JANUARY 31, 2023 CHOLESTEROL MYTHS

I recently read the myths of CHOLESTEROL:

1. The main cause of high cholesterol is eating foods high in cholesterol FALSE

2. You only should be concerned about high cholesterol if you are overweight FALSE

3. Some foods contain the good cholesterol (HDL) FALSE

4. High cholesterol is only a problem for men over 45 FALSE

5. Low total cholesterol is not a problem FALSE

6. High triglycerides on a cholesterol panel is good for the patient FALSE

7. If your bad cholesterol (LDL) is less than 100 you are not at risk for heart disease FALSE

8. Healthy cholesterol is the same for everyone FALSE

9. A high good cholesterol (HDL) always protects you against heart disease FALSE

10. Exercise increases the bad cholesterol ( LDL) FALSE

These are the most common ten myths about cholesterol, It is not about the number any longer. It does not matter the # or level of your total, low density (bad) cholesterol and your high (good) density lipoprotein. It is all about the particle size of the bad and good cholesterol. A bad particle is always small and dense and causes heart disease. A good particle is always large, fluffy and protects you against heart disease.

So it is about the particle size, not the number. For example an LDL of 100 which has bad particles will cause heart disease where as a LDL of 125 with good particles will protect you against heart disease. The same is true of the good cholesterol A good cholesterol with a good particle protects you because this particle is large, fluffy and floats through the arteries

This lipid fraction blood test is a covered insurance test. Years ago it was called the Berkley Heart Lab test. In certain labs this test is called the VAP, Cardiac IQ and NMR lipid fraction test. I use Boston Herat Lab a lot as I get other cardiac risk factors for coronary artery disease.

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 30, 2023 LEMON BALM

For centuries , the herb Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) has been used medicinally. I have grown this herb every year in pots on the terrace. I received a plant of Lemon Balm from a patient, Diane P. about 11 years ago, and have grown it ever since. It grows wild in some areas. The plant is in Mint Family. Its leaves look like spearmint or peppermint. If you rub the leaves together you get the scent of lemon, which is so refreshing. The plant yields very little essential oil. So if you find it - it is expensive. Most of the commercial Melissa oil is mixed with other lemon oils. It is one of my favorite herbs

Lemon Balm has been used for a variety of conditions. Lemon balm has traditionally been used orally to treat insomnia, anxiety, gastric conditions, hypertension and even hyperthyroidism (Grave's Disease) I have used both lemon balm and bugle weed for the hyperactive thyroid. I use tincture of lemon balm to treat mouth ulcers also known as canker sores. I remember my mother used to put gentian violet on my canker sores when I was a child. I didn't mind the taste, but I didn't like the tooth staining and gum staining. I do not think it is still used for canker sores, since there are other herbal alternatives. Studies have combined dandelion, St John's wort and Calendula for colitis with some success.

To calm the nerves I would suggest a soothing bath with the following:

1. 3 drops of melissa

2. 2 drops of chamomille

3. 2 drops of bergamot

Put all three in 1 teaspoon ( 5ml) of sweet almond oil. Add this to your bath and relax

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 26, 2023 STRESS AND ADAPTOGENIC HERBS

It is safe to say that we all suffer from stress. If you think you do not suffer from stress of some kind then look again. Is it short or long term stress is the question. Short term stress is stress that allows your body to recover the next day. Chronic stress caused by many issues as chronic disease stays with you day after day. This kind of stress is more important as it has a negative impact on your health. Chronic stress can from the environment. It is the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breath.

Chronic stress affects your immune system, heart, brain, mental outlook and digestion. Sure it also affects how we sleep, and how we feel when we wake up. Do you wake up tired every morning and drag yourself out of bed? Or do you wake up with energy? Those who wake up tired and get better through the day and then peak at 7pm and cannot go to sleep at normal hours have a condition called Adrenal Fatigue. I believe we all have some aspect of adrenal fatigue. I certainly do and it was worse years ago. Today I get a good night sleep. I have taken adaptogenic herbs for years Years ago, I could literally stay up till 2 or 3 am and get up at 6am. I cannot do this anymore. I work hard and I need to sleep hard in order to rejuvenate my body's cells. I track my REM sleep with my Oura ring. I use different adaptogenic herbs to see which is better for REM

I attribute my success to a group of herbs called adaptogens. David Winston RH wrote a great book called Adaptogens I suggest reading it. Adaptogens are non specific herbs that increase the whole resistance of the body. The best known adaptogens are the ginsengs- Panax (American and Asian). I use Eleutherococcus (Siberian Ginseng). But the adaptogens I use the most is Withania (Ashwaganda) and Centella (Gota kola). There are many others you can read about including holy basil, rhodiola, schisandra and reishi.

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 25 2023 ERGOT

Ergot is a fungus that is parasitic on cereal grains, especially rye. The special aspect of this fungus is that it has medicinal properties . Ergot contains many alkaloid substances which have been known to promote contractions in the smooth muscle. Ergot has a historical significance. In the past, if rye bread with the fungus was ingested, this resulted in a poisoning known as Ergotism. This was also known as St. Anthony's Fire. The victims had systemic convulsions and burning pains in both of their limbs. This is depicted in many historical medical texts as well as literature. In 1834 Fuchs found early references to ergotism in Annales Xantenses for the year 857 stating "a great plague of swollen blisters consumed the people by a loathsome rot (gangrene) so that their limbs were loosened and fell off."

