Can I use honey instead of sugar in my coffee? I am a diabetic.

Sure, you can.


There is a lot of hype about honey and its miraculous healing properties. If you are a diabetic you can certainly use honey but you should know a few facts. 
Honey is very high in calories and can also raise your blood sugar. If you decide to use honey, use it sparingly.


As far as its medical benefits are concerned, there are only isolated reports which have never been verified in blind randomized trials.


There are reports that applying honey on diabetic wounds can lead to rapid healing. Unfortunately, none of these studies from the Middle East have ever been reproduced and the results have been inconsistent.  

Can cinnamon lower blood sugars?

Cinnamon is a decent food flavoring agent and recently there has been a lot of hype about its ability to lower blood sugars. There are many reports indicating that cinnamon has many other medial benefits. However, all these are anecdotal reports and have never been proven in properly conducted clinical studies. 


There has been one study from Asia which showed that cinnamon taken daily for more than 3 months can help lower blood sugars in type 2 diabetics. However, the results were not sustained and the benefit was only seen in a few patients.


What the consumer should under stand is that cinnamon is a spice that has been used in every day cooking by millions of Orientals and Indians. And yet there people have some of the highest levels of diabetes of all ethnic groups. While cinnamon is not a bad flavoring agent, its anti diabetic properties are simply exaggerated. 


All diabetics should know that cinnamon is not a substitute for the conventional diabetic medications or insulin. If you  are a diabetic and want to live a hassle free life free of complications, better speak to your doctor before you start mucking around with cinnamon as your treatment for blood sugars.

Can you tell me what herb/supplement I can take to control my blood sugars?

Unfortunately, outside of insulin and the oral hypoglycemic drugs, there is nothing that can help lower your blood sugars. The majority of health supplements marketed for blood sugar control are junk, untested and do not serve any real medical benefit. Moreover, these supplements contain contaminants, many are even fakes and all of them are expensive.

The one thing you can is to exercise. There is a lot of evidence that regular exercise can help you lower your blood sugar, reduce your weight and even lower your cholesterol. It really does not matter what exercise you do, as long as you do something that is physical. There is no easy way out. Popping supplements/herbs has become an easy solution for everyone wanting to cure their medical problems. The problem with the health supplement market is that it is unregulated with no quality control. 

So if you want to leave a hassle free life with diabetes, start walking today. Walking is free, allows you to enjoy nature and does work-if you remain motivated.

Can I take L-tryptophan (5 HTP) for my depression?

5-HTP is a well-known dietary supplement also known as l tryptophan. The amino acid is available in many health food stores and sold for the treatment of depression, pain disorders, sleep difficulties, obesity, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. 

The problem is that l tryptophan has never been fully assessed clinically in randomized clinical trials and so all reports about its efficacy are anecdotal. In the last few years the quality and quantity of l tryptophan sold has also come under question. Moreover, no two same products of L-tryptophan contain the same dose. 

Alternative health care practitioners recommend anywhere from 50- 1,500 mg per day of L tryptophan. As to whether it really works for any disorder is anyone’s guess. Few reports indicate that l-tryptophan may work but the anti depressant effects are mild and usually do not start to occur for about 4-6 weeks. 

If you do decide to use L-tryptophan, a word of warning. Many health supplements come from the Orient and are often spiked with real pharmaceutical drugs- so knowing where to buy your health supplements is also very important.  

Can I use herbs or natural supplements to treat diabetes?

Sure, you can use anything but you will die sooner than expected.

First the facts- if you have type 1 diabetes, then there is only one treatment and that is insulin. There is no other substitute. There is no herb, lotion, potion, paste, cream enema or a pill that can replace this very vital hormone. All people who have type 1 diabetes should know that there is no substitute for insulin. The consequences of mucking around with herbs for type 1 diabetes usually leads to one quick conclusion-death.

On the other hand, if you have type 2 diabetes, then you have a lot more options. All individuals who have type 2 diabete should exercise regularly and avoid too many sugary foods. Exercise and weight loss can lead to significantly better control of blood sugar. There are also a variety of oral medications that can be used to control blood sugars.

The role of herbs to control type 2 diabetes has not been established. Every single week, there is a new herb that is claimed to lower blood sugar. Some of the common herbs that have been touted to lower blood sugar include stevia, bilberry gymnome, and jambul. Many other herbs including Konjac mannan, American ginseng, Ipomoea batatas, Momordica charantia, nopal, aloe Vera, and fenugreek. However, the results of these herbs are neither consistent nor always reproducible. For most of these herbs, there is no scientific evidence that they actually work in diabetes. Most of the reported “medical benefits” of these herbs are only offered by dealers and vendors of health supplements who have a vested financial interest in the product.

