Plant-based or vegan diets and Diabetes Type 2

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Plant-based or vegan diets and Diabetes Type 2

A recent review of evidence by The International Diabetes Federation found that, “… plant-based diets accompanied by educational interventions can significantly improve psychological health, quality of life, … and weight, and therefore the management of diabetes [and] could potentially improve diabetic neuropathic pain and the levels of total cholesterol, [low density lipoprotein] cholesterol and triglycerides in [type 2 diabetes].”

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Quick Results ... and Try, Try Again

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Quick Results ... and Try, Try Again

According to a recent study by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Colorado, it only takes a few weeks of healthy eating to generate lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Dr Campbell, one of the researchers said, “"These findings should encourage people to try again if they fail at their first attempt to adopt a healthy eating pattern," …It seems that your body isn't going to become resistant to the health-promoting effects of this diet pattern just because you tried it and weren't successful the first time. The best option is to keep the healthy pattern going, but if you slip up, try again."

 

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Diabetes – Restricted Diets – Foods From Prophetic Medicine

Diabetes – Restricted Diets – Foods From Prophetic Medicine

Launched in 2015, NHS England’s Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP) records that, “around 22,000 people with diabetes die early every year. Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of preventable sight loss in people of working age and is a major contributor to kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke.”

Diabetes UK announced a new pilot by NHS England starting in 2019 which, “…will test a Type 2 remission programme … involving low-calorie diets.”

The Guardian reports, “The 800-calories-a-day regimen, made up of soups and shakes, has been shown to help people lose excess weight that has caused fat to build up around their internal organs including the pancreas, leading to type 2 diabetes.”

We hope that those taking on such a regimen consider the role of phlegm (mucus, balgham) we wrote about last week.

And also the role of foods from prophetic medicine in the management of diabetes mellitus as listed by Bassem Y. Sheikh of the College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah in his review of the literature:

  • Blackseed

  • Lemon Grass

  • Olives

  • Miswak

  • Honey

  • Barley

  • Dates

  • Zamzam Water

  • Vinegar

  • Costus

  • Trouffles

  • Figs

  • Gourd (Cucurbitaceae)

 

And we are reminded, again, of the hadith of the Prophet, peace be upon him, who said, “No human being has ever filled a container worse than his own stomach. The son of Adam needs no more than some morsels of food to keep up his strength. Doing so, he should consider that a third of [his stomach] is for food, a third for drink and a third for breathing.”

 

 

Alternatives To Wheat

Alternatives To Wheat

Sometimes it can be useful to take a 30-day holiday from eating wheat. 

By “wheat” we take the meaning to be: all types of bread made from wheat. Also, pasta, pizza, cake, biscuits, and cereals. This includes naan, pitta, roti and paratha.

Here is a short non-exhaustive list of alternatives:

  • Oats

  • Oat Bread

  • Oat Cakes (make sure it doesn’t contain wheat)

  • Oat Pitta Bread

  • Oatibix

  • Porridge

  • Barley

  • Barley Bread

  • Barley Pitta Bread

  • Rye Bread (make sure it’s 100% Rye)                        

  • Rye Crispbread (for example, Ryvita)

  • Rice

  • Rice Bread

  • Rice Cakes

  • Buckwheat,

  • Chickpea (gram),

  • Corn

  • Maize

  • Millet flour

  • Potato flour

  • Rice flour

  • Tapioca flour

Of interest is a recent study from Copenhagen University concluded that, “When healthy people eat a low-gluten and fiber-rich diet compared with a high-gluten diet they experience less intestinal discomfort including less bloating, a new study shows. The researchers attribute the impact of diet on healthy adults more to change in composition of dietary fibers than gluten itself.”

Phlegm – Mucus - Balgham

Phlegm – Mucus - Balgham

Notes from an interview with a Hakeem.

 

Your work is in treating others’ health problems. What are you doing at the moment for your own health?

