SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 TO BOOSTER OR NOT BOOSTER

A hot topic !! The data out of Israel may have caused the booster sensation, but the real question is it real? Is the vaccine waning against immunity? Some scientists say no. Some say yes.

We do know that those vaccinated with the Pzifer vaccine in January or February 2020 are getting COVID now with the delta variant. There are about 14,000 individuals. There are very few getting COVID who had Pzifer at a late data like April 2020 and few Moderna injected patients.

Straightforward: People who had been vaccinated in the winter were more likely to contract the virus this summer than people who had been vaccinated in the spring. This has started a new trend of booster shots.

We do not know enough about the length of immunity from these new vaccines. I do not think there is enough data to justify boosters. Yet I do not want to get COVID yet again, nor do I want another shot at this time. You can check your level of antibodies in your blood. Ask your health care practitioner about this .

While there are some Americans talking about booster —there is another group who has never ever been vaccinated. Those not vaccinated might have exemptions due to various other health concerns. It will be increasingly difficult to manage in New York City without a vaccination in regard to dining and theatres.

Now today I read that booster might have to be given every 8 months but health official and President Biden are discussing every 5 months

Do your own research and decide if you want the booster if already vaccinated. It does depend on when you were vaccinated and are you protected currently. Get a blood test

Until tomorrow…

AUGIST 31, 2021 THC-CBD

CBD +/- THC can be very useful in certain conditions. There are now many published studies on this topic. Recently I read an article in the HerbalGram of the American Botanical Council describing its benefits

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa, Cannabaceae) has been validated in clinical trials for chronic pain in adults. Its > 100 phytocannabinoids (pCBs) interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), affecting pain, stress, mood, and sleep.

The authors concluded in the Brazilian Health Centers that THC with CBD was very effective in fibromyalgia patients. I would encourage patients to seek this low cost treatment instead of other drugs Full article below

Chaves C, Bittencourt PCT, Pelegrini A. Ingestion of a THC-rich cannabis oil in people with fibromyalgia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Pain Med. October 1, 2020;21(10):2212-2218. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa303.

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 30, 2021 LETS TALK ABOUT FATS

Let us talk about FATS. There are different types of fats that need to be discussed. There are truths and myths about fats. Many individuals have a misconception about fats.

First of all , ingesting fats does not make you gain fat. Although certain fats are not healthy, a balanced diet of the right type of fats will NOT make you gain weight There are some studies that reveal eating avocados, nuts and eggs can be beneficial and even help weight loss. This is opposite of eats fats from processed foods as these will make you gain weight

Saturated fats consumption is more controversial. It’s true that saturated fat increases well-known heart disease risk factors, such as LDL (bad) cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. I always do lipid fractions on my heart patients. It is NOIT a number game but a fraction one . Yoiu might know your LDL ( bad cholesterol ) but do you know if your LDL is made of large fluffy or small dense particles

However, saturated fat intake tends to increase the amount of large, fluffy LDL particles, but decrease the amount of smaller, denser LDL particles that are linked to heart disease. Plus, research has demonstrated that certain types of saturated fat may increase heart-protective HDL cholesterol. In fact, numerous large studies have found no consistent association between saturated fat intake and heart disease, heart attack, or heart-disease-related death.

Lastly we know that diabetes will lead to heart disease. I rather say that diabetes and heart disease are siblings. This means that every diabetic or unstable blood sugar patient does or can develop some form of heart disease. Although consuming certain fat-rich foods, such as trans fat, fatty baked goods, and fast food, can indeed increase your risk of diabetes, research has shown that other high fat foods may offer protection against its development. For example, fatty fish, full fat dairy, avocados, olive oil, and nuts are high fat foods that have all been shown to improve blood sugar and insulin levels and potentially protect against diabetes development.

These above are three myths YOU NEED to know

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 27, 2021 HERBS FOR PROSTATE CANCER

There are many herbs which I used for prostate cancer. Many of the conventional urologists do not use supplements or herbs. I see many patients with prostate cancer. Recently in this months Living Strong Magazine there was an article of herbs for the prostate /men’s health. I was very happy to contribute to this article.

I use many supplements as medicinal mushrooms, grape seed extract, pygium africum, lycopene, pumpkin seeds and AHCC for my patiemnts with prostate cancer

Reishi mushroom also known as Ganoderma is a secondary adaptogen In my opinion Reishi has many beneficial outcomes for a variety of illnesses. In addition to its anti cancer properties , it is an antimicrobial which I use against bacteria , viruses and fungi. It also has immune stimulating effects. It can boost the activity of the lymphocytes such as natural killer cells ( NK) In addition to Reishi I use AHCC, grape seed extract , lycopene and much more

This months Townsend Letter featured an article on Herbs for Prostate Cancer written by friend/colleague Dr. Geo Espinosa . Dr Espinosa is a naturopathic physician as well as an acupuncturist who specializes in urologic conditions. It addition to being a well trained doctor —he is a doctor with a capacity to listen to the patient. His bedside manner is beyond reproach.

