Naturopathy Archives - Page 9 of 22 - Natural Medicine Week

The Intuitive Gut – What is your gut trying to tell you?

Ever felt a flutter or a ‘butterfly’ feeling in your tummy, like before a presentation or exam? Maybe your mouth has salivated when you have smelt something delicious! Well, that was your mind-gut connection in play.

Your brain and gut are in constant connection with one another via the vagus nerve the longest nerve in the body. This bidirectional link is between your central nervous system (CNS), your enteric nervous system (ENS), hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and let’s not forget your gut microbiome also plays a role! This link is always communicating with each other, playing a huge role in your digestion, immune, hormonal and nervous systems.

Why does stress affect the gut?

When you are stressed, you go out of Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) “rest and digest” into the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) “flight or fight”. This could show up as a quick bathroom stop before your big presentation or a nervous poo before you have an interview. After the event is over your body will come back to a natural balance of PNS, this process is healthy and does happen regularly, and the important factor in helping us go back to balance is resilience.

In prolonged chronic stressful states this may not go back, and you may get stuck in the flight or fight response leading to gut symptoms like bloating, reflux, diarrhoea, constipation, IBS, poor sleep, mood disorder, anxiety, and fatigue.

Why is it important to go back into PNS? Well, the PNS plays a role in these very important functions in the body:

Reduces heart rate, increases vasodilation (relaxing of the smooth muscles in the blood vessels).
Stimulates the salivary glands to start the digestion process.
Increases motility in the stomach and intestines.
Helps the gallbladder to release bile to aid in digestion.
Stimulates the pancreas to release digestive enzymes and insulin.

So, you can see if you were stuck in a chronic stressful state, it would have a huge impact on your digestive function and gut motility!

What does my microbiome have to do with my mood?

Did you know that your gut bugs aka your microbiome play a role in the connection with the vagus nerve and your gut-brain axis?

The vagus nerve is constantly sampling the microbiome and sending signals from the gut back to the brain. If you have an imbalance in your gut microbiome like inflammation, poor microbiome diversity and gut dysbiosis (overgrowth and imbalance of bad bacteria) you could be negatively affecting not only your gut health but also your mood and stress. A low vagal tone has been shown in patients with IBS and IBD, and these conditions both have a strong link to dysbiosis.

Mood hormones like GABA and 5-HT are metabolites that are produced from probiotic bacteria. These bacteria can also have a positive effect on reducing anxiety and depression.

5 ways to improve your gut-brain axis, vagus nerve and digestive issues!

Nutrients and herbs to support a healthy stress response

Stress can be greatly impacted by magnesium deficiency. If you are stressed, you increase your excretion of magnesium and if you are low in magnesium, it increases the stress response. So, it’s a catch 22. Your health care practitioner may suggest a practitioner grade good quality well absorbed magnesium to improve your stress response. B vitamins are also a group of nutrients that can support you in times of stress and fatigue.

Adaptogenic herbs are wonderful for supporting the body to adapt to stress. Your practitioner may recommend herbs like Withania, Siberian ginseng and Rhodiola. Also, lavender, passionflower and magnolia can have a positive effect on increasing the calming hormone GABA which will help reduce stress and anxiety.

Improve your vagal tone!

Grounding yourself with bare feet on the grass for 5-10 minutes a day.
Getting outside in nature. Studies have shown that walking in nature can reduce anxiety and depression.
Daily meditation/mindfulness by using apps like Calm, InsightTimer, Headspace, The Art of Living.
Box Breathing – inhale for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, exhale for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4. Repeat as many times as you need.
Having cold showers, humming, chanting, gargling and yoga are amazing for toning your vagus nerve!
Get more sleep.
And move daily.

Reduce inflammation

Look at limiting and eliminating foods that increase inflammation in the body. Cut down on coffee if you notice that it increases your stress and anxiety. Limit alcohol, reduce refined carbohydrates like processed food and sugary foods.

Avoid unhealthy fats, vegetable/seed oils, deep fried foods, and margarine (eat real butter instead!). These types of fats are high in omega 6 arachidonic acid (ARA) and these increase pro-inflammatory mediators in the body. Instead increase omega 3 fatty acids food that are rich in EPA and DHA and have an anti-inflammatory action in the body. Food like – oily fish (sardines, mackerel and wild salmon), chia seeds, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), avocado, nuts & seeds (flaxseeds), coconut oil, hemp seeds, natto and eggs.

