NOVEMBER 23, 2022 MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES

From WEB MD

“ Nov. 21, 2022 -- Lab-created monoclonal antibodies, once a leading way of protecting people against COVID-19, are being sidelined because they don’t work against a growing number of coronavirus variants.

"Monoclonals had their day, like the Model T or the biplane," Carl Dieffenbach, director of the Division of AIDS at the National Institutes of Health and lead of the NIH's Antiviral Program for Pandemics, told NPR. "Now it's time to move on."

More than 3.5 million infusions of monoclonal antibodies have been given in the United States since first being authorized in 2020 before COVID vaccines were available, NPR reported. 

Monoclonal antibodies are created in a laboratory and work like the natural antibodies your body makes to fight illness. For COVID-19, they’re designed to bind to spike protein on the virus’s surface, stopping the virus from invading human cells. 

But the monoclonal antibodies designed for one strain of COVID may not bind to the spike proteins of other strains. Many companies stopped making monoclonal antibodies because they don’t want to spend millions creating a product that will be quickly scrapped, NPR said.

This is a problem for millions of people with weakened immune systems who may not respond well to COVID vaccines, The Washington Post reported. Those people need antibody therapies for protection.

Last January the FDA revised its emergency use authorization for two monoclonal antibody combinations to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19, because they are not effective against the dominant Omicron variant. The drugs were for bamlanivimab combined with etesevimab from Eli Lilly and casirivimab with imdevimab from Regeneron. “

Most have had COVID or been vaccinated or been vaccinated and had COVID. I feel we should have a good immune system I advocate patients taking daily Vitamin D, methylated B12, zinc, N acetyl cysteine or reduced gluthathione, and liposomal Vitamin C to prevent COVID. If you get COVIUD while on these supplements, the illness will not be as bad. Consult your health care practitioner

Until tomorrow

NOVEMBER 22, 2022 ORAL HEALTH AND HEART DISEASE

Periodontal health has been closely linked to vascular health in many studies. This is NOT a new concept. As early as 2001 in The Annals of Periodontal, Kuramitsu published a study on the Role of periodontal bacteria in cardiovascular disease. In 2011 once again validated this point. Mice were given oral bacteria. Studies found that the oral bacteria affected the gene expression profile of these mice in the aorta and liver and was connected to imbalances of the lipid profile. Low term oral bacteria is associated with a low good cholesterol (HDL) and imbalances in the total and bad lipoproteins. I find it most interesting when I see a low HDL (good cholesterol). I always look at the triglyceride levels because high triglycerides means a low HDL (this could be metabolic syndrome known as Syndrome X). When I see a low HDL and a normal TG, I always ask about the patent's gum health and last dental cleaning. I also ask whether the patient flosses or uses a water pik. I only water[ik. My dental hygienist/herbalist is amazing Her name is Sandra Senzon. She is the tooth fairy She works her magic in decreasing size of pockets and reduces plaque

There are other studies that have shown changes in arterial calcium distribution when these same mice were exposed to oral bacteria. I find this more interesting since I always view CT angiograms and calcium scores. When treating calcium with EDTA suppositories (read the book, The Calcium Bomb), I always add a bedtime oral antibiotic

Studies show that 30% of those with poor periodontal health will develop cardiovascular disease.Retrospective studies reviewing the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that those patients with better periodontal health were more likely to have optimal coronary health.

Even the large meta-analysis done for the last 18 years found that the ability to maintain optimal heart health was found to be higher in subjects whose gums were healthy.

It goes to reason that if oral health is related to cardiovascular health it must also affect the patients blood sugar. This makes sense to me as diabetes and obesity are the twin epidemic leading to this country's number #1 killer: Cardiovascular Disease.

Until tomorrow...

NOVEMBER 21, 2022 THE KINDNESS HORMONE

For the last few weeks on my daily train ride to New York City besides stitching I have been listening to various podcasts. I have been listening to Feel Better Live More with Dr Chatterjee. His British accent brings me back to the days studying medicine in England. Bitesize, his weekly podcast is for your mind body and heart. He features inspirational stories Listen to him

I listened to episode 104 and 105 this morning The first episode featured Dr David Hamilton who has a special interest in the mind body connection He is pharmacist turned author who discussed the kindness hormone, Oytocin . Oxytocin is a hormone that's produced in the hypothalamus and released into the bloodstream by the pituitary gland. Its main function is to facilitate childbirth, which is one of the reasons it is called the "love drug" or "love hormone. Dr Hamilton discussed the research in various settings where oxytocin was measured after acts of kindness. I found this to be exciting and interesting Kindness is good for our happiness and our health.

