The orthodox approach uses the drug aciclovir, which eases the symptoms, but doesn’t cure it. Alternative medicine, on the other hand, offers a large array of ways to rid yourself of this painful condition.

Orthomolecular medicine
This therapeutic approach suggests 6 g of ascorbic acid together with 1 g of the amino acid L-lysine daily, and a 1-mL intramuscular injection of vitamin B12 twice a week. According to the cases reported, all pain was gone within 24 hours and the lesions had begun to heal (Hoffer A, Orthomolecular Medicine for Physicians, New Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing, 1989). The B12 injections can be replaced by a 20-mcg/day oral dose of B12 taken under the tongue.

Nutritional medicine
Many studies have shown that proteolytic enzymes (160 mg of trypsin, 160 mg of chymotrypsin and 400 mg of papainase), taken five times daily, are as effective as aciclovir against shingles (Fortschr Med, 1995; 113: 39-44; Phytomedicine, 1996; 2: 7-15).

In one Russian study, 150 patients with acute shingles received trypsin alone. Compared with 200 similar patients on the standard antiviral drug therapy, trypsin proved highly effective in reducing symptoms during the acute stage. None of the trypsin group had recurrences or developed postherpetic neuralgia during the three-year follow-up (Vrach Delo, 1991; 3: 86-9).

Supplementation
Adenosine-5’-monophosphate (AMP), a naturally occurring purine nucleotide, is needed for nucleic acid synthesis. Patients with shingles have abnormally low levels of AMP as well as high levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (JAMA, 1977; 237: 871-2).

In one double-blind study, shingles patients received intramuscular 100-mL AMP injections three times a week for four weeks. The AMP reduced herpetic pain almost immediately and, after four weeks, 88 per cent of the AMP-treated patients were pain-free vs 43 per cent with placebo.

To prevent the chest pain that may follow AMP injection, take half the dose, followed 20 minutes later by the other half (Med Sci Bull, 1985; 7: 86-9; Nutr Heal, 1996; 3: 58-61). One concern is that AMP readily converts to adenosine, which can suppress immune function, although these dosages appear to be too small to have any significant effect. Nevertheless, scientific studies haven’t yet ruled out the possibility.

Acupuncture and cupping
Never use acupuncture or cupping (using glass cups to create suction on the skin) on patients with herpes zoster (Shanghai College of Traditional Medicine, O’Connor J, Bensky D, transl, Acupuncture: A Comprehensive Text, Seattle, WA: Eastland Press, 1984: 618).

African medicine
In Africa, the leaf of Plantago major (common plantain), whole or bruised, is applied to the skin affected by shingles lesions.

Experiments have confirmed the plant’s microbial-killing action, which facilitates healing (Int Abstr Biol Sci, 1960; 16: 817). The leaves are also reported to be anti-inflammatory and to aid new skin growth, with no adverse side-effects (Am J Pharm, 1950; 122: 24; Int Abstr Biol Sci, 1959; 15: 5414).

European folk medicine
Applying the fresh juice or pulp of the ordinary leek to the affected skin is said to be soothing and to speed up the healing process (Bartram T, Bartram’s Encyclopaedia of Herbal Medicine, London: Robinson Publishing, 1998: 227).

Homoeopathy
Paraphenylenediamine can bring on the symptoms of herpes in healthy individuals (Ann Homéop Françaises, 1963; 10: 57/777-65/785). Try this first at the 6CH potency.

Osteopathy
The headaches and myofascial pain syndrome that accompanies shingles and prevents sleep may be effectively relieved by osteopathy (Travell JG, Simons DG, Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1983).

Herbs
Chinacanthus nutans (or phaya yo in Thai) has been shown to promote healing. In a controlled clinical trial of 51 patients, this herb, in the form of a poultice, was applied five times a day to the skin affected by shingles lesions, for seven to 14 days. This resulted in rapid healing (J Med Assoc Thai, 1995; 78: 624-7). A larger randomised, controlled trial reported the same positive results (Int J Dermatol, 1996; 35: 665-6).

Applying capsaicin (the alkaloid derived from the pod of Capsicum frutescens, cayenne pepper) to the affected skin can relieve long-term pain after an episode of shingles, according to a review of three randomised controlled trials (Fam Pract, 1996; 13: 84-91).

At the very first signs of blisters, applying Melissa (balm) ointment onto the skin can ameliorate the later progression of the shingles outbreak. Tolerance is excellent (Zeitschr Phytother, 1981; VI: 229).

Harald Gaier is a registered homoeopath, naturopath and osteopath.

After having chest pains on exertion, he was diagnosed with angina and had two stents inserted. His cholesterol levels were also controlled with fluvastatin.

After being on the drug for about six months, his cholesterol level was acceptable, but he noticed how much he ached. This became more and more noticeable. The doctor said this was a side-effect of the statin and changed it to another statin – atorvastatin – which he said was less likely to produce the muscle aches.

This suited my husband for a short time but, eventually, the same aches began again. He said he felt like an old man. Prior to the statins, he had been positive, active and mobile.

While taking atorvastatin, he also suffered a bout of shingles. We treated it successfully with homoeopathics, apart from the pain. This was treated with analgesics.

On researching the side-effects of statins, I learned that one function of cholesterol is to insulate nerve endings. It may well be that the statins exposed the nerve endings and allowed the singles to take hold. Has anyone else ever put this possibility together?

The painkillers my husband was taking for the shingles were now causing constipation which, in turn, caused diverticulitis (which had been dormant for some time).

After more research, my husband is now taking a ‘natural’ remedy for reducing cholesterol – with great results.

Once he discontinued the statin, all the aches and pains disappeared. The shingles pain has quieted down with the use of either ice-packs or warmth, and the diverticulitis has completely gone.

The lesson to be learned is first to see how one drug can trigger a series of further problems, and the second lesson is to find out all you can about the drug you are being prescribed before you take it.

By the way, the consultant was dogmatic in his viewpoint, totally disregarding the side-effects of statins as described in both his British National Formulary and MIMS. – Mrs MJB, High Wycombe, Bucks

It is well known that patients taking statins lose coenzyme Q10 according to the dosage. The drugs block production of both cholesterol and CoQ10 by inhibiting the enzyme precursor of not only cholesterol, but also of CoQ10.

