Not keen on aspirin? Here's what Nutritional Therapist with a PhD in oncology is offering me...

[ilovetoastwithbutter]

Hi all

I have a history of gastritis, so I'm not keen on what pubmed and other places say about lifetime aspirin.

Here's what my Nutritional Therapist (with a PhD in Oncology) says (for me at least).

Be aware this is as part of an entire approach to natural health, not just popping a pill, and everyone's situation can be different.

Hope this is helpful for those with gut issues.

Warmest

Libby

"Hello Libby, just following up from your last email with regards to platelet activity and the supplements and herbs we have discussed. The overall approach of diet and natural compounds working together, is to support your medical care. We discussed how you might use white willow bark at your recent appointment and you said you are already using meadowsweet tea, which is high in salicylates.

As with all herbs, there is more than one compound and more than one mechanism involved in the action. Salix alba (white willow) contains a number of natural compounds that include salicylates. Aspirin is pure acetylsalicylic acid, so it more potent per gram. However, within the willow bark extract are other compounds such as polyphenols that also help to reduce inflammation. So the effects are more than just exerted by the salicylates. Coagulation is a result of platelet activation, especially in the presence of collagen, and vascular inflammation, particularly a process called endothelial activation where the layer of cells lining blood vessels becomes hyper-reactive, collagen ‘weeps’ out and the activated platelets stick to it. There are also other contributors to the clotting process. So targeting coagulation risk involves working on inflammation, optimising the fatty acid components in the platelet cell membrane and the endothelium, and providing anti-oxidants to mop up the damage of free radicals that occur within the blood vessel lining and platelets.

In addition to the white willow bark, there are two other supplements in your regime that we have discussed, that are intended to support normal coagulation by acting on platelets and blood vessels, and also the underlying inflammation in your bone marrow that is contributing to your conditions. Firstly fish oils, which have anti-inflammatory effects and reduce platelet activation, the dose I recommended is 1200 - 2400mg daily depending on your fish intake. Turmeric (curcumin) also has well documented effects on coagulation by targeting inflammation.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/282...

I recall you wanted to avoid aspirin and use a herbal source of salicylates, hence my suggestion to take white willow bark in addition to the meadowsweet tea you already use. The recommended dose of willow bark is 400-800mg daily for adults (EU monograph on Salix alba), so you can increase to one 400mg capsule twice daily. It will not give you the same dose of salicylate as taking 75mg aspirin, but is intended to be complemented by the other supplements discussed above so that the overall effect is to support normal coagulation.

[Bluetop]

Thanks for that -very interesting

[fee13]

Awesome information. I have just read a paper on platelet dysfunction in ET & it brings up the mention of endothelial inflammation mechanisms as listed in her answer plus a few more. She seems very knowlegeable.