Radio Naturopath: Recent Episodes
Name: Fran Storch, N.D. and Ron Manizza
This week, I reviewed the cyclosporiasis outbreak a little more; not much has changed. I’m waiting to hear a friend’s experience with treatment. Then, I got into how much caffeine is enough, or too much? According to the American Heart Association, 400 mg is fine for most people! It’s NOT fine for me. I’d be […]
This week, we reviewed the latest on cyclosporiasis. Hint: DON’T stop eating produce. Shop local! Go the farmer’s markets and talk to the actual farmers about their growing practices! Then, it was all about cholesterol. There’s a new drug on the market, an oral PCSK-9 inhibitor, before which there were only injectables. Is it a […]
This week, I started off mentioning the smoky skies due to the Canadian wildfires, and that it's not the best idea in the world to spend a lot of time outdoors while it's here. It can definitely affect people already compromised by allergies, asthma, COPD, and other lung conditions. Then we got into what's going on with cyclospora parasite outbreak, what's likely the cause, how likely you are to get it, and how to protect yourself. Spoiler: you're not really likely to get it, since right now there are only 40 known cases in Connecticut. Further spoiler: SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMERS!
Then we talked about the longhorned tick and its special concerns; it's more likely to give you anaplasmosis or ehrlichiosis. We finished with more foods that can help to lower cholesterol, and will talk more about cholesterol next week.
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This week, I reviewed the latest on my Lyme treatment, which is not too bad, some antibiotics, herbs, and probiotics. Then we talked about the great vitamin K2, whose job is to direct calcium to your bones and away from places you don't want it, like in your knees, kidneys, and arteries. Then on to post-meal probiotic gummies for gum health and fresh breath! We did a bit on alternatives to knee surgery, and then finished with why YOU should participate in open water swimming!
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This week, I reviewed the symptoms of various tick borne illnesses, and what pharmaceuticals are usually given for acute illness. I also discussed herbs that can be helpful, including oregano oil I talked about tick borne relapsing fever, which is more common west of the Rockies, and is not caused by the Lyme species we usually have in New England, but by Borrelia hermseii. We talked about symptoms and treatment. Then, to lighten the mood, we talked about a British study that showed that people who drink fruit juice have better moods than those who don't, regardless of whether they also eat fruit! I'm going back to drinking a small glass of smoothie in the morning.
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This week, I talked more about treating my Lyme disease with herbs and antibiotics, and some of the pitfalls. It's a slow process, good days and bad days. I also talked about how important it is to make sure your lymphatic system is functioning properly so that you can carry the waste products of the microbes out of your system. Food, exercise, herbs! Then we talked about the Summer Solstice, what it actually is and how to observe. We finished with a study that shows that resistance training can extend your life!
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This week, I talked about having accepted that yep, I have active Lyme disease again, and how I'm treating it. Amoxicillin to take the top off, all kinds of Buhner herbs to fight Lyme and coinfections, and probiotics to keep my immune system healthy and to replace what the antibiotics are killing. Gentle exercise, no cycling , and rest rest rest. As I'm sitting here typing this I can see my bike club riding past my house on the way back from a ride I was suppose to be on. Well, I will keep treating and hope that I feel well enough to ride in a few weeks!
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This week, I talked about post-viral syndrome that can happen to anyone, and also to people with long COVID or long vax syndromes. It's where your immune system stays kicked up even after fighting off a current infection, and gives you symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, cough, and digestive upset. We talk about help for this. Then, we had a listener ask for a review of tick repellants and tick born illness, so we got started on that. We also talked about the dreaded Lone Star Tick. Better not to be bitten by one of those!
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This week, I talked about the dreaded DEMODEX BLEPHARITIS, that nasty mite that loves to hand out in your eyelids. There are natural and pharmaceutical ways of eradicating it and we talk about them! As if that's not bad enough, there's TOENAIL FUNGUS, natural help for that too, but the pharmaceuticals work faster. We finish with how sham surgery can help knee pain better than meniscus repair.
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This week, I talked about hydration especially in the heat. It's really important! There's different mineral levels based on your sweat and activity level, and even glycerol for hyperhydration!
We also talked about using technology to encourage folks to drink adequate fluids to prevent kidney stones, and it was found to be difficult! But it wasn't because hydration doesn't work, it's just that even when you encourage people to drink, they don't always get it done! So, if you tend to get kidney stones, it's STILL a good idea to hydrate.
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This week, I had an epidural pain injection, so I talked about the experience. Overall: thumbs up! The worse thing for me, as usual, was the pre-procedure anxiety. Otherwise it went very well! Then, I talked about a hot topic: FOOD NOISE. It's a recently coined term and it isn't even in the Oxford Dictionary yet! The first time I heard it, I knew EXACTLY what it meant. The term is popular because those GLP-1 drugs calm it down. Can you calm it without GLP-1s? Yes, but it's not easy. It's a very interesting social term, borne of a society with marked food abundance and the very natural response of wanting to eat when food is available. I finished today talking about supplements that can be helpful after surgical procedures, in honor of Ron.
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This week, we got into modern natural dental care, and why we tend to get more cavities as we age. Some people have none, some a few here and there, and some lose most of their teeth! So we talk about fluoride vs. hydroxyapatite, microbiome and probiotics, and should you do an oral rinse?
Ron just had a hernia repair, so we talked about foods that can help hasten recovery. Hint: protein, protein, protein!
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This week, we talked about Ron's unfortunate situation with a bowel blockage, what causes it and how to manage it. When it's very acute, it involves an overnight stay in the hospital. To prevent it, it involves some diet alteration. I also offered some turmeric, which is a great anti-inflammatory. We hope it doesn't happen again!
I talked about the health benefits of two great antioxidants, astaxanthin and resveratrol. Great for cardiovascular, genetic, eye health, and more! I then started into foods that can help to keep cholesterol low.
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This week, I talked about foods that can interfere with fat loss. Hazelnuts and kiwi fruit, right??? Shocking stuff. Ultra processed foods, sugar, refined carbohydrates, juice and sweetened drinks, non-organic animal products. We also talked about how early menopause can increase a woman's risk of cardiovascular disease. Less hormones means less resilient blood vessels, more need for repair, and more likelihood of blockage!
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This week, we talked about iron deficiency anemia, because Ron has it! We think it's from the baby aspirin he took for four years as directed by his cardiologist. He stopped, and he's now taking iron. We hope he'll get his energy back soon! I also gave an update on the surgery I don't need for my back, and I what I AM doing. Ice, ice, baby! We finished with the health reasons it's important to sleep in complete darkness, and how you can do it.
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This week, I talked about local herbs and how they can help, like autumn olive, goldenrod, and chicory. I continued the series on better sleep, with a good mention of yoga nidra, a guided meditation that can really help with good sleep and energy! We also focused on the best temperature for sleep.
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This week, the MRI showed that I have post-surgical epidural fibrosis over my L4 left thecal sac and left L4 nerve root! That is the likely cause of my continuing femoral nerve pain. I will see the neurosurgeon this week to find out next steps. Meanwhile, I've gotten going on a number of natural remedies to help.
I went to the CNPA Conference and got smarter! There were all sorts of things to learn. We talked about the circadian cycle, hormones, sleep, and weight management. Yoga Nidra increases alpha and theta brain waves and helps with sleep. Cell salts can be used to help anything, so simple and powerful! We had a great talk about MCAS, mast cell activation, too.
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This week, I talked about monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) and what they can do for you. All good stuff, mostly related to cardiovascular health! Then I talked about two of the best nuts to get MUFAs, macadamia and pistachios. They're good for you in so many ways! Then I talked about sleep: why you don't sleep as well when you age, and then started on many ways to sleep better. Good sleep is key to health!
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This week, I talked about how an electrostim device may be helpful for back pain, nerve pain, and spinal stenosis pain. Just attach electrodes and get an auto-massage! Then, CREATINE, it's all the rage, and probably can be helpful for you too! The Mediterranean diet is studied to be protective against stroke risk in women. And, what's up with that Dubai chocolate craze, and where did all the pistachios go??? We started a series on SLEEP, as in why you should go to bed earlier.
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This week, I talked about what it's like to get a tooth extraction! No straws, no hot/spicy, no crunchy! Then I talked about LOWER respiratory illnesses, since I talked about UPPER ones last week. Coughs and mucus, supplements and herbs to take, teas to drink, and lots of hydrotherapy! We finished with how to prevent and treat GI bugs naturally. Hint: wash EVERYTHING, a lot!
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This week, I did a review of natural care for colds and flus, since people are gang-housed indoors and spreading the viruses! Neti-pots, nasal sprays, teas, herbs, vitamins, rest, diet, all the things! Your natural primer for your winter immune system.
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This week, I talked about what it was like to get laser iridotomy surgery! As with most things, it wasn't that bad. Still using drops for a few more days and will have the next one later in the month. I then talked about lots of ways to celebrate Valentine's Day when you're single, with the NEXT topic, great ideas for self care! Then I went on to why chocolate is good for you, which bears repeating this time of year.
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This week, I gave the update on my femoral nerve (may be over-exercising) and my narrow angles (going to have the iridotomies!) We talked about narrow angles and how they are treated. Looks like they're more conservative in the UK and China; in the US, you get those iridotomies! We talked about natural ways to keep that intraocular pressure low, including herbs, and things to avoid if you have narrow angles. Then we finished up with the last of those easy New Year's resolutions!
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This week, I talked about getting a PRP (platelet rich plasma) injection in my right knee to treat osteoarthritis. It was a fairly easy experience! I have minor swelling, and Dr. Zach said expect it to improve slowly over a couple of weeks. I also got diagnosed with NARROW ANGLES in my eyes WITHOUT increased eye pressure, but I need to see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. I am at risk for acute angle closure glaucoma, which is vision-threatening. However, I think because I have normal pressure I'm at less risk. I'd be happier if I were seeing the ophthalmologist TOMORROW. Then I discussed the new upside food pyramid from the USDA. I am mostly in favor of it! It encourages people to cut way back on processed food, starches and sugars, and to consume more protein and produce, things I have been encouraging my patients to do for years. Nutritionists complain that it encourages more red meat, but that advice is more nuanced and I discuss that.
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This week, I talked about lingering nerve issues for both myself and Ron since our respective surgeries. I have discovered that compression is helpful, specifically compression wear! I have most of my discomfort in my lateral left thigh, and when I wear a sleeve in that area, it significantly calms the discomfort, at least while I'm wearing it. Ron finds leg/foot sleeves helpful for his foot neuropathy. It at least feels better for a while! I also talked about, you guessed it, New Year's Resolutions. They mostly have to do with being kind to yourself, especially around food. More of that next week!
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This week, I gave the wrapup for popular health news and topics in 2025. People were interested in longevity and healthy aging; those notorious GLP-1 and GIP drugs for weight loss; the best vitamins, minerals, and supplements for health. Big stories dealt with when the body starts aging rapidly; protein powders and lead levels; measles outbreaks and vitamin A. We finished with a discuss of a study that shows that most people in the world don't get enough essential fatty acids, and ways to do that.
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This week, I talked about this cold that's going around, that prevented me from making a new show last week! It makes you tired, the mucus goes backwards and gives you a sore throat, and the thing sticks around for 2-4 weeks. Good times! Here's all sorts of natural ways to address it. I also talked about how higher levels of serum Vitamin D can be protective against repeat heart attacks and strokes, and what blood levels are ideal.
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This week, it was a hodgepodge of good stuff! First, we talked about Japanese fitness walking, or interval walking training (IWT). Gentler than high intensity interval training, and so many health benefits! Then we discussed how longer, sustained walks positively affect health. And the five essential Japanese morning exercises! We touched on red light therapy for healing, then went on to how dehydration increases anxiety. Who knew? And sleep: get better sleep to prevent dementia, and power naps for better focus, cognition, and productivity.
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This week, I talked about the removal of the black box warning on hormone replacement therapy. Evidence shows that supplemental hormones overall provide more benefit than harm, for cardiovascular, sexual, and mental health. There is still a general warning about the risk of endometrial cancer. But it will be left to pharmaceutical companies to provide information, such as on package inserts, about possible risks of taking these medicines. The idea is that the risks that were stated after the Women's Health Initiative Study were overblown, and millions of women since then have been denied information and opportunity to benefit from supplemental hormones during menopause. However, herbalist Susun Weed doesn't agree with this, and believes it's not necessary to use exogenous hormones during menopause. There are definitely many non-hormonal, helpful lifestyle changes to make that can mitigate menopausal symptoms. Where do I fall? Somewhere in the middle. I have definitely seen patients' lives change for the better while using supplemental hormones. I have also seen patients do very well with non-hormonal menopause therapies. Let's sort this out!
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This week, I talked about PRP, and how it's a solution for joint pain that can make it so that you can hold off having a joint replaced, if it works. I'm definitely interested, so I'll return to my orthopedic doctor and see what he thinks. Then I gave a big reminder about winter hydration, since people tend to suddenly hydrate less with the sharp turn from early October shorts weather to mid-November fleece and woolies! Then, in keeping with day-before-Thankgiving show tradition, we talked about yummy, healthy things to eat on Thanksgiving.
