MAY 22, 2024 TEA ISN'T ONLY FOR WINTERS

We each venture to the tea cabinet for a warm cup o your favorite tea during the winters . Most of our teas and from herbs. There are many teas from trees I cunsome herbal and tree teas throughout the year. In the summer I might make a tea , set it on the counter in a pitcher and drink it at room temperature on a sunny afternoon.

I love Pine Needle tea made from the White Pine tree. The needles of this tree appearing in clusters of four are used to make this tea, It is rick n flavinoids, Vitamn A and Vitamin C Pine needle tea supports the respiratory system You actually chop 2 tablespoons of pine needles per one 8 ounce cup. Steep for 5- 10 minutes and drink hot or at room temperature I always add my own honey to my teas.

Three other trees orovide the necessary ingredients for may of our cough syrups. These are the Elderberry tree, Black Cherry tree and the Choke Cherry tree Elderberry perhaps is the one best known. I can imagine that 7Song ( my mentor/colleague and friend in Ithaca- Founder of the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine ) has wild-crafted a branch of this tree. Removing the outer nark gives rise to the inner moist green bark ( which smells like almonds ) Shave and grind the dry nner bark and steep 1 teaspoon to every 8 ounces of water for 10 mintes. Ony drin when yu can still smell the almonds. If there is no almond smell discard the bark

I have three trees of Elderberry teas in my backyard in Black Rock CT The trees are between 4-5 years ago, I have not yet to make a herbal tea from the elderberry flowers I enjoy watching these trees bloom

Until tomorrow…

MAY 21, 2024 BIOFILMS

When I think of chronic infections I treat I think of Lyme Disease and other tick borne illnesses, EBV ( chronic fatigue ) Over the last fifteen years I have recognized that if an infection persists despite my conventional and integrative treatments I think f biofilms. What is a biofilm ? A biofilm is a gel like substance composed of microbes ( which can be bacteria, fungi etc ) which attach to any cell in the body We known from research there are complex communities in the gut

This is why when treated SIBO- small intestinal bacterial overgrowth I often use a biofilm disruptor There are many on the market - the best is BioDisrupt This is made by Researched Nutritionals It has two proprietary blends called EnzymeDisrupt and HerbDisrupt. The constituents are varied but contain lyzozyme, serratiopeptidase and others which can promote the body’s normal ability to disrupt extracellular matrices. This allows the infection to be treated. The HerbalDisrupt contains berberine rosemary and peppermint, These herbs have been studied to support the body’s normal anti adhesion properties and promote digestive comfort. It also promotes the body;s healthy response to invading organisms, and promotes healthy levels of extracellular mucus.

These biofilms create a physical barrier this it is hard to treat and allows mold, Lyme and EBV to persist . This barrier not only doesn’t allow the herbs I use to work, but the conventional antibiotics as well

So in short, disrupting or dissolving biofilms can help overcome their ability to flourish and improves the effectiveness of antimicrobial therapies ( whether antibiotics or herbs ) against them

Until tomorrow…

MAY 20, 2024 FERMENTED FOODS

Recently there has been a high consumption of fermented products. It is not only in the younger popular but many of my older patients are using kefir. Studies have shown that eating fermented foods can have an impact on short and long term impacts on brain function thus reducing stress

The fermented foods are a source of an amino acid called tryptophan. This amino acid is crucial in producing the happy hormone ‘ serotonin ‘ Serotonin is also responsible for mood

There is a study being conducted in Ireland at the University of Cork to pinpoint which fermented food is most beneficial for brain health I am sure that vegetabe based fermented foods will be on top

Start consuming fermented foods

Until tomorrow…

MAY 16, 2024 CANCER FIGHTING FOODS

In the quest for maintaining optimal health and reducing the risk of cancer, dietary choices play a crucial role. Certain foods, packed with powerful nutrients and antioxidants, have been identified as having potential cancer-fighting properties

