JANUARY 19, 2022 STRESS

It is safe to say that we all suffer from stress. If you think you do not suffer from stress of some kind then look again. Is it short or long term stress is the question. Short term stress is stress that allows your body to recover the next day. Chronic stress caused by many issues as chronic disease stays with you day after day. This kind of stress is more important as it has a negative impact on your health.

Chronic stress affects your immune system, heart, brain, mental outlook and digestion. it also affects how we sleep, and how we feel when we wake up. Do you wake up tired every morning and drag yourself out of bed? Or do you wake up with energy? Those who wake up tired and get better through the day and then peak at 7pm and cannot go to sleep at normal hours have a condition called Adrenal Fatigue. I believe we all have some aspect of adrenal fatigue. I certainly do and it was worse years ago. I could literally stay up till 2 or 3 am and get up at 6am. I cannot do this anymore. I work hard and I need to sleep hard (not play hard) in order to rejuvenate my body's cells.

I attribute this to using a group of herbs called adaptogens. David Winston RH wrote a great book called Adaptogens I suggest reading it. Adaptogens are non-specific herbs that increase the whole resistance of the body. The best known adaptogens are the ginsengs- Panax (American and Asian). I use Eleutherococcus (Siberian Ginseng). But the adaptogens I use the most is Withania (Ashwaganda) and Centella (Gota kola). There are many others you can read about including holy basil, rhodiola, schisandra and reishi.

As an herbalist I look at many compounds. Some I use together by mixing them as a tea for the patient. Sometimes I use as single agents, either by products from Herbal Vitality, Chemist and Alchemist, Gaya, and HerbPharm. I always pick as a tincture so it is easily absorbed by the body. Some herbalists use schisandra berry and reishi as these are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I often pick by my intuition sitting with the patient. It works for me. I use some nutraceuticals as Cortisol Manager and Adreset from Botanical Bounty store Call 646 723 1823

Until tomorrow

JANUARY 18, 2022 OURA RING

I always ask my patients, "how'd you sleep last night?" or “ Do you have trouble sleeping?” I typically am in bed by 9- 9:15 pm . I read for about 30 minutes and then go to sleep. I never used to do this. I would stay up until 12 midnight. I came to realize that I needed more sleep.

So two months when I asked a patient “How do you sleep ?” She answered ‘ my aura ring says I slept 8 hours and then proceeded to tell me about REM sleep and deep sleep. I was perplexed. An aura ring or mood ring detects sleep. I asked her what ring? She said OURA ring not AURA RING. She then told me about this ring with its technology. I was intrigued

I went on line www.ouraring.com and started to read about this technology It analyzes your deep sleep, REM sleep, light sleep, nightly heart rate, bedtime schedule, and much more. It also analyzes your resting heart rate and heart rate variability. For heart rate and heart rate variability it is 99.6 % and 98 % accurate respectively.

This information can then be put to good use to increase your sleep. This can be accomplished with herbs, supplements and meditation. I am trying different herbs for increasing the amount of REM sleep I obtain. Sleep is a very important factor for improving your health.

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 17, 2022 CHOLESTEROL MYTHS

I recently read the myths of CHOLESTEROL:

1. The main cause of high cholesterol is eating foods high in cholesterol FALSE

2. You only should be concerned about high cholesterol if you are overweight FALSE

3. Some foods contain the good cholesterol (HDL) FALSE

4. High cholesterol is only a problem for men over 45 FALSE

5. Low total cholesterol is not a problem FALSE

6. High triglycerides on a cholesterol panel is good for the patient FALSE

7. If your bad cholesterol (LDL) is less than 100 you are not at risk for heart disease FALSE

8. Healthy cholesterol is the same for everyone FALSE

9. A high good cholesterol (HDL) always protects you against heart disease FALSE

10. Exercise increases the bad cholesterol ( LDL) FALSE

These are the most common ten myths about cholesterol, It is not about the number any longer. It does not matter the # or level of your total, low density (bad) cholesterol and your high (good) density lipoprotein. It is all about the particle size of the bad and good cholesterol. A bad particle is always small and dense and causes heart disease. A good particle is always large, fluffy and protects you against heart disease.

So, it is about the particle size, not the number. For example, an LDL of 100 which has bad particles will cause heart disease whereas a LDL of 125 with good particles will protect you against heart disease. The same is true of the good cholesterol A good cholesterol with a good particle protects you because this particle is large, fluffy and floats through the arteries

This lipid fraction blood test is a covered insurance test. Years ago it was called the Berkley Heart Lab test. In certain labs this test is called the VAP, ACT and NMR lipid fraction test.

