HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS

The effectiveness of vitamin K as a coagulant and its use to curtail bleeding during surgery has been documented many times by eminent physicians. As this product was borne from the use of low potency variations of vitamin K topicals, the time and cost of undertaking formal trials were not deemed necessary by the manufacturers for its cosmetic usage. Instead of formal clinical trials, the makers of Medik8 listened carefully to the feedback of consumers (both professional and private) and moreover performed a number of clinical studies on Medik8 - one was commissioned and another was independently carried out. Medik8 performed excellently, as we would expect. Medik8 was the UKs first topical K1 formulation and until production got into full swing demand for the product has vastly outstripped supply.

There is no real mystery to the effectiveness of Medik8. We have known for many years about vitamin K’s coagulatory properties – in fact new-born babies in the US are routinely injected with vitamin K to prevent post-natal haemorrhage. The effectiveness of vitamin K as a coagulant and its use to curtail bleeding during surgery has been documented countless times by eminent physicians.

Anecdotally, thousands of plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and other skincare professionals regularly use Medik8 in their clinics and/or surgeries because of its practical effectiveness in producing the desired results in eliminating or reducing the appearance of thread veins, healing bruises, relieving skin disorders, and fading scars.

Here is an article written in the late 90's by Dr Elson, the man often credited with starting the vitamin K revolution, describing his startling observations and theories.....

Vitamin K to Chase the Blues Away

Vitamin K, named for the German word koagulation, has long been used to promote blood clotting and prevent bleeding, particularly in cases of aspirin poisoning or blood-thinner overdose. It's also a favorite among plastic surgeons, who use large doses on their patients to prevent post-surgery bruising.

Now these benefits are accessible to the general public as well. Research shows that applying vitamin K topically can fade away bruises, even those occurring from purpura senilis.

In a study of 12 people with significant bruising, Dr. Elson, a longtime vitamin K investigator, applied vitamin K cream to one arm of each patient and an identical cream without vitamin K to the other. After one month, the arms treated with vitamin K had significantly fewer bruises than those treated with plain ointment.

"We also had people use vitamin K cream on one side of a bruise but not on the other and found that the side treated with vitamin K healed in 5 to 7 days, while the untreated side took 11 to 13 days to heal," says Dr. Elson.

Moreover, vitamin K strengthens blood vessel walls, so it also makes you less prone to bruising, explains Dr. Elson, who has developed a 1 percent vitamin K cream called vitamin K Clarifying Cream. "I've had elderly patients tell me that for the first time since they're older, they can go outside with short sleeves on," he says.

Vitamin K Clarifying Cream is available only through a physician, so if you need some "bruise guard," see your doctor.

The logical question, of course, is: If vitamin K works when you rub it on, can you also ward off bruises by eating more vitamin K rich foods such as green, leafy vegetables, fruits, seeds and dairy products? "There's no absolute proof, but studies seem to indicate that you can," says Dr. Elson. Even though getting plenty of vitamin K- 80 micrograms for men and 65 micrograms for women daily--may be helpful, when you have a bruise or an area prone to bruising, you want large doses of vitamin K right where you need them, and the best way to get them there is topically, says Dr. Elson.

Consistent purity can only be obtained by mandating that the nutrients contained in the formulation are manufactured to meet pharmaceutical standards. Quality is easily promised but rarely fulfilled by high-street brands. If non-pharamceutical grade raw materials are used, both the efficacy and safety of the cosmetic may be inferior.

MAKE NO MISTAKE - PHARAMEUTICAL GRADE VITAMIN K (K1 VARIETY) IS RELATIVELY EXPENSIVE. BEWARE OF CHEAP IMITATIONS

Structure of Vitamin K1 - Phytonadione

Educational Information Only

Vitamin K is absorbed in association with dietary fats. For adequate uptake from the alimentary canal the presence of bile salts and pancreatic enzymes are required. Vitamin K1 is absorbed by active transport from the proximal portion of the small intestine whilst vitamin K2 is absorbed by a passive, non-carrier mediated process.

The different forms of vitamin K have different rates of absorption and excretion. Vitamin K1 is poorly absorbed internally, but well absorbed through the skin. It is very well retained in comparison to vitamin K3 which is well absorbed internally yet poorly retained due to its need to be transformed into vitamin K2 in the liver. Vitamin K3 that is not converted is rapidly detoxified and excreted.

Vitamin K may be excreted in the urine or partially re-excreted into the intestine with bile from whence some is excreted in the faeces. The principle excretory product is a chain shortened, oxidised derivative of vitamin K and is probably excreted as glucuronide.

Hypervitaminosis K, or vitamin K toxicity, is fairly rare as the natural forms of vitamin K, phylloquinone and menaquinone, are non toxic at very high dosage levels. Hypervitaminosis has, however, been induced in laboratory animals and was manifested mainly as haematological and circulatory derangements such as anaemia, haemoglobinuria and urobilinuria at approximately 125 times the recommended clinical dose. As a result of this high level required for toxicity, K toxicity is not of much importance to the practising veterinarian who naturally eats much vitamin K containing vegetables.

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