Natural Therapies and Longevity Science: Towards a Healthier, Longer Life
Image: Jenya Di Pierro — Naturopath, Herbalist, and Founder of Cloud Twelve
Whilst we search for the holy grail of advanced therapies to extend healthspan—whether through innovative molecules, or cell and gene therapies—we should not ignore the many natural remedies for which there is good evidence of effectiveness. Some of these are sold as supplements; others can be found in the growing number of organic food stores.
Here are a few examples and the mechanisms by which they are thought to work:*
Ginger acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Turmeric (or its active ingredient, curcumin) is also anti-inflammatory and can help with arthritic joint pain.
Black cohosh, milk thistle, and evening primrose appear to have particular benefits for women’s health.
Resveratrol—the well-known compound found in red wine—reduces inflammation, supports mitochondrial function, and has even been shown to extend lifespan in animal studies. Other natural polyphenols, such as quercetin and ellagic acid, have similar effects. I recently came across a line of non-alcoholic drinks that incorporate these compounds, pioneered by Prof. Odon Planinsek of Ljubljana University.
There is also some evidence that taking more than one of these agents can be synergistic.
To explore this further, I visited Dr. Jenya di Pierro of the Cloud Twelve Clinic in London, who shared her favourite herbs—some of them a little more exotic:
He Shou Wu, from the root of Polygonum multiflorum, renowned for hair restoration and its anti-inflammatory and stress-reducing properties.
Goji berries, rich in vitamin C, zeaxanthin, and carotenoids—now a regular addition to my morning porridge.
Gotu Kola (“The Fountain of Life”), the herb of enlightenment, known for improving concentration and calm, with potential protective effects against Alzheimer’s disease.
Reishi, a mushroom from traditional Chinese medicine that is believed to reduce inflammation, protect the heart, and regulate cholesterol.
Jiaogulan (“The Immortal Herb” or southern ginseng), which boosts the body’s production of superoxide dismutase—a powerful natural antioxidant.
Rhodiola (“The Arctic Root of Endurance”), thought to combat fatigue, sharpen concentration, and improve mood.
Of course, we would all like “gold-standard” evidence of the effectiveness of these agents in humans through randomised controlled trials. Such studies are rare for naturopathic compounds. (Black cohosh is a partial exception, though a Cochrane review of 16 studies covering 2,027 women reached no firm conclusion.) The lack of pharmaceutical-type patent exclusivity and pricing means few incentives exist to conduct these trials at sufficient scale.
The naturopathic approach will always face criticism—some would say it’s a triumph of the placebo effect. But if you feel better and more vigorous, is that really a problem? Personally, I take quite a few supplements daily and feel all the better for them.
* For a wide-ranging review, see: Frontiers in Nutrition.
