JANUARY 7, 2020 HYPOTHYROID

Hypothyroidism is more than common today than in the past There are two reasons for this. For one , more patients are asking their health care providers to test for antibodies as TPO. The second reason is that most individuals are iodine deficient, thus causing hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality, but not cardiovascular mortality, among the elderly, according to a review published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Based on 27 cohort studies (total 1,114,638 participants), the researchers found that patients with hypothyroidism experienced a higher risk for all-cause mortality than those with euthyroidism (pooled relative risk [RR], 1.26; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.15 to 1.37).

There are many patients hwo have symptomns of an undersactive thyroid. The phsyician doesn’t agree as their TSH ( thyroid stimuaklting hormone) level is not greater than 4. Despite what the TSH is, thge doctor needs to test free t3 free T4 reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies. There are many patinets who exhibit symptoms with normal TSH, but have a low free t3 or low free t4

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 6, 2020 VITAMIN D

Vitamin D has been touted as the vitamin of the last decade. There are many studies showing that lower levels Vitamin D can be associated with cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases and even cancer Vitamin D and calcium supplements are recommended for preventing fractures, but studies have reported conflicting results on the effectiveness of vitamin D with or without calcium for reducing fracture risk.

While observational studies have shown that higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) blood concentrations are associated with lower risk for any fracture and hip fracture specifically, randomized controlled trials demonstrate no fracture risk reduction with vitamin D supplements alone, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA

These studies are important. I do feel have did initially over prescribe doses of vitamin D, but there was NO harm. No patient exhibited vitamin D toxicity and none had increased liver enzyme function.

all randomized controlled trials of vitamin D alone or calcium plus vitamin D were published before January 1, 2019, and included ≥500 participants and ≥10 incident fractures.

There are many supplements to be taken to reduce fracture risk.

Until tomorrow….

JANUARY 4-6, 2020 BEESWAX

if YOU ASKED ME fifteen years ago would I be so involved with honeybees and apitherapy I would have said “ No” I am a beekeeper I have extracted honey for myself. I process my own wax from my hives. If I need more I obtain raw beeswax filtered and non filtered from other beekeepers

I have learned about wax through other beekeepers. There are four kinds of wax - candle wax, white wax, brood wax and beekeepers wax. I have never used white wax. I have used the other three to make candles, balms, salves and this year for 2020 I will make under arm deodorant.

I have made all different types of beeswax candles from molds to votives and pillars. My candle making is a hobby for me in the last 3 years. I decided to give all the guests at my daughter’s wedding a candle and a small jar of raw honey from my hives. It was a rewarding experience as people opened their wedding parting gift

Since the wedding I have made over a hundred different candle molds. I give them as gifs. I also sell them in an appropriately named Etsy store, HoneybeeMD by Patrick and at Botanical Bounty in NYC at 115 East 57th Street 646 723 1823. I auction many of them at the annual Charles Mraz Apitherapy conference sponsored by the American Apitherapy Society for which I am Vice President. Support Apitherapy www.apitherapy.org

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 3, 2020 PSYCHEDIC MEDICINE

the word hallucinogenic creates a taboo. These drugs should not be discussed as LSD, MDMA, psilocybin, ketamine and much more. Today more than ever these hallucinogenic herbs are being studied for depression in main stream medicine.

This is not new. In 1855 Ernest Freiherr von Bib ra published a german paper discussing seventeen psychoactive plants. He urged other chemists to begin studying these plants. A British mycologist , Mordecai Cooke published papers on fungi. In 1860 he published a publication entitled, “ The Seven Sisters of Sleep,’ an interdisciplinary study of psychoactive plants. So the quest began

It wasn’t until some 60 years later in 1924 that Louis Lewin published another book on psychoactive plants , Phantastica. Although there have been many advances in pharmaceutical, ethnobotanical and phytochermical, we still have much to learn about many of these plants.,

Perhaps Michael Pollan latest 2018 book,’ How to Change Your Mind What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence’ has made an impact and started the ball to once again roll. As a sober individual in a 12 step program I find this topic to most revealing of the human mind. The second book which I am reading is called “ Magic Medicine” Modern Day Use of Psychedic Plants and Substances.” by Cody Johnson This is a must read to get introduced into the world of psychoactive plants.

