MAY 19, 2021 VACCINE FRENZY

THE TALK IS STILL ABOUT DID YOU GET YOUR VACCINE. Well did you ? The vaccines were made in such a hurry you could be thinking should I get it or should I not. This is a personal decision. However were we all guinea pigs being vaccinated without substantial amount of test subjects and studies. Health professionals had to get it as it will attached torenewing their license in the future. Individuals who want to travel abroad might not be able to by June . Individuals who want to travel might not be able to by December 2021. Airlines will make their own policies.

Growing real-world evidence suggests that available COVID-19 vaccines are highly protective against known SARS-CoV-2 strains, including those designated as variants of concern by the CDC, according to NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, MD. It was effective against the South African strain as well as the U.K. variant.

We know little of anything about their effectiveness against the P.1 variant, first reported in Brazil, and the B.1.617 variant, which has led to a massive surge of infections in India,

Now the vaccine is approved for 12 - 18 years old individuals. I don’t know if I had a child of that age would I recommend he/she to get the vaccine. Do we know any studies regarding fertility. Will the vaccine make men and women sterile or unable to have a child. These are important questions and concerns.

The CDC has just made announcements about the wearing of a mask. This could lead to more cases. Many are uncomfortable without making a mask in a public space. Individual businesses will have to make their own policy. Medical offices will have to make policies.

We live in a different world today

Until tomorrow

MAY 18, 2021 SEWING IS HEALTHY

If you’ve ever been stressed or frustrated and have found yourself running to your sewing machine or beloved pastime to cool down and find your zen again. I find my zen when I needlepoint. You might find it in knitting. I know someone who finds it in making fabulous quilts. Recently I found an article that highliughted the benefits of sewing. I feel these same health benefits can extend to any hobby which allopws you to be calm.

Sewing requires concentration and hand-eye coordination, which helps with cognitive development and the development of motor skills.

1. Sewing encourages creative thinking and enhances knowledge, which can help with problem-solving in other areas of your life.

2. Upcycling clothing is good for the environment (and your wallet).

3. Sewing increases nimbleness in the fingers and softens the joints in the fingers over time.

4. Sewing is relaxing and can lead to a more steady heart rate, lower blood pressure, and less perspiration over time.

5. The calming effects of sewing can reduce stress if your mind is focused on it.

6. Sewing keeps the mind healthy and active so that your mind can stay sharper for longer. The creative thinking required during sewing encourages the growth of new brain cells.

7. Sewing encourages self-discipline, accomplishments, and instills pride, which boosts mental health.

   I am all about finding a hobby. It not only has the health benefits above but iot boosts your self esteem

   Until tomorrow…

MAY 17, 2021 CANNABIDIOL

There is no doubt in my mind that the Cannabis plant is here to stay. In the years from 2002-2012 there were very few studies published on the use of cannabinoids for medicinal treatment of pain. Since 2012 there are well over 50 published studies on this topic

Cannabis satuva and Cannabis indica are the two main species of the Cannacis plant. The most abundant THC is known for its psychoactive properties. The studies on THC for a wide array of diseaes is now well established. More and mroe states are making this legal.

The second most abundant cannabinoid is CBD which is non psychoactive. I haveused CBD more frequently in the last five years than I ever thought I would. The research is there. Its medicinal benefits are overwhelming for pain. Cannavis was used in Eastern medicine far more than the Western medicine. From the 1930’s to 1970 cannabis was used in this country until it become illegal. Now we are finally back on track in most states.

As a physician in recovery for more than 25 years I am very comfortable with recommending the use of THC for illnesses. For those that do not want to take the THC component, there are many disease states that can beneit from the CBD component.

Talk to your physician about using either CBD or THC. The published studies are there. If he/she doesn’t know about either- it is time that he/she gets educated. You could start them..

Until tomorrow…

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