Study Shows Efficacy of Consuming Glandulars and Herbs

Study Shows Efficacy of Consuming Glandulars and Herbs
Study Published as Thiel, R. Efficacy of Glandulars and Herbs: The Result of 945 Cases. The Original Internist, Volume 19 (1), March 2012, 7-11
Abstract: Many people consume glandular-containing supplements to support or improve their health. Glandulars are normally dried glands of animals such as cows, sheep, and goats. Glands commonly used include parts of the brain, thyroid, thymus, kidney, heart, pancreas, adrenal, liver, etc. Some take them to assist with problems such as anxiety, panic attacks, fatigue, fibromyalgia, headaches, attention disorders, loss of memory, inability to focus, mood complaints, and a host of other ailments. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the efficacy of individualized glandular and herbal-based interventions based upon reflex nutrition assessment. This paper contains a summary report of four pre-test, post-test trials, plus eight previously published trials. Of the 945 participants,928 (98.2%) reported improvement; p< 0.001.
 
INTRODUCTION
Glandular therapy has been used in countries such as the United States of America since at least the nineteenth century [1]. Since World War II, mainstream medical practitioners have been less inclined to recommend them, while holistic practitioners, such as chiropractors and naturopaths, have tended to be more inclined to use them. Several papers published in MEDline journals have indicated that glandular therapies are being looked at by practitioners with a variety of clinical backgrounds [2-6].
Although the use of glandulars has its critics [7-9], there has been no serious and credible study that shows that they are not effective. Furthermore, a study in the Journal of Surgery showed that oral pancreatic supplementation resulted in improved enzyme and growth levels for children who had a pancreaticoduodenectomy [2]. Oral consumption of a bovine thymus extract has been shown to reduce the frequency of recurrent respiratory infections and increase salivary IgA in children [3]. Other glandular substances are used regularly by the medical community. Additionally, reports have suggested that bovine glandulars may be helpful for myoclonic seizures [5], thyroid support [6], anti-inflammatory activities [7], Down syndrome [10], and immune response [5,7].
Evidence suggests that with oral consumption of glandular extracts, a small percentage (5-10%) of their peptides are not broken down into their constituent amino acids but are available for intact absorption in the small intestine [11-14]. A small amount of these absorbed peptides then circulate and some of them appear to assist the human body (especially for ill persons) in performing various anabolic and catabolic processes [11-15]. E. Howell and others have reported that the amount of enzymes that pass through the stomach is between 40-50% [16]. Glandulars are considered to be “cell food” (cytotrophic).
It has been specifically claimed that glandulars may work by having a protective ability against autoimmune reactions against the related organs, “Glandulars, said Lee, neutralize such attacks” [17-18]. Autoimmune reactions are believed to be the major cause of primary hypothyroidism [19], as well certain other disorders.
This report includes the results of clinical trials involving people taking one or more of four selected glandular formulas, as well as some earlier trials. The intention of these trials was to measure how often individualized recommendations using these glandular formulas could benefit people suffering with a variety of complaints within 90 days.
 
SELECTION CRITERIA
Subjects were eligible for inclusion in these trials if they agreed to follow the recommended intervention, agreed to provide (and did provide) feedback, signed a consent agreement, and indicated they suffered from problems monitored in this study, and took these selected glandulars for a period of up to 3 months. It does not include those who failed to provide feedback (which would be approximately 15% of those who could have participated). In the United States of America, naturopaths tend to see females more often than males, hence most of the statistics will be broken down by gender.
 
METHOD AND MATERIALS
After completing the selection documentation, all subjects were interviewed for approximately 45 minutes. All subjects were then assessed using Reflex Nutrition Assessment (RNA). RNA is a non-invasive technique used to assess nutrition status by observing the response of muscles under externally provided human-force (it is similar to other forms of muscle testing [15]). RNA was also used to determine quantities of supplements.
Participants who appeared to have problems (through the interview process combined with reflex assessment) that could benefit from the herbal-glandular formulas were advised to take them. The herbal-glandular products were from Food Research International (note: because of FDA practices, no product names are listed in this paper). These products are in the “herbal-glandular” category in that they contain bovine glandular cytotrophin extracts as well as various plants and herbs. (While in traditional Chinese medicine, the term “herbs” can include any substance that might be used to promote better health, in the West, the term “herbs” is limited to substances that come from plants and does not include animal products.)
Subjects were interviewed at approximately 30 day intervals to determine any change in their complaints.
 
