APRIL 14, 2021 VERVAIN

Vervain ( also known as Verbena officinalis) is an herb that has been used for centuries. Interestingly I have heard it mentioned on more than one occasion on the Netflix show, The Originals. Evidently this herb is used against vampires. Who knew ?

The two active ingredients in vervain are two glycosides, verbenalin and verbenine. The herb is used as a nervine . I have seen it used for irregular menses as well as liver disease I have seen it used for nervousness from liver disease. It is combined in equakl parts with skullcap, chamomille,valerian, oregon grape and ginger.

If you add Vitex to the above formula —it can be used for irregular menses.

I feel we do not use this herb enough. I feel it is a great herb for anxiety and sleeplessness.

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 13, 2021 GLYPHOSATES

Glyphosates are toxic to our body. These chemicals have been linked to chronic disease.

Glyphosates are the active ingredient in the pesticide , RoundUp. Roundup should NOT be used. In addition to beng toxic to you — it is toxic to honeybess and has been linked to the decline in the bee populations

One study showed that glyphosate exposure can stmullte airway inflammation and promote asthma related cytokines. We take these substances in our body through food and water but also can found in individuals who vape and is found as a residue in biofuels.

For those on the westcoast— it is in the smoke/smog from raging fires

Be proactive in your health Find out about glyphosates

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 12, 2021 CASES RISING

Nearly half of the new cases are in 5 states - New York, Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey These states together reported 44% of the nation's new COVID-19 infections, or nearly 197,500 new cases

Why is that ? It varies from state to state. For one not everyone are wearing masks ( especially if they have been vaccinated) and the second problem is the difficulty is getting the vaccines in some states, especially New York. Many of my patients who want to be vaccinated and fit criteria cannot get an apppointment . Why is this? There is a shortage of vaccines. I do not understand this.

The heavy concentration of new cases in states that account for 22% of the U.S. population has prompted some experts and elected officials to call for President Joe Biden’s administration to ship additional vaccine doses to those places. Please ship vaccines.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has publicly harangued the federal government about the need for a bigger vaccine allotment almost daily, a refrain he repeated when speaking to reporters . I do not wanbt to comment of my personal feelinsg of the mayor.

Spring break in states like Florida were laxed and we have had spread of variants. This pandemic is far from over. I expect like what has been written- THERE WILL BE an incerase in cases in the coming weeks. Please be smart- wear your mask, practice social distancing and get vaccinated( if you want to )

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 8, 2021 SKULLCAP

Scutellaria is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. They are known commonly as skullcaps. The generic name is derived from the Latin scutella, meaning "a small dish, tray or platter. There are two types of Skullcap- American and Chinese. The American Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) are used for different types of conditions. I mainly use the Amnerican Skullcap as a herbal nervine fort anxiety, stress , and relaxation.

Chinese skullcap ( SB) was part of a study prublishe din 2019 in a peer review journal. The purpose of this double-blind, randomized clinical study was to investigate whether the combination of Chinese skullcap ( SB) and metformin influenced intestinal microbiota in patients with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus

The study was published in the HerbalGram of the American Botanical Council.

Shin NR, Gu N, Choi HS, Kim H. Combined effects of Scutellaria baicalensis with metformin on glucose tolerance of patients with type 2 diabetes via gut microbiota modulation. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. January 1, 2020;318(1):E52-E61. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00221.2019.

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first double-blind, randomized clinical trial evaluating the combined effects of SB and metformin in patients with T2DM. SB treatment was demonstrated to ameliorate glucose intolerance, in part through the modulation of the gut microbiota composition. However, there were no differences in other clinical markers

There are many herbs that can used in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Some include cinnamon, bitter melon, and gymnema. Chinese skullcap is another example of a herbal treatment that cna be used in diabetes.

More studies need to be done

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 7, 2021 DO YOU EAT KALE ?

There are super foods you should consume. Kale is considered the king of superfoods . If you didn’t already know it is a member of the Cabbage Family. It is a cruciferous vegetable like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens and Brussels sprouts.

Kale has many antioxidant as beta caritene and Vitamin C . It also contains bioflavinoid and polphenols. Antioxidants are substrances that counteract free radical int he body. These free radicals can cause aginbg as well as chronic disease and even cancer.

