SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 SCHIZANDRA BERRY

Schizandra berries are very special berries. Schizandra is an adaptogenic herb. Interestingly it five distinct flavors-bitter, sweet, sour, salty and erven hot. It is unlike any other berry. As with most herbs it has many active components - called alkaloid. schizandrols. Collectively these active compounds are referred to as ligands

In my practice I use an Adaptogenic tincture called AdrenoTone as well as schizandra as a tea combined with other herbs. This berry protects overall cellular vitality. Adaptogenic herbs as a group mainmtain healthy nerves, liver , lung and adrenal function.

In my practice I use adaptogenic herbs for overall health and stamina. Two of the best practitioners in herbal medicine discuss the function and use in their books, David Winston and Donald Yance. Through the years I have listened to these colleagues with a keen mind and open ears. These herbs are great for emotional and physical stress. I even heard another herbalist state that all individuals should take ashwagandha daily.

Until tomorrow..

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 BLADDERWRACK

Bladderwrack is a seaweed that has a long history of supporting the thyroid. The thyroid is a very important gland in the body being a regulator of metabolism. Many of my patients suffer from an underactive or an overactive thyroid. Some even have autoimmune thyroiditis ( Hashimoto’s thyroiditis)

Bladderwrack was historically used as a nutrtive tonic. It also promotes good digestive function. It also prevents absorption of radioactive isotopes ( which is important if having medical diagnostic testing)

I use baldderwrack to also maintain healthy cholesterol levels in the body as well as supporting the immune system

If you have a thyroid disorder, please consult your health care practitioner before ingesting seaweed. Seaweed as bladderwrack can interfer e with thyroid function and interact with thyroid medications

Until tomorrow…

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 HOMOCYSTEINE

What is homocysteine ? Homocyteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, osteoporosis and several neurodegenerative diseases., In diabetics, homocysteine adds a significant burden, especially in those with poorly controlled blood glucose. Homocysteine levels below 6 umol/L are to be ideal. and moderate risk begins when levels are between 9 - 13 umol/L/. Levels above 13 are associated with and may be seen in kidney diseases.

These are the factors causing Hyperhomocysteinemia:
1. increased age; 2. male gender ; 3. menopause
A diet low in consumption of fruits and vegetables, no consumption of multivitamins, low intake of folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 and a diet high in methionine containing proteins.

So you do not get panicked--there are diseases with higher homocysteine levels., These are diabetes, kidney diseases, certain malignancies, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, psoriasis, and enzyme deficiencies as methionine synthetase.

I have mentioned methionine twice so there are metabolic pathways concerting homnocysteine to either cysteine and/ or methionine ( 2 other amino acids) It is straight forward in reducing homocysteine levels. You do this by increasing the intake of folates, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B6

B12 is by far the most studied single ingredient to reduce homocysteine. I prefer to use a methylated folic acid as there is a very common enzyme deficiency (5 MTHFR) A methylated folic acid is more beneficial. If you cannot get a methylated folic acid, then you can use TMG ( trimethylglycine) as it is a methyl donor and an alternative substrate for converting homocysteine to methionine.

There are some drugs that can also increase homocysteine as metformin ( glucophage for diabetes) niacin, theophylline ( for asthma ( and estrogens ( as in birth control) There are others but these are just a few.

Until tomorrow...

SEPTEMBER 7 2022 SIGHT

I honestly do not know which sense of the 5 I would desire if I lost all 5. Some say sight, and some say hearing. I know I couldn’t be able to read or stitch initially. I would learn There are many nutrients beneficial to the eye.

