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How to Use Quercetin for Reducing the Risk of Cataracts / Glaucoma Oxidative Stress and Endurance




 

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Related Article:

Herbal Remedies and Exercises for EyeStrain and Healthy Eyes


One of the little overlooked, yet over-studied herbs is Quercetin.  In my book Foods, Herbs and Pharmaceuticals that Extend Lifespan. A Summary Of Over 200 Research Studies Proven To Lengthen Lifespan, I show that Quercetin was one of the extracts tested on fruit fly experiments that resulted in extreme longevity.  Before we get into the longevity and anti aging traits of Quercetin, first let's look at its beneficial effects upon the eyes.

In my recently published book titled: The Vegetarian's Guide to Longevity via Gene Therapy and Raw Foods I explain that fluids are of a yin nature and tend to have a downward draining motion. Glaucoma begins as a fluid that over time accumulates in the upper part of the body due to lack of healthy circulation.  If excess stress or incorrect diet is dominant more of this dampness moves towards the upper region of the body. Traditional Chinese Medicine treats conditions of excessive dampness which cause Glaucoma by relieving this excess dampness in the upper region of the body and getting circulation flowing again. It just so happens that Quercetin happens to be a drying substances that relieves dampness.

In Traditional Chinese medicine used to treat damp conditions, lovage is used to dispel heat. It just so happens that lovage is one of the food highest in Quercetin, ranking equal to Capers which also happen to contain high levels of Quercetin.


Could this mean that the Quercetin that exists at high levels in Lovage is acting as the prime ingredient to remove dampness, thus relieving or eliminating Glaucoma?  

Summary:
Excess dampness contributes to an increased risk of Cataracts / Glaucoma and foods or herbs that contain lots of Quercetin significantly reduce this risk.


The Oxidative Stress Connection

It is now a well established scientific fact that long term exposure to oxidative stress is one of the major contributes to aging.


Over 30 years of research has confirmed a link between excessive exercise and oxidtive stress.


Scientific Studies have also found a strong link between oxidative stress and excessive solar activity.

2nd Case Study
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2253953/

And a 2015 Published Scientific Study confirmed an association between acute glaucoma and the weather and sunspot activity



Besides us humans being affected by excessive solar activity, computers are also affected by excessive solar activity.  



The Link between Glaucoma, Computer Use and Oxidative Stress

Heavy Computer use and Glaucoma  

A study published in December 2004 titled: Possible association between heavy computer users and glaucomatous visual field abnormalities: a cross sectional study in Japanese workers, and conducted by M. Tatemichi and colleagues looked at 10,000 workers from four Japanese companies.  The average ages of the workers was 43 years old. The study found that nearsightedness combined with computer use was associated with an increased risk of glaucoma. Because our eyes are affected by excessive computer usage, this shows the connection that our eyes are affected by oxidative stress.  This means that oxidative stress may also contribute to cataracts and/or glaucoma. Let's examine the scientific literature for clues.

Quote:

"Oxidative stress may initiate or develop ocular injury resulting in decreased visual acuity or even vision loss. The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of ocular diseases with particular attention to oxidative stress in the cornea and changes in corneal optical properties are discussed."

Study Source: Oxidative Stress to the Cornea, Changes in Corneal Optical Properties, and Advances in Treatment of Corneal Oxidative Injuries. Cestmir Cejka and Jitka Cejkova (Laboratory of Eye Histochemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic).
View Online
https://doaj.org/article/222f744adcc6460080a6c7238245e2bf


Summary - Foods that reduce Oxidative Stress can improve vision.

So let's examine a few clinical studies of where Quercetin has been used to reduce the risk of cataracts.

A study published in October 2011 titled: Eye lens in aging and diabetes: effect of quercetin and published by M. Stefek and C. Karasu, they state that an urgent need exists for inexpensive, nonsurgical approaches to the treatment of cataracts and that quercetin is reviewed as an agent that could reduce the risk of cataract formation via affecting multiple pathways pertinent to eye lens opacification, including oxidative stress. In addition, the study looks at the bioavailability (absorption) of quercetin and how effectively it is delivered to the lens via the bloodstream. The study also states that oxidative stress is clearly involved in the etiology of senile cataract,
Study Source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21978083


The National Eye Institute

The National Eye Institute demonstrated quercetin acts as a powerful antioxidant in eye tissue (X. Cao et al. July 2010).
Study Source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20361964


In another study, using animals, quercetin was shown to promote lens clarity (K.M. Cornish et al. July 2002).
Study Source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12086683


In one amazing study published in July 2011 titled: Neuroprotective effects of flavonoids on hypoxia-, glutamate-, and oxidative stress-induced retinal ganglion cell death and conducted by M. Nakayama and collegues, the found that quercetin showed signifncant protection against renal oxidative stress of the lens of the eyes.
Study Source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21753864


Cataracts

Another scientific study showed that Quercetin effects an enzyme called aldose reductase (AR). This enzyme builds up in the lenses of people with high blood sugar (diabetics). This build-up of fluid causes their vision to become cloudier and cloudier, in some cases contributing to complete loss of vision. Studies have shown that Quercetin inhibits the action of aldose reductase.


