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Chinese Herbal Medicine Eczema
Can doctor sell a medicine that produced with 'secret recipe' and not allow user to know the ingredient?
My baby who is 8 months old but he is suffering with eczema since 2nd month. We have seen two specialists for skin problem but no luck. Recently one of my friend who introduce me to see a Chinese medical doctor in Auckland. After the first appointment. He sold me 4 pack of cream. I applied on my baby's face next day all eczema is gone which is great. However, the cream doesn't say any ingredient so I went back to the doctor and ask him what ingredient inside but he said that is secret. Only told me that is made with Chinese herbal with more then 100 different herbs. He also refuse to discuss further more about that. I wonder if is possible to sell something that is made with secret recipe and it is medicine?
I also would like to bring a sample to a lab and check what it is inside but don't know where? Any suggestion?
For your reference. I'm from Auckland New Zealand
It concerns me when people say that the ingredients are "secret" ..... they suggest that by divulging their secret ingredients that infringes on their ability to sell and market their product ....... i tend to think that if their ingredients are a secret then there may be something in there that could possibly be detrimental to our health such as a chemical or preservative that some people could have an intolerant reaction to ....... a more prudent idea would be to resolve your baby's skin condition from the source of the problem .......an intolerance to milk and dairy products and the lactose or milk proteins contained therein can produce skin rashes and eczema like conditions ........ i would suggest you get your little one allergy tested by a qualified naturopath or nutritionally oriented physician to ascertain whether in fact it is lactose intolerance or not......... it could of course also be an intolerant or sensitive reaction to a chemical ingredient in a laundry powder, body soap, bath soap, body creme powder etc... go through the things you use on your child's skin one at a time ... eliminating each one successively as a possible culprit ....... replace any culprits with low allergen products or ecoligically friendly products ..... basically anything your child's skin is exposed to and can absorb.
Lactose intolerance can cause acid reflux, alternating bouts of constipation & diahorrea and will also lead to a compromised digestive system thus laying the groundwork for a body which is extremely susceptible to developing nose, throat, sinus, ear, bronchial, bladder and other infections as well....... Other symptoms your baby may be suffering from are mucous in the stools, bloating and cramping, digestive troubles such as constipation, belching and burping, gassiness and ribbony and stringy shaped bowel movements or rabbit pellet shaped movements are all symptoms of lactose intolerance.
Full assessment by a qualified nutritionally oriented physician or naturopath can not only probably pinpoint intolerances or sensitivities but also ensure the ongoing health and vitality of your baby by providing you with the guidance on eliminating sensitive food and chemical sources while still ensuring that essential vitamins and minerals are being provided.
♥
oh, sorry, to get a sample analysed ask a Naturopath in your local area ....... your local health food store should have a resident naturopath or assistant that would be knowledgable enough to guide you on where to start.
there's a 5% loop hole in the listing of products on food packaging that states that if an ingredient is less than or 5% of the end product they are under no obligation to divulge it ...... eeek hey ........ that's in Australia though and i'm not sure what the legalities are in the USA or otherwise .
good luck
peace baby
♥
Licorice Information - Side Effects, Uses and Benefits-herbal Remedies
Taxonomic class
Fabaceae
Common Trade Names
Multi-ingredient preparations : Alvita Teas Licorice Root, Alvita Teas Licorice Sticks, Full Potency Licorice Root Vegicaps, Gaia Herbs Licorice Root A/F, Gaia Herbs Licorice Root SFSE, Licorice ATC Concentrate, Licorice and Garlic, Licorice Root Extract, Licorice Root Tea, Natrol Licorice Root Capsules, Natural Arthro- Rx, Nature's Answer Licorice Root Low Alcohol and Alcohol Free, Nature's Herbs Licorice Phytosome Capsules, Nature's Herbs Licorice Power-Certified Potency Capsules, Solaray Licorice Root, Tea with Mint, Tubi's Organic Licorice Licorice Bars and Chews, Tummy Soother
Common Forms
Capsules: 100 to 520 mg licorice root
Liquid extracts: licorice extract, deglycyrrhizinized licorice extract
Tablets: 7 mg of licorice root and 333 mg of pure concentrated garlic
Also available in candy, chewing gum, herbal teas, throat lozenges, and tobacco products.
Source
Most medicinal products use the roots and dried rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza Zabra, a perennial herb or low-growing shrub. Spanish licorice, the most common variety, is derived from G. glabra var. typica. Licorice plants are native to the Mediterranean but widely cultivated in the United States, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Greece, India, Italy, Iran, and Iraq.
Chemical components
The rhizomes and roots contain 5% to 9% glycyrrhizin (glycyrrhizic acid), a glycoside that is 50 times sweeter than sugar. Hydrolysis of glycyrrhizin yields glycyrrhetic acid, which is not sweet. Other compounds include ammonia, oleane triterpenoids, glucose, mannose, and sucrose. Aqueous extracts of licorice contain 10% to 20% glycyrrhizin.
