MAY 14-16, 2021 COVID AND THE GUT

Can you do anything to prevent getting infected with COVID or decreasing its virulence if you get infected,. There are many lifestyle and environmental factors that play a significant control in getting infected or being “ not so sick” if you get COVID

In my opinion, as with all disease the gut microbiome must be healthy in order to prevent disease. The “ gut” is the gateway to a healthy life.

. In the past one year there have been so many published studies on the integrity of the microbiome and COVID 19

This was not just any respiratory virus. We have found out that the gut’s microbiome can influence the individual’s infectability after they have been exposed. This is why some people did well and some did not. In general those that had a good gut microbiome faired much better.

Those patients with diabetes were at risk at diabetes alters the gut microbiome. Those diabetics with a healthy lifestyle in regards to the food they consume, and the anti oxidants they consume faired better with the infection as those had a healthy gut microbiome. Countless articles showed this connection

Those individuals who take a large numbers of prescription drugs were at risk. These drugs disrupt the microbiome making the individual more susceptible. These could be antibiotics, antacids, steroids and many more.

From the very beginning of the pandemics I wrote that individuals should take Vitamin D, Zinc, Vitamin C, and N acetyl cysteine ( or reduced glutathione) to prevent he / she from getting COVID and decreasing symptoms if you had COVID

There is so much to be learned from this pandemic., We must learn about the gut microbiome and other disease as this is only the beginning of future pandemics yet to come.

Until tomorrow…

MAY 13, 2021 OUR TOXIC ENVIRONEMNT

We live in a toxic environemnt. We as American s are obsessed with getting fat or obese. There are fad diets, weight loss supplements and intense exercise programs to lose weight. WEe do know that obesity is linked to cardiovascular disease , diabetes, cancer, sleep apnea and much mroe. Have you ever considered that our environemnt is killing us. The air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink are now considred obesogenic. The life essential - air, water and food is making us obese.

If you consome processed food, drink soda or pop, and do not exericse - you are setting the future for obesity. You are also setting the stage for chronic disease. There is overwhelming eviden ce that environemnt chemicals can and do interfere with metabolism, thyroid function and the formaiton of fat cells.

An excellent article as written by Marianne Marchese, ND in this months Townsend Letter. She outlined these environemnt chemicals that can cause obesity as well as giving the reader the education and the solution to what you can do . The toxins are

1. Bisphenol A

2. Phthalates

3. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers

4. Organochlorine phosphates

5. Polychlorinated biphenyls

6. Polyfluroakyl chemicals

   Get fanmilar with these toxins by educating yourself and what poroducts contain them For example a vinyl shower curtain can contain phthalates as well as many cosmetic products.

   It is about getting healthier and trying to the best of your ability to live a chemical free life. You musy choose your battles. Educate yourself

   Until tomorrow…

MAY 12, 2021 BLUEBERRIES AND GLYCEMIC CONTROL

We know the benefits of all berries especially blueberries. Blueberries are a great antioxidant and should be consumed to improve your health. A randomized trial was done using 52 male US veterans with a mean age of 67 who had type II diabetes.

Double blind where half consumed 11 grams of dried blueberries twice a day versus placebo for a total of 8 weeks. The toal daily dose of dried blueberries was equalivalent to 1 cup of blueberries.

The final result was not suprising to me. Those that consumed 22 grams per dasy of dried blueberries improved glycemic controlas well as other measures of cardiovascular risk factors

So consume your ogranic blueberries every day

Until tomorrow…

MAY 11, 2021 WHY BEEKEEPING

I have been fascinated by bees since my childhood. I was a science ‘kid’ I was intrigued by plants, animals and insects for as long as I can remember. I was always intrigued by where honeybess fly to get their supply of pollen which then through a complex feat is converted to honey. How do the bees know where to go.

It was the year 1972 where I read about the magic. Was it magic that the bees knew where to fly or was there some scientific evidence. The question was answered in Scientific American. The smell of the returining bees could have tipped off the other worker bees on where to go but only if the distance was short.

A German professor who completed a study noticed that the retunring bees did two kinds of ‘ dances’ int he hibe. Yes I said ‘ a dance ‘ One was caleld the round dance and the other was the ‘waggle dance’ The number of turns told the other bees the dances. The experiemnts tooks years to complete and were quite conclusive. That article changed my life.

