Various Topics on Alternative Medicine

..rwin.. ..d.. ....

Aristolochic acid is a strong carcinogen found in few plants -
including species of "wild ginger" (Asarum, no relation to normal
ginger). Consumption of plants that contain aristolochic acid lead to
kidney damage and subsequent development of cancer, e.g.
http://tinyurl.com/9xk6d

Contamination of wheat with seeds of the aristolochic acid-containing
plant was recently linked to Balkan endemic nephropathy that
ultimately results in cancer. Prevalence of this fatal condition is up
to 10% in some Balkan villages, putting health dangers from
aristolochic acid far above smoking. It has become clear that
metabolites of aristolochic acid are extremely dangerous substances
with strong mutagenic and carcinogenic effects, also acting as
protooncogenes activators.

Now, check out some "delicious recipes" and preparations involving
wild ginger that, in my opinion, might just as well kill you.

*** The first of the articles is featuring the outrageous description
of aristolochic acid as "valuable constituent" of wild ginger:
http://altnature.com/gallery/wild_ginger.htm and goes on listing its
medicinal properties

(Notably including "antitumor activity"!)

*** The second one from the same site says "Wild Ginger is another
favorite of mine, the root crushed and sauteed in butter then
thickened with corn starch or flour water, makes a fine sauce for
chicken." http://altnature.com/library/Cooking_wild_herbs.htm

(Let me add here that according to Balkan endemic nephropathy studies
you might have to wait 10-15 years for nephropathy and cancers to kick
in)

*** This site makes sure to mention aristolochic acid and then gives
specific directions on how to use water or alcohol extract of wild
ginger root: "take 2 tablespoons at a time, as required":
http://indianspringherbs.com/WildGinger.htm

(Please don't try it on your spouse. Divorce is always a better
option)

*** Finally, check out the the wild gingerbread recipe at the
"fabulous foods" site:
http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes...gingerbrd.html

(Great for Hale-Bopp suicide cult followers who didn't make it to the
last party!)

..W

Darwin's Radio Labs <DarwinRadioLabs@nospam.nospam.invalid> wrote:

>Aristolochic acid is a strong carcinogen found in few plants -
>including species of "wild ginger" (Asarum, no relation to normal
>ginger). Consumption of plants that contain aristolochic acid lead to
>kidney damage and subsequent development of cancer, e.g.
>http://tinyurl.com/9xk6d
>
>Contamination of wheat with seeds of the aristolochic acid-containing
>plant was recently linked to Balkan endemic nephropathy that
>ultimately results in cancer. Prevalence of this fatal condition is up
>to 10% in some Balkan villages, putting health dangers from
>aristolochic acid far above smoking. It has become clear that
>metabolites of aristolochic acid are extremely dangerous substances
>with strong mutagenic and carcinogenic effects, also acting as
>protooncogenes activators.
>
>Now, check out some "delicious recipes" and preparations involving
>wild ginger that, in my opinion, might just as well kill you.
>
>*** [snip]

But dude, it's like all natural 'n' stuff, so, like, it's gotta be
good for ya! Y'know?
--

JMW
http://www.rustyiron.net

..ternati.. ..tu.. ..rba..

"Contamination of wheat with seeds of the aristolochic acid-containing
> plant was recently linked to Balkan endemic nephropathy that
> ultimately results in cancer."

Do all parts of the plant contain this?
P***ionflower seeds contain cyanide but the flowers and leaves are GRAS.
Thanks for mentioning my web site and making this point. We will investigate
this further and add info as we find it.

Karen Bergeron
Alternative Nature Online Herbal Photo Galleries
Amazing Jewelweed Soap for Poison Ivy and all skin conditions
http://altnature.com

