TREATING BRAIN INFLAMMATION

[Guest guest]

Natasa,

How old is your son and what amounts were you giving? Also, how quickly did

you observe improvements?

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

I am forwarding something I posted on ldn board re brain inflammation:

Dear ....

I posted a while ago that our son had been on ldn since February with

good results, in June we added some herbal supplements (after some

extensive research of literature and studies!) and saw FANTASTIC

improvements in all areas very soon.

The first sup we started was Inflammation Control by Vitamin Research

Products- it has two chinese herbs in it, both with powerful

antiinflammatory action.

The next one was SCUTELLARIA B. (also called Chinese Skullcap, we got

the one by Solgar vitamins) also chinese, also has shown protective

action against neuroinflammation amongst its many

other beneficial effects.

Lastly we added LICORICE as well as BACOPA (by Thorne) - traditional

ayurvedic

herb, again with some pretty amazing neuroprotective action.

I am copying here some of the abstracts I have collected on some of

these herbal properties. I guess what I am trying to say is that there

are probably alternatives or things that can be give alongside ibuprofen

etc.

As I said our son has been doing extremely well on these herbs lately,

we have seen explosion in language, socialisation, his pretend play is

fantastic, his willingness to learn ... I could go on and on but in a

bit of a rush, but in short the herbs ARE working in his case... (we

have also lowered LDN lately, with no bad side effects, and have added

nasal mb12 recently).

I hope this helps someone,

Best,

Natasa

p.s. have loads more papers on these if anyone is interested email me on

neno @ dalmaholidays. co. uk (no spaces)

FASEB J. 2003 Oct;17(13):1943-4. Epub 2003 Aug 1.

Flavonoid wogonin from medicinal herb is neuroprotective by

inhibiting inflammatory activation of microglia.

Lee H, Kim YO, Kim H, Kim SY, Noh HS, Kang SS, Cho GJ, Choi WS, Suk

K. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Institute of Natural

Science, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, 92

Chilam-dong, Jinju, Kyungnam 660-751, Korea.

Wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone), a flavonoid originated

from the root of a medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has

been previously shown to have anti-inflammatory activities in various

cell types including macrophages. In this work, we have found that

wogonin is a potent neuroprotector from natural source. Wogonin

inhibited inflammatory activation of cultured brain microglia by

diminishing lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha

(TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta, and nitric oxide (NO) production.

Wogonin inhibited NO production by suppressing inducible NO synthase

(iNOS) induction and NF-kappaB activation in microglia. Inhibition of

inflammatory activation of microglia by wogonin led to the reduction in

microglial cytotoxicity toward cocultured PC12 cells, supporting a

neuroprotective role for wogonin in vitro. The neuroprotective effect of

wogonin was further demonstrated in vivo using two experimental brain

injury models; transient global ischemia by four-vessel occlusion and

excitotoxic injury by systemic kainate injection. In both animal models,

wogonin conferred neuroprotection by attenuating the death of

hippocampal neurons, and the neuroprotective effect was associated with

inhibition of the inflammatory activation of microglia. Hippocampal

induction of inflammatory mediators such as iNOS and TNF-alpha was

reduced by wogonin in the global ischemia model, and microglial

activation was markedly down-regulated by wogonin in the kainate

injection model as judged by microglia-specific isolectin B4 staining.

Taken together, our results indicate that wogonin exerts its

neuroprotective effect by inhibiting microglial activation, which is a

critical component of pathogenic inflammatory responses in

neurodegenerative diseases. The current study emphasizes the importance

of medicinal herbs and their constituents as an invaluable source for

the development of novel neuroprotective drugs.

PMID: 12897065 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

baicalin =flavoniod from Scutellaria B herb

3: Hunan Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2000 Dec 28;25(6):519-21.

[Effect of baicalin and dexamethasone on cytokines in brain tissue of

infectious

brain edema]

[Article in Chinese]

Yu Y, Yang YJ, Tao YG.

Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Medical University,

Changsha

410008.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of baicalin(BC) and dexamethasone(DXM)

on

interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor

alpha(TNF-alpha) in

brain tissues of infectious brain edema. METHODS: The infectious brain

edema

model induced by pertussis bacilli(PB) was used. Brain water

content(WC),

content of Na+ and the levels of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha were determined,

and the

morphological changes were observed under the light microscope. RESULTS:

The

results showed that the levels of WC, Na+, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha in

group PB

were higher than those in group of normal saline(NS) (P < 0.01). And

they were

lower in groups BC and DXM than those in group PB(P < 0.05). In groups

BC and

DXM, there were no significant difference in the contents of water, Na+,

IL-1

beta and TNF-alpha(P > 0.05). The water contents were positive linar

correlated

with IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha(P > 0.05). The water contents were positive

linear

correlated with IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha contents(r = 0.9381, 0.8349, P <

0.01).

The structure of brain tissues in group NS was normal. In group PB,

there were

severe edema in brain tissues. In groups BC and DXM, the edema of brain

tissues

was reduced. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the protective effect

of BC

and DXM against infectious brain edema were similar, the mechanism may

be

associated with the reduction of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta.

PMID: 12516391 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

4: Hunan Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2000 Apr 28;25(2):109-12.

[Protective effects of baicalin, mannitol and dexamethasone on infective

brain

edema in rats]

[Article in Chinese]

Cao LZ, Yu Y, Yang YJ.

Department of Pediatrics of Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Medical University,

Changsha

410008.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects of baicalin, mannitol and

dexamethasone on infective brain edema(IBE) in rats. METHODS: Forty

normal

Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats (200 +/- 30) g by weight were divided into 5

groups

randomly: (1) normal saline control group(NS, n = 8); (2) infective

brain edema

group (BE, n = 8); (3) mannitol treatment group(MAN, n = 8); (4)

dexamethasone

treatment group(DXM, n = 8); and (5) baicalin treatment group(BC, n =

8).

Pertussis bacilli(PB, contained bacilli in 10.8 x 10(9), 0.2 ml-1.kg-1)

were

injected into the left carotid arteries through the left common carotid

arteries

by puncture to obtain BE models. The contents of brain water, sodium

ion,

potassium ion and blue in brain tissues were observed too.

RESULTS: The

contents of brain water, sodium ion, and EB in BE group were higher than

those

in BE group(P < 0.01), they decreased in MAN, DXM, BC groups and were

lower than

those in BE group(P < 0.01). In MAN, DXM, BC groups, there were no

significant

difference in the contents of brain water and sodium ion(P > 0.05). The

EB

content in BC group was higher than that in MAN and DXM groups(P <

0.01). The

content of potassium ion in BE group was higher than that in MAN and DXM

groups,

the content of potassium ion was similar to that in NS group, but lower

than

that in BC group. Light microscope inspection in MAN, DXM and BC groups

showed

lessened brain edema, slight increase of perivascular space, and

occasional

nerve cell pyknotic nucleus. We found on nerve cell vacuolar

degeneration in DXM

group. CONCLUSION: Baicalin, mannitol and dexamethasone all have similar

protective effects on infective brain edema in rats.

PMID: 12212190 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Planta Med. 2006 Jan;72(1):65-8.

Luteolin inhibits LPS-stimulated inducible nitric oxide synthase

expression in

BV-2 microglial cells.

Kim JS, Lee HJ, Lee MH, Kim J, Jin C, Ryu JH.

College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, Korea.

Overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) by inducible nitric oxide synthase

(iNOS)

acts as a neurotoxic effector in the central nervous system, resulting

in

neurodegenerative diseases. From the alcoholic extracts of Perilla

frutescens,

we have purified an inhibitor of NO production in lipopolysaccharide

(LPS)-activated microglia by activity-guided purification. The active

compound

was identified as luteolin by spectral analysis. Luteolin inhibited the

NO

production in LPS-activated microglia in a dose-dependent manner

(IC50=6.9

microM). Luteolin also suppressed the degradation of I-kappaB-alpha, the

expression of protein and mRNA of iNOS in LPS-activated microglia as

observed in

Western blot analysis and RT-PCR experiments. Luteolin may have

beneficial

effects in the treatment of neuro-inflammatory diseases through the

inhibition

of iNOS expression.

