BCNC Alternative Pharmacy Newswire
November 2008
by Allen J. Bunn, R.Ph.
Client Gets “Runner’s High” From Compounded Medicine…
One of our leading edge local physicians recently became very passionate about a little-known compounded medicine known as low-dose naltrexone (LDN for short). He began prescribing it for our patients about 6 or 8 months ago and feedback is encouraging.
One of our patients didn’t realize it was helping until she stopped taking it for 2 weeks. She was surprised to discover that the subtle improvements she acquired over the previous few months had gone unnoticed until she went off the medication.
I had the opportunity to speak with her recently. I interviewed her on her progress with this compounded medicine.
She was delighted to tell me that she finally realized after stopping the medicine that LDN was giving her a better sense of well being, less fatigue and improved management of pain. She loves the way it makes her feel. She describes the feeling as a “runner’s high” (an effect often associated with the release of endorphins after prolonged exercise).
What is LDN ?
According to the Low Dose Naltrexone website (www.lowdosenaltrexone.org) this low dose version of FDA-approved naltrexone boosts the immune system by elevating endorphins. You’ll find lots of examples of how LDN is “helping those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, autoimmune disease and central nervous system disorders.”
We have lots of clients taking it for problems like MS, autoimmune thyroid, psoriasis and other maladies associated with immune dysfunction. To learn more, go to the website mentioned above. Let me know if you need information on how it is compounded and local prescribers.
How a Pizza Spice Helps 2 Clients With Their Dry, Itchy, Scaly Scalp…
If you receive my emails, you’ve heard me talk about oregano oil for improving the appearance of dry, itchy, scaly skin conditions. I originally learned about this use from a mom who was applying oregano oil directly to her daughter’s ear lobes. She had psoriasis-like lesions and a dermatologist told her to try oregano oil as an alternative to steroids. It worked well and she came in for more.
I had an opportunity to speak with her and discovered that the application of pure oregano oil was a little impractical. It is very oily as you would expect. It also makes you smell like a pizza pie.
As a compounding pharmacist, I’m always looking for a better way.
I originally mixed up an oregano oil cream and had some patients suffering from psoriasis-like lesions try it with good results.
I was contacted via email by a client who had lesions in her scalp who had to stop using potent steroid foam only meant for short term use. Her doctor wasn’t clear about the foam’s limited use and she ended up with some adrenal imbalance that affected her sleep.
I originally recommended she try the cream but she complained about the problem of applying a cream to a hairy area. In response, I mixed her up an oregano gel and it worked wonderfully.
After 1 week, her red lesions are clearing and she gets immediate relief from itching…
Last Saturday, I had another woman come in looking for an alternative to steroids for a similar scaling problem in her scalp. She wanted something natural to try. I recommended she try the oregano gel and made her promise to give me feedback. She called me a week later delighted with the results.
Again, this client saw an improvement in the appearance of her scalp. She described the lesions as red, scaly, dry, burning and itchy. After a week, she said the red lesions were clearing and she gets immediate relief from the itching when she applies it.
If you have a similar problem and would like to give it a try, please send me an email or stop by the pharmacy. Our oregano gel contains oregano oil and tea tree oil. Please remember that it is sold as a cosmeceutical to improve the appearance of the skin. It is not a treatment for psoriasis.
Why Winter Is Bad for Your Mood and Your Bones…
Winter is cold and gray. You know that.
As you huddle inside to keep warm this winter, your body is being starved of sunlight and you may feel the effects. You may feel a little more sad or more “blue” than usual from the lower serotonin levels often associated with lack of sunlight. Doctors call this “seasonal affective disorder”. There are some natural products that may help that I’ll discuss in a minute. Your bones may also feel the effects of sunlight starvation but they won’t tell you until they break.
Sun exposure is necessary for the production of vitamin D.
Doctors are now measuring levels of vitamin D and a lot of my clients are being diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency. Since sunlight is necessary for vitamin D production, you can expect vitamin D levels to be lower in winter because of the lack of light. It has also crossed my mind that many people on cholesterol-lowering drugs like statins may also be suffering because your body needs cholesterol to make vitamin D.
A lot more clients are asking for higher doses of vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D is an ingredient in our nutritional bone formulas. We now have 3 strengths of vitamin D under our Bunn private label. The strengths available are 400 IU, 1000 IU and 2000 IU. All of our supplements containing vitamin D use the most active form of vitamin D. It’s called D3 or cholecalciferol. You’ll find them in our nutrition center or on our website. See the links at the bottom of the page.
“Winter Blues” and the Serotonin Steal…
You should know by now that melatonin is the hormone that your brain makes to cause you to fall asleep. Your brain secretes melatonin around dusk and levels peak at 2 a.m. Levels come down by sunrise, serotonin rises and your adrenal glands wake you up.
