How to Reduce Stress and How it Affects Our Health
What Causes Stress Whether physical, mental, or emotional, stress stimulates a biological response that creates a chemical and hormonal surge throughout the body.[1] This response, known as the activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), allows us to deal with the stressor by generating more strength to fight it or better cardiovascular output to…
A Resinous Extract For Liver Health and Repair
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has quickly become the leading cause of liver disease in the Western world.[1] The current recommendations upon first diagnosis of NAFLD are diet and lifestyle management. While these are certainly the most important places to start, as a clinician, I find these recommendations to be difficult for some of…
Niacin and Hyperlipidemia: Which Form is Best?
Niacin therapy has long been recognized as a treatment option in addressing hyperlipidemia.[1],[2] Niacin is inexpensive and therapeutically comparable with statin drugs in cases of hyperlipidemia.[3],[4] However, not all niacin forms are biological equivalents.[5] Care should be taken when choosing niacin preparations for patients to ensure efficacy, tolerance, and safety, depending on the therapeutic…
Herbal Approaches to Low Libido in Menopause
Menopause is associated with many often-lamented symptoms that can have drastic effects on a woman’s comfort, happiness, and daily life activities. Hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings are commonly discussed because of their prevalence (up to 80% of women experience hot flashes during menopause[i]). Though less often discussed, low sexual desire is another…
Calming Cortisol with Botanicals
Cortisol is our body’s predominant stress hormone.[1] Think of it as our built-in alarm system that lets our body know when potential dangers arise and then equips us to deal with them. Under stress, cortisol puts us on high alert in case of impending danger. It increases our blood pressure, elevates our blood sugar,…
Clinical Approaches to Herxheimer Reactions
Lyme disease is one of the fastest growing insect-borne infectious diseases in the United States. [1] The majority of infections occur following a bite from a deer tick carrying Borrelia burgdorferi, or one of its subspecies. Acute Lyme disease is often treated relatively easily when caught early, but newer research suggests that Lyme disease…
Lactobacillus plantarum DR7: A Probiotic For Stress Relief
When I was a young athlete, I would get sick to my stomach before every big game, race, or match. The stress I felt always manifested in my gut. Many people experience feelings of a “nervous stomach” because our brain and our gut are so intricately intertwined. Sayings like “trust your gut”, “feel it…
