Can Carrots Help With Muscle Weakness?
Written by Diksha Kudlamath
Edited by Aaron Wright
May 2, 2021
Edited by Aaron Wright
May 2, 2021
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an illness that has severe negative health effects on the lungs. The cause of this disease is known to come from long-term exposure to toxic gases such as cigarette smoke. One of the consequences of having damaged lungs is that it causes muscle decay (Osaka City University, 2020). This makes it challenging for patients to participate in physical activities which eventually impairs their overall physical and mental health. Could there be a possible natural remedy for this disease?
Osaka City University (2020) states that although COPD is a serious condition that affects the muscles, there is only one treatment that can be recommended for these complications. This treatment is exercise therapy, but in certain cases the severity of the disease may not make it possible for an affected individual to follow this regimen. A research study conducted in Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine shows hope that there may be a natural method to help with this issue. The study involved testing the effects of Ninjin’yoeito, an herbal medicine from Japan that is carrot-based. This herbal medicine has been used to treat other conditions involving physical weakness, such as anorexia or weakness after surgery. Experiments were conducted on mice by exposing them to cigarette smoke and administering Ninjin’yoeito to one group of mice. They noticed that the group that had consumed Ninjin’yoeito had no change in muscle mass, which indicates a lack of muscle degradation. From the study, the researchers concluded that Ninjin’yoeito helps to prevent muscle degradation. The reason why this herbal remedy is able to do this is because it strengthens the expression of PGC-1ɑ, which is a protein that enhances muscle function that helps suppress the damaging effects of smoke (Osaka City University, 2020).
This study shows promise that there may be a potential holistic solution for the muscle weakness caused by COPD. The research group at Osaka City University hopes that they can eventually conduct clinical trials to approve using Ninjin’yoeito as an official treatment (Osaka City University, 2020). This could help lead to the discovery of other herbal remedies to help with chronic diseases.
Works Cited
Osaka City University. (2020, December 2). Healthy muscles are a carrot on a string for healthy lungs. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 15, 2021 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201202095145.htm
Osaka City University (2020) states that although COPD is a serious condition that affects the muscles, there is only one treatment that can be recommended for these complications. This treatment is exercise therapy, but in certain cases the severity of the disease may not make it possible for an affected individual to follow this regimen. A research study conducted in Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine shows hope that there may be a natural method to help with this issue. The study involved testing the effects of Ninjin’yoeito, an herbal medicine from Japan that is carrot-based. This herbal medicine has been used to treat other conditions involving physical weakness, such as anorexia or weakness after surgery. Experiments were conducted on mice by exposing them to cigarette smoke and administering Ninjin’yoeito to one group of mice. They noticed that the group that had consumed Ninjin’yoeito had no change in muscle mass, which indicates a lack of muscle degradation. From the study, the researchers concluded that Ninjin’yoeito helps to prevent muscle degradation. The reason why this herbal remedy is able to do this is because it strengthens the expression of PGC-1ɑ, which is a protein that enhances muscle function that helps suppress the damaging effects of smoke (Osaka City University, 2020).
This study shows promise that there may be a potential holistic solution for the muscle weakness caused by COPD. The research group at Osaka City University hopes that they can eventually conduct clinical trials to approve using Ninjin’yoeito as an official treatment (Osaka City University, 2020). This could help lead to the discovery of other herbal remedies to help with chronic diseases.
Works Cited
Osaka City University. (2020, December 2). Healthy muscles are a carrot on a string for healthy lungs. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 15, 2021 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201202095145.htm