Barberry, bark, fruits (Berberis vulgaris, Berberidaceae). Uses: tonic, laxative, refrigerant, antiseptic, stomachic. Const: berberine. 

    Cascara sagrada, bark (Rhamnus purshiana, Rhamnaceae). Uses: bitter tonic, strong laxative. Const: anthraquinone glycosides. 

    Comfrey, leaves (Symphytum officinale, Boraginaceae). Uses: poultices, internal demulcent, diuretic, laxative, ~allergen. Const: pyrrolidizines, allantoin, mucilage, tannin. 

    Fenugreek, leaves (Trigonella foenum-graecum, Leguminoseae). Uses: spice, bulk laxative, horse's cure-all, demulcent, aphrodisiac, astringent, emollient, tonic, expectorant, galactagogue, GI irritant. Const: protein, choline, phosphates, trigonelline, volatile oil. 

    Flax, seeds (Linum usitatissimum, L. spp., Linaceae). Uses: demulcent, emmollient, bulk former, mucilage, laxative. Const: mucilage, wax, tannin, gum, cyanogenic glycosides. 

    Kelp, whole plant (Laminaria spp., Fucus spp., Sargassum spp., Macrosytica spp., etc., Seaweed). Uses: nutritive, mineral source, demulcent, bulk laxative, can cause water retention. Const: iodine, bromine, alginic acid. 

    Love Vine, whole plant (Cuscuta spp., Cuscutaceae). Uses: laxative. 

    Motherwort, above-ground parts (Leonurus cardiaca, Labiateae). Uses: cardiac tonic, emmenagogue, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, laxative, PMS nervine. 

    Plantain, Narrow, leaves (Plantago lanceolata, Plantaginaceae). Uses: ointment for exzema, burns, hemmorroids, bowel pain, laxative, see Psillium for Plantago seed. Const: xylin (a xylopyranose derivative related to cellulose). 

    Psillium, fruit, husks (Plantago ovata, Plantaginaceae). Uses: antidiarrheal, bulk demulcent, laxative, emollient, expectorant, astringent, see plantain for Plantago leaf. Const: colloidal mucilage. 

    Rhubarb, stalks (Rheum officinale, R. palmatum, Polygonaceae). Uses: laxative, astringent, sialogogue, stomachic. Const: anthraquinones. 

    Senna, leaves, pods (Cassia species, Leguminoseae). Uses: laxative, anthelmintic, anti-griping agent, can cause dermatitis. Const: sitosterol, anthraquinone glycosides, chrysophanic, flavonoids, emodins. 

Brewer's Yeast

    Brewer's yeast, which is often called nutritional yeast, was originally a by-product of the brewing of beer. While still used for brewing, it is also now grown as a plant product for its nutritional value. Nutritional yeast is not exactly the same as brewer's yeast. Brewer's yeast was originally used as a nutritional supplement, and then other yeasts were made available for this purpose. Brewer's yeast differs from live baker's yeast in that its live yeast cells have been destroyed, leaving the nutrients behind. Live yeast cells can actually deplete the body of B vitamins and other nutrients.

    Nutritional yeast contains high levels of many important nutrients, including all of the B vitamins (except for B12), 16 out of 20 amino acids, and 14 different minerals. The amino acids (proteins) in yeast help the body repair tissue and fight disease. Brewer's yeast has a very high protein content, with one tbsp providing 4.6 g, making it a rich source of protein for vegetarians. It is also high in phosphorus.

    Uses

    Because yeast is such a rich source of B vitamins, it enhances the roles these vitamins play in the body. The B-complex vitamins help your body metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. They also support the nervous system and help maintain the muscles used for digestion.

    Different B vitamins play different roles, particularly in their support of the nervous system. They relieve stress, depression, irritability, and fatigue, and also help reduce some effects of aging. When under the pressures of stress or infection, the body needs greater supplies of B vitamins. The body does not store excess B vitamins, so they must be regularly consumed. B vitamins can also help relieve morning sickness.

    Biotin, one of the B vitamins that brewer's yeast supplies, has been shown to strengthen brittle nails and improve the health of hair. It also is used to treat infant cradle cap. Biotin helps people with diabetes use insulin more efficiently and is useful for treating diabetic neuropathy.

    Brewer's yeast is also an important source of chromium. The U.S. FDA recommends 120 mcg of chromium daily, but 90% of Americans are deficient in this important mineral. Chromium has the ability to significantly lower blood cholesterol levels.

    Chromium is also an important supplement for those with Type II (adult onset) diabetes because it can significantly lower blood sugar levels. Without chromium, insulin is not able to work properly and blood sugar levels rise. Researchers have been able to lower some diabetic glucose levels to almost normal levels with daily chromium doses of 1,000 mcg.

    Several studies have tested the use of chromium for the treatment of acne, with good results. Chromium's ability to increase the effectiveness of insulin's activity in the body has also led to its consideration as an aid to weight loss. Chromium can be difficult for the body to absorb, but is more easily absorbed when taken with brewer's yeast.

    As a source of chromium, brewer's yeast can reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, lower blood cholesterol levels, help with weight loss, and aid in the treatment of acne.