While most herbs are safe and can be taken as supplements, one should not substitute them for the standard conventional anti diabetic medications without first discussing the issue with a doctor.

At present, the American Diabetes Association has argued against the use of herbs because the industry is not regulated and the quality of herbs is not controlled. One cannot even be sure if the same supplement bought in different stores will have the same quality or quantity. In the last few years, numerous Chinese herbs products have been found to contain actual prescription anti diabetic drugs that were banned more than 20 years ago. Given these uncertainties and problems with fake supplements, the consumers should be cautious when it comes to use of herbs for diabetes.

For a type 2 diabetic, the best medical advice is to exercise and reduce weight. These measures alone have been shown to significantly reduce blood sugars, lower blood pressure and decrease cholesterol. This approach is not only cheap and safe but the results are guaranteed if one is dedicated and motivated.

Green tea and eyes

Green tea is widely promoted as a cure for every disease on earth. Anytime there is a health problem, the words “green tea” are always at the forefront. Some people think that green tea can even help solve the recession!

Now there is word that green tea extracts can reach the inner segments of the eye. Researchers claim that the high levels of green tea can protect the eye from a variety of disorders. The extracts in green tea that have been widely postulated to be protective include catechins. Researchers claim that catechins act like anti-oxidants and protect the delicate tissue of the eye from glaucoma, cataracts and infections of the eye.

In a recent study, rats were fed green tea and their eyes were analyzed for content of catechins. The study showed that high levels of catechins were found in the retina, which is the light sensing tissue at the back of the eye. And simply based on these rat studies the researchers claimed that green tea can protect the eye.

So what about the study?

This is another hog wash study.

Just because green tea extracts get into the eye does not mean that humans will not form cataracts or glaucoma. The Chinese, Asians and the Middle Easterners have been drinking gallons of green tea for thousands of years and yet these populations have the worst types of cataracts on earth.

For the consumer it is important to understand that green tea may be a great social beverage but its health benefits are exaggerated.

If green tea was a panacea for all health problems, then the Orientals would have been disease-free and this is clearly not the case.

Homeopathy Sucks, say UK politicians

Finally, it seems that someone has woken up and realized that homeopathy is the biggest scam on earth. Last week a group of British scientists strongly recommended to the government to stop funding all homeopathic products because they are B.S. (exactly what I have been saying in my column for many years).

The well-known Science and Technology committee in Britain found zero evidence that homeopathy based on herbal medicine was effective- in fact they were hard pressed to find even one single symptom that was relieved by homeopathy. Of course, the researchers did observe that all patients were relieved of their money.

The British government has acknowledged that there is no scientific proof that homeopathy works. The British government spends millions on homeopathy treatment each year. The committee also urged the drug regulatory agency not to license any homeopathic treatment since they were more likely to be scams and not bona fide medicine.

The homeopathy industry in North America is a multibillion dollar industry with new quake treatments being announced every week. For the consumer, “buyer beware” is an adage that should not be forgotten- medicine today has more to do with money than healing.

Should I take calcium supplements?

We live in a world where everyone wants to take a pill or a tablet to improve their health. WHY? Because everyone seems to believe that there is magic in the pills. This false myth has led to establishment of an industry which now manufacturers thousands of pills, lotions and potions- not to help you get better but so that they can make money!


Sure, there are some individuals who have calcium deficiency and it is reasonable to take calcium supplements. Calcium is required to strengthen bone and prevent fractures. In general, adults makes require about a one gram of calcium on a daily basis.

For an individual who eats healthy, there is no need to take extra calcium. Foods that are rich in calcium include dairy products, milk, broccoli, spinach, and fish. Plus, many fresh juices are fortified with calcium. Finally, sunlight is a great source of vitamin D which helps increase calcium absorption.

Unless you have a poor diet, are chronically ill and have documented calcium deficiency, supplements are not recommended. Calcium supplements are not a one shot deal and have to be taken regularly for many years to have an effect on bone. And these pills cost money.

If you want to keep your bones strong, eat healthy, exercise or walk, do not smoke and drink alcohol in moderation- leave the pills for the diehard calcium maniacs.

Is flaxseed of benefit for health?

These days everyone wants to take a supplement to improve their health. Nutritionists and alternative care practitioners often recommend flax seed for a variety of reasons. It is known that flax seed is high in fiber, contains omega 3 fatty acids and a number of plant substances known as lignans.

Flax seed is most commonly used to treat constipation and bloating. There is some evidence that it may lower blood cholesterol and thus decreases risk of heart disease.

Flax seed is available either as whole seeds or grounded powder. Adults need to take at least 1 g of flax seed every day for health benefits.