This week, I talked about a number of timely subjects! We started with why bioflavonoids are good for you. It's the antioxidants! We talked about the specific, precious herb saffron, which is turns out is good for mood, PMS, cardiovascular disease, and much more! Then we finished off menorrhagia, heavy menstrual bleeding, which affects so many women from early to late child-bearing age. We ended with something sweet: the health benefits of honey! You can even have some if you have Type 2 diabetes!
This week, I talked about the pros and cons of fasted vs. fueled exercise. They both have their pros and cons, but if you want to perform, you gotta eat. Especially women. Studies on fasted exercise were mostly done on men! Here's some ideas of what to eat, or how and when to NOT eat.
I also talked about a popular natural medicine topic, senolytics. Stuff that slows aging! Mostly they're bioflavonoids and antioxidants, and they help prevent cellular damage and help with the excretion of built-up, used cells. We talk about some senolytics foods and supplements too!
This week, I talked about remembering the 5th of November, all about Guy Fawkes Day! Bonfires, burning Guy Fawkes in effigy, and a reason to get together and get warm around a celebratory fire when it's cold and dark outside!
I then talked about the main topic, heavy menstrual bleeding, which is alarmingly common. There's lots of natural help that can be tried before resorting to pharmaceuticals and surgery. Natural medicine can be a great help for this common and difficult condition!
This week, of course we had to discuss healthier versions of Halloween candy, and also how to preserve the health of your teeth when indulging in sweets. Hint: drink water, brush your teeth and preserve your enamel!
I didn't know what sugar skulls were made of, but traditionally, they're made of sugar! Surprise! You can also get edible ones. I talked about the tradition of the sugar skull and generally about Day of the Dead and Halloween.
We got started with how menorrhagia, excessive menstrual bleeding, is treated conventionally, and next week we'll move on to naturopathic treatments.
This week, we talked about the big news about how there could be too much lead in your protein powder, because Consumer Reports put out the results of their studies on brand names. My ultimate thought is it's still possible to use these powders safely if you generally eat a healthy diet and don't overdo the powders. Also, some types of powders have less lead than others. It's right here!
We then discussed more health benefits of monounsaturated fats, and whether seed oils are good for you. For seed oils, the problem is they degrade more easily, get oxidative damage when heated, and then incorporate into your cell membranes making them less functional. Avocados!
This week, I talked about HUSK CHERRIES, also known as golden berries, which are grown in tropical areas, and also Mansfield. We have been scarfing them at our house! Turns out, they have a lot of great health benefits. I also talked about alternative therapies and breast cancer, since this is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Should you take supplements? MAYBE. I finished by starting to discuss MUFAs, monounsaturated fatty acids and why they're good for you. Fancy some olive oil?
This week, I updated about my postsurgical progress. Then we talked some more about whether acetaminophen can actually cause autism. Hint: probably not, and there's some interesting points, such as the condition that caused the pregnant person to choose acetaminophen can be suspect for leading to developmental issues. That would be correlation, not causation. Many issues to discuss! We then went on to a tried and true topic, why omega 3 fats and fish oil is good for you. It does so many great things! Skin, brain, bones, inflammation, pain.
Well, RFK Jr. and President Trump are trying to make sure that pregnant folks don't take acetaminophen while they're pregnant. Is that necessary? My feeling is that it's probably OK if not done in excess. Is it a CAUSE of autism? Of course not! Autism has a lot of genetic components. It's possible that the increase in oxidation of the metabolites by glutathione can flip on some genes, but it would NOT be a primary cause. Autism has so many factors, genes involved, and presentations, and it requires treating each person as you see them for whatever specifics are going on with them.
This week, I talked about the controversy of whole vs. skim milk, the pros and cons of each, which there are a few. Is the fat good for you or not? It depends on who you ask, but mostly whole milk is OK! I also discuss the problems of consuming dairy from non-humans at all. Some people, based on their specific health issues, really shouldn't be having dairy at all! Then I compared a few of the non-dairy milk substitutes for health and general benefits. Hint: they're really not high in protein, and rice milk is WAY too high in carbs!
This week, we talked about a few supplements to stop before surgery. Then we moved on to Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, a group of conditions that involve faulty ability to produce collagen in various parts of the body. Most commonly, people with EDS have hypermobile joints, but may also have dysfunction in the skin, heart, and blood vessels. Each person presents differently, so as always in naturopathic medicine, we treat the whole person!
We moved on to plantar fasciitis (ouch), a painful condition of dysfunction of the covering of the sole of the foot. We discussed stretching, massage, acupuncture, and ways to soothe pain and get that circulation back into the soles of the feet.
This week, I talked about my upcoming surgery, and why you have to stop your nutritional supplements beforehand. It has to do with whether the supplement causes blood thinning, as they're concerned that you won't heal as well. So, I have to go through my myriad supplements and decide which ones are anti-platelet aggregators, meaning they make those blood clotting cells less sticky!
Then, I did a review of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the USA. We talked about diagnosis and treatment, both conventional and natural.
We finished with an interesting study: it was found that a simple gait change could help people with pain from osteoarthritis in their knees! Since I have that, I'm going to try it!
This week, I talked about my experience getting that dreaded mammogram callback! Thank goodness the spot they viewed is likely benign. It's important to get those screenings so that you can treat anything early.
We went on to finish out why eating Mediterranean style is so good for you. Fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, clean protein, whole foods in general. Surprise!
Forest bathing is good for the soul and honeydew melon is good for your body. We talk about why!
I uploaded the show to File Station and created a blogpost at whus.org.
This week, I talked specifically about how to lower triglycerides, since I have a number of patients who struggle with that. It’s the boring stuff: eating fiber, high quality fatty acids, reducing carbs, and getting regular cardio exercise. There’s not a lot of supplements that work better than lifestyle stuff for this, and the drugs have […]
This week, I talked about how ultraprocessed foods really aren’t good for you, and ow and why. Surprise. A:so, why whole, unprocessed foods ARE good for you. Your health will be a lot better if you eat less chemicals, more produce, fiber, clean protein, legumes, nuts and seeds! I also have a bit about some life habits […]
This week, I talked about yummy taro root, which can be used like a potato in soups and salads, or as a powder for part of your favorite latte. It has resistant starch and fiber which are great for gut health! I also talked about electrolyte drinks and their pros and cons. Mostly, I think […]
This week, I talked about my experience with having a lumbar spinal cortisone shot at UConn. Spoiler alert: it was a great experience! Just waiting for it to take full effect, but I already have a lot less overall nerve pain. It’s exciting! Maybe I’ll be back on the bike next weekend! I talked about the […]
This week I talked about my spinal stenosis, how I’m managing, what the MRI said, and how it’ll be treated. Let’s hope for the best! I also talked about the loneliness epidemic, how and who it’s affecting, and how to help. We finished with natural progesterone and other things to help with menopause symptoms.
This week we talked about WHY we’re all seeing those massive clouds of yellow blowing off trees. There is more pollen! Blame climate change, warmer temperatures, longer warm season, more light. Did you know that the wind blowing pollen is much less efficient for pollinating trees and plants then animal pollinators? Pollen in the air is […]
This week, we talked about two essential amino acids that are harder to obtain in a vegan diet, but not impossible: leucine and lysine. They can be found in beans, nuts, seeds, and pseudograins like quinoa and amaranth. They’re both important for building muscle and collagen. Lysine is also important for immune function. We also got […]
This week we talked about how THE OTHER SHOE DROPPED for me. I am having a femoral neuralgia/spondylolisthesis flare! If you have nerve pain in your back and leg, like sciatica or femoral neuralgia, you’ll want to hear what I’m doing. Supplements, pharmaceuticals, cannabis, chiropractic, acupuncture, even a visit to the spinal surgeon! Plus how […]
This week, I talked about how you see this studies about how eating 2 cups of mango or 1 cup of blueberries or 1/2 cup pistachios EVERY DAY can affect this, that, or the other health parameter. I calmed the fire by letting you know that if the study says this, it might be a […]
This week, I was back on with Ron after a while so got to catch up with him on the air. He is VERY proud of his son who just got married in Chicago to a lovely woman! We talked about the joy of the wedding. Then he updated us on his cervical spinal stenosis diagnosis, and […]
This week I discussed how sucralose, the artificial sweetener, has been studied to INCREASE hunger even though it is basically non-caloric. It fools the brain into thinking it’s going to get calories so sets up hormones to receive food. Better to use other alternative sweeteners, or small amounts of sugar! We then discussed how poor sleep […]
This week, I talked a little about how important it is to drink water, especially with electrolytes if you’re feeling even a LITTLE off. Of course, if that doesn’t work, and you can’t figure out what’s going on, it’s time to access medical professionals! But electrolytes should be as natural as possible, and no artificial […]
This week, we talked about ADHD and food dyes, since RFK Jr. has been pressing for getting them generally banned. There are bills on the floor of a number of states, including West Virginia, Oklahoma, and New York. Interestingly, the studies aren’t definitive about whether food dyes aggravate ADHD or worsen behavior, but that may […]
This week, we reviewed healing from a cold, and then went on to more information about how menopausal weight gain happens. It’s possible to mitigate it but it’s not the most important thing. The most important thing is that YOU FEEL GOOD, get your rest, do things that make you happy, and not worry so […]
This week, we wrapped up osteoarthritis for a while, doing a deeper dive into green-lipped mussel extract. We also worked through a number of knee-strengthening exercises, great if you have osteoarthritis there and are trying to avoid surgery. Acupuncture can certainly be helpful! We also started in on some more weight loss issues, since there is […]
This week, we gave a little advice on the use of toothpaste with prebiotic to support healthy probiotic in the mouth. Then, we went on to discuss more about osteoarthritis. We gave more information about supplements. We also discussed the important topic of balance and how as the age, people have difficulty rising from seated and […]
This was the first week I’d actually BEEN to the Know Your Farmer’s Fair so that I could talk about it! A great time was had by all, from getting SO many coasters, to mushroom salt and jerky, to gluten free cookies, to giving Congressman Joe Courtney a hug! Ron got to schmooze the room in his […]
This week, we talked about caffeine withdrawal. What fun! But you CAN get through the symptoms if you want to. Then we talked about measles and the outbreak in Texas. Should you get vaccinated? We finished with whether potatoes deep fried in tallow are good for you vs. in seed oils. Steak ‘n’ Shake thinks […]
220-your age is NOT the best way to go! The Norwegian University of Science and Technology has figured out a way to estimate your ideal max heart rate that uses your age, weight, gender, and height. I used it and it felt much better than the 185 I was using from five years ago, and […]
This week, we talked about Ron’s experience with the chiropractor. He’s a fan! He knows it’ll take time but he’s on board. I also talked about the Know your Farmer Fair which will happen March 8, 2025 at the Willimantic Community Center; a great way to get to know our local farmers! And, without taking […]
This week I talked about B vitamins. Sometimes taking specific B vitamins can cause stomach upset, and you have to figure out which ones are bothering you. Sometimes it’s best to take a food based vitamin; sometimes a methylated blend; sometimes specific ones separately; and sometimes just get them from food! We help to sort […]
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, which is also Ron and my 20th anniversary! 20 years, can you believe it? 20 years of chocolate, bicycles, love, support and healing. And also, food. We talk about appreciating each other! Then, of course, since it’s valentines day, I talked about the health benefits of chocolate, a yearly tradition. I also […]
This week, I talked about green lipped mussel, which has a funny name. It’s a little mussel from New Zealand. The omega-3 fats and glycosaminoglycans are balanced in a way that helps joints to heal! I also talked about all the different forms of magnesium and their benefits, and many home remedies to help osteoarthritis. […]
Today I got reacquainted with Ron, with whom I haven’t made a show since November, as he was teaching a fitness class when we usually record together in December! So we’re able to make shows together again, well, most of the time. Today we reviewed his health issues, and it seems we’re getting close to […]
This week we talked about New Year’s Resolutions that are actually accessible, that you can keep. Stuff like: eating more whole foods, cooking more meals at home, finding exercise you enjoy, add in a little bit of meditation, get more good sleep. Notice that NONE of these are LOSE WEIGHT! Having weight loss as a goal just […]
This week, I did a bit of a companion piece to New Year’s Day. We’ll get to resolutions in the next weeks, but today I talked about fun New Year’s traditions around the word. Eat lentils! Jump into the ocean in white! Jump off the couch! Throw pennies into the ocean! All sorts of stuff. Since it’s […]
This week, I did a bit of a companion piece to New Year's Day. We'll get to resolutions in the next weeks, but today I talked about fun New Year's traditions around the word. Eat lentils! Jump into the ocean in white! Jump off the couch! Throw pennies into the ocean! All sorts of stuff. Since it's still Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, I talked about those traditions too. I also talked just WHY I had a great dental visit with no new cavities. HINT: it's my special toothpaste! Listen to find out!