 
For all study Results including tables and Figures please refer to http://www.healthresearch.com/natural-health-practitioner.htm
 
DISCUSSION
This investigator has used glandular formulas clinically for decades and has advocated the proper use for them in medical and alternative journals [4,6, 21-29].
Properly advised glandular formulas clearly have been shown to be clinically effective. By combining the results of all twelve of the trials shown in this paper, they show that 98.2% of cases reported at least some improvement (though most reported major improvement) taking such formulas.
These trials thus confirm that glandular products can help with a variety of human health complaints. They also confirm that individualized recommendations can be remarkably effective. Thus this researcher believes that these two “out-of-favor approaches” (glandulars and reflex nutrition assessment) should be considered by more practitioners. (Various holistic practitioners have supported muscle-testing, however [30-32]. This researcher does not believe that indiscriminately recommending the glandulars and herbs used in these studies (without proper training and without reflex nutrition assessment) will result in anywhere near the reported success rates this paper shows.
Because the consumption of meat is discouraged in some circles and the fear of Bovine Spongiform Encephalophy (B.S.E., also known as “mad cow disease”) in many circles, some prefer not to consume glandular products. However, it should be noted no one so far has ever been proven to have contracted B.S.E. from glandulars. In addition, B.S.E. is not considered to be a threat in cattle/sheep that come from B.S.E./scrapie free countries such as Argentina and New Zealand (the glandulars in the four products mentioned all came from Argentina and/or New Zealand and/or wild fish) [33-35]. Thus, B.S.E. should not be a concern for those that consume glandulars from B.S.E.-free parts of the world.
Properly prepared bovine, ovine, and goat glandulars from healthy animals are a generally safe way to feed human organs. They are not known to have any significant long-term negative side effects. Humans have been consuming them for thousands of years [36].
Glandulars became less utilized by mainstream medical doctors in the United States as the use of penicillin and pharmaceutical medicines increased. Because of this, many doctors are unaware of the potential benefits for their patients—benefits that are still available today.
More studies researching the effectiveness and usefulness of glandulars should be encouraged.
About the Author
 
Dr. Thiel was an Idaho naturopathic physician and is an Alabama licensed naturopathic scientist. He received his M.S. from the University of Southern California, Ph.D. (Nutrition Science) from the Union Institute & University, and his Doctorate in Natural Health from The United States School of Naturopathy and Allied Sciences. Dr. Thiel is the author of several books, including Combining Old and New: Naturopathy for the 21st Century. and Serious Nutrition: Incorporating Clinically Effective Nutrition into Your Practice. He has written many papers on nutrition and the use of glandular. Dr. Thiel also sees many people with health concerns at the Doctors’ Research clinic in Arroyo Grande, California.www.doctorsresearch.com
 
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[4] Thiel R. Might disorders of calcium cause or contribute to myoclonic seizures? Med. Hypo, 2006; 66(5):969-974
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[23] Thiel R. Musculoskeletal pain relief for people with arthritis, lupus, and fibromyalgia. Townsend Letter for Doctors, 1999; 193/194:136-138
[24] Thiel R. Effects of natural interventions on attention-deficit disorder and attention-deficit hyperactive disorder. Townsend Letter for Doctors, 2000; 201:93-97
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[29] Thiel R. Glandulars in Supplements. The Original Internist, 18:4, Dec 2011:144-150
[30]Versandal D.A. Contact Reflex Analysis and Applied Trophology, XVIII edition. D.A. Versandall, Holland (MI), 1990 [31] Burr-Madsen, Angela. Body Polarity Reflex Analysis and the Nutritional Connection. Carson City: Thoth, Inc., 1992 [32] Rosen, Marc S. and Williams, Louisa. The research status of applied kinesiology, part II: An annotated bibliography of applied kinesiological research. In: A.K. Review, Vol. 1, No. 2: 34-47, 1991 [33] JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE NEW ZEALAND FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY AND MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. BSE in the US has no food safety impact in New Zealand or threat to our animal health status. 24 December 2003
[34] New Zealand’s Scrapie Freedom. New Zealand Food Safety Authority. Nzfsa.gov 2/16/06
[35] Scudel A.A, et al. Analysis of risk factos and active surveillance for BSE in Argentina. Siiap.sagyp.mecon.ar 02/16/06
[36] DeCava JA. Glandular supplements. Nutrition News and Views 1997; 1(3):1-10
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For additional information check out http://www.healthresearch.com. This research is for doctors and other health care professionals. Thiel is not a medical doctor. None of this research is medical advice, nor should it be construed as medical advice; nor is any of this information specific for any individual.
Copyright 1999-2012 by Robert Thiel, Ph.D., Naturopath All rights reserved.
 
You may refer to http://www.healthresearch.com/natural-health-practitioner.htm for further info on this study.