“I am currently in the process of detoxing from a phlegm imbalance.  Looking back, I think there has been quite a long term build up, a tendency towards imbalance.  I’ve been doing this now for a number of months and hope to have completed the process soon.”

What do you mean by phlegm imbalance?

“Phlegm, or mucus or (the Arabic word) Balgham is a key component in Islamic Medicine. It is a compound temperament, cold and moist, and one of the four bodily humours.

The three core ideas with this detox are, primarily, to reduce those foods that have a tendency to produce mucus.  You use fruit and vegetables as the roughage, and, if you want extra effect, you increase foods that have a tendency to remove mucus.”

So what are the foods that you are reducing?

“I am avoiding or reducing wheat, dairy, rice, eggs and sugar. I am focusing on mainly lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit, especially dried fruit. Once a week I will have dish of lamb or chicken or fish.”

To be clear, what do you mean by wheat?

“I mean all types of bread made from wheat. Also, pasta, pizza, cake, biscuits, and cereals. This includes naan, pitta, roti and paratha.”

And dairy?

“By “dairy” I mean milk, yoghurt, butter and cheese.”

What kinds of foods are you eating to replace these?

“I continue to eat all types of vegetables - especially green leafy vegetables - and fruit - especially dried fruit - and lentils, pulses, beans, barley, barley bread, rye bread, rye crisp bread, porridge, oats, oat milk and oatcakes. It’s important to remember protein. You’d be surprised how much protein you can get from non-meat and diary sources.”

What about sugar?

“I try to replace sugar with honey but this is not always possible. I avoid pouring boiling water on honey.”

Is this a permanent programme?

“No, not at all. I think it will take a few months. But, long term, I can see the value in eating reduced amounts of wheat, dairy, rice, eggs and sugar.”

What about herbal medicine?

“After a diagnosis from the tongue, eyes, forehead, hands, nails, face, the six body organ pulses on the right and left hands, I decided to support this detox process with specific herbal medicines.”

Can you be more specific?

“Each day I am currently taking a spoon of cayenne powder, as a tonic. It seems to go down best with orange juice with the bits in. I also drink a dilution of lemon juice concentrate first thing in the morning with a spoon of honey. Dried figs, radishes and apples also seem to be good “phlegm-strippers” for me.

For general health, do you take any herbal medicines?

“Yes, I take mullein, hawthorn berry powder, buchu, astralagus, raspberry powder, nettle leaf powder, celery powder, skullcap and meadowsweet powder.  Also, I am taking du zhong [eucommia bark powder] and yin yang huo [epimedium] for the kidneys, bladder, bones and lower back, and lobelia (a paired herb for the cayenne).I would advise people to only take herbal medicines as prescribed by someone trained in herbal medicine and after a proper diagnosis.”

Do you have any general advice?

“I advise myself of the hadith of the Prophet, peace be upon him, who said, “No human being has ever filled a container worse than his own stomach. The son of Adam needs no more than some morsels of food to keep up his strength. Doing so, he should consider that a third of [his stomach] is for food, a third for drink and a third for breathing.”

 

 

Phlegm imbalance can lead to very challenging health problems.  Some of those writing about mucus have put together “mucus-lean” or “mucus-free” diets.  Three examples are from Dr Christopher, from Arnold Ehret and from Dr Sebi (Alfred Bowman) who have all written about the problems of mucus. The Livestrong Foundation has an interesting list in this respect.  Some of the views expressed in support of a mucus-free diet seem very extreme or excessive. And these writers have differences of opinion on what mucus is and how to deal with it. 

 

It is best to return to the Sunnah on these matters and to study what the scholars of Islamic Medicine have to say about what to eat, what not to eat and, most importantly, the amount to eat as referred to in the last part of what was said in the interview.

We advise people to embark on any health and diet detoxification process only on the advice of their medical advisers.

We also advise people to make sure that they get enough protein in their diet, whatever dietary programme they follow.