Today I wanted to not talk too much about health, but went ahead and gave advice about how to stay healthy and support immunity during the holidays. All the usual stuff, like eating well, getting good sleep, getting exercise, doing restorative practices like yoga and meditation. We also talked about neti pots and nasal sprays, and foods, herbs and vitamins for the season. Then we moved on to What do Jews do on christmas? The answer: it depends! It's not our holiday, so sometimes it's Chinese and a movie. Or, we'll attend celebrations of people that we love. Or celebrate Hanukah if it's at the same time! I then started on Hanukah and Kwanzaa traditions. We'll pick up on that next week because on New Year's Day, it will still be Hanukkah and Kwanzaa!
This week I talked about Ron and my viewing of Wicked, but didn't give away any spoilers! It was VERY exciting, dazzling, and emotional. You may want to take nervine herbs, L-theanine, or something else to keep calm, and then plan to do deep breathing or other calming activities afterward! And this was only Part 1, Part 2 comes out in a year! I mainly discussed osteoarthritis and how it's helped by PRP, platelet rich plasma injections,and also omega-3 fatty acids, especially fish oil. Very healing for arthritis, especially knees!
Today I reviewed my most recent naturopathic visit and my ongoing plan to help my chronic Lyme. I'm in it for the long haul! I reminded people not only to hydrate in the cold weather, but to apply sunscreen and lip balm with SPF, because you can still get wind and sunburned in cold weather. We also talked about some lovely hot beverages to enjoy this time of year, including hot cocoa, golden milk, and tea, and their benefits.
And we talked about the incidence of osteoarthritis in the US.
This week, I talked about how we BAILED from the Manchester Road Race, because Ron's circulation and leg pain and the chilly, pouring rain would have made it too uncomfortable. We may return to Manchester to walk the course on a sunnier day! And soon we'll have some diagnosis as to what's going on with Ron's health and get him back to walking, running, and mostly importantly, CYCLING!
Also, it was all about Hello Darkness My Old Friend, the sun is setting at 4 PM. All about seasonal affective disorder! What it is, the neurotransmitters involved, and what vitamins and supplements can be helpful. And don't forget the light box, dawn simulators, and just plain getting outside! Basic healthy lifestyle stuff can help too.
This week, the show was played the day before Thanksgiving, at a time where people are starting to make their Thanksgiving preparations, or God forbid, traveling to wherever they're going for Thanksgiving. I made it a Thanksgiving companion episode! I talked about various ways to experience and express gratitude, such as sincere Thank yous, writing a gratitude journal, and mindfully identifying things in your environment for which to be grateful. I also talked about honoring First Nation folks and decolonization. I also talked about some Native American dishes to share at Thanksgiving, such as wild rice dishes, quinoa, and the Three Sisters, beans, corn, and winter squash. I made both!
I went to the orthopedic physician this week and I wanted to give an update on my experience. I would say it was relatively positive! There's no rush to give me injections or surgery, and I am to use exercises to strengthen my knees. I talked about what osteoarthritis is and various ways to treat it, both conventionally and naturally. This week: collagen, curcumin, and injections, and riding my bike!
This week, I talked a bit about how I manage intermittent fatigue, mostly with taking breaks and getting enough sleep! Like a lot of us, I'm guilty of pushing myself to get stuff done until I drop, and I need to learn to rest more.
Then we discussed the possibility that Ron has intermittent claudication, a form of peripheral artery disease. He certainly has symptoms that could fit. We discussed the mechanics of intermittent claudication, the pain, cramping, and burning that are worse with exertion and better with rest. Then we discussed how it's diagnosed and treated, both conventionally and naturally. And then, a little piece on chromium for food cravings!
This week it was all about the fall vegetables. Things that can be roasted, steamed, sauteed, or put in soup. Often heavier and root-y! Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, squash, yams. We talked about their health benefits and some ideas on use. And if you listen to the end there's a recipe for healthy hot cocoa!
This week, I talk about my new naturopath, Marisa Houser, N.D., and the advice she gave me about my Lyme protocol. A few new herbs and a few less supplements! Lots of good advice and tidying up. I also talked about healthier ways to experience Halloween, like having your sweets after a healthy meal so you're less likely to binge, and make sure to drink water with your sweets so the sugar doesn't stick around and give you cavities! You can also get healthier versions of treats at the health food store, and also make creative scary Halloween treats out of fruit! We also began to talk about healthy fall vegetables and we'll pick up with that next week.
This week, I talked about fall allergies, since lots of people have them right now! Mold and mildew from damp homes and plants dying back. Dust mites are prevalent especially now that we're moving indoors, but we'll get a break when there's a hard freeze. Pets can be problematic too! And there's still some ragweed outdoors. Here's some tips to help with the season! We also talked about chia seeds, and included a recipe on how to make chia pudding. Turns out they're amazing little powerhouses!
This week, I talked about poor Ron and his muscle issues, and realized he might benefit from taking l-carnitine, which will shuttle more free fatty acids into his muscle cells. We're going to get him some and see if it helps! I also talked about autumn anxiety, which happens when people are letting go of the carefree summer and taking on fall responsibilities. And the HOLIDAYS are looming, and it doesn't help that they have Christmas decorations in the stores before Halloween! And then we discussed two weight loss supplements, African mango (Irvingia) and l-carnitine.
This week I’m playing a lecture I recorded a while ago, about menopause and weight loss. I talk about how it’s harder to lose fat after menopause, and why. It’s all about the cortisol! Get that cortisol down and it will help. Also, having a little extra weight on after menopause is actually good, because the […]
This week, I talk about my jump to the Dark Side. Well, not really. Hey, did you know that the term “going to the Dark Side” was popularized by Star Wars? I’m going to try another BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION, and hopefully this time I can take it and stay on it! We’re going to try […]
This week I talked about how I tried hibiscus tea and it pretty much knocked me out, so if I do hibiscus it has to be in very small amounts! Everyone is different and responds differently to herbs and supplements. I DO feel good taking l-theanine, a calming amino acid from the tea plant, which calms without […]
This week I'm playing a lecture I recorded a while ago, about menopause and weight loss. I talk about how it's harder to lose fat after menopause, and why. It's all about the cortisol! Get that cortisol down and it will help. Also, having a little extra weight on after menopause is actually good, because the fat makes estrogen for you, and carrying it strengthens your bones. But, if you want to be at a lower weight, here's some tips! Just like all my advice about weight loss, the first rule of weight loss is to not focus on weight loss.
This week, I talk about my jump to the Dark Side. Well, not really. Hey, did you know that the term "going to the Dark Side" was popularized by Star Wars? I'm going to try another BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION, and hopefully this time I can take it and stay on it! We're going to try low dose lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor. The more I talked with various cycling friends, the more of them I discovered were taking it, feeling fine, and enjoying riding their bikes as much as they liked! So my PCP prescribed it, and first dose will go down the hatch tonight. I'll report on how I'm feeling, hoping for no dizziness!
We continued the series on weight loss, some basic good advice on lifestyle choices that can help. Drinking water, reducing carbs, reducing stress, eating produce and fiber, all good! All of those things are basic habits that are great for healing from anything. Ron also read off some calorie, fat and sugar content of some very large coffee-based drinks available at a popular regional establishment. A large version of one of them had 1100 calories! Pair that with a glazed jelly stick, and that's all your calories for the day! We particularly talked about Neuropeptide Y, which gets stimulated when you eat fat and starch or sugar together. It turns off your satiety signals, so you wind up eating most of the pizza, or the entire pint of ice cream! So avoiding large portions of fat and sugar together is a good idea.
This week I talked about how I tried hibiscus tea and it pretty much knocked me out, so if I do hibiscus it has to be in very small amounts! Everyone is different and responds differently to herbs and supplements. I DO feel good taking l-theanine, a calming amino acid from the tea plant, which calms without grogginess! And I also took the gastrodia/uncaria Chinese herbal complex in pill form, and I did better with that than the big cup of tea.
There's so much to talk about with weight management and loss. This week, I managed to discuss these neat Please Don't Weigh Me cards that you can get, and discussed the merits and detriments of being weighed at the doctor's office. Bottom line: if it makes the patient feel comfortable, no need to weigh them! Also, if you're at the doctor's office, you do not have to consent to ANY physical exam that you don't want to do. At my office my patients always have a choice! We also discussed the most important aspect of fat loss, which is stress reduction. Lowering cortisol is good for ANY condition, but directly helps to lower cortisol so that it's not putting more sugar into your blood for you to store. And there's lots of ways to reduce stress!
This week, I talked to Ron about his muscle building efforts, which are still taking a long time. We talked about how the cholesterol-lowering drug he took didn’t allow him to rebuild muscle, and may also have affected his nerves, He’s eating a lot of oats, and the beta-glucan in them can help to lower cholesterol; […]
This week, I talked about going back to conservatively healing my meniscus, and talked about a Chinese formula that my acupuncturist gave me for hypertension, Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin. I have to drink it as tea, and it’s pretty good! It helps with blood pressure, migraines, headaches, tremors, and more! If you like at the […]
fluoride, hydroxyapatite, mouth rinse, mouthwash, dental floss, dental pick, water floss, MI paste, toothpaste, fluorosis, cavities, tooth decay This week, it was all about the teeth: hydroxyapatite vs. fluoride toothpaste for your teeth. Which is better? In the end, they both protect teeth from decay, cavities, and sensitivity. But some people don’t want to go near fluoride because of possible toxicity. If kids swallow it, it can cause fluorosis […]
This week, we talked about the long haul and Lyme disease. The idea is that you have to treat for a long time, some say at least a year, and definitely until you have been symptom free for 2 months. Treating for that long can be WEARING, but to successfully treat this sticky, insidious, difficult illness […]
Speaking of summer, I felt inspired to talk about the health benefits of all the great produce that’s available right now. Tomatoes for lycopene and cancer prevention. Berries for antioxidants. Cherries for sleep! Also, we discussed all the terrific benefits of shopping at your local farmers market, not the least of which is if you’re going to […]
Ron and I are happily improving! I’m back on the bike and we’re both getting our strength back. Rest, treatment, smart training, the right supplements. I hope it all keeps progressing! This week I talked about the interaction of sleep and hormones. Ideally, we should generally get between 7-9 hours of sleep for good health […]
This week, I talked to Ron about his muscle building efforts, which are still taking a long time. We talked about how the cholesterol-lowering drug he took didn't allow him to rebuild muscle, and may also have affected his nerves, He's eating a lot of oats, and the beta-glucan in them can help to lower cholesterol; he's also eating a lot of ground flaxseed to help to sweep extra cholesterol out. He's looking forward to his next cholesterol test! We answered a question about shilajit and lithium orotate from a listener in India! I tried a pea-sized amount of shilajit for the first time live on the air, and it give me a mild rush! Then we went on to discuss my take on weight loss, and went through a Prevention article that is very much in line with my thinking, that weight loss, the numbers on the scale, and BMI are not nearly as important as more direct measures of health, like cholesterol, blood sugar, nutritional status, getting regular exercise and rest, and eating a healthy diet of whole fooods and avoiding processed, chemically laden foods and food intolerances. There are studies that really do bear out Healthy at Any Size!
This week, I talked about going back to conservatively healing my meniscus, and talked about a Chinese formula that my acupuncturist gave me for hypertension, Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin. I have to drink it as tea, and it's pretty good! It helps with blood pressure, migraines, headaches, tremors, and more! If you like at the Chinese indications, it helps to move liver blood out of places it shouldn't be. When I was in ND school, my teacher told me that it was my right as a Jersey girl to have a sluggish liver. Oy! So this may help. Then I got into it about bariatric surgery and how those weight loss drugs work, like Ozempic, Wegovy, Victoza, and Trulicity, and benefits and risks. It may be the only way to weight loss for some! A lot of pratitioners of all kinds are encouraging people to use them as part of their weight loss strategy.
This week, it was all about the teeth: hydroxyapatite vs. fluoride toothpaste for your teeth. Which is better? In the end, they both protect teeth from decay, cavities, and sensitivity. But some people don't want to go near fluoride because of possible toxicity. If kids swallow it, it can cause fluorosis and weakening of the teeth and bones. So, is hydroxyapatite just as effective? Listen and find out!
This week, we talked about the long haul and Lyme disease. The idea is that you have to treat for a long time, some say at least a year, and definitely until you have been symptom free for 2 months. Treating for that long can be WEARING, but to successfully treat this sticky, insidious, difficult illness requires tenacity! It is understandable that people get treatment fatigue. To do it right, especially if you're trying to avoid or minimize the use of antibiotics, it seems you have to take a lot of stuff! But I'm going to stick it out until I figure it out, and hopefully can get back to riding my bike when I want, however I want. Not to mention enjoying the rest of my life!
Speaking of summer, I felt inspired to talk about the health benefits of all the great produce that's available right now. Tomatoes for lycopene and cancer prevention. Berries for antioxidants. Cherries for sleep! Also, we discussed all the terrific benefits of shopping at your local farmers market, not the least of which is if you're going to buy celeriac from Anita, she'll tell you a great way to cook it! But even better, fresh, nutritious, low carbon footprint, meet your friends and neighbors, and DOGS!
Ron and I are happily improving! I'm back on the bike and we're both getting our strength back. Rest, treatment, smart training, the right supplements. I hope it all keeps progressing!
