Question:

In article <1998082216101600.MAA01…@ladder01.news.aol.com>, leanne1…@aol.com (Leanne1957) writes: >gingko >biloba (an herb) has been shown to improve circulation.  There has been >significant improvement in patients with senile dementia, not Alzheimers, but >the type that is believed to be caused by poor circulation to the brain. >I’ve >been wondering…..could it help Raynaud’s?  Has anyone tried this or

yes, I think it helps me. Linda

Response:

August 19, 1998 By Fredrick M. Wigley, M.D. Study suggests this "phenomenon" may double the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. BALTIMORE (Johns Hopkins Health Insider) – Raynaud’s phenomenon is characterized by a loss in blood circulation to fingers, toes and ears at the slightest change in temperature. The body basically exaggerates its normal response to cold. Instead of just decreasing blood flow to the skin, there is a complete closure of the arteries that provide nutrients to the surface tissues of fingers and toes. As the pooled blood loses oxygen, the skin turns white. Poorly oxygenated blood then pools in the capillaries, causing skin to turn blue. But new research indicates that Raynaud’s,  which affects about 4 percent of Americans, could be more than just a bothersome and sometimes painful annoyance: It could be a symptom or early warning sign of heart disease or another disease. Those with Raynaud’s phenomenon have twice the risk of the general population of               getting heart disease or having a stroke, according to a cross-sectional study of women in an inner-city African-American community. We’re not sure why our study participants with Raynaud’s had a higher prevalence of heart disease compared to the general population. Perhaps many had some underlying blockage or were taking medications such as beta-blockers, which can increase risk. But we do know that Raynaud’s phenomenon can irritate blood vessels and manifest diseased blood vessels. In the next phase of our study, we’ll try to determine what specific types of heart disease those with Raynaud’s might face or if the frequency of Raynaud episodes has any correlation with the risk of heart disease. What to Do Exposure to stress and cold increase the chances of a Raynaud’s episode, which typically lasts less than 15 minutes, and may worsen this vascular irritation. To reduce the effect of exposure to cold, it’s important to stay as warm as possible. If you’ve already been diagnosed with Raynaud’s phenomenon, here are other ways           you can help reduce the frequency and severity of these attacks: Keep moving. When you feel an impending attack, swing your arms in wide windmill-like circles to help improve blood flow to fingers. This type of exercise is also mildly aerobic, and can help raise body temperature. But only do this type of exercise after your doctor has examined you and ruled out underlying problems. If you have damaged blood vessels caused by scleroderma, for example, this type of activity can aggravate the problem. Limit caffeine and avoid smoking. Both constrict blood vessels, thus reducing circulation to your extremities. While we haven’t done any studies to see if smokers          have a higher incidence of Raynaud’s, we do know that quitting helps reduce the symptoms by improving blood flow. Avoid vasoconstrictors. These medications, which include cold preparations, beta-blockers and some narcotics, slow the flow of blood to fingers and toes. Meanwhile,            some people with Raynaud’s find relief by taking calcium channel blockers, but these               medications are not recommended for pregnant women. Fredrick M. Wigley, M.D., is a Professor of Medicine and Director of Molecular and               Clinical Rheumatology in the School of Medicine. He was one of the principal              investigators in the study that found an increased risk of cardiovascular disease              among people with Raynaud’s. The August issue is here!  For a limited time, The Johns Hopkins Health Insider is yours FREE! Take an "inside" look at the latest medical breakthroughs, cutting edge research, plus practical prevention and treatment tips straight from leading experts at the nation’s most trustworthy health institution — Johns Hopkins University and Health System. Copyright The Johns Hopkins University, 1998. All rights reserved. This interview is               not intended to provide advice on personal medical matters, nor is it intended to be a substitute for consultation with a physician. Sherry Messick Visit my websites Devoted to Surviving Scleroderma Living With Lupus Fighting with Fibromyalgia http://ps.superb.net/smessick/survive We are all Beacons of Light for others.

Response:

I just got back from a pharmacology conference, and the pharmacologist speaker told us about the double-blind, well controlled studies that show that gingko biloba (an herb) has been shown to improve circulation.  There has been significant improvement in patients with senile dementia, not Alzheimers, but the type that is believed to be caused by poor circulation to the brain.  I’ve been wondering…..could it help Raynaud’s?  Has anyone tried this or heard of studies looking at this?

Response:

 Gingko also helps my circulation, both of the extremities and the brain (so the fibro-fog is not so bad). Saundra aka Fibromama  Send all replies to fibrom…@bigfoot.com (Do not use "reply".) Fibromama’s Place: Chronic Illness Chronic Pain–Fibromyalgia, CFIDS, etc. http://members.tripod.com/~fibromama

Response:

I have a small book on Chinese food cures and read that fresh ginger is a good "hot" food (to combat "cold" body conditions.)  I don’t know that I’d eat a lot of it, but I have to tell you, when I ordered a salmon dish on a cold night out last week that came with ginger, I asked for extra ginger just to see.  It definitely warmed me up, and the gloves came off for the first time in days! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -LindaTC wrote in message <19990117173631.24966.00005…@ngol03.aol.com>… >In article <1998082216101600.MAA01…@ladder01.news.aol.com>, >leanne1…@aol.com (Leanne1957) writes: >>gingko >>biloba (an herb) has been shown to improve circulation.  There has been >>significant improvement in patients with senile dementia, not Alzheimers, but >>the type that is believed to be caused by poor circulation to the brain. >>I’ve >>been wondering…..could it help Raynaud’s?  Has anyone tried this or >yes, I think it helps me. >Linda

Response:

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