OCTOBER 31, 2019 DESCOVY

In the last 5 years , the new addition of medications to treat HIV and to prevent HIV has been remarkable. I look back to the days when as a young physician we had only AZT. The first medication to prevent HIV in a negative patient who uses safe sexual practices was TRUVADA. Topday with less impact on markers of renal function and bone mineral density BMD—we have DESCOVY

DESCOVY for PREP must be prescribed only to patients confirmed to be HIV negative immediately prior to initiation of the medicine

It is insurance covered like Truvada. There was great efficacy in those patients who switched, as well as the above benefits.

The tablet is smaller and demonstrated safer profile through primary analysis.

Still today the greatest impact on HIV is in education. The company Gilead who produces both medications, TRUVADA and DESCOVY, has been one of the leading educators of HIV in all of its aspects. Kudos to Gilead

Until tomorrow..

OCTOBER 30, 2019 CBD

—WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CBD

There is a lot to know about CBD. I have been using CBD for more than 5 years now. I have used a variety of products. Today I use Canbiola for its effectiveness, integrity and beneficial results. www.canbiola.com

Hemp and its cousin Cannabis are mostly known for their main chemicals, CBD and THC

—Not found in any other plants

—Have unique ability to interact with the human body’s natural cannabinoid receptors

—Work through the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

—Cannabidiol (CBD) is usually the main cannabinoid in fiber and commercial hemp and the second most widely used cannabinoid for medicinal purposes from the hemp plant.

—CBD causes no psychoactive effects and is legal throughout the world

—It is NOT psychoactive

—Over the last two years, CBD has been shown to a potential benefit for the following:

—Anxiety

—Epilepsy/Seizure

—Psychotic Disorders

—Stroke Rehabilitation

—PTSD

—Pain

—Colitis

—High Blood Pressure

—Liver Injury

Until tomorrow

OCTOBER 29, 2019 WHAT KIND OF DO YOU PRACTICE ?

I am often asked what kind of doctor are you? I sometimes respond an Integrative Medicine physician. The look on their face is puzzling. I am trained in conventional internal medicine with a subspecialty in Cardiology. However in addition to the Fellowship in Cardiology I completed a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine. Back then it was called Holistic, Alternative or Complimentary Medicine Today it is Integrative Medicine or Functional Medicine. I have been practicing Functional Medicine before there was a Fellowship . This type of medicine encompasses the best of conventional and the best of complimentary medicine.

This week the Journal of the American Medical Association (one of the very top medical journals in the world that Health Care Practitioners count on for authoritative guidance) published the first comprehensive 5-year study on the effectiveness of Functional Medicine.

When comparing 1,595 patients seen at the Functional Medicine Center at the Cleveland Clinic with the results of 5,657 patients with a similar range of chronic health problems, seen in the Family Health Center at the Cleveland Clinic

The results were published In summary , taking a functional medicine approach to chronic conditions has significantly better results than one of the best traditional family health centers in the country.

I love the type of medicine I practice. I am good at it —No, I am great at it. I love talking to patients, being the detective to their problems and most of all- I listen to the patients.

Until tomorrow…

OCTOBER 28, 2019 MIMOSA PUDICA

There are many botanicals that have been used for support and treatment of various cancers. Many of these remedies are used in other countries , and not in the United States

Mimosa pudica is one-of-a-kind. It could support your wellness in many ways. it has a long history of use in ayurvedic medicine and a common herb in India. For example, the plant has traditionally been used for diarrhea, sinus issues, and hair loss. I have seen it used in treatment of parasitic illnesses and used to support patients with breast cancer. Mimosa pudica is no exception when it comes to its use in the treatment of cancer, . Scientists have identified that it contains at least eight different phytochemicals with anti-cancer properties.

There are many types of phytochemicals. One subgroup is flavonoids. A lab study found that flavonoids extracted from Mimosa pudica inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells.

