Dear Healthy Friend,

For years now, Health Bytes has been bringing you the latest information regarding health breakthroughs, treatments and remedies for almost every known ailment under the sun! We've been telling you to take your vitamins, your multi-supplement, your minerals and loads more... We even tell you why!

Isn't it nice to know, that finally, after all this time, research has proven what we've been saying all along!

In the name of good health,

Taryn Strugnell
Managing Editor of Nutrition & Healing

P.S. Surgery is traumatic for anybody who has to have it! Dr Wright reveals his secret to counteract the side-effects of going under...

Supplements really do work!
Francois Lubbe
Editor, Health Sciences Institute

In a recent study, Australian researchers from the University of Western Sydney, have found that herbal preparations and Omega-3s are effective treatments against an array of illnesses including osteoarthritis, heart disease and depression. Better yet, the study also found that these treatments could save billions of rands every year!

Now, I don’t know about you, but in my eyes, R1.5billion is a massive saving, especially when we're in the midst of a global economic downturn...

In 2009, the Australian National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) commissioned researchers to undertake a series of studies involving complementary medicine interventions. These included:

    * Acupuncture for chronic low back pain
    * St John’s wort for "mild" to "moderate" depression
    * Omega-3 fish oils for secondary prevention of heart disease
    * Omega-3 fish oils to reduce non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in rheumatoid arthritis
    * A proprietary herbal medicine for pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis

The findings of the study were recently published in a report, Cost effectiveness of complementary medicines, and found, amongst other things, that St John’s wort could be used effectively as an alternative treatment for "mild" depression.

The researchers added that first-line treatments for depression should remain non-pharmacological, by using cognitive behaviour therapy, for example. In addition, patients receiving St John's wort would most likely still be monitored and treated by medical practitioners.

The researchers agreed that, moving forward, further work is needed to standardise St John’s wort and to closely examine potential interactions with other drug treatments... At least now Australians know the option is there...

Now, if that is not forward-thinking, I don’t know what is — and the saving of billions of rands to the population annually in anti-depression pharmaceutical spending alone... Pharmaceutical giants must be breaking out in a cold sweat after hearing this news!

The report also shows that arthritis sufferers could hugely benefit from a herbal blend, Phytodolor - a herbal anti-inflammatory and pain relieving medicine, for osteoarthritis.

Phytodolor (containing aspen, ash bark and golden rod herb), was highlighted as having the potential to save about R12 million annually if patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) switched to this herbal preparation.

Apart from savings a heap of money, arthritis sufferers could also see huge health benefits, because as we’ve reported time and again, NSAIDs can cause nausea, abdominal pain, heartburn, dizziness, constipation, diarrhoea and vomiting – to mention just a few common side effects.

Furthermore, acupuncture for chronic lower back pain was found to be cost effective if used as a complementary therapy to standard care, which includes medication, physiotherapy, exercises and education.

Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils - when used as an adjunctive treatment in people with a history of coronary heart disease - were found to reduce death and morbidity. These findings are consistent with previous international studies that have been conducted in this area.

Improving the health of the healthcare system... And so much more

It’s refreshing to see that, some countries, at least, are open to the important role complementary medicine can play in improving the health of patients.

The evidence shows that complementary medicines can lower the high costs of modern health care by offering better disease prevention and effective management of chronic conditions... Which ultimately, let’s face it, can pay off in more ways than one - keeping people healthy (with effective treatments) and able to work in an already over-stretched budget.

To quote Professor Alan Bensoussan, NICM executive director “The health of the nation and the national budget may ultimately rest on a full scientific and economic analysis of complementary medicine."

Perhaps the European Commission and EFSA should take a page from his book instead of trying every back-handed trick to stop alternative medicine and natural remedies from finding their rightful place in fighting and preventing disease.

Just think how healthy the world’s population would be if governments and medical authorities started thinking along the lines of Professor Bensoussan...

Take a look at FSP Health for our supplements!

Go for this before going under

Q: I'll have to be put under general anaesthesia for surgery next month. Is there anything I can do to offset the side effects?

Dr. Wright: Start taking milk thistle (Silybum marianum) now. Take it right up to the day before your surgery and pick it up again as soon as you can after the surgery. The longer you're under, the more likely you'll experience side effects. Milk thistle reduces the risk by minimising impact of general anaesthesia on the whole body - especially the liver. The amount you should take depends on how long you'll be under the knife. For surgery of up to two hours, 600mg a day is sufficient. Continue that dosage for two weeks after surgery. Anything over that, go for 800mg a day and continue for two to three months after the surgery.