NOVEMBER 1, 2023 GERMANIUM


Yes, a germanium is a plant but it also is Element 32 on the periodic  table. I often have to reminded of that fact. It is naturally found in allium species ( garlic species, onion species) and in Siberian Ginseng ( Eleuthrococcus)

It has been shown in studies that this element activates the immune system, produces natural interferon and if this is a word, oxygenerates all cells.  It chelates and removes toxic substances from the blood. It is very useful element. It can be used orally, sublingually and intravenously. The oral germanium in the United States is very weak., I have not found a good germanium US product, with the exception of a possible two products. Most of the oral germanium products are from Europe where this element has been widely studied and researched.

In Europe, this element has been given to treat cancer, the aging process and arthritis. I do know that the US product called " Ge-132' has been widely studied. It usually comes in doses of 200mg. Ge- 132 is called Germanium Sesquixide. THIS IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH GERMANIUM DIOXIDE which has been implicated in kidney failure.

I have seen sublingual Germanium which I prefer as it is easily absorbed in this form. Any oral product given to a patient should be carefully chosen as most individuals are malabsorbing. This malabsorbtion in the United States is due to the poor diet, processed foods, gluten products and other bad dietary/exercise habits.

The late Dr Atkins used to use germanium starting at 200mg and increasing to about 800-1000mg/day. It was discussed in one of least famous books called the 'Vita-nutrient Solution."

Until tomorrow...

OCTOBER 31, 2023 ADAPTOGENS

Today, a tonic for an herbalist is an adaptogen. There is no one better than herbalist, David Winston who knows about adaptogens. He even wrote a book about Adaptogens.

The Chinese and Tibetans have used adaptogens for centuries. So have the North American Native Indians, The more common ones are Panax ginseng, Ashwaganda, Siberian Ginseng and Rhodiola.
I have many of these herbs when constituting a formula for a patient. I also use adaptogenic herbs in tablet and capsule form. I also use adaptogens as herbal tea infusions.

I have been intrigued by the Alma fruit as a possible adaptogen and Morinda root. I only came across Morinda root when I started to have low back pain, and I went to Chinatown. I was given the formula,
 Ba Ji Tian. Knowing more about Chinese Medicine now than in the past, this root is used for deficient kidney Yang patients.

This root is used for lack of libido, low back pain, male and female infertility problems and urinary frequency. I have much use for this herb in my daily patient population of men and women. I have now used it for asthma patients.

As a tea ( which I love making teas) 1-2 tsp of dried root in 10 oz of water, steep 45 min and take 4oz of the tea three times a day. When you are ingesting any  home-made herbal teas, you do not worry about the taste. You can always add a little wild flower honey ( 1/8 to 1/4 tsp) to the cup

Until tomorrow...

OCTOBER 30, 2023 HEART HEALTH

As a cardiologist I always talk about heart health. Heart disease remains a leading cause of death worldwide, and what you eat can significantly impact your heart health. To protect your heart you need to make some definite lifestyle changes. The first one is a change in Dietary Lifestyle. The second a change in exercise lifestyle

There are many dietary lifestyles out there You have to adhere to one of them. The Mediterranean diet is often hailed as a heart-healthy superstar. Originating from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, this diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and, most importantly, olive oil. Olive oil is a significant component, packed with monounsaturated fats that help lower bad cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. The diet also emphasizes the consumption of nuts, which are another excellent source of healthy fats. I feel this is a HEART HEALTHY DIET. You must know you need to avoid with any lifestyle dietary change the simple ‘ white ‘ carbohydrates.

Another dietary change is following The DASH Diet The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is a well-researched and highly recommended eating plan for lowering high blood pressure, a significant risk factor for heart disease. One of the key features of the DASH diet is its focus on reducing sodium intake. Lowering sodium can have an immediate and lasting effect on blood pressure levels

I feel you cannot just do one dietary change I believe incorporating the best of all these dietary recommendations. If you now add 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise three times a week, you are beginning to get Heart Healthy. The 30 minutes 3 x /week decreases the risk of cardiovascular mortality by 38 %

So get up from the couch and start exercising.

Until tomorrow…

OCTOBER 26, 2023 AVOCADOS

Although I limited my intake of avocados ( as avocados are inflammatory for an individual with Type O blood type) - they are many health benefits to eating them

Is it a superfood ? Avocados are packed with nutrients and boasting an impressive list of health benefits, it’s no wonder that avocados are one of the most popular superfoods around.