Increase foods that contain polyphenols. Polyphenols are natural compounds found in plant food. They are antioxidants that help to reduce oxidative stress in the body and reduce inflammation. There are many foods that are rich in polyphenols like:

berries
plums
black grapes
black olives
black tea, green tea and coffee (avoid if it increases your anxiety)
cocoa
herbs and spices like ginger, cumin and turmeric

Support your good gut bugs!

By increasing probiotic and prebiotic foods you can greatly impact the health of your gut and improve your microbiome to have a positive impact on the gut-brain axis.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that have a positive affect on health. They are important for healthy digestion and immune function; they can also have a positive impact on mood. Probiotics like Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37™ and Lactobacillus plantarum 299v have been shown to support the HPA axis during times of stress. They also influence the gut-brain axis and reduce cortisol in times of chronic stress and anxiety. It is important when taking a probiotic that you take a strain specific probiotic that specifically meets your health needs.

You can also increase probiotic foods like yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, fermented vegetables like sauerkraut and miso.

Prebiotics help to feed your good gut bugs and help them to thrive. Your microbes in your gut help to digest fibre and by feeding them certain gut loving fibre foods, this will support them to grow and produce Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA) which help to reduce inflammation.

Some prebiotic foods to include in your diet are kiwifruit, green bananas, garlic, onions, cabbage, rhubarb, fennel, oats, lentils, cooked and cooled potato.

Functional microbiome testing

Naturopaths, nutritionists, and other natural health care practitioners can order specific tests to see what is going on in your gut microbiome. It takes out the guess work and can show us areas that need to be addressed. Like what is the state of your gut mucosa lining, is it inflamed, do you have leaky gut or poor digestion? It can also show us if you have dysbiosis like opportunistic bacteria, parasites, and candida. We then want to see the diversity of your microbiome and the health of your good gut bugs. These tests really help to show us where we need to pay attention and can sometimes be such a relief for patients to finally see what is going wrong and how we can make their gut and mind happy again!

It’s important to work with a health care practitioner that can support you and your health holistically to get you to a place of a happy gut and a happy mind!

References:

Neuroanatomy, Parasympathetic Nervous System – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)

Frontiers | The Vagus Nerve at the Interface of the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (frontiersin.org)

Serotonin, tryptophan metabolism and the brain-gut-microbiome axis – ScienceDirect

A New Approach to Managing Mood via the Gut-Brain Axis | Metagenics Institute ANZ

Omega-6 fatty acids and inflammation – ScienceDirect

Epilepsy and Seizures: Ways to Restore a Healthy Brain

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a long-term brain condition where a person has repeated seizures also known as fits. It is thought to affect about 3 in every 100 Australians. Having just one seizure is not considered to be epilepsy — about half the people who have one seizure never have another seizure. Epilepsy is not one single condition. There are a range of different conditions that can cause seizures. Seizures usually last 1 to 3 minutes. If someone has a seizure that lasts for more than 5 minutes, call an ambulance on triple zero (000). If you see someone having a seizure, you can go to Epilepsy Action Australia’s seizure first aid resources.

Quite often during the diagnostic phase the cause of the epilepsy can involve some form of brain injury. However, for many people the underlying causes can be unknown. There is a great deal that can be done with complementary medicine, lifestyle changes, self-help strategies to reduce and often eliminate these frightening events.

The Difference between Epilepsy and Seizures

Seizures occur when the brain’s electrical activity rises above normal electrical impulse limits. These changes are transmitted to muscles and can cause dramatic, noticeable symptoms such as twitching or convulsions. These symptoms can be severe including violent shaking, loss of muscle control. However, sometimes these seizures can be mild indicating and underlying medical problem, so it is important to recognize them and seek professional medical assistance.

Seizures can be non-epileptic resulting from an injury, such as a blow to the head, a fall, or an illness. When professional treatment is sought for the condition, the seizures tend to cease and go away. Epilepsy is a chronic disorder that cause non-provoked recurrence of seizures. Not all people who suffer from seizures have epilepsy.

