Recently, I was fortunate to attend, gasp/shocker, another wonderful training given by a world renowned leading herbal company. The speaker, Lee Carol, BSc, in order to tame my overzealous questioning, sent me a list of various well researched journal articles that I just poured through. Now, I know, most people would not be excited by such an event, but we all have our idiosyncrasies, and the good news for you, my devoted patients, is that while I’m reading these wonderful articles, I’m thinking of you.
Gasps of “wow”, “Eureka”, “Hey, that explains why Betty didn’t do well on Gotu Kola,” to…..“oh no, they found that interaction, I have to call Lacey tomorrow to tell her that she can’t extend his visit, b/c it’s only ok to be on that supplement for 2 months, not 3” are heard in the privacy of my own office space (thankfully, or else I may be committed). Well, you get the point (names have been changed to protect the HIPPA)…. that science is learning more and more how supplements, herbs, and nutraceuticals affect the body. (Now, this isn’t shocking in medicine, if you peruses through rxlist.com, you’ll see a lot of drug mechanisms are “mechanism unknown, the current theory is…..”)
So, what is hormesis? It’s the herbal and dosage theory that basically states, “tis the dose that is the poison.” Exercise is an example of this, at just the right amount it is a POSITIVE stressor which allows your body to create better adaptation, but too much or too little exercise can contribute to obesity or muscle wasting. (SO, my dear patients, this is why follow ups are important, I’m really not just overly attached to you, though I do adore you!) Take for example, a compound found in the herb and essential oil Angelica, chalcone.
Chalcone, an ?, ?-unsaturated aromatic ketone is present in Angelica keiskei Koidzumi, a plant
traditionally used in Japanese’s cuisine (Akihisa et al., 2003). Chalcone and its derivatives
allegedly possess antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory activities. Some
of the mechanisms underlying chalcone properties are only now being discovered. For
example, the anti-inflammatory effects of chalcones rely on their ability to regulate nitric oxide
(NO) and cytokine production in macrophages (Alcaraz et al., 2004; Ban et al., 2004), as well
as to prevent tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced
neutrophil adhesion (Madan et al., 2000). In addition, it has also been shown that chalcone
suppresses the activity of cycloxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase (Araico et al., 2006). In
experimental models chalcone administration inhibits chemically-induced pulmonary and
mammary carcinogenesis (Wattenberg et al., 1994). Chalcone derivatives show anti-tumor
activity in vitro (Ye et al., 2004; Ye et al., 2005). Nishimura et al., (2007) reported that two
chalcone derivatives, isobavachalcone and xanthoangelol H, exhibit high cytotoxicity against
neuroblastoma cell lines IMR-32 and NB-39 by activating a pathway involving caspases 9 and
3. However, neither compound had a detrimental effect on normal cerebellar granule cells at
the same concentrations tested, thus offering the possibility to use this natural compound as
an efficacious and safe potential treatment against neuroblastoma.
Neuromolecular Med. 2008 ; 10(4): 236–246. doi:10.1007/s12017-008-8037-y.
Translation of above: chalcone has been found to be toxic in high amounts in some studies, but at the proper dose, it has been shown to be anti-inflammatory and may inhibit cell cancer lines of the lung, breast, and brain.
Not only are the studies looking at biochemical pathways, they are also looking at biochemical differences, the level of nutrigenomics and epigenetics. Now that’s fun! Another exciting article, at least to me, was on glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity.
Known GR mutations that cause familial/sporadic glucocorticoid resistance syndrome.
Localization of GR mutations that cause familial/sporadic glucocorticoid resistance syndrome
are shown in the human GR gene
In our studies of the glucocorticoid signaling system, we have identified several molecules
from a variety of different signaling systems that interact in many ways with and influence the
activity of the GR and vice versa and are depicted in Figure 2 and Table 2.18,24–33 These
include the ? subunit of the G protein trimeric complex, small G proteins, components of the
tumor necrosis factor-?/Fas ligand signaling systems, such as FLASH, the chaperone protein
14-3-3, the HIV accessory proteins Vpr and Tat, the adenoviral protein E1A, and molecular
components of brain cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5).26–31,33 In light of the major
physiologic homeostatic influence of glucocorticoids on many brain functions, as well as the
major pathologic effects of these hormones on the central nervous system (CNS), we elected
to summarize below our work on the interactions of CDK5 and the GR.34
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 October ; 1179: 153–166. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04988.x.
Translation 2……This article explained why some people might have individual variances in how their body responds to stress hormones, making some more reactive than others!
What does this mean for you? That your’ loveable yet nerdy functional and integrative medical practitioner can help you find the perfect protocol at the perfect dosage for your particular body. This cannot be found in a bottle with “take as directed” or “suggested dosage”. This is not a one size all event, folks. This is partnership, the science, the art, and the healing of medicine!
