Caffeine and Vitamin Absorbtion

We've been asked this question many times. We did some research and found a wonderful article on this. The articles follow, and so does the link to the articles. We hope that it helps alleveiate anyones misconceptions about their morning cup of coffee and their calcium and vitamin D intake.

Original article can be found here: Askville at Amazon

Question on Askville:

I've been told caffeine affects Calicum/Vitamin D absorption. I like coffee in the morning, so should I take my vitamins at night?

Answer from Askville:

It shouldn't be necessary. I did some checking, and it appears that the amount of extra calcium that's excreted via the urinary tract when you have a cup of coffee is minimal - around 5 mg per cup.When you consider that most calcium supplements are between 600 mg. and 1.2 g., you'd have to drink a LOT of coffee to see an adverse effect.

I offer up these two websites for you to take a look at. This one does recommend separating your calcium supplement from your coffee, but only by half an hour, and confirms that the calcium loss is minuscule. This one says there's no problem at all with taking them together.

The National Dairy Council tells you not to worry about it.Vitamin D is a little different. It appears that caffeine consumption in excess of 300 mg. a day (not hard to do) can impair your body's ability to use vitamin D. I promise I looked, but I couldn't find a single thing that confirmed this (I found secondary references, and I found a lab rat study, but nothing that convinces me). I did find some mention about it on a website that deals with osteopenia; essentially, they imply that while cutting back on caffeine consumption is never a bad thing, there really isn't cause for alarm unless you've actually got osteoporosis or osteopenia.

I want to point out that nothing I found indicates that this vitamin D issue is a problem with taking in vitamin D and caffeine at the same time (like you're wondering about) - it seems to be a more overall problem, which tells me that drinking coffee at any point during the day will limit your vitamin D metabolism.

Taking the two separately isn't going to change that if my hunch is correct.So if you really want to get the most out of your supplements, separate them from your coffee consumption by half an hour (or an hour, to be safe). It might improve your calcium absorption by a tiny bit, and probably isn't going to affect your vitamin D absorption at all - cutting back on coffee is the only thing that might help with that. (And let's get real, here! I wouldn't cut back on coffee until I've got a broken hip!) The only other thing I can recommend is that you take your supplement with a meal (any meal).

All information in this post is from Askville at Amazon and XLPharmacy is only relating that article here, we take zero kudus. Full article can be found at the link above this story.

Alternative therapy for AIDS by XLPharmacy

The Key

The key to effective treatment is early detection and intervention. Some early treatments aim to strengthen the immune system, help patients reduce stress, and maintain good nutritional practices and appropriate exercise regimens. Many of the alternative therapies described below place significant emphasis on these lifestyle issues. Taking an active role in any disease is an important adjunct to treatment. Consideration of alternative therapies in conjunction with conventional medicine may offer additional opportunities for persons living with HIV/AIDS to be proactively involved in their treatment.

How to Approach Alternative Therapies

Here are a few suggestions to follow before involved in any alternative therapy:

• Obtain objective information about the therapy. Besides talking with the person promoting the approach, speak with people who have gone through the treatment—preferably those who were treated recently and those treated in the past. Ask about the advantages and disadvantages, risks, side effects, costs, results they experienced, and over what time span results can be expected.
• Inquire about the training and expertise of the person administering the treatment (i.e., certification). If any uncertainty remains, verify the information.
• Consider the costs. Alternative treatments may not currently be reimbursable by health insurance.
• Discuss all treatments with your primary care provider, who needs this information in order to have a complete picture of your treatment plan. People with HIV/AIDS in the United States use many kinds of alternative approaches to treatment. Some of the most common are briefly described below and continue on the Life Positive link shown.

The use of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medications has become one of the most commonly used alternative therapies for AIDS. Its use has become so widely accepted that two Chinese Medicine Clinics in San Francisco have been awarded contracts through the SF Health Department`s AIDS Office to provide Chinese Medical treatment to people with HIV.

