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Padma Circosan / Padma 28 - Trial on Tibetan Circulatory Herbs

Hello,

Has anyone had any experience with Padma 28 (also known as Padma Circosan)?

My oncologist gave it for me to try for my CIPN. I must take it slowly over a long period of time.

The University of Zurich Hospital and another Zurich Hospital is about to begin a trial of this. Apparently it has had some success with Diabetic Neuropathy.

Basically it is a Tibetan herb formula researched and repackaged by a Swiss Pharmaceutical company. The Tibetan community in Switzerland is the largest outside India and Tibet and Switzerland is one of the capitals of the world for Pharmaceuticals.

Normally I would be very skeptical but I happened to have traveled and spent a good amount of time with Tibetans and they do know a lot about circulation and have 2000 year old methods / formulas which the west is starting to study. So I feel some level of trust for the Tibetan knowledge in Switzerland.

The Swiss packaged Tibetan herb formula has been on the market since the 70s, is well tolerated and apparently is believe to not cause harm in trying.

The philosophy of the formula completely turns Western thinking upside down. It is not a quick fix or direct hit or even a magic bullet. It apparently helps the whole circulatory system function better to heal itself.

I don't expect it to do any miracles, perhaps it will give a nudge.

My only concern is I don't want it to interact with other standard things I am doing. Also, as a cancer survivor, I don't want to try anything that is found out later to fuel cancer growth.

Any thoughts?

Here is one paper from PubMed:

Quote:

Inflammopharmacology. 2004;12(4):373-89.
PADMA-28, a traditional Tibetan herbal preparation, blocks cellular responses to bFGF and IGF-I.
Navab R1, Aingorn H, Fallavollita L, Sallon S, Mechoulam R, Ginsburg I, Vlodavsky I, Brodt P.
Author information
Abstract

The growth factors basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and restenosis. The Tibetan herbal preparation PADMA-28 (a mixture of 22 plants which is used as an anti-atherosclerosis agent) was tested for its ability to inhibit the mitogenic activity of bFGF and IGF-I, growth factors involved in restenosis, atherosclerosis and tumour progression. DNA synthesis and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, in response to serum bFGF, thrombin, or combinations thereof, were abrogated in the presence of microgram amounts of both the aqueous and organic, partially purified, extracts of PADMA-28. These fractions also inhibited IGF-I-mediated proliferation, migration and invasion of tumour cells responsive to IGF-I. The inhibition by PADMA 28 was reversible upon removal of the PADMA extracts, indicating that the effects were not related to cell toxicity. These and other properties (i.e., anti-oxidant activity) of PADMA-28 may be responsible for its beneficial effect as an anti-atherosclerotic agent, suggesting that this herbal preparation may have potential applications in the prevention of intimal hyperplasia and arterial stenosis secondary to coronary angioplasty and bypass surgery, as well as in the prevention and treatment of other vascular diseases and tumour growth and metastasis.

PMID:
15901415
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15901415

and another:

Quote:

Forsch Komplementmed. 2006 Feb;13 Suppl 1:13-7. Epub 2006 Feb 17.
Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the Tibetan herbal preparation Padma 28 in the vessel wall.
Exner M1, Raith M, Holzer G, Gmeiner B, Wagner O, Kapiotis S.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:

The Tibetan herbal preparation Padma 28 has been shown to act as an anti-atherosclerotic agent in advanced peripheral arterial occlusive disease. We tested the effect of aqueous Padma 28 extracts on both the Creactive protein (CRP) induced expression of the pro-inflammatory cell adhesion molecule E-selectin and the anti-atherosclerotic protective enzyme heme oxygenase- 1 (HO-1) in human aortic endothelial cells.
METHODS AND RESULTS:

According to FACS analysis, quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, CRP-induced E-selectin expression was completely prevented by aqueous Padma 28 extracts. Additionally, Padma 28 mediated an up to 60-fold upregulation of HO-1 mRNA as measured by quantitative RT-PCR. This upregulation could also be demonstrated on the protein level.
CONCLUSION:

Aqueous extracts of the Tibetan herbal preparation Padma 28 inhibit CRP-induced expression of the inflammatory cell adhesion molecule E-selectin and lead to upregulation of the vascular protective enzyme HO-1 in human aortic endothelial cells. These properties may be responsible for its anti-atherosclerotic effects in peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

PMID:
16582558
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16582558

It appears that this complex mixture of herbs has been around for about a decade. You should be able to find more.
Herbs are always a crap shoot... they are really mini-drugs and as such get put on the market before much can be learned about them. (interactions and other serious body effects can be present like interference with liver metabolism, and thinning of the blood, which are two examples).

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsD (Post 1063649)

It appears that this complex mixture of herbs has been around for about a decade.

Well actually this complex mixture of herbs have been around for about 2000 years. It's usage is older and more tested than anything in western medicine. It only seem possibly legitimate in our minds because a reputable western pharmaceutical company has been producing it for about 30 years.

In saying this, I do take your very valid point about herbs.

I probably would not have been open to this if I hadn't personally spent a long time with Tibetans. They actually know quite a bit about circulation.

Generally, western medicine seems to shine with acute ailments and seems to fall down with chronic problems. CIPN Neuropathy seems to lend itself to the Eastern approach of looking at the whole picture and not trying to find a silver bullet but instead piecing together a fuller plan of many incremental steps to help the body heal itself.