Radio Naturopath Episode 446: Natural Help for Sprain/Strain, GABA, the Microbiome, and Sleep

This week, I talked about my knee injury! There are great natural ways to help with knee pain, as long as the injury isn't TOO severe. I had marked knee pain for a few days that rapidly improved with the right care! Rest, ice, compression, elevation. Helpful salves. Chiropractic and acupuncture. Kinesio tape! PT exercises. All good stuff! Also, it's strawberry season, and the first strawberries have come out. Here's why they're good for you! We finished with starting to review one more talk from the CNPA summit, about GABA, the microbiome, and sleep. Did you know that Camden, NJ and Detroit, MI are the worst places to try to get enough sleep? I wonder how that compares to East Windsor, NJ, where I grew up??? 

Radio Naturopath Episode 391: Back Pain: The Ol' Reach 'n' Seize; ApoB100 and Cardiovascular Health

Last week, I did the ol' Reach 'n' Seize with my low back. You know how you were just fine a minute ago, then you reached for the mayo in the fridge and your back just SEIZED UP and now it hurts to tie your shoes? Well, I did that a week ago, only I was on my bike trainer and reached for the iPad. I was very fortunate to be able to see the chiropractor that day. I talked about what can lead up to that, how to prevent it, and nutrition, exercise, and topicals to use to help it. 

We then finally got started on cardiovascular issues, and focused on Apolipoprotein B100. This is an important measure that most doctors don't do. Specifically, if your doctor is about to order you statins or you've already been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, it's important to know your ApoB100/ApoAOA1 ratio. The ApoB carries LDL, while A carries HDL, which is cardioprotective. If you have high cholesterol but also a low ApoB/A ratio, you have much lower cardiovascular risk! More on cardiovascular issues next week.

Radio Naturopath Episode 347: Happy 4/20! All About Cannabis, Marijuana, CBD, THC for Health

This Wednesday is 4/20/22, so I thought it only fitting to talk about the latest on cannabis! I talked about the history of the use of 4/20. I also talked about the many health benefits of CBD, THC, and CBD's parent compound, CBG. They all can be helpful for things like anxiety, depression, seizures, pain, insomnia, cancer treatment, high blood pressure, and more! I talked about some health caveats and drug interaction issues. I also talked about the status of legalization in Connecticut.

Radio Naturopath Episode 301: Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine and Blood Clots, Happy Cannabis Day!

This week I talked about the blood clotting situation with the Johnson & Johnson and Astra-Zeneca COVID-19 vaccinations. In the US, the J&J vaccination administration has been put on pause until the government knows who can safely take this vaccine. It's because of an exceedingly rare, but often deadly condition involving platelet factor 4 complexes, antibodies, and blood clots to the brain and gut that uses up platelets and increases bleeding likelihood. The likelihood of getting these rare disorders from these vaccines is astronomically lower than getting these conditions from actually having COVID-19. Having said that, YOU don't want to be the one to have this condition, so the CDC is figuring out who has the most likelihood of getting these disorders and will recommend that those folks take Pfizer or Moderna instead, which are not showing these side effects. it's problematic because these single-dose, easliy refrigerated vaccines are the answer for disadvantages populations here and abroad. It's likely that they'll be re-approved for specific populations.

Tuesday, April 20 is Weed Day! It's the day to celebrate cannabis. We talk a little bit about access and health benefits.

Radio Naturopath Episode 252: Happy 4/20! Cannabis, Coronavirus, Inflammation; Obesity in the USA

Well, TODAY is 4/20/20, so we thought we'd talk about CHOCOLATE. No, I'm kidding, of course it's Cannabis Day in the USA! So we talked about the benefits of CBD for pain and inflammation, and that it possibly calm the inflammation of the coronavirus. It also can help with anxiety during the pandemic. We also discussed weight during the pandemic, some suggestions to ease it, and the fact that we're up to 42% obesity in the USA.

Radio Naturopath Episode 227: CBD: Benefits and Caveats; How to Treat Athlete's Foot and Other Fungus

Today we checked in with Ron who is mostly well, and is trying to dial in his thyroid dose. We are still waiting to see if his thyroiditis was chronic, genetic and set off by the Lyme, or if it was an acute thyroiditis caused by the Lyme which will ultimately resolve. We'll only know if his thyroid medicine dose gradually appears to be too much, and we'll dial it back.

CBD is continuing to impress me! I am sleeping better, feeling cheerier, and feeling better during exercise. We also had a caller who wanted us to discuss the caveats of cannabis, so we did: genetically it may not be for you, and any substance you use can be problematic if it doesn't work for you. I also talked about candida, athlete's foot and toenail fungus, how it occurs and how to treat it.

Radio Naturopath Episode 226: Vegan Burger Ingredients; CBD for Athletic Performance; Gummy Nutrition!

Today I found out that Whole Foods CEO John Mackey is not a huge fan of pseudo-meat products. There were some ingredients of vegan "hamburgers", and some are better than others. They might have beans and vegetables, or they may have refined coconut oil and GMO canola oil. If you're vegan, probably better to make your own, or get a brand with really clean ingredients! (Do you have a fave?)

Also talked about CBD (cannabidiol) for athletic peformance. Floyd's of Leadville was at the Farm to Fork Fondo PA Dutch and they're marketing all sorts of products for athletes. I think CBD is helping me to be less anxious and more present! Good ol' Cannabis. They often come in GUMMIES, so I discuss the pros and cons of getting your nutrition in a gummy. (TBH I like it!)

Radio Naturopath Episode 207: Alternative Medicine and Thinking Beyond Opioids

On March 6, 2019, I had the privilege of speaking on a panel at Eastern Connecticut State University called A Wellness Approach to Pain: Thinking Beyond Opioids. I talked about some statistics on opioid use and abuse in the US. I mentioned how naturopathic principles can help with chronic pain. Then I talked about how NSAIDS and acetaminophen are actually more effective than opioids, although problematic. I talked about the effectiveness of physical medicine, like acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, and chiropractic, and how those things are not readily accessible due to doctor and patient attitude, poor insurance coverage, and high cost. I talked about how certain supplements, stress reduction, and diet change can all help with chronic pain. And I presented that if people in general had easy, regular, affordable access to physical medicine, it would go a long way to reversing the opioid crisis.