As a sober individual I try to do acts of kindness in my everyday life. It might be in sharing on Facebook an inspirational quote, or writing a daily blog, or opening a door for anyone and even giving a homeless individual a dollar to get food in this cold weather. Kindness does not hurt

PERFORM AN ACT OF KINDNESS TODAY

Until tomorrow…

NOVEMBER 17, 2022 INFLAMMATION

To reduce inflammation and support the immune system I recommend the following:

1. High doses of Vitamin D- I usually recommend 5,000 to 10,000 per day depending on the level measured

2. Try to get more sleep. The body regenerates itself especialy during REM

3. Exercise more

4. Cut back on simple refined carbohydrates

5. Consider starting some medicinal mushrooms as Coriolus versicolor, Cordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum. A good blend of mushrooms totaling 1.6 grams is suggested. I woudl suggest you read ' Mycelium Running." by Paul Staments. - He is in my main the Mushroom Man. I take My Community every day

6. There are excellent herbs as anti inflammatory - these are ginger, tumeric and boswellia. I utilize fresh ginger and tumeric. If you like boswellia use 750mg - 1500mg/day

7. Drink a cup of our ACHEY tea that helps with inflammation Chock Full of herbs

Call Botanical Bounty at 646 723 1823

Until tomorrow

NOVEMBER 16, 2022 PROPOLIS

Propolis is a product made by bees in a beehive. It is the ‘glue’ that they make to seal their beehive during the long cold winters. Propolis has many health benefits especially when pertaining to viruses and bacteria. As a beekeeper during the season - April to July I collect propolis from my beehives. I tincture it and use it in my practice. Propolis contains many flavonoids and bioflavonoids. These are anti-microbial.

I read many journals on-line. I recently came across an article on Brazilian red propolis. There are many dental caries a dentist will encounter We know certain toothpastes help. But so does propolis. Per this article, “ Fluoridated toothpastes help prevent dental caries and periodontal disease by removing and controlling dental biofilm colonized by microorganisms. During orthodontic treatment, the risk of developing dental caries and periodontal disease increases with the accumulation of dental biofilm and the difficulty of performing adequate oral hygiene with orthodontic appliances. “

Red Brazilian propolis was used in a study . Brazilian red propolis (BRP) exerts anti-caries activities against the bacteria Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp There was a difference in bacteria in those patients using the toothpaste with red propolis. As with some studies the patient population was small. More studies need to be done

The study was published in the American Botanical Council’s HerbalGram :

Lotif MAL, Valadas LAR, Fechine FV, et al. A double-blind randomized clinical trial of Brazilian red propolis dentifrice efficacy in orthodontic patients. J Oral Sci. January 19, 2022;64(1):28-32. doi: 10.2334/josnusd.21-0270.

Call Botanical Bounty for propolis 646 723 1823

Until tomorrow…

NOVEMBER 15, 2022 HIGH CHOLESTEROL

We as Americans are fixated on our cholesterol. As an educator I constantly tell patients and students that the cholesterol isn’t the number that bothers me. It is the high triglycerides and low good cholesterol ( HDL- high density lipoprotein.

Many doctors prescribe statins conventional drugs for high cholesterol. I prescribe a dietary lifestyle change, exercise prescription and supplements. I use artichoke, omega oils, and bergamot. A recent study published in Nutrients 2021 looked at globe artichoke and bergamot for reducing lipids levels Results concluded that these supplements work

Per the study , “ Results agree with previous studies showing bergamot orange's lipid-modulating effects, in particular when combined with other ingredients and/or as a phytosome formulation. This RCT reports clinically relevant changes in LDL-c, HDL-c, FM, and VAT with BOP/ALE supplementation, potentially reducing risks of CVD, T2D, and other metabolic diseases. Interestingly, the authors attribute BOP's reductions in TC and LDL-c to its "preservation of the natural and unique bouquet of the fruit juice polyphenols fraction."

So you don’t always need a drug to lower cholesterol. It takes a dedicated physician-patient relationship. The study was published in the American Botanical Council’s Hebralgram

Riva A, Petrangolini G, Allegrini P, et al. Artichoke and bergamot phytosome alliance: A randomized double blind clinical trial in mild hypercholesterolemia. Nutrients. December 27, 2021;14(1):108. doi: 10.3390/nu14010108.

Until tomorrow…

NOVEMBER 14, 2022 FOOD AND THE HOLIDAYS

It Amazes Me how much we will eat during the Holidays. Yes, I said we because I did also eat too much during the Holidays last year After all it is Christmas and I deserve... You have heard this before. New diet pills will keep coming off the assembly line one after another. Dropping out of programs like Weight Watchers or NutriSystem is so common. For a better path we might look at those success stories who have succeeded in keeping fit, NO MATTER which nutritional track they found to suit them. I will tell you that those success stories are those individuals who have treated their path as a new dietary lifestyle.

