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Biblical Herbs as Alternatives to Pharmaceuticals ??? James Duke, PhD No one really knows whether these are as good (or as bad) as the pharmaceuticals until they have been clinically compared. The herbal alternatives need to be clinically compared, especially since nearly 25% of North Americans cannot afford the pharmaceutical prescription and/or the doctor to prescribe them. I recommend we support an amendment to mandate a third arm in future clinical trials comparing pharmaceuticals and placebos. That way, we are better equipped to know whether Americans are, in fact, getting "the best medicines in the world", as we are so often told. With pharmaceuticals killing more than 100,000 Americans a year, I doubt that we are getting the best, cheapest and safest medicines. Recent comparisons have shown that garlic, saw palmetto and st johns wort, to name a few promising herbal alternatives, are clearly competitive with pharmaceuticals. Could that be why these herbs are getting so much negative press? The following list includes a few alternatives worth considering, but only includes species that are mentioned in the Bible. Almonds vs Cardiopathic Drugs for Cardiopathy Almug (Pterocarpus santalinus) vs Vioxx for Colon Cancer Aloe vs Benzocaine or Lidocaine + Bactine for Burns Apricot Pits vs Laetrile for Cancer Balm of Gilead vs Benzaepil (Lotensin) for Hypertension ( aqueous extract of Commiphora opobalsamum (4 mg/kg iv) depressed systemic arterial blood pressure by 20% (P < 0.01) and reduced heart rate of anaesthetised rats by 14% ) (X9292417) Biblical Mint vs Cognex for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) (See papers by N. Perry on other mint species) Biblical Rose (Narcissus) vs Galanthamine for Alzheimer’s Biblical Wormwood vs Antimony for Leishmaniasis ess. oil at 2 ug/ml; aqueous extract at 4 ug/ml (X11346978); Black cumin vs Claritin for Hay Fever (X14669258) Black cumin’s thymoquinone vs Pharm.Antiseptics for Sepsis (Lai and Roy, 2004) Black cumin’s thymoquinone for Cancer (Lai and Roy, 2004) Bramble vs Aspirin for Pain (X 14522443) Brier (Solanum incanum) vs "Curaderm" (solasodine + salicylic acid) for Skin Cancer Provided in the public interest by Dr. Richard Brouse – (503)654-3225 Butcher’s Broom vs Preparation H for Hemorrhoids Capers vs Tolbutamid for Diabetes ( aqueous extracts have potent anti-hyperglycemic activity in rats; without affecting basal plasma insulin concentrations. X15261975) Carob vs Imodium (Loperimide) for Diarrhea Cassia (Saussurea) vs Antibiotics for Tuberculosis (JNP61:1181) Chickpea (a/o lentil) vs HRT for Prevention of Cardiopathy and Osteoporosis Chicory(Prebiotic) and Lactobacillus (Probiotic) vs Cipro for Bladder Infections Cinnamon vs Tolbutamid (Orinase) for Diabetes Coriander vs Chelation for Lead and Mercury Overdose (Ess. Oil comparable to sorbic acid at preventing the slimy spoilage of Vienna sausage. (Nakatani, 1994) Cotton’s gossypol vs. Unknown Pharms as Reversible Male Contraceptive Cumin vs Glibenclamide for Diabetes mellitus (X12220968) ( antimelanomic farnesol and perillaldehyde; anticancer beta-elemene, eugenol, limonene, alpha-pinene, and linalool) Dandelion vs Interferon for Hepatitis Date vs Amphotericin B for Candidiasis (Tackholm and Drar (1973) report that pollen of a male date palm mixed with water is a charm against childlessness. Pollen contains estrone, like pomegranate fruits) Dill vs Simethicone for Gas Faba Beans vs Pharm LevaDopa for Parkinson’s Faba Bean, Grape , Garlic, Lentils (Chickpea), Olive Oil, Onion (Biblical Diet) for Cardiopathy, Fenugreek vs. Silicone for Micromastia Fenugreek vs Zocor for High Cholesterol Fenugreek:1 Fennel (Hildegard’s suggestion for cancer of the penis) followed by beer barley cakes (Substitute dill with anethole for the fennel) Fig (and Benzaldehyde) vs Laetrile for Cancer (Kings