I have Sjogrens, Lupus, Fibromyalgia & Raynauds. When I first contacted you I was desperate for relief. My pains were almost completely gone after one month of using Banjo, and only came back (rather quickly) in a very “muted” state after I stopped using it. Meaning to say, that I know they are there but…
On cytokines, inflammation, pain and fibromyalgia Cytokines are inter-cellular chemical messengers produced mostly by white blood cells. Some are generally pro-inflammatory (inflammatory cytokines turn inflammation ‘on’) while others are generally anti-inflammatory (they turn inflammation ‘off’). High levels of inflammatory cytokines indicate an ongoing inflammatory process. There might not be the appearance of ‘inflammation’ as we…
This site presents a novel theory. It is proposed that fibromyalgia results from a form of ‘inflammation’ – specifically a dysfunction in the inflammatory response system leading to cytokine imbalance, including a persistent elevation in pro-inflammatory cytokines, especially IL-8.
Cytokine abnormalities, including elevations in IL-8 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines, are well-documented in fibromyalgia. Of special interest, pain intensity has been shown to correlate with IL-8 elevation. When IL-8 levels decrease – so does pain.
IL-8 is a potent activator of NF-kappaB (a central mediator of inflammation.) Once activated (by IL-8 or any one of many other agents,) NF-kappaB triggers the production of more pro-inflammatory cytokines, including more IL-8. This positive feedback loop (IL-8 acts via NF-kappaB to increase the production of IL-8) could easily become a vicious cycle. It seems that might be what happens in those with fibromyalgia, as suggested by the observation that such individuals have excess IL-8 as well as excess NF-kappaB activation.
In a nutshell 
those suffering with fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis experienced a substantial improvement in their conditions when they switched to a raw, vegan diet. Specifically, they experienced a decrease in pain and stiffness and self-perception of their health was improved.
The problem, of course, is that this diet represents a substantial and some would say extreme departure from our ‘normal’ diet. A vegan diet includes no animal products whatsoever – no milk, eggs, butter. The “living food” diet studied here included only raw foods – no cooking whatsoever.
The obvious reality is that very few people will ever attempt such an extreme dietary modification, and fewer still will adhere to it. Nonetheless, it is one option, and might result in general improvement in conditions related to inflammation other than those specifically studied.
As an alternative, one might want to add more fruits and vegetables to the diet, especially fresh, raw fruits and vegetables. Supplements might be considered as well.
Let’s take a look at a recent publication that briefly reviews curcumin for autoimmune disease.
We’ll see that curcumin (an active ingredient in turmeric,) is recognized as safe, and that it has recently been shown to be effective against several serious conditions in human and/or animal studies.
That sounds promising. But your doctor will never have a chance to prescribe it for you. Why might that be?
Endotoxin shock represents an extreme in whole body inflammation. The ability of the citrus flavonoid hesperidin to suppress endotoxin induced shock suggests that it is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has a long history of use as a natural medicine for the relief of pain and inflammation. On investigating dandelion the researchers whose publication is summarized below demonstrated a diversity of effects attributable to an extract of dandelion, including a reduction in numerous markers of inflammation.The historic use of dandelion is thereby confirmed by modern research.
When properly administered, ginger offers greater potential for relief of pain and inflammation than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – but with fewer side effects – for several reasons.
Ginger directly inhibits prostaglandin synthesis and thereby acts as both a COX-I and COX-II inhibitor.
Ginger also inhibits 5-lipoxygenase by direct action – thereby inhibiting the production of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are key regulators (promoters) of inflammation. They may be of particular importance in allergy and asthma, but are probably involved in promoting and sustaining inflammation generally. Recent studies suggest a role for leukotrienes in cancer, arthritis, pain perception, cardiovascular disease and neurological disease.
Ginger further exerts its anti-inflammatory and anti-pain effect by inhibiting expression of pro-inflammatory genes that encode cytokines, chemokines, and the inducible enzyme cyclooxygenase-2. Chief among these effects is its inhibition of NF-kB – the inflammation Master Switch.