In a minority of epileptic cases there is a clear cause, typically, the known underlying causes of the seizure will involve some injury to the brain. In up to 70% of all case of epilepsy in adults and children, no cause can be discovered.

No matter whether your seizures are epileptic related or not, they are an indication that there are some improvements can be implemented that will support your overall health, brain health and wellbeing. As you begin to gradually implement healthy lifestyle changes, gradually your symptoms may begin to subside.

It is important to keep a journal with the changes you are making, giving any particular change a few weeks to take effect, then to note any improvements, no matter how small. This will keep you motivated to continue, making these important changes.

For about one out of every two women with epilepsy, seizures tend to occur more around the time of menstrual periods. If this is happening to you, then speak with your health professionals about what could be done different or how your medicines could be changed for around this time.

You can also implement a healthy eating regime that will help to balance your hormones and many people find taking a natural Vitamin B supplement beneficial.

8 Ways to Identify Triggers & What you Can do!

Identifying triggers is not always easy. A single incident does not always mean something is a trigger. It is often a combination of factors that trigger a seizure. A good way to find your triggers is to keep a seizure journal. After each seizure, note the following:

1: Make a note of the day and time

2: What activity you were involved in, was it stressful, or difficult.

3: What was happening around you, how did you feel?

4: Unusual sights, smells, or sounds

5: Unusual stressors, challenges, or circumstances

6: What you have been eating or how long had it been since you had eaten

7: Your level of fatigue (normal or excessive). How well you slept the night before or maybe even days.

8: How much water had you drunk, you could have been dehydrated

What you Can Do!

It is helpful to keep a seizure journal. This helps you to determine if your medications or support therapies are working. To achieve a fairly accurate account of what is or isn’t working. Make simple changes to your daily eating habits, lifestyle habits and the addition of any supplements. Giving each change time to take effect, usually 1 – 2 weeks.

It is important to note how you felt, (symptoms), what you were doing, eating or drinking, just before your seizure, helping to give a clearer picture as to the cause or trigger. Quite often there can be more than one cause or trigger but given time you will gradually narrow it down.

It is important to take your journal with you when you visit your Health Care Professional. It may be useful in adjusting your medications and seeing what other changes you have put into place and how they are working. It is important to note each improvement, no matter how small. This will give you confidence and belief that what you are doing is working or of course if it is not. Providing you with important information about you and your body. How it is working and functioning, to then be able to help it restore back to optimal health.

Chronic Seizures

Often if the seizures are chronic and are linked to epilepsy, you will be put on a course of medications. For most people with epilepsy, anti-seizure medications, also known as anti-convulsant, can successfully control seizures. These AEDs do not cure epilepsy. Instead, they may stop seizures from happening.

Many Australians are now using Naturopathic Therapies to compliment and improve their health, combat illness and disease, to give them a better quality of life

It is of vital importance if you are on anti-epileptic medication that you never stop taking it suddenly or altering the dose without consultation with your Medical practitioner, Neurologist, and your Naturopathic Practitioner.

Antiepileptic medications have been shown to induce nutrition deficiencies, such as vitamin B6, calcium, vitamin D and folic acid. It is well known that long-term use of AEDs affects bone density and increases the risk of bone fractures.

For this reason, many people with epilepsy prefer to take vitamin supplementation. This is generally not a problem, but it is important for people planning on trying alternative, complimentary, herbal, or nutritional therapies to consult with their doctor or neurologist first.

Never stop taking antiepileptic medication suddenly or attempt to alter the dosage on your own. This can lead to serious or life-threatening seizures.

Supporting Healthy Hormone Balance with your Diet!

A healthy diet plays an essential role in promoting female hormonal health, and yet the word ‘diet’ has the power to send our heads into a spin. Still, eating healthy can be a great experience – enjoying delicious foods that are inexpensive and easy to prepare, without strict calorie counting. Small changes here and there can go a long way with easing your symptoms, leaving you to feel your happy, relaxed, energetic self again.

