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The Selection and Therapeutic Use of Vitamin E |
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Vitamin E Uses |
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THE
SELECTION AND THERAPEUTIC USE OF VITAMIN E Vitamin E is a fat
soluble vitamin with no known toxicity. Other fat soluble vitamins, such as vitamins
A and D, are potentially toxic if a person took way too much of them. Vitamin
E is remarkably safe; doctors have given quantities as high as 3200
International Units (IU) per day harmlessly. This is over 100 times the
U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). The natural form of
vitamin E is called "D-ALPHA TOCOPHEROL," and is made from
vegetable oil. The synthetic form is DL-alpha tocopherol. Not a big
difference in name, is it. There is evidence
that the natural "D" (dextro-, or right-handed) molecular form of vitamin
E is more useful to the body than is the synthetic. The natural form is
also more expensive, but not much more. In choosing a vitamin E
supplement, you should carefully read the label... the entire label. It
is remarkable how many natural-looking brown bottles with natural-sounding
brand names contain a synthetic vitamin. SUCCESSFUL
REPORTED THERAPEUTIC USES OF VITAMIN E According to Wilfrid Shute, M.D. and Evan Shute, M.D., Vitamin E in
quantity has many benefits. One is an oxygen-sparing effect on heart
muscle. Another benefit is that Vitamin E helps to gradually break down
blood clots in the circulatory system, and helps prevent more from
forming. Vitamin E encourages collateral circulation in the smaller
blood vessels of the body. It seems to promote healing with the
formation of much less scar tissue. Vitamin E helps strengthen and
regulate the heartbeat. The above benefits, say
the Shutes, mean that vitamin E is important in the
treatment of many diseases of the circulatory system. These cardiologists
treated heart attacks, angina, atherosclerosis, rheumatic fever, acute and
chronic rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart diseases, intermittent
claudication, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, and
high blood pressure. That's quite a list, to which they soon added
diabetes and burns as well. Many medical authorities were skeptical, to
say the least. Vitamin E seemed to be too good for too many
illnesses. Before the Shutes' viewpoint on vitamin E can be disregarded we must
consider that they treated more than 30,000 cardiac patients over a period of
more than 30 years. Their success cannot be easily dismissed. Today,
the Shute Institute in Drs. Wilfrid
and Evan Shute give dosage information in their excellent books, many of
which are readily available at bookstores, health food stores, and your
public library. Be sure to ask the librarian and to use interlibrary
loan if you have any trouble finding a book. Since the effective dose of
vitamin E varies with the individual condition, it is always a good idea to
have medical supervision. SOME
GUIDELINES Persons with high blood
pressure need to increase their daily amount of vitamin E gradually, say the Shutes. This is because the vitamin increases the
strength of the heartbeat, and a gradual increase of E avoids any sudden rise
in blood pressure. The Shutes found that over
a period of months, a gradually increasing dose can
yield a lower blood pressure. The Shutes
said that persons with a chronic rheumatic heart do not tolerate much vitamin
E and need medical supervision if they are to use it. Persons taking drugs such
as Coumadin (warfarin)
commonly find that their tests indicate a decreased need for
"blood-thinning" drugs. The intelligent way to deal with this is to
work with your doctor, who is responsible for your prescription. A person in good health
may wish to begin with a supplemental amount of 200 I.U. of vitamin E per day
and try it for a couple of weeks. Then, 400 IU might be taken daily for another two
weeks. For the next two weeks, 600 I.U. daily, and for the next two
weeks, 800 I.U. per day and so on. One ultimately takes the least amount
that gives the best results. This approach is essentially that of Richard A. Passwater and is provided in more detail in his book Supernutrition (1975, Pocket Books). EXTERNAL
USES Vitamin E is very
effective on burns. (First aid is cold on a burn; apply the "E"
later). You can drip the vitamin onto burned skin directly from the
capsule. This is sanitary, soothing and painless. Even third degree
burns heal much more readily with twice-daily applications of vitamin
E. Less scarring and greatly reduced inflammation are continually
reported with its use. Absorption of the vitamin is best if the skin is
dry before application. For a large area of
sunburned skin, mix a few 400 I.U. capsules with one or two tablespoons of
olive oil. Gently rub this in as soon as possible after exposure. There
will be little if any peeling if you apply the "E" mixture
promptly. Individuals also report
relief of hemorrhoids with topical use of vitamin E. Whoops! From heart
disease to hemorrhoids? You can see why doctors often do not consider vitamin
E to be a serious therapy. This vitamin is just too versatile. There
are ways of understanding this, though. First, the reason one
vitamin can cure so many ailments
is that a deficiency of one vitamin can cause
many ailments. Each vitamin has many different uses in the human
body. There are, after all, just over a dozen vitamins and your body
undergoes countless millions of different biochemical reactions daily. Therefore,
each vitamin has to have a large variety of applications. Second, you can try using
the vitamin and see for yourself how it works. Andrew Saul is the author
of the books FIRE YOUR DOCTOR! How to be
Independently Healthy (reader reviews at http://www.doctoryourself.com/review.html
) and DOCTOR YOURSELF: Natural Healing that Works. (reviewed at http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulbooks.html
) For ordering information, Click here .
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AN IMPORTANT NOTE: This page is not in any way offered as prescription, diagnosis nor treatment for any disease, illness, infirmity or physical condition. Any form of self-treatment or alternative health program necessarily must involve an individual's acceptance of some risk, and no one should assume otherwise. Persons needing medical care should obtain it from a physician. Consult your doctor before making any health decision. Neither the author nor the webmaster has authorized the use of their names or the use of any material contained within in connection with the sale, promotion or advertising of any product or apparatus. Single-copy reproduction for individual, non-commercial use is permitted providing no alterations of content are made, and credit is given. |
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