CoQ10 helps in chemical reactions, particularly those involving cellular energy production, and helps make cell membranes stronger against oxygen damage. It is abundant in the heart largely because of the huge energy requirements of those cells.

Studies have shown that a deficiency of CoQ10 is linked with heart failure (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1985; 82: 901-4) and an impaired heart function (Biofactors, 1999; 9: 291-9).

Out of 15 published studies, nine have confirmed that statins can significantly lower CoQ10 levels (Arzneim Forsch, 1999; 49: 324-9).

Critics of statins believe that widespread statin use has caused an increase in ‘statin cardiomyopathy’, where the heart loses its ability to pump blood or heart rhythm is disturbed, leading to irregular heartbeats.

But statins also affect nerves. They can cause a polyneuropathy (or peripheral neuropathy), characterised by weakness, numbness, pain and tingling in the hands and feet (Ann Pharmacother, 2003; 37; 274-8). Indeed, one large Danish study showed that, of 166 cases of so-called idiopathic polyneuropathy, 89 were definitely or probably linked to statins, while the rest were ‘possibly’ linked to the drugs (Neurology, 2002; 14: 1333-7). It could be that the ‘shingles’ your husband believes he had was a statin-induced nerve condition that is improving since stopping the drug.

• A heart attack.
  
• Lung problems like pneumonia, bronchitis, or an injury.
  
• A hiatal hernia – known in medical terms as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
  
• Heartburn.
  
• Shingles.
  
• A pulled muscle.
  
• Mitral valve prolapse. A common disorder, especially in women, in which the mitral valve of the heart fails to close properly. In most people, this is not a serious problem.
  
• Anxiety.
  
• Swallowing too much air.
  

For chest pain that results from a pulled muscle or minor injury to the rib cage:

• Do not strain the muscle or ribs while pain is felt.
  
• Rest.
  
• Take a pain reliever such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. [Note: Do not give aspirin or any medication containing salicylates to anyone 19 years of age or younger unless directed by a physician, due to its association with Reye’s Syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.]
  
• Do call your doctor, though, if the pain lasts longer than two days.
  

• Lose weight if you are overweight.
  
• Eat 5-6 frequent meals, instead of 3 meals a day. Do not eat large meals.
  
• Avoid tobacco, alcohol, coffee, spicy foods, peppermint, chocolate, citrus juices and carbonated beverages.
  
• If you have heartburn, take antacids after meals and before going to bed.
  
• Do not eat food or drink milk two hours before going to bed.
  
• Avoid bending over or lying down after eating.
  
• Do not wear tight clothing, tight belts, or girdles.
  
• Raise the head of your bed about 3 to 4 inches (40 degree angle), when you sleep.
  

• Talk over the source of your anxiety with family, friends, and clergy. If this is not enough, you may need the help of a professional counselor or psychiatrist.
  
• When you hyperventilate, cover your mouth and nose with a paper bag. Breathe into the paper bag slowly and re-breathe the air. Do this in and out at least 10 times. Remove the bag and breathe normally a few minutes. Repeat breathing in and out of the paper bag as needed.
  
• Avoid using large amounts of aspirin or other salicylate-containing medicines. [Note: Do not give aspirin or any medication containing salicylates to anyone 19 years of age or younger unless directed by a physician, due to its association with Reye’s Syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.]
  

• Eat healthy foods. Avoid caffeine.
  
• After checking with your doctor, exercise regularly to improve cardiovascular fitness.
  
• Deal with and control stress and avoid anxiety-producing situations, if possible.
  
• Don’t smoke.
  

Questions to Ask

Is the chest pain accompanied by any of the following? Pain that spreads (radiates) to the arm, neck or jaw Feeling of pressure, especially on the left side Shortness of breath or trouble breathing Nausea and/or vomiting Sweating Uneven pulse or heartbeat Sense of doom
Did the chest pain result from a serious injury? Does it hurt all the time and/or is it getting worse?
Does the chest pain occur in a person who has had a recent operation or illness that has kept them in bed?
Does the chest pain occur in a person with a history of heart problems or in a person with angina and not respond to prescribed medicine?
Is there trouble breathing along with the chest pain? Does it get worse when taking deep breaths or when you touch your chest or ribs?
Are one or more of the following present? Fever Cough with sputum of any color (pink, green, yellow, gray, etc.)
Do you have any of these problems with the chest pain? Palpitations Light-headedness Dizziness, feeling faint Fatigue Anxiety A heart murmur heard by a health care provider
Does the chest pain last longer than two days?
Is the chest pain accompanied by belching and/or a burning sensation in the upper abdomen? Does it come and go before, during, or after eating, and does it worsen when bending or lying down?
Does the chest pain stop with antacids?
Do you have any of these describe the chest pain? It’s only on one side of the chest It’s unaffected by breathing It’s accompanied by a burning feeling and a skin rash at the pain site

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is named the “red vitamin,” as it is a red crystalline compound.
B12 is unique in that it is the only vitamin that contains an essential mineral–namely, cobalt. Cobalt is thereby needed to make B12 and so is essential for health. B12 is unique also in that it is required in much tinier amounts than the other B vitamins. Only 3-4 mcg. (micrograms, or thousandths of a milligram) are needed at minimum; however, higher levels, up to 1 mg., are often used therapeutically.

Vitamin B12 is a very complex molecule. Besides cobalt, it also contains carbon, oxygen, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Cobalamin is stable to heat, though sensitive in heated acid or alkali solution, slightly sensitive to light, and destroyed by oxidizing and reducing agents and by some heavy metals.

Vitamin B12 was isolated in 1926 as the factor that treated a feared disease, pernicious anemia–termed “pernicious” because it could be fatal, most often from neurologic degeneration. But the substance cobalamin, when given orally (actually liver was used as the cure; it contains high amounts of B12), did not cure all of the people with the disease, and some people still developed pernicious anemia. It was later found that a mucoprotein enzyme produced by the stomach (by the parietal cells that also make hydrochloric acid) was also needed for vitamin B12 to be absorbed into the body from the intestines. This enzyme has been termed the “intrinsic factor,” while vitamin B12 is the “extrinsic factor.” Aging, stress, and problems with the stomach or stomach surgery weaken the body’s ability to produce the “intrinsic factor”; also, some people appear to have a genetic predisposition that makes them more prone to pernicious anemia. Hydrochloric acid helps the absorption of B12; if acid production is weak, the absorption is lessened. Calcium and thyroid hormone assist as well. Pregnancy, absorb this important vitamin. Aging more
likely lessens some of the many factors needed for ideal absorption of B12, so deficiency symptoms are more common in older people.

