Meet your new best friend – your vagus nerve.
Through simple biohacks, we can use our bodies to affect our mood, focus, and productivity.
In this video, naturopathic physician Dr. Erica Zelfand introduces the vagus nerve – a nerve that travels from the head to the throat, heart, lungs, kidneys, digestive tract, and even our sex organs. In each of these locations on its way through our body, it plays an important role in balancing the fight-or-flight and rest-and-digest branches of the autonomic nervous system. She then introduces the concepts of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and polyvagal theory in a fun and easy-to-follow way. Dr. Zelfand also offers guidelines on how to use body-based activities like diaphragmatic breathing, laughter, alcohol cessation, and forest bathing to cultivate a calmer, happier, more focused version of yourself.
Vitamin C for Opioid Addiction
What we know about ascorbate for withdrawal and cravings Part 2 in our three-part series on vitamin C, pain, and opioid use disorder. I first heard that vitamin C could help with opioid use disorder when I was asked to write an article on vitamin C, mood, and addiction for Nutrition in Focus. The…
Alcohol and Tylenol Can Be a Deadly Combination
Why taking acetaminophen (paracetamol) for a hangover is a dangerous idea. The over-the-counter pain medication acetaminophen is a surprisingly controversial drug. Sold under the brand name Tylenol in North America and known as paracetamol in other countries, acetaminophen can be taxing to the liver. Acetaminophen is the number one cause of acute liver failure…
Reflux Remedies
Soothing heartburn naturally In last week’s post we described the real cause of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and explored why conventional strategies for managing the condition can come with negative health risks over time. Today we’ll take a look at some simple, natural, remedies for alleviating reflux at its root cause, primarily by (1)…