Banjo delivers a combination of herbal extracts, including ginger extract, by means of a lozenge. By allowing the lozenge to dissolve in your mouth, active components (actives) are absorbed trans-mucosally (through the lining of the mouth.) This results in faster delivery of a higher concentration of actives to the bloodstream. Of perhaps greater significance, actives are not first subject to the harsh, destructive environment of the stomach, neither are they immediately destroyed by the liver (the “first pass” effect.)
The traditional means of administering ginger – as well as other medicinal herbs – was by chewing or eating. Of course both chewing and eating require that the product spend a substantial time in direct contact with the mucous membranes of the mouth. That might be important.
Most such products are now delivered by means of a gelatin capsule that is immediately swallowed, which may be one reason for the limited efficacy of such products. Banjo provides effective relief from pain and inflammation by employing an effective combination of agents, delivered so as to ensure maximum bio-availability.
In the study below, using the nitroglycerin induced model of migraine, it was shown that parthenolide, the purported active ingredient in feverfew, inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in the trigeminal nucleus by inhibiting NF-kB.
Excess NO production is implicated in the pathogenesis of all headache. It is also an important mediator in other disease conditions.
Feverfew and ginger, delivered sublingually, were effective in preventing migraine progression when administered at the mild pain phase of the acute attack.
Two hours after treatment, 48% of patients were pain free and another 34% had only mild headache pain.
No significant side effects were reported.
A combination of ginger and feverfew, when administered sublingualy at the mild pain phase, was found to be both safe and effective at relieving the pain and associated symptoms of migraine.
Ginger components found to inhibit platelet aggregation, suggesting they might be useful in the treatment of migraine.
Many drugs effective in the treatment of migraine have effects on platelet aggregation.
One theory holds that a migraine begins when platelets clump, releasing serotonin and setting off an inflammatory cascade that eventually leads to full-blown migraine. Indeed, platelet ‘over-responsiveness’ is commonly observed in patients with migraine, and may account for the observed higher risk of stroke documented especially among those who have migraine with aura.
In the study briefly summarized below a traditional Japanese migraine medication is investigated. One of the four herbal extracts used in that medication is an aqueous extract of ginger. Two of the components of ginger extract, 6-shogaol and 6-gingerol, were each found to inhibit platelet aggregation.
Feverfew may be no better than placebo in the treatment of migraine, but it’s safe.
Results from controlled trials were mixed. The overall conclusion is that feverfew has not been shown to be better than placebo in the prevention of migraine.
No significant side effects or safety issues were identified with the use of feverfew.
Feverfew extract found to be safe and effective in the prevention of migraine.
After taking the feverfew extract three times a day, by the third month those migraine patients who experienced an average of 4.76 attacks per month were only experiencing 2.86 attacks per month – a decrease of 1.9 monthly migraine attacks. Whereas those on placebo only experienced a 1.3 migraine per month decrease in monthly attack frequency.
Ginger root extract was found to reduce inflammation in this study of cartilage cells in a pig model of arthritis.
Nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) were both reduced within 24 hours after application of ginger root extract. Both are key pro-inflammatory agents thought to be important in the pain and inflammation of arthritis.
It is suggested that ginger root extract may play an important role in the future treatment of arthritis.
Ginger shown to reduce COX2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) – probably via inhibition of NF-kB.
Arthritis is characterized by joint inflammation that causes pain and results in cartilage destruction.
TNF-alpha plays a key role in the course and progression of arthritis. It is both a product and an activator of NF-kB. It is probably by means of this NF-kB activating effect that it leads to an increase in other pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as destructive enzymes – all of which means that TNF-alpha plays a central role in arthritis.
In the study summarized below, ginger was found to decrease the level of TNF-alpha while also reducing the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and destructive enzymes.
A decrease in the level of activated NF-kB was also observed, which is the most likely mechanism by which ginger exerts its beneficial effects in arthritis.