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 2, 2020 HORSE CHESTNUT

Horse chestnut , also known as Aresculus hippocastanum is basically used in botanical medicine to treat venous disorders. I have used the herb and homeopathic preparations for hemorrhoids ( which are dilated veins) in many patients. In Europe it has bene used for venous condition as thrombophlebitis, varicose veins and even edema.

There is an active ingredient in Horse chestnut. It is a saponin called escin. There are other active components in Horse chestnut as flavinoid and esculin.

I would not consider Horse chestnut as an anti cancer herb. There was one in vitro study that found that horse chestnut saponins are cytotoxic to cancer cells., It can protect the vasculature and the surrounding edema.

This is yet another example of a herb beneficial effect in cancer therapy. It should be added to the armentarium of natural compounds.

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 1, 2020 MELATONIN

You know melatonin as a supplement that is used for sleep. It is sold as 1 mg , 2 mg 3mg 6mg and even as high as 20 mg. This is what you didn’t know about melatonin. There are more than 35 in vitro studies conducted on the cytotoxic effects of melatonin against cancer cells. Many of these studies were conducted on breast cancer. In the book, “ Thriving with Cancer,’ high dose melatonin at 20 mg is discussed on the beneficial effects for patients with breast cancer.

There are 28 studies conducted with melatonin alone or in conjunction with the inflammatory marker, interleukin IL-2. These studies suggest melatonin with IL-2 increased the survival of patients with cancer when compared to placebo.

Melatonin is a hormone produced in the human body in the pineal gland. It is secreted in a day night rhythm with the highest being secreted at night. Raw honey increases the natural production of melatonin. I do not use high dose melatonin for all patients with sleep disturbance, but do use high dose if that patient has active cancer.

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 31, 2019 QUINONES

Quinones are comprised of more than 1200 naturally occurring compounds, These natural compounds have been reported to be anti bacterial as well as anti fungal. Some of these quinone rich plants are used as laxatives as senna, rhubarb and cascara leaf. Some quinones are used in hair dyes as henna.

There are two anti cancer quinones that have been studied extenivsely. This are emodin and hypericin. Emodin is classified as an anthraquinone. There are FDA approved anthraquinone for chemotherapy . One example is doxorubicin. Herbs containing emodin have been used to treat cancer patients in China. One example is Polygonum cuspidatum.

Hypericin is a photoactive compound that has been studied for its anti cancer effects. Photoactive hypericin has been used and studied in skin cancer

In March 2020 it will be the 10th year I have written a daily blog. It by no means has been to replace the effective therapies in different disciplines of medicines as oncology, infectious disease, endocrinology and much more. The reason for writing this blog which began as a ‘ dare’ that I couldn’t do it- is now a labor of love. It is for educational purposes. It is to educate any individual on other modalities of natural medicine that are available.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020

Until 2020…

DECEMBER 30, 2019 LONG TERM WEIGHT LOSS

Americans have a huge problem. We are overweight. Currently 80 percent of adults and about 40 % of children are overweight or obese.

Believe it or not if your body mass index is between 25 - 29 you qualift as overweight, while a BMI of 30 is classified as obese

A healthy weight for a man who is 5’10 is 132 - 167. You are considered overweight at 174 and obese at 202. Obesity as surpassed or overtaken smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in the USA. How is this happening to this country? We have many to blame- the food industry and the advertising that promotes fast foods or processed foods.

The typical American diet needs to change. Individuals need to seek better alternatives for meals other than quick processed foods as bagels, cereals, and breakfast bars. We know that glass of orange juice if the 1970’s doesn’t suffice anymore. Nor does Carnation Instant Breakfast or Microwave oatmeal.

Obesity kills. It leads to Type 2 diabetes ( non insulin dependent diabetes) It first starts as insulin resistance also known as Syndrome X or Metabolic syndrome. Obesity and Diabetes are the twin epidemics that lead to the number one killer in the United States—Cardiovascular Disease

Learn how to change your dietary lifestyle and save your life. Call Fratellone Medical Associates at 212 421 3202 or Connecticut Integrative Medical Center 203 717 1339 today

Until tomorrow…