Pine Bark for Blood Vessels Big and Small, Part 1 of 2
A natural solution for high blood pressure, hemorrhoids, and varicose veins At first glance, the ailments of high blood pressure, hemorrhoids, and varicose veins seem to have little in common. As any holistically trained healthcare provider knows, however, these conditions all share one common cause: poor vascular health. Also known as the circulatory system,…
Botanicals for Asthma and Lung Health
Herbal tools to help you beat asthma and lung infections As we’ve learned all too well recently, we can’t take lung health for granted. Severe respiratory infections are on the rise, in addition to the chronic burdens of asthma, allergies, and air pollution.[1],[2] On top of that, many of us are experiencing smoke and…
Natural Support for the Fight Against Infections
Andrographis, cat’s claw, humic acid, and monolaurin In 2020 we became all too aware of how infectious disease seriously threatens the health of people worldwide. Fortunately, there is ongoing investigation of nutrients, herbs, and other natural substances that may help fight common injurious microbes, especially when conventional medicine fails to deliver.[1] In today’s post…
Chios Mastiha: Prized by the Greeks Since Antiquity, and We Now Know Why
Research suggests Chios mastic gum may be a solution for difficult-to-treat gastrointestinal disease and metabolic syndrome In the U.S., all too often, major players in the botanical world that are native to other countries and regions are easily overlooked. Not surprisingly, we tend to learn the most about botanicals that are right in front…
The Tradition of Chios Mastiha
The intangible cultural heritage of Chios mastiha (mastic) gum production Oftentimes, we take our nutritional supplements without so much as a thought to how they happen to come to the powder that fills the capsule. Others of us, who also probably are mesmerized by television shows like “How It’s Made,” the Discovery channel documentary…
Whole Herb vs. Standardized Extracts vs. Isolated Bioactive Constituents
When using botanical medicine, which is best? It often seems that dietary supplements come with endless array of options, particularly in an online world where one can find hundreds of choices with a seemingly simple search term such as “probiotics.” Similarly, with vitamins and minerals, we are offered so many forms – not only…
Mood and Performance Optimization with Rhodiola and Saffron
Rhodiola and/or saffron may be just what you need to enhance mood, energy, and sexual function As the summer dwindles and darkness approaches, many of us are looking for things to help sustain us through the darker days and cooler weather. Whether we struggle with energy, mood, or simply just a lack of outdoor…
Candida Overgrowth – Herbal Medicine to the Rescue!
A Naturopathic Doctor’s Approach Most integrative medicine physicians who have been in clinical practice for a number of years will inevitably encounter a multitude of patients who have had their health negatively impacted by some form of Candida spp. infection. Fungal infections are estimated to occur in several million people each year, and recent…
Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
The link between sleep deficiency, metabolism, and weight gain Good nutrition, adequate exercise, and sufficient sleep are all essential for health and happiness. And yet many of us find it difficult to get enough sleep. Experts recommend that adults obtain at least seven hours of nightly sleep on a regular basis.[1],[2] In a U.S….
Finding Heart Health in Fruit Extracts
Apples, pomegranates, and Bergamot citrus for cardiovascular health “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” my nephew sings before biting into the honey crisp he’s holding. “But…” he thinks as he chews and then clarifies to me, his doctor-auntie, “I don’t want you to go away.” Where did he learn the saying about…
Eat Your Antioxidants, My Dear
The healthy person’s guide to fruits and vegetables If you ask the typical American how many servings of vegetables they eat per day, they’ll likely answer, “Not enough.” And they’re right; most of us aren’t getting enough of our plant-based foods or the nutrients they contain. In their 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, theUnited States…
Fighting Fatty Liver, Part 2 of 2
Clinically studied botanicals and nutrients for the treatment of fatty liver disease As discussed in Fighting Fatty Liver, Part 1 of 2, the progression of NAFLD is influenced by insulin resistance, fat accumulation in the liver, intestinal imbalance, and inflammation/oxidative stress. Strategies to prevent and resolve NAFLD must therefore not only target the liver,…
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