AUGUST 29, 2022 FAKE HONEY

I was amazed by an article in the Insider ‘ “ Honey is one of the most faked foods in the world, and the US Government isn’t do anything about it “ This bothers me so much. Is fake honey or adulterated honey plaquing the beekeeping industry. I am a small beekeeper and prodduce honey and propolis. I utilize bee venom in my life.

Either these manufacturers of faux bee honey are diluting the honey with syrup, or they chemically modify the sugars they put into this faux honey. This is a shame as the purchaser of the honey is being robbed of the benefits of honey. I prefer raw honey right from the hive

The US government got involved in 2013 and charged to honey manufacturer. There needs to be more regulation on honey Manufacturers from 2008 were changed and so were individuals manufacturing this adulterated honey It is a shame that such a pure product from what i consider the most respected insects can get a bad rap. It is so unfair

Yet 10-12 years later there is still fake honey on the shelves of stores. You as the consumer should look into the manufacturers before oyu buy honey. I would buy from your local beekeeper. He is not selling volume Like me, he/she is selling about 20-30 lbs from each hive You need to support the local beekeeper. It is better than buying from a store. He might have it a bit higher in price, but it supports their love for their bees and the environment. It is not just the honey you buy in plastic jars that be adulterated but think about all the honey used in the food industry. This is a bigger problem. I try to do my part by warning individuals about honey calling people out, but I cannot do it all.

Be an activist. Take up this cause or any cause you believe in

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 25, 2022 VITAMIN E

Vitamin E is not just a single compound., It is composed of a family of eight similar compounds, There is much known about Vitamin E as compared to when I was in medical school , a mere 30 years ago.
The alpha tocopherol Vitamin E has fallen from the sky as a crashing comet, but you must give credit to the other compounds, especially tocotrienol. This is the lesser known Vitamin E. There are great studies on this type for cardiovascular disease, and now I look forward to the new studies for cancer therapies.

For one the tocotrienols have a different chemical structure and there is a wider range of cell membrane coverage versus the alpha tocopherol group. The other fact which I find the most important is the superiority of the antioxidant effect for the tocotrienols as compared to the alpha tocopherols.

There are many more pathways that are activated by the tocotrienols. Due to this fact alone, there will be in the future more cancer prevention and cancer therapies studied for the tocotrienols. This group has repeatedly in studies been shown to inhibit cancer cells. This is not true of the alpha tocopherols. Astonishing a third of all the research on Vitamin E has been published in the last 2 years, even though there are studies dating back to the 1970's on Vitamin E

For those who take Vitamin E ...take a mixed tocotrienols. Do not take one specific Vitamin E as alpha tocopherols. You must move with the times. You must be well informed.

AUGUST 24, 2022 DIABETES

As a integrative physician I must always keep abreast of new studies involving botanicals and supplements. I keep abreast of any new conventional for diabetes. Recently an in vivo study was done on rats in Lima Peru. The study involved a commercial prepared extract called GlucoMedix. This product contains Stevia rebaudiana and Uncaria tormentosa ( Cat’s Claw) Historically Cats Claw has been used successfully as a herb to treat Tick Borne Infections ( such as Lyme Disease and other species)

These two herbs in GlucoMedix was successful in addressing the co- morbidities of diabetes mellitus. The positive or beneficial results could be due to the Stevia alone, the Uncaria alone or the combination.

This study is proof that herbal medicine can assist and support many conditions including diabetes. More work needs to be done. For the full study you can obtain it from www.townsendletter.com

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 23, 2022 LYME TESTING

All lyme testing is NOT the same. I am not an infectious disease doctor. I as a integrative physician have learned about Lyme Disease as with most diseases through research papers, appropriate books and clinical experience. I had a good patient —my son who has had Lyme disease twice. I use Stony Brook, IgenX and Vibrant Labs for testing. The later Vibrant Tickborne Disease testing tests for ig G and ig M antibodies for Borreliosis/Lyme as well as coinfections and opportunistic infections. It tests along with DNA of the species causing these infections. The PCR test is a real time assay designed for qualitative detection of the infectious group specific DNA. This Ig G test looks for VlsE1 or C6 peptide as by the CDC criteria which no lab as Quest Lab Corp, Bioreference etc look for. Most labs look for 5 out of 10 bands. Lyme ig M is reported positive if VlsE1 or c6 peptide or WCS ( whole blood sonicate ) is positive or 2 of the 3 bands are positive - 23, 39, 41. Most labs only look for 2 out of the 3 bands and not the other criteria

This is why Vibrant is a more sophisticated and accurate test. The lab tests for classic Borrelia burgorferi and the usual co- infections ( Bartnella, Erlichiosis, and Babeosis. The lab tests for other Borrelia species which many labs do NOT test for. For example it tests for other Borrelia species which cause Lyme Disease. Some of these species are Borrelia bavariensis, Borrelia hermsii, Borrelia andsersonii and other species. It does test for Human granulocytic anaplasmosis ( HGA) caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilium.

