DECEMBER 22, 2022 ARE YOU ALWAYS HUNGRY ?

Do you ever feel like you're always hungry? Like no matter what you eat, it's never enough? I can tell you this — you are not alone. Many of my patients feel this way. I sometimes, although rarely feel this way. I have learned through my experience to suppress my appetite naturally.

One way is I make sure I eat eat smaller portions, but I eat six meals a day. I have breakfast, then snack, then lunch, then snack and then dinner. I try to eat dinner no later than 7 pm. I drink most of my water during the day and little watyer as possible after 6 pm.

I also make sure I have protein at all of my meals. Even my snacks are p[rotein. This way I do not get highs and lows in my blood sugar. When you get lows in blood sugar you are in H A L T - Hungry, Angry Lonely and Tired. This is not a new concept but a concept from a 12 step program ( for which I have been in for nearly 29 years )

I also take many supplements especially my methylated B vitamins These help naturally suppress my appetite. There are many herbs that balance your sugar levels which suppress your appetite Some of these are bitter melon and cinnamon .

Although it isa the Holidays try to be good on your dietary lifestyle

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 21, 2022 HAIR GROWTH

uniperis communis was used in ancient Greece and Egypt to combat the spread of disease. The common name is Juniper. It is an evergreen shrub with bluish green stiff needles. Even the French used it in WW II for the same purpose of combating the spread of disease. Today I use juniper for those men with prostatitis and women with interstitial cystitis.

for my patients I have been using a variety of remedies for strengthening and growing hair. My favorites are Horsetail with Fennel. I used this before I decided to shave my head. There is a great nutraceutical called NutriFol for Men and Women This product works well. I have seen patients even add Biotin for hair growth

Here is a great hair and scalp tonic using rosemary, cedar wood and juniper.
Use10 drops of juniper essential oil, 8 drops of rosemary and 7 drops of cedarwood added to 1 1/2 fluid ounces (50 ml) or 9 teaspoons of olive oil.
Massage into the scalp before you wash it. Wrap the head in a warm towel for about two hours. Yes, 2 hours. Wash out with a mild shampoo massaging the shampoo into the hair before you wet it to remove all the oil. You will be amazed, refreshed and lively when you come out of the shower.

I also use rosemary and cedar wood with cypress oil for those adults and/or children with dandruff. I use 6 drops of rosemary, 6 drops of cedar wood and 4 drops of cypress oil in 50ml olive oil. Massage in and leave overnight. For the children I use half the amount of essential oils.

One thing to remember: Never use juniper for pregnant women.

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 20, 2022 FEEL BETTER LIVE MORE

Every morning I have been listening to Dr Chatterjee in his podcast Live Better Live More It has been refreshing to listen to him and his guests who discuss my ideals, and how I treat patients.

This morning I listened to Episode 220 with Mel Robbins. Mel is a sought after motivational speaker in the world. She discussed how to change or rathe take control of your life. It is simply following the High 5 Habit

While listening to the podcast it made total sense to acknowledge yourself every day

I highly recommend listening to the podcasts by Dr R Chatterjee

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 19, 2022 DEPRESSION IN THE ELDERLY

Many elderly people feel a sense of worthlessness as they age. I believe it is the younger generation that needs to help them NOW, not later. Older people feel that they no longer matter to others . This is absolutely not true for me. I cherish old people. I have learned a lot from old people. If you start a conversation with them, you will find that older individuals certainly have purpose and/or usefulness.

Do you know any old people? I know plenty ! But truthfully I love old people. I can discuss history, the movies, and the 1939 Worlds Fair. You never want an older person to feel a sense of isolation. Have them participate in as many chores as they can. My grandfather (Poppy) worked until his late 80's traveling to NYC from Westchester taking the subway from the Bronx. He had a purpose to live despite the fact that he no longer had any children alive. He had his tomatoes, his work and he had us.

Sure there are anti depressant for the elderly. I prefer to treat the elderly with other disciplines of medicines like chinese herbalism, aromatherapy, homoeopathy, western herbs, flower essences and vitamins and minerals. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT MEDICINE IS TAUGHT AT THE BEDSIDE NOT IN THE CLASSROOM WHEN IT COMES TO THE ELDERLY PATIENT. This translates that doctors should talk to the patient.

I always make sure that the older person has an adequate diet every day. I make sure he/she has enough B12 and folic acid. I check magnesium, potassium and calcium in their diet. I encourage plenty of antioxidants which can help delay some of the effects of aging.

I rely on two flower essences for comfort in the elderly. One is Cherry Plum and the other is Sweet Chestnut. The former is for "fear of the mind being over strained" while the other is for the "person who is anguished and stretched beyond endurance." In the field of homeopathy I prefer Ignatia for depression from a loss. I have seen many older individuals who have lost their spouse and more upsetting is the loss of a child. I know some homeopathic remedies and utilize them as often as I can.

The amount of herbs I use for depression and anxiety vary from individual to individual. I love the nervines in this regard. I use lemon balm (Melissa officiales) borage, limeflower, rosemary and vervain.

Ginseng is an herb I use for depression. It is useful for memory and confusion as well. I am careful not to use too much ginseng in the elderly as I have seen my reverse reactions.

Two remedies I learned from an elderly herbalist include using sage and cloves for lifting the mood. Both can be used as teas or can be added to food. As far as sage, I like the taste. When it comes to drinking clove tea, I usually add some chamomile, wild flower honey and even peppermint to help the taste. I am not fond of plain clove tea.