The contracts are funded by Ryan White CARE Act allocations. Most people with HIV who use acupuncture and Chinese herbs do so in conjunction with western medicine. There are, however, some who use it as their principal form of medical treatment. It is strongly suggested that it be used under the supervision of a licensed practitioner.
...read more at Life Positive

story related by XLPharmacy Blog

Breakthrough Drug 'Melts Away' Lung Cancer

Breakthrough Drug 'Melts Away' Lung Cancer

A breakthrough drug treatment may stop a form of non-small cell lung cancer in its tracks, according to the University of Colorado Cancer Center.

Although the drug doesn’t actually cure the disease, it turns a certain death sentence into a chronic but manageable condition.

This type of lung cancer is characterized by molecular changes in the tumor that drives its growth. It kills 20,000 Americans every year, but a new oral drug called an “ALK inhibitor” brings it to a standstill.

In effect, the revolutionary drug “melts away” this subtype of lung cancer, raising the prospect that similar drugs for other forms of lung cancer also may be found.

This is the latest from NewsMax.

Treatment for genital herpes

There are three antiviral medications that are FDA-approved for the treatment of genital herpes and all are available at XLPharmacy under our medications drop down list at the link given here. We encourage you to discuss with your doctor your options and course of treatment, but hope you can find some information here that may help you and your doctor decide the right course for you.

Acyclovir

The oldest antiviral medication for herpes is acyclovir. Acyclovir is available as a generic drug and is also sold under the brand name Zovirax®. It has been available since 1982 in a topical form (as an ointment) and sold since 1985 in pill form. Acyclovir has been shown to be safe in persons who have used it continuously (every day) for as long as 10 years.

Valacyclovir

A newer drug, valacyclovir (brand name Valtrex®), actually uses acyclovir as its active ingredient. This medication delivers acyclovir more efficiently so that the body absorbs much of the drug, which has the advantage of taking the medication fewer times during the day.

Famciclovir

Famciclovir (brand name Famvir®) utilizes penciclovir as its active ingredient to stop HSV from replicating. Like valacyclovir, it is well absorbed, persists for a longer time in the body, and can be taken less frequently than acyclovir.

Antiviral medication is commonly prescribed for patients having a first episode of genital herpes, but they can be used for recurrent episodes as well. There are two kinds of treatment regimens: (1) episodic therapy and

(2) suppressive therapy.

Episodic TherapyIn this approach, a person begins taking medication at the first sign of recurrence (or ideally at first signs of prodrome) and would continue for several days, in order to hasten the healing, or even prevent an outbreak from fully occurring.

All three of the antiviral treatments mentioned above have been proven to help shorten the amount of time that a person may experience symptoms of herpes. However, keep in mind that results may vary from person to person.

Many people feel the advantages of using medication for recurrent episodes are marginal compared with use in a primary episode. But for others, episodic therapy offers a useful way to manage outbreaks by cutting the length of an outbreak by a day or two, on average.

The benefits may be greater for those whose outbreaks tend to last longer. Also, episodic therapy has its best results when treatment begins at the very first sign of prodrome. If lesions are already present, therapy may offer little benefit.

Because the medications differ in their absorption rate and duration of effectiveness, dosages vary with episodic therapy treatment ranging from one to five pills every day for three to five days during an outbreak.

Suppressive Therapy

People with genital herpes who want to eliminate (suppress) outbreaks altogether can take antiviral medication daily to hold HSV in check so that it's less likely to flare up and cause symptoms. For individuals who have frequent recurrences (six or more per year), studies have shown that suppressive therapy can reduce the number of outbreaks by at least 75% while the medication is being taken.

Also, for some, taking an antiviral on a daily basis can prevent outbreaks altogether.While antivirals can be successful in controlling herpes symptoms, researchers also have turned their attention to the important issue of antiviral therapy and asymptomatic shedding. Does suppressive therapy lower the risk of unrecognized herpes reactivation as well as curb recognized outbreaks?

One study addressing this question found that women on suppressive acyclovir (400 mg, twice daily) had a 94% reduction in subclinical shedding while taking daily therapy. This type of study has also been done with famciclovir and valacyclovir, yielding similar reductions in both men and women.