ii) Page 2 of 6 – www.sunnysidehealthcenter.com Provided in the public interest by Dr. Richard Brouse – (503)654-3225 Flax vs Etoposide for Cancer Flaxseed vs. Fluoxetine (Prozac) or Sertraline (Zoloft) for Depression (for vegetarians) Frankincense vs Celebrex for Arthritis (In the Bible, Frankincense is mentioned 16 times for worship, 3 times in Solomon's garden, twice as a tribute of honor, and only once as merchandise. Garlic vs Chemo for Cancer Garlic vs Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) for Bladder Infection (if not Anthrax) Garlic vs Zocor for High Cholesterol (and Alzheimer’s via antiamyloid activity (X 15277073) Grapeseed vs Pharms for cardiopathy, diabetes, enteroparasites, fibromyalgia, gout, parkinsons (See White et al; Herbal Drug Store) Henna vs Benadryl for Poison Ivy Ivyleaf Extract (Prospan) vs Robitussin for Bronchitis (X12725580) (X12006725: Juniper vs Etoposide for Cancer Laurel vs Sumatriptan for Migraine Lentils vs Zocor for High Cholesterol Lettuce(seed oil) vs Diazepam (Valium) for Insomnia (FT67:215) Madonna Lily vs Nystatin for Candidiasis (Bulb extract more active than flower extract;e isolated compounds were inactive. X12501491) Mallows vs Robitussin for Bronchitis (2 in CR2) Mandrake (dangerous) vs Transdermal Scopolamine for Vertigo: Milkthistle vs Interferon for Hepatosis Mustard (better horseradish, but not mentioned per se in the Bible) vs Dristan for Sinusitis Myrrh vs Synthroid for Hypothyroidism Myrtle Oil vs Glibenclamide for Diabetes mellitus (X15234770) Page 3 of 6 – www.sunnysidehealthcenter.com Provided in the public interest by Dr. Richard Brouse – (503)654-3225 Nettle vs Claritin for Hay Fever Nettle vs Celebrex for Arthralgia (British clinical studies show improvement) Olive Oil vs Zocor for High Cholesterol Onion vs Pharms for Diabetes Pomegranate vs HRT for Syndome X (Clinical trials for the latter; Herb Clip43832) Poppy vs Percoset for Pain Rocket (Oroth of Kings 2) vs Lorenzo’s Oil for Adrenoleukodystrophy Rue (Homeopathic) vs Pharms for Neurocysticercosis (X11317525) Russian olive vs Pharms for Prostate Cancer Prevention Saffron vs Pharms for Cancer Prevention (Lai and Roy, 2004; X15239370) Spikenard vs Ritalin for Hyperkiness (Attention Deficit Disorder (MPI) Sweetcane (Pure sugar) vs Honey a/oPropolis for Topical Infections Tares (dangerous ergotized grass) vs Ergotamine (Ergostat) for Headache Thorn (Ziziphus) vs Imodium for Diarrhea (X 11167035; X 12826300) Turmeric vs Celebrex for Arthritis and Colon Cancer Prevention Turmeric vs Pharms for Cancer Prevention (Lai and Roy, 2004) Walnut Oil vs Fish Oil (and Suicidogenic Antidepressants Pharms) for Mania Walnut Oil vs Zocor for High Cholesterol (X12934760) Watercress vs Celebrex for Colon Cancer Watermelon’s Lycopene vs Pharms for Prostate Cancer Prevention Willow vs Aspirin for Backache (X12017748) The species listed above have been with us at least 2 millennia as all are mentioned in the Bible. I believe that man evolved in Africa and then radiated out from Africa, close to the Holy Land "Bridge," the evolutionary Exodus preceding the Biblical Exodus. Evolving Page 4 of 6 – www.sunnysidehealthcenter.com Provided in the public interest by Dr. Richard Brouse – (503)654-3225 emerging mankind would have encountered most of the climatically adapted herbs mentioned in the Bible during the evolutionary a/o Biblical Exodus , thru the Middle Eastern fertile crescent into Europe and Asia, and finally Australia, Polynesia and America. For these reasons my genes have probably been familiar longer with Afican cowpea, then Biblical chick pea, faba bean, and lentil; then Oriental mungbean and soybean; and finally American anasazi, kidney, lima, navy, and string beans. Thus my genes have known genistein (which occurs in all the beans listed above) more than 2,000,000 years. The listed Biblical herbs each contain hundreds of biologically