AUGUST 5, 2021 HONEY MUSHROM

All mushrooms are fascinating to me. From their growing, to where they are located in the world and to its medicinal properties Honey mushroom also known as Armillaria mellea is considered effective for epilepsy in traditional Chinese medicine. This mushroom helps reduce dizziness, tinnitus and does increase blood flow to the brain

After reading Christopher Hobbs book, Medicinal Mushrooms The Essential Guide I learned more about this mushroom. It can used as a substitute for a Chinese herb called Tian ma/ This is expensive herb in the Chinese culture.

I highly recommend Christopher Hobbs book to anyone interested in mushrooms. Whether you want to wild craft these mycology species and even eat them you need to know something about mushrooms.

The honey mushroom in found in abundance in fall and early winter. They can be ingested . Most are mild tasting and some can be a bit bitter. It has been reported that gastrointestinal upset may occur eating honeys if they are not well cooked.

Buy the book…

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 4, 2021 MONARCH BUTTERFLY

Slowly but gaining momentum is the presence of the Monarch Butterfly. There have been many books written about the Monarch Butterfly. As equally important to me as bees are the other pollinators. For this reason I read as much as I can. I plant flowers for are species of pollinators including the Monarch Butterfly. I am a activist on NO PESTICIDE use as this is the main reason for the decline in pollinator population as honeybees, brown bats, and butterflies.

Happiness comes in many forms. One of the happiest moments is sitting on my front porch watching the Monarch Butterflies on the Butterfly Bush.

Butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is a beautiful, fast-growing, deciduous shrub with masses of blossoms—long, spiked trusses—that bloom from summer to mid Fall. There are a variety of colors. I have a species of deep violet.

The monarch butterfly is in trouble. Their numbers are down 90% of what they w ere in 1992. And the milkweed plant population, which is indispensable to the monarch, is also down 90%. Milkweed plants are the only source of food for the monarch caterpillar. But these plants are rapidly disappearing, due to the loss of habitat stemming from land development and the widespread spraying of weed killer on the fields where they live.

You can help. Be an activist. Find a cause and help. Join www.saveourmonarchs.org . Recently I read about the epic migration of the monarch butterfly. It is amazing about their journey( or flight paths). I learned about east and west migration of this butterfly. Fascinating

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 3, 2021 CBD FOR PAIN

Life has really flown by .. Before I knew it, my 60s have arrived and then I started to have new gifts. These gifts are knee and back pain, more stress and sleep issues. I knew I would get hand /finger pain as my father had issues with arthritis. Are these the beginning of the ‘ golden years’ ?

I have been preparing for these new gifts with my knowledge of herbs from Mother Earth. One of those gifts have been from the Hemp plant. I would have known of hemp from my 20s although not fond of THC/marijuana. About 6 years ago I discovered the benefits of the hemp plant from companies like Canbiola, Charlotte’s Web , Zebra CBD and many others. The AMA made a statement that 70 % of CBD products didn’t contain the amount of CBD stated on label. I started to research companies.

The earlier results of the benefits of CBD were good , but more clinical studies were needed. Those clinical studies have been done . There are tinctures, capsules, salves, cream and gummies on the market from various companies.

The various uses and benefits of CBD go beyond joint pain, anxiety and sleep. There are many clinical benefits of CBD and its cannabinoids. I use CBD for sleep on most nights and apply a CBD salve to my hands when not needlepointing.

Try CBD .. you will be pleasantly surprised

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 2, 2021 CLOGGED ARTERIES

Clogged arteries causes the arteries to narrow and restricts blood flow to the heart and other parts of the body. There are many causes and many treatments. There are surgical treatments, interventions with stents and few medications to unclog. There is chelation. However you can let food be your medicine.

More than often the blockage is caused by bad cholesterol which causes inflammation.

You can start by consuming berries. Berries include blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, and blackberries. These fruits are associated with an impressive amount of health benefits, including their ability to reduce inflammation and improve heart health. Berries are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds. These include flavonoid antioxidants, which are known to help boost heart health. There are studies which show how the contents in berries reduce inflammation markers and reduce the bad cholesterol ( LDL:)

One fruit , the pineapple contains enzymes and bromelin. Bromelin has been shown in some studies to reduce inflammation and act as a blood thinner

Another food consumed throughout the year but especially in the summer months are tomatoes. Tomatoes and tomato products contain plant compounds that may be particularly helpful for reducing the development of atherosclerosis. Tomatoes contain the carotenoid pigment lycopene, which may have impressive health benefits.

Studies show that consuming lycopene-rich tomato products may help reduce inflammation, boost HDL (good) cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Interestingly, combining cooked tomato with olive oil may offer the greatest protection against clogged arteries.