Until tomorrow

JANUARY 13, 2022 ALZHEIMER'S AND HERBS

Noguchi-Shinohara M, Ono K, Hamaguchi T, et al. Safety and efficacy of Melissa officinalis extract containing rosmarinic acid in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease progression. Sci Rep. October 2020;10(1):18627. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-73729-2

Alzheimer's disease (AD) can begin 25 years before the appearance of clinical symptoms due to the slow parenchymal and vascular amyloid deposits of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles. Research has been focused on finding treatments which target the Aβ aggregation and that can be implemented early in the disease process

There is no good medication to slow the progression of this disease. WE have Namenda and Aricept. There are many supplements that I use as the mushroom, Lion’s Mane, Bacopa, Vinpocetine and Prevagen. These supplements have been studied and researched with some success. I try to find out some causes of memory loss as mold toxicity, heavy metals and even environmental toxicity, I go beyond most neurologists typical list of causes.

Recently a study at a university in Japan studied the effects of the herb Melissa officinales also known as Lemon Balm. I use lemon balm for hyperthyroidism, viral infections and for anxiety. I was intrigued by this study published in the American Botanical Council’s HerbalGram

The constituent rosmarinic acid (RA), an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxiphenyllactic acid, has shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, anti-bacterial, and antiviral actions Rosmarinic acid is found in Lemon Balm. This was a small study group

The authors conclude that lemon balm with RA was well-tolerated and could potentially have beneficial effects for AD dementia, as seen in the NPI-Q scores. More research is needed for other populations and for longer doses. Limitations included small study size, narrowed population, and not using adults with pre-AD dementia.

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 12, 2022 GINGER

Do eat ginger, or have a ginger tea. This herb, Zingaber officinales has been used for centuries as a medicine in many cultures. It has health benefits for many diseases. The alkaloid in ginger that is beneficial is called gingerol. This substance is both an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant

It has been shown to reduce bacteria in gingivitis and periodontitis. Using fresh ginger can reduce the breathing problems of Respiratory Syncytial Virus. It can be used in patients with memory problems. Some studies have shown a reduction in colorectal cancer and can support the patient who has colorectal cancer. I have used it in a herbal regimen to reduce total cholesterol as well as the bad cholesterol (LDL) It has been used for centuries to reduce menstrual pain

Individuals with type 2 diabetes have other factors due to their disease that can cause heart problems. This includes high levels of malondialdehyde and Apolipoprotein B/Apolipoprotien A. Consuming ginger has been shown to reduce these levels so that the chances of heart disease problems are decreased in people with this health issue.

I have never seen any side effect from using ginger. I think it is one of the herbs that should be taken on a regular basis in addition it improves skin health and boosts the immune system

Have you had your ginger tea today ?

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 11, 2022 THREE SHOTS OR MORE

If you took three flu shots in less than one year and STILL got the flu, would you start to have serious doubts about the shot’s efficacy?  Would your doubts be justified? 

Why, then, is the COVID shot any different?

People are starting to get restless about should they get a third shot and what if I get mandated to get a fourth shot. There are many unanswered questions

A recent letter from the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet raised this very question by pointing out the apparent lack of effectiveness of the COVID-19 injections. I do not think you could argue with this point. First it was stated and reinforced that getting the vaccine would stop the spread of this pandemic. Currently and certainly that statement is not true. Now – at best – the shot may reduce your risk of severe hospitalization and death with COVID-19, but it won’t stop you from getting it. You can get it with even after having a booster injection. Of course, this brings up an important question: “What is my risk of getting severely sick and hospitalized with COVID-19 anyway, even without the shot?” This risk level is widely different for different people, depending on factors like age and co-morbidities. It depends on the age of the patient as well as co morbidities as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and much more.

A disturbing statement by a group of scientists was issued in Lancet in July 2021 stating that Big Pharma presents the statistics carefully to make the shots seem much more effective than they actually are.

How effective are these vaccines ?

The Lancet wrote this “Vaccine efficacy is generally reported as a relative risk reduction (RRR) . “ The reported relative risk reductions of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID shots as 94% and 91%, respectively.  Sounds impressive.  “However,” the team continues, “RRR should be seen against the background risk of being infected and becoming ill with COVID-19, which varies between populations and over time.  Although the RRR considers only participants who could benefit from the vaccine, the absolute risk reduction (ARR), which is the difference between attack rates with and without a vaccine, considers the whole population”

In other words, absolute risk reduction is how much YOUR personal risk of COVID-19 goes down as a result of the vax (or any other variable in question).  In contrast, relative risk reduction only compares the risk in two different groups of people (e.g., vax vs. unvaxxed).

So I ask again

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THESE VACCINES ?