Cobalamin is absorbed primarily from the last part of the small intestine, the ileum. In the blood, it is bound to a protein globulin to be carried to the various tissues. The body actually stores vitamin B12, so any deficiencies may take several years to develop. The
highest concentrations of B12 are found in the liver, heart, kidney, pancreas, brain, testes, blood, and bone marrow–all active metabolic tissues. The “red vitamin” is very important to the blood.

Cobalamin is made in nature by microbial synthesis–produced by bacteria in the intestinal tracts of animals and stored in their tissues. Some B12 is made during fermentation of foods as well. Cobalamin is the naturally occurring vitamin B12. Cyanocobalamin, as B12 is often known, is actually the commercial variety of B12 and contains a cyanide molecule attached to the cobalt. B12 is not synthesized but, like penicillin, must be grown in bacteria or molds and then processed. Other forms of B12 include hydroxycobalamin (technically, vitamin B12a), aquacobalamin (vitamin B12b), and nitrocobalamin (vitamin B12c).

Sources: Vitamin B12 is found in significant amounts only in the animal protein foods.
B12 is also manufactured by bacteria in the human intestines, but it is not known how much we can naturally absorb and utilize from that source. In general, digestion and absorption must be good for adequate B12 to be obtained. Many laxatives and overuse of antacids can reduce absorption and deplete stores of B12.

Our primary food sources of vitamin B12 include meat, most fish, especially the oily ones (trout, herring, and mackerel), crabs and oysters, eggs (the yolk), and milk products, especially yogurt. Organ meats such as liver, heart, and kidney are particularly high. The vegan–that is, the strict vegetarian who consumes no animal-source foods–is not getting the necessary vitamin B12 from diet (although tempeh, a fermented soybean product, and some sprouts may contain some vitamin B12); thus, vegans will often need an additional supplement (which absorbs well) or periodic injections.

Functions: Although vitamin B12, cobalamin, apparently does not have as many functions
as some of the other B vitamins, it has some very important ones. It is essential for the metabolism of the nerve tissue and necessary for the health of the entire nervous system. It stimulates growth and increases appetite in children. Cobalamin, along with iron, folic acid, copper, protein, and vitamins C and B6, is needed for the formation of normal red blood cells.

Vitamin B12 is the “energy” vitamin, as it often increases the energy level, whether obtained from eating the B12 foods or from supplemental use. There may be several reasons for this. Cobalamin stimulates the utilization of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. It also helps iron function better in humans and is important for the synthesis of DNA and RNA, as well as for production of choline, another B vitamin, and methionine, an amino acid.

Uses: Vitamin B12 is generally known as the longevity vitamin, possibly because it helps
the energy level and activity of the nervous system of the elderly. B12 injections (the main therapeutic use of this vitamin) have been a common practice of many doctors for the treatment of fatigue, and, in my experience, it works very often. However, it would only be a “cure” when the tiredness is a result of B12 deficiency. There are many reasons for fatigue. As we age, our digestion and absorption are not usually as finely tuned as when we were young, particularly when we eat and live the way most of us late twentieth-century beings do. And vitamin B12, even though it is needed in such small doses, is one of the most difficult vitamins to acquire through diet and to metabolize. The “red vitamin” is the main “antifatigue” vitamin; often given along with folic acid, it helps energy and prevents most anemia, provided there is good iron absorption and hydrochloric acid production.
Medically speaking, it is wise to check patients with fatigue for anemia and to measure vitamin B12 and folic acid levels before embarking on a treatment regimen.

B12, given intramuscularly, usually in doses of 500-1,000 mcg. (0.5-1.0 mg.), is used once, twice, or three times weekly for a period of time to both give energy and, in adults, help with appetite suppression in weight loss programs. These amounts also replenish the vitamin B12 stores. It has a mild diuretic effect as well and may be used premenstrually to diminish water retention symptoms.

In the treatment of pernicious anemia and the earlier symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, injections of cobalamin or its variants are usually necessary because most everyone with deficiency has poor absorption. It is difficult to become B12 deficient from diet alone, unless we are on a strict vegan diet for years. In any anemia, really, it is wise to supplement B12, because it helps the red blood cells develop to a point where protein, folic acid, iron, and vitamin C can then complete their maturation so that we can better carry oxygen and energy to all of our cells.

Vitamin B12 will stimulate growth in many malnourished children. In older people, it has helped with energy levels as well as psychological symptoms, including senile psychosis. B12 has also been used to help treat osteoarthritis and osteoporosis and for neuralgias, such as Bell’s palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, or diabetic neuropathy. It has likewise been used in the treatment of hepatitis, shingles, asthma, other allergies, allergic dermatitis, urticaria, eczema, and bursitis. Cobalamin has been used for many other symptoms besides fatigue, including nervousness and irritability, insomnia, memory problems, depression, and poor balance. Vitamin B12 is something to keep in mind when we are not “feeling our oats.”

Deficiency and toxicity: There have been no known toxic effects from megadoses of
vitamin B12. Thousands of times more than the RDA have been injected both intravenously and intramuscularly without any ill consequences. On the contrary, there is often some benefit.

Vitamin B12 deficiency usually results from a combination of factors. Restricted diets, as seen in vegetarians or poor nations, can be very limited in B12. Since the absorption into the body is so finely tuned, depletion and deficiency occur even more commonly from poor digestion and assimilation, or from deficient production of intrinsic factor. That is why it is so important to be aware of B12 and use some sort of supplementation once a deficiency has been diagnosed. Vitamin B12 blood levels, along with folic acid levels, are the most common vitamin tests performed by doctors. As we age, it is more likely that we may become B12 deficient. Also, alcoholics and people with malabsorption or dementia may have low B12 levels. Since the body stores vitamin B12, it may take several years to become deficient with dietary restriction or a decrease in intrinsic factor.

The strict vegetarian has more concern than the average meat- and dairy-eating person. B12 is not found in the vegetable kingdom other than in foods fermented by certain bacteria; thus most fermented foods have some vitamin B12. However, in vegetarians, there is usually a high folic acid intake, and since folic acid and B12 work similarly in the body, a B12 deficiency may be masked for a period of time, and then more pronounced symptoms may occur. If B12 is deficient in an animal eater, then we pretty much know there is a problem in absorption of the vitamin.