This week I talked about the interaction of sleep and hormones. Ideally, we should generally get between 7-9 hours of sleep for good health and specifically hormonal function. In order to have a good interaction of melatonin and cortisol, one sleep-inducing, the other for energy, 7-9 hours is ideal! Also for healthy reproductive function, weight, mood, and immunity: all the hormones that manage these bodily functions benefit from adequate sleep. So don't skimp! Have a wind-down routine, make sure the room is dark and cool, don't overdo sugar and carbs. Sleep is one of the most healing things you can do!
This week we went on to talk about plyometrics that you can do that don't affect the knees and hips especially if you have trouble with those. Hint: get a medicine ball! Carrying and tossing a heavy ball can be really helpful without the need for jumping. We also talked about more helpful exercises for menopause, especially dancing! And the important ways to build bone density.
This week, I got deeper into sunscreens. Avobenzone and octabenzone: BAD. And I found out that one of my favorite SPF-containing face lotions has avobenzone in it! And I cleared out most of my sunscreens except for the ones with zinc oxide in them! Sheesh. Turns out those two are the worse offenders, and are hormonal disrupters, and if you go to the drugstore or supermarket and look at the display, most of the sunscreens contain either or both of those! BEST is too find sunscreens with either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which sit on your skin, reflect the sun, and aren't absorbed. The only thing is to avoid sprays, because you can inhale the metallic microparticles.
We started by reviewing Stacy Sims's recommendations for post-menopausal women and exercise. What's best? Living heavy stuff, and short intervals! Intervals of at lest 60 seconds promote increased cortisol, so keeping it to around 30 seconds is best. She also recommends plyometrics, which can involve a lot of jumping. There ARE ways to do low impact plyometrics, and we'll talk about that next week!
I thought it would be useful to review help for surviving the heat. We talked about BRAIN FREEZE, which has real medical causes but is generally not a terribly serious condition! We also talked about hydration, how to keep cool in the heat, natural sunscreens like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, and natural insect repellents like lavender, garlic, cinnamon, lemon eucalyptus, and rose geranium. It's that time of year!
This week we got a little more into herbs and supplements for high blood pressure. Lots of people struggle with it, even while on meds. There are so many causes and you can help it from a number of different directions, and these can help. So can basic lifestyle changes like more rest and sleep, eating lots of produce, and limiting sugar, caffeine, and processed foods. We also talked about Energy Drinks: yay or nay?
This week, I talked about the no-charge Healing Lyme Summit that is being presented by Myriah Hinchey, N.D., and Richard Horowitz, M.D., a virtual summit that can be viewed from June 4-10, 2024. There's lots of talks about protocols and treatments to help with healing from Lyme. There's also opportunities to connect with other folks who are dealing with Lyme in various ways: patients, caregivers, family, and practitioners. Lots of great information! It's available at https://drtalks.com/lyme-summit-2024/
I also moved along with supplements to help with hypertension, and will talk more next week!
This week., I am STILL limping on that MCL sprain/mensicus issue! More interesting stuff, like having to use a hinged brace, heavy and hot in June! And more staying off the bike. I was a lot better a few days ago and rode a couple of days and now I'm set back; obviously not healed yet. HInged brace, exercises, rest, ice, elevation, specific exercises. Unlikely need for surgery! We also went back to discussing the microbiome, GABA, and sleep, and there are easy ways to improve sleep by eating the right foods and getting the right probiotics. We touched on help for high blood pressure and we'll pick up on that next week.
This week, I talked about my knee injury! There are great natural ways to help with knee pain, as long as the injury isn't TOO severe. I had marked knee pain for a few days that rapidly improved with the right care! Rest, ice, compression, elevation. Helpful salves. Chiropractic and acupuncture. Kinesio tape! PT exercises. All good stuff! Also, it's strawberry season, and the first strawberries have come out. Here's why they're good for you! We finished with starting to review one more talk from the CNPA summit, about GABA, the microbiome, and sleep. Did you know that Camden, NJ and Detroit, MI are the worst places to try to get enough sleep? I wonder how that compares to East Windsor, NJ, where I grew up???
This week, I had MORE to talk about from the CNPA conference. So much great stuff! I started with Lyme disease causing arrhythmias. Lindsey Wells talked about the use of HELMINTHS, yes, WORMS, as a probiotic treatment epecially in the autism spectrum, and for PANS and PANDAS. Then we moved on to a GREAT talk from my friend and classmate Lorilee Schoenbeck all about the history of naturopathic medicine. Way to get inspired again! Then Robyn Kutka gave a great talk about natural hormone replacement therapy. Seems we don't need to be as cautious as we thought, and it can be very helpful!
This week, I am fresh from the Connecticut Naturopathic Phyiscians Association conference. So much to learn! I did a redux of the first few talks. We started with inflammatory bowel disease, moved on to natural treatment of cancer, then tick borne illness, then a great talk about herbs for cardiovascular disease. I am so grateful to my colleagues for putting together such helpful, informative talks!
This week, I started talking about the very important topic of hypertension, high blood pressure. Our focus this week was on basic lifestyle things to do to lower blood pressure. Some of it is SHOCKING! Stuff like: eat more vegetables and fruit, eat more clean protein, drink more water, get more exercise, stop smoking, do stress reducing activities like deep breathing, leisure walks in nature, yoga, and meditation, and get good quality and quantity of sleep. WHO WOULDA THUNKIT??? It's so important that we'll pick up on this next week, and include actual supplements that help with blood pressure.
This week, we found that Ron is plugging along and had a not-so-good day because yesterday he dared to work in the yard. His poor muscles just don’t want to be disturbed! We are hoping that this will just take time and he’ll be back to his favorite activities soon. As for me, my tremors have […]
This week, we unfortunately found out that Ron had to get off his bike to help his legs heal further. The PCSK-9 inhibitor may still be in his body, and when he exerts himself his muscles hurt. We are doing everything we can to speed the process of healing, including proteolytic enzymes to break down […]
This week, we talked more specifically about statin- and cholesterol-lowering medication induced myopathy. Ron is only a tiny bit better but still can’t ride his bike outdoors. We talked about studies showing that athletes and people of lower body habitus tend to have more bad reactions to cholesterol lowering medications. My hypothesis is that doctors […]
This week, we talked about Shilajit, this interesting, antioxidant-rich substance that comes from the HImalayas. It has a lot of fulvic acid in it which is detoxifying and free-radical quenching. And it’s energizing and helps with hormone balance! We also talked about rhodiola, plant extraordinaire that is energizing, an immune tonic, and helps with altitude sickness. […]
Poor Ron. He had to get off his bike after less than 2 miles on a gravel ride. The evolocumab is still exerting its effects. We’re thinking critically about the mechanisms of action of his musculoskeletal distress and responding accordingly. We are reducing inflammation, helping him to rebuild muscle, offering items to reduce the risk of […]
This week, we found that Ron is plugging along and had a not-so-good day because yesterday he dared to work in the yard. His poor muscles just don't want to be disturbed! We are hoping that this will just take time and he'll be back to his favorite activities soon. As for me, my tremors have been quiet, and I'm hoping that's in part due to the low dose lithium orotate, and that the herbs are working to clear any remnants of tick borne illness! However, I have to face that I have hereditary hypertension. All the supplements and stress-reducing activities are just not working to get my blood pressure into a safe zone. So, I'm going to try a low dose of an angiotensin receptor blocker. My mom and sister are both on blood pressure meds and they work well for them. My mom is also on an ARB but my sister is on a pair of diurectics. I am taking an ARB because they are safer for athletes, in that they don't dehydrate you nor reduce your cardiac output. More about hypertension next week!
It's SPRING, and that means beautiful flowers, trees, and POLLEN! So we did a nice review of what to do for your respiratory allergies. Neti pots, supplements, nasal sprays, foods, we've got it all!
This week, we unfortunately found out that Ron had to get off his bike to help his legs heal further. The PCSK-9 inhibitor may still be in his body, and when he exerts himself his muscles hurt. We are doing everything we can to speed the process of healing, including proteolytic enzymes to break down the drug, milk thistle to rebuild liver cells, and resveratrol to protect his arteries from further damage. It's going to take TIME. As for me, I rode 32 miles yesterday and feel good! My femoral jnerve pain is greatly reduced since the ride. I am assuming the ride provided positioning and circulation to get the nerve out of the way.
We then talked about negative effects of caffeine. As delicious as a good cold brew or your favorite coffee with creamer is, too much caffeine can lead to dependence, insomnia, heart rhythm issues, and digestive issues, to name a few. We get into it here!
This week, we talked about Shilajit, this interesting, antioxidant-rich substance that comes from the HImalayas. It has a lot of fulvic acid in it which is detoxifying and free-radical quenching. And it's energizing and helps with hormone balance! We also talked about rhodiola, plant extraordinaire that is energizing, an immune tonic, and helps with altitude sickness. And LITHIUM, the nervous system's best friend! It can be helpful with simply improving anxiety to helping with dementia to preventing murder, suicide, and rape in towns where it's high in the water. I wonder if the US, Israel, Gaza, and the world need to microdose lithium?
This week, we talked more specifically about statin- and cholesterol-lowering medication induced myopathy. Ron is only a tiny bit better but still can't ride his bike outdoors. We talked about studies showing that athletes and people of lower body habitus tend to have more bad reactions to cholesterol lowering medications. My hypothesis is that doctors often don't dial in lower doses for these people, that they're using the same doses they would for larger people. We're still helping Ron with various natural medicine supplements. We also talked about post-exertional malaise: how it's a feature of chronic fatigue syndrome and other illnesses like autoimmunity, long COVID, and tick borne illness, and how to circumvent it Adaptogen herbs help too! We got started on the use of shilajit and will pick up on that next week.
Poor Ron. He had to get off his bike after less than 2 miles on a gravel ride. The evolocumab is still exerting its effects. We're thinking critically about the mechanisms of action of his musculoskeletal distress and responding accordingly. We are reducing inflammation, helping him to rebuild muscle, offering items to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic buildup, and something to help to break down any leftover drug in his body based on the pharmacokinetic of the compound. We are hoping he will be back to riding happily in a few weeks! Meanwhile, we also continue on the health benefits of cordyceps and my new friend, the mallow Sida acuta.
This week, we continued our saga of treating chronic fatigue of tick borne illness, and Ron's detox from cholesterol-lowering medication. I have found some energizing herbs like cordyceps and eleuthero, and that low dose lithium and the herb sida acuta are good for tremors. I talked what I'm doing to manage all these symptoms. We talked about how to help Ron with his ongoing healing from medication-induced muscle damage and cramping, including protein, magnesium, antioxidants, and milk thistle. Then I started to discuss cordyceps for energy and immune support and will continue next week!
This week, we continued to review my ups and downs with chronic tick borne illness, and some new things that I learned, like the benefits of spirulina, chlorella, eleuthero, and other adaptogens. We also talked about Ron and how his latest cholesterol meds have likely dropped his cholesterol too low for his health, and what other options he has. Then we went on to find out the specific health benefits of spirulina, eleuthero, and got started on chlorella. Blue green algae! Great antioxidants!
This week, Ron handed me his recent blood work and had me talk about it. We talked about his elevated TSH and how his doc needs to adjust his thyroid medicine. We talked about his target-low cholesterol numbers, and how his Repatha drug is starting to give him a lot of side effects. We talked about the mechanism of that. We also answered a question from a listener about whether cycling negatively impacts sciatica, and how it's necessary to get the position right on the bike and also do stretch and strengthening exercises.
Here's a popular topic, why sex is good for you health! From reducing anxiety and depression to improving cardiovascular function to improving muscle strength and flexibility, sex has a lot to offer. We also talk about natural ways to increase sex drive and performance. We also get started on how caffeine can be problematic and will pick that up next week!
This week I just HAD to get in my yearly chocolate is good for you show! Cocoa flavonols are good for so many things: blood pressure, protection against various elements of cardiovascular disease, mood enhancement, and sex drive. There are numerous foods that help with sex drive and performance so we talked about those too! Not to mention exercises that help. We'll get more into the health benefits of sex next week!
This week I talked about how I went to The Dark Side, and added an antibiotic to my Lyme/Bartonella protocol. I wanted to go after the active organisms that were nagging at me and giving me more tremors. I am continuing to take my Buhner herbs and modified citrus pectin, and added saccharomyces boulardii for extra protection. So far so good! Somewhat less tremors and better mood. I still don't feel done but I understand this is a long haul.
Ron has a cold, and so far I don't! I thought it was timely to discuss how to prevent and treat colds. The usual: rest, nutrition, hydration, Epsom salt baths, herbs and vitamins, neti pot, nasal spray, gargle, the Wet Sock Treatment and throat compress. Do less stuff and take it easy!
This week, I talked about the slug through healing a long term illness and how frustrating it can be. Are my symptoms part of the healing process? Or are they evidence that I'm not doing enough? Should I be doing something else? Should I justg be patient? So hard to know! I talked about the concern with adding antibiotics to a long term tick borne illness protoocol.
We continued with our series on healthy aging, talked about more things that are helpful such as staying active, drinking water, getting proper rest, having a positive attitude. We also discussed the problem with ageism, how there is an excess of it in the United States but not so much in other countries, like Japan, where they have terrific longevity. The most important thing is to have a positive outlook on aging!
