DECEMBER 15, 2021 ADDICTIONS

I speak about addictions very freely and with all of my patients. I do this as I feel that addictions are no more than energy thieves. Whether the addiction is alcohol, drugs, nicotine, iPhone, family drama or perfectionism— they are all energy thieves. There are some foods that contain addictive substances.

One of these is white or milk chocolate. Both of these types of chocolate are chopped full of sugar and fat. These substances provide a dopamine fix, which makes you feel good. Dark chocolate does not have a lot fo sugar. The higher the percentage the less sugar and more bitter. Dark chocolate is beneficial to your health.

Diet soda is also very addictive. All soft drinks have sugar. As we have discussed, sugar triggers that happy feeling but many sodas have another ingredient and that is caffeine. Yes, caffeine can keep you awake but it can also become addictive. There are many substitutes as home made sun tea, herbal teas, and even just plain water flavored with fresh squeezed lemons of limes.

Stop these addictive foods now

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 14, 2021 SEA VEGETABLES

Do you consume any sea vegetables? Sea vegetables have played an important role in human diets for at least 10,000 years And they’re gaining traction around the world, thanks in part to today’s growing popularity of dried seaweed snacks and sushi. I am not a fan of sushi due to possibility of mercury and parasites, but very fond of the different varieties of sea vegetables.

Sea vegetables or most commonly called seaweeds are very popular and very nutritious. They can be considered super foods. They are great source of protein and many nutrients especially iodine. Many individuals are iodine deficient in the United States because they stopped using iodized salt.

One of the best sea weeds that I consume is Nori. Nori s a dried, pressed red seaweed. It has a naturally salty, umami flavor and is low in calories and high in minerals like vitamins B12, A, and C, along with iodine, magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium. Once you acquire the taste you will eat it as a snack instead of chips, cookies, and dried fruit. It is more nutritious than the above snacks. I also use another seaweed called Dulse when cooking. Dulse is also a red seaweed that adds tremendous flavor and nutrition to your food. Another seaweed is Arame.

Arame is a brown seaweed served in long, thin strands, often as part of a Japanese-inspired salad. With a slightly sweet flavor, it is high in fiber, calcium, iodine, iron, magnesium, and vitamin A. This seaweed is more of a garnish to food than to be tasted. Yet there are some individuals who prefer brown seaweed.

I encourage you to try seaweed as your next snack

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 13, 2021 BUTTERBUR

Butterbur ( Petasites hybridus) is not a commonly used herb among herbalists. I have used it on occasion for migraines. There are human studies on its use for allergic rhinitis, asthma, bladder dysfunction and prevention of gastric ulcers

A lot has been written on butterbur for migraines. There was a published systemic review in 2020 on 19 clinical trials . The studies concluded that several herbal medicines ( butterbur curcumin citron, coriander , methol and chamomile) had multifactorial physiological influence on migraines but more studies were warranted.

There was a study in 2006 using a formulation of butterbur called Petadolex for migraines. This study had statistical significance for use in migraines.

There is a major drawback and caution when using butterbur. The pyrrolizidine alkaloid more in the herbs roots than leaves has been reported to cause hepatic veno-occlusive disease. Although written I have not seen a case of hepatic veno-occlusive disease when using this herb.

I have used it for migraines with much success.

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 9, 2021 MEDICINAL HERBS

In my medical practice I use a lot of herbs. Many herbs have benefit to certain diseases. I learned about herbs through my Fellowship of Integrative Medicine in Arizona. I further did other courses and certifications. I then became a registered herbalist with the American Herbal Guild. I read constantly. I could never learn about all the herbs throughout the world. Recently I purchased a very informative book . It is Medical Herbs in Primary Medicine by Jean Bokelmann, MD

This book is not only for herbalists but should be used for the general allopathic physician who is not familiar with herbs. It is An Evidence Guided Reference for Healthcare Practitioners.

There are monographs with references for 77 Herbs. In addition, for the new practitioner not familiar with herbs there are two parts discussing the following:

1. Herbal Basics

2. Disease Table divided into

   a. System Based Diseases

   b. Generalized Systemic Diseases

   The book is well done, very informative and should be used as a reference when using herbs in your clinical practice.

   Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 8, 2021 TRADITIONAL CHINESE HERBS

I love to read. I am a quick reader. I read a variety of books ranging from biographies to plants to history. I even completed the entire Harry Potter collection. Nowadays when I see an article on a herb that I do not recall I start to research the herb. I am also a member of the American Botanical Council (ABC) Join this organization

I came across a vita-nutrient for the heart with Salvia miltiorrhiza. The common name is Dashen which is used in Chinese medicine. Although this herb is known to promote blood flow I have not seen it used extensively in cardiac ( heart ) disease. I do not practice Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). I have finally come to the realization that one person cannot know everything. I refer to those professionals who know more about TCM herbs. I found many articles where Dashen exerted its pharmacological effects on cerebral ( brain) infarction. I did find a few studies on Dashen reducing the inflammatory risk factor, CRP. I have seen vitamin supplement formulas using both the American herb, Hawthorn ( Cratageus) and Dashen ( Salvia) however I do not feel comfortable using both without discussing its effects with a practitioner knowledgeable in TCM. I am versed in American Herbs . I do not know of a book to discuss the interactions between TCM and conventional medicines, unlike articles and a PDR for American Herbal Medicine.