Most problems of B12 deficiency affect the blood, energy level, state of mind, and nervous system. Often, subtle symptoms may start with the nervous system. Vitamin B12 nourishes the myelin sheathes over the nerves, which help maintain the normal electrical conductivity through the nerves. Soreness or weakness of the arms or legs, decreased sensory perceptions, difficulty in walking or speaking, neuritis, a diminished reflex response, or limb jerking may result from B12 deficiency. Psychological symptoms may include mood changes with mental slowness may be one of the first symptoms.

With B12 deficiency, the body forms large, immature red blood cells, resulting in a “megaloblastic” anemia. Pernicious anemia refers to the deficiency in blood cells as well as the myriad of psychological and nerve symptoms. The anemia usually generates more fatigue and weakness. Menstrual problems, even amenorrhea (lack of menstrual flow), may also occur in B12-deficient women.

The problems related to the nervous system caused by vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to permanent damage, not correctable by B12 supplementation. This irreversible nerve damage may occur when the B12 deficiency effect on the red blood cells is masked by adequate levels of folic acid, as I mentioned. More severe pernicious anemia can cause a red, sensitive tongue, referred to as “strawberry tongue,” which may even ulcerate, and nerve or brain and spinal cord degeneration, which can cause weakness, numbness, tingling, shooting pains, and sensory hallucinations. Paranoid symptoms may even occur. In the early part of this century, pernicious anemia was often a fatal disease.

Requirements: Vitamin B12 is essential but required only in minute amounts; 3-4 mcg. is
needed in most adults to prevent deficiency, and at least that amount is required by pregnant or lactating women, as well as infants and growing children. From 10-20 mcg. daily is a good insurance level, although certain people may need increased amounts with higher protein intake. Vitamin B12 is often taken in higher doses, 500-1000 mcgs. per day, to relieve fatigue. Injections of B12 in these amounts are used to treat a variety of low-energy and mental symptoms previously described as well as during some weight loss programs. When there is fatigue or anemia, it is a good idea to get the blood level of B12 checked by a doctor. It may lead to a very simple and successful treatment.

Trigeminal neuralgia usually presents with severe unilateral facial pain. Its cause is unclear but the painful facial spasms are often precipitated by cold or wind. The Chinese claim to be able to gain some improvement, with acupuncture, in about 70 per cent of cases of trigeminal neuralgia. Judging by the experience of Western acupuncturists this success rate represents a rather high figure, although acupuncture can undoubtedly have a beneficial effect on this type of pain.

Postherpetic neuralgia is the pain that occurs after an attack of shingles. Shingles is a viral infection of the nerves, and the nerves affected by shingles can occasionally continue to cause severe pain after the shingles has cleared.

Postherpetic neuralgia is an uncommon disease in China; this may be because the Chinese treat all cases of shingles with acupuncture before the postherpetic neuralgia can develop. There are other possible explanations for its decreased incidence in China, perhaps postherpetic neuralgia is affected by diet, or racial characteristics; however, it is much more reasonable to suggest that the dearth of postherpetic neuralgia in China is due to the daily treatment of shingles with acupuncture. It seems that of those patients with established postherpetic neuralgia, about 40 per cent gain some degree of long term benefit from acupuncture. If this figure could be substantiated with proper clinical research work, it would represent a significant advance in the treatment of this condition.

There are a vast number of aches and pains that are often described as neuralgic. Many of these occur as facial pain and most of them cause severe discomfort. It is always worth while to attempt to alleviate these pains by using acupuncture. Some people respond and others do not; it is impossible to give figures for success, or even estimates, without going into great detail about the exact cause and type of neuralgia being treated.

In recent years, the C of this much-publicized vitamin has also stood for controversy. With Linus Pauling and others claiming that vitamin C has the potential to prevent and treat the common cold, flus, and cancer, all of which plague our society, concern has arisen in the medical establishment about these claims and the megadose requirements needed to achieve the hoped-for results. Some studies suggest that these claims have some validity; however, there is more personal testimony from avid users of ascorbic acid than there is irrefutable evidence. There has also been some recent research that disproves the claims about treatment and prevention of colds and cancer with vitamin C. However, in most cases, studies showing vitamin C to be ineffective used lower dosages than Dr. Pauling recommended. Overall, vitamin C research is heavily weighted to the positive side for its use in the treatment of many conditions, including the common cold.

C also stands for citrus, where this vitamin is found. It could also stand for collagen, the protein “cement” that is formed with ascorbic acid as a required cofactor. Many foods contain vitamin C, and many important functions are mediated by it as well.

Vitamin C is a weak acid and is stable in weak acids. Alkalis, such as baking soda, however, destroy ascorbic acid. It is also easily oxidized in air and sensitive to heat and light. Since it is contained in the watery part of fruits and vegetables, it is easily lost during cooking in water. Loss is minimized when vegetables such as broccoli or Brussels sprouts are cooked over water in a double boiler instead of directly in water. The mineral copper, in the water or in the cookware, diminishes vitamin C content of foods.

Ascorbic acid was not isolated from lemons until 1932, though the scourge of scurvy, the vitamin C deficiency disease, has been present for thousands of years. It was first written about circa 1500 B.C. and then described by Aristotle in 450 B.C. as a syndrome characterized by lack of energy, gum inflammation, tooth decay, and bleeding problems. In the 1700s, high percentages of sailors with the British navy and other fleets died from scurvy, until James Lind discovered that the juice of lemons could cure and also prevent this devastating and deadly disease. The ships then carried British West Indies limes for the sailors to consume daily to maintain health, and thus these sailors became known as “limeys.” Other cultures of the world discovered their own sources of vitamin C. Powdered rose hips, acerola cherries, or spruce needles were consumed regularly, usually as teas, to prevent the scurvy disease.

In earlier times, humans consumed large amounts of vitamin C in their fresh and wholesome native diet, as apes (another species that does not make vitamin C) still do. Most other animals, except guinea pigs, produce ascorbic acid in the liver from glucose, and in relative amounts much higher than we get from our diets today. For this reason, Dr. Pauling and others feel that our bodies need somewhere between 2,000 and 9,000 mg. of vitamin C daily. These amounts seem a little high to me, given the basic food values of vitamin C. Some authorities feel we need 600–1,200 mg. daily based on extrapolations from the historical herbivore, early-human diet. These levels can be obtained today by eating sufficient fresh food; a diet that includes foods with high levels of vitamin C can provide several grams or more per day.

