MARCH 23, 2020 BUILD UP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

With this current pandemic YOU must protect your immune system by building up your immune system

Unfortunately, our immune system is often weakened, and for many reasons, ranging from a lack of vitamins, to the presence of environmental toxins (like heavy metals, for example), to taking such common drugs like the anti-inflammatory drugs sold in pharmacies to reduce aches and pains. Examples of ant inflammatory drugs are Motrin, Alleve and Naprosyn

Eat lots of green vegetables and 2 citrus fruits per day. These are foods which can boost your immune system

I have discussed taking certain supplements as Monolaurin, My Community by Host Defense, Zinc, Liposomal Vitamin C, Liposomal gluthathione and an armentarinm of anti viral herbs

Some of this herbs include Lemon Balm, Echinaceae, Goldenseal, Barberry, Oregon Grape, and Golden Thread. These last four herbs all contain berberine. You can talk Oregano , Ginger, Tumeric and Garlic

There are many other products by reputable companies on the market. Spend a little time while inside and search different companies. From the Beljanski Foundation I have found Real Build to be very effective

Until tomorrow…

MARCH 21 - 22, 2020 YOU ARE STUCK INSIDE

WE are all recommended to stay inside during this pandemic. I have no problem doing that

As theatres are closed, concerts postponed, restaurants closed , retail stores have closed or lessened hours and sporting events cancelled—what is there to do

Ten years ago I started this blog- It was called “Stitch Your Way to a healthy Heart “ Every Friday I wrote about a different hobby. I have tried most if not all of the hobbies I wrote about.

Here are some examples of things to do while oyu are inside either alone or with a loved one

1. Start a journal or blog. It could be about anything you want

2. Put together a jigsaw puzzle. I buy from white mountain puzzles on line

3. Watch an old classic movie or a Disney movie that you loved from your childhood

4. Meditate using 4-7-8 spontaneous breathing

5. Teach yourself a foreign language Downlaod Duolingo

6. Write a letter to a friend. Letter writing is therapeutic

7. Knit or crochet

8. Start a needlepoint or cross-stoitch project As you now this is my favorite hobby

9. Go through your camera roll on your phone and pick out your favorite photos

10. Make a gratitude list

11. Read a book that you longing to read

12. Read a book you read a long time ago

13. Sit in silence and pray

There are hundreds of things to do while you are inside. Be humble, be grateful and BEE happy

Until tomorrow….

MARCH 20, 2020 LAVENDER AND STRESS

Essential oils have a role in all types of medicine whether Integrative or Conventional ( Allopathic) More studies need to be done. Last year a study was published in March 2019 on the use of lavender on academic stress. This was a placebo controlled clinical trial on college students.

We do know that the academic stress of college and other institutions can affect affective cognitive function through many factors including disturbance in behavior, thinking and mood. This study was published in the HerbalGram by the American Botanical Council

Lavender oil has been shown to be very effective in stimulating cognitive function, helping relieving [pain and enhancing mood

In conclusion both placebo and lavender aromatherapy produced similar stress reducing effects. More studies need to be done as the dilution of the oil was very low and there were limited number of participants.

Until tomorrow…

MARCH 19, 2020 ADMIST THE CRISIS; IMMUE BOOSTING FOODS

There are immune boosting foods to keep your immune system protected from pathogens as COVID 19. I would stock up and start eating citrus fruits as grapefruits, lemons, clementines and oranges

If you don’t like citrus fruits , bell peppers have more vitamin C than most fruits Your mother told you to eat your greens. It is very important especially broccoli. Broccoli is supercharged with vitamins and minerals. Packed with vitamins A, C, and E, as well as many other antioxidants and fiber.

There are two herbs that can help your immune system One of garlic and the other is ginger . Ginger may help decrease inflammation, which can help reduce a sore throat and other inflammatory illnesses. Garlic is anti microbial meaning that it is good to fight bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. Garlic’s immune-boosting properties seem to come from a heavy concentration of sulfur-containing compounds, such as allicin..

Until tomorrow…

MARCH 19, 2020 BLOOD TYPE AND CORONA VIRUS RISK

The media is in overdrive due to the Corona covid-19 Pandemic. There is lots of information on the news and on line

A recent study in China had interesting findings.