What you may not realize is that your body makes melatonin from serotonin. Since dusk comes a lot earlier in the winter for us northerners, some may conclude that the rise of melatonin and the fall of serotonin may trigger the “winter blues”. I don’t think anyone knows for sure. It is known that “winter blues” is more of an issue as you move north on the planet. The tilt of the Earth makes days even shorter in the northern regions.
There are some natural methods for balancing serotonin levels. Here are several:
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Full Spectrum Lighting: Exposure to full-spectrum lighting has been shown to help. These bulbs are different from regular light bulbs. They may be a good substitute for sunlight.
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5-HTP: Serotonin is made from the amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan is converted to a direct precursor of serotonin called 5-hydroxytryptophan. In fact, the words serotonin and 5-hydroxytryptophan are synonymous. 5-HTP helps by increasing brain cell output of serotonin. Supplement manufactures derive 5-HTP from the seeds of the Griffonia simplicifolia plant. 50 milligrams daily has been shown to improve mood. In my experience it also works great for insomnia because it is also a building block for melatonin.
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St. John’s Wort: This herb has a long history of use for mild to moderate depression. Some studies indicate that the herb is as effective as some pharmaceuticals. Be careful taking St. John’s Wort if you take prescription drugs. There are a lot of interactions. Check with your pharmacist or send me an email if you have questions.
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Melatonin: Some doctors also prescribe melatonin for “winter blues”. In discussing “winter blues” with clients, I realize that some people think that there is too much melatonin produced in the winter time. This recommendation may not make sense. My opinion is that supplementing with melatonin spares some serotonin from being converted to melatonin, thus preserving serotonin levels. A common over-the-counter potency is 3 milligrams. You can take 1 at bedtime. In my experience, some people do better on a sublingual melatonin in a lower potency. We compound a melatonin 1mg sublingual by prescription from your physician. Some physicians are also prescribing compounded melatonin in a 5 milligram sustained-release capsule. If you have questions, please contact me by email.
A Warning…
Many physicians prescribe anti-depressants known as SSRI’s for depression. If you are taking an SSRI, please consult with your doctor before taking St. John’s Wort, 5-HTP or melatonin as they may interact.
All of the above-mentioned supplements are available in our nutrition center or from our website. Stop by the pharmacy or check out the links at the bottom of this page.
Can’t Sleep? Could Be Stress Hormones…
Sleep disturbances are one of the most common problems I’m asked about for advice. Multiple factors can contribute to this problem but I find that many people suffer because of elevated stress hormones.
It’s a rather lengthy discussion as to why. If your stress hormones elevate when your sleeping, your sleep can be disturbed from the effects on your body. For example,
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Stress hormones can trigger night sweats.
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Stress hormones can trigger panic, anxiety, and fear.
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Stress hormones can make your mind really active, causing you to dwell on all the problems of the prior day.
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You feel like you “can’t turn off your brain”.
Women suffer more because of hormone imbalance. It’s common for a woman to tell me she wakes up around 2 a.m., mind really active and she ends up doing housework or paying bills in the middle of the night.
With the state of the economy, I’m seeing a lot more clients searching for natural remedies that can help take the edge off stress.
A Simple Fix for Disturbed Sleep…
I find that one of the best supplements to counter the effects of stress is magnesium. Let’s talk about biochemistry for a minute.
When a nerve carries a signal, certain chemical events occur to facilitate the process. When a nerve excites, a “calcium channel” opens up and calcium flows into the nerve. This carries the electric signal to its destination. When a nerve relaxes, a “magnesium channel” opens up and magnesium flows in. This calms the nerve down.
Many people are deficient in magnesium, causing an imbalance between calcium and magnesium. At a recent seminar my pharmacy sponsored, Dr. Kim Griego, Pharm.D. mentioned the use of magnesium for restless leg syndrome. According to Dr. Griego, calcium supplementation without magnesium can make muscles too excitable, contributing to symptoms.
I often recommend people take magnesium at bedtime to help them sleep.
Magnesium usually works like a charm. Magnesium is available in many forms. I usually recommended an amino acid chelate of magnesium or magnesium citrate liquid. Both are available from our nutrition center and on our website.
My wife is a big fan of magnesium.
She suffered from horrible leg pain for years after giving birth to my youngest son. As she approached the years where doctors recommend calcium for the bones, she began to take our Bunn Cal Mag Boron supplement. (You can find a link to this supplement at the bottom of this page.) After one night, it fixed the problem. She preaches calcium magnesium supplementation to all of her female friends with similar complaints.
Winter brings many other health challenges. Future issues will address some of these issues. We have lots of resources on a large variety of topics on our website. Browse for awhile. If you have a specific question, please send me an email at allenbunn@comcast.net.
To your health,
Allen J. Bunn, R.Ph.
PS: If you are interested in any of the above-mentioned supplements, see the links below for more information.
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