Research Introduction

Jeremy is at the forefront of using advances in phytopharmacology and clinical research to create new effective herb combinations for Western disorders, according to the principles of Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine.

An important future use of herbal medicine is to assist treatment with medical drugs. Jeremy specializes in using herb combinations to enhance the positive effects of medical drugs and to reduce their side-effects.

 

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Back to topNEW HERB COMBINATIONS FROM RESEARCH

Jeremy has designed a range of new herb combinations according to advances in research and according to the principles of Chinese medicine. For example:

Berberis: Candida infection

Herb

Ratio

Berberis vulgaris cortex

1

Echinacea angustifolia radix

1

Thymus vulgaris herba

1

Cinnamomum cassia cortex

1

Glycyrrhiza glabra radix

1

Click here to see details of this Berberis combination.

 

Salvia: hypertension + thrombotic tendency

Herb

Ratio

Salvia miltiorrhiza radix

1

Scutellaria baicalensis radix

1

Crataegus species fructus

1     LE

Leonurus cardiaca herba

1     LE

Commiphora molmol resin

1

Angelica sinensis radix

1

Zingiber oficinalis rhizoma

1

Capsicum species fructus

5-20 dr.

Click here to see details of this Salvia combination.

SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS

 

Importance of an integrated system

Just adding herbs to combinations because of new research might produce imbalanced combinations with side-effects.

Using Jeremy’s integrated system of Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine, advances in phytopharmacy research can be incorporated safely into effective new herb combinations.

 

Balancing a combination

The new combination is balanced according to Chinese medical principles: herb temperature, taste properties, herb actions, and herb contraindications, to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Example: herb temperature
When using herbs with research support for the hypolipidemic or antiatheromatic actions, if the patient has signs of heat, then cooling hypolipidemics, such as Berberis or Salvia should be included in the combination, rather than warming hypolipidemics, such as Commiphora or Angelica.

 

Research and new JRHCs

 

Further Reading - free downloadable PDF files

 

 


   

Back to topEXCITING RESEARCH ADVANCES:
IMPLICATIONS FOR DRUG DESIGN

The isoquinoline alkaloids


Diversity of action
The isoquinoline alkaloids, found in a variety of plant families, have an extraordinary diversity of therapeutic actions, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, cardiotonic, neuroprotective, and anticancer.

 

berberine

berberine

jatrorrhizine

jatrorrhizine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Molecular differences
The different isoquinoline alkaloids, for example, berberine, palmitine, jatrorrhizine, and sanguinarine, have clear differences in their pharmacological actions. These are due to the differences in their functional groups, and to differences in shape and energetics of the molecules.

Mechanism of action
One proposed mechanism of action of the different isoquinoline alkaloids is that they bind to specific sequences of DNA and RNA in the cell. Small structural differences in the different isoquinoloid molecules result in significantly differing therapeutic results.

Designing new drugs
In an excellent summary, Bhandra K and Kumar GS (2010) reviewed isolated isoquinoline alkaloids with a view to future drug design. They suggested that synthetic modifications of these natural alkaloids might be designed with superior DNA-binding effects, and thus more powerful and more specific therapeutic results.

Advantages of the whole plant
However, the danger of side-effects from the use of synthetic ‘improvements’ on naturally occurring plant chemicals is well known. A good example of this being the addition of an acetyl group to salicylic acid.

Also, the use of single isolated constituents neglects the beneficial interactions between the different constituents of a herb.

SYNERGY EFFECTS

Synergy between herb constituents

For many herbs, not just one, but many constituents contribute to the therapeutic actions of the herb. For example, at least five chemical types of constituent contribute to the actions of Salvia species.

Synergy effects have been reported between different groups of Salvia constituents. For example, between different monoterpenoids, and between salvionolic acids and tanshinones.

Click here to see research data on synergy between Salvia constituents.

Synergy between herbs and drugs

Research reports of positive synergy effects between herbs or herb constituents and drugs are increasing. This knowledge can be incorporated into new herb combinations.

Click here to see Bereberis research data on synergy between berberine and different medical drugs.

 

 

 


   

Back to topA FUTURE USE OF WESTERN
HERBAL MEDICINE

One of the commonest causes of illness in the modern world is the side-effects of conventional medication.

Positive herb-drug interactions

Four important future uses of herbal medicine will be:

  • using herb-drug synergy to enhance the beneficial effects of drugs
  • in some cases, to enable the use of a lower drug dose, and thus less side-effects
  • using herbs to treat the side-effects of medical drugs
  • where appropriate, to replace drugs as the therapy of choice

Click here to see details of Jeremy’s course on Treating Side-effects of medical drugs

 

FURTHER RESEARCH DATA

Sample chapters from Jeremy’s books
For research information on the following herbs please click on the link below, and go to the chapter section on research:

Achillea
Agrimonia
Plantago

 

 

 

 

 

 


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