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 26, 2021 HERBS FOR LYME DISEASE

Lyme disease is a complex medical illness that has stumped many conventional doctors. I believe there is such an entity as Chronic Persistent Lyme Syndrome ( CPLS). Early diagnosis is the key The most important aspect is what lab was used to determine your Lyme status. I prefer to send Lyme specimens to Stony Brook Labs, IGenix and Galaxy Labs.

Antibiotics are very useful for Acute Lyme within 72 hours. If your bite or bull’s eye rash is noted after 3 days I find conventional antibiotics not to be useful This is where I turn to herbal treatments, intravenous support and bee venom .

Herbal treatment is very effective at targeting Lyme and co -infections

These herbs can support the immune system , recue inflammation and provide other health benefits. Some of these herbs are Sweet Wormwood ( Artemsia annua), Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) , Coptos ( Coptis chinensis) and Knotweed ( Polygonum ) There are many other herbs that can useful for Lyme Disease. I use many of these herbs in combination. I utilize many of these herbs as per Healing Lyme Disease and Healing Lyme Disease and Co Infections by Stephen Buhner. I also give some mushrooms as Cordyceps which help stimulate the immune system

If you or someone you know has Lyme Disease, seek out integrative/naturopathic treatment .

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 24, 2021 NAGALASE

Nagalase is an enzyme which inhibits G (c) protein derived macrophage activiating factor called G(c)AMP . If you inhibit G9c)AMP, you will cripple the immune system ability to detect and destroy unhealthy cells. Nagalase is secreted by cancer cells.

If you decreasing nagalase levels you can have clinical improvement in some cancers as lung, prostate, breast, stomach as well as melanoma

As an integrative physician I see many patients with cancer. In addition to conventional testing I do tumor markers, and nagalase levels. I also consider doing chemo sensitivity and herb/vitamin sensitivity testing

It is well known and researched that “ Nagalse level activity is directly proportional to viable tumour burden. “ I sometimes use oral and /or IV salicinium to reduce nagalase levels. In addition to lowering nagalase levels you can increase GcAMP levels using certain supplements/vitamin levels.

There are many treatments available for a patient with cancer Seek out integrative/naturopathic care

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 23, 2021 ADAPTOGENIC HERBS

This past year and the current situations in the world have caused many individuals to either be stressed or depressed. The stress can lead to chronic stress causing many symptoms. There are many ways to reduce stress. I do not use many conventional medications to reduce stress as anti anxiety medications ( for example ativan, xanax, valium ) . There is a role for these medications in certain situations.

I try to find the cause of the stress and help the patient. There are useful adaptogenic herbs than can reduce the stress hormone, called cortisol. Many individuals secrete cortisol at the wrong times of the day causing insomnia, palpitations and even fatigue. This can lead to adrenal fatigue. Conventional doctor do NOT recognize adrenal stress as a disease

There is adrenal testing that needs to be done. I have been taking an adaptogenic herb for over twenty years. I started when I heard, friend/colleague David Winston talk about adaptogenic herbs. Some of these herbs are ashwagandha, rhodiola, ginseng and many more. David wrote a book called Adaptogens which you should read. Donny Yance wrote a complex book called Adaptogens in Medical Herbalism. There is also the Essential Guide to Adaptogens.

Discuss adaptogens with your naturopathic/integrative doctor and start them. You will find your stress levels start to decrease.

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 20-22, 2021 CARNIVOUS PLANTS

I have been fascinated by plants since I was a little boy. I loved gardening with my mother and grandfather. My Poppy had a fantastic vegetable garden. I discovered my first carnivorous plant, The Venus Fly Trap ( Carnivora ) while shopping in Woolworth’s at 8 years old. My mother bought it for me and I fed it flies and mosquitos. I started to read about these plants. Decades later as an herbalist I began to buy all the books on Carnivorous Plants. I discovered the Pitcher plants by visiting and listening to Red Leaf Exotics , forming in Brooklyn NY and now in Tennessee

Recently a new carnivorous plant has been discovered. There has not been a new in over twenty years. A pretty little white flower that grows near urban centers of the Pacific Northwest is the newest carnivorous plant. It is the bog-dwelling western false asphodel, Triantha occidentalis. It was discovered in Vancouver . Fewer than 1,000 plant species are carnivorous, and these plants tend to live in places with abundant sun and water but nutrient-poor soil.

I will continue to read about this new plant discovery . Learning keeps our minds active

Until tomorrow…