One food I would never think as a cancer fighting food are walnuts. Walnuts are a powerhouse of nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, which have shown promising results in cancer prevention. These nuts contain compounds that can potentially slow down the growth of cancer cells. Studies have suggested that walnuts may particularly be effective against breast and prostate cancer. Moreover, the regular inclusion of walnuts in diets has been associated with reduced risk of these cancer

This next food is great for heart health and digestion. It is also effective as cancer preventing. Broccoli, a cruciferous vegetable, is rich in sulforaphane, a compound that exhibits strong anti-cancer properties. This compound not only helps in the prevention of cancer but also hinders the growth of already existing cancer cells. Sulforaphane targets cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed, making broccoli a valuable addition to a cancer-preventive diet. Studies have particularly noted its efficacy in reducing the risk of colorectal and bladder cancers. I use a lot of sulforaphane is breast cancers

Lastly I would incorporate berries into your diet. I think of blueberries as a great antioxidant and cancer fighting berry. Yet there is another one. Raspberries are abundant in antioxidants, particularly ellagic acid, which has shown potential in cancer prevention. This antioxidant helps neutralize harmful free radicals in the body and has been linked to inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. Consuming raspberries may lower the risk of developing several types of cancer, including skin, lung, bladder, and breast cancers.

Until tomorrow…

MAY 15, 2024 EJACULATION

For men, an orgasm is usually accompanied by ejaculation. As men get older the ejaculate becomes less if at all. It is not as thick as it used to be. It can almost be like water. Many men complain about this to their doctors. How many sperm do you think is in a single ejaculate? The answer is 300 million. Of course, the amount of sperm gets less as you get older.

Ejaculation is a twostep process. I 'love' saying that! In the emission phase, the seminal fluid accumulates in the bulb of the prostate. Depending on the type of sex men are having this can be felt as a swelling of the prostate. The the expulsion phase the neck of the urinary bladder closes to ensure that no urine will mix with the semen. At the same time the muscles of the penis and penile urethra contract to force the semen out. This phase can be quite 'verbal' for the man depending on the force of the ejaculation (and the age of the man).

As you get older you might experience a dry ejaculation where you feel as though you are having an organism, but no semen is forced out. This can be due to medications, stress and illness. This is commonly observed in my practice in patients on anti-depressants especially celexa, zoloft and paxil. Even blood pressure medications can cause this

Most of the cases of ejaculatory problems are psycho-social in origin. Usually there is no physical problem. The psycho social problem is that the man could feel sexual failure with his partner, male or female, but has no problem with another sexual partner. This is commonly the case with gay men. Sometimes after years of being together, the sex is too stagnant. I sometimes deal with men that have premature ejaculation. This often happens when there is initial penetration or very soon after.

The question is would you prefer a dry ejaculation or a premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is usually the sign of performance anxiety. I commonly see this in younger men. There are rare occurrences of no ejaculation. This can occur in men who overindulge (constant or daily masturbation), inadequate stimulation of the penis or age.

Remedies can be varied. I believe that a psychologist should be involved. The male should try to avoid caffeine or stimulants in any form. There should be an increase in the intake of B vitamins. I usually suggest a B50 or B100 multivitamin. Eat oatmeal (always steel cut) as all oatmeal contains thiamine, an essential B vitamin. For the male who loves aromatherapy - mix bergamot in sweet almond oil and refresh the air with a vaporizer. There are three herbs which I recommend to drink two to there times a day. There should be a blend of Valerian, lime blossom, and skullcap. These are the herbs which will calm the nerves. For the men with premature ejaculation, there is a flower essence called Gentian which I find useful for those with a sense of failure.

Until tomorrow…

MAY 14, 2024 MEMORY

We all misplace our keys. We all sometimes walk in a room and forget why we even went in the room. I find the more stress an individual is undergoing, the more forgetful he/she will get. I encourage my older patients to do word retrieval games, seek the word games, math problem solving and basic jigsaw puzzles. I also want a central bowl when you walk in the door to place all your pocket belongings- your keys, phone, Metrocard, change, bills et al.