Health experts worldwide continue to praise the Mediterranean Diet (MD) as the #1 diet for good health and longevity. The MD has many health benefits including cancer prevention, good heart and brain health and weight loss, but what’s less known is its therapeutic effects on female hormonal irregularities and disease. Studies show the high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients contained in the Mediterranean Diet is why it’s beneficial for managing and preventing chronic conditions.

The Mediterranean Diet is based on fresh, whole foods and is primarily plant based including vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts, seeds, healthy fats (olive oil and avocado), with a little fish, seafood and meats. The main drink in the MD is water in which drinking 1.5 – 2 litres of filtered water daily is recommended.

Our main aim when supporting healthy hormones with women, especially peri-menopausal women, is to ensure we are making and clearing adequate oestrogen, that it is balanced with progesterone and that it is clearing correctly from the body. Many hormonal issues can be from poor oestrogen clearance and an imbalance of the ratio between progesterone and oestrogen.

There are two ways we move oestrogen from our bodies. The first step occurs in the liver and the second step occurs in our bowel. The health of both of these organs is vital to healthy oestrogen clearance. Ensuring we are having a regular bowel movement everyday is important for healthy hormones.

Reducing alcohol is really important as part of supporting hormone balance. Just 2 drinks a day can double your exposure to oestrogen.

The gut microbiome is the community of bacteria, fungi and other organisms that are living along our digestive tract, especially in our large intestine. A diverse and healthy gut microbiome has many impacts on the body including our ability to absorb nutrients, our mental health and our ability to detoxify our hormones, especially our oestrogen.

It’s important to feed the gut microbiome with berries, fibre foods, linseed meal, psyllium husk, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, and fermented foods and consider taking a probiotic. 2 teaspoons of linseed meal daily is excellent for hormonal balance for women. These provide omega 3 fatty acids, aid clearance of oestrogen from the body and are an excellent fibre source. Ultra processed foods, high sugar intake, alcohol, trans fats from oils such as margarine, and fried foods can impact on the health of the gut microbiome, which can impact on hormone health.

Potent foods for optimising hormones:

Protein with each main meal. Aim for a palm size portion with each main meal. Protein is found in meat, nuts, seeds, eggs, hommus, yoghurt, tofu, beans. It is critical for many reasons including balancing blood sugar to help reduce sugar cravings, supporting happy brain chemistry production and also maintaining muscle mass.
Include some good fats in your diet such as avocado, nuts, seeds, olive oil and fish. Good fats help support a healthy heart, brain and hormones.
Selenium rich foods- brazil nuts, organ meats, seafood, salmon.
Phyto-estrogens-these are beneficial as they weakly bind to your oestrogen receptor sites and help to buffer you from the ups and downs of stronger oestrogens (known as estradiol). These include legumes, flaxseed, wholegrains, sprouts
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower aid oestrogen clearance in the body. Avoid eating in large raw quantities if you have an existing underactive thyroid
Zinc rich foods- some red meat, nuts, oysters
Omega 3 foods- salmon, walnuts, fish, tuna, chia seeds
Iodine rich foods such as seaweeds, iodised salt and seafood is very important for peri-menopause
Calcium rich foods such as broccoli, tahini, hommos, tofu, lean dairy or fortified milk alternatives, sardines, oranges

Sample meal plan for a day:

On rising: Lemon Juice in Water or Fresh Ginger Tea.

Breakfast: Blueberry & Cinnamon Creamy Smoothie.

Morning Snack: 1 x Coffee, tea or herbal tea (no dairy milk or sugar).

Lunch: Salad in a Jar.

Afternoon Snack: 2 x Protein Balls of your choice.

Dinner: Grilled Fish or Chicken Salad.

Foods for Gut Health

Gut health has become a common topic over the last couple of decades as a major area to focus on for overall well being. Much of this attention has been on specific diets, supplements and tests to uncover what could be contributing to your gut health status.

With all of this hype has come an overload of information. In clinical practice, as naturopaths, we often speak with patients who are under the impression that they need some sort of fancy treatment protocol in order to be healthy. For some, it is true that there will be a recommended regime of foods, herbs and nutrients to take for a period of time but for the vast majority of us, we can find therapeutic benefits from simple everyday foods.