They are a good source for monounsaturated fats which will help lower cholesterol and protect against heart disease Avocados contain minerals, plus a good source of fiber, potassium and magnesium

They are rich in omega 3 fatty acids which helps with a variety of conditions include heart, skin and neurological diseases They also contain probiotic nutrients which help with gut health. These nutrients break down food, absorb nutrients and fight harmful microbes

Avocados contain lutein and zeaxanthin which help fight against age related macular degeneration

Although i decreased my consuming 6 avocados a week due to the inflammatory affect on my hands, I still manage to get 1-2 in per week.

Please try an avocado today

Until tomorrow…


OCTOBER 25, 2023 BACH REMEDIES

"We are set free if we set others free, for it is only by example we can teach."

Dr. Edward Bach, 1932

Dr. Bach had the right idea. How are we as healers supposed to set people free if we cannot free ourselves? I can only teach by example. I can only teach and heal by giving personal examples. This is why I write this daily blog. I feel I am free when I use myself as an example. Honesty is the best policy. You have heard that many times before.

The term Bach means nothing to most people, but to a homeopath and myself it means a lot. There is a multitude of Bach remedies available. The one most people know about is Rescue Remedy. There actually was a Dr. Bach. Each of his 38 remedies is directed at a particular characteristic or emotional state. Some of the examples are:

Aspen - fear of unknown things

Gorse- hopelessness and despair

Holly - hatred envy and jealousy

Honeysuckle- living in the past

Rock Rose - terror and fright

and 33 others. The Bach center continues the work of Dr Edward Bach. The site is run from Mount Vernon which was the home and workplace of this visionary man. He completed research into his flower remedy system. The Bach centre is the world hub for education and information on Dr. Bach's work

Rescue Remedy is a combination of 5 Bach flower essences- These are Cherry Plum (for feelings of desperation), Rock Rose -(to ease terror), Impatiens - (to soothe irritability) , Clematis - (to counteract the tendency to drift away from the present), Star of Bethlehem (to address the mental and physical symptoms of shock)

Together these flower essences can make a safe sanctuary for your mental state. It should be taken when you feel a need to be rescued or you are unsettled. Instead of using a clonezepam or an ativan, try rescue remedy. It can be used after an argument with a life partner, friend or family member. It can be used after a loss of a loved one, loss of a job, or loss of self.

Upon reading I have found that Rescue remedy is the only Bach Flower Remedy that is usually taken neat, straight from the stock bottle. Put 4 drops directly under the tongue. repeat dosage if needed. If you do not want it directly on your tongue you can put in a water bottle and sip for the entire day. I find it great for soothing pets if they are anxious or nervous. It is safe for children.

There are even creams that have rescue remedy in them. These are used for sunburns, cuts bruises and scrapes. It can be added to a skin wash, and some homeopaths add it to a poultice.

Try Rescue Remedy...It works

OCTOBER 24, 2023 DO YOU REMEMBER BOARD GAMES ?


Do you remember board games ?

Gaming had always been a form of family entertainment long before the invention of home computers and video game consoles. One type of game played for thousands of years is board games-especially throughout the 20th century. Unfortunately with technology, not many families still play board games.

Whatever happened to 'stick ball' , Hide and Seek, or Football Tackle. There are Board Games that have stood the test of time . Numerous board games have been created for the entire family to play. Children as young as six years old have been able to play some of these timeless board games.

Monopoly is one of the most classic of board games created in the early 1900s. Several updated versions of it have been created since Parker Brothers first produced it in 1935. The object of Monopoly is for one player to use both luck (roll of the dice) and strategy (careful financial investment) to become the most economically superior power. This action is achieved when the winning player is able to gain control over the most personal properties, utility companies, and financial opportunities. The game ends when one or more players go bankrupt. The history of Monopoly can be traced back to 1903, when an American woman named Elizabeth (Lizzie) J. Magie Phillips created a game through which she hoped to be able to explain the single tax theory of Henry George (it was intended to illustrate the negative aspects of concentrating land in private monopolies). Her game, The Landlord's Game,was commercially published in 1923. A series of variant board games based on her concept were developed from 1906 through the 1930s that involved the buying and selling of land and the development of that land. By 1934, the board  game  was called Monopoly.