Turmeric (curcumin) and resveratrol found to act synergistically in the treatment of arthritis.
This is an essential publication because it demonstrates that by combining different natural inhibitors of NF-kB, a greater anti-inflammatory effect may be achieved than is possible with either agent alone. The study further suggests that this might be especially true when the different agents act to inhibit NF-kB through different mechanisms.
By implication, the observed synergy will not be limited to the specific combination studied (curcumin + resveratrol.)
Banjo combines a number of different natural NF-kB inhibitors, each of which may act through a slightly different mechanism in the inhibition of NF-kB. While many of the individual agents might provide some benefit, Banjo is expected to provide a substantially greater benefit than any single agent. That possibility is confirmed by the study briefly summarized below.
Ginger has been used safely for thousands of years in traditional and folk medicine. Advanced technology enables the validation of these traditional experiences.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has evaluated the results of the available studies, rating the reports from “suggestive” (for short-term use of Ginger for safe relief from pregnancy related nausea and vomiting), to “mixed” (when used for nausea caused by motion sickness, chemotherapy, or surgery), and to “unclear” for treating rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or joint and muscle pain).
The scope of ginger’s use will soon be clearly identified and incorporated into mainstream therapeutic options, thereby integrating east and west, old with new, to render ginger as a true “Universal Remedy”.
Curcumin effectively inhibits NF-kB only in combination with IL-10.
This is a key publication because it:
* Demonstrates one likely reason you can’t overdose on curcumin or any other natural NF-kB inhibitor;
* Suggests ‘cooperation’ between these natural NF-kB inhibitors and the immune system – a ‘vitamin like’ action; and,
* Provides one example of the importance of natural NF-kB inhibitors in shutting down inflammation.
Inflammation in white blood cells contributes to the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome
Summary of key findings:
* Chronic fatigue syndrome is an inflammation related disease.
* NF-kB recogniged as the Master switch controlling inflammation in chronic fatigue
* Those with chronic fatigue show higher levels of activated NF-kB
* More activated NF-kB results in (correlates with) more severe disease symptoms
* Inflammation in the white blood cells plays an important role in chronic fatigue syndrome
* Chronic fatigue syndrome should be treated with agents that reduce NF-kB activation, such as anti-oxidants like turmeric (curcumin)
Ginger is suggested as both an abortive (acute) and prophylactic (preventative) medication for the treatment of migraine. My experience suggests that ginger, used alone, is unlikely to be effective, but that it can be valuable when used in combination with other herbal extracts.
An inhibitor of NF-kB might be a novel, effective, anti-migraine drug.
Mugwort is an inhibitor of NF-kB, which accounts for its frequent historic use in herbal medicine in many countries.
In a process known as “moxibustion,” mugwort is burned – generally in a rolled up shape resembling a cigar. This burning ‘mugwort cigar’ is held near the patient’s skin at acupuncture points until it either warms or sometimes burns the skin.
It may be that the patient benefits from the inhalation of mugwort fumes/smoke or that in the warming process, when the mugwort is in direct contact with the skin, that some absorption of herbal actives takes place.
There is no good explanation of why this might work, and scant evidence – save the publication referenced below – that it does work.
Nonetheless, it is reported that 93% of fibromyalgia patients improved when moxibustion was combined with standard therapy, whereas only 57% improved with standard therapy alone.
Bone undergoes continuous remodeling through bone formation and resorption, and maintaining the balance for skeletal rigidity. Bone resorption and loss are generally attributed to osteoclasts. Osteoclast activity is inhibited by turmeric and dandelion, probably by means of NF-kB.
Ginger has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic, Chinese and Tibb-Unani herbal medicines for the treatment of various illnesses that involve inflammation and which are caused by oxidative stress. Does it work?
Ginger is known to have potent anti-inflammation and anti-cancer properties. In researching these qualities, many previous efforts have focused on the compounds identified as “gingerols.” This research suggests that more benefits might be obtained by using a full-spectrum extract.
