Passion fruit peel may alleviate symptoms of asthma

Asthma, or airway inflammation and mucus secretion, can cause wheezing, coughing, and dyspnea. According to the HerbClips article "Efficacy of Purple Passion Fruit Peel Extract in Alleviating Asthmatic Symptoms in Adults," about 17 million people in the U.S. have asthma, an increasing number, which has led to increased interest in the use of nutritional protocols to control asthma.

Purple passion fruit Passiflora edulis peel (PFP) has a history of use with health challenges. In South American folk medicine, extracts of the peel have been used with anxiety, insomnia, asthma, and bronchitis. The extract contains three antioxidants (cyanidin-3O-glucoside, quercetin-3O-glucoside, and edulilic acid) and was "shown to modulate nitric oxide in hypertensive rats."

In a 2008 study with 42 subjects, all participants showed wheeze symptoms at baseline, but only 19.1 % of subjects who took PFP and 78.9% of participants in the placebo group showed symptoms at the end of the study. In addition, "of the approximately 90% and 79% of subjects in the PFP and placebo groups, respectively, with shortness of breath at baseline, approximately 10% and 37%, respectively, had symptoms after treatment. Of the nearly 100% of subjects with cough at baseline, approximately 20% and 50% of subjects in the PFP and placebo groups, respectively, had symptoms after treatment."

These results show that passion fruit peel extract significantly improves asthmatic symptoms after four weeks of usage without adverse effects. The authors of the study concluded that: "PFP extract may be safely offered to asthmatic subjects as an alternative treatment option to reduce clinical symptoms."

References:

Watson RR, Zibadi S, Rafatpanah H, et al. Oral administration of the purple passion fruit peel extract reduces wheeze and cough and improves shortness of breath in adults with asthma. Nutr Res. 2008;28: 166-171.

Based on article © Brenda Milot, ELS, "Efficacy of Purple Passion Fruit Peel Extract in Alleviating Asthmatic Symptoms in Adults," HerbClip

Image © http://www.flickr.com/photos/17548490@N00/1608949872/sizes/s/#cc_license

Make your own whole food granola bars

Making your own healthy, natural granola bars is fun and easy. Here's one recipe that will take you about half and hour from start to finish.


Happy Hippie Granola Bars

2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar ( store bought or make your own)
1/2 cup honey
1 cup dried fruit (any kind)
1 tbsp butter
1 cup wheat germ

Toast the oats and wheat germ on a cookie sheet for ten minutes (until lightly browned). Then
melt honey, butter, and brown sugar. Once it is melted, remove from heat and add oats, wheat germ, and dried fruits. Put into a square glass pan and let cool. Once cooled, cut into squares. You can store your granola bars in the refrigerator for about a week.

Have your own recipe to share? Please post to the blog so we can all build up our recipe boxes.

*Happy Hippie Granola Bars submitted by Melissa Klevans, Eng 101

Foraging for wild, medicinal plants and herbs

Foraging for wild food is not a "I just happened to see it" activity anymore. More and more websites are sprouting up with tips about what and how to forage native plants in your local neighborhood. So, what does "forage" mean? Generally, to forage for wild food is to search for and identify natural food sources safe for eating.

Whether in the country or an urban setting, wild foraging is a good way to incorporate local foods, including medicinal plants and herbs, into your everyday diet. For example, dandelion is a common weed found in many backyards. Medicinally, dandelion has a long history of use as a diuretic, tonic, and aperient. The tops can be eaten fresh in salads and the root, when dried, makes an excellent coffee substitute. (Before eating from the wild, make sure you have correctly identified the plant. For this, you may want to go foraging with a local expert or reference a reputable guidebook. Also, avoid plants that may have absorbed harmful toxins, such as plants growing by the roadside.)

In Portland, Oregon, where ACHS is based, some of the most commonly foraged foods include, pears, berries, walnuts, lavender, mint, and rosemary. (The ACHS Botanical Teaching Garden, for example, invites locals to cut fresh herbs. such as rosemary and chives, for personal use, and will host a U-Pick Lavender event in July.)

For information about wild foraging in Portland, check out the Urban Edibles website, and for foraging wild and edible plants in your area, check out foraging.com.