This game  RISK, was created by Albert Lamorisse, and originally marketed in France under the name La Conquête du Monde (The Conquest of the World) in 1957. Risk was also published by Parker Brothers in 1959. The original game board of Risk is a map divided into 42 territories grouped on six continents, similar to the way the world was divided during the time Napoleon was alive. The object of this game is to conquer the world by way of opponent player elimination. I was not a fan of RISK. I rather play Battleship.

Scrabble is one of the most well-known letter crossword games. Earlier versions of it were created in the early 1930s, and then the name Scrabble was trademarked in 1948. This is by far, the game I enjoy the most next to Trivial Pursuit. I love words. This game finally became a success after Alfred Mosher Butts and James Brunot joined forces. By 1952 Scrabble had been licensed to Selchow & Righter Company. The main goal in Scrabble is to be the last person to be able to form words with remaining letter tiles. Points are given for every word formed, and the player with the most points wins the game.

This game, Trivial Pursuit  was first co-invented in 1979 by Scott Abbot and Chris Hanley in Canada. It showed up at a U.S. toy fair in 1982, and the game rights were sold to Parker Brothers in 1984. The main object of the game is to answer the most trivia points correctly, and to advance to the end of the game board There are many versions now. I enjoyed getting those colored Pies.   The games I remember vividly as a child in addition to monopoly were the following:   The board game Chutes and Ladders were invented in 1943. The Game of Life, also known simply as LIFE, is a board game originally created in 1860 by Milton Bradley, as The Checkered Game of Life (and later produced by the Milton Bradley Company of Springfield, Massachusetts. “Trouble" was invented by Kohner brothers in 1963. It was launched across the United States 14 months later in 1965


I want to do something this weekend that  requires no thought. It will require entering my 'craft room' and fumbling on the top shelf for a jigsaw puzzle. I then have to make the decision for which one- honeybees, herbal or Dali . John Spilsbury invented the jigsaw puzzle in 1767. Spilsbury was an engraver and mapmaker. The first jigsaw puzzle was a map of the world. Paint by numbers was invented in 1950 by Dan Robbins who was employed by the Palmer Paint Company

What will you do this weekend ?

OCTOBER 23, 2023 RAW FOODS

There are some individuals who still prefer to eat raw foods. This can be risky. I recently read an article about some raw foods that should not be consumed. One of these listed is milk. The article stated this “ fresh milk does not translate to milk directly from the camel, buffalo, sheep, goat or cow. Unpasteurized milk or raw milk could contain dangerous bacteria and other germs which could make individuals really sick. It could be fatal as well. It could result in severe infections such as E. coli, listeria, and salmonella. Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that outbreaks as a result of raw milk consistently threatens the health of individuals.

I totally disagree I have had raw milk from quality farms in both Connecticut and Pennsylvania without any harmful effects I gave my children raw dairy from these farms. I used www.westonaprice.org for quality sources. The individuals who wrote this should have investigated and read “ The Untold Story of Milk” and got educated. Yes there are risks if you did not do your research I as a doctor, parent and now grandparent would never jeopardize my family nor my patients

Yes there are foods you should be careful about if eating raw. Eating raw cruciferous vegetables is healthy but if you have thyroid issues - just be careful . I always find it amazing that someone can sell raw oysters of the Long Island Expressway 495, but it is illegal to sell raw milk in the State of New York

I used to write for a magazine called Radius. It was questions that readers wrote and the magazine wanted answers The magazine was very informative. I also thought it was progressive. When someone asked about raw milk - I answered like I am writing this blog. This was the LAST time I wrote for the magazine. I was dismissed I guess the magazine wasn’t as progressive as I thought— oh well

Until tomorrow…

OCTOBER 19, 2023 THE AGING PROCESS

I DO NOT WANT TO AGE , but it is out of my control Since we must all age I want it to be graceful and with health- in body , mind and spirit. I try to ensure that by eating properly, take supplements and herbs, exercise and keep my mind active by always learning something new. This past weekend I attended the 34th Annual American Herbal Symposium in Granby Colorado. I left with a good feelings of learning new topics, meeting old friends and colleagues and meeting new individuals Next year I will attend the 35th conference in Asheville, NC

I have my supplements compounded based on my current labs and my genetics. I feel this is the best way to make sure I am taking the right amount of supplements. I must tell you I feel younger. Some of these supplements in my mix are methylated B12 and folate, selenium, omega 3, coenzyme Q 10 and much more

Your health is one your greatest assets Do not neglect yourself

Until tomorrow…