Rather than focusing on “super foods” that have travelled across the world, many of the most potent food medicines are those found at the local supermarket. The four categories below highlight what some of those foods are and why they are essential for great gut health.

Probiotics

Probiotics are essentially bacteria (and sometimes yeasts) that are ingested so that they can interact with the bacteria already within the body. Probiotic bacteria do not colonise the gut permanently, rather they come in temporarily to help encourage and support a healthy microbiome environment.

The microbiome is the name we give the collection of different microbes that live within our gut. This is made up of organisms such as bacteria, yeasts, viruses and sometimes parasites. A healthy microbiome is one of diverse and thriving communities of microbes which help to break down our food, process chemicals and hormones, and form our immune system.

Many people will associate probiotics with the little capsules we keep in the fridge, however, probiotics can also be found in food forms – that is, foods that contain beneficial bacteria in them. These are mainly ‘fermented’ foods which have had their original nature changed due to bacterial activity (eg: cabbage that has been fermented into sauerkraut).

Examples of probiotic foods include:

Sauerkraut
Kimchi
Yoghurt
Kefir
Kombucha
Miso
Tempeh
Natto

Prebiotics

As mentioned above, a healthy microbiome is essential for a well functioning gut. As well as introducing new bacterial species into the gut, we can also positively influence the microbiome by feeding it. These bacteria friendly foods are referred to as prebiotics.

Prebiotics are the non-digestible parts of our foods, also known as fibres. The “good” bacteria in the microbiome will feast on these foods while breaking them down and further fermenting them in the large intestine. Due to this fermentation in the colon, increasing prebiotic fibres in the diet should be done gradually to avoid large volumes of gas and bloating while the microbiome adjusts.

Prebiotic foods include:

Leeks
Asparagus
Garlic
Onions
Jerusalem artichokes
Legumes (kidney beans, lentils, etc.)
Chicory root
Green bananas
Cooked and cooled potato

Polyphenols

Polyphenols are compounds that occur naturally within plants. They are typically associated with the deep rich colours of purple, red and black but can also be found in other brightly coloured plant foods.

Due to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of polyphenols there has been much research done on the positive impacts these types of foods can have on our health. Much of the science shows that those who consume polyphenol-rich diets have protection against various chronic health concerns such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.

But what does this have to do with gut health? Polyphenols are considered to be part of the prebiotic category, meaning they feed our gut bacteria. They have been given a special mention here because of their potent effects and how well they are tolerated by most people.

Due to the anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols, they may also be a great recommendation for those with inflammatory gut concerns such as IBS, IBD and coeliac disease.

Examples of polyphenol foods include:

Cranberries
Pomegranates
Blackberries
Black currants
Cherries
Black olives
Purple carrots
Red cabbage
Red onions
Red lettuces/greens
Black sesame and tahini
Black rice

Herbs & spices

When we think of the health heroes in our meals we often think of the beautiful piece of wild caught fish or the fresh organic veggies, however, the accompaniments can be just as nourishing for the gut.

Ginger

Eating ginger has been shown to improve many facets of gut health. As a prokinetic, ginger can help to speed up the pace of a sluggish gut and promote regular bowel movements. As naturopaths, we also know that ginger has a carminative effect on the gut, reducing discomfort and bloating, as well as quelling nausea.

Cumin

Used by many Asian cultures, cumin is a digestive stimulant. It has astringent properties which helps to promote the initial stages of digestion by stimulating saliva production and increasing the release of enzymes in the stomach. Cumin, like ginger, is also a carminative and can settle an uncomfortable belly. It makes up one third of a common traditional Ayurvedic tea for gut health along with coriander seeds and fennel seeds.

Turmeric

The compound curcumin found within turmeric has shown to boost levels of beneficial bacteria while helping to reduce undesirable strains associated with certain chronic health conditions. Turmeric is touted for its anti-inflammatory actions which may promote healing within the gut lining. It is also a detoxification aid, supporting the production of phase 2 liver enzymes.

I couldn’t round out this article on foods for gut health without speaking about diversity. It is all good and well to include the foods listed above in your diet, however, if these are all you are eating, you will still see your gut health suffer. Diversity is the true key to long term good gut health. I recommend aiming for a minimum of 40 different plant foods every single week while also aiming to include something from each item above with most meals.

