Lyme Disease and Biofilm
A cause of persistent infections Tick-borne diseases pose a significant threat to human health, with the number of cases rising threefold in the U.S. in recent years.[1] The most common tick-borne illness is Lyme disease. According to a recent estimate, approximately 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year.[2] Lyme disease…
What is Bowel Tolerance?
A guide to dosing vitamin C, magnesium, and other nutrients We often talk about taking vitamin C and magnesium to “bowel tolerance” – but what does that mean? Dosing a supplement to bowel tolerance means taking the highest dose of that supplement possible without causing loose, watery stools (diarrhea).[1] If you’re taking vitamin C…
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…
Ways to Ease Inflammation and Depression
Smart lifestyle choices for a happy brain and healthy mood In last week’s post we explored the ways in which inflammation can cause depression. The science shows that we cannot blame genetics alone for depression. That’s a good thing: it means there is a lot we can do to heal our brains. Here are…
Inflammation Drives Depression
Move over serotonin, inflammation is the new target of depression treatment Is inflammation a bad thing? Not necessarily: Inflammation helps the cells of the immune system fight infections and repair injuries. Like many things, however, the key to inflammation is balance – not too much, and not too little. Too little inflammation allows infections…
Niacin for Alcoholism
What vitamin B3 has to do with addiction Taking a vitamin B3 (niacin) supplement may help treat alcohol use disorder and ease the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol use disorder (AUD, or alcoholism) is a medical condition in which it is very difficult to control one’s alcohol use – even in the face of…
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…
Enhancing Immunity with Glandulars
“Beasty bits” for autoimmunity, cancer recovery, and more The phrase “natural immune support” typically calls to mind vegetables, botanicals, probiotics, and fungi, but immune-enhancing therapies also come to us from the animal kingdom. While the meat of animals is rich in iron, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and protein,[1],[2],[3] the glands of these creatures may…
A Deep-Sea Remedy for Stress Relief
The fish extract that combats anxiety “What would I give, if I could live out of these waters?” So begins the lament of the mermaid princess Ariel, who dreams of someday living on land and “strolling along on the – what’s that word again? – street.” Clearly, nobody has told The Little Mermaid protagonist…
Easing Pain, Naturally
Drug-free, natural remedies for pain Just about nobody likes to be in pain. That may be why there are so many drugs out there nowadays that effectively treat it, and why we so consistently seek them out. While synthetic analgesics like opioids, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen can be effective in quieting pain, these drugs also…
The Truth About Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Are vegetarians and vegans really at risk? Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is receiving much attention these days. Vitamin B12 is one of the B vitamins implicated in brain and heart health, and it is one of the vitamins most likely to be deficient in the diets of vegetarians and vegans.[1] The consequences of vitamin B12…
How Vitamin C Can Kick Addiction
The versatile vitamin’s mechanisms of action This article serves as Part 3 in our series on vitamin C, pain, and opioid use disorder. Check out Part 1 to learn about the vitamin’s use in the management of pain. In Part 2 we dive into its potential for easing opioid withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings….
Subscribe for Updates
Get a FREE Downloadable Stress Support Guide
Categories
- Botanicals (56)
- GI Health (53)
- Healthy Aging (121)
- Immune Support (39)
- In The News (39)
- Kids Health (21)
- Stress and Relaxation (50)
- Uncategorized (1)
- Video (9)
- Vitamins & Minerals (51)
Recent Posts
Latest Issue of FOCUS Newsletter Available Now!