PMID: 16450299 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

11: Arerugi. 1999 Apr;48(4):443-50.

[inhibition of antigen-specific T helper type 2 responses by Perilla

frutescens

extract]

[Article in Japanese]

Ishihara T, Okamoto I, Masaki N, Kohno K, Tanimoto T, Ikegami H,

Kurimoto M.

Fujisaki Institute, Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories, Inc.

Perilla frutescens leaf extract (PFE) is known as a natural medicine

with

anti-allergic activities, although its mechanism of action remains

unclear. In

this study, we examined the effect of PFE on antigen-specific antibody

and on

cytokine production. Mice were immunized three times (weekly) with sugi

basic

protein (SBP), a major allergen of Japanese cedar pollen, in alum

adjuvant. PFE

was injected intraperitoneally into mice on day 2 before and on the day

of each

immunization with SBP in alum adjuvant. Serum anti-SBP IgE and IgG 1

antibody

levels were significantly suppressed in mice injected with PFE.

Furthermore, the

production of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-10 by SBP-stimulated

splenocyses

also decreased in PFE-injected mice in a dose-dependent manner. However,

PFE had

no effect on either the serum anti-SBP IgG 2 a antibody levels or on

interferon

(INF)-gamma production by splenocytes. When splenocytes were stimulated

with

concanavalin A, there was no difference in cytokine production between

mice

injected with PFE and control mice injected with vehicle. SBP-specific T

cell

line established in the presence of PFE from the lymph node cells of

mice

immunized with SBP showed reduced IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 production

compared with

that established in the absence of PFE. In contrast, comparable levels

of

IFN-gamma production were observed between these two T cell lines. These

data

suggest that PFE down-regulates Th 2-type cytokine production and

prevents the

Th 1/Th 2 balance from polarizing toward Th 2-type immune responses.

PMID: 10355148 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

3: J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Mar 8;104(1-2):286-9. Epub 2005 Dec 15.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Bacopa monniera in rodents.

Channa S, Dar A, Anjum S, Yaqoob M, Atta-Ur-Rahman.

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Frontier Medical College,

Abbottabad, Pakistan. shabanachanna@...

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HMcAOMzL4qIu2bxtBKzyosJhHNR7J7MfRgvAp100OUFKynpFvA>

The ethanol extract of Bacopa monniera (Scrophulariaceae) exhibited

marked

anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice

and

rats, an acute inflammatory model. To assess the possible mechanism of

anti-inflammatory action against carrageenan, the ethanol extract was

treated

with chemical mediators (histamine, serotonin, bradykinin, prostaglandin

E(2)

and arachidonic acid)-induced edema in rats. The extract selectively

inhibited

prostaglandin E(2)-induced inflammation. Thus, it may be inferred that

B.

monniera possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity that may well

be

relevant for its effectiveness in the healing of various inflammatory

conditions

in traditional medicine.

PMID: 16343831 [PubMed - in process]

8: Phytother Res. 2003 Sep;17(8):870-5.

Free radical scavenging capacity and protective effect of Bacopa

monniera L. on

DNA damage.

Russo A, Izzo AA, Borrelli F, Renis M, Vanella A.

Department of Biochemistry, Medical Chemistry and Molecular Biology,

University

of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy. alrusso@...

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mz49bZjzfCtJMWOyTndddA2xfNq7-pNNcnbzZXE>

Bacopa monniera L. (family Scrophulariaceae) (BM) is an Ayurvedic

medicine,

clinically used for memory enhancing, epilepsy, insomnia and as a mild

sedative.

In this work, the free radical scavenging capacity of a methanol extract

of BM

and the effect on DNA cleavage induced by H2O2 UV-photolysis was

investigated.

In addition, we examined whether this plant extract is capable of

reducing the

hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage in human

non-immortalized

fibroblasts. It showed a dose-dependent free radical scavenging capacity

and a

protective effect on DNA cleavage. These results were confirmed by a

significant

protective effect on H2O2-induced cytoxicity and DNA damage in human

non-immortalized fibroblasts. The antioxidant capacity of BM may

explain, at

least in part, the reported antistress, immunomodulatory,

cognition-facilitating, antiinflammatory and antiaging effects produced

by it in

experimental animals and in clinical situations and may justify further

investigation of its other beneficial properties. Moreover, this

experimental

evidence suggests that because of its antioxidant activity, this

Ayurvedic drug

may be useful in the treatment of human pathologies in which free

radical

production plays a key role. Copyright 2003 Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID: 13680815 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

J Rheumatol. 1997 Mar;24(3):436-41. Related Articles, Links

The effects of traditional antirheumatic herbal medicines on immune

response cells.

Chang DM, Chang WY, Kuo SY, Chang ML. Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy,

Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.

OBJECTIVE: Clinically, some traditional Chinese herbal medicines have

been thought to be effective in treating rheumatic diseases such as

rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. To examine the

mechanism by which such herbal remedies might be effective, we

investigated the ability of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook-f (TWHf) and

tetrandrine (TTD) to affect human immune responsiveness in vitro.

METHODS: We measured the ability of these agents to affect cytokine

secretion from monocytes or T cells, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion

from monocytes, IgG production from B cells, and the phagocytosis of

bacteria by neutrophils. RESULTS: These studies revealed that both TWHf

and TTD significantly inhibited interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis

factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, and IL-8 secretion from monocytes, IgG

secretion from B cells, and phagocytosis of bacteria by neutrophils;

however, only TWHf inhibited IL-2 and IL-4 production from lymphocytes,

and PGE2 secretion from monocytes. CONCLUSION: TWHf and TTD exert a

powerful suppressive effect on human immune responses. This action might

account for their therapeutic effectiveness in rheumatic diseases, and

might support broader and more rigorous clinical trials.

PMID: 9058645 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Curr Drug Metab. 2004 Apr;5(2):181-92. Related Articles, Links

Chinese herbs as immunomodulators and potential disease-modifying

antirheumatic drugs in autoimmune disorders.

Ho LJ, Lai JH. Division of Gerontology Research, National Health

Research Institute,Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. haungben@...

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5PuxC9bL2Btego0ylrjOJ-nwDgGInNSPkNy0RkY8yDLtw2ZWva2XnP1b>

Autoimmune diseases are a group of illnesses with multiple organ

involvement. The prototype of this group of disorders is rheumatoid

arthritis (RA) that aside from systemic organ involvement mainly

presents with progressive destruction of many joints. Both activation

and defective apoptosis of immune effector cells like T and B

lymphocytes and macrophages play critical roles in the pathogenesis of

autoimmune disorders. Current therapy for autoimmune diseases recommends

a combination of several disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

that preserve different immunomodulatory mechanisms. Because of limited

success in prevention of RA joint destruction for currently available

DMARDs, the development of more effective and less toxic DMARDs has been

one of the major goals for pharmaceutical companies. The introduction of

leflunomide and anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapies to the market

recently serves as examples. In this context, the experience from

ancient Chinese medicine gives an alternative consideration looking for

potential DMARDs. Two commonly prescribed Chinese antirheumatic herbs

are Tripterygium wilfordii hook f (TWHf) and tetrandrine (Tet) that

preserve both anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects.

Importantly, the TWHf- or Tet-mediated immunomodulatory mechanisms are

evidently different from the known DMARDs. The synergistic effects have

also been demonstrated between these two Chinese antirheumatic herbs and

DMARDs like FK506, cyclosporin and possibly chloroquine. Another

potential Chinese herb for this consideration is Ginkgo biloba. This

review summarizes evidence-based in vivo and in vitro studies on Chinese

herbs as immunomodulators and potential DMARDs.