This week we talked about how to keep the lymphatics flowing, especially with tick borne illness. Float tanks, epsom salt baths, lemon water, skin brushing, herbs, all great! Also getting back to cardio exercise. Move it! We also talked about a number of supplements that can be helpful for healthy aging. I am particularly impressed with EGCG from green tea which is a great antioxidant, helps with healthy gene expression, may be cancer protective, and improves mitochondrial function, which means it can improve energy. All good stuff!
I'm still dealing with chronic Lyme disease and bartonella. This week we talked about how to handle the dreaded Herxheimer reaction, the symptoms you get while you're killing off Lyme spirochetes, other Lyme forms, and other bacteria. I get these isolated tremors that come and go. We talked about chlorella, other binders like zeolite and activated charcoal, Alka Seltzer Gold, and lemon, lime, and grapefruit! Lots more too. It's a process!
This week we previewed next week's talk, which will be about detoxification, especially as it relates to tick borne illness. We'll review everything from binders to epsom salt baths. Our focus for THIS week was on sarcopenia: muscle loss, especially due to aging. If you want to maintain muscle mass, you've got to move it or lose it! However, ANYONE can increase muscle mass at any age, and there are studies that show that. Retaining muscle mass is a predictor for healthy aging. So eat your protein, get your rest, and GET MOVING!
Today I talked about focusing on treating Lyme disease with herbs using the Buhner protocol. Stephen Buhner was instrumental in elaborating specific herbs that work on different issues with tick borne illness. Some of the herbs support immunity; some are antimicrobial; some are nutritive; some are antioxidant and neuroprotective. These herbs tend not to upset the digestive system the way that antibiotics do. They also tend not to produce or maintain persister cells, that is Lyme cells that are able to evade the immune system using biofilm proteins or round/encysted forms. It takes a lot of herbs but in my experience it's worth doing! We also managed to start next week's topic of sarcopenia, losing muscle mass past age 50. We'll elaborate more on that next week.
This week, I talked about how overdoing caffeine and sugar can be problematic, as it is for me. I explained the mechanism, how the neurotransmitters and the energy-slowing compound adenosine play into the highs and lows of caffeine use. Some people break down caffeine quickly, and don't have a problem. But some break it down slowly and can have a variety of symptoms. If you have autonomic dysfunction, like POTS, it can make the whole thing worse!
Then I moved on to more topics on aging, in honor of my just-passed 60th birthday. Today I focused on bone density and how to healthfully protect yourself from osteoporosis and fractures. Good nutrition and exercise are where it's at!
This week, I talked about my perspective on the Israel/Palestinian conflict, mostly about how our Jewish, Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian friends are struggling right now. The majority of people just want PEACE, and for there to be a solution that stops all the killing and hate. We need NOT to enact anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim/Arab/Palestinian sentiment in this country. We are struggling right now! Then I talked about Hanukkah, the joyous celebration, and why we eat latkes and other oily things. I guess stirfry counts! I finished with reviewing the last bit of information I gleaned at the LymeBytes conference. Conferences are so great; you get so much information but it takes a while to process it all!
This week, I talked about how the best time to go to sleep is when your cortisol is lowest and your melatonin is highest, which for most people is somewhere between 8 and 11 pm, depending on when you get up and your genetics. If you go to bed too late, your cortisol is starting to rise and melatonin is starting to drop and it's harder to fall and stay asleep! I also talked about how collagen and natural anti-inflammatories are beneficial for joint and disc repair. Then I continued to review and give information gleaned from the LymeBytes conference. I'll do that for one more week and then we'll move on!
This week, I finished up some Thanksgiving themes, including why cinnamon is good for you: blood sugar, cholesterol, antioxidant, and antimicrobial! I also talked about the health benefits of gratitude and meditation. These basic practices can do SO MUCH for health, and can be done regardless of your location, life circumstances or finances! They have been studied to help mood, mental illness, cardiovascular disease, and immunity. Adding these practices can help ANY medical and health condition!
This week, I talked about Thanksgiving stuff. This episode is intended to be a companion to shopping, traveling, cooking, and otherwise preparing for Thanksgiving 2023. I talked about the tradition of the Turkey Trot, and specifically the Manchester Road Race, where I will be debuting my Scarlet Witch costume! Gotta get my nails done! I also talked about all the Thanksgiving foods and why they're good for you. A lot of traditional Thanksgiving foods are really healthy! Lots of beta carotene, other carotenoids, anthocyanins and other antioxidants, protein, fiber, and don't have to be terribly high in calories. And they taste good, too!
On Saturday, 11-11-23 I went down to Mystic for the LymeBytes conference. This week, I give an update of some of the things I learned. This week I focused on treating mold intolerance along with tick borne illness. Mold can make it so that the patient doesn't feel like they're getting well, has a lot more fatigue, brain fog, and joint pain than if mold is not so much of a factor. We talked about ways to manage mold: from releasing it from your home, to making the body less hospitable for it, to using antimicrobials to kill it (like oregano, berberines, silver nanoparticles) to using binders to reduce symptoms while it's coming out. It's VERY involved!
This week, I talked about a few things. It was a good week to remind people that while the days are rapidly getting shorter, the loss of minutes is going to slow down at the end of November, and we will STOP losing minutes at the end of the day in early December. We will still lose minutes in the morning until early January, but at least the sunset will stop getting earlier! It's getting darker, and chillier, so I encouraged everyone to lean into the darkness and the Yin time of year. Rest more, do less, create space between your activities, sleep more. And then we talked some more about how to improve sleep, like taking in less caffeine, making sure your room is cool and dark, and taking nervine herbs like chamomile and lemon balm. We moved on to help for fall allergies, because we're moving indoors and encountering more dust and mold, We finished with chewing peppercorns for their terpenes, which can reduce anxiety, including increased anxiety from the THC in cannabis!
This week, I talked about a study that came out suggesting that people with long COVID may have viral remnants, or even actual virus, in their guts, and this is preventing them from making adequate serotonin. Inadequate serotonin leads to mood disorders, poor digestion, pain, migraines, and all sorts of other issues! i suggested some naturopathic fixes for this.
Then we started on weight loss topics. beginning with the nature and effects of weight loss surgery. I'd rather people didn't do it but sometimes it can be a good choice!
This week, I updated on my orthopedic condition and did some show-and-tell of some topical products that are helpful for musculoskeletal issues. I kept the brands out of it but discussed the ingredients! Cooling ingredients like menthol and camphor, soothing ingredients like lavender, tendon and joint balms like arnica, frankincense, myrrh, and even goldenrod! Then, I discussed some less commonly known herbs for Lyme disease. Friday and Saturday, November 10-11 is the LymeBytes conference in Mystic, and I'll be attending the Saturday sessions, so I'm looking forward to learning lots more!
This week I talked a little about the reunion, and updates on my progress with nervous system and orthopedic stuff, which right now are doing OK! Then we talked about some my Bill Gurley the expert, and my favorite supplements, and why. We both like curcumin. He likes tea tree oil and a multivitamin. I also like fish oil, magnesium, and resveratrol. Antioxidants are awesome!
I discussed the health benefits of getting plenty of Vitamin C from food and supplements. Reduced gout, improved collagen, lower blood pressure, better immunity. All terrfic things! And, there is a Gen Z TikTok trend called BED ROTTING. I'm a fan! There are naysayers who say it will prevent people from accomplishing more, but I think the point is that people are already trying to accomplish too much. Hanging out in bed is great for your sanity! Then I got started on a newer-known herb for Lyme and immunity, cryptolepis. More on Lyme herbs next week!
This week I talked about how it's helpful to get away to Florida. We also talked about specific health benefits of both being outdoors and the beach, which are similar. You breathe better, improve neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, have better mood and sleep, and more! We also talked about the heatlh benefits of vitamin D.
Today I updated on how I'm healing and the hypothesis that I have migraines, and some ways to help to prevent them naturally. Riboflavin and magnesium are awesome! I also talked about how Epsom salts can help you, whether in a bath at home or in a float tank. We started talking about the benefits of being outdoors but we'll save that for next show.
This week, I updated once again on my health. My orthopedics are much better, and my nervous system is better since I started treating for…LYME DISEASE. We reviewed what I”m taking, and will review more about Lyme herbs in the coming weeks. Today we talked about things to calm you down. Why meditation is good […]
This week, I updated once again on my health. My orthopedics are much better, and my nervous system is better since I started treating for...LYME DISEASE. We reviewed what I"m taking, and will review more about Lyme herbs in the coming weeks.
Today we talked about things to calm you down. Why meditation is good for you, and also yin yoga, and yoga nidra. And NO, you DON'T need to spend an hour a day doing them. It's better to spend 10 minutes most days doing any practice of stillness than going somewhere to spend an hour at it only occasionally!
This week, I gave more update on my orthopedic and autonomic conditions. Slow going and I am impatient! I want to be back on my bike! This is a long-haul situation, so I just need to be patient.
I talked about various supplements that can be helpful for folks with autoimmune conditions. Curcumin, boswellia, and rosemary, among others, can all be helpful for calming the fire of an overactive immune system. I also talked about the Autoimmune Protocol diet, a healthy, cleansing diet for autoimmune conditions that would really help with any condition at all! Focus, of course, is on whole, unprocessed foods, and avoiding grains, beans, seeds, and anything processed for a period of time. After symptoms have abated, you can try to add back in foods that you miss.
This week we reviewed how my back and disc are steadily improving, and how the nerves seem to be reconnecting. Shout out to all the practitioners whose care and support made it happen!
We talked about some great supplements that help with neuropathy, and how they work. Things like certain B vitamins, fish oil, and lipoic acid. We also talked about other supplements that help to rebuild joints, like glucosamine, chondroitin, and collagen.
This week I gave more updates on my disc, how PT went, and my return of dysautonomia symptoms, which we think might be Lyme disease. We’re going through steps to help with that. Then we talked more about inflammation: great supplements and herbs that can help, and there are a lot of them! From curcumin to rosemary to holy basil to ashwagandha, we’ve got them all!
This week we reviewed how my back and disc are steadily improving, and how the nerves seem to be reconnecting. Shout out to all the practitioners whose care and support made it happen!
We talked about some great supplements that help with neuropathy, and how they work. Things like certain B vitamins, fish oil, and lipoic acid. We also talked about other supplements that help to rebuild joints, like glucosamine, chondroitin, and collagen.
This week I gave more updates on my disc, how PT went, and my return of dysautonomia symptoms, which we think might be Lyme disease. We're going through steps to help with that. Then we talked more about inflammation: great supplements and herbs that can help, and there are a lot of them! From curcumin to rosemary to holy basil to ashwagandha, we've got them all!
This week we updated about my injuries, the bulging disc, femoral nerve impingement, and sprain/strained knee. It’s TIRING. But, onward with rest, PT, walking, swimming, craniosacral therapy, and supplements. I’m going to start Green Lipped Mussel! Anti-inflammatory and helps to rebuild joints! We also updated about COVID-19; at the moment, cases are pretty low in […]
This week we updated about my injuries, the bulging disc, femoral nerve impingement, and sprain/strained knee. It's TIRING. But, onward with rest, PT, walking, swimming, craniosacral therapy, and supplements. I'm going to start Green Lipped Mussel! Anti-inflammatory and helps to rebuild joints! We also updated about COVID-19; at the moment, cases are pretty low in Connecticut but I have some patients who have been exposed or are catching it. I'm seeing some folks wearing masks in public places, I reminded us all about cleaning our noses and throats, good nutrition, rest, exercise, and a few supplements. Then we talked all about anti-inflammatory foods, like berries, cherries, oily fish, and broccoli!
This week, I did an update on more things I learned about herniated discs. Water, rolled up towels, no flexion, keep exercising! It’s all hear. Then we moved on to inflammation: what it is, how to measure it, what are the different tests for it. Next week we’ll talk about how to fix it!
This week, I’m still talking about backs and back pain, and focusing on the herniated disc. There’s still lots you can do short of getting conventional medicine care. Massage, chiropractic, stretches, physical therapy, acupuncture, all kinds of supplements. Float tanks, swimming and other water exercises. And lots of core exercises to prevent it from happening […]
This week, of course, we talked more about spinal stenosis, which I hope I don’t have. I’m guessing I don’t because I did not have nerve symptoms until about 2 weeks ago, so mine is from an acute injury. There’s a lot that you can do shy of getting surgery, which often has a 4-6 week […]
This week, I did an update on more things I learned about herniated discs. Water, rolled up towels, no flexion, keep exercising! It's all hear. Then we moved on to inflammation: what it is, how to measure it, what are the different tests for it. Next week we'll talk about how to fix it!