Studies have shown that patients on the conventional drug, Aricept (Donepezil) scored higher on the Mini Mental State Examiantion than did patients who discontinued the drug. In addition those taking Aricepot scored lower on the Activities of Daily Living Scale which means they had less impairment. I use this drug in combination with herbs/supplements. I do find that older patients sometimes get gastrointestinal upset from Aricept. This is why I utilize an integrative approach to memory loss.

It is not easy to find studies on botanicals for memory loss. It is easier to find studies of vitamin/supplements like acetyl L carnitine, phosphotidylserine, phosphotidylcholine and omega 3, 6 9 fish oils.

Culpepper referred to this plant as 'a great binder' In older times, herbalists used to believe that the planets of our solar system governed the plants. Periwinkle (Vinca major and Vinca minor) were said to be governed by the planet Venus. Both have similar herbal properties. These plants have helped cancer patients with two medicines, vinblastine and vincristine. One of the other major uses of vinpocetine is for memory. According to Matthew Wood in Earthwise Herbal, Lord Bacon  believed that a cramp in the leg could be cured by wrapping periwinkle vine around the leg. I have seen herbalists use periwinkle for heavy menstrual bleeding, ulcers, skin disorders, and even vertigo. I have not used Periwinkle species as much as I should with the exception of the substance vinpocetine being present in many memory formulas. I use 20mg capsules twice a day.

The other herbs in Memory formulas include ginkgo, garlic and huperzine. I take Lion’s Mane and Bacopa daily The studies on these two are excellent for improving memory

Even the glowing jellyfish has a substance called Prevagen which has gained popularity in helping memory.

Until tomorrow…

MAY 13, 2024 AN ADAPTOGEN

Ashwaganda is an adaptogen. It has many properties. It is anti-inflammatory, an anti oxidant, a hypoglycemic agent as well as an immune supportive herb. There are many botanical adaptogens. Most of what I have learned about adaptogens comes from David Winston, RH lectures and his books. He loves adaptogens as much as I do. He is the father of adaptogen use. The uses of this herb are many ranging from asthma, arthritis to adrenal support, cancer and failure to thrive in children.
The best asset of this herb is that it improves and conserves adaptive energy.
With all the stress in this world and your every day life, your adrenal glands are truly "pooping' out. You have adrenal fatigue. For those of you that do not know this - the adrenal gland is on top of each kidney. It releases the stress hormones for your life. After much usage of this gland and its hormones it begins to get tired and poop out. This is called Adrenal Fatigue.
The good news is that you can take ashwaganda. There are clinical trials and studies to support the use of this herb for anxiety, cognitive and neurological disorders as well as Parkinson's disease.
I love it as it increases my stamina. I do not think I need more stamina than I have but a little extra is always good. I find it terrific fort memory and cognition. There are studies for this herb for energy.

Try it!
You will like it !

Until tomorrow

MAY 9, 2024 BULGAR

Bulgur, a versatile and ancient whole grain, has been a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine for centuries. This nutritious grain, made from cracked wheat, is not only a culinary delight but also a powerhouse of health benefits. The question is why do we need bulgar ? It is not widely used among individuals.

Bulgur stands out in the world of grains for its exceptional nutritional profile. It’s a rich source of dietary fiber, essential for maintaining digestive health and preventing constipation. This high-fiber content also plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar level. It is chock full of vitamins. It is high in B vitamins, including niacin, thiamine, and folate, which are crucial for energy production and brain function

I love bulgar for regulating blood sugar However i see many individuals with gut issues- The term might be irritable bowel but in functional medicine we term it ‘ leaky gut ‘ Bulgur’s high fiber content is a boon for digestive health. It aids in regular bowel movements and prevents constipation, a common problem in diets lacking sufficient fiber. This whole grain also plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy balance of gut bacteria

Lastly it is used in my practice for heart heart Regular consumption of bulgur is linked to improved heart health. The grain’s high fiber content is instrumental in reducing bad cholesterol levels (LDL), a major risk factor for heart disease. By promoting healthy cholesterol levels, bulgur helps in keeping arteries clear, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes

Until tomorrow…