"Darwin's Radio Labs" <DarwinRadioLabs@nospam.nospam.invalid> wrote in
message news:4$67x31j16.20z143$3b8@nospam.nospam.invalid.. .
> Aristolochic acid is a strong carcinogen found in few plants -
> including species of "wild ginger" (Asarum, no relation to normal
> ginger). Consumption of plants that contain aristolochic acid lead to
> kidney damage and subsequent development of cancer, e.g.
> http://tinyurl.com/9xk6d
>
> Contamination of wheat with seeds of the aristolochic acid-containing
> plant was recently linked to Balkan endemic nephropathy that
> ultimately results in cancer. Prevalence of this fatal condition is up
> to 10% in some Balkan villages, putting health dangers from
> aristolochic acid far above smoking. It has become clear that
> metabolites of aristolochic acid are extremely dangerous substances
> with strong mutagenic and carcinogenic effects, also acting as
> protooncogenes activators.
>
> Now, check out some "delicious recipes" and preparations involving
> wild ginger that, in my opinion, might just as well kill you.
>
> *** The first of the articles is featuring the outrageous description
> of aristolochic acid as "valuable constituent" of wild ginger:
> http://altnature.com/gallery/wild_ginger.htm and goes on listing its
> medicinal properties
>
> (Notably including "antitumor activity"!)
>
> *** The second one from the same site says "Wild Ginger is another
> favorite of mine, the root crushed and sauteed in butter then
> thickened with corn starch or flour water, makes a fine sauce for
> chicken." http://altnature.com/library/Cooking_wild_herbs.htm
>
> (Let me add here that according to Balkan endemic nephropathy studies
> you might have to wait 10-15 years for nephropathy and cancers to kick
> in)
>
> *** This site makes sure to mention aristolochic acid and then gives
> specific directions on how to use water or alcohol extract of wild
> ginger root: "take 2 tablespoons at a time, as required":
> http://indianspringherbs.com/WildGinger.htm
>
> (Please don't try it on your spouse. Divorce is always a better
> option)
>
> *** Finally, check out the the wild gingerbread recipe at the
> "fabulous foods" site:
> http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes...gingerbrd.html
>
> (Great for Hale-Bopp suicide cult followers who didn't make it to the
> last party!)

..ison.mous..

Alternative Nature Herbals a écrit dans le message ...
>"Contamination of wheat with seeds of the aristolochic acid-containing
>> plant was recently linked to Balkan endemic nephropathy that
>> ultimately results in cancer."
>
>Do all parts of the plant contain this?
>P***ionflower seeds contain cyanide but the flowers and leaves are GRAS.
>Thanks for mentioning my web site and making this point. We will
investigate
>this further and add info as we find it.
>
>Karen Bergeron
>Alternative Nature Online Herbal Photo Galleries
>Amazing Jewelweed Soap for Poison Ivy and all skin conditions
>http://altnature.com
>
>"Darwin's Radio Labs" <DarwinRadioLabs@nospam.nospam.invalid> wrote in
>message news:4$67x31j16.20z143$3b8@nospam.nospam.invalid.. .
>> Aristolochic acid is a strong carcinogen found in few plants -
>> including species of "wild ginger" (Asarum, no relation to normal
>> ginger). Consumption of plants that contain aristolochic acid lead to
>> kidney damage and subsequent development of cancer, e.g.
>> http://tinyurl.com/9xk6d
>>
>> Contamination of wheat with seeds of the aristolochic acid-containing
>> plant was recently linked to Balkan endemic nephropathy that
>> ultimately results in cancer. Prevalence of this fatal condition is up
>> to 10% in some Balkan villages, putting health dangers from
>> aristolochic acid far above smoking. It has become clear that
>> metabolites of aristolochic acid are extremely dangerous substances
>> with strong mutagenic and carcinogenic effects, also acting as
>> protooncogenes activators.
>>
>> Now, check out some "delicious recipes" and preparations involving
>> wild ginger that, in my opinion, might just as well kill you.
>>
>> *** The first of the articles is featuring the outrageous description
>> of aristolochic acid as "valuable constituent" of wild ginger:
>> http://altnature.com/gallery/wild_ginger.htm and goes on listing its
>> medicinal properties
>>
>> (Notably including "antitumor activity"!)
>>
>> *** The second one from the same site says "Wild Ginger is another
>> favorite of mine, the root crushed and sauteed in butter then
>> thickened with corn starch or flour water, makes a fine sauce for
>> chicken." http://altnature.com/library/Cooking_wild_herbs.htm
>>
>> (Let me add here that according to Balkan endemic nephropathy studies
>> you might have to wait 10-15 years for nephropathy and cancers to kick
>> in)
>>
>> *** This site makes sure to mention aristolochic acid and then gives
>> specific directions on how to use water or alcohol extract of wild
>> ginger root: "take 2 tablespoons at a time, as required":
>> http://indianspringherbs.com/WildGinger.htm
>>
>> (Please don't try it on your spouse. Divorce is always a better
>> option)
>>
>> *** Finally, check out the the wild gingerbread recipe at the
>> "fabulous foods" site:
>> http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes...gingerbrd.html
>>
>> (Great for Hale-Bopp suicide cult followers who didn't make it to the
>> last party!)
>


http://potency.berkeley.edu/pdfs/FDA...AcidLetter.pdf

All parts of these plants should be avoided.