Publication Types:

* Review

PMID: 15078195 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Guest guest]

> The first sup we started was Inflammation Control by Vitamin Research

> Products- it has two chinese herbs in it, both with powerful

> antiinflammatory action.

Natasa,

Do you know if there are any contraindication to taking

antiinflammatories, or something to watch for as a kind of limit that

you've gone far enough with them?

BACOPA (by Thorne) - traditional

> ayurvedic

> herb, again with some pretty amazing neuroprotective action.

Does the ayurvedic herb need to be matched to an ayurvedic type, or

can anyone take it?

> As I said our son has been doing extremely well on these herbs lately,

> we have seen explosion in language, socialisation, his pretend play is

> fantastic, his willingness to learn ...

Great! SOunds like good news all around. Thanks for your post.

Nell

[Guest guest]

Hi,

our son is 2.10. he was a big responder to SCdiet and then ldn, but the

really big improvements came after we started the herbs - Inflammation

Control we saw massive changes within days, then we started Candex,

Huston ZymePrime enzymes and then the other herbs I mentioned relative

close to each other so it is hard to judge, I believe all of them

working together did the trick. Probably with Bacopa we saw a new burst

in language after a few days on it. We also started nasal mb12 somewhere

towards the end, which I feel did lots of good too.

we followed dosage instruction on the bottles, adult doses divided by 4

(he weighs about 37-38lb)

Best,

Natasa

>

> Natasa,

>

> How old is your son and what amounts were you giving? Also, how

quickly did

> you observe improvements?

>

> Thanks,

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> > The first sup we started was Inflammation Control by Vitamin

Research

> > Products- it has two chinese herbs in it, both with powerful

> > antiinflammatory action.

>

> Natasa,

>

> Do you know if there are any contraindication to taking

> antiinflammatories, or something to watch for as a kind of limit that

> you've gone far enough with them?

IT MOST LIKELY DEPENDS ON EACH INDIVIDUAL HERB - WE TEND TO KEEP TO

BOTTLE DOSAGE INSTRUCTIONS RE DOSING (ADULT DOSES DIVIDED BY 4 AS HE

WEIGHS ABOUT 38LB). I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE HERBS IN INFLAMMATION CONTROL

IS BEST NOT GIVEN TOGETHER WITH OTHER CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS (like

Nifedipine etc, I believe the only instance some of our kids might be on

any of that type of medication is if they are prescribed as

antiepileptics).

I THINK AS WITH ALL OTHER THINGS ONE NEEDS TO START SLOW AND LOW AND

OBSERVE REACTIONS. ALSO BE CAREFUL ABOUT GIVING LARGER DOSES FOR

PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME I GUESS.... I NOW INDEND TO TRY AND ACTUALLY

ROTATE THESE HERBS, SORT OF GIVE 2 OR 3 HERBS AT A TIME ..

> BACOPA (by Thorne) - traditional

> > ayurvedic

> > herb, again with some pretty amazing neuroprotective action.

>

> Does the ayurvedic herb need to be matched to an ayurvedic type, or

> can anyone take it?

NOT THAT I AM AWARE OF FOR THIS ONE, BUT READING ABOUT IT AND HOW IT WAS

USED TRADITIONALLY MY SON WOULD DEFINITELY FALL INTO THAT 'TYPE

CATERGORY'...

> > As I said our son has been doing extremely well on these herbs

lately,

> > we have seen explosion in language, socialisation, his pretend play

is

> > fantastic, his willingness to learn ...

>

> Great! SOunds like good news all around. Thanks for your post.

these herbs just sound so amazing, on paper at least (and I mean proper

study papers, not marketing literature), there is potentially so much

they could be doing for many kids... maybe it has to do with what other

things have been going on, how the child is doing etc - my son had been

doing ok on diets and ldn, maybe we just started the herbs at the exact

right time for him, but something definitely worth trying IMO.

Natasa

> Nell

>