Lutein and zeaxanthin play a vital role in eye health. These are both found naturally in the retina where they filter blue light ( which is damaging) and protect against ultraviolet

Both of these reduce the age related macular degeneration and cataracts. These compounds also been found to improve visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Also essential is Vitamin C, niacin, and omega 3

Until tomorrow…

SEPTEMBER 6 2022 BROCCOLI

As a child I was never fond of broccoli. I ate it but didn’t like it I preferred peas or string beans. Go figure

Broccoli has a reputation as being a remarkably healthy food, and that reputation is deserved. It’s a great source of vitamins C, K1, and A, as well as folate, potassium, iron, manganese, iron, and calcium. It even has protein . Today I love broccoli

It is a member of the Brassica Family which includes cauliflower, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, and Brussell sprouts. Broccoli is essentially a large edible flower . Its name comes from the Italian word broccolo, which means “the flowering crest of a cabbage,” as well as the Latin word brachium, which means branch, shoot, or arm.

It contains great vitamins and a powerful vegetable full of anti oxidants. The two active compounds found in broccoli are glucoraphanin and glucosinolates. As part of the digestive process, our bodies convert glucoraphanin into sulforaphane a compound known to fight many types of cancer. I use many compounds with sulforaphane as DIM, Super Greens and Greens First . I use these compounds to support my patients with cancer especially breast cancer. There are many studies citing the benefits of broccoli in fighting cancer Some researchers are beginning to use broccoli (and broiccoli sprouts in particular, which contain 20–100 times higher concentrations of glucosinolate, sulforaphane’s precursor, than adult broccoli) as an adjunct to chemotherapy. There are other herbs used in Europe as Mistletoe which can used adjunct to chemotherapy

It appears that sulforaphane can conduct multipronged attack on cancer cells (including inducing apoptosis, which is basically convincing carcinogenic cells to kill themselves for the sake of the organism).

So the conclusion is …. EAT BROCCOLI

Until tomorrow…

SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 BENEFITS OF MUSHROOMS

Do you remember when seeing a mushroom as a child ? Were you fascinated by the shapes and colors of mushrooms ? I know I was intrigued even at a very early age. I was fascinated with plants , bugs , insects and birds as a child. Mushrooms are often seen as a bland and boring food, but they actually offer a surprising amount of health benefits

Certain mushrooms can increase your vitamin D levels. Certain mushroom contains a naturally lowering agent for cholesterol and some for autoimmune disease and anti-cancer benefits.

We all should eat mushrooms. Mushrooms are anti-inflammatory and have a multitude of anti-oxidants. Mushrooms can help improve your immune system function. This is because mushrooms contain compounds that help to stimulate the immune system. Mushrooms can protect your brain and support good cognitive function. Mushrooms are also heart healthy. There are some studies to s8uggest that mushrooms can lower your blood pressure.

I believe that gut health is essential for general good health. The gut is the gateway to all disease. Mushrooms have been shown to improve gut health

So, start eating mushrooms. I recommend all to watch ‘Fantastic Fungi” on Netflix Amazing film and so educational

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 31, 2022 KOLA NUT

This is not a nut you hear about al lot. It is called the Kola Nut. It is from the cacao Family of Trees. Its botanical name is Cola acuminata. The native tree is African and can grow up to 60 feet. I have never seen the tree but it is described with pale yellow flowers streaked with purple. It must look spectacular. The fruit is wrinkled, and each fruit contains about a dozen seeds

The seeds are the kola nut. The Africans treat the seeds as a burst of energy—caffeinated that is.

Medicinally the Kola elixirs have been prescribed for seasickness and as an appetite stimulant. I have seen it prescribed with quinine and genitan. There are Kola wines. There was one well known wine from Kola called Toni - Koli

I couldn’t find this wine anywhere on the internet

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 30, 2022 CHIVES

Chives are used in cooking as are other plants in the Lily Family. The botanical name for Chives is Allium schoenoprasum. The better known Allium plants are Garlic ( Allium sativum ) and Onion ( Allium cepa ) Chives are the smallest of the Onion Plants. They do have a delicate onion taste without being overwhelming The flowers are edible as are with Garlic and Onions.

Chives are easy to grow in pots. I always grow Chives because it adds a wonderful flavor to food. In addition, I eat the flower. Chives like partial sunlight and plenty of water To get new growth always separate your chive clumps.

Energetically chives excel at protection ( as do Garlic and Onion) and absorb all negative energy

Grow all Allium plants in your garden

Until tomorrow…