MAY 11, 2022 CASTOR OIL PACKS

I first hgeard of castor oil packs through the writing of Edgar Cayce. Castor oil is extracted from the seeds of the tropical plant ( Ricinus communis)

Ingestion of castor oil has been traditionally used traditionally as a strong cathartic. It is a very strong . I prefer to apply externally to the body. Castor oil has strong healing properties.

Castor oil when heated as benefits affected underlying muscles and movement of lymphatic flow. Castor oil increases elimination, improves circulation, and stimulates the activity of lymphatic fluid.

I have used castor oil packs for

1., constipation

2. pelvic congestion

3.lymphatic congestion

4. fibromyalgia

5. joint stiffness, muscle tension

and much more

Until tomorrow…

MAY 9, 2022 ALLIUM OR NOT

If you’re trying to eat healthier, you may be wondering if garlic is a good choice for you. Turns out, this humble herb has some amazing health benefits. So is allium good or is it NOT GOOD.

Garlic ( Allium sativum) is part of the Lily Family and is one herb that I check off a definite YES

All plants contain bioactive substances. Garlic is no exception. Garlic is particularly rich in bioactive compounds, such as allicin and gamma-glutamylcysteine. These powerful phytochemicals taken regularly have been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease, as well as promote overall wellbeing and vitality. So what is it about allium that makes it so good. Allicin has been shown to have antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. In addition, Allicin can also help to reduce cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Garlic contains a variety of antioxidants and antimicrobial compounds that help to boost the body’s immune system and fight off infection. It is great during the cold and flu season. It has been especially helpful during the COVID pandemic

The allicin in garlic has also been shown to block certain enzymes that contribute to hypertension, while studies have found that taking garlic supplements can lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure by up to 10 points.

I was never a lover of garlic as a child or teenager. It was probably the smell. One good benefit of garlic is hair growth . Garlic is rich in sulphur, which is an important mineral for hair growth

Lastly, some preliminary research suggests that garlic may be effective at lowering blood sugar levels. If you lower blood sugar you will reduce the risk of diabetes and obesity which are both linked to heart disease.

So add garlic to your daily intake of supplements. If not in supplement form learn to cook with garlic

Until tomorrow…

MAY 10, 2022 JUNIPER

Juniper ( Juniperus communis ) is a great herb with many health benefits. The parts of the herb that are used are the berries The berries are gathered in the Fall. The berries turn purple-blue when ripe.

The major constituents are volatile oils, vitamin C, flavonoids and tannins The medicinal actions are analgesic, antibacterial, and anti inflammatory. The other actions are anti rheumatism, antiseptic and urinary antiseptic.

You can use juniper in a variety of ways. Can be used as an infused oil, liniment, tincture, massage oil and even food as honey

Juniper berries are strongly antiseptic for the urinary tract infections, urethritis, and even prostatitis. The berries are cleansing and can even enhance the removal of kidney stones. It also helps decrease build up of uric acid and general toxins in the kidneys.

I use juniper in the following ways

1. As a tea : For gas and bloating and to strengthen digestion

2. As a tea for cold and flu : I mix with rose hips and lemon balm

3. For cellulitis and acne: Use as a topical application

4. For dandruff: prepare as a decoction of the berries for the scalp

   Until tomorrow…

MAY 5, 2022 STATIN EFFICACY

As a physician I always question the efficacy of drugs that I prescribe. One of the drugs that are prescribed to Americans on a daily basis are statin drugs to lower cholesterol Recently a metanalysis published in a peer review journal, JAMA Internal Medicine raised questions about the efficacy of statin for lowering cholesterol to reduce heart attacks strokes and all-cause mortality

The findings are important for both the doctor and the patient. The results were misleading The main finding was that the relative risk reductions in all cause mortality, heart attack and stroke were misleading compared to the absolute risk reduction.

The relative risk reduction ( RRR) were shown to be 9 % for all cause mortality, 29 % for heart attack and 14 % stroke. This sounds great for the use of statin for these . Then I viewed the results for the absolute risk reduction

The absolute risk reduction were 0.% for all cause mortality, 1.3 % for heart attacks and 0.4 % for stroke

The authors wrote this “Reporting the reduction in cardiovascular outcomes as RRR without reporting the absolute risk reduction ( ARR) has the potential to inflate the clinical importance of an intervention and can exaggerate trivial associations. “

So the question is —do I prescribe statins to reduce cholesterol ? Or do I reduce or change lifestyles as diet and exercise and use supplements and herbs to reduce cholesterol ?

