Health

The Benefits and Dangers of Herbal Supplements Today

Today, herbal supplements are more popular than ever. In fact, marketing and selling herbal supplements has become a multi-million dollar industry.

These supplements are available in many styles and varieties, and many companies promote their specific herbal blends as superior or more effective than others.

This can make choosing and consuming herbal supplements a confusing and potentially wasteful venture. While herbs have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, and many modern drugs have their beginnings in plants, not all herbal products have been scientifically proven to be effective.

Understanding Herbal Supplements

Herbal supplements are products that are made directly from specific parts of plants, such as echinacea leaf or ginseng root, that are then dried, concentrated, and usually consumed in capsules.

Other popular ways of taking herbal supplements include taking them in tea form, as gummy supplements, and as tinctures or salves. Examples of teas include raspberry or peppermint tea, while the Delta 9 gummy is a good example of an herbal gummy supplement.

Tinctures and salves are usually combinations of medicinal herbs and a soothing base such as oils or creams which are applied topically.

Herbal supplements vary from pharmaceutical drugs in several important ways. Some of the differences include differences in manufacturing and a different set of labeling and testing requirements.

Supplements are usually natural products and are not standardized in the same way as drugs. Each plant may contain more or less of the active ingredients, and this variation is passed on to the consumer.

Because plants are not usually potent enough to be concerning, this is not usually dangerous, but it is something to keep in mind. Herbal supplements also are not tested and monitored by the Food and Drug Administration in the same way that drugs are.

This means products may not always contain the amount or ingredients that they claim to, and that the product itself may not have any proven scientific benefit.

Benefits of Herbal Supplements

The benefits of herbal supplements have been a hotly contested issue for decades. Many people in the medical and pharmaceutical community have, in the past, insisted that herbal concoctions and supplements offer no benefits and can carry risks of side effects and dangerous complications.

On the other hand, natural medical professionals often claim that supplements and herbs are the best way to treat a number of diseases and health concerns and that they are safe and effective.

The true story is, as usual, somewhere in the middle. It has been proven by scientific studies that many plants and herbal remedies are beneficial for a variety of concerns and diseases, and many professional mainstream practitioners are now recommending some of the most tested and proven herbal supplements and vitamins.

However, it is also true that many herbal concoctions and supplements have been extensively studied and have shown no benefits or only mild benefits. Many of the most popular supplements, such as echinacea, have shown only limited advantages but are still being purchased and consumed by millions of people.

While this isn’t generally a problem, some supplements, such as St. John’s wort, are both effective and potentially dangerous and should only be taken under the advice and supervision of a healthcare professional.

Choosing and Using Herbal Supplements

When selecting herbal supplements to take, it’s important to choose mindfully and be an educated consumer. While consumers spend around $5 million on herbal supplements each year, it’s possible that a large percentage of this money has been spent on supplements that are ineffective or unproven.

Before you choose to spend your money on herbal supplements, take some time to research and find the supplement that is best for you and your concerns.

Make sure that the herbs you are considering are effective and that they have been studied. Look for independent studies rather than studies conducted by herbal manufacturing companies.

You should also research your supplements to make sure there are no dangerous side effects and that the medication isn’t contraindicated for your health conditions or medications you are already taking.

In addition to researching the herb itself, you should also make an effort to research the manufacturer or company that you will be purchasing from. Make sure that they are reliable and that they have good reviews from other consumers.

Try to find a company that has been independently tested to verify that their products actually contain the ingredients and amounts of herbs that they claim to contain.

Potential Interactions and Precautions

It is important to remember that all ingredients and herbs, no matter how mild or harmless they seem, can potentially interact harmfully with other medications or diseases. For example, the herb fenugreek may be harmful to people with diabetes, as it can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate and interfere with medications.

St. John’s wort can be a powerful antidepressant and therefore should not be taken by people who are using prescription antidepressants unless they are under orders from their doctor.

If you are contemplating adding a new herbal supplement to your diet, make sure that you consult with your healthcare provider before you begin.

Ask them to verify that each herbal supplement you are considering will be safe for you and won’t cause problems with any medications or other supplements you are taking.

Finally, if you experience any strange or unusual symptoms after beginning a new herbal supplement, consider if the supplement might be causing side effects. If so, stop taking it and consult with your medical provider.

Conclusion

While supplements such as vitamins and herbal blends are very popular, it’s important to choose carefully and wisely and to understand what you are doing. While many supplements are effective and healthy additions to traditional medicine, you need to be an informed consumer to avoid throwing your money away or taking a dangerous combination.

Make sure that you research potential supplements and monitor your health while consuming herbs or vitamins so that you will be aware of side effects. Finally, always talk to your doctor, medical professional, or healthcare specialist before starting any new supplements, especially if you have any serious diseases or are already taking other medications.

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP