DECEMBER 11-12, 2020 PINEAPPLE WEED

Pineapple weed is a wayside plant. I must be amiss since i have never seen a Pineapple weed. I decided to look it up. It is part of the Aster Family and the Genus Matricaria.

The name is derived from the word ‘ Matrix’ - womb. Interesting this is because German chamomille was used medicinally to treat female disorders.

I tried to find Pineapple weed seeds but it is hard. So if you come across a Pineapple weed send it my way. It is said to have a pineapple fragrance

Until tomorrow…

DECEMEBR 10, 2020 LICORICE

When you think of licorice what comes to your mind? I think of real licorice strands from a local candy store around the corner from PS #4 in Yonkers New York. Licorice known botanically as Glycyrrhiza glabra has been used for centuries. You can date it back to 2000 BC It was known as Scythian root. Glycyrrhizin sweeter than sugar cane

It has been found in cardiovascualr research to be beneficial to lowering of the low density lipoprotein otherwise known as the bad cholesterol. There are four isoflavans and two chalcones is a important in LDL oxidation and thus can prevent the formation of early plaque.

Although I use licorice a lot in my practice I am aware of the side effects. It can increase blood pressure. Other side effects you must be aware of : headache, edema weight gain and even electrolyte imbalance.

The many flavinoid glycosides that are in licorice need to be more extensively studied

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 9, 2020 YOUR DOG

What do you feed your dog ? I fed my dog ,Chaplin ,Raw Food for the first three years of his life. He was born with a heart defect Dogs, a mammal like humans have 4 heart valves - aortic, pulmonary, tricuspid and mitral.

He was born without a mitral valve therefore he has a regurgitant mitral valve. He was on multiple medications when I adopted him With the use of herbs and supplements he takes only one medication.

You need to decide what is the best for pet. I have changed from raw to a grain free , plant based diet. If you are not feeding your pet a nutrient rich food derived from plants there is a good chance he/she is not receiving all the anti oxidants and phytonutrients he needs to maintain a good health. So there is way to raise your pet’s nutrient intake. You can use a product supported and research based food from Dr Mercola. Dr Mercola is a friend/colleague who I have supported over the years in practice. You can sprinkle Organic Fermented Foods for your pet. It is for dogs and cats. To tell you the truth I even sprinkle some in my Amazon Green Parrot food bowl. Gracie, my parrot has bene with me for 31 years

Your pet provides so much to you in your life. I can’t describe how a pet can change your entire life in more ways than you even realize. Your pet is part of your family He is your child.

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 8, 2020 BARTONELLIOSIS

When you bit by a tick you must think of all tick borne infections. Bartonellosis is primarily associated with flea, lice and ticks. Several different species of Bartonella can cause serious disease in humans. Some of these are Cat Scratch Disease, endocarditis, trench fever and Carrion’s Disease. The symptoms of Bartonella vary from patient to patient. It can be mild to severe and usually begins 5 to 14 days after infection.

Some of the more common symptoms are headache, fever, fatigue, muscxe pain and swollen glands. It almost sounds kike infections with the Epstein Barr Virus ( EBV) The diagnosis of Bartonella should always be considered if you get bit by a tick or scratch by a small animal. The health care professional should be well versed in tick born infections The right blood test by IGeneX should be considered. I use IGeneX as the bartonnella species are tested which include B.henselae,B quintana ( the most common species ) and also B elizabethae and B visonii ( not so common species)

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 7, 2020 LYME DISEASE

Lyme disease is the most well known tick borne illness. It is also one of the fastest growing infectious disease in the United States. Per the CDC 400,000 individuals are diagnosed with Lyme Disease annually. It is caused by Lyme Borreliae bacteria ( spirochete) carried by ticks.

I am not an infectious disease physician but an integrative physician who treats Lyme . I have a special interest in Lyme as my son has had Lyme since age 19. I want to discuss the testing. Generally Lyme disease is diagnosed by a two - tier approach involving an ELISA followed by a western blot. Unfortunately the sensitivity if these commercially available testing is poor. I use only two labs within the United States to make a diagnosis. These are Stony Brook Laboratories and IGeneX.

IGeneX has developed several Lyme tests that provide higher sensitivity to detect more Borreliae. When use din conjunction with symptoms and patient history, these tests are better I utilize them all the time. The treatment varies from patient to patient. I will discuss the various treatments in other blogs but involves antibiotics, herbal medicines., IV therapies, referral to the StemAid Institute and bee venom therapy.

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 4-6, 2020 COUGH

There are many types of coughs, some which be accompanied by a cough. Cough can be from a chemical irritation or from an infection. Today we musty check for influenza or COVID 19 if you have a cough. You should drink plenty of fluids and get bed rest if you have a cough. There are many ways to treat a cough. Over the years I have NOT written a prescription for a cough suppressant. There are many different herbal remedies. A lot of individuals use elderberry.

If a child is suffering from a cough you can use elderberry, echinacea and even thyme. If the cough has phlegm I tend to use herbs that are expectorants as comfrey and coltsfoot. Some herbalists stay aware from comfrey but I find it very useful. I tend to use 10 drops of each and mix with warmed honey from my bees and give a teaspoon. I found these very useful for my own children . If the mucous or phlegm is thick i tend to use ginger, fennel and thyme.

As a child my mother used a vaporizer with Vick’s vapor rub. In a way this way aromatherapy. In an atomizer I use eucalyptus and sandalwood This is my version of aromatherapy.

The Bible herb, Myrrh can be massaged into the chest I find these herbs to be very useful

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 3, 2020 SNOWDROPS

Snowdrops are one of the first flowers to open each year. There are white bell shaped as well as yellow bell shaped ones. There is an intricate beauty of these flowers. When you see a field of thousands of snowdrops is when you appreciate their beauty. I appreciate their beauty and their splendor The first botanical drawing of a snowdrop was in 1542. Their botanical name has been changed over the years. There are many uncommon species written about since their first drawing appeared. Snowdrop earrings have appeared in many famous paintings as Johannes Vermeer’s “ Girl with a Pearl Earring”

How did I come to know about Snowdrops. There is a Reaktion Book in the Botanical Series entitled ‘ Snowdrop” It is written so beautifully and gracefully by Gail Harland.

There are 25 books in this Botanical Series. I own at least 18 of these marvelous books. It makes a great gift for anyone that loves plants , herbs and flowers

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 2, 2010 ADDING ASPIRIN

I have finished Cardiovascular Fellowship in 1994. I have been practicing medicine for over 25 years. I have seen many medications initiated and many have survived the last 25 years. Some have not. Adding aspirin as an antiplatelet therapy after angiplasty /stent began 30 years ago. I was there. Two studies in that era, the CREDO and CURE trials showed the benefits of adding clopidogrel ( plavix) to aspirin versus aspirin alone after stent or myocardial infarction ( heart attack) forming what we know now as dual platelet therapy. Some later studies revealed some ischemic events after discontinuation of ant platelet therapy. This then favored the use of platelet therapy for at least twelve months, This 12 month therapy is reflected in the guidelines. I am not opposed to such therapy

To decide which anti platelet drugs to use is by the discretion of the physician and his/her comfortability with the drugs. Whether it is Eliquis, Brillanta, Xarelto, Plavix or other drugs. It is always decided what to add to aspirin. I tell you all this as it isn’t easy for the physician to make this decision.

Recently an article in the American Journal of Cardiology entitled “ Optimizing Monotherapy Selection, Aspirin versus P2Y12 inhibitors following Percutaneous Intervention was published. I found the artocle to be useful at selection of which therapy.

There are also many herbs and supplements that can thin blood. Many of these have not been studied in double blind clinical trials. Many of my patients ask about these therapies. These are omega 3 oils, ginkgo, garlic, nattokinase and many more.

Until tomorrow…