APRIL 26, 2021 HYPOTENSION OR LOW BLOOD PRESSURE

We always hear doctors discuss high blood pressure also known as Hypertension. No one discussed Hypotension or Low blood pressure., You might get up from a sitting position or from lying in bed and feel dizzy when you arise . It is not only dizziness that you may suffer from but from severe fatigue. Your blood pressure might by very low as 80-90 systolic or top number /50-60 diastolic or the botton number.

Centuries ago,m physicians gave patients wiuth these symptoms wine infused with Rosemary to increase circulation. In Germany you can buy a ointment infused with Rosemary to be rubbed on the chest for low blood pressure. There are many herbs that can be used to increase or normalize your blood pressure. These herbs can vary from ginger to hawthrone to gimseng. I have used all three over the years. I particularly like the adaptogen, Siberian ginseng to normalize blood poressure.

Many patients use iodized salt. While this can be a good quick “ fix” - you must be careful Iodized salt can affect other organ systems as the thyroid.

In either case I would discuss this problem with your health care practitioner. Perhaps you are taking too mnany blood pressure medications

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 23-25, 2021 HALLUCOGENIC PLANTS

For years I have been reading about Hallucogenic Plants. I have been fascinated by all plants but especially Carnivorous Plants and Hallucogenic Plants. There are many books on either topic. Today I will concentrate on Hallucogenic Plants. I have been fascinated by Hallucinogenic Plants for more than 40 years. These plants are essential in healing today. My own Ayahuasca experience more than 30 years ago directed my path in life and got me to where I am today- emotionally and spiritually. Hallucinogenic plants are not part of my sober life today and have not been for 27 years. Yet I have seen what these plants can do for some patients- up close and personal. I have extensively read and continue to read on these subjects.

I recommend 3-4 books to enhance your knowledge

1. Plants of the Gods : Their Sacred, Healing and Hallucinogenic Powers by Rihcard Evans Schultes and Albert Hoffman

2. Plant Intoxicants by Baron Ernst von Bibra

3. The World is As you Dream It- Shamanic Teachings from the Amazon and Andes

4. How To Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

   Each book offers an extraordinary blend of botany, history, ethoibotancy and even some mythology in the understanding of plants. For me it does not stop there. I have learned about Sapo and Iborgaine from readings and from patient’s experience.

   Open your mind…

   Until tomorrow…

APRIL 22, 2021 RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) include inflammation, pain, swelling, morning stiffness in synovial joints, bone destruction, and functional deformity. The pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-ɑ) are involved in the pathophysiology of the disease

There are many that suffer with RA. Approximately 1.5 million U.S. adults have RA. There are many treatment modalities both in conventional and integrative/functional medicine to be considered.

In conventional medicine, drug therapy is the treatment of choice. Older rheumatologists will start with steroids and progress to other drugs as methotrexate, plaquenil and even new drugs like Rinvoq ( upadactinib ). All druhs have some side effects

The first treatment in integrative medicine should be a change in dietary lifetsyle. The individual must reduce inflammation by choosing an anti inflammatory dietary approach. The individual should also find otu what foods he/she is sensitive to. These must be identified and stopped.

I am a big proponent of low dose naltrexone ( LDN) for a patient with RA There are peer review journal and research article to validate its use. There are many anti inflammatory herbs that can alleviate symptoms as ginger, tumeric, slippery elm, devil’s claw and cats claw. There are others. There are supplements that can also work as alpha lipoic acid and certain vitamins as B12/ folic acid. Recently an article in Herbalgram by the American Botanical Council was published on the use of saffron. The article was published :

Hamidi Z, Aryaeian N, Abolghasemi J, et al. The effect of saffron supplement on clinical outcomes and metabolic profiles in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res. July 2020;34(7):1650-1658. doi:10.1002/ptr.6633.

In the article it stated “ At the end of the study, significant decreases in tenderness and swelling in the joints, pain intensity based on a visual analogue scale, and DSA were observed in the saffron group compared with the placebo group “

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 21, 2021 AYAHUASCA

I have discussed hallucinogenic plants like Ayahuasca many times over the years. I believe there is a place in medicine for these plants and other plants. When I find an original article or research about such plants I feel it is my duty or rather pleasure to share the results with you.

In last months , Herbalgram , a monthly magazine published by the American Botanical Council featured such an article on Ayahuasca. From the article, “ Ayahuasca decoction is used in traditional medicine and spiritual rituals by indigenous people of the Amazon Basin. It is often prepared by boiling the stems of the caapi or yagé (Banisteriopsis caapi, Malpighiaceae) vine with the leaves of chacruna (Psychotria viridis, Rubiaceae) or chaliponga (Diplopterys cabrerana, Malpighiaceae) depending on the geographical locale and plant availability. “

It has been shown that this plant has antidepressant and anti anxioplytic benefits due to monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) activity and serotonin activity

The authors conclude that the severity of grief significantly decreased after drinking ayahuasca, and the effect was maintained over a one-year follow-up There is a role for these plants in conventional medicine ( or allopathic medicine )

There are limitations to any study. For one this was a small number of participants- 50.