I have read another article using another Chinese herb, Sophora flavescens in combination with berberine as well as magnesium. The compound berberine is found in many plant series. Berberine does have some cardiac activity There are well-researched studies on the cardiac effects of berberine. I have only found two studies where Sophora also known as Ku Shen was used for a serious arrhythmia as ventricular tachycardia. I could not find any human studies. I found many studies utilizing magnesium, an amino acid, taurine and Coenzyme Q 10 in a variety of cardiac diseases. What I did find was an interesting 2002 article on this herb in relation to one of my favorite topic--Hair growth. This herb extract has outstanding hair growth promoting effects. It induces growth factors such as IGF-1 in dermal papilla cells. How extraordinary !

Again, what am I trying to say.? Always consult a health care practitioner in that particular field of medicine before using a new herb. Herbs are drugs. TCM should be discussed with a practitioner comfortable in Chinese Medicine.
Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 7, 2021 URINARY TRACT ISSUES

As I get older, my patients get older. One common complaint of the older female patient is frequent urination. In medicine since the 19th century this is termed interstitial cystitis. Most of the time there is no underlying pathology ( disease) and NO urinary tract infection detectable. I have had a pleasant woman describe her condition as 'the nervous bladder' condition. Psychosocial stress, anxiety and depression do play a role. There are signs and symptoms:

1. no evidence of urinary tract infection
2. frequent urination; progressive as the years go on
3. suprapubic pain
4. chronic pelvic pain
5. blood in the urine ( hematuria) sometimes
6. pain in the urethra, relieved when competed urination

I have not seen any conventional treatment work completely. Whether you try amitriptyline ( an anti depressant), intravescicular treatment with DMSO or even have a surgical treatment ( hydrodistention) , I do not see significant improvement in all patients. So what do you do ? Some women seek other forms of medical treatment. Some try acupuncture, massage, and herbal or botanical treatment. I feel if conventional medicine does not offer a solid treatment, or the treatment does not agree with you --you have the right to seek other means. After all this is your body. Let's go back to Mother Earth.
The botanical treatment for interstitial cystitis is beyond my wildest dreams. There are five or six therapeutic goals for treating IC with herbs or botanicals

1. Soothe the inflammation
2. Relieve pain
3. Relieve inflammation
4. Relieve stress
5. Improve bladder circulation
6. Improve bladder tone

For each of the above, there is a botanical activity. Respectively, these are
1. mucilage for soothing
2. spasmolytic or analgesic for pain
3. anti inflammatory
4. anxiolytic for anxiety
5. lymphagogue for bladder circulation and
6. astringent tonics for bladder tone

For each activity and goals there are at least four or five botanicals. I will discuss the botanicals that have not already been discussed for other treatments of other diseases. I am doing this for two reasons. I do not think I want to be repetitive and both you and I need to learn new botanicals. It is all about learning.

As I always say …
A compulsion of mine if I do not know about the herb, I first check to see if it is present in James Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants for the Bible. Hollyhock is not a medicinal plant mentioned in the bible. Usually I prescribe demulcents agents for the respiratory system. The one herb I use for the respiratory system is Marsh Mellow. Hollyhock has similar properties to Marsh Mellow. The flowers of Hollyhock are used medicinally. There is a lot of mucilage in the flowers in addition to tannin and the pigment, althaein. The flower is a brilliant red . I know some herbalists add it to cough medicine. This red color fascinates the children and thus children drink it. I add wild flower honey to this mixture for any child loves honey.

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBNER 6, 2021 UTERINE FIBROIDS

A common female problem is fibroids. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous (benign) tumors that develop in the uterus (womb), a female reproductive organ.

Other names for fibroids are : Leiomyoma; Fibromyoma; Myoma; Fibroids; Here are some statistics abouit fibroids.
Uterine fibroids are the most common pelvic tumor. As many as 1 in 5 women may have fibroids during their childbearing years (the time after starting menstruation for the first time and before menopause).
Fibroids usually affect women over age 30. They are rare in women under 20, and often shrink and cause no symptoms in women who have gone through menopause. They are more common in African Americans than Caucasians.

The cause of uterine fibroid tumors is unknown. However, fibroid growth seems to depend on the hormone estrogen. As long as a woman with fibroids is menstruating, a fibroid will probably continue to grow, usually slowly.
Fibroids are often described by their location in the uterus:

1. Myometrial -- in the muscle wall of the uterus
2. Submucosal -- just under the surface of the uterine lining
3. Subserosal -- just under the outside covering of the uterus
4. Pendunculated -- occurring on a long stalk on the outside of the uterus or inside the cavity of the uterus
I have found that the symptoms vary from female to female. I am not a gynecologist, but as a general internist or integrative physician, I get asked is there something to shrink my fibroids. The more common symptoms of uterine fibroids are the following:
1. Abdominal fullness, gas, or constipation
2. Bleeding between periods
3. Increase in urinary frequency
4. Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia), sometimes with the passage of blood clots
5. Menstrual periods that may last longer than normal
6. Pelvic cramping or pain with periods
7. Sensation of fullness or pressure in lower abdomen
8. Pain during intercourse
9. There are often no symptoms.
To make a diagnosis of a fibroid, a pelvic examination may show an irregularly shaped, lumpy, or enlarged uterus. Frequently, this diagnosis is reliable. Since you do not want to confuse or misdiagnose a fibroid, a transvaginal ultrasound or pelvic ultrasound may be done to confirm the diagnosis of fibroids. Sometimes, a pelvic MRI is used to confirm the diagnosis. An endometrial biopsy (biopsy of the uterine lining) or laparoscopy may be needed to rule out cancer.