A study published in February 2012 titled: Evaluation of in vitro aldose reductase inhibitory potential of different fraction of Hybanthus enneaspermus Linn F. Muell and conducted by D.K. Patel quotes the following:

"Quercetrin is believed to be among the strongest of the aldose reductase inhibitors, though their anticataractous activities in animal studies remain controversial."


How to Get Adequate Amounts of Quercetin

Quercetin is especially benefical when the body is under emotional or physical stress, so use accordingly. Speaking from personal experience, I have never found the supplement Quercetin to be of much benefit, rather getting nasty side effects from taking it.  I have however found it of significant benefit taking foods containing lots of Quercetin.  

Foods high in Quercetin include:

Capers. Capers can be found in any good health food store or supermarket.

Lovage Leaves. Lovage leaves are hard to find, however you can buy lovage leaf tea for a good price on amazon or ebay.

Dill

Cocoa

Onions

Hot chilli peppers

Sweet Potatoes

Grapefruit

Cranberry Juice

Dock Leaves

Buckwheat


Phenol Explorer

Phenol Explorer shows extremely high levels of Quercetin in the following foods:
Cocoa, Black Elderberry, Oregano and Cloves.
Source:
http://phenol-explorer.eu/contents/polyphenol/291

Using Quercetin to Relieve Dampness


Because Dampness is one of the main symptoms alleviated by Quercetin, which is one of the main contributors to poor vision, using additional techniques besides Quercetin can be of benefit. As far as the organs are concerned, the spleen, lungs and kidneys are involved in water metabolism. Dampness and its combinations with cold, wind and long slow heat cause the initial lack of healthy circulation and over time may end up impairing the lungs, spleen and kidneys. Avoid foods known to cause dampness such as milk products, sugar and sweets, white-wheat flour, excess raw fruits (sugar) and vegetables (mold from the soil), excess mushrooms and fungi, peppers, refined starch and highly processed starch products, cold beverages (which immobilize immune cells on the walls of digestive track), excess fermented foods, foods containing yeast and an excess of vinegar.

Foods known to cause excessive damp-heat include: greasy and deep-fried food, alcohol and fatty foods.

Foods known to relieve damp and damp-heat have yeast/fungus-inhibiting properties. They include: onions, cinnamon, ginger, rosemary, dill, oregano, sage, scallion, basil, parsley, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel, anise, clove, euryale seed (qian shi), aduki beans (chi xiao dou), ginkgo nut (bai guo), rye, celery, lettuce, coriander, leek, chives, Job's tears (yi yi ren), alfalfa, turnips, raw honey and corn.


Foods to assist in relieving Dampness

Some of these foods are naturally high in Quercetin. Organic lightly cooked vegetables, brown rice, barley, amaranth, rye, oats, corn, celery, watercress, turnip, pumpkin, alfalfa sprouts, button mushrooms, radish, capers, legumes, kidney beans, adzuki beans and lentils. Seaweed type foods such as Kombu, Alaria, Wakame, Laver, Sea Lettuce, Bladderwrack, Rockweed, Irish Moss.  The most common seaweeds are Dulse and kelp which are commonly available at health food stores.

Small amounts of lean organic meat, poultry and fish, tuna
Small amounts of whole fruits, lemon

Seeds
Sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds

Teas
green tea, jasmine tea, raspberry leaf tea
 
Herbs used to relieve dampness
rhubarb,  White Peony Root, rhizoma, Hoeien, Atractylodes, Pinellia Rhizome, White Atractylodes Rhizome, Tangerine Peel, Citrus, Jobs tears seeds and Cardamon,

 

Among other uses Quercetin also has been shown to have the following advantages:

It is one of the best substances used to fight allergies
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18187018

It increases strength and endurance
(combined with vitamin C) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21606866
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3685779/

Cancer therapy
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/aphmeeting/abstract.asp?MeetingID=736&id=61011

Skin treatments:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22470478

Enhances the absorption of Green Tea
http://accurateclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Quercetin-increased-bioavailability-and-decreased-methylation-of-green-tea-polyphenols-in-vitro-and-in-vivo.pdf

Protects the brain against oxidative stress
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3917118/

Protects against Ultraviolet Light
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11678884


Summary

Quercetin an often overlooked, yet little publicized wellness substance is ignored because it can't be patented.  This makes it a perfect substance to use for the prevention of many stress related diseases.
 

Additional Supporting References:
 

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