Ascorbic acid is readily absorbed from the intestines, ideally about 80–90 percent of that ingested. It is used by the body in about two hours and then usually out of the blood within three to four hours. For this reason, it is suggested that vitamin C supplements be taken at four-hour intervals rather than once a day; or it may be taken as time-released ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is used up even more rapidly under stressful conditions, with alcohol use, and with smoking. Vitamin C blood levels of smokers are much lower than those of nonsmokers given the same intakes. Other situations and substances that reduce absorption or increase utilization include fever, viral illness, antibiotics, cortisone, aspirin and other pain medicines, environmental toxins such as DDT, petroleum products, or carbon monoxide, and exposure to heavy metals such as lead, mercury, or cadmium. Sulfa antibiotics increase elimination of vitamin C from the body by two to three times.

Some ascorbic acid is stored in the body, where it seems to concentrate in the organs of higher metabolic activity. These include the adrenal glands (about 30 mg.), pituitary, brain, eyes, ovaries, and testes. A total of about 30 mg. per pound of body weight. We likely need at least 200 mg. a day in our diet to maintain body stores—much more if we smoke, drink alcohol, are under stress, have allergies, are elderly, or have diabetes.

Vitamin C is a very complex and important vitamin. The recommended amounts vary more widely than those for any other nutrient, ranging from 100–80 or 100 grams daily, depending on the condition. C is also the most commonly supplemented vitamin among the general public, because of either the popular press or its good effect, or because of the other common C—the “cold.”

Sources: The best-known sources of vitamin C are the citrus fruits—oranges, lemons, limes, tangerines, and grapefruits. The fruits with the highest natural concentrations are citrus fruits, rose hips, and acerola cherries, followed by papayas, cantaloupes, and strawberries. Good vegetable sources include red and green peppers (the best), broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, asparagus, parsley, dark leafy greens, cabbage, and sauerkraut. There is not much available in the whole grains, seeds, and beans; however, when these are sprouted, their vitamin C content shoots up. Sprouts, then, are good foods for winter and early spring, when other fresh fruits and vegetables are not as available. Animal foods contain almost no vitamin C; though fish, if eaten raw, has enough to prevent deficiency symptoms.

Natural vitamin C supplements are usually made from rose hips, acerola cherries, peppers, or citrus fruits. Vitamin C can be synthesized from corn syrup, which is high in dextrose, much as it is made from glucose in most other animals’ bodies. Synthetic ascorbic acid, though it can be concentrated for higher doses than natural extracts, is still usually made from food sources. Sago palm is another fairly new source of vitamin C supplements. It is used primarily as a lower allergenic source than the corn-extracted ascorbic acid.

Functions: One important function of vitamin C is in the formation and maintenance of collagen, the basis of connective tissue, which is found in skin, ligaments, cartilage, vertebral discs, joint linings, capillary walls, and the bones and teeth. Collagen, and thus vitamin C, is needed to give support and shape to the body, to help wounds heal, and to maintain healthy blood vessels. Specifically, ascorbic acid works as a coenzyme to convert proline and lysine to hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, both important to the collagen structure.

Vitamin C also aids the metabolism of tyrosine, folic acid, and tryptophan. Tryptophan is converted in the presence of ascorbic acid to 5-hydroxytryptophan, which forms serotonin, an important brain chemical. Vitamin C also helps folic acid convert to its active form, tetrahydrofolic acid, and tyrosine needs ascorbic acid to form the neurotransmitter substances dopamine and epinephrine. Vitamin C stimulates adrenal function and the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine (adrenaline), our stress hormones; however, prolonged stress depletes vitamin C in the adrenals and decreases the blood levels. Ascorbic acid also helps thyroid hormone production, and it aids in cholesterol metabolism, increasing its elimination and thereby assisting in lowering blood cholesterol.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant vitamin. By this function, it helps prevent oxidation of water-soluble molecules that could otherwise create free radicals, which may generate cellular injury and disease. Vitamin C also indirectly protects the fat-soluble vitamins A and E as well as some of the B vitamins, such as riboflavin, thiamine, folic acid, and pantothenic acid, from oxidation. Ascorbic acid acts as a detoxifier and may reduce the side effects of drugs such as cortisone, aspirin, and insulin; it may also reduce the toxicity of the heavy metals lead, mercury, and arsenic.

Vitamin C is being shown through continued research to stimulate the immune system; through this function, along with its antioxidant function, it may help in the prevention and treatment of infections and other diseases. Ascorbic acid may activate neutrophils, the most prevalent white blood cells that work on the frontline defense in more hand-to-hand combat than other white blood cells. It also seems to increase production of lymphocytes, the white cells important in antibody production and in coordinating the cellular immune functions. In this way also, C may be helpful against bacterial, viral, and fungal diseases. In higher amounts, ascorbic acid may actually increase interferon production and thus activate the immune response to viruses; it may also decrease the production of histamine, thereby reducing immediate allergy potential. Further research must be done for more definitive knowledge about vitamin C’s actions in the prevention and treatment of disease.

Uses: There are a great many clinical and nutritional uses for ascorbic acid in its variety of available supplements. C for the common cold is indeed used very widely; its use in the treatment of cancer is more controversial, probably because of the seriousness of the disease and the political environment within the medical system—anything nutritional or alternative in regard to cancer therapy is looked upon with skepticism by orthodox physicians. For the prevention of cancer, there is reason for more optimism about the usefulness of vitamin C (as well as the other antioxidant nutrients—vitamin E, selenium, beta-carotene, and zinc) because of its effect in preventing the formation of free radicals (caused mainly by the oxidation of fats), which play a role in the genesis of disease.

Given the functions of vitamin C alone, it has a wide range of clinical uses. For the prevention and treatment of the common cold and flu syndrome, vitamin C produces a positive immunological response to help fight bacteria and viruses. Its support of the adrenal function and role in the production of adrenal hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine can help the body handle infections and stress of all kinds. Because of this adrenal-augmenting response, as well as thyroid support provided by stimulating production of thyroxine (T4) hormone, vitamin C may help with problems of fatigue and slow metabolism. It also helps counteract the side effects of cortisone drug therapy and may counteract the decreased cellular immunity experienced during the course of treatment with these commonly used immune-suppressive drugs.