Myricetin is one anti-cancer flavonoid in Mimosa pudica. Lab research suggests myricetin may suppress both human lung cancer and leukemia cells. Animal tests also suggest the compound may have anti-cancer effects in liver and kidney cells.

I would like to see more research done with this herb

Until tomorrow…

OCTONBER 25-27, 2019 MORE LYME DISEASE

Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi is the most common tickborne infection in North America. In addition to Borrelia, the Ixodes scapularis tick can transmit four other infections The other four infections are Anaplasma, Babesia , the deer tick virus Powassan virus (POWV) and Borrelia miyamotoi

These other infections are termed co infections. You need to have these other co infections tested when you are bitten by a tick. The earliest and the common clinical manifestation is a lesion called erythema migrans. This is not present in all presents. More than 45 % of individuals who have Lyme disease do not recall a tick bite.

You need to be your own patient advocate when you have or think you have Lyme Disease. There are many integrative therapies available which are ‘ outside’ the box. I would suggest reading Healing Lyme and Healing Lyme Disease co infections by Stephen Buhner.

Until tomorrow…

OCTOBER 24, 2019 LYME DISEASE

Lyme Disease is now reaching epidemic numbers. I am not an Infectious Disease physician, but a cardiologist. I did some ID training. In the last 5 years I am seeing one to two Lyme patients every day. More than One in 10 individuals successfully treated with antibiotics go on to develop chronic fatigue and brain fog that may last for years after initial infection. This is documented yet some conventional ID doctors do not believe in chronic Lyme A small study at John Hopkins showed elevation of a chemical marker of widespread inflammation in 12 patients treated initially for Lyme. The diagnosis is now PTLDS ( post treatment Lyme disease syndrome ) The protein studied is called translocator protein ( TSPO) which is released by two types of brain cells. If TSPO is high it indicates brain inflammation.

There is also another marker for inflammation called chemokine CCL19. This has been seen in PTLDS patients. The problem is that we do not know where the inflammation is if this marker is present.

Brain scans are not being studied in patients treated and not treated for Lyme. The scans of these PTLDS patients are being studied. More needs to be done with more than 300,000 new Lyme patients being diagnosed every year in the USA

Until tomorrow…

OCTOBER 23, 2019 ANTIBIOTICS

In reflecting over the use of antibiotics in clinical practice I have come to some conclusions. I see the overuse and abuse of antibiotics. Given the rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance on a global scale and considering the effect of antibiotics of the human biome, I feel today more than ever we need to turn to herbal antibiotics as the option. There is a critical role for antibiotics at the right time. The first sniffle or sneeze does not need a Z pack.

The use of microbiome based therapy does show promise. This is the use of more probiotics. These therapies may shift the balance of the microbes, influence the function of immune cells, and prevent disease while restoring the microbiome. One study showed that by introducing coagulase negative Staphylococcus into the system can help patients with atopic dermatitis.

Introducing herbs that can fight viruses and bacteria is crucial. This needs to be done. For example the use of juniper and uva ursi for urinary tract organisms can be just as effective as macrodantin ( which is a commonly used antibiotic)

check out our two tea combination: SICKLY AND SNEEZY

115 E 57th St, New York, NY 10022

Phone: (646) 723-1823

https://www.botanicalbounty.org

Until tomorrow…

OCTOBER 22, 2019 TESTOSTERONE AND PROGRESSION TO DIABETES

Normalizing testosterone levels through replacement therapy has recently been studied in relation to diabetes. It has been found that replacement testosterone therapy could prevent progression from pre diabetes to Type II diabetes.

It was a small study 40 % of men who opted out of taking testosterone therapy went on to develop Type II diabetes over a 8 year period. Those that did take testosterone therapy , none developed diabetes.

This is the first study to prove this. I find this study to be of benefit. I do testosterone replacement therapy in men as low testosterone is a risk factor for heart disease.

Until tomorrow….