This week, I'm still talking about backs and back pain, and focusing on the herniated disc. There's still lots you can do short of getting conventional medicine care. Massage, chiropractic, stretches, physical therapy, acupuncture, all kinds of supplements. Float tanks, swimming and other water exercises. And lots of core exercises to prevent it from happening again! Lots of nerve-healing supplements, like B vitamins, acetyl-l-carnitine, and phosphatidylserine. The thing that is the hardest: PATIENCE and time, to do it right, child! (a little Wilburys there)
This week, of course, we talked more about spinal stenosis, which I hope I don't have. I'm guessing I don't because I did not have nerve symptoms until about 2 weeks ago, so mine is from an acute injury. There's a lot that you can do shy of getting surgery, which often has a 4-6 week recovery time and risks. You can stretch, ice, heat, take anti-inflammatory meds, eat an anti-inflammatory diet, do yoga, meditate, do yoga nidra, go to the chiropractor, get massage, acupuncture, and much more! When a nerve is involved IT JUST TAKES TIME. And I am impatient! Who wants to be in pain and laid up? Anyway, I'll do all the things, and report back.
Today we talked about a few supplements for atherosclerosis, then went on to discuss back issues. We're "back" to spinal stenosis, which is what my mom has, and herniated/bulging discs, which is what I have. There's lots you can do shy of surgery. My mom is having minimally invasive injections to her spine; I'm trying to avoid that, and taking supplements like magnesium, curcumin, SPMs, and phosphatidylserine. I'm also having chiropractic and did a float tank, where you lie in a bath with 1100 lb. of Epsom salt and float for an hour! NO PAIN the whole time you're in there! It doesn't fix it immediately but it helps a lot. I also have been doing Yoga Nidra which reduces the pain through stress reduction. I'll keep us posted on all the things I try.
This week, we reminded people to stay hydrated because IT’S HOT OUT THERE. Water, electrolytes, salt, shade, AC, swimming, all good! We moved on to the differential diagnosis of chest pain and how patients are evaluated if they have it. Word to the wise: go straight to the ER. If you’re having a heart attack, […]
This week, I reviewed natural ways to help with high blood pressure. We talked about the controversy over salt, the DASH diet, and a couple of herbs that can help hypertension, amla and hawthorn. It all gets down to eating healthy, getting exercise, and reducing stress!
This week in our series about cardiovascular health, we talked about herbs and foods that can lower blood pressure. A lot of foods have properties that are similar to calcium channel blockers, like the commonly prescribed amlodipine. Magnesium, eugenol from thyme, and celery seed all have constituents that has those properties! Other herbs are diuretic […]
This week I talked about three topics. The first is one especially important to peri- and post-menopausal women, vaginal dryness. There are some simple things you can do to help, and not necessarily hormonal! The second is TICKS. My patients are coming in with tick bites and frank Lyme disease. We discuss how to prevent getting […]
This week, we reminded people to stay hydrated because IT'S HOT OUT THERE. Water, electrolytes, salt, shade, AC, swimming, all good! We moved on to the differential diagnosis of chest pain and how patients are evaluated if they have it. Word to the wise: go straight to the ER. If you're having a heart attack, they are better equipped to treat you if you go to the hospital. It could be just a muscle spasm, but it might be a heart attack or blood clot, which are life threatening. Nobody will think you went unnecessarily! Just go! We then talked about atherosclerosis, what and where it is, and how it's treated conventionally. We'll talk about natural treatments next week.
This week, I reviewed natural ways to help with high blood pressure. We talked about the controversy over salt, the DASH diet, and a couple of herbs that can help hypertension, amla and hawthorn. It all gets down to eating healthy, getting exercise, and reducing stress!
This week in our series about cardiovascular health, we talked about herbs and foods that can lower blood pressure. A lot of foods have properties that are similar to calcium channel blockers, like the commonly prescribed amlodipine. Magnesium, eugenol from thyme, and celery seed all have constituents that has those properties! Other herbs are diuretic or nitric oxide enhancers, and still more reduce inflammation and aid with strengthening blood vessels. They all help!
This week I talked about three topics. The first is one especially important to peri- and post-menopausal women, vaginal dryness. There are some simple things you can do to help, and not necessarily hormonal! The second is TICKS. My patients are coming in with tick bites and frank Lyme disease. We discuss how to prevent getting them on you, how to look for them, and natural tick repellents. The third is a long list of heart healthy foods! Lots of things that you can eat and generally help your heart to be healthier, and some that are actually studied to do great things like lower LDL, increase LDL size, raise HDL, lower triglycerides, improve endothelial function, and lower blood pressure.
This week, I talked about how starch, sugar, saturated and hydrogenated fats affect cholesterol. It's not as simple as you think! Saturated fat is NOT shown to be that bad for cholesterol, and too much starch and sugar are what mostly raise it. Hydrogenated fat too! We help you sort through that. We also talk about two newer cholesterol lowering meds, bempedoic acid and the PCSK-9 inhibitors. Are they any better than statins? Hmmm.
This week I continued on with information about women and cardiovascular health. Lots of risk factors. I also spent some time on how microflora, the bacteria that live in your colon and the rest of your body, are correlated with cardiovascular health. There are certain species that are associated with lower risk, and the biggest thing […]
This week I continued on with information about women and cardiovascular health. Lots of risk factors. I also spent some time on how microflora, the bacteria that live in your colon and the rest of your body, are correlated with cardiovascular health. There are certain species that are associated with lower risk, and the biggest thing is to have colony diversity. Eat organic!
This week, I talked more about cardiovascular health especially as it relates to women. Women can have different symptoms of cardiovascular disease than men, especially if they are having a heart attack. We try to help you understand the signs and symptoms! Lots of herbs for heart health. Also, some other cardiovascular markers.
This week we talked about back pain and spinal stenosis, and especially how helpful getting in the water for this kind of pain and lots of other musculoskeletal pain. I will take a deeper dive into spinal stenosis at a later date.
We also reviewed the last few talks of the Connecticut Naturopathic Physicians Association. MK-4 for osteoporosis, MushWOMB medicine (that's mushrooms for women's health), help for human papillomavirus, and a little about homeopathy! What a great conference! I think we wrapped it up.
This week, we talked some more about the amazing info I got at the CNPA conference. There is so much information it’s going to take at least 3 or 4 shows to fit it all in! Debby Hamilton, M.D. talked about how the pesticide glyphosate can affect young nervous systems, as can electromagnetic fields. There was a great talk about how trauma can be held in our fascia, our connective tissue, and how to release it. Then Myriah Hinchey, N.D., who is expert in tick born illnesses, talked about the similarities between inflammation in COVID-19 and Lyme. Lindsay Wells talked about treating PANS and PANDAS, psychiatric syndromes usually in children that can follow infections with staphylococcus or streptococcal bacteria. More to follow next week!
This week, I am fresh from the 2023 Connecticut Naturopathic Physician’s Association Conference (CNPA). My brain is full and I’m beat! But now I know more and feel inspired, so here’s a little bit of what I learned. It’ll likely take a few shows to get through the information! This week: Todd Borne and allergies; Eugene Zampieron and psoriasis; Peter Bongiorno and mTOR and aging. Plus, MK-4 is the only form of Vitamin K2 studied to both increase bone density and prevent fractures. Thanks, John Neustadt!
This week I continued with my series on cardiovascular health. We explored how statin drugs work to lower cholesterol and how they cause detrimental side effects. We talked about another commonly used drug that also has side effects, ezetimibe. And there’s the somewhat newer PCSK-9 inhibitors, which lower cholesterol by an alternate mechanism. For some people, they have less side effects, but not necessarily. We also began to discuss some of the natural ways to lower cholesterol, and some cholesterol testing besides the common LDL, HDL, and triglyceride testing that can go deeper into helping the decision on whether to medicate.
We talked about how it can be easy to overdo it when the weather gets nice all of a sudden. Make hay while the sun shines, right? We get really industrious and want to take care of our WHOLE yard. Or we go from riding one hour at a time on our indoor bike trainer to riding 62 MILES. And then we wonder why we’re sore all over, hurt our back, or are super exhausted! It’s OK to take it easy and ease into the outdoor joys of the season.
We also continued our series on cardiovascular health. Today we focused on statin drugs: how they work, their side effects, and how to reduce inflammation in other ways. Cardiovascular health is a very rich topic so we’ll be getting into this for a few more weeks!
Last week, I did the ol’ Reach ‘n’ Seize with my low back. You know how you were just fine a minute ago, then you reached for the mayo in the fridge and your back just SEIZED UP and now it hurts to tie your shoes? Well, I did that a week ago, only I was on my bike trainer and reached for the iPad. I was very fortunate to be able to see the chiropractor that day. I talked about what can lead up to that, how to prevent it, and nutrition, exercise, and topicals to use to help it.
We then finally got started on cardiovascular issues, and focused on Apolipoprotein B100. This is an important measure that most doctors don’t do. Specifically, if your doctor is about to order you statins or you’ve already been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, it’s important to know your ApoB100/ApoAOA1 ratio. The ApoB carries LDL, while A carries HDL, which is cardioprotective. If you have high cholesterol but also a low ApoB/A ratio, you have much lower cardiovascular risk! More on cardiovascular issues next week.
This week, we found out that caffeine can increase fat burning! If you don’t get jitters, upset stomach, anxiety, or insomnia from it, it can be your friend. It increases fat burning, can help to prevent diabetes, and improve exercise performance. The trick is to find an amount that you can consume without getting the negative side effects. For some, it just doesn’t work, but if you can safely ingest up to 400 mg/day it can help! We also found a whole bunch off foods that can increase metabolism and help with fat burning. Protein, including fatty fish, beans and other legumes, cayenne pepper, unrefined cocoa, and more!
And today we talked about that EDT thing. Daylight savings time is not that good for you! It’s not good for heart health, work performance, physical performance, or kids in school or elsewhere. There are more work and motor vehicle accidents during the week of Spring Ahead. There have been congressional bills to stop the practice but they have never gone through. Personally, I think it would be best to keep us all at standard time, with more hours of light in the morning, and here’s why. Also, there’s a thing called an Everything Shower. Great idea for self care, and here are other ways you can do similar self care!
BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH! Cuz on this one, you may have allergy symptoms! It was such a mild winter that the trees are starting to bloom. So, we talked all about the early blooming trees, keeping the pollen off your body and out of your nose, and all sorts of remedies to help with seasonal allergies! Quercetin, nettles, eyebright, Vitamin C, you name it!
This week we delved more into the cold and flu season, which is not over, and gave various recommendations for prevention and treatment. This doesn’t get old, because we keep catching these things, COVID or not! One teaser: MUSHROOMS. Eat them! They are great immune boosters.
This week, we talked about our update coming out of COVID-19, and how we might still want to protect ourselves from getting it. People are not as concerned about it as they once were, since more people who get it now how some kind of immunity, whether through vaccination or past infection. But if you DON’T want to catch it because you’re concerned about your health or for someone you care about who you’ll be around, you still may want to protect yourself! Here’s some things to consider.
This week we talked about our FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE with COVID-19. How we think we managed to finally catch it, our symptom course, how we treated it, how we are easing back into our exercise. Hint: you can’t just jump back into your normal exercise routine, and it’s not just because you’ve lost fitness. You have to go SLOWLY and really listen to your body. It’s also a good idea to make sure you don’t have any excessive clotting factors, or at least eat foods and take supplements that aid in blood thinning. It took three years but here we are! I think for most people, unfortunately, it’s just a matter of time.
This week Ron and I commemorated our Valentine’s Day anniversary, and then talked about more health benefits of chocolate. We even talked about the health benefits of vanilla, which are somewhat similar! And who knew that Richard Cadbury, the 19th century English chocolatier, started the tradition of chocolate gifts on Valentine’s Day. He also created the first chocolate that was affordable for the masses! Milton Hershey and Russell Stover followed soon behind. We also touched on some feel-good hormones, like oxytocin and phenylethylamine.
This week we talked about how much SITTING people do, at desks, computers, and on couches. It’s just not good for your cardiovascular health, and it raises your blood sugar. Conversely, if you sit a lot and get up periodically, you can mitigate these effects! A little stretching, exercise, and walking around has been found to DRAMATICALLY decrease the health risks associated with sitting. So walk up the stairs, down the hall, outside, or just get up and stretch!
So, of course, the topic of the week is Seasonal Affective Disorder, since those who suffer, probably are right now. We talked about diagnosis, possible medications, melatonin, exercise, and lightbox therapy. We also talked about embracing the season, like the Danish tradition of Hygge, hunkering down and getting cozy! I’ve been doing plenty of that. We also talked about why it’s important to actually embrace darkness, the ways that it’s good for your health.
We talked about the health benefits of journaling. From organizing your thoughts, to objectively stepping back from things that upset you, to planning for your upcoming life, it can really help with your health! Journaling has been studied to reduce stress. It’s a simple thing to do help with your life!
We also talked about all kinds of ways to reduce stress. Like, journaling! Also, some unsurprising things like deep breathing, yoga, massage, napping, time with pets, cuddling.
This week, after talking about how Ron and I and my friends at the Herd virtual bike club prefer spending New Year’s Eve in jammies with Ryan Seacrest or Miley and Dolly, I talked about SLEEP again. It is so important. I want people to make sure they get good sleep to help their immunity, mental health, exercise performance and even INITIATION, and body composition! And I’m going to order some blue light glasses without magnification for TV watching. I talked about nutrition, blue light, room temperature, and making sure your bed is comfortable!
