cosamine is a dietary supplement in the United
States, it is available without a doctor’s prescrip-
tion, so people who have osteoarthritis can side-
step the controversy and take the substance if they
choose. Glucosamine seems to have little effect on
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, an autoimmune disorder
that not only destroys but also deforms the joints.
Glucosamine partially blocks the absorption of
many diuretic medications such as furosemide
(Lasix) and the thiazides. Though people can take
both products at the same time, doctors may
increase the diuretic DOSEfor as long as the person
is also taking glucosamine. Among the minor side
effects are NAUSEAand gastrointestinal upset.
GLUCOSAMINEUses Risks/Side Effects Interactions
OSTEOARTHRITIS gastrointestinal upset loop diuretics
chronic BACK PAIN
See also AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS; LIGAMENT;
SAME; TENDON.
goldenseal An herb (Hydrastis canadensis) with
anti-inflammatory and possibly anti-INFECTION
properties. Indigenous to the North American
continent (and in particular to the Pacific North-
west), goldenseal is a mainstay of NATIVEAMERICAN
HEALING. Early tribes ground the roots into a
mushy paste to use as a poultice to treat insect
bites, LACERATIONS, and rashes. They also brewed
the roots into tea, which though bitter to the taste
was an effective remedy for digestive upset. Today
products containing goldenseal extract come in
topical, oral, and dried forms.
Researchers have isolated goldenseal’s active
ingredients as berberine and hydrastine, sub-
stances that now manufacturers extract and pro-
duce as prescription medications for use as in a
number of European countries. Berberine in par-
ticular has strong antibiotic action and acts to
stimulate IMMUNE RESPONSEin the body. Goldenseal
taken in combination with ECHINACEA, another
herb that boosts immune function, appears to
increase resistance to many infections from COLDS
andINFLUENZAto HEPATITIS.
Goldenseal is often an ingredient in herbal
preparations to relieve the adverse effects of
CHEMOTHERAPYand to support the IMMUNE SYSTEMin
fighting the cancer. As with other immunosup-
portive therapies, health experts recommend
using goldenseal for no longer than three weeks
consecutively, with two to four weeks between
treatments. This allows the immune system to rest
and restore itself. There are no known side effects
or interactions with goldenseal.GOLDENSEAL (Hydrastis canadensis)
Uses Risks/Side Effects Interactions
topical and systemic none known none known
antibioticnone
stimulate IMMUNE
RESPONSE
soothe digestive upset
calm and help heal
canker sores
increase resistance to
urinary tract infectionsSee also CANKER SORE; GASTROENTERITIS; GREEN
TEA; RASH; SAME; URINARY TRACT INFECTION(UTI).green tea The unfermented, dried leaves of the
tea plant (Camellia sinensis), brewed into a drink.
Black tea and green tea come from the same plant.
The difference between them is that processing and
drying of green tea leaves takes place immediately
after harvesting them and black tea leaves undergo
a processing that includes fermentation before dry-
ing. Though both kinds of tea leaves contain the
same chemical compounds, green tea contains
them in far greater concentrations. Green tea is also
available in the United States as a dietary supple-
ment, packaged in capsules or as tablets that con-
tain the dried leaves ground into powder. Green tea
contains a number of antioxidants, called polyphe-
nol catechins. They include gallocatechin (GC), epi-
gallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin (EC), and the
especially potent epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
Red grapes and red wine also contain high amounts
of these catechins.
EGCG appears to interfere with enzyme
processes necessary to allow healthy cells to
mutate into cancerous cells, thus thwarting the
development of CANCER. It also seems to initiate
apoptosis, a sequence of natural events leading to
cell death, in cancer cells that are already present.
In addition to its cancer-fighting actions, EGCGgreen tea 73