Because of ascorbic acid’s role in immunity, its antioxidant effect, the adrenal support it provides, and probably its ability to make tissues healthy through its formation and maintenance of collagen, vitamin C is used to treat a wide range of viral, bacterial, and fungal infections and inflammatory problems of all kinds. I have used vitamin C successfully in many viral conditions, including colds, flus, hepatitis, Herpes simplex infections, mononucleosis, measles, and shingles. Recently, vitamin C has been shown in some studies to enhance the production and activity of interferon, an antiviral substance produced by our bodies. To affect these conditions, the vitamin C dosage is usually fairly high, at least 5–10 grams per day, but it is possible that much smaller doses are as effective. Vitamin C is also used to treat problems due to general inflammation from microorganisms, irritants, and/or decreased resistance; these problems may include cystitis, bronchitis, prostatitis, bursitis, arthritis (both osteo- and rheumatoid), and some chronic skin problems (dermatitis). With arthritis, there is some suggestion that increased ascorbic acid may improve the integrity of membranes in joints. In gouty arthritis, vitamin C improves the elimination of uric acid (the irritant) through the kidneys. Ascorbic acid has also been helpful for relief of back pain and pain from inflamed vertebral discs, as well as the inflammatory pain that is sometimes associated with rigorous exercise. In asthma, vitamin C may relieve the bronchospasm caused by noxious stimuli or when this tight-chest feeling is experienced during exercise.

Vitamin C’s vital function in helping produce and maintain healthy collagen allows it to support the body cells and tissues and bring more rapid healing to injured or aging tissues. Therefore, it is used by many physicians for problems of rapid aging, burns, fracture healing, bedsores and other skin ulcers and to speed wound healing after in-jury or surgery. Peptic ulcers also appear to heal more rapidly with vitamin C therapy. The pre- and postsurgical use of vitamin C supplementation can have great benefits. With its collagen function, adrenal support, and immune response support, it helps the body defend against infection, supports tissue health and healing, and improves the ability to handle the stress of surgery. Vitamin A and zinc are the other important pre- and postsurgical nutrients shown by research to reduce hospitalization time and increase healing rates, thereby preventing a number of potential complications.

Vitamin C is also used to aid those withdrawing from drug addictions, addictions to such substances as narcotics and alcohol, as well as nicotine, caffeine, and even sugar—three very common addictions and abuses. High-level ascorbic acid may decrease withdrawal symptoms from these substances and increase the appetite and feeling of well-being. For this reason, it may be helpful in some depression and other mental problems associated with detoxification during withdrawal. Vitamin C also may reduce the effects of pollution, likely through its antioxidant effect, its detoxifying help, and its adrenal and immune support; specifically, it may participate in protecting us from smog, carbon monoxide, lead, mercury, and cadmium.

Vitamin C is a natural laxative and may help with constipation problems. In fact, the main side effect of too much vitamin C intake is diarrhea. For iron-deficiency anemia, vitamin C helps the absorption of iron (especially the nonheme or vegetable-source iron) from the gastrointestinal tract. In diabetes, it is commonly used to improve the utilization of blood sugar and thereby reduce it, but there is no clear evidence that regular vitamin C usage alone can prevent diabetes. There are some preliminary reports that ascorbic acid may help prevent cataract formation (probably through its antioxidant effect) and may be helpful in the prevention and treatment of glaucoma, as well as certain cases of male infertility caused from the clumping together of sperm, which decreases sperm function.

Vitamin C has a probable role in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and, thereby, in reducing the risks of heart disease and its devastating results. It has been shown to reduce platelet aggregation, a factor important in reducing the formation of plaque and clots. Ascorbic acid has a triglyceride- and cholesterol-reducing effect and, more important, may help to raise the “good” HDL. This action needs further investigation, though the research is supportive so far. I haven’t even mentioned the prevention of scurvy, which really takes very little vitamin C, about 10 mg. per day. This disease used to be a big concern and was often fatal unless the victim ate some citrus or other fresh fruit and vegetables containing a small amount of vitamin C.

I do not really want to approach the cancer and vitamin C issue; it deserves a book by itself. However, if we closely analyze the functions (antioxidant, immune support, interferon, tissue health and healing) that vitamin C performs in the body, along with the still mysterious influences of higher-dose ascorbic acid intake, we can see how vitamin C may have a positive influence in fighting and preventing cancer, our greatest twentieth-century medical dilemma.

Deficiency and toxicity: For most purposes, vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, in its many forms of use is nontoxic. It is not stored appreciably in our body, and most excess amounts are eliminated rapidly through the urine. However, amounts over 10 grams per day that some people use and some doctors prescribe are associated with some side effects, though none that are serious. Diarrhea is the most common and usually is the first sign that the body’s tissue fluids have been saturated with ascorbic acid. Most people will not experience this with under 5–10 grams per day, the amount that is felt to correlate with the body’s need and use. Other side effects include nausea, dysuria (burning with urination), and skin sensitivities (sometimes sensitivity to touch or just a mild irritation). Hemolysis (breakage) of red blood cells may also occur with very high amounts of vitamin C. With any of these symptoms, it is wise to decrease intake.

There is some concern that higher levels of vitamin C intake may cause kidney stones, specifically calcium oxalate stones, because of increased oxalic acid clearance through the kidneys due to vitamin C metabolism. This is a rare case, if it does exist, and I personally have not seen, nor do I know any doctors who have seen, kidney stone occurrence with people taking vitamin C. Only people who are prone to form kidney stones or gout should give this any thought. If there is concern, supplementing magnesium in amounts between half and equaling that of calcium intake (which should be done anyway with calcium supplementation) would reduce that risk, at least for calcium-based stones. I usually suggest using a buffered vitamin C preparation with calcium and magnesium, which alleviates this concern.

As far as deficiency problems go, the once fairly common disease called scurvy is very rare these days. However, early symptoms of scurvy or vitamin C deficiency are more likely in formula-fed infants with little or no C intake or in teenagers or the elderly who do not eat any fresh fruits and vegetables. Smokers with poor diets and people with inflammatory bowel disease more often have lower vitamin C blood levels. Other people commonly found to be low in ascorbic acid include alcoholics, psychiatric patients, and patients with fatigue.

