JUNE 18, 2018 – LYDIA PINKHAM

I was delighted and surprised this weekend when my daughter brought up the remedies of herbalist Lydia Pinkham.

Lydia Estes Pinkham (February 9, 1819 – May 17, 1883) was an iconic concocter and shrewd marketer of a commercially successful herbal-alcoholic "women's tonic" meant to relieve menstrual and menopausal pains. Although Pinkham's Vegetable Compound sold well to the general public, it was regarded by health experts as quackery. (Wikipedia)

Her formula contained 5 different herbs. The herbs were pleurisy root, life root, fenugreek, unicorn root, and black cohash. Most women take this to try to get pregnant. It must be stopped when the female is ovulating. All of these herbs have been used by several American Indian tribes.

In addition to being used for trying to get pregnant, many have also been used for menopausal symptoms.

Until tomorrow...

JUNE 14, 2018 – MELISSA OFFICINALIS

One of my favorite mint family herbs is lemon balm (Mellissa officinalis). It is a perennial herb  which originated from Southern Europe. The medical use of this herb dates back more than 2000 years.  

Paracelsus, born Theophrastus von Hohenheim, was a Swiss physician, alchemist, and astrologer of the German Renaissance. He believed lemon balm would completely revivify a man and indicated its use for all complaints of the nervous system.

John Evelyn (1620 – 1706) was an English writer, gardener and diarist who wrote, "Balm is sovereign for the brain, strengthening the memory and powerfully chasing away melancholy."  The history of John Evelyn's writings – especially his diaries – are fascinating.

In 1992, the skulls of John and Mary were stolen by persons unknown who hacked into the stone sarcophagi on the chapel floor and tore open the coffins. They have not been recovered. I never understood vandalism on graves and headstones.  

And finally the famous Nicholas Culpepper said that lemon balm "is excellent in the use to help the memory."

There have been double blind studies involving Lemon Balm that demonstrate dose dependent memory decrements and its anxiolytic like modulation of mood. Grow lemon balm in your garden, or go to www.urbanleaf.com - the worlds smallest garden and grow lemon balm in a bottle in your apartment window sill.  

Until tomorrow...  

JUNE 13, 2018 – PHENOLICS IN THE DIET

There are many phenolic compounds in the plant kingdom. They are so ever present and unavoidable in the American diet. You can get your phenolic compounds from fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals, seeds, beans, and most spices. The highest concentration of phenolics in the diet are in the foods that most individuals consume the least which  as spices and herbs. I feel we consume most phenolic compounds in beverages such as tea and coffee while others consume it in beer and wine. 

I even found out that there is a phenolic database on the Internet where you can find the foods with the most phenolic compounds. 

There are also studies to suggest that the high concentration of polyphenols are associated with better cognitive function. Polyphenols play a major role in assisting the prevention of chronic disease such as coronary artery diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Until tomorrow...

JUNE 12 2018 – CANNBINOID RICH HEMP OIL

There is a lot of hype about CBD with and without THC. I am focusing on CBD without THC. This is an ideal chocie to optimize the endocanninoboid system (ECS). The primary cannabinoid in hemp oil is CBD. I utilize Canbiola and Thorne hemp products.

CBD oil contains other cannabinoids as well as terpenes. The terpenes are limonene, inene, and linalool. These, I feel, help with mood and enhance cognitive behavior. 

Hemp has been used worldwide for a variety of conditions. Today it gets a lot of hype due to cannabis. Read what is out there. CBD oil can be used for a variety of conditions. Wake up America! More needs to be studied on the ECS and the use of cannabinoids.

Call Botanical Bounty at 646-723-1823 to order Canbiola Hemp Oil Drops.

Until tomorrow...

JUNE 11, 2018 – CHEMICALS IN SKIN CARE

The environment is toxic. Sometimes the chemicals in our environment are more toxic than we think or are lead to believe. Many products are banned in European countries, but not in the United States. 

Some of the chemicals banned in Europe, but legal in the USA, include formaldehyde, lead acetate, petroleum products, and hydroquinine. The potential harmful effects of these and many more are usually in relation to cancer. These chemicals are or can be carcinogenic.

If you are going to make a change to natural products, there will be lots of research that you need to do on your end.

Until tomorrow...

JUNE 8, 2018 – BEST CITIES FOR DOGS

This is not a topic I would typically discuss, but being a 'Dog Dad' I feel it is very important for the welfare of both your pet as well as yourself. I live in one of the best cities for dogs – New York City. It is rated high on walkability. Other cities great for walkability are San Francisco and Chicago.

The best cities for welcoming dogs in restaurants are Tucson, Phoenix, and San Diego. 

The one city best for housing that allows dogs is Sacramento. Albuquerque is also great for affordable housing.

The city that scored high in all areas – dog parks, walkability, dog friendly restaurants, housing and great all around weather – was Denver, Colorado.

Until tomorrow...

JUNE 7, 2018 – NEUROFEEDBACK AND ADDICTION

Neurofeedback has been used for years to treat different types of diseases. There is a surge of addiction, especially with opiods. There is also an ongoing addiction with alcohol and marijuana in increased frequency. There has always been  a high rate of treatment failure among addicts.

There are abstinence rates with use of neurofeedback for addiction since the 1970s. There are higher abstinence rates among alcoholics who used neurobiofeedback. The studies were done with Vietnam war veterans. More studies need to be done with veterans. 

We use neurobiofeedback as most addicts are missing or deficient in alpha waves which are the calming waves. We must know that neurofeedback is a clinically valid treatment and based on research. It should be integrated into a program of addiction with psychotherapy, behavioral support, acupuncture, herbal treatment, and even homeopathic remedies.

Since there are lower relapse rates with neurofeedback, please incorporate this into a program.

Until tomorrow...

JUNE 6, 2018 – ALLERGY SEASON

There are many remedies for allergies that do not involve a prescription of over the counter (OTC) aids. One of the most important is a homeopathic preparation from the company Boiron. It is called Sabadil. It involves temporary relief from allergy symptoms as hay fever, itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and even itchy throat and nose. 

Sabadil can be taken by children and adults although the dose differs. Unlike the OTC medications, Sabadil is a non-drowsy preparation and there are no drug interactions. I find this to be very important. A lot of the OTC medications are contraindicated in patients with heart disease.

Contact Botanical Bounty at (646) 723-1823 for your box of Sabadil.

Until tomorrow...