Arabinogalactan
- Arabinogalactan is a starch-like chemical that is found in many plants, but it is found in highest concentrations in Larch trees. Larch arabinogalactan is used for medicine. Most of the larch arabinogalactan you will find in stores is produced from Western Larch (Larch occidentalis). However, larch arabinogalactan can also be produced by other larch tree species.
Contents
Uses
Larch arabinogalactan is used for:
- Infections
- Common cold
- Flu
- H1N1 (swine) flu
- Ear infections in children
- HIV/AIDS
- Liver disease.
- Liver cancer, as well as a brain condition caused by liver damage (hepatic encephalopathy)
- High cholesterol: Early research shows that taking larch arabinogalactan does not lower total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol, other blood fats called triglycerides, body weight, blood pressure, or sugar levels in healthy people.
- Pneumonia: Early research shows that taking a specific larch arabinogalactan product (ResistAid) increases the immune system response to shots (vaccines) used to prevent pneumonia in healthy adults.
- Earache (otitis media).
- Dietary fiber supplementation
- Boosting the immune system.
- Inflammation
Benefits
- Larch arabinogalactan is a fiber that ferments in the intestine. It might increase intestinal bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, and have other effects that could be beneficial to digestive tract health. There is also information that suggests larch arabinogalactan might boost the immune system and help prevent cancer cells in the liver from growing.
Cautions
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: ‘There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking larch arabinogalactan if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
- “Auto-immune diseases” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Larch arabinogalactan might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it’s best to avoid using larch arabinogalactan.
- Organ transplant recipients: Larch arabinogalactan might increase the risk of organ transplant rejection. If you have received an organ transplant, don’t use larch arabinogalactan until more is known.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination:
- Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants) interacts with LARCH ARABINOGALACTAN:Larch arabinogalactan seems to increase the immune system. By increasing the immune system larch arabinogalactan might decrease the effectiveness of medications that decrease the immune system.
Some medications that decrease the immune system include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.
References
Source: WebMD, “Larch Arabinogalactan”, www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/
Also See: Larch