I have done extensive reading on Lyme treatments for my patients . The treatment for Lyme disease goes BEYOND conventional antibiotics. I discuss herbal treatments, bee venom therapy, ozone therapy, infrared sauna, supportive oligonucleotide therapy and even stem cell treatments.

Seek out a Lyme literate health care professional

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 22, 2022 GINGER AND THE THYROID

There are many individuals with hypothyroidism. Most patients are on a conventional medicine called Levothyroxine ( Synthroid, Tirosint ) This is the standard of care. I use these medications usually as the brand names and not the generic. Sometimes I use natural thyroid as nature thyroid, west thyroid, WP thyroid and even armour thyroid. These are also prescribed by a physician MD. I even use thyroid glandulars which do not have be prescribed by a medical doctor.

There recently was a study in Iran involving 60 hypothyroid patients on levothyroxine with normal blood TSH ( thyroid stimulating hormone ) levels. In double blind fashion 500 mg of ginger ( Zingaber officinalis) powder was given twice a day to patients

Compared to placebo , the ginger group had signifacant kess hypothyroid symptoms as dry skin, memory loss, appetite etc. I was thrilled to read this report.

However, there were significant questions raised about baseline TSH data, recruitment and dates . As always these discrepancies need to be looked at and the data needs to be reviewed for accuracy.

This type of study needs to be repeated by another group and the data needs to be studied.

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 18, 2022 KITCHEN WITCH

Are you a kitchen witch ? I believe my grandfather might have been when in the kitchen. He used many common herbs int he kitchen as Basil, Angelica, Clove, Caraway, Garlic, Nutmeg and Parlsey. He hardly used Majoram and Ginger. He always different wooden spoons int he kitchen I only realize this now as I get older. I try to imagine him in the small kitchen in this apartment in my parents home.

I can only imagine him talking to himself while he was cooking delicious Sicilian dishes from the ‘old country ‘ Was he reciting an incanation as:

‘BLESSED BE THE HAND

BLESSED BE THE HEAT

BLESSED BE THE SUSTENANCE

THE NOURISHMENT WE EAT

BLESSED BE THE GATHERING

BLESSED BE THE FLAME

BLESSED BE CREATION

ASSEMBLED IN HER NAME ‘

I doubt he recited these words, nor do I believe he stirred food clockwise in a pot to project those things he wished to call or manifest or counterclockwise to lend energy to those things he wished to release or ward off.

My Poppy cooked because he loved to cook He loved to make people happy while eating He was a proud man- a hard worker among workers and a quiet man. He knew herbs made a difference in cooking. He used them wisely . I miss him

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 17, 2022 YARROW

Yarrow ( Achillea millefolium) is definitely an Earth plant being cold and dry which would counter hot and moist conditions for which it is used. It grows in my garden yellow. The red and white are also represented in yarrow indicating an influence on the base chakra and the nervous system

It is an invader in almost any garden so be careful . It grows quite happily in my garden and loves competition pushing its rhizomes through the roots of other plants.

It has both external and internal uses. It is good for cuts and wounds especially where there is blood loss. For internal use I use it for inflammation and internal bleeding especially with the female reproductive system. I feel is has some effect on pain due to the blood congestion. Notice the plant with red color running in streaks up the stem and presence of hairs on the plant

It is a fascinating plant

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 16, 2022 OSHA ROOT

Osha root is not commonly discussed Its other names are Bear Root, Loveroot, and Bear Medicine Its botanical name is Ligusticum porter

It is not common to find this plant in the Northeastern areas. It has affinity for the southern Rocky Mountains . Many tribes of native Americans could not do without this plant. It was seen as a purifying agent, and to help babies breathe

I have used this herb as a powerful anti viral agent. It is great for colds, flu, upper respiratory infections and although I haven’t used it to treat tuberculosis ( it has been used for TB in the literature )

On reading about this herb in different books, it has been used to treat many different ailments. The essential oils of this plant are bitter. It is excellent for lung and throat infections. I compare this herb to Self Heal as well as Lungwort. It is great for the lungs as it broch dilates the lungs. I have seen it used for rheumatism and digestive disorders.

It should be part of your herbal first aid kit

Until tomorrow…