 

 

 

Stone Root - Richweed

Stone Root - Richweed

Latin: Collinsonia canadensis

Part of the mint family, it is a “renal and circulatory tonic” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

An “anti-lithic, diuretic, diaphoretic … the treatment and prevention of stone and gravel in the urinary system and the gall-bladder.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Mugwort

Mugwort

Latin: Artemisia vulgaris

TCM:  Ai Ye (Artemisia argyi)

It is used “for the treatment of colds, colic, bronchitis, rheumatism and fever. It is a safe remedy for suppressed menstruation and effective for female complaints when combined with marigold.  … important in the treatment of kidney and bladder inflammations and related ailments such as gout, sciatica and water retention.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

It is a for the “autonomic nervous system tropho-restorative”. (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

It is a “bitter tonic, stimulant, nervine tonic, emmenagogue … Mugwort can be used wherever a digestive stimulant is called for.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Ai Ye (Artemisia argyi) is “bitter, acrid warm … warms the womb and stops bleeding … disperses cold and alleviates pain …” Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”

 

Image

M J Richardson / Crosswort or Mugwort

 

Common Plantain

Common Plantain

Latin: Plantago lanceolate/major

 TCM:  Che Qian Zi (the seed), Semen Plantaginis

 It is not related to cooking plantain, a type of banana.

“The whole plant is considered medicinal and is solvent in water … an alterative, astringent, a diuretic and an anti-septic … cooling, soothing and healing … It is also sometimes used to treat diabetes, dysentery, earache, inflammation of the ear, emissions, enuresis, erythema, impotence, neuralgia, polyuria, pains of the spleen, tobacco habit, toothache, delayed urination and worms.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

It is an “astringent, anti-infective.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

An “expectorant, demulcent, astringent, diuretic … [it] has valuable healing properties … ideal for coughs … mild bronchitis … diarrhoea … haemorrhoids …  cystitis.”

” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

It is “…sweet, cold … promotes urination and clears heat … clears the eyes … expels the phlegm …” Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”

 

Image

By Jason Hollinger (PlantainUploaded by Amada44) [CC BY 2.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Purslane

Purslane

Latin: Portulaca oleracea

 TCM:  Ma Chi Xian

 It is “sour, cold … relieves fire toxicity and cools the blood … clears heat-damp and treats sores …” Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”

Fumitory

Fumitory

Latin: Fumaria officinalis

 It is a “choleretic” for conjunctivitis. “ (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

A “diuretic, laxative, alterative … [it has a] long history of use in the treatment of skin problems such as eczema and acne. Its action is probably due to a general cleansing mediated via the kidneys and liver.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

 

Image

By Isidre blanc - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37547043

Rosehip

Rosehip

Latin: Rosa Canina

TCM:  Jin Ying Zi (Cherokee rosehip – Fructus Rosae Laevigatae)

 “Nutrient, mild laxative, mild diuretic, mild astringent …[it] provides one of the best natural and freely available sources of Vitamin C  … an excellent spring tonic and aid in general debility and exhaustion … help[s] in constipation and mild gall-bladder problems as well as the conditions of the kidney and bladder.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Jin Ying Zi (Cherokee rosehip) is “sour, astringent, neutral … stabilizes the kidneys, for … urinary incontinence … binds up the intestines and stops diarrhea …” Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica"

Sandalwood

Sandalwood

Latin:  Santalum album

 TCM:  Tan Xiang

 “… used internally in bronchitis, gonorrhoea, and cystitis ... also employed as an expectorant, a perfume, and for coloring and dyeing.” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

It is an “anti-microbial” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

It is “acrid, warm, aromatic … promotes the movement of qi and alleviates pain…” Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”

 

 

 

 

 

Image

By Nistha.aslp [CC BY-SA 4.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

Squaw Vine

Squaw Vine

Latin: Mitchelle repens

It is a “utero-tonic, prostrate tonic.“ (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

A “parturient, emmenagogue, diuretic, astringent, tonic … It is among the best remedies for preparing the uterus and whole body for child birth … [also] painful periods … As an astringent it has been used in the treatment of colitis …” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

 

Image

By Photo by David J. Stang [CC BY-SA 4.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Sumach

Sumach

Sumach

 Latin: Rhus aromatica/glabra

 TCM:  Wu Bei Zi is Rhus Chinensis

 

“Sumac (Rhus glabra) … is important as a healing agent due to its ability to cause local inflammation by contact with it, thus drawing blood to the area.”