The symptoms of scurvy are produced primarily by the effects of the lack of ascorbic acid on collagen formation, causing reduced health of the tissues. The first signs of depletion may be related to vitamin C’s other functions as well, where deficiency could lead to poor resistance to infection and very slow wound healing. Easy bruising and tiny hemorrhages, called petechiae, in the skin, general weakness, loss of appetite, and poor digestion may also occur. With worse deficiency, nosebleeds, sore and bleeding gums, anemia, joint tenderness and swelling, mouth ulcers, loose teeth, and shortness of breath could be experienced. During growth periods, there could be reduced growth, especially of the bones. The decrease in collagen may lead to bone brittleness, making the bones more fragile. The progression and health of the teeth and gums are also affected. In breastfeeding women, lactation may be reduced. With the elderly, vitamin C deficiency could enhance symptoms of senility. The bleeding that comes from capillary wall fragility may lead to clotting and increased risk of strokes and heart attacks.

An important note is that many medical problems have been found to be associated with low blood levels of vitamin C. These problems include various infections, colds, depression, high blood pressure, arthritis, vascular fragility, allergies, ulcers, and cholesterol gallstones.

Most of these symptoms and problems can be easily avoided with minimal supplementation of vitamin C or a diet well supplied with fresh fruits and vegetables. Since the average diet has much less vitamin C than that of our ancestors, it is important for us to be aware of our ascorbic acid intake.

Requirements: The RDA for adults is considered to be 60 mg. We need only about 10–20 mg. to prevent scurvy, and there is more than that in one portion of most fruits or vegetables. Infants need 35 mg.; about 50 mg. between ages one and fourteen and 60 mg. afterward are the suggested minimums. During pregnancy, 80 mg. are required; 100 mg. are needed during lactation. Realistically, between 100–150 mg. daily is a minimum dosage for most people.

Vitamin C needs, however, are increased with all kinds of stress, both internal (emotional) and external (environmental). Smoking decreases vitamin C levels and increases minimum needs. Birth control pills, estrogen for menopause, cortisone use, and aspirin also increase ascorbic acid requirements. Both nicotine and estrogen seem to increase copper blood levels, and copper inactivates vitamin C. In general, though, absorption of vitamin C from the intestines is good. Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) taken with iron helps the absorption of iron (and many minerals) and is important in treating anemia, but the iron decreases absorption of the ascorbic acid. Overall, it is probably best to take vitamin C as it is found in nature, along with the vitamin P constituents (discovered later)—the bioflavonoids, rutin, and hesperidin. These may have a synergistic influence on the functions of vitamin C, although there is no conclusive research on humans to support this theory.

Vitamin C is the most commonly consumed nutrient supplement and is available in tablets, both fast-acting and time-released, in chewable tablets, in powders and effervescents, and in liquid form. It is available as ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid, and various mineral ascorbate salts, such as sodium or calcium ascorbate. One of my favorite formulas, which was developed by Stephen Levine at Nutricology in San Leandro, California, is a buffered powder made from sago palm that contains 2,350 mg. of vitamin C per teaspoon, along with 450 mg. of calcium, 250 mg. of magnesium, and 99 mg. of potassium. It gets into the body quickly and is very easy on and often soothing to the stomach and intestinal lining. The potassium-magnesium combination can often be helpful for fatigue, and this formula is a good vehicle for fulfilling calcium needs.

Vitamin C works rapidly, so the total amount we take over the day should be divided into multiple doses (four to six) or taken as a time-released tablet a couple of times a day. When increasing or decreasing vitamin C intake, it is best to do so slowly because our body systems become accustomed to certain levels. Some nutritionists describe a problem of rebound scurvy in infants, especially when a high amount is taken by the mother during pregnancy but then the infant gets very little after birth and so suffers some deficiency symptoms. I have seen nothing confirming this in the literature. Overall, though, it is probably wise to reduce vitamin C intake slowly after taking high amounts, rather than to drop abruptly.

My basic suggestion for vitamin C use is about 2–4 grams per day with a typical active and healthy city lifestyle. Based on previous levels in our native diets, Linus Pauling feels that the optimum daily levels of vitamin C are between 2,500 and 10,000 mg. Clearly, requirements for vitamin C vary and may be higher according to state of health, age (needs increase with years), weight, activity and energy levels, and general metabolism. Stress, illness, and injuries further increase the requirements for ascorbic acid. Many authorities suggest that we take at least 500 mg. of vitamin C daily to meet basic body needs.

During times of specific illnesses, especially viral infections, doctors who use megadose vitamin C treatment suggest at least 20–40 grams daily, some of it intravenously. Vitamin C has been used safely and effectively in dosages of 10 grams or more dripped slowly (over 30–60 minutes) into the blood to reach optimum tissue levels before excretion, so as to bathe the cells in vitamin C. Some doctors prescribe what is called “bowel tolerance” daily intake of vitamin C—that is, increasing the oral dose until diarrhea results and then cutting back. This level can vary greatly from a few grams to 100 grams or more. The claim is that our body knows what we need and will respond by changing the water balance in the colon when we have had enough. Physician Robert Cathcart has used vitamin C this way in his practice for years to treat many problems, with claimed good success; yet, I do not have the experience to make an adequate conclusion. This practice does, however, add further mystery to the vitamin C controversy. More research is definitely needed regarding ascorbic acid, and new discoveries will likely be made.

The herb (and spice) cayenne is the ripe fruits (called peppers) of a blend
of varieties of Capsicum annuum var. minimum and small-fruited
varieties of C. fructescens from the nightshade family.

History of Use

The origins of this herb, now used as food and medicine in most countries
of the world, is uncertain. Cayenne was not mentioned in writings from ancient Egypt (1500 BC), Greece (455 BC to 50 BC), Rome (25 BC to 150 AD), Persia (13th century), India and China, so historians claim Cayenne peppers originated from the Americas, most likely from the banks of the Amazon. It is impossible for modern botanists to say where cayenne grew in some ancient time as a wild plant, because it has been domesticated and widely cultivated for so many centuries. Thus, we are content today to enjoy its fruits without being sure of its true origin and much of its history, though it is likely that
cayenne went to India and China as early as the 14th or 15th century, and
began to be cultivated in Europe in the 16th century.

Today, cayenne is as popular as ever as a food, and modern science has continued to support its use as a healing herb with a number of well-designed clinical and laboratory studies. It’s world-wide acceptance as an effective medicine is supported by ts official status in the Pharmacopoeias of Austria, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Switzerland and Belgium.