These are just a few foods that can atherosclerosis. Combine these foods with herbs like ginger, tumeric, green tea, hawthorne and many more

Consult your naturopathic physician for more information

Until tomorrow…

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JULY 29, 2021 THE MOUTH-BODY CONNECTION

During my twenty seven years as a integrative physician/cardiologist I have had the opportunity to meet wonderful individuals- some of them are patients, and some of them are my colleagues. The colleagues are in a variety of specialties. One of them is Gerry Curatola, DDS who has been in practice for more than 30 years. He is the founder of Rejuvenation Dentistry on Park Avenue in New York City

How to create a healthy mouth ? Well ask no more You must read his book The Mouth-Body Connection by Gerald Curatola. We have known that reducing inflammation in the mouth is directly connected to reducing inflammation in the body.

For years I have worked with Sandra Senzon ( aka Tooth Fairy) at this problem.

Now a dentist gets the concept and follows through. His name in Italian means “ Cure all” and he does just that. As a physician/herbalist/healer I was engaging in reading his chapters. Then the 28 day Curatola Care Program tells the reader exactly what to do. The Mouth Does Matter and this book clearly demonstrates the fact that the mouth cannot be ignored.

Gerry has the clinical experience to back the written words. I would encourage every individual with or without known mouth/gum disease to read this book

Until tomorrow…

JULY 28, 2021 TRAVEL WITH WHAT HERBS

This is a difficult quest ion to answer . There are lots of herbs I travel with - I sort of have a first aide herbal kit that I travel with. I learned from the best in Herbal First Aid- 7 Song - Director of the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine., Putting the first aid herbs aside I would travel with three to four herbs in my back pack

California Poppy is a versatile, gentle herb that is a travel must-have! works rapidly to calm the mind, soothe anxiety, promote restful sleep, and help with minor aches and pains. I either would use this herb or Skullcap. These are my favorite nervines

ECHINACEA has been a top-selling herb for decades because it contains powerful compounds that support a healthy immune response. I use it as a go-to during cold and flu season ( with elderberry) I tell my patients and family to use it if you feel respiratory system coming on. It has been helpful during COVID

ASHWAGANDHA: Everyone in the past year should be on this herb. It is a great adaptogen herb to deal with stress. It is the yin and yang of relaxing and energizing in the herbal world. It makes you feel energized after a good sleep. Use with caution if talking thyroid medications or consult your naturopathic doctor

If you want a nice cup of Calmy Tea - with Skullcap and California Poppy call Botanical Bounty at 646 723 1823

Until tomorrow…

JULY 27, 2021 BORRELIA AND TREPONEMA

The Borrelia bacterium, which triggers the symptoms of Lyme, shares many qualities of other chronic infections and subsequent chronic inflammations with bacterium Treponema pallidum, the agent of syphilis and streptococcus. All of these infections can lead to autoimmune type sequalae after periods of unresolved chronic inflammatory processes.

Syphillis was once dubbed The Great Masquerader. I believe and know Lyme can be called by the same name

There are three stages of each disease - For Lyme: 1. Bull’s eye rash 2, Arthritis/ Joint involvement and 3 ) heart and brain; For Treponema 1) chancre ( skin lesion) 2. rash on bottom of feet 3) heart and brain involvement; These are very similar

There are many herbal protocols available for patient’s with Lyme. I utilize all of them rotating each protocol for 4-6 weeks Some include Reynoutria japonica (Knotweed),Dipsacus sylvestris (Teasel root) and Astragalus

Others include herbs discussed by Stephen Harrod Buhner in his two books Healing Lyme and Healing Lyme Disease Co- infections

I urge you to see a practitioner that has extensive knowledge of these herbs. There are other modalities as bee venom, anti microbial ( which are not conventional antibiotics ) and stem cell therapy

Until tomorrow

JULY 26, 2021 MERCOLA AND NY TIMES ARTICLE

Yesterday I received many calls about the New York Times article entitled “ The Most Influential Spreader of Coronavirus Misinformation Online ‘ by Sheera Frankel. It starts by stating “ Researchers and regulators say Joseph Mercola, an osteopathic physician creates and profits from misleading claims about Covid 19 vaccines.”

I read the whole articles and I am puzzled. I know Dr Mercola. I have met him, talked to him and read his blogs, posts and books. His first book in 2003 The No Grain Diet was excellent. It was a New York Times bestseller. It did give good information . A no grain diet improves health in patients with autoimmune disease as rheumatoid arthritis. lupus, etc

Let’s face it being a doctor has become and is a business. He is better at his business than most doctors. Yes he does write long posts and information to the public. I feel everything you read whether Dr Mercola or not should be researched. Authorities challenge him and his websites.

He puts firth good questions to think about., I know this- we are NOT done with COVID 19. Patients whom I have seen that have been vaccinated specifically with Pfizer ( 2 shots) are getting COVID. These patients were vaccinated in January or February are getting COVID

WEAR A MASK. i URGE YOU TO READ THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE

After you read it…ponder it…