Years later after becoming a clinical rgeistered herbalist I thought about those bees of my childhpood. I decided then to become a beekeeper. I started to read all I could about honeybees and beekeeping. I started to collect all books on Honeybees and Bees in general. I read “ Fifty Years of Beekeeping” by CC Miller a former MD who retured early to become a beekeeper. Beekeeping became anoither hobby of mine but it is a passion of my life. I have read more than 100 books of beekeeping, bee culture and on medicinal aspects of a beehive. One book, Honeybee Democracy still fascinates me

Today I a proud member and Vice President of the American Apitherapy Society ( www.apitherapy.org ) Support your local beeleeper. Visit my friend Andrew Cote at the Union Square market and buy his honey Andrew is the President of the NYC Beekeepers Association

Stop the use of pesticides as they are killing our bees. Be an acvtivist

Until tomorrow…

MAY 7-9, 2021 NEW CANCER INFO

In any area of medicine you have to keep up in your field by reading, attending seminars and journal browsing. I try to do all three. In addition I read a variety of different medical journals on a variety of topics both within my field of cardiology and all areas on medicine, both conventional and integrative. Recently he compound — curcusone D — has the potential to help combat a protein found in many cancers, including some forms of breast, brain, colorectal, prostate, lung and liver cancers, among others.

In the past I have taught Integrative Oncology at the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicines. I tried to give the students all published data on natural compounds and its role n the treatment and support of cancers.

Curcusones are compounds that come from a shrub named Jatropha curcas, also called the purging nut. Native to the Americas, it has spread to other continents, including Africa and Asia. The plant has long been used for medicinal properties — including the treatment of cancer.

“For killing cancer cells and stopping migration, there are other compounds that do that,” Mingii Dai, Professor of said. “But as far as inhibiting the BRAT1 protein, there are no other compounds that can do that.”

Until tomorrow

MAY 6, 2021 LUNG HERBS

When you think about herbs for the lung, you may think of cough and automatically think of elderberry. I think of elecampane and horehound. I also think of lobelia.

There are many herbs that can asist with a good lung detox. One of these herbs is Mullein. Although many individuals think of mullein for earaches, it is mouch mroe than that. Mullein cleanses the bronchial tubes, and soothes inflammation of the respiratory tract. If there is any herb that can decrease inflammation it is curcumnin ( also known as tumeric)

One great herb that works well with mullein is plantain. Plantain works well with Mullein to cleanse, clear, soothe, and heal the lungs in the gentlest yet most effective way.

Add either elderberry, horehound or elecampane for cough and you have a powerful lung detox. Although antibiotics are often presceribed there are many anti bacterial herbs used with lung detox herbs to help with asthma, COPD, emphysema, bronchitis, inflammation, respiratory allergies, recurring congestion, smoker's cough, exercise-induced lung strain, and anxiety-related breathing issues.

At Botanical Bounty we can make an individualized tea for your lung needs. Check out our webiste at www.botanicalbounty.org or call 646 723 1823

Until tomorrow…

MAY 5, 2021 FENOFIBRATE AND COVID

During the last year we have learned a lot about COVID. We learned about the benefits and riosks of some anti viral therapy, ivermectin, plaquenil et al and much more. There are reports about the benefit of low dose naltrexone and even of bee venon therapy and COVID.

Recently researches at both the Hebrw Universoty and New York’sMount Sinai Hospital claims the benefit of a lipid lowering drug, fenofibrate. This drug which is NOT a statin could render COVID 19 no more dangerous than the common cold.

It has been stated that this drug borne out of clinical studies could potentially downgrade COVID 19’s severity. It has been postulated the virus prevents the routine burning of carbohydrates. As a result the large amounts of fat accumulate inside the lung cells, a condition the virus needs in order to replicate. Fenofibrate showed promising results- by allowing lung cells to burn more fat, this drug breaks the virus’s grip on these cells and prevents the COVID virus from replicating I find this unique

If it is true that the vaccine will only protect a patient for a few months- this could be one option. There are many options

Until tomorrow…

MAY 4, 2021 DEPRESSION

Does life feels like a constant struggle. Are you dealing with internal feelings of hopelessness, helplessness , worthlessness and even emptiness ? Yoy may have the symptoms of depression. You may feel like not bathing or showering nor feel like getting out of bed.

You are not lazy ! You might have Depression. More than 3 million Americans suffer from depresison. It is defined as a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.

The persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest that characterizes major depression can lead to a range of behavioral and physical symptoms. These may include changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, concentration, daily behavior, or self-esteem. Depression can also be associated with thoughts of suicide.

If you have any of these symptoms consult your health care practitioner. He/she might direct you to see a psychiatrist or a psychology therapist. Don’t be afraid. You need help. There are many medications that can help you as well as behavioral or talk therapy.

During this past year many individuals have been depressed and even anxious. In addition to the multitude of convenitonal drugs for depression there are many more supplements and herbs that help. Low levels of Vitamin D and B12 can lead to depresson. Dietary considerations is an important discussion. Certain food allergies can lead to depression.

Don’t do this alone Seek help

Until tomorrow…