A gift for an elderly friend: A FRAGRANT POMANDER

1. Push cloves into an Orange or grapefruit

2. Attach a piece of ribbon and hang up for them when you visit.

3. It will freshen anyone's home and senses.

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 15, 2022 NECK PAIN

The neck is particularly vulnerable to problems which can include but are not limited to cervical osteoarthritis, cervical spondylosis, neck rigidity, locked or stiff neck and neck swelling.

I do see many older patients with degenerative arthritis of the spine especially the neck and lower back . In the younger patient I usually see a locked neck which is over strain of ligaments or muscle spasms caused by an awkward or sudden movement. It can be caused by an unusual position while sleeping

Some of us can take an aspirin, anti inflammatory, or a pain killers for the pain. Local heat does help tense muscles. If the pain is associated with nerves I usually ask the patient to drink celery juice. If I use an essential oil to be massaged into the area to ease the discomfort, I recommend rosemary.

There is one herb you may not think of using for pain as it has been associated with depression. This is St. Johns Wort . I feel this herb has been given a 'bad rap'. It has sedative and painkilling properties and can be drunk as an infusion or even applied to the area. To reduce inflammation I love ginger, white willow and vervain.

My homeopathic friends/colleagues usually recommend the fresh black root from the plant Cimicifuga racemosa. (see photo above)

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 14, 2022 YOUR LUNGS

There are many useful nutrients for the lungs. The most useful are the omega 3 fatty acids. These can be derived from food sources as fish, flax, eggs, walnuts, cod liver oil and chia seeds. You must have your veggies and fruits to get ascorbic acid or Vitamin C.Get plenty of Vitamin A ( beta carotene and beta carotene) from carrots, sweet potatoes, mangoes, spinach, papaya and peppers.

As far as herbs for the lungs. One of my favorite herbs for lung health is Lungwort. There are many herbs for cough/flu as elderberry, horehound and elecampane

If you do not like spinach for the folate ( folic acid) then eat some other dark leafy greens. You can also have asparagus, broccoli, beets, cauliflower, and lima beans
The vitamin of the last decade is Vitamin D. You need to get fish oils in the diet if you do not like fish.
You must also have a good quality fish without mercury.

I would suggest  www.vitalchoice.com 

 Eat sardines, mackerel and herring
As we age we need more dietary calcium from leafy greens, peas, beans, brazil nuts, hazelnuts and sesame seeds.

The only food source for bromelain is the pineapple

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 13, 2022 TUMERIC

" To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die;  a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted"    --King Solomon

Not everyone will like the taste of a herbal tea blend. The herbal tastes can be bitter, sour, sweet and salty. Examples of bitter herbs are bayberry, sweet bay, fenugreek, thyme vervain horehound and lobelia. Examples of sour herbs are rose hips and many other sour fruits; The examples of sweet herbs are anise, slippery elm, fennel and angelica. The salty herbs are chickweed, okra, mullein, plantain and marsh mellow.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) has done extensive studies and research on Curcumin. This is the active component in tumeric. The herb is Curcuma longa. The oral absorption of curcumin is generally poor due to its low solubility and instability in the intestinal environment.
There are many herbs I would use to help regulate the inflammatory response mechanisms and the detoxification enzymes. Both play a crucial role in supporting the cardiovascular , immune, neurological, joint and connective tissue functions.

I use the following the following herbs to maintain a natural balance of the cyclo oxygenase enzymes ( COX 1 and COX 2). I want the body to be in harmony. I want the herbs to scavenge free radicals and save the body.

In addition to Curcumin I would use

1. Rosemary ( Rosmarnus officinalis)
2. Holy Basil ( Ocimum tenuuiflorum)
3. Green tea ( Camellia sinensis )
4. Gunger ( Zingiber officinalis)
5. Barberry ( Berberis vulgaris)
6. Japanese knotwood ( Polygonum cuspidatum)

Until tomorrow…

DECEMBER 12, 2022

Found in fatty fish and certain nuts and seeds, omega-3 fatty acids help protect your heart. Studies show they help maintain brain function. Experts are also looking at how well omega-3 fatty acids can protect against age-related mental decline, eye diseases, arthritis, and others conditions.
Some experts think omega-3s may help protect against cancer. "Omega-3 fatty acids are thought to reduce inflammation in the body. And a variety of cancers have been linked to chronic inflammation," says Sarah Rafat, RD, a senior dietitian at MD Anderson Cancer Center. I utilize mroe than 4 grams ( 4,000 mg ) of EPA for most patients.

Cancers with a link to inflammation include:
1. Colorectal
2. Liver
3. Lung
4. Prostate

Omega-3s also seem to restrict tumor cell growth, and may cause cancer cells to self-destruct.  Diet and cancer studies show mixed results. Some suggest that a diet that's rich in omega-3s can protect you against certain cancers. Other studies show no benefit.

There's not enough proof to conclude that loading up on fatty fish or taking fish oil capsules will slow down or reverse your condition if you already have cancer. But several studies do suggest that a diet rich in omega-3s helps some cancer patients tolerate chemotherapy better. Fatty acids from fish may also help patients maintain weight and muscle mass. Expert suggestions: The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of fatty fish a week. If you don't eat fish, you can get omega-3s from canola oil and flax. Talk to your doctor before you start taking supplements. There is a link between high levels of omega-3s in the blood and an aggressive form of prostate cancer, according to scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Many fruits, vegetables, and other foods that are rich in antioxidants lower the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, some eye diseases, and various forms of cancer. Getting a single antioxidant from a pill, such as vitamin C or beta carotene, isn’t as protective. Supplements don't seem to protect against cancer or help fight it. Some antioxidants may even increase the risk of certain cancers. Experts also worry that high doses of antioxidants may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

Until tomorrow….