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 10, 2022 DANELION

You might think of this herb as it invades your lawn , but it has been used traditionally to treat gastric disorders, hepatic ailments, diabetes and cancer. Its official name is Taraxacum officinale. Its use has led it to be a powerhouse of healing various diseases. There are limited human studies on the use of the herb. When I read this I am a bit offended, as it has been used for centuries. The German E Commission has approved dandelion for its use in those with loss of appetite, dyspepsia and diuresis.

Dandelion has been shown to lower lipids levels and has antioxidant properties. The root has its use as a choleretic, anti-rheumatism, a digestive stimulant, and cholagogue properties.

I have success using this herb for hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes. I use it in patients that have liver disorders as hepatitis, fatty liver, and stagnant liver diseases.

So stop thinking of this herb as a weed or a nuisance in your garden Treat it with respect

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 6, 2022 NOVAVAX ? WHERE IS THIS VACCINE

After many patients inquiring about Novavax and reading this article this week I decided to re post it. We are not who I thought we were. I feel vaccines that should be approved like Novovax are not being approved quickly and effectively. Is this because other companies have a monopoly on the vaccine ?

YOU WILL FIND THIS ARTICLE INTERESTING

But what about Novavax's "tried and true" protein subunit vaccine?

Early this year, public health experts told MedPage Today that Novavax -- whose vaccine strategy is used in other vaccines on the market today -- could provide another option to reach the vaccine hesitant.

The recombinant nanoparticle technology used in Novavax's protein subunit vaccine candidate (known as NVX-CoV2373) generates full spike protein, and the vaccine is formulated with an adjuvant to enhance immune response and stimulate high levels of neutralizing antibodies, according to the company.

The technology is the same as that used in the Flublok influenza vaccine, and is similar to other vaccines that have been around for a long time, like the hepatitis B vaccine.

However, nearly a year later, the Novavax vaccine still isn't available in the U.S. In August, Novavax announced that it was delaying submission of an emergency use authorization (EUA) to the FDA until the fourth quarter.

On December 15, full results from PREVENT-19, Novavax's pivotal phase III trial of its vaccine, were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The company said in an announcement that the trial achieved its primary endpoint of preventing infection at least 7 days after the second dose. Overall efficacy was 90.4% and efficacy against moderate-to-severe disease was 100%. Adverse events were mostly mild to moderate and transient. Severe reactions were infrequent, and there were no safety concerns related to vaccination.

Novavax did not immediately make a member of leadership available for an interview following the publication of the study. However, a spokesperson told MedPage Today in an email that it expects to submit its complete chemistry, manufacturing, and controls data package to the FDA by the end of 2021.

"We still anticipate a significant market need in the U.S. and globally," the spokesperson said.

At the same time, with the mRNA vaccines already saturating the market, it's not entirely clear how the Novavax vaccine will be rolled out or how it will resonate with consumers in the U.S., should it be granted an EUA from the FDA.

Mayank Mamtani, MSc, a senior biotech analyst and head of healthcare research at B. Riley Securities, told MedPage Today that the way to think about the vaccine is as an alternative to the mRNA vaccines. It is a "very strong vaccine," and while it may come late in the game, it has been differentiated, he noted.

"This is a very attractive option to have," he added.

In a December 16 research note, Mamtani wrote that NVX-CoV2373 is "well-suited for COVID's likely evolution into a relatively benign flu-like paradigm," adding that prior NEJM publications included datasets clinically validating that the Novavax platform "maintain[ed] high efficacy despite antigenic drifts, including via the adjuvant-specific effect."

"We view tolerability profile of a vaccine candidate to be a key consideration for use in a post-pandemic environment, where [Novavax] continues to stand out as the least reactogenic vaccine," he wrote.

The Novavax vaccine has made significant strides in other countries.

On December 20, the company announced that the European Commission had granted the vaccine conditional marketing authorization in people 18 and older. They noted that it had recently received an EUA in Indonesia and the Philippines, where it will be commercialized under the trade name Covovax. Covovax also received an emergency use listing from the WHO.

One day later, Novavax said it had initiated a booster study.

The vaccine's extended stability and simple storage requirements of up to 6 months at refrigerator temperatures make it "well suited for global deployment," according to the authors of the NEJM study.

"The efficacy of NVX-CoV2373 in preventing moderate-to-severe COVID-19 as well as any symptomatic COVID-19 in people at high risk for acquisition and complications of COVID-19 will make this vaccine a valuable tool in controlling the pandemic and its most serious health and economic consequences," they wrote.

Even with the trial's promising results, the question remains as to whether the Novavax vaccine will reach more of the vaccine hesitant in the U.S.