Vitamin B3, or niacin, can be used as a natural remedy to treat or prevent a variety of conditions in the body. It is needed for proper circulation and for healthy skin. It aids in the proper functioning of the nervous system, as well as in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
It also helps with the production of hydrochloric acid, which is necessary for proper digestion. It is used in the proper secretion of bile and stomach fluids, as well as in the production of sex hormones. Niacin lowers cholesterol and improves circulation.
It is also helpful in the treatment of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, as well as acting as a memory enhancer.
Pellagra is a disease caused by Vit B3, or niacin, deficiency. Other symptoms of niacin deficiency can include canker sores, dementia, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, halitosis, headaches, indigestion, insomnia, arm or leg pain, loss of appetite, low blood sugar, weakness in the muscles, skin sores, and inflammation.
Niacin and Niacinamide are found in beef liver, brewer's yeast, broccoli, carrots, cheese, corn flour, dandelion greens, dates, eggs, fish, milk, nuts, peanuts, pork, potatoes, rabbit, tomatoes, wheat germ, and whole wheat products.
Herbs that contain niacin include alfalfa, burdock root, catnip, cayenne, chamomile, chickweed, eyebright, fennel seed, hops, licorice, mullein, nettle, oat straw, parsley, peppermint, raspberry leaf, red clover, rose hips, slippery elm, and yellow dock. One cup of coffee provides about 3mg of niacin.
After taking a niacin supplement, you may experience a brief period of being flushed, getting a tingling sensation, or even a red rash on your skin. This is natural, and usually these symptoms last only a few minutes. There are two forms of vit B3: niacin and niacinamide.
Niacinamide does not cause flushing like niacin, but it also does not have all of the same properties. For example, niacinamide does not help to lower blood cholesterol. Taking high doses of special, extended release niacin to help lower blood cholesterol has recently become popular. This type of niacin is not the same as dietary niacin. Niaspan, produced by Kos Pharmaceuticals, is the only type of extended release niacin approved for cholesterol control.
Dietary niacin should not be substituted for Niaspan discussed above. Taking high doses of dietary niacin (more than 500 mg daily) can damage the liver. People who are pregnant or who suffer from diabetes, glaucoma, gout, liver disease, or peptic ulcers should use caution when taking niacin supplements.Niacin can elevate blood sugar levels.
This information is not intended to diagnose or treat any specific condition, nor is it intended to replace the advice of your healthcare professional.
Sources
Balch, Phyllis A., CNC. "Prescription for Nutritional Healing". Garden City, NY.: Avery Publishing Group, 2006
Ritchason, Jack, ND. "The Little Herb Encyclopedia". Pleasant Grove, UT.: Woodland Health Books, 1995
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