Why take an appetite suppressants when there are natural appetite suppressants These natural appetite suppressants, as ginger encourage a healthy communication between cells, thus between organs and thus between systems of the body. I love Ginger ( Zingaber officinalis). It soothes the gastrointestinal tract and helps with nausea. It does slow the gastric emptying so it allows you to feel fuller for a longer period of time, thus suppressing your appetite. Ginger tea reduces blood fats even after eating a meal rich in fat. This is a herb. Sip some ginger tea hot or cold during a meal and see how you feel.

Another herb, Hoodia gordonii has been tauted as the premier appetite suppressant. I have used it with some success. I find it doesn't suppress every one's appetite. It is a genus of 13 species in the flowering plant family Apocynaceae, under the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. It has large flowers and a distinctive smell/
Many Hoodia species are protected plants. Some stopped harvesting Hoodia for two reasons: one as a protected plant ( even if not this species) and the other because our clinical studies revealed that products using hoodia would not meet our strict standards of safety and efficacy.
Only two years ago, the Botanic Gardens Conservation International stated that "400 medicinal plants are at risk of extinction, from over-collection and deforestation, threatening the discovery of future cures for disease." These included Yew trees, Magnolia trees and the Hoodia species. I heard one herbalist state that there is not enough Hoodia in Africa for the amount of Hoodia on the United States shelves. Therefore one can conclude are you truly getting Hoodia in your product?

TIPS/SUGGESTIONS
You could use steel cut oatmeal ( gluten free) which has some protein and fiber to keep you fuller. You can add a nut butter to the oatmeal Using this oatmeal, Bulgar or quinoa which are cooked cereals does lower BMI over time.

Avoid diet soda as they can make you crave

Water is your best friend

Sweet potatoes can lower blood sugar

No one should be on a DIET, instead a Dietary Lifestyle.

Maybe eat for your blood type ?

Until tomorrow

NOVEMBER 10, 2022 ALZHEIMER DISEASE

More than 5 million people have Alzheimer's Disaese (AD) in the United States. It is ranked as the 6th leading cause of death. AD destroys brain cells causing major memory loss. Studies show that genetics play role, but i feel dietary lifestyle tugs on the rope which starts the process. From the first diagnosis made in 1906 by German Physician, Alois Alzheimer, the progression of the disease is shattering to the family despite all our technological advancement. Of course we have had advancement with this disease. We have MRI, CT, and PET scans where we can see tangles and/or plaques. We have new medications. Let's go back to the basics: dietary changes, exercise changes, proper sleep, proper hydration and avoiding environmental toxins as mercury, lead, and aluminum.
I utilize vitamins and supplements in patients with AD. I utilize fish oils ( higher DHA versus EPA), phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, acetyl L - carnitine, prevagen, and herbs. The herbs are from the vinca plant . I utilize vinpocetine. I also use high dose Vitamin D ( as I have for many years before it became so popular), niacinamide and EGCG ( frrom camiella- green tea)

Studies have now been conducted on high dose tumeric. I have discussed Tumeric ( Curcuma longa ) in the past. It is a very useful antiinflammatory herb. Studies show curcumina has great potential for enhancing brain health. It is difficult for curcumin as well as other herbs to sustain high levels in the blood. Thanks to UCLA researchers and scientists we now have Longvida (R). It can not only enter the blood stream but can cross the blood brain barrier to be useful in patients with AD.
The three other essential nutrients are:
1. Green Tea ( high dose EGCG)
2. Vitamin D3 - I prefer liquid to achieve higher levels
3. Nicotinamide ( a form of Vitamin B3)

Other herbs that feed our brains:
1. Ashwaganda
2. Ginkgo
3. Ginseng
4. Gotu kola

As promised I want to teach you all how to make an infused oil. It is not difficult at all. Any quality vegetable oil can be used. I prefer Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Some people use almond or sesame oil.
There are two methods to infuse oils: 1. solar ( sun) infused oil or 2. Double Boiler method
I prefer the sun method. There is still sun today. Place your herb of choice and the oil in a glass container. Place in a warm sunny spot and let sit for two weeks. Strain the oil through a cheesecloth. Squeeze every bit of oil out of the herb. Then add a fresh piece of the herb to the oil bottle. Let that sit for an additional 2 weeks.
If you start next week you can have infused oils ready for Christmas gifts.
So we do not have sun. Buy a double boiler ( a pot within a pot) Place both oil and herb in the top pan . Water int he lower pan Slowly heat for 30 minutes DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Strain the herb through a cheesecloth as above. You are done. Some herbalists then place in a refrigerator. I do not.

Until tomorrow…