Today, of course, I talked about New Year’s resolutions, things people can resolve to do but aren’t gargantuan and you don’t feel like you’ve failed at them after two weeks. They are more things that take a little effort once in a while, like volunteering at a food pantry, creating a gratitude journal and writing in it only when you feel like it, and resolving to exercise because it feels good and not because you feel like you have to. Doing bite-sized self-improvement actions can be really helpful! Another one I emphasized is that it’s OK to rest MORE, take some down time and do less stuff. Restoration and rejuvenation are really important this time of year!
I also reviewed the basic principles of fat loss, as I like to do periodically, and people are definitely interested in that this time of year. The most important thing? REST! It lowers cortisol, reducing blood sugar and insulin and making restorative hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone more available. The LEAST? Supplements. Fat loss happens in an enviroment of caloric restriction and hormonal balance. Supplements can only go so far in helping with that; you have to change what you do.
This week we talked about the history of the festival of Hanukkah in honor of the holiday. All about the history of latkes, the miracle of the oil, and how to play dreidl. it’s a fun little celebration, bringing light in the time of darkness!
I went on to talk about getting better sleep, so important this time of year when we feel like catching up on extra. Hint: if you can’t sleep, it’s NOT a good idea to have caffeine! We also discussed the positive effects of getting natural light.
A patient came in recently and talked about how she forgets to drink water, especially this time of year. I reminded everyone how important that is, and encouraged keeping water around, flavoring it, choosing a temperature that works for you, and more. I also reminded people of a few healthy tips for dry hair!
Then we finished the topic of sweeteners, and talked about the health benefits of some natural caloric sweeteners. You still need to keep your added sugar consumption low, but there are actual nutrients in sweeteners like coconut sugar, real maple syrup, raw honey, and blackstrap molasses.
This week I talked about how added sugars can affect your health. Mostly, it’s not good. However, if you ask people to avoid them completely, they usually have difficulty with compliance. So, we talked about how sugar can adversely affect you, what an optimal amount of added sugar looks like, and even some myths around sugar. Then we talked about some healthy natural sugar substitutes. Avoiding them completely is not practical, so here’s some guidance!
This week, I talked about something dear to my heart and very important to a lot of people. Many patients, especially peri- and post-menopausal women, are talking about difficulty in fat loss. The fat hangs out right around their midsection. It’s known as MENOBELLY! I didn’t make that up. It’s because our reduction in estrogen and progesterone reduce activity of fat-consuming enzymes, and we become more sensitive to cortisol. In our stressful lives, we spend too much time in high cortisol, and that adds fat to our midsections! So the short answer is to lower cortisol. One simple way to do that: A PRACTICE OF STILLNESS. That’s any activity that you can do that involves being still and deep breathing! Listen to find out how.
I also talked about some more yummy foods that we eat around Thanksgiving and why they’re good for you: cinnamon, ginger, and pumpkin. Listen and eat up!
This week, of course, had a Thanksgiving theme. I talked about how gratitude is good for you health. It makes you happier, reduces stress and cortisol, and helps you to enjoy your life more in general! Gratitude generates empathy, kindness, and healthy and happy relationships. Appropriate as it’s the theme of the season! I also […]
This week we talked about SUGAR, because the eating season has started! Mmmm, Halloween candy. And now Thanksgiving is upon us and it’s officially the holiday season. Sirius XM already has its holiday channels playing! So, we talked about the pros and cons of sugar. I’ve come to the conclusion that if you deprive people […]
Today we talked about the nice weather and the coming dark. Then we launched into whether the pandemic is really over, and it turns out it’s not a simple answer. The World Health Organization and the CDC don’t announce it. It’s basically over when people start acting like it’s over, whether or not there are […]
The reason I didn’t make a new show last week is because after a busy, somewhat stressful weekend, our septic system backed up! So, because stress reduction and using the bathroom are both definitely naturopathic topics, I discussed our lessons learned and remedies for prevention of septic backup. Hint: 3 and 4 ply, non-biodegradable, fluffy […]
This week it’s Back to the Back. Back pain is so prevalent and it’s such a big topic that I talked about prevention, and also went in depth regarding my ER visit. Yoga, tai chi, planks, core exercises, herbs, diet, REST, all of these are helpful for back pain! I also did a tribute to […]
This week I talked about, surprise, what it was like to experience a hurricane! Being in Florida during a hurricane is not really a vacation. First there’s prep, then there’s anxiously awaiting, then there’s scarily enduring, and then there’s the aftermath. Fortunately, my mom’s house has good construction so we weathered the storm well. No […]
This week, I talked about my connection to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. When I lived in Canada, I was a permanent resident so I was able to get Canadian citizenship after 3 years, so I did! Canada is part of the British commonwealth. That means I willingly became a subject of the Queen, and […]
Today I wrapped up the liver. That sounds odd. But, I’ve been talking about various aspects of this most important organ for a few weeks now. Today I talked about my favorite liver remedies, herbs, exercises, yoga, QiGong, foods, supplements that all support liver health. And I wrapped it up with an appropriate sign-off, Hepatically […]
Today I talked more about liver health, because it’s THAT important. I talked about more foods that are good for liver health, including Prickly Pear! I also talked about some helpful supplements, and yoga poses that are good for the liver. We’ll wrap up the liver next week!
This week we went biliary! Lots of people have gallstones and pain from them, but may not be directed yet to have their gallbladder removed. So, we talk about natural ways to calm gallstone colic and possibly reduce them or allow them to dissolve and pass. Caveat: there is not great scientific support for this […]
This week we spent time on a great question from a listener, Judith. She remarked that a lot of us are having issues with inflation, so how about some information on inexpensive home remedies? It was a great idea and took up the whole show! Things like oats, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, fenugreek seeds, […]
This week we started out by discussing why deep breathing is good for you. There are so many reasons, but the main ones are that you lower cortisol, which in excess is destructive to body tissues, and you increase the amout of oxygen that goes to your brain and all of your organs, causing them […]
This week I talked about a few topics! Not exactly a natural medicine thing, but I talked about how to preserve your fashion hair color if you like to go swimming, and what kind of shampoo to use! I also commended Dylan Dreyer on her piece on the Today Show where she made green pancakes […]
This week I talked all about hydration, because, you know, heat wave. Fruit juice, whether salt is good for you, varying electrolyte drinks, post-workout hydration, aborting cramps. I also talked about the benefits of open-water swimming, obvious thing to do on a hot summer day!
We went to Buttonwood Farms to see the sunflowers, and so I talked about the health benefits of sunflower seeds and oil. They can be made into phosphatides that help with cellular healing, including liver cells and biliary flow. The phosphatides can also help with memory and cognition. I remind you not to eat rancid […]
Today I talked about Healthy Coke, an on-line viral entity that may not be so healthy. It has balsamic vinegar and seltzer, and may not be so good for your teeth, just like regular Coke. So, we talked about ways to save your enamel and help you to have whiter teeth. This includes brushing, other […]
This week it was about less fun but necessary topics. Poison ivy is no fun, super itchy, and can range from annoying to problematic to even dangerous. Here’s some useful tips to deal with it naturally. Of course, if the rash is progressing over your whole body, going into your mouth, throat, nose, eyes, or […]
Today I talked more about yin yoga and how it’s a simple thing that most people can do especially to help improve their back health, Great relaxing and stretching! I also talked about the Bounty of the Season. I started off with eggplant, just because it will be available soon and it’s surprisingly good for […]
Today I talked about Canada Day, since Canada is the first place I practiced naturopathic medicine! Then I moved on to talk about my views on choice in light of the landmark overturning of Roe vs. Wade on Friday, June, 24, 2022. For me, it’s about bodily autonomy and the safety and health of pregnant […]
We had a question about hypersomnia, that is, when you consistently sleep in excess of 9 hours, and you’re still tired. Many conditions cause this, from sleep apnea to hypothyroid to nutrient deficiencies. We tackle them all! Then, we talked in depth about bursitis, a condition that affects nearly 9 million people in the USA. […]
Today we finished up on why some things are bad for your skin, and things to eat to improve your skin. Turns out, those things are good for your general health, and the skin is a window into the rest of your health! Don’t exfoliate too much, drink you water, eat your produce. We also […]
So we started off talking about Convoy Day. And then moved on to something people might REALLY be interested in, more natural skin care! I think the hands, and legs, and feet, and arms down winner is shea butter. It’s anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, moisturizing, imparts moisture without making you greasy, helps with normal cell differentiation, and […]
Last Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22, 2022, was the first LymeBytes conference at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. It was a very informative conference with many speakers and lots of information! I learned about antimicrobials to fight Lyme and other tick borne illnesses. We talked about antibiotics, herbs like cryptolepis and cat’s claw, and how […]
This week I just HAD to talk some more about why nature is good for you! We focused on the health benefits of being in or around water. We also talked about studies on why being in nature in general is good for you. Then on to basically, the only safe sunblockers are the metals, […]
SUNSHINE, MELATONIN, CIRCADIAN CYCLE, MOUNTAINS, PHYTONCIDES, NATURAL KILLER CELLS, PINE, CEDAR, FIR, BIRCH, WOODS, FOREST, OCEAN, BEACH, DESERT, MOLD, FUNGUS, MYCOTOXINS, IMMUNITY This week on Radio Naturopath, I talked about Why Being Outdoors is Good for you. First we discussed the benefits of sunshine, how it helps immunity, hormones, mood, and even FAT LOSS. Who knew??? We also talked about the health benefits of the mountains, forests, and desert. Did you know that […]
Happy Star Wars Day! May the 4th be with you! This week I talked about something that I don’t even know if the 4th can help: respiratory allergies! I’ve been watching Ron sniffle and snort and get headaches and test negative repeatedly for COVID-19. I thought it was time to talk about healthy nasal sprays, […]
This week is for the folks with tender bellies. We reviewed irritable bowel syndrome, which is always worth a discussion. We talked about what it is, how food intolerances are involved, what supplements to take, and of course, the most important item, stress reduction. Stress reduction can really reduce symptoms!