Gut health doesn’t need to be complicated and as you can see from the foods listed above, many of which are likely in your pantry or fridge already, it can be accessible for everyone.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7589116/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614039/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2835915/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6199944/

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Herbal Medicine

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a serious lung disease that gets worse over time and can cause significant health problems. It is a relatively rare disease, with an estimated 6 people per 100,000 individuals worldwide (1).

While the exact cause of IPF is unknown, it is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including exposure to certain chemicals and toxins (2). In our clinic, we had had a patient that was a Vietnam War Vet that was exposed to chemicals and other patients that had office jobs with no exposure to any chemicals or toxins. Hence the name Idiopathic or “arises from no known cause”

The incidence of IPF is increasing, likely due to increased awareness and improved diagnostic methods (3). IPF is most commonly diagnosed in individuals over the age of 60, and it is more common in men than in women (1).

Medications for IFP may assist with reducing inflammation and slow progression however there are limited choices and this may be problematic for patients with other chronic conditions.

Herbal Options for IPF

The emergence of herbal treatments for IPF is an exciting development as it presents an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical treatments. It also allows patients to explore different treatment plans that can work best for them while reducing the risks of medication interactions.

Several supplements and herbs have been studied for their potential therapeutic effects on IPF. A few of the most commonly used ones are:

N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a derivative of the amino acid cysteine, has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the lungs, which are both implicated in the pathogenesis of IPF. A meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials found that NAC supplementation improved forced vital capacity (FVC) and reduced exacerbations in patients with IPF (4).
Another herb that has shown promise in the treatment of IPF is Cordyceps sinensis, a parasitic fungus that grows on the larvae of certain caterpillars. Cordyceps sinensis has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat respiratory conditions. A study on a mouse model of IPF found that Cordyceps sinensis supplementation improved lung function and reduced inflammation (5).
Astragalus also traditionally used in Chinese medicine as a remedy for respiratory diseases. It is known for its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. A study conducted in China evaluated the effect of Astragalus on IPF patients. The results showed that Astragalus improved the lung function and quality of life of the patients. Additionally, Astragalus reduced the decline of forced vital capacity (FVC) in patients with IPF, indicating a potential role in preventing the progression of IPF (6).
Angelica sinensis is another traditional Chinese herb that has been used to treat various ailments, including respiratory diseases. It has been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic properties. A study conducted in Korea investigated the effect of Angelica sinensis on IPF using a mouse model. The results showed that Angelica sinensis treatment reduced lung inflammation and fibrosis in the mice, indicating its potential therapeutic value in IPF (7).

See a natural health practitioner

However, it is important to note that not all herbal remedies are safe or effective for IPF. Some herbs may interact with medications or worsen symptoms of the disease.

Some patients I have assisted have had no other conditions and been able to have all the above-mentioned supplements. Others have things such as heart disease, mental health or diabetes and need to have a more personalised treatment plan.

Therefore, it is important to work with a qualified Naturopath before incorporating herbal remedies into a treatment plan.

References:

Maher, T. M., Bendstrup, E., Dron, L., Langley, J., Smith, G., Khalid, J. M., … & Kreuter, M. (2021). Global incidence and prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Respiratory Research, 22(1), 1-10.
Maher, T. M., & Wells, A. U. (2019). IPF: One disease, many comorbidities and no cure. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 7(10), 878-888.
Fernández Pérez, E. R., et al. (2018). Epidemiology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Clinics in Chest Medicine, 39(1), 1-8.
Jiang, C., et al. (2021). N-acetylcysteine in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine, 100(14), e25417.
Zhao, J., et al. (2015). Cordyceps sinensis oral liquid improves pulmonary function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 9(5), 1731-1736.
Wang, J., Ma, Y., Zhuang, Y., Li, J., Mu, S., Zhang, J., … & Li, X. (2017). Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a meta-analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2017.
Kwon, O. K., Lee, M. Y., Yuk, D. Y., Oh, S. R., & Lee, H. K. (2015). Anti-inflammatory effects of Angelica sinensis extract in a mouse model of ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 77, 39-44.