Until tomorrow…

MAY 4, 2022 ZINC

Since the pandemic there have been many articles citing the benefits if zinc. I am a avid zinc lover. Most of my patients take zinc during the cold and flu season. Zinc is required for many enzyme reactions in the body as well as a trace mineral to balance your thyroid. You can obtain zinc from your food

There are many foods that are high in zinc. Zinc supports the immune system, and assists in healing , especially the skin ( the largest organ in the body) One food containing high amounts of zinc are oysters. This may not be for everyone.

The next top three choices for high dose zinc are beef, chicken and lamb. Of note, chicken is high in zinc when cooked with the skin on. Lamb is an excellent choice for zinc as well as iron and its B vitamins.

For those that are vegetarians, a great source of zinc are pumpkin seeds and cashews. Pumpkin seeds are also high is phosphorous which is needed for cell membrane integrity. Pumpkin seeds also contain a good amount of potassium, magnesium, copper, selenium and manganese. I love cashews as a on-the-go healthy snack or to put on your salad. I prefer the raw or unsalted cashews.

Three herbs that are rich in zinc are garlic, gingko and ginseng. Garlic also contains high amounts of Vitamin C and within the Lily Family as onions and chives. Zinc is great for cognition and supporting memory. Ginseng in zinc supplements is safe , effective and can improve memory and focus.

So if you are not good about taking supplements then get your zinc from your food

Until tomorrow…

MAY 3, 2022 CINNAMON

More often than not we don’t think of our kitchen spices as medicines. They are ! There are many kitchen spices which have medicinal and health benefits. One of these common kitchen spices is Cinnamon There are many reasons to add cinnamon to your food.

One of the best benefits involves your blood sugar. Cinnamon has been studied to help treat Type II Diabetes. Diabetes is one of the twin epidemics in the United States. The other is obesity. Both of these epidemics lead to Cardiovascular Disease — the number one killer in the United States. Cinnamon has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels.

In addition there have been studies to show that cinnamon can also lower blood cholesterol levels. I use many supplements and herbs to reduce cholesterol, but cinnamon is one not to be left out.

One of the best anti microbial herbs is Garlic. Studies have shown that cinnamon is an effective antibacterial and antifungal herb/spice. This is due in part to the many anti inflammatory properties of this herb. It is great for arthritis in addition to other herbs as tumeric , ginger and Devil’s Claw.

A very cool way to use cinnamon is as an insect repellant. Cinnamon oil can help keep mosquitos, ticks and spiders at bay. It also has been used as a natural insecticide.

So when you think of cinnamon as just a flavor for your hot chocolate…think again

Until tomorrow…

MAY 2, 2022 DARK CHOCOLATE

We all want a piece of chocolate The important thing to remember is picking the right piece of chocolate. It is not milk chocolate It is DARK CHOCOLATE

Dark chocolate is loaded with anti-oxidants and nutrients. It has many health benefits. One of the best health benefits of eating dark chocolate is the improvement in cognition and memory. A study compared dark versus milk chocolate Those that ate dark chocolate had a better mood, scored better on memory tests and improved cognition

Since dark chocolate is loaded with anti oxidants, it can fight free radical damage thus decreasing the incidence of chronic disease. We all need to fight the destruction of our bodies from free radicals. So if you are not a fan of green juice—get in line to buy your dark chocolate.

As a cardiologist I am especially interested in the studies that have shown that dark chocolate can reduce inflammation especially in the arteries. This can thus lower blood pressure and increase blood flow. There are studies revealing that dark chocolate can reduce blood sugar . Dark chocolate can help increase insulin sensitivity ( which means the body was better able to process blood sugar)

EAT DARK CHOCOLATE

Until tomorrow…

APRIL 25, 2022 INFLAMMATORY FOODS

There can be many foods in your dietary lifestyle that are inflammatory. I feel the patient/consumer should be aware of these foods

One of the worst foods is Dairy products as Milk, cheese, and ice cream are all high in saturated fat, which can trigger inflammation. I believe the second major cause of triggering inflammation are products that contain gluten. The gluten foods are typically barley , rye , oats and wheat

( B R O W ). These are just a few of the gluten grains. No one wants to give up gluten. A ig G allergy test can be done to show the patient/consumer if she or he is sensitive to gluten

Alcohol is a double-edged sword when it comes to inflammation. While moderate consumption has been shown to have anti-inflammatory benefits, too much alcohol can actually promote inflammation. A moderate consumption is 2 oz per day might be beneficial. So that glass or goblet of wine with dinner is way above 2 oz

Hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats are loaded with sodium and preservatives that can trigger inflammation/ These should be avoided at all costs

Until tomorrow…