Month: July 2018
Stimulants and Sedatives: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Stimulants and sedatives, they are a push-pull solution to our stress-packed world that are nothing but trouble. In our go-go-go world, we see not only our patients but also ourselves at times drawn to substances that serve as stimulants to keep us going, and sedatives to help us relax. WhetherRead
Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 in Pregnancy on Postpartum Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety
Growing evidence about the microbiome and gut brain axis suggests that taking specific strains of probiotics may be an important aspect of mental health, and more specifically postpartum depression, which affects 10-15% of women. In this study, published by EBioMedicine, a LANCET publication, researchers studied the effects of probiotics supplementationRead
Microbiota-Mediated Regulation of the Immune System in a Prenatal Immune Activation Model of Autism
In what is being described as cutting-edge research, published in the Journal of Immunology, scientists from the University of Virginia School of Medicine suggest that a mother’s microbiome during pregnancy plays a critical role in determining the child’s risk of developing autism-spectrum disorders. The study raises the possibility that autismRead
Genetic Screening Predicts Osteoporosis Fracture Risk Prior to Symptoms
Could you predict a patient’s risk of osteoporosis as early as age 20? A new genetic screening test may be able to predict low bone-mineral density, osteoporosis and fracture risk well prior to clinical symptoms. A study of nearly 400,000 people by Stuart Kim, PhD researcher at Stanford University School ofRead
Dr. Geo Espinosa: Vitamin D for Longevity and Reducing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
This recent study, published in the British Journal of Urology, shows low vitamin D levels are associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men, especially during the winter. The following is an excerpt of a blog on the subject by contributor, Geo Espinosa, ND. STUDY DETAILS 457 patients participated in aRead
Early Lab Study: Hemp Shows Therapeutic Potential for Reducing Ovarian Cancer Risk
Could non-psychoactive hemp be a viable use to reduce ovarian cancer risk? As we learn more about the bioactives in hemp, the possibility becomes ever real. At the 2018 annual Experimental Biology meeting in San Diego, graduate students, Sara Biela and Chase Turner, presented the first study to examine hemp andRead
The American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Food Additives and Children’s Health
On July 19, 2018, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a policy statement on and technical report on the dangers of direct and indirect food additives on children’s health. The following is an press release on the report with access to the full report at the end of thisRead
Beyond CBD: Exploring the Endocannabinoid System in Health and Disease, with Carl Germano PhD
Eureka! We’ve been on the search and finally found a refreshingly honest interview on the subject of the endocannabinoid system and the use of cannabidiol in clinical practice. Not surprisingly, it came from Carl Germano, PhD, RD, CNS, CDN. Germano has been in private practice in integrative and nutritional therapiesRead
The Day the Coffee Doesn’t Do It…Stress-balancing Action of Adaptogens
We’ve all been there at least once. Whether it be a list of deadlines, a high-stakes presentation the next day, early morning travel, or a crying infant keeping you awake all night, we all have those 24 hours when our sleep is absolutely shot, and yet we have to makeRead
Alkaloids from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Evodia rutaecarpa, May Cause Cardiac Arrhythmia
A medicinal plant frequently used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Evodia rutaecarpa, contains substances that can cause cardiac arrhythmia, according to researchers from the Universities of Basel, Vienna and Utrecht. The research was published in Pharmacological Research. Extracts of the plant Evodia rutaecarpa are used in TCM for a varietyRead
