Antacids for indigestion

If you’re about to reach for that bottle of antacids after the Christmas blow-out - think again. New research suggests that the world’s most popular drugs, used for heartburn and indigestion, can double the risk of pneumonia.

This is because these drugs suppress gastric acids, thereby allowing viruses and bacteria in the upper gastrointestinal tract to migrate up into the respiratory tract. read the whole study.

This comes from an English website called what Doctors Won't tell you. There is a lot of interesting information on this site.

Alex says: Antacids do a whole lot more than increase the potential for infection. They block the breakdown of proteins and inhibit mineral absorption (not good if you have osteoporosis). There are other ways to handle reflux that get at the root of the inflammatory problem without just symptomatically covering up the problem

N-Acetylcysteine prevents ifosfamide-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153, 1364–1372; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.15; published online 18 February 2008

Ifosfamide nephrotoxicity is a serious adverse effect for children undergoing cancer chemotherapy. Our recent in vitro studies have shown that the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is used extensively as an antidote for paracetamol (acetaminophen) poisoning in children, protects renal tubular cells from ifosfamide-induced toxicity at a clinically relevant concentration. To further validate this observation, an animal model of ifosfamide-induced nephrotoxicity was used to determine the protective effect of NAC.

NAC is a common nutrient that I often use to thin mucous secretions for people with colds, and to help balance the immune system for autoimmune conditions.

For more information about this abstract as always click on the title of the post.

For detailed information about NAC and many other herbs and supplements click on the Memorial Sloane Kettering website. Mskcc.com/aboutherbs. Here you will find monographs, with footnotes and their studies. Good stuff