    As a source of B vitamins, brewer's yeast can relieve stress, depression, irritability, and fatigue.

    As a source of biotin, brewer's yeast can strengthen hair and nails, and treat diabetes.

Other Forms

    Brewer's yeast comes in flake, powder, tablet, and liquid form.

How to Take It

Pediatric

    There are no known reports to date about use of brewer's yeast in children.

Adult

    Brewer's yeast may be dissolved in juice or water. Four tbsp per day are suggested. If your diet is low in B vitamins, this amount may cause gas, so it is best to begin with 1 tsp in a glass of juice and work slowly up to 4 tbsp.

Precautions

    There are no known side effects. However, you should avoid yeast products if you have frequent yeast infections. People who have osteoporosis should avoid yeast because of its high levels of phosphorus. If you take a yeast supplement, also take extra calcium. 
    Possible Interactions
    Brewer's yeast contains a significant amount of tyramine, a substance that should be avoided if you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), a type of antidepressant. Examples of MAOIs are phenelzine, tranylcypromine, pargyline, selegiline, and isocarboxazid. Selegiline is also used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Brewer's yeast may also interact with meperidine, a narcotic analgesic, used to treat intense pain. The dangerous interaction between brewer's yeast and these medications may lead to "hypertensive crisis," a rapid and severe increase in blood pressure that is characterized by nausea and vomiting, headache, and irregular heartbeat. This reaction may result in a heart attack or stroke.

    Supporting Research

    Balch J, Balch P. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Garden Park City, NY: Avery Publishing Group; 1997.

    Bentley JP, Hunt TK, Weiss JB, et al. Peptides from live yeast cell derivative stimulate wound healing. Arch Surg. 1990;125:641–646.

    Chromium necessary to regulate blood sugar. Conscious Choice: The Journal of Ecology and Natural Living. June 1998;11:33.

    Hegoczki J, Suhajda A, Janzso B, Vereczkey G. Preparation of chromium enriched yeasts. Acta Alimentaria. 1997;26:345–358.

    Li Y-C. Effects of brewer's yeast on glucose tolerance and serum lipids in Chinese adults. Biol Trace Elem Res. 1994;41:341–347.

    McCarty MF. Insulin resistance in Mexican Americans: a precursor to obestity and diabetes? Med Hypotheses. 1993;41:308–315.

    Murray M. Biotin: An overlooked essential B vitamin. The America Journal of Natural Medicine. May 1996;3:5–6.

    Murray M. The chromium connection. Health Counselor. March 1997;9:48–59.

    Rabinowitz MB, Gonick HC, Levin SR, Davidson MB. Effects of chromium and yeast supplements on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in diabetic men. Diabetes Care. 1983;6:319–327.

    Utermohlen V. Diet, Nutrition, and Drug Interactions. In: Shils M, Olson JA, Shike M, Ross AC, eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 9th edition. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; 1999:1628-1629.

    Werbach M. Foundations of Nutritional Medicine. Tarzana, Calif: Third Line Press, Inc.; 1997:209.

    a tidbit you may not be aware of:
    "Sugar is also used by doctors to help the body absorb nutrient dense fluids and prevent the dehydrating effects of prolonged vomiting or diarrhea.

        How? sugar actually enables the body to absorb salt, explains gastroenterologist Margaret Khouri, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia.  And when given in multi nutrient rehydration formulas, sugar enables the salt to literally pull life-giving nutrients and fluids into the cells.

        Although these formulas are primarily used with people who are seriously dehydrated from diseases that cause prolonged vomiting and diarrhea, anyone who experiences such symptoms for even a day or two - from the flu or an intestinal virus - is generally advised to sip a similar substance, says Dr. Khouri."

    Emotion: The Key to the Mind’s Influence on Health

    Candace Pert noted in Bill Moyers’ Healing and the Mind television series (and more recently in her book, The Molecules of Emotion) that emotions--registered and stored in the body in the form of chemical messages--are the best candidates for the key to the health connection between mind and body. It is through the emotions you experience in connection with your thoughts and daily attitudes--actually, through the neurochemical changes that accompany these emotions--that your mind acquires the power to influence whether you get sick or remain well.

    The key, according to Pert, is found in complex molecules called neuropeptides. Peptides are found throughout the body, including the brain and immune system. These neuropeptides are the means by which all cells in the body communicate with each other. This includes brain-to-brain messages, brain-to-body messages, body-to-body messages, and body-to-brain messages.

    Individual cells, including brain cells, immune cells, and other body cells, have receptor sites that receive neuropeptides. The kinds of neuropeptides available to cells are constantly changing, reflecting variations in your emotions throughout the day. The exact combinations of neuropeptides released during different emotional states has not yet been determined. The kind and number of emotion-linked neuropeptides available at receptor sites of cells influence your probability of staying well or getting sick. Building more humor and laughter in your life helps assure that these chemical messages are working for you, not against you. 

