hence the pain. It has also been proven in a study that cinnamon is able to control bleeding, menstrual pain, nausea and vomiting with no reported side effects.
Black seed (Nigella sativa):
Studies proved that N. sativa contains the compound thymoquinone that has hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, bronchodilatory, antimicrobial, antinociceptive and antiepileptic effects.
Some of these effects have been proven and confirmed through various studies, which makes N. sativa a viable treatment for inflammatory and auto-immune disorders. It is also effective in the treatment of metabolic syndrome.
Its hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and bronchodilatory effects have been adequately studied and understood, allowing them to be used for more clinical trials and drug development. Other effects require further clinical studies. No serious side effects were reported.
Soy:
Soy contains a high concentration of isoflavones and phytoestrogen, which are similar to human estrogen, but weaker. Estrogen has a protective function against atherosclerosis, through its ability to increase HDL levels in blood, and osteoporosis, which renders women more prone to these diseases after menopause.
A study by Delia Mierla et al reported no significant difference in decrease in bone resorption process between hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) by estrogen and phytoestrogens in soy. Since phytoestrogens are unlikely to cause side effects that occur with HRT, the usage of soy in prophylaxis against and treatment of osteoporosis is now being recommended.
Studies suggest that through the similarities between isoflavones and estrogen, soy can be used as prophylaxis against atherosclerosis.
Alternative medicine, although not very effective, has been used for thousands of years in old civilizations, as ancient Egypt and China long before the discovery of pharmacological medicine.
People’s trust in traditional methods of medicine has gradually declined with the emergence of synthetic drugs; yet, as discussed, many studies are pointing and highlighting the benefits of these practices.
Alternative medicine is not always a potent substitute for pharmacological medicine. However, pharmacological options, as potent as they could be, do have long-term side effects.
Alternative medicine’s side effects are next to none, which makes them the safer option for controlling recurring symptoms of milder conditions, or, in case of soy, attempting to spare ourselves the major side effects of other suggested pharmacologies.
References:
1. Liu, T., Zhang, L., Joo, D., & Sun, S. C. (2017). NF-κB signaling in inflammation. Signal transduction and targeted therapy, 2, 17023–. https://doi.org/10.1038/sigtrans.2017.23
2. Rao, P. V., & Gan, S. H. (2014). Cinnamon: a multifaceted medicinal plant. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2014, 642942. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/642942
3. Tit, D. M., Bungau, S., Iovan, C., Nistor Cseppento, D. C., Endres, L., Sava, C., Sabau, A. M., Furau, G., & Furau, C. (2018). Effects of the Hormone Replacement Therapy and of Soy Isoflavones on Bone Resorption in Postmenopause. Journal of clinical medicine, 7(10), 297. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm7100297
4. Anthony, M. S., Clarkson, T. B., & Williams, J. K. (1998). Effects of soy isoflavones on atherosclerosis: potential mechanisms. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 68(6 Suppl), 1390S–1393S. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/68.6.1390S
5. Tavakkoli, A., Mahdian, V., Razavi, B. M., & Hosseinzadeh, H. (2017). Review on Clinical Trials of Black Seed (Nigella sativa ) and Its Active Constituent, Thymoquinone. Journal of pharmacopuncture, 20(3), 179–193. https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2017.20.021
6. Samarghandian, S., Farkhondeh, T., & Samini, F. (2017). Honey and Health: A Review of Recent Clinical Research. Pharmacognosy research, 9(2), 121–127. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-8490.204647
7. Nathan, L., & Chaudhuri, G. (1997). Estrogens and atherosclerosis. Annual review of pharmacology and toxicology, 37, 477–515. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.pharmtox.37.1.477
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