Popular and Folk Uses

As anyone knows who has eaten a very spicy meal at a Thai or Mexican restaurant, Capsicum at first causes a strong burning sensation of the lips and mouth, followed by a sense of warmth spreading to the stomach and intestines.

Casein-containing foods (such as milk) can quickly lessen the burning feeling
of cayenne on the lips and mouth, probably because the heat-producing compounds of cayenne are fat-soluble and are taken up and removed from the local area.

Not only do people of warm climates love cayenne in spicy dishes, but as
a folk remedy for weak digestion and loss of appetite accompanied by gas
and sluggish elimination, and as a stimulant to the circulation and the
powers of resistance to help ward of colds and flus.

Cayenne is a favorite with herbalists from many countries, and in the U.S.,
it was the “number two” favorite remedy of Samuel Thompson of
the early 1800s, who started a popular herbal multi-level marketing extravaganza with his patent formulas–sort of a 19th century Herbal Life. He used it especially for helping to ward off and even expel the contagion of serious infectious diseases. It was also a favorite of the well-known Dr. Christopher, a Mormon herbalist who traversed the country in the 1960s and 70s, helping to bring herbal medicine back into American consciousness. In the late 70s, I remember watching him in a dynamic Seattle lecture, to the amazement of onlookers, put cayenne directly into his eyes as a healing and clearing remedy (don’t try this at home folks!). He was enthusiastic about its use for numerous complaints, including as a styptic to help stop the bleeding
of cuts.

Today, cayenne is one of the most-often used herbal remedies and is commonly recommended by herbalists for increasing circulation in people with cold hands and feet, as a metabolic stimulant for people with sluggish metabolisms who are overweight, as a warming stimulant with other herbs such as garlic and ginger for protecting against colds and upper respiratory tract infections, and externally as a liniment or in ointments for sore muscles, arthritis, rheumatism, low back pain, strains, sprains, bruises and neuralgia.

Scientific Investigations and Medical Uses

The most important active ingredient in cayenne are components of a pungent oleoresin, most importantly, capsaicin, but also a number of other related compounds. Capsaicin Cayenne is also rich in carotenoids (orange and red coloring compounds), which are receiving current interest for their cancer-protective and strong anti-oxidant properties, as well as a number of vitamins (especially A and C).

There has been some discussion about whether cayenne, if it is used excessively, can irritate or even cause ulceration of the intestinal tract. In reviewing the modern scientific literature, studies agree that cayenne not only does not harm the intestinal mucosa (the protective covering), but on the contrary, can speed healing–though some people seem to be more sensitive to the irritating effect than others. In one study, daily consumption of meals containing 3 grams of chili powder did not worsen patients with duodenal ulcers who were also taking antacids. A recent study, using a video camera threaded into the digestive tract, found no visible damage to the mucosa of the stomach or upper small intestine of 12 healthy volunteers who consumed 30 grams of jalapeno peppers. When the subjects were given a meal containing 2 grams of aspirin, multiple gastric ulcers were seen in 11 out of the 12.

In animal studies, cayenne has actually shown a protective effect on the
gastric mucosa, prompting some researchers to call for further human studies.

One of the more interesting effects of cayenne (or capsaicin) is its proven
enhancement of the metabolic rate and thermogenesis. Preliminary studies
suggest that capsaicin or cayenne may increase the burning of fat in the
body.

There is also an indication from laboratory studies that capsaicin can slow
fat absorption from the small intestine. Although more work needs to be
done before its effectiveness in weight loss programs can be proven, products are currently being developed and a few are already available in health food stores.

Capsaicin has received tremendous attention as a topical analgesic for relieving the pain that often accompanies herpes zoster (shingles) outbreaks and other skin ailments. Capsaicin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an Over-the-Counter (OTC) medication and is commonly recommended by doctors under the trade name ZostrixÆ for this purpose, as well as for controlling pain from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Studies show that capsaicin may block the feeling of pain by depleting and then blocking the production of “substance P,” which is thought to be the main chemical messenger of pain from the peripheral sensory nerves to the brain. It may also be involved with the release of inflammatory substances in affected joints of arthritis.

Because capsaicin is very alcohol-soluble, tincture of cayenne may be effective as a home-remedy for the relief of mild pain. Although I recommend seeking the advice of a qualified health professional for shingles or arthritis
before attempting to self-medicate with cayenne, I have found the tincture,
or ointments or salves that contain it are often effective for relieving
mild to moderate muscle aches or pains. The preparations should be applied
consistently at least 3 or 4 times daily (up to 5 or 6 times) for up to
2 weeks, or even a month before they are effective. After 4 or 5 months
of pain relief, up to 50% of the people who use a capsaicin product may
not experience further pain. For those that do, treatment can be continued.
A few drops of a tincture of cayenne was recommended in the British 19th
century medical press as a sure remedy for a toothache.

Redness and a burning sensation sometimes accompanies the application, but this usually disappears after two or three weeks. After control of the pain
is achieved, the cayenne preparation has to be used continuously for continued relief to occur. Clinical studies indicate that up to 80% of the volunteers who use a capsaicin cream experience some measure of relief, which is significantly better than placebo groups. Watch for any irritation or redness of the skin locally, which might indicate an individual sensitivity to cayenne, and make sure to keep all cayenne and capsaicin preparations away from the eyes. In this case, use less often or consult a qualified health care practitioner for guidance. Unlike mustard, which can blister and burn the skin, cayenne, even in its most powerful forms will not cause these undesirable side-effects. Finally, there is some recent evidence to suggest that capsaicin-containing preparations may be useful for treating psoriasis.

In the food industry, cayenne is used in numerous foods and beverages besides hot sauces and condiments, including alcoholic beverages, meat products, candy, baked goods, puddings, and frozen dairy desserts (cayenne ice-cream anyone?).

The next time you enjoy a spicy Thai dinner, think of all the additional
benefits from mother nature’s food pharmacy that accompany the warm glow
of a satisfying meal.

References Consulted

Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia (3oth ed., 1993).

The Physician’s Desk Reference (47th ed., 1993).

Potter’s New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations, 1988.

Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics, 1980.

United States Pharmacopeia, Complete Drug Reference, 1993.

A Modern Herbal (Grieve), 1930.