worth getting

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Natural database is really a good deal - you can also join NCC-DPG for $30 and

get it free with membership.

You can now get the newest Natural Medicines CE course Natural Medicines in the

Clinical Management of Osteoporosis.*

You can also use any of the many prior courses on many other conditions. All are

accredited for physicians, pharmacists, NPs, PAs, CNMs, RDs.

We continue to make updates to Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database every

business day. Here are a few of special interest to you.

.. Releev is a new product promoted for cold sores. It contains benzalkonium and

" Viracea. " Viracea is an extract of chemicals from echinacea. The product

information suggests that Releev can relieve a cold sore within 1-day.

Preliminary evidence suggests that Viracea has activity against some strains of

herpes virus in a test tube. But there is no reliable evidence that Releev can

treat a cold sore. In fact, the maker of Releev was warned by the Food and Drug

Administration for making unsubstantiated treatment claims. Advise patients to

stick with products proven to help.

.. Pomegranate juice is in the news again. This time for its potential benefits

against prostate cancer. Lots of research in test tubes and animals has been

done about the anticancer effects of pomegranate. Now preliminary clinical

research in men with prostate cancer suggests that pomegranate juice might slow

disease progression. Drinking 8 ounces of pomegranate juice daily for 2 years

after surgery or radiation for prostate cancer seems to increase the time it

takes for prostate specific antigen (PSA) to double. It's too soon to

recommended pomegranate juice for men with prostate cancer. But this is another

reason to consider pomegranate juice a healthy alternative to other beverages.

.. Folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 are often taken to reduce homocysteine

levels. High homocysteine levels have been linked to heart disease and declining

cognitive function in the elderly. Researchers speculated that taking folic acid

and B vitamins to lower homocysteine might prevent cognitive decline. But the

latest evidence from N Engl J Med suggests that these supplements do not help.

Tell patients not to rely on them.

.. Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) and morinda (Morinda citrifolia), also known as noni

juice, can now be added to the long list of products that potentially interact

with warfarin (Coumadin). In one case, the effects of warfarin, measured by

international normalized ratio (INR), declined significantly after the

consumption of a myrrh water extract. In a separate case, INR declined following

consumption of morinda juice. INR did not increase despite increasing warfarin

doses until morinda was discontinued. These cases don't prove that these

products will always interact with warfarin. But keep myrrh and morinda in mind

as potential problems for patients who are taking warfarin.

Our latest course in the series is now available...Natural Medicines in the

Clinical Management of Osteoporosis. You'll get the most current update on the

latest evidence for vitamin D, magnesium, soy, and many others.

Have you noticed the new look at naturaldatabase.com? It's more than a cosmetic

makeover. You also get a new supercharged search feature. This means you get

MORE answers...and you get them faster and easier.

a.. Type in a natural product name - you get matching products PLUS quick

links to conditions that the product is used for and potential interactions with

drugs.

b.. Type in a conventional drug name - you get quick links to natural products

that might interact with the drug.

c.. Type in a condition or disease name - you get products that are used for

that condition PLUS our Effectiveness ratings.

You'll also get relevant links from any of the disease management series. Visit

the site and you'll discover several other enticing enhancements. Let us know

how you like them.

Let us know about any product we should add to the Database. We appreciate your

input. Thanks.

You can forward this to a colleague.

Best regards...

Jeff Jellin, Pharm.D., Editor-in-Chief

*CE is at NO CHARGE for individual subscribers and all members of group

subscriptions. You may forward this to members of your group.

Check Nutrition at my site:

Nutrition.teach-nology.com

Ortiz, RD

nrord@...

" Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and

pumpkin pie. "

Jim , 'Garfield'