Ergot is used in the obstetrical practice. It was initially used in China which quickly spread throughout Europe. Ergot is a hemostatic. Ergonovine is administered in post partum hemorrhage. Ergotamine is also administered with caffeine and used for treatment of migraines.

Ergot poisoning has been depicted in movies and television shows. I have seen it in The Medici and in the recent show on HBO Max called The Last of Us. In this show it is a fungus not Ergot that takes over the body

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 24, 2023 APITHERAPY

This year the American Apitherapy Society ( www.apitherapy.org ) will hold its annual conference on May 19-21, 2023 in Parsippany New Jersey. Details will follow on our website www.apitherapy.org I encourage all to attend this conference. The conference will discuss the benefits of apitherapy products

An article appeared in the American Botanical Council HerbalClip about Honey Bee Products Exhibit Anti Inflammatory and Immunoprotective Properties. It is an excellent study that will be reviewed at our conference It is one of many clinical studies about the medical benefits of honey, propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen and bee venom that will be discussed.

In cancer cells, it was found that propolis and honey and their phenolic compounds exhibited chemo preventive properties and inhibits tumor growth.

More to come

Please attend and if not please donate or join our non for proift Save honeybees

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 23, 2023 PLANT INTOXICANTS

I have been reading Plant Intoxicants: A Classic Text on the Use of Mind-Altering Plants by Baron Ernst von Bibra (1806-1878) This book was published in German in 1855 and translated into English. In the book he summarized the current state of medical and plant knowledge of the most psychoactive plants used at that time. I am trying to read the chapters that stimulate my brain, introduce a plant that was obscure at that time, or discuss plants that remain more or less obscure today. Von Bibra wrote about coffee, tea, chocolate and tobacco-- all of which were already in widespread use in his time.

Did I read about those plants? Of course not. I wanted to read and research the various species of Datura. These are the sacred visionary plants. The names you might have heard in relation to these plants are Thornapple and Jimson Weed.

It is interesting to note that the Datura species are part of the nightshade family. The edible plants in this family are familiar to many of us. Examples are tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and potatoes. Historically for over 300 years, plants in the nightshade family were thought of as 'diabolic incarnations'. In von Bibra's time, the name for the fruit of Datura was "Mad apple" or "Devil's work". But if you encounter its flower, you would never think this plant produces such change if ingested. The flowers are large, fragrant and 'handsome'. I do not like the word 'pretty' to describe a flower anymore. I do not think flowers should always be feminine. I want to describe a flower as masculine, handsome, intelligent and debonair. The flower is succeeded by a large egg shaped capsule, green in color and full of thorns. So guess what? It is called the Thornapple.

What confuses me when I read about this plant is the different common names it has, depending on the region. In Jamestown, Virginia it is Jimson Weed. Others call it the 'Devil's Apple'. Since it was exploited in the famous flying ointments of the European witches, it should be known as the "Witches Apple". Maybe Walter Ellis Disney used the apple in Sleeping Beauty as a representative of the Thornapple.

It is said that the whole plant is poisonous, but the seeds are the most active. Nothing destroys the potency of the seeds--not drying nor boiling. More on this later

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 19, 2023 HUMAN HEART, COSMIC HEART

This is one book that should be in your library- Human Heart, Cosmic Heart by Thomas Cowan MD Dr Cowan takes a fresh new look at the greatest asset we have- The Heart and pumping blood. Through his years of clinical work He views the heart as a hydraulic ram rather than a pump because it uses suction rather than force to build the momentum of blood.

You need to take a deep breath when you start reading his book. Take a fresh look at the human body. Yu will be pleasantly surprised. There are many antidotal stories throughout the book that make it easy to read and understand. It is one’s man quest to find the answers.

Afterall it is the number one killer. You must read this book

Until tomorrow…

JANUARY 18, 2023 PITCHER PLANTS

I am immediately drawn to Pitcher Plants and other Carnivorous Plants. I have read most books on Carnivorous Plants as Reaktion’s Botanical Series by Dan Torre. He also authored the Reaktion’s book on Cactus. There are few books on Pitcher Plants. There is a nursery in Morrison TN called Red Leaf Exotics where its owner Dominick Gravine specializes in pitcher plants, Nepenthes. I met Dominick while he was growing and started his nursery in Brooklyn NY. I will never forget the day we met and I went into his greenhouse.

One such pitcher plant was touted as a natural treatment for smallpox. In the nineteenth century , smallpox ravaged throughout the United States. More recently in 2022, another pox virus has been seen. This is Monkeypox. Unfortunately like HIV, this virus has been said to be a Gay Virus. It is common among gay and bisexual men but can be seen in heterosexuals.

A study discussed the anti-viral activity of a pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea against vaccinia virus, monkeypox and the variola virus. It was shown to be an effective inhibitor of the pox replication at the level of early viral transcription.

These extracts are also effective against the herpes infection

Until tomorrow…