    "The chemicals that are running our body and our brain are the same chemicals that are involved in emotion. And that says to me that . . . we’d better pay more attention to emotions with respect to health." (Candace Pert)

    There is no longer any doubt that your daily mood or frame of mind makes a significant contribution to your health--especially when it persists day after day, year after year. Anything you can do to sustain a more positive, upbeat frame of mind in dealing with the daily hassles and problems in your life contributes to your physical health at the same time that it helps you cope with stress and be more effective on the job. Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.

    For more on the subject:

        http://holisticonline.com/Humor_Therapy/humor_mcghee_article.htm
        http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/laugh.html#es

                        Ekman P, Levenson RW, Friesen WV.

    Emotion-specific activity in the autonomic nervous system was generated by constructing facial prototypes of emotion muscle by muscle and by reliving past emotional experiences. The autonomic activity produced distinguished not only between positive and negative emotions, but also among negative emotions. This finding challenges emotion theories that have proposed autonomic activity to be undifferentiated or that have failed to address the implications of autonomic differentiation in emotion.

    PMID: 6612338 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

    Autonomic nervous system activity distinguishes among emotions.

    Ekman P, Levenson RW, Friesen WV.

    Emotion-specific activity in the autonomic nervous system was generated by constructing facial prototypes of emotion muscle by muscle and by reliving past emotional experiences. The autonomic activity produced distinguished not only between positive and negative emotions, but also among negative emotions. This finding challenges emotion theories that have proposed autonomic activity to be undifferentiated or that have failed to address the implications of autonomic differentiation in emotion.

    PMID: 6612338 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

    CHOCOLATE: THE POOR MAN'S MARIJUANA

    MARY [disapproving of Rhoda's indulging in chocolate when under stress]  ...Rhoda, chocolate does nothing. 
    RHODA: No, Mary; 'cottage cheese' does nothing.  Chocolate does it all! 
                                                                                            -The Mary Tyler Moore Show 

    "...The principal ingredients of commercial chocolate bars and bonbons are not cocoa (on average, a meagre 20% by volume) but sugar, saturated vegetable fat and powdered milk. These dietary villains are responsible for chocolate's undeserved reputation as a fattening, tooth-decaying, addictive indulgence." 
    http://www.thechocolatesociety.co.uk/About.htm 

    "...This is another myth about chocolate. While some people might be allergic to chocolate, or some of its ingredients, the belief that chocolate causes acne universally has been disproven by doctors for some time...." 
    http://www.choco.com/faq.html 

    "...They found that a 1.5 ounce piece of milk chocolate contained nearly the same amount of phenolics as a 5 ounce glass of red wine.  And the phenolic compounds in chocolate exhibited an antioxidant effect equal to or greater than that of red wine." 
    http://urelations.ucdavis.edu/Pubcomm/newsreleases/09.96/news_chocolate.html 

    "...While stimulants contribute to a temporary sense of well-being. There are other chemicals and other theories as to why chocolate makes us feel good. Perhaps the most controversial findings come from researchers at the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego, California. They believe that "chocolate contains pharmacologically active substances that have the same effect on the brain as marijuana, and that these chemicals may be responsible for certain drug-induced psychoses associated with chocolate craving." We talked to Emmanuelle diTomaso, who worked on the original study in San Diego (she's now a researcher at Harvard), and to Daniel Piomelli, who heads the project and continues to do  research at the Neurosciences Institute." 
    http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/exploring_chocolate/choc_7.html 

    "...And while Piomelli says his interest is basic research, the implications for drug development are obvious. "In principle, the idea of interfering with the brain's own substances, as opposed to giving something from outside,  may be superior." A disease like depression, he speculates, could be caused by too-quick breakdown of  euphoria-causing natural chemicals like anandamide, and thus conceivably could be treated by slowing that breakdown with a drug." 
    http://whyfiles.org/033love/choco.html 

    "...While phenolics have chemically been proven to reduce oxidation, Waterhouse cautioned that: "It's not known if the phenolic compounds, like the flavenoids that are present in chocolate, can reduce [HEART] disease. It's well known that these substances are antioxidants in a chemical sense  . .but we don't have strong, large-scale, controlled human studies." More research still needs to be done, but certainly the initial research is encouraging." 
    http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/exploring_chocolate/choc_7.html 
 

SHOPPING

    'Health Food' stores sell low-carbohydrate, sugarless bars by DR. ATKINS' DIET REVOLUTION 
    Web Ordering; 
    http://www.lowcarb.com/atkinsdiet.html 
    At Safeway, you can buy 'SO NICE' [not 'So Good'] chocolate organic soymilk sweetened with agave syrup. 
    http://www.sonice-soyganic.com/Soniceproduct.htm 
    In the Diabetic Supplies section of major pharmacies, you'll find yummy sugarless bars like CHOCOMANIA. 
    'Sugar Busters' Bulletin Board 
    http://busycooks.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://busycooks.About.com/mpboards.htm
    lauds  LINDT'S "70% COCOA" [sold at Safeway] for being low in sugar and low in fat . 
    The Chocolate Shrine Archive -recipes for candies, tea breads, chocolate coated leaves, etc.... 
    http://www.impulseaero.com/crewpages/bloodstorm/chocrecipes.html 

Research courtsy of Rawnie Dunn

    Maybe instinctively we always knew it was good for us? All this and it will not damage your lungs.