Actions
Glycyrrhizin is hydrolyzed by intestinal flora to the pharmacologically active form, glycyrrhetic acid. The main effect oflicorice is to potentiate, rather than mimic, endogenous steroids .
Studies in animals suggest that glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid have mild anti-inflammatory effects. Glycyrrhizin may stimulate gastric mucous synthesis through effects on prostaglandins, which may explain its ulcer-healing properties.
Anecdotally, licorice has effective demulcent (soothing) and expectorant properties and mild laxative and antispasmodic effects. A Chinese licorice preparation called Zhigancao has been found to have antiarrhythmic effects, including prolonged PR and QT intervals. Glycyrrhizin may also lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels and exert antianemic, antihepatotoxic, and immunosuppressive effects.
Reported Uses
Because of its anecdotal use for gastric irritation, licorice derivatives have been studied for antipeptic action. Licorice was also evaluated as a treatment for Addison's disease and was found to enhance mineralocorticoid activity but could not mimic it when adrenal activity was absent.
Glycyrrhizic acid has been used as a shampoo to reduce sebum secretion from the scalp and for cold sores, eczema, and mouth ulcers.
In the United States, glycyrrhizin is used mainly as a flavoring and sweetening agent for bitter drugs, and in beverages, candies, chewing gum, tobacco products, and toothpastes. It is also added to some cough and cold preparations for its expectorant and demulcent effects.
Dosage
For peptic ulcer, 200 to 600 mg P.O. of glycyrrhizin daily for no longer than 6 weeks, according to the German Commission E .
The following tea is believed to provide glycyrrhizin in the middle of this dosage range: 1 tsp (2 to 4 g) of crude licorice to Yo cup (120 ml) of boiling water, simmered for 5 minutes. Cool, strain, and take P.O. t.i.d. after food.
Adverse Reactions
CNS: hypertensive encephalopathy .
CV: heart failure and cardiac arrest (with overdose), ventricular tachycardia .
EENT: transient visual loss and disturbances after ingestion of 1,4 to 2lb oflicorice candy.
Endocrine: growth retardation reduced serum testosterone levels .
GU: renal tubular damage.
Metabolic: hypokalemia pseudoprimary hyperaldosteronism .
Musculoskeletal: muscle weakness (with hypokalemia), myopathies, rhabdomyolysis.
Respiratory: pulmonary edema .
Interactions
Antihypertensives, diuretics: May increase hypokalemic effects of some diuretics. Avoid administration with licorice.
Corticosteroids (including topicals): May increase effects. Use together cautiously.
Digoxin: May induce hypokalemia; risk of digitalis toxicity. Avoid administration with licorice.
Loratadine, procainamide, quinidine, other drugs that may prolong QT interval: May have additive effects. Use together cautiously.
Spironolactone: May block ulcer-healing and aldosterone-like effects of licorice. Avoid administration with licorice.
Contraindications and precautions
Licorice is contraindicated in patients with arrhythmias; CV, renal, or hepatic disease; or hypertension. Avoid using it in pregnant or breastfeeding patients; effects are unknown. Use cautiously under medical supervision in elderly patients.
Special considerations
Monitor for hypokalemia in the patient receiving diuretics.
A single large dose of licorice is less likely to cause toxicity than prolonged intake of smaller amounts.
Alert Licorice poisoning may be insidious. Monitor for pseudoprimary hyperaldosteronism causing mineralocorticoid-like effects (headache, lethargy, sodium and water retention, hypokalemia, hypertension, and heart failure). Monitor for electrolyte (potassium, calcium, and sodium) imbalances, alkalosis, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and hypertension.
Caution the patient about the dangers of excessive and chronic licorice intake, including fluid retention and electrolyte imbalances.
Inform the patient of potential drug interactions.
Points of Interest
Licorice has been used medicinally since Roman times and is popular in Chinese herbal medicine .
Most "licorice candy" sold in the United States is flavored with anise oil and does not actually contain licorice.
Commentary
Although licorice derivatives have been studied for use against peptic ulcer disease, such products have not performed better than H 2 antagonists and may be less well tolerated. Glycyrrhetic acid may playa role in increasing the topical action of low-potency steroids while minimizing systemic effects, but this research is still preliminary. Glycyrrhetic acid is the chief cause of licorice-induced pseudohyperaldosteronism syndrome seen with licorice ingestion, because of its inhibitory effect on the enzyme 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Surprisingly, licorice in any form, even as candy, should be considered cautiously because chronic ingestion of low doses as well as high doses can be toxic, exemplified by a multitude of serious adverse events documented in the literature.
About the Author
Author is a professional writer on various topics like home remedy for common ailments and diseases and ayurvedic treatment. He is also proficient in writing about herbal remedies. I hope you like the articles.