Click here for more information about upcoming ACHS community classes and to download free information about growing, harvesting, and using medicinal plants to support your health.

Studies show the benefit of vitamin D for asthma and allergies

Vitamin D, often thought of as the "sunshine vitamin," has more benefits than a sunny disposition. For example...did you know that vitamin D can help control allergies? According to a recent study in the May 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, children with lower vitamin D levels were more likely to be hospitalized for asthma and had more allergies. That means, with regular levels of vitamin D, your kid's asthma and allergy symptoms may be significantly reduced.

How do you get more vitamin D, especially if it's not sunny? There are many sources, but for kids, perhaps one of the most friendly products is Kids Chewable DHA. In addition to vitamin D, fish oil is a natural source of vitamin A and Omega-3 fatty acid, which are essential nutrients.

Other foods with vitamin D include: salmon, tuna, sardines, milk, eggs, cheese, and many ready-to-eat cereals.

Now is the time for education. Take a moment to find out what natural health can do for you.

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. Founded by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Awareness Month was established to educate clients, family, friends, and co-workers about asthma and allergy challenges, as well as how to live a full, healthy life with them.

Swine Flu--What does it mean for your health?

This week there has emerged a new influenza A virus in Mexico which can be spread from person to person by contact. The virus contains genetic material from four different flu viruses – North American swine influenza, North American avian influenza, human influenza, and swine influenza virus typically found in Asia and Europe swine virus, a bird virus and a human virus. (Sharing of genetic material between viruses is common). The virus seems to have originated in Mexico and has spread throughout the country quickly, as well as to the US Europe and New Zealand. All the confirmed cases seem to have contacted the virus while traveling in Mexico and then brought it back to their country of origin. The first US cases occurred on April 17, 2009, in two children who resided in adjacent counties in southern California.

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by avian influenza and human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. At this time, there are four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N2, and H3N1. However, most of the recently isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses. The H1N1 swine flu viruses are antigenically very different from human influenza A H1N1 viruses and, therefore, vaccines for human seasonal flu would not provide protection from H1N1 swine flu viruses.

Since this is therefore a novel virus for human immune systems, we don’t have much natural immunity, thus allowing the virus to spread quickly. This is why there is worldwide concern over the possibility of this becoming a pandemic (A pandemic (from Greek pan all + demos people) is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide.( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic).

Click here for tips about how to give your immune system a natural boost, and more information from the CDC.

Written by Dr. Ariana Staruch, ND, a naturopathic doctor in Portland, Oregon, and ACHS faculty member.

Angela Stokes and Matt Monarch speak about holistic nutrition April 24

An event like this doesn't take place every day. If you have an interest in raw and living foods, finding answers to health concerns, or you're just looking for a great group of positive, green conscious people, you won't want to miss this event.

Matt Monarch and Angela Stokes, world-renowned raw food authors, educators, and lecturers will speak at the Meadow Park Building in San Luis Obispo, California, April 24, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Monarch and Stokes produce an online TV show called The Raw Food World. In addition, Stokes runs Raw Reform, blogs, and speaks worldwide about the benefits of raw and living food, and Monarch has written books and blogs about the raw food lifestyle, and runs Raw Spirit.

For more information, go to Love, Life, and Laughter, the blog of ACHS holistic health alumni Stephanie Austin.

Earth Day is a celebration of health: help your body to thrive

In honor of Earth Day, a celebration of life and health, ACHS wants to support your choice to live well. Now through April 26, 2009, we are offering 20% off your entire purchase of earth friendly products made through the ACHS Apothecary Shoppe College Store.

When you purchase sustainable products, you protect the environment, but you also take a further step toward protecting your personal health. Help your body to thrive. Purchase organic, spray and synthetic-free products whenever possible.

Stock up on EcoCert organic, sustainably wildcrafted herbs and essential oils, do-it-yourself natural body care kits, health reference texts, flower essences, gardening supplies, and a wide variety of holistic health resources.

CLICK HERE for 20% off your entire purchase of earth friendly gifts.
Offer expires April 26, 2009.

Did you know...
In 1970, 20 million celebrated the first Earth Day. Founded by John Gardener, Founder of Common Cause, Earth Day started as a grassroots celebration of the planet, which continues today.