People with blood type A may be more vulnerable to infection by COVID-19 while those with type O seem more resistant, according to a preliminary study of patients in China who contracted the disease known as Covid-19.Medical researchers in China took blood group patterns of more than 2,000 patients infected with the virus in Wuhan and Shenzhen and compared them to local healthy populations. They found that blood type A patients showed a higher rate of infection and they tended to develop more severe symptoms

There is a lot of information on blood types and disease Most native Americans belong to group O. It is believed that this is due to a syphilis epidemic and that the O type were better at fighting off the disease. Group A and B make people more resistant to cholera, while AB confers the most resistance. O offers virtually no immunity against cholera

SO conducting a study on the new corona virus and blood type is not far fetched. I think this is a valuable study. More studies on viruses and blood type need to be done.

Until tomorrow…

MARCH 17, 2020 THE PANDEMIC: CORONA UPDATE

For the first time in its history there is no St Patrick’s Day Parade today. You may ask why ? Because of the pandemic of Corona virus. New York City is semi lockdown. I’m still here doing phone consults and tending to the needs of patients.

So far we’ve seen 15 million cases of the flu in the United States this season, with just over 8,000 deaths caused by the flu or secondary pneumonia (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2020b); in contrast, there have been 7,700 confirmed cases of the Wuhan virus and 170 related deaths in China as of January 30, 2020

This is different than the flu It causes more pulmonary problems. Wash your hands thoroughly

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus, also known as Wuhan virus, is considered a novel virus, meaning it has not been observed in human populations before, although diseases caused by a similar type of virus have been observed, as in the MERs outbreak of 2012. Corona refers to crown-like projections on the individual virions. The earliest infected individuals of the recent outbreak, starting in Wuhan, China, had a connection to a large fish and meat market, suggesting initial animal-to-human transmission. However, it is now apparent that human-to-human transmission has occurred, perhaps carried in mucous droplets from coughs or sneezes (CDC, 2019).

Get you immune system boosted. Eat healthly Drink water. Move your body . Take ViraTone twice a day to keep viruses away

Until tomorrow

MARCH 16, 2020 NITRIC OXIDE

Heart Disease is still the number one killer in the United States. Every 42 seconds someone has a heart attack. In the United States we are obsessed with total cholesterol and the low density lipoproteins ( LDL) or bad cholesterol. While there are excellent studies and treatment options for your bad cholesterol, there are other treatment modalities. One is the use of nitric oxide ( NO )

Your own body makes nitric oxide in the arteries. It is a vasodilator which means it opens up your arteries. More than 50 % of the nitric oxide in our bodies come from the amino acid, arginine. The blood vessels convert arginine to nitric oxide through an enzyme called nitric oxide synthetase ( NOS)

Some people cannot convert the arginine. This is because of a substance called dimethylarginine ( ADMA) ADMA binds the NOS so arginine cannot be converted to nitric oxide Therefore those with a low Arginine/ADMA ratio would have atherosclerosis. You can get this ratio tested by your physician

I avoid giving patients a lot of arginine as it is a fuel source for viruses as herpes simplex. I sometimes give the precursor to arginine called Citrulline. Nitric oxide levels go down after the age of 60. We lose our ability to make nitric acid as we age.

Until tomorrow

MARCH 14- 15, 2020 MELATONIN

More than 3 million Americans take melatonin for sleep. The global melatonin has skyrocketed in the last few years. It is estimated that by 2025 there will be a 2790 million sales

The lay person knows that melatonin is great remedy for sleep in a majority of patients. The other health benefits are anti oxidant and anti inflammatory. It has even be used as an anti cancer supplement in breast cancers.

There are double blind placebo controlled studies on the benefit of melatonin for sleep. In Europe, Melatonin is used to treat primary insomnia. I encourage you to tell your health care practitioner about your sleep issues and if you are taking melatonin. Although it has a favorable safety profile, there are skeptics. Some as the Arthritis Foundation does not advocate melatonin for autoimmune diseases. You must read about when to take melatonin. It has a short half life ( only 20 - 45 minutes) Timely is very important.

I advice taking a time released melatonin around bedtime or a regular release one in the middle of the night. This is consistent with your circadian rhythm.

Until tomorrow…