Magnesium key to calcium absorption

PRIME July 2012 By Jonathan Evans Herbal Information Specialist/Business Representative for the Herbarium Special to PRIME DEAR JONATHAN: My doctor prescribed me Finasteride for an enlarged prostate. I read the side effects and they scare the life out of me. Is there a natural treatment for the prostate? —Arthur DEAR ARTHUR: Yes there is, and it is simple as anything. Saw Palmetto, guaranteed potency with 85 to 95 percent fatty acids and sterols. Make sure you get a product with high enough fatty acids. There are dozens of products containing Saw Palmetto, but I only know of a few that are good enough quality and strong enough. Solaray is a great product and it comes in capsules — usually two a day will do the trick. If you are at the beginning stage of Benign prostatic hyperplasia, an extract may be all you need. Natures Answer, Herb Pharm and Vitality Works have single ingredient or blends specifically for prostate health. The HERBARIUM also carries a blend called Men's Silver, which contains Saw Palmetto, Nettle root (a natural source of Beta-Sitosterol), Sarsaparilla, Turmeric, and Dong quai. We have plenty of literature pertaining to prostate health — free of charge. It makes me chuckle that Finasteride is being prescribed again. It was first marketed in the 1990s as PROSCAR. The evidence for its effectiveness was sketchy at best, but there it was. If you search the web for information on Finasteride, you will find quite a bit of good research, including the issue of its side effects, which can be major. Sexual dysfunctions (erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, impotence) were reported. When compared to Saw Palmetto, the herb worked faster, had better results and no negative sexual side effects, and was a lot less expensive. DEAR JONATHAN: I have a prescription for calcium because I have Osteopinia. I am taking 1500 milligrams of Caltrate with Vitamin D. I have terrible muscle aches all over. Is there something you have for pain? —Marian DEAR MARIAN: There is a very good chance your pain is being caused by the form and amount of calcium you are taking. Caltrate is calcium carbonate, the poorest form of calcium on the market. Essentially what you are taking is TUMS. Calcium carbonate is an antacid, which neutralizes stomach acid. Here is a chemistry test question that I am sure you will pass. If you want to dissolve a mineral, would you use acid or water? Tic-tock, tic-tock ... Time's up! Acid is the correct answer. Why anyone suggests TUMS is beyond me. I have a doctor friend who has a degree in nutrition. He hands out sheets informing his patients why TUMS is bad for you. I go one step further and suggest calcium carbonate in general is not going to help with you building bone. There are other forms of calcium such as citrate, malate, glycinate and other amino acid chelates that will do the trick. We have a great deal of information from medical researchers on the importance of magnesium. Some new research from New Zealand shows women taking more than 1000 milligrams of calcium per day may increase their chance of heart attack by 24 percent because excess calcium migrates to arteries, clogging them. Another study in the "New England Journal of Medicine," showed women taking 1000 milligrams of calcium and Vitamin D had a slight boost in hip bone density, but did not have fewer hip fractures, and they also experienced an increased risk of kidney stones. Magnesium helps absorb the calcium; activating the Vitamin D, relaxing muscles, stopping cramps and aches. There is so much information available on the need for increased magnesium, I urge you and other readers to research this literature and start taking care of your health. Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx: Jonathan Evans via email at info@theherbarium.com, or by regular mail to: The Herbarium, 264 Exchange St., Chicopee, MA 01013. If requesting additional information from Evans, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.