SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 A FORGOTTEN HERB
I feel this herb is not used a lot. I use it a lot with much success It is Mullein (Verbascum). It is a mucilagous herb . The mullein flower contains saponin and some volatile oils. I like mullein flowers because when collected and cultivated they can be used also as an expectorant. So it is a flower with two properties - muculent and expectorant. It is used in many cough preparations. I have seen it combined with ginger as well. Mullein is often referred to as Verbascum Thapsus, The family is Scrophulariaceae. This is the same family as foxglove (digitalis). Other names might include Aaron’s Rod, Lady’s Foxglove, Donkey’s Ears, Bunny’s Ears, Candlewick, Feltwort, Flannel Leaf, and Jacob’s Staff. To be honest I have only heard it used as either Lady's Foxglove or Donkey's Ears. I thought this herb would be mentioned in Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants of the Bible, but it did not appear.
Mullein is a biennial that grows upright to 6 feet tall. The furry leaves form rosettes that alternate and overlap each other. Mullein leaves are large, grayish-green, and lance shaped. Bright yellow flowers bloom along the single spike that comes from the center of the plant. Each flower has five petals. You have probably seen it along roadsides or construction areas. I first saw this plant on the roadsides in Ithaca, New York. Leaves are harvested in the late spring to summer. The uses of mullein are quite long. I have only used it for bronchitis, earaches, and as a cough expectorant. Its uses have been in anemia , arthritis, asthma, colds, earache, hay fever, hemorrhoids, tonsillitis and many other respiratory diseases. Mullein soothes, lubricates, and tones the respiratory system and aides in expectoration by stimulating fluid production. Mullein is sometimes used with other herbs such as white horehound, lobelia, elder, and red clover. The iridoid glycosides stimulate secretion of uric acid from the kidneys.
Mullein as seen below can be used as a tea, as an oil, as a compress and freshly chopped herb.
1. Mullein leaves and/or flowers for infusion tea for respiratory disorders
2. Mullein infused oil from flowers for ear infections, hemorrhoids, and skin disorders
3. Mullein leaf poultice applied to topical boils, sores, ulcers and tumors
4. Mullein tea from fresh chopped leaves filtered through a coffee filter provide a variety of vitamins and other nutrients
5. Mullein compress to relieve swelling
SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 HEART HEALTHY FOODS
People are always asking me— are there heart healthy foods ? Most know I worked with the late Robert C Atkins. MD - many individuals did not know that Dr Atkins was a cardiology trained at Roosevelt Hospital ( now Mount Sinai West ) He used his high protein , high fat low carbohydrate on all patients not excluding heart patients. His diet has been revitalized as the Keto diet and his low carbohydrate has never waned.
There are definite HEART healthy foods. These are
1. Leafy Green Vegetables
2. Whole Grains ( if gluten free have quionoa, brown rice, teff, millet and amarinth )
3. Berries
4. Avocados
5. Fatty Fish and Fish Oil
6. Walnuts
7. Beans
If you include these heart-healthy foods as part of a nutritious, well-balanced diet can help keep your heart in good shape and minimize your risk of heart issues Leafy green are full on B vitamins and great antioxidants. The berries are low glycemic and chock full of antioxidants. Walnuts have an abundance of omega 3. Include these in your weekly dietary lifestyle change
Until tomorrow…
SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 SLEEP TONIC
Do you difficulty falling asleep ? It is estimated that 10-30% of individuals have difficulty falling sleep or staying asleep Are you one of these individuals ? AWAKE no more There is a herbal tea infusion that can help
This infusion can easily be made- It is a lemon- ginger tea with raw honey. First of all raw honey increases your own melatonin production
Both ginger ( Zingiber officinale) and lemon ( Citrus limon) help aid in digestion. This calms the stomach before sleep. This combination helps nausea, reduce nasal congestion ( especially at bedtime) and even aids in relief from constipation.
The compound gingerol found in ginger boosts anti inflammatory and anti oxidant properties. We know that chronic inflammation leads to chronic disease , so ginger can lessen your chance of developing chronic conditions
So before bed tonight have your ginger-lemon tea with raw honey
Until tomorrow…
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 VITAMIN C
The recommended daily intake for vitamin C is 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men
While it’s commonly advised to get your vitamin C intake from foods, many people turn to supplements to meet their needs I use oral vitamin C regularly in my practice as well as intravenous Vitamin C. I recommended 2,000 mg of liposomal Vitamin C as a COVID preventative
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can strengthen your body’s natural defenses. Antioxidants are molecules that boost the immune system. They do so by protecting cells from harmful molecules called free radicals. When free radicals accumulate, they can promote a state known as oxidative stress, which has been linked to many chronic diseases. Studies show that consuming more vitamin C can increase your blood antioxidant levels by up to 30%. It is even better if you get a intravenous C infusion
I have used Vitamin C to help reduce blood pressure. More importantly it can reduce your risk for heart disease An analysis of 9 studies with a combined 293,172 participants found that after 10 years, people who took at least 700 mg of vitamin C daily had a 25% lower risk of heart disease than those who did not take a vitamin C supplement.
Interestingly, another analysis of 15 studies found that consuming vitamin C from foods — not supplements — was linked to a lower risk of heart disease. I don’t understand why more conventional or allopathic doctors don’t prescribe it
Until tomorrow…
SEPTEMBER 17-19, 2021 VACCINATION
Did you get vaccinated ? Regardless whether you get vaccinated or not there is still a chance you can get COVID From my clinical experience those vaccinated with Pfizer can get COVID within 6 months of their vaccination and those that have Moderna within 8 months. The Israeli study has shown that those vaccinated with Pfizer have gotten COVID infections
This is how the CDC defines a vaccine breakthrough case:
“… a vaccine breakthrough infection is defined as the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen in a respiratory specimen collected from a person ≥14 days after they have completed all recommended doses of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.”