However, for those of you who have never ever tried flax seeds, it is not very appetizing. Most people mix the grounded power in a beverage, take it with hot or cold cereal or mix it in food.

As far as cancer is concerned, there is no evidence that flax seed can prevent any type of cancer. A few non blinded studies showed that flax seeds may reduce risk of prostate cancer but these studies were not poorly controlled and the data reporting was flawed. Today, the role of flax seeds and its preventive role in prostate cancer has not been settled.

Many health food stores have been hyping up exorbitant claims about flax seed and its health benefits- this is simply a business ploy and considered false advertising.

If you have high cholesterol and/or constipation and are too lazy to walk/exercise, then there is no harm in taking flax seeds once in a while.

If you want to reduce risk of any cancer and maintain good health, exercise regularly, stop smoking, eat healthy and get a health check up once a year with a decent health care professional.

Final note: there is no lotion, potion, herb, drink, liquid or tablet out there which can prevent any type of cancer!

Can Chinese medicinal herbs relieve chronic fatigue syndrome: Part 3

So what does all this mean?

For individual suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome the Chinese herbs are not a magic bullet. The methods used by the Chinese to analyze the symptoms were flawed and reports were always positive (remember, china is a major exporter of oriental medicine and is in the business to make money, so you will never find negative reports or side effects with any Chinese products!).

So for the moment, there are no meaningful data on Chinese herbs and their efficacy in treating chronic fatigue.

However, one thing is known about Chinese herbs- they are often contaminated with real drugs and impurities.

So if you have chronic fatigue the choices are simple- buy unknown herbs from China whose efficiency has not been proven or take conventional medicine which do little and are very costly!.

Can Chinese medicinal herbs relieve chronic fatigue syndrome: Part 2

The first observation made by the researchers was that the majority of published reports in china were never reviewed by other scientists for critic, data analysis was poor and no studies were randomized.

Just like in North America, many of the studies were published by authors who had a vested interested in the herb. Moreover, many authors were paid to perform research by the herb manufacturers.

Can Chinese medicinal herbs relieve chronic fatigue syndrome: Part 1

Unfortunately there is no great treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome and this has led many people to turn to alternative health care supplements.

It is estimated that there are close to 5-10 million people with this disorder in the USA alone but the numbers are much higher world wide.

For some unknown reason people have been flocking to Chinese therapies for all their medical ailments. Some individuals seek Chinese herbs because of the mystic; some may have read reports and others because they have no choice.

There is ample written about Chinese herbal medicine but much of it is not based on science but mostly based on folk lore, anecdotal reports and “grand ma tales.”

Now North American researchers assessed the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine herbal products in treating chronic fatigue syndrome.

The results of various randomized clinical trials involving Chinese herbs and chronic fatigue were analyzed. More than 2400 references were evaluated.

Does Echinacea help treat the common cold? Part 2

Each health food store has a different amount of the herb and neither the quality nor quantity is assessed. Some vendor’s use Echinacea extracts from the flower, others obtain it from the stem and others use the roots- so it is difficult to know which part of the herb is effective.

The problem with the herb industry is that everyone is in a rush to make money and these manufacturers have started to sell all sorts of CRAP to any gullible consumer. Talk to any person in North America and the majority will have some type of herbal medicine underneath the bed (because the closets are already packed with the conventional medicines and cough mixtures).

Even though the recent studies show that Echinacea may help reduce intensity of the cold, its safety in the long run has not been established. The few reported side effects of the herb include stomach upset and diarrhea. Further, the herb also the ability to adversely interact with prescription medications.

Unfortunately, most consumers want immediate relief from symptoms and rush out to the nearest health supplement store to buy jugs and gallons of herbs, lotions and potions. In the majority of cases, the common cold virus does not require any treatment except rest, fluids and perhaps Tylenol.

Does Echinacea help treat the common cold? Part 1

All consumers should understand that the common cold is caused by a virus. We have only a few drugs to treat viral infections and these drugs are hardly ever used to treat the common cold- the reason is expense, side effects and build up of resistance. The common cold is best treated by an annual vaccine taken sometimes in late October or just before the common cold season starts.

However, the common cold vaccine only works in less than 70% of individuals. So what are the other choices?

Well, the latest studies reveal that finally one herb may help reduce symptoms of the common cold. Echinacea may reduce severity of symptoms - further it may also reduce duration of the cold by a day or two.

Unfortunately, Echinacea does not prevent the common cold. However, there are some studies which show that Echinacea does not work when it is taken after the cold has started. Researchers claim that this herb must be taken within the first 24 hours after the onset of symptoms to have any benefit.

Moreover the herb does not work in all individuals nor does it prevent recurrence of the common cold. The major problem with all herbs is that there is no standardization or quality control.