active phytochemicals with which my genes have coevolved, for 2000 if not 2 million years. Synthetic Pharmaceuticals have been known to my genes less than 200 years. Thus my genes have had 1-2 orders of magnitude more time to adapt to the phytochemicals. If my genes traversed thru the Holy Land, they will have long known many of the phytochemicals in most of the Holy Land foods and medicines. In evolutionary time, my genes have probably developed homeostatic relations with many of the biologically active compounds that make the plant medicinal. This is why I advocate the "Feed a Fever; Feed a Cold" approach. The medicinal foods present a menu of biologically active phytochemicals from which your body homeostatically mines those it needs, excluding those familiar phytochemicals it does not need. Thus your body, under the direction of your genes, has developed mechanisms for dealing with the usual phytochemicals, while the genes and hence the body are at first naive to new synthetic pharmaceuticals. For that reason, one can expect more dramatic effects and side effects from new pharmaceuticals, the most heavily advertised. My body knows better (than my naturopath, my nutritionist, my herbalist, my chiropracter, my aromatherapist, my nurse practitioner, my physicians’s assistant, my reflexologist, my shaman, my physician, my computer programmer, and even my preacher ) which phytochemicals my body needs. Given a soup and salad and herbal tea containing these chemcials, my body mines them for the needed nutrients. Congress , if charged with protecting American health and the health care system, should know which natural food "farmaceuticals" are as efficacious as the more dangerous synthetics. No one can know until they are clinically compared. That’s why I urge congress to mandate the third arm, comparing the safer herbs with the more dangerous pharmaceuticals, which latter kill more than 100,000 Americans a year. In those few comparisons so far, the medicinal herbs and food plants have come out looking surprisingly (to some, not me) promising. If congress won’t insist on clinical investigations and comparisons, maybe some religious hospital should get involved in comparing the Biblical herbs with the pharmaceuticals. References Duke, J. A. 1983. Medicinal Plants of the Bible. 233 pp. Trado-Medic Books, Buffalo, NY. Treats over 100 Biblical species, with illustrations mostly by Peggy K. Duke. Apparently out of print. Duke, J. A. 1997. The Green Pharmacy. Rodale Press, Emaus PA 18098-0099. 507 pp. ISBN 0-87596-316--1(hardcover)ISBN-57954-124-0 (paperback) Duke, J. A. 1999. Dr. Duke’s Essential Herbs (13 Vital Herbs You Need to Disease- Page 5 of 6 – www.sunnysidehealthcenter.com Provided in the public interest by Dr. Richard Brouse – (503)654-3225 proof your Body - Boost your energy - Lengthen your Life). Rodale Press. Emmaus PA 18098. 240 pp. $24.95 ISBN- 1-57954-183-6 (Hard Cover) Duke, J.A. 1999. Herbs of the Bible- 2000 Years of Plant Medicine. Interweave Press, Loveland CO. 241 pp. $34.95. ISBN 1-883010-66-7 Duke, J. A. 2000. The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook. Rodale Press. 282 pp. $19.95 ISBN- 1-57954-184-4 Duke, J. A. 2001. with Michael Castleman. The Green Pharmacy Anti-aging Prescriptions - Herbs, Foods, and Natural Formulas to Keep you Young. Rodale Press, 560 pages. Emaus, Pa. $29.95. ISBN 1-57954-198-4(Hardcover) Duke, JA, Bogenschutz-Godwin, MJ, DuCellier, J and Duke, PA. 2002. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Plants. 2nd. Ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 936 pp Duke, JA, Bogenschutz-Godwin, MJ, DuCellier, J and Duke, PA. 2002. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Spices. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 348 pp. $119.95. ISBN-0-8493-1279-5 Page 6 of 6 – www.sunnysidehealthcenter.com

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