González D, Cantillo J, Pérez I, et al. Therapeutic potential of ayahuasca in grief: a prospective, observational study. Psychopharmacol. 2020;237:1171-1182. doi.org/10.1007/s00213-019-05446-2.

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 20,. 2021 VACCINE FRENZY

The words on most lips are not about the next TV personality entering the Royal family, but instead what vaccine did you get. It may be about the recall of Johnson and Johnson vaccine. There are now reports about those who received a vaccine are most suspectible to other illnesses.

“ An October 2020 paper stressed that “COVID‐19 vaccines designed to elicit neutralizing antibodies may sensitize vaccine recipients to more severe disease than if they were not vaccinated,” and criticized vaccine makers for not clearly informing participants in current vaccine trials of this risk”

A report from Israili researchers stated “ Israeli researchers compared 400 individuals who had tested positive for the South African B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variant after receiving at least one dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine against 400 unvaccinated individuals who had been infected. Among those who received two doses of the vaccine, the variant was eight times more prevalent than in unvaccinated individuals (5.4% compared to 0.7%) “

I felt you had to know there would a slap to the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. It was eneviatble . I do believe not all of the data of these vaccines were disclosed to patients including myself. The ADE ( antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) )of virus infection was not properly explained to patients.

Dr Mercola in his recent discussion has explained this phenomenon very well in layman terms. I suggest reading his recent contribtuion It explains why those that werree vaccinated are more susceptible to other viruses and diseases. See www.drmercola.com

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 19, 2021 MARSHMALLOW

When most people hear marshmallow, they think of the white fluffy food treat commonly roasted at campfires. Marshmallow, however, is also a type of herb. Marshmallow, known scientifically as Althaea officinalis, is an African plant with medicinal properties.

Marshmallow is used tradiitonally to suppress cough, and relieving sore throat. I use this herb to relieve gastric disorders. I use it with other herbs like Meadow Sweet, Slippery Elmand Raspberry Leaf. This is one of my favorite herbs

I use it for restoring and repairing the “ gut “

My favorite tea from Botanical Bounty is GUTSY. It is our #1 - Try it

Call 646 723 1823

www.botanicalbounty.org

Until tomorrow

APRIL 16-18, 2021 LOW DOSE NALTREXONE

I am a proponent of low dose naltrexone( LDN). I have been using LDN for mroe than two decades. I was ahead of the curve on its use for autoimmune diseases as lupus, rheumatoid and hashimoto’s thyroiditis ( autoimmne thyroiditis) I myself used LDN to redcue my need for natural thyroid medications. I stopped using synthetic thyroids decades ago.

I use LDN in patients with cancer, patients with Lyme Disease and opatients with documented mast cell activation syndrome .

From this months Townsend Letter:

There are several gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and disorders for which low dose naltrexone has been applied as a therapeutic agent. The pathological factors that allow for the use of LDN in gut disorders and diseases include uncontrolled inflammation, abnormal immunity, increased intestinal permeability, increased visceral hypersensitivity, abnormal motility, and unregulated cellular growth.

The potential use of LDN or endorphins to treat motility disorders is not well known by clinicians. If LDN does lead to improved motility, then it could be used to treat constipation, abnormal small intestinal motility, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and gastroparesis.

I have used it in documented cases of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. For this disorders since complex it is not the only treatment., The treatment for documented MAST cell activation syndrome is immense.

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 15, 2021 ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM

Our body has cannabis receptors throughout the body. There are CB1 and CB2 receptors. The cB1 receptors target motor activity, appetite, short term memory, thinking and pain perception. The CB2 receptors are more broader than the CB1 and influence most of the body. Its receptors are in the gut, kidneys, pancreas, bone, eye, skeletal muscle, cardiovascular and respiratory systems

This system has been discussed more because of the widespread use of the Cannabis plant. The plant itself has mroe than 80 different cannabinoids. The most abundant and nmost frequently discussed is THC. It is known for the psychoactive proerties. The second component Cannanidiol ( CBD) is NOT psychoactive and second most abundant. It is facsinating how many books and articles have been written about Cannabis. Cannabis in ancient times in China was used to treat malaria, menstrual disease, and gout. In medieval times it was used to treat eplipsy and pain. Until 1970, Cannabis was used for a multitude of illnesses. In 1970 after being regulated as a Schedule I, its use stopped. Only now is it becoming more frequent on the minbds of health care practitioners

Health care practitioners need to have an open mind.The published studies from 2012 and current discuss its wide use or rather ranges of diseases, cannabis can be used for. The use of cannabinoids for the meidcinal treatment of pain is widely known.

Be proactive on the use of both THC and CBD.

Until tomorrow…