This Wednesday is 4/20/22, so I thought it only fitting to talk about the latest on cannabis! I talked about the history of the use of 4/20. I also talked about the many health benefits of CBD, THC, and CBD’s parent compound, CBG. They all can be helpful for things like anxiety, depression, seizures, pain, […]
Since it’s spring and we’re all trying to eat a little healthier and get more produce in, I talked about how to make it easier to do that. Not everyone digests beans and vegetables well, but there may be some things you can do short of not eating them at all! We talk about easing […]
This week I talked about eating more healthful foods. I started with fermented foods, why they’re good for you, and which ones to try. I then went into how to get more vegetables into your diet, since most people don’t get enough in! I also made suggestions on how to increase protein and healthy fat […]
Today I wrapped up International Women’s Month, talking about what it’s like to be a women in 2022, a woman naturopathic physician, and honored some of the important women in my life. I also talked about spring cleaning and why it’s good for your health, and foods to start eating now that it’s spring. Time […]
It’s still International Women’s Month! This week we talked more about products and activities that can help with women’s health. Herbs for hot flashes, probiotics, estrogen balance, stress reduction. Exercise and healing modalities. And why boron is really good for you! Next week we’ll get into Being a Woman in 2022, and Being a Naturopathic […]
This week we talked about the Know Your Farmer Fair, which is happening this Saturday, March 19 at the Elks Club Lodge, 198 Pleasant St., Willimantic, CT, from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM. It’s a great opportunity to meet with 30 local farmers, sample their wares, and talk directly to the people who grow your food! This […]
This week, it’s March, and Tuesday is International Women’s Day. So I talked about many women who are prominent in medicine, including two of my most admired naturopathic physicians! Clara Barton and Florence Nightingale standing side by side with Tori Hudson and Amy Rothenberg. That’s how it should be! I also talked about may items […]
This week, I talked about cranio-sacral therapy, its origins in osteopathic medicine, how it works, how it’s helpful. A great, non-invasive, relaxing therapy that can benefit most people! ESPECIALLY great for headaches. In advance of International Women’s Month, I talked about one women’s condition, cervical dysplasia and how natural medicine can be helpful. It’s fairly […]
This week it was all about hypertension. How it’s so common, how you can’t tell who’s going to have it, how there’s a big genetic component. There’s foods you can eat, supplements to take, exercise to do. And there’s even herbs and supplements that have similar mechanisms to common hypertension medications! It can be hard […]
This week Ron and I talked about Valentine’s Day and our relationship, since it’s also our anniversary. 17 years and going strong! We also talked about why chocolate is good for you, and how it came to be part of Valentine’s Day. In a word: CADBURY! Richard Cadbury thought up the idea of giving out […]
This week I talked about whether it’s a good idea to deliberately try to contract the Omicron COVID-19 variant. My conclusion, in short, is NO. Czech folk singer Hana Horka, who was unvaccinated, died after contracting the Omicron variant while her husband and son were sick. The bottom line is, you just never know how […]
Today I had a question about the timing of supplements. We talked about how there are certain ones that are taken at certain times for specific purposes, but I don’t like to be too strict about that because it affects compliance. I also talked about red wine and cholesterol; it definitely helps but not necessary […]
Today we talked about the origins of the word Hunkering Down! Who knew it was Scottish for hanging out in a squat? We also talked about some other weather terms, like sheltering in place and riding out the storm. Interesting! We had a listener write in wanting to know if she needed calcium supplements for […]
Today we talked about food! There ARE actually health benefits to eggs, red meat, and red wine, and it looks like saturated fat isn’t really the thing that raises your LDL cholesterol. Naturally, if eggs are free range, if beef is grass fed, if you drink wine in moderation, they are likely good for your […]
We started out talking about how to deal with the cold weather this year! This week’s discussion turned to healthy habits for the new year, mostly diet and exercise. We also talked about the benefits of taking it easy the first two weeks of the year, since we tend to be overwhelmed from the rush […]
This week we started out with a discussion of ALL the chocolate in the house, from the pedestrian to the sublime. We reminded everyone that high cocoa content is healthiest, but it’s OK to indulge in the mundane just for the pleasure of it! The main focus was on hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disorder, […]
This week we talked about mushrooms! We talked about how the legend of Santa Claus is in part brought on by the Amanita Mushroom Shaman of the indigenous people of the Arctic,right down to the red and white dress mimicking the mushroom’s colors, and the big leather boots traditionally worn up there! We talked about […]
This week, we talked about just a few things: Ron had a slip and fall injury about two years ago, hit his head, his right shoulder blade, and maybe more. He got checked out at the ER to see if he had a concussion and they sent him home. He hasn’t been getting regular care […]
Today we played Ask Dr. Fran! Ron asked me five questions: 1. What is alkaline water? 2. Is cactus water good for you? 3. Will I ever get off these beta blockers? 4. Why do statins make me sore? 5. Is meat REALLY bad for cardiovascular disease? For answers to these important questions and more, […]
This week, we did Part 2 of the highlights of the 2021 NHAND conference. We talked about natural help for viruses and summarized a talk about one doctor’s use of natural medicine for COVID-19; about why fitness is important for seniors; about brain fog; and about hiatal hernias. We also filled in with a few […]
This week, I did a highlight episode for the New Hampshire Association of Naturopathic Doctors convention. There was so much great information that I have to do a Part 1 and Part 2! This week, the topics were about new drugs for Type 2 diabetes; herbs for anxiety, sleep, and relaxation; the reproductive microbiome, beneficial […]
This week I started with a caveat about COVID-19, as I had two virtual visits with patients with acute cases of COVID-19. They were both vaccinated. I mentioned that if you’re eligible, it’s a good idea to get the booster, since it appears that immunity is waning from earlier this year and people are tending […]
This week I talked about nutrition and immunity. There are so many great natural foods that we can eat that have constituents that support our immunity in so many ways. Some of them compete for receptor sites and protect cells against invasion from viruses. Others have antioxidants that protect from damage from cells. Others have […]
This week, I had a question from a listener about whether it’s better to soak nuts before eating. The answer: Ideally, yes, but it’s better to eat un-soaked nuts than not at all, unless you have a sensitivity to them. I don’t like to make it harder for patients to eat healthy foods if they’re […]
This week I talked about fats. Essential fatty acids, saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsatured, medium chain triglycerides. Certain fats are really good for your health, and certain fats really aren’t. You need to eat healthy fats for cellular and body structure and to prevent inflammation. We talk about the different kinds of fats and where they’re found […]
This week I talked about blood sugar. A listener wanted to know about the best for of chromium to use, so I compared chromium picolinate to GTF chromium, which is polynicotinate. I also talked about a number of supplements that can be helpful in regulating blood sugar, such as berberines, cinnamon, gymnema, probiotics, and more!
This week, I talked about migraines, how they happen, what meds get used, how to help to prevent them and how natural medicine and lifestyle fits in. I’m so lucky, I had an ocular migraine that sent me to the ER thinking I had a stroke! But I didn’t, I got diagnosed with ocular migraine. […]
This week I was on my own, and I focused on osteoporosis. I talked about what it is, incidence, prevalence and treatments. I talked about the different pharmaceuticals that are used to help it and how they work. I also talked a lot about lifestyle, especially exercise, diet, and supplements that can be helpful. It’s […]
I took a chance and discussed the drug ivermectin, which people are obtaining out of desperation any way that they can for COVID-19. This is very concerning, because ivermectin has not been proven to be efficacious at preventing or treating COVID-19. It also has toxic side effects, and when people are obtaining it without a […]
This week we talked about the benefits of nasal rinses, such as neti pots and nasal sprays with salt and xylitol. These can be helpful in preventing and treating respiratory infections. Although they are not strictly proven, it does make sense to have good respiratory hygiene. I think it’s a useful practice during the pandemic. […]
This week I talked about the Novavax vaccine, a new vaccine for COVID-19 that is in its final stages of study before receiving emergency use authorization. It may be more palatable to many people because it doesn’t use mRNA or DNA technology, just purified spike protein and a plant immune adjuvant. It may be available […]
This week, I did a review of Lyme disease recommendations for prevention and treatment. I’ve been seeing more people with Lyme disease lately, and lots of people getting tick bites or pulling them off animals. We’ve had a lot of rain and dampness and that’s an ideal breeding ground for ticks. With such an extreme […]
This week, I talked about mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic for workplaces. Currently due to the sharp increase in cases across the country, indoor mask mandates are being reinstituted. I got asked what if someone is vaccine hesitant and there is a mandate at their place of business. I talked about how it is […]
Today I discussed ways to make organic produce more cost effective: things such as buying local, frozen, store brands, and more. I also talked about choosing organic produce that is more likely to have significant amounts of pesticides if not organic, and buy non-organic for items with heavy skins and peels, as recommended by the […]
This week, I showcased our wonderful farmer’s markets an CSAs. I talked about the benefits of them, the quality of the organic produce, the reduced effect on the environment, and the benefits to the community. I also talked about health reasons why their produce is so good for us, and an aside on the great […]
I started with a serious reminder that the pandemic is not over. People of the United States are only 47% fully vaccinated, and there are hot spots in areas where people are largely unvaccinated. It’s still a good idea to avoid congregate setting when you can, mask when you can’t, and if you go to […]
This week, I talked about a subject dear to my heart, and to heated folks everywhere: SWEAT. We discussed why it’s good to sweat, how it helps with detoxification, how it cools you down, why it stinks, and help for making it stink less. We also talked about hyperhidrosis, that condition where you sweat too […]
I was curious to see what the COVID-19 vaccination rate and also the absolute number of vaccinated people ranked by state in the United States. Unfortunately, the states with the lowest rates are in the south, Missippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Wyoming, and Louisiana at the bottom 5. This may be due to access, education, politics, and […]
This week we have more discussion of cardiovascular health. We touch on how statins actually help to lower cardiovascular risk, but also the problems associated with them. We also suggest ways to mitigate these problems. We talk about supplements that help with healthy blood vessels and to keep plaque at bay. We also list some […]
This week, we talk to Ron at length about his progress, just one month past his coronary artery bypass graft surgery. We specifically ask him about his healing scars, healing bones, how he’s doing with exercise, meds, and most importantly, his mental state. People who have undergone cardiac surgery can go through many varied feelings […]
This week we continued the discussion about cardiovascular health, and checked in with Ron about his healing process. He is getting along great! However, the metoprolol is making him very sleepy, even though it’s allowing him a good rest. This week we talked about the various things that can present with chest pain, from as […]
We talked about Ron’s experience of chest discomfort and shortness of breath during exertion, and how that led us to have him go to first his primary care physician, then the walk-in, and then finally consult with cardiology. It turns out this healthy fit guy had cardiovascular disease! It was pretty severe, and he had […]
ASTHMA, COVID-19, MASKS, CINCO DE MAYO, CDC, GARLIC, FISH OIL, VITAMIN C, KHELLA, GRINDELIA, ELECAMPANE, GOLDENROD
Today I did a short history of Cinco de Mayo, which is NOT Mexican Independence Day, but a celebration of the triumph of the Mexicans over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Still a good excuse to celebrate our Mexican-American friends, and eat tacos, burritos, enchiladas, nachos, and raise a Margarita!
I reviewed the new CDC recommendations about the safety of various activities with or without a mask and whether or not you’re vaccinated. The bottom line is, if you have to get near anyone for whom you don’t know their vaccination status, wear a mask. The pandemic is not over yet.
I talked some more about asthma as I didn’t get to all my information last week. Next week: specifics on exercise-induced asthma!
Radio Naturopath Episode 302: More on J&J Vaccine, CBD for Health, and Natural Help for AsthmaFran Storch and Ron Manizza
This week we talked about how the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 is still very low risk compared to the risk of catching COVID-19. Having said that, if you’re a woman under 50 it’s probably a good idea to take the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, since they have no incidence of unusual blood clots. If you have gotten Johnson and Johnson, let your doctor know immediately if you have any unusual symptoms, especially severe headaches with blurred vision, seizures, loss of consciousness; or any severe unremitting abdominal pain. If this occurs it will likely be in the 2 weeks following vaccination. As I said, this is VERY unlikely to occur, and you’re much more likely to get a blood clot sitting still on an airplane trip.
We covered more about the various benefits of CBD, such as help for pain, anxiety, depression, and inflammtion. We also talked about natural help for asthma, and will discuss this and exercise induced asthma next week too!
This week I talked about the blood clotting situation with the Johnson & Johnson and Astra-Zeneca COVID-19 vaccinations. In the US, the J&J vaccination administration has been put on pause until the government knows who can safely take this vaccine. It’s because of an exceedingly rare, but often deadly condition involving platelet factor 4 complexes, antibodies, and blood clots to the brain and gut that uses up platelets and increases bleeding likelihood. The likelihood of getting these rare disorders from these vaccines is astronomically lower than getting these conditions from actually having COVID-19. Having said that, YOU don’t want to be the one to have this condition, so the CDC is figuring out who has the most likelihood of getting these disorders and will recommend that those folks take Pfizer or Moderna instead, which are not showing these side effects. it’s problematic because these single-dose, easliy refrigerated vaccines are the answer for disadvantages populations here and abroad. It’s likely that they’ll be re-approved for specific populations.
Tuesday, April 20 is Weed Day! It’s the day to celebrate cannabis. We talk a little bit about access and health benefits.
In our continuing quest to inform about exercise, we talked about how high intensity interval training can be helpful. It can increase fat burning during and after exercise, improve insulin sensitivity, lower blood sugar, increase muscle mass, and burn visceral fat. It doesn’t have to take a long time, so it’s very effiicent! Anyone can do it if they find an intensity level that works for them.
The pollen is flying, so we did a review of respiratory allergies and how to help them. It’s time for neti-pots, salt water, bioflavonoids, nettles, and lots of other natural help. Next (live) week we’ll talk about asthma!
This week, we had a question about potassium sorbate effecting gut flora, and it was a great question because additives and preservatives CAN affect gut flora. Cutting out processed food can help your digestion!
We went on to talk about food tracking, how services like MyFitnessPal, LoseIt, and Fooducate can all help with weight loss. We compared WW and Noom as weight loss strategies, and were reminded by a woman listener that hormones are important too and Metabolic Renewal worked for her.
We talked about a general period for exercise that can be helpful for most people. Then we discussed tabatas, what they are and how they can help your fitness.
Today we welcomed in Spring and encouraged people to enjoy it.
It’s still Women’s History Month, so today we honored a former teacher and researcher in naturopathic medicine, Anna MacIntosh, Ph.D., N.D. There is a research scholarship named for her. She managed to make physiology, nutrition, and biochemistry interesting and fun!
I also honored Mayim Bialik. Ph.D., who has a great podcast, Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, in which she discussed mental health and some neuroscience, which is her background.
The main topic of the day: getting better sleep during the pandemic! Stressors of all kinds are high right now, and that leads to issues that affect sleep. We talk about some healthy habits that can help you to sleep better despite the pandemic.
Today we talked about the origin of St. Patrick’s Day. Apparently, good ol’ Maewyn did NOT physically chase the snakes OR the pagans out of Ireland, but he DID promote and spread the practice of Christianity there. But he wasn’t born in Ireland, likely in Wales or Scotland, to a Briton of Roman descent! Who knew. In the US, anywhere where there’s lots of Irish (I’m looking at you, Boston, MA) there’s a lot of drinkin’, partyin’, and the wearin’ o’ the green. In Chicago they dye the Chicago River green, and in New York and lots of other places they have a parade. Everyone is Irish for a day! Many pagans believe that St. Patrick at least sought to replace paganism with Christianity, so don’t observe or wear snake jewelry for the day.
In continued celebration of International Women’s Month, we profiled another celebrated naturopathic physician, Lise Alschuler, N.D. She is the premier woman naturopathic oncologist in the world!
We got out a protein calculator and figured out that a lot of folks, likely peri- and post-menopausal women, don’t eat enough protein, and that may be why they’re getting symptoms! Lots of women, especially in this age category, don’t eat enough protein, which would likely help them with fat loss. So I recommending mixing animal and vegetable sources to get the right amount of protein. One way to do this is with protein shakes. If you’re not dairy intolerant, the best one is whey, but if you are, we discussed alternatives, both animal and vegetable.