It can also be noted that many web sites exist that claim
these plants are not harmful as well as claiming many other toxic plants are
also not harmful.
It would be worth while to read the "conclusion" section
from the above link.

..rwin.. ..d.. ....

Mr-Natural-Health <johngohde@naturalhealthperspective.com> wrote:
> Darwin's Radio Labs wrote:
>> Aristolochic acid is a strong carcinogen found in few plants -
>> including species of "wild ginger" (Asarum, no relation to normal
>> ginger). Consumption of plants that contain aristolochic acid lead to
>> kidney damage and subsequent development of cancer, e.g.
>> http://tinyurl.com/9xk6d
>
> Yeah, dumb ... dumb. If you find something wrong with a web page,
> the responsible thing to do is to notify the website operators
> directly. Sending email directly to webmaster@tinyurl.com will do
> this, if the website fails to provide an email address. Why are you
> whining here, like some kind of a cry baby?

Try to stay focused. There is nothing wrong with that
website (PubMed).

On the other hand, there is plenty wrong with NUMEROUS websites
advocating usage of aristolochic acid-containing plant "wild ginger"
as food and alternative medicine. What I posted "here" was a tiny
random selection - so complaining would be purely impractical.

Besides, the owner of one of the sites I mentioned already picked up
and thanked me in a followup. So should you. I'm doing a public
service providing information not widely known yet.

In fact, I have considered emailing to owners of some of the web
sites. But where is guarantee that it is an effective measure to make
YOU stop chewing on the wild ginger root? (I'm using "YOU" here in
most general sense, not to be interpreted as personally directed at
"Mr-Natural-Health")

I have considered likelihood of possible replies of the alternative
medicine websites owners. Among those I would likely receive:

1) "Why are you whining here, like some kind of a cry baby?"

2) "But dude, it's like all natural 'n' stuff, so, like, it's gotta
be good for ya! Y'know?" (thanks to JMW from www.rustyiron.net who
insightfully anticipated this one)

3) "2000 years of Chinese traditional medicine can't be wrong."

4) "We'll remove the entry" (fine, the entry goes away, but how
would YOU know to stop chewing on the "delicious" wild ginger root?)

5) "The holistic yin yang blah blah beautiful complexity of natural
wild ginger root ingredients can't be equated with simple-minded
reductionist communist approach of academic scientific bullies".

But most of all, I'm concerned about YOUR health, therefore I choose
to warn you directly.

Cheers and stay away from "wild ginger"!

..nelo.. ..riwink..

On 09 May 2005 20:12:43 GMT, Darwin's Radio Labs
<DarwinRadioLabs@nospam.nospam.invalid> wrote:

>Besides, the owner of one of the sites I mentioned already picked up
>and thanked me in a followup. So should you. I'm doing a public
>service providing information not widely known yet.

I shall commission a statue of you at once.

>But most of all, I'm concerned about YOUR health, therefore I choose
>to warn you directly.

So, you gonna drop by and lance this boil on my butt?


Penelope
--
Dinna let yer wind fly out
Nor flap 'n wave yer kilt about
Lest yer own beloved, true heart
***** and moan about yer fart

..rwin.. ..d.. ....

Penelope Periwinkle <pperiwinkle@mindspring.com> wrote:
> Darwin's Radio Labs wrote:
>>Besides, the owner of one of the sites I mentioned already picked up
>>and thanked me in a followup. So should you. I'm doing a public
>>service providing information not widely known yet.
>
> I shall commission a statue of you at once.

Penelope!

Yes, do erect me - it's your sandbox. Just don't eat the gravel.

>>But most of all, I'm concerned about YOUR health, therefore I choose
>>to warn you directly.
>
> So, you gonna drop by and lance this boil on my butt?

Nice euphemism but today I'm busy boiling Ginger.