Suppressive therapy has been studied in thousands of patients and it appears to be both safe and effective. Because the medications differ in their absorption rate and duration of effectiveness, dosages vary with suppressive therapy treatment ranging from one to two pills every day.

Treatment for oral herpes

The antiviral medications available in pill form (acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir) have been specifically developed for the treatment of genital herpes. However, it is not uncommon for health care providers to prescribe the antiviral drugs to those who have frequent or severe outbreaks of oral herpes.

A recent study found valacyclovir (Valtrex®) to be effective for treating oral herpes in a one-day treatment of 2 grams taken at the first sign of a cold sore, and then again about 12 hours later.

There are two topical antiviral medications prescribed for the treatment of oral HSV symptoms:

acyclovir ointment (brand name Zovirax®) and

penciclovir cream (brand name Denavir®).

Both work to speed up the healing process and reduce the viral activity. These topical drugs are put directly on the lesions themselves, but can also be used at the onset of prodrome.

Other topical treatments for oral herpes are available over-the-counter (OTC), but are not antiviral compounds like acyclovir and penciclovir. Some also contain ingredients that numb the area and induce temporary relief from the discomfort of an outbreak.

Unfortunately, some OTC treatments may actually delay the healing time of symptoms because they can further irritate the area with repeated applications. There is only one OTC FDA-approved cream, called Abreva®, which has been clinically proven to help speed the healing process.

XLPharmacy talks Licorice Herb and HIV

Licorice is a powerful herbal remedy in treating peptic ulcers and shows much promise in the treatment of HIV and AIDS.Preparations of licorice containing glycyrrhizin are showing promise in the treatment of HIV and AIDS, as well as hepatitis. One long-term study was performed on 16 HIV+ patients. None of the people who received glycyrrhizin progressed to AIDS or did their immune function deteriorate. Individuals who did not take glycyrrhizin, had a decrease in helper and total T-cell counts and antibody levels. Two developed AIDS.[2]

Taking Licorice Has been ResearchedThere has been a great deal of research on Licorice and HIV, all one has to do is GOOGLE "Licorice and HIV" to see the many studies. One should consult with their doctor on the proper amount of licorice as it has been know to raise blood pressure if taken in large amounts.

The information in the article this disclaimer is linked from should not be considered medical advice. The information in the article this disclaimer is linked from is not meant to treat, diagnose, prescribe or cure any ailment. Always check with your physician before taking any products or following any advice you have read on this or any other article on this research.

Always consult your doctor before you start, stop or change anything that has been previously prescribed. Certain herbs and holistic remedies are unsuitable to take if you are pregnant or nursing and must always be cleared by your doctor before use.

read more...here page 91 and 92 (Understanding Herbal Healing)

Note: Licorice candy has no real licorice in it, just artificial flavor.

HOW TO TAKE THIS HERB: as a decoction: 1 teaspoon or cut root per cup of water, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain and drink. It may be combined with other herbs like astragalus, burdock, dandelion, slippery elm, etc.; it enhances the properties of other herbs. Licorice is also available as a tincture and in capsules (follow manufacturer's instructions).
• To make licorice tea, add 1 teaspoon of licorice root powder to 1 cup of hot water and steep for 5 minutes.• You can also chew on whole sticks to extract the juice.• If you take DGL capsules, you must chew on them to get the health benefits of licorice (saliva activates DGL).

Please note...No known herbal remedy has been shown to cure AIDS or even reduce chances of AIDS-related infections. Still, some herbs can be worth trying if you use them safely and in consultation with a qualified practitioner who not only understands herbs but also has experience treating AIDS and HIV infection.Aloe vera, St. Johnswort, echinacea, licorice, and ginseng are just a few of the herbs used to treat HIV/AIDS.

Taking immunity-boosting herbs (such as astragalus, echinacea, and ginkgo) may help revive an ailing immune system, and certain herbs (such as garlic) may help battle bacteria and viruses. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice can soothe the mouth and throat ulcers that often accompany full-blown AIDS. Just remember that even if these herbs have these powers, no one yet understands just how they work in helping AIDS or whether using them really makes a difference in the course of the disease.