 (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

It is a “stimulating and tonic diuretic” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Sweet Sumach is a useful astringent that is especially indicated in the treatment of urinary incontinence … [it] has a reputation for being able to reduce blood sugar …[but this is] open to debate.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

“Wu Bei Zi (Rhus Chinensis) … gallnut of Chinese sumac … sour, salty, cold … contains … binds up … preserves … restrains … absorbs.” Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”

Lady's Slipper

Lady's Slipper

Latin: Cypripedium pubescens

 It is a “meningeal vaso-relaxant” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Lady’s Slipper is one of the most widely applicable nervines that we possess in the materia medica. It may be used in all stress reactions, emotional tension and anxiety states. It will help elevate the mood, especially where depression is present … It is perhaps at its best when treating anxiety that is associated with insomnia.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

 

 

Thuja – Arbor Vitae – Tree of Life

Thuja – Arbor Vitae – Tree of Life

Latin:  Thuja occidentalis

TCM:  Bai Zi Ren is Thuja orientalis

It is a “vaso-tonic alterative.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Thuja’s main action is due to its stimulating and alterative oil. In bronchial catarrh Thuja combines expectoration with a systemic stimulation beneficial if there is also heart weakness … avoid if there is dry irritable cough … [or] pregnancy”. (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Bai Zi Ren (Thuja orientalis) is “sweet, neutral … nourishes the heart and calms the spirit: for irritiablity, insomnia, forgetfulness, and palpitations with anxiety due to heart blood deficiency.”

Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”

 

Myrrh

Myrrh

Latin: Commiphora molmol/myrrha

 TCM:  Mo Yao

“… has an agreeable aromatic odor and a bitter acrid taste … it is a stimulant to the circulation and to the uterine and bronchial mucous membranes …” (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

An “autonomic tropho-restorative to the gastro-intestinal tract.” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Myrrh is an effective anti-microbial … [it] stimulates the production of white blood corpuscles … and has a direct anti-microbial effect …” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

“Bitter, neutral … invigorates the blood …promotes healing” (Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”)

Wild Indigo

Wild Indigo

Latin: Baptisia tinctoria

 

A “stimulating antiseptic vaso-tonic alterative” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“… is to be considered wherever there is focused infection. It is especially useful in the treatment of infections and catarrh in the ear, nose and throat. It may be used for laryngitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis … it will heal mouth ulcers, gingivitis and help the control of pyorrhoea. Systematically it may be helpful in the treatment of enlarged and inflamed lymph glands … and also to reduce fevers.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

 

Media

By Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA (Dwarf Wild Indigo) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Schizandra Fruit

Schizandra Fruit

Latin:  Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis

 TCM:  Wu Wei Zi

An “adaptogen and nervine” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Deep immune activation … specific immune-modulators include: …Schisandra chinensis: tonic, for the central nervous system, uterine and respiratory stimulant, anti-hepatoxic…” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica” say, “sour, warm … stops coughing … tonifies the kidneys … inhibits sweating … quiets the spirit and calms the heart…”

Ligusticum - Szechuan Lovage Root

Ligusticum - Szechuan Lovage Root

Latin: Radix Ligustic Chuanxiong

TCM:  Chuan Xiong

 

 “Deep immune activation … specific immune-modulators include: …Ligusticum wallichi: tonic, anti-microbial, hypotensive, mild nervine…” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica” say, “…acrid, warm … invigorates the blood … expels wind and alleviates pain …”

cf: Ligusticum porter (Osha)… a “stimulating diaphoretic”(Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")