Many individuals consume more spinach than kale. Yet kale is known to have 5 x more vitamin C than spinach. So Popeye was wrong - consume Kale. As a cardiologist I advocate mnroe eatinbg more Kale. Kale actually contains bile acid sequestrants, which can lower cholesterol levels. This might lead to a reduced risk of heart disease over time.

One study found that drinking kale juice every day for 12 weeks increased HDL (the “good”) cholesterol by 27% and lowered LDL levels by 10%, while also improving antioxidant status.

Lastly consuming Kale could be anti caner vegetable. One of its substances or compounds is sulforaphane This is a substance that has been shown to help fight the formation of cancer at the molecular level. Kale also contains indole 3 carbinol also kniown as DIM which is used in patients cancer especially breast cancer.

There is no reason not to conmsume kale.

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 6, 2021 LUMBROKINASE

There are natural alternatives to allow the blood to become thinner. Of course there is a role for wafaron and anti platelet drugs in the field of medicine. All medications although are beneficial can have side effects and complications

For years I have recommended nattokinase fromt he fermented plant as well as garlic, ginkgo, and omega 3 fatty acis.

Lumbrokinase, a combo of six enzymes sourced from earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus ) , is known for its ability to support healthy blood flow, and heart and brain health. There are many enzyme in the body that are not just for digestion. I do recommend digestive enzymes as well as Creon .

Fibrinolytic enzymes also help remove fibrin, a clotting material that your body makes that can restrict blood flow in your arteries and connective or muscle tissue.

Fibrin can affect your heart and muscle health, and as you’ll soon see, the general well-being of your entire body.

While there are no guidelines for the appropriate use of lumbrokinase, most manufacturers recommend taking between one to two capsules daily; the dose can vary by brand, ranging from 20 to 40 milligrams (mg) on average.

Consult your health care practitioners about taking this supplement. It should not be taken with any other anti platelet drug or warfarin until consulting your doctor.

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 5, 2021 A NEW WORLD

The topic of conversation these days is “ Did you get vaccinated ?” or “ Which vaccine did you get “

Many private companies are also considering limiting their services to vaccinated-only patrons. We have not heard about travel restrictions yet. Currently you must get a COVID test 3 days prior to travel to most areas internationally, This is also true flying domestically. Airlines have not decided on restrictions yet. I say “ yet” as I feel there will be mroe and more restrictions. These restrictions will be for non vaccinated individuals.

As of March 22, 2021, Krispy Kreme shops around the U.S. will dole out free doughnuts to patrons who can prove they’ve received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This is ridiculous . Let’s try NOT to promote diabetes and obesity which these free donuts will do.

it’s only a matter of time before you’ll be asked to prove your vaccination status in order to carry on with your daily life, and you should be thankful there are big tech geniuses out there who can ensure maximum efficiency and ease of use of such a system. There is such a system in place . There is an App - NYS Wallet. Once you put in your name and date of birth you gat a card on your phone ( for those that have been vaccinated ) I am sure you will have to show this instead of carrying your paper vaccination card with you.

Possibly this NYS Wallet App will allow people to be scanned before entering certain buildings etc. Will it be used to get into a Broadway show ? Who knows. The world has changed. COVID was the reset button of many more rules and regulations to come

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 2, 2021 EYE CARE

On the cover of The Townsend Letter this month is my friend/colleague Dr Marc Grossman He has been in the integrative field for more than 35 years. His web site, www.naturaleyecare.com and www.visionworksusa.com has been instrumental in helping patients deal with their common eye ailments/conditions.

His Natural Eye Care, Your Guide to healthy vision and Healing is a 800 page landmark guide empowers you as the individual at any age to take better care of your eyes and protect your vision. He has certainly helped me throughout he years .

I love Dr Grossman because he always thinking outside the box. He will discuss glaucoma or any eye condition in relation to supplements/herbs as well as conventional treatments. He will discuss managing stress, using chinese medicine modalities as well as acupuncture. He gives insights into homeopathy and microcurrent stimulation for glaucoma.

I urge you to get his book. Look at his website and learn about your eyes

Until tomorrow…