Radio Naturopath Episode 432: Lyme/Bartonella and Antibiotics, Natural Help for That Winter Cold

This week I talked about how I went to The Dark Side, and added an antibiotic to my Lyme/Bartonella protocol. I wanted to go after the active organisms that were nagging at me and giving me more tremors. I am continuing to take my Buhner herbs and modified citrus pectin, and added saccharomyces boulardii for extra protection. So far so good! Somewhat less tremors and better mood. I still don't feel done but I understand this is a long haul. 

Ron has a cold, and so far I don't! I thought it was timely to discuss how to prevent and treat colds. The usual: rest, nutrition, hydration, Epsom salt baths, herbs and vitamins, neti pot, nasal spray, gargle, the Wet Sock Treatment and throat compress. Do less stuff and take it easy!

Radio Naturopath Episode 385: What We Did When COVID-19 Came to Our House

This week we talked about our FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE with COVID-19. How we think we managed to finally catch it, our symptom course, how we treated it, how we are easing back into our exercise. Hint: you can't just jump back into your normal exercise routine, and it's not just because you've lost fitness. You have to go SLOWLY and really listen to your body. It's also a good idea to make sure you don't have any excessive clotting factors, or at least eat foods and take supplements that aid in blood thinning. It took three years but here we are! I think for most people, unfortunately, it's just a matter of time. 

Radio Naturopath Episode 267: COVID-19: Healthy Diet and Exercise to Help Outcomes, No Large Gatherings, Reopening School, Connecticut Travel Advisories

This was all about COVID-19, because leading up to the new school year, there's a lot going on. I talked briefly about Stella Immanuel, M.D., the physician whom President Trump tweeted about, and her support of the use of hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and azithromycin. I didn't talk about discrediting her, although she has some interesting ideas about spirituality and possession. In terms of her concern about the drugs, the answer is somewhere in the middle. On the one hand, hydroxychloroquine is not supposed to be used to prevent COVID-19 infection, but may be part of a cocktail for a hospitalized patient. It's not a miracle drug and doctors will be using a variety of therapies based on the patient's case, which may include this drug. 

On Friday, July 31, 2020 Real Time with Bill Maher aired, and he called out the obese of our nation, and criticized the press and Drs. Fauci and Birx for not promoting the value of exercise and diet for improving the outcome of this pandemic. He thinks that one reason we are not doing well is because as a country, we eat poorly and don't exercise. This is a very complex issue and didn't offer thoughtful solutions, so I suggested some. It's true, we've got to eat better and get exercise!

I'm not a fan of large gatherings, like graduation celebrations, weddings, big parties at this time. When people gather to celebrate, even if the intention is to distance and mask, they don't. Alcohol makes this phenomenon worse. It's my opinion that large gatherings should be postponed until after the pandemic is over. 

I talked about reopening school. Only 16% of Connnecticut teachers want to return to the classroom. My patients who are teachers and school staff are terrified of returning to school. It's been my observation over the years that as soon as school starts, people start coming in with colds and coughs. COVID-19 is going to be worse, since it spreads so readily. I'm even nervous for my practice that asymptomatic patients will come in. 

I finished off with the COVID-19 Travel Advisory for Connecticut. As of July 28, 2020, travelers from only 15 states are allowed to enter Connecticut without quarantining for 14 days. Fortunately, many of them are contiguous, all of New England, and then New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The rest are further west: Michigan, Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, and Oregon. But before traveling to any of those state, you need to check THEIR travel advisories!

Radio Naturopath Episode 254: Coronavirus and Clots, Studies on Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin, WHO's Coronavirus Myths

I talked about some French studies on the use of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin together, which shows possible promise. I also went through the WHO's COVID-19 mythbusting page, which contained such food for thought as Taking Disinfectants and Bleach Internally are poisonous and don't cure coronavirus, and 5G EMF do not cause the coronavirus. (Really??) Most of those were somewhat humorous, but some, like eating garlic and nasal washing, are unproven but make sense.

Radio Naturopath Episode 251: Coronavirus: Basic Supplements and Possible Drug Therapies, Lifestyle Changes, Kindness

This week, I focused on the basic supplements that are thought to be helpful, emphasizing that there is no one thing that has been definitively proven to eradicate SARS-CoV-2. We are using common sense with things that work for viruses in general. The same goes for the use of pharmaceuticals, although there are some clinical trials on hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, and a new drug called APNO1. It's still necessary to wash, rest, and physically distance. 

I also discussed the importance of exercise, clean eating, and cleaning the nose, throat, and of course hands. I finished with the importance of kindness at this time.

Radio Naturopath Episode 222: More Update on Lyme, Babesia, Hashimoto's; Tips To Help You Live Longer!

Update on Ron's Lyme: turns out he has Hashimoto's thyroiditis and is frankly hypothyroid! So, we prescribed him 50 mcg levothyroxine and will play with the dose to get it right. Then we discovered that he has a Lyme coinfection: babesiosis! He will be getting a week of atovaquone and azithromycin for that, and also other natural medicine.

I also talked about some basic things you can do to live longer. They're things like keep your weight down, eat less food, don't smoke, get exercise, get rest. Basic stuff that you know, but it bears repeating!