I am not a gynecologist, but as a general internist or integrative physician, I get asked is there something to shrink my fibroids.

Treatment
Treatment depends on various factors, including:
The common treatments include 1. Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) to help control heavy periods; 2. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) that release the hormone progestin to help reduce heavy bleeding and pain; 3. Iron supplements to prevent or treat anemia due to heavy periods; 4. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naprosyn for cramps or pain; 5. Hormonal therapy (gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists or Depo Leuprolide injections) may be used to help shrink the fibroids.
Then there is the dreaded surgery or resection.
There is the hysteroscopic resection of fibroids: These are for women who have fibroids growing inside the uterine cavity may need this outpatient procedure. In this procedure, a small camera and instruments are inserted through the cervix into the uterus to remove the fibroid tumors. The second procedure is Uterine artery embolization: This procedure stops the blood supply to the fibroid, causing it to die and shrink. Uterine artery embolization is not used to treat large fibroids. Women who may want to become pregnant in the future should NOT have this procedure.
Myomectomy: This surgery removes the fibroids. It is often the chosen treatment for women who want to have children, because it usually can preserve fertility. The third is a surgical procedure called a myomectomy. This is just removing the fibroid. An advantage of a myomectomy is that it controls pain or excessive bleeding that occurs in some women with uterine fibroids. More fibroids can develop after a myomectomy.
The most invasive surgery is the Total Hysterectomy: This invasive surgery may be an option if medicines do not work and other surgeries and procedures are not an option.

I have seen other non traditional treatments help with fibroids. The first one is acupuncture by a health care practitioner who works with acupuncture needles for the treatment of fibroids. These same practitioners have used acupuncture for fertility. I feel this is a sub specialty of accupuncture.

I always read what naturopathic doctor Tori Hudson has written She is an expert in this field.

I always turn to Tori for the answers to the herbs for .... in a woman.
The remedy I used to shrink the fibroids are the following:
Treatment protocol:
For promoting hormonal regulation : Chasteberry Vitex agnus
2.5 ml morning and evening

As a uterine tonic
Lady's mantle Alchemilla vulgaris 25 mL
Raspberry Rubus idaeus 30 mL
Nettles Urtica dioica) 20 mL
White peony Paeonia lactiflora 15 mL
Ginger Zingiber officinalis 10 mL
TOTAL 100 mL

I would be taking 3 mL twice a day for 3 months
I would try this before any procedure. I think it will slow down the bleeding and shrink the uterine fibroids.

I might add False unicorn ( Chamaelirium luteum) - 15mL in 2 months if you do not notice significant changes. You should see an overall reduction in symptom recurrence within two menstrual cycles. Reduction in the size of the fibroids 3-6 months. The fibroids might not be gone completely but enough of the symptoms as you might mitigate the need for surgical and any pharmaceutical treatment

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 2, 2021 THE PLANNT HUNTER

There are no coincidences in life. I recently purchased “ The Plant Hunter” - A Scientist Quest for Natural Medicines by Dr Casandra Quave. I started reading the book over the Thanksgiving Holiday on Monday after Thanksgiving , a dear patient, Marge D drops off an article that appeared in the Wall Street Journal about the book.

A review reflected this —- “ No one understands this better than Dr. Cassandra Quave, whose groundbreaking research as a leading medical ethnobotanist--someone who identifies and studies plants that may be able to treat antimicrobial resistance and other threatening illnesses--is helping to provide clues for the next generation of advanced medicines. In The Plant Hunter, Dr. Quave weaves together science, botany, and memoir to tell us the extraordinary story of her own journey. Traveling by canoe, ATV, mule, airboat, and on foot, she has conducted field research in the flooded forests of the remote Amazon, the murky swamps of southern Florida, the rolling hills of central Italy, isolated mountaintops in Albania and Kosovo, and volcanic isles arising out of the Mediterranean—all in search of natural compounds, long-known to traditional healers, that could help save us all from the looming crisis of untreatable superbugs. “

The article in the Wall Street Journal on Saturday Sunday Review was very informative , accurate and keenly written to peek anyone’s interest who love plants. This book is needed at this time when infections are rampant throughout the world. We need plants for medicines. We need to save Mother Earth

I can’t stress enough how accurate and informative Dr Quave’s book is. This will make a perfect Christmas gift for any reader. You will understand the limits of synthetic medications and that we must tuurn to the plant kingdom once again.

Until tomorrow…