The St. Mary Institute

Important Points on Cholesterol

The key to an in depth understanding of HDL, LDL, Triglycerides and Total Cholesterol is in the ratios. Otherwise, you have a superficial analysis and perhaps a doctor trying to put you on needless medication! read more »

• Assessment and Evaluation of Joints, Muscles and Nerves Related to the Pain You are in.
• Assessment and Evaluation of Hormones, Nutrition and Chemical Toxicity that Could Contribute to Your Problem.
• Recommendations and Outlined Program Plan to End Your Pain

• Headache, Fatigue, Insomnia, Anxiety, Digestive Trouble, Depression

• Evaluation of Hormones--especially the adrenals!
• Trigger/acupoint Screening for Areas of Tension
• Diet Analysis
• Discussion of Past Nerve Related Traumas as May be Related to Your Problem
• Recommendations and Outline of Program for Your Health

• Weight Loss Evaluation, Consultation and Recommendations
• Evaluation of Adrenal and Thyroid Hormone Balances
• Evaluation of Your Diet and Nutritional Supplements--
• Are they working?

We perform in house urine tests and our clinician can order Functional Blood Tests to really find your needs.

Call Dr. Lucy Cooper, DOM, LAc
818 775 1183

• The Seven Signs of Stress
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Back, Neck or Shoulder Pain
• Problems Sleeping
• Irritability or Mood Swings
• Trouble With Digestion
• Allergies or Sinus Problems

Pterocarpus marsupium (Indian Kino, Malabar Kino, Pitasara, Venga)

The gum-resin looks like dried blood (Dragon's blood), much used in Indian medicine. This herb has a long history of use in India as a treatment for diabetes. The flavonoid, (-)-epicatechin is extracted from the bark of this plant.

Epicatechin and alcohol extract of Pterocarpus marsupium have demonstrated the ability to regenerate functional pancreatic beta cells. No other drug or natural agent has been shown to generate this activity.

Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia)

Bitter melon, balsam pear, is a tropical vegetable widely cultivated in Asia, Africa and South America, and has been used for diabetes. The blood glucose lowering ability of the juice or extract of the unripe fruit has been observed in experimental and clinical studies. Charantin, extracted by the alcohol, is a hypoglycaemic agent composed of mixed steroids. As a matter of fact, it is stronger than tolbutamide, a drug. Momordica also contains an insulin-like polypeptide, polypeptide-P, which lowers serum glucose levels when injected subcutaneously into type 1 diabetic patients. The oral administration of 50-60 ml of the juice has shown good results in clinical research.

Very high doses of bitter melon juice can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Gymnema Sylvestre (Gurmar, Meshasringi, Cherukurinja)

Gymnema assists the pancreas in the production of insulin in Type 2 diabetes. Gymnema also improves the ability of insulin to lower blood glucose in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It may also lower cravings for sugary foods.

Onion and Garlic ( Allium cepa and Allium sativum)

Onion and garlic have significant blood sugar lowering action. The active ingredients are allyl propyl disulphide (APDS) and diallyl disulphide oxide (allicin). The flavonoids may help also. The APDS lowers glucose levels by competing with insulin for insulin-inactivating sites in the liver. This causes an increase of free insulin. Onions affect the hepatic metabolism of glucose and/or elevate the release of insulin, and/or maintain insulin level.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)

The defatted portion of the seed has the alkaloid trogonelline, nicotinic acid and coumarin.

Blueberry leaves (Vaccinium myrtillus)

A decoction of the leaves has myrtillin (an anthocyanoside) is apparently the most active ingredient. Blueberry anthocyanosides are anti-haemorrhagic agents in the treatment of eye diseases including diabetic retinopathy.

Asian Ginseng

Asian ginseng causes the release of insulin from the pancreas and to increase the number of insulin receptors. It also has a direct blood sugar-lowering effect.

Cinnamon - Triples insulin's efficiency

Disclaimer: Nothing here is intended to replace conventional medical treatment. These statements have not be evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to cure, treat or diagnose any illness.

Are you having "blood sugar problems" ?

Many people start with elevated blood glucose (BS) of above 100 when fasting. They have that plus elevated Triglycerides. They think that they are OK. They are already heading for trouble. They just keep on packing on the carbohydrates. That can be a big mistake.

Later they will go into an "insulin resistance" situation. It has been called Syndrome X. That was not a good name. It is also called Metabolic Syndrome. It looks like this:

BS above 100 fasting. (Yes, we said 100.) Triglycerides up. Cholesterol up. Uric Acid up. LDL is up. HDL--the good cholesterol-- is down. Hemoglobin AiC is up.

When you take their cholesterol and work out the ratio, it does not look good. (See our section on the ratios.)

They still do not really do anything effective about it. Then they are into the diabetic pattern. It is the same as the above except that the BS is now above 126!

Why did they let it come to that? Perhaps they needed help and information and did not get it.

Call Dr. Lucy Cooper, LAc, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, for nutritional evaluation today at 818 775 1183.