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 418: Salves for Muscles and Joints, Lesser Known Herbs for Lyme Disease

This week, I updated on my orthopedic condition and did some show-and-tell of some topical products that are helpful for musculoskeletal issues. I kept the brands out of it but discussed the ingredients! Cooling ingredients like menthol and camphor, soothing ingredients like lavender, tendon and joint balms like arnica, frankincense, myrrh, and even goldenrod! Then, I discussed some less commonly known herbs for Lyme disease. Friday and Saturday, November 10-11 is the LymeBytes conference in Mystic, and I'll be attending the Saturday sessions, so I'm looking forward to learning lots more!

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 370: Prevention and More Natural Back Pain Help, RIP Chris DiPaola

This week it's Back to the Back. Back pain is so prevalent and it's such a big topic that I talked about prevention, and also went in depth regarding my ER visit. Yoga, tai chi, planks, core exercises, herbs, diet, REST, all of these are helpful for back pain!

I also did a tribute to my dear friend and colleague Chris DiPaola, who died suddenly on Friday morning, October 14. He was 49 years old. He founded the radio station WBLQ in Westerly, RI, where I broadcasted Radio Naturopath from 1999 to 2001. He was very kind to me and took me on the day that he met me, and it was a lot of fun being part of the WBLQ family. He started WBLQ as a community station, and over the years was able to get a better spot on the dial and realized his dream of becoming a commercial station. He was a pillar of the Westerly community, involved in local business and charitable causes. I and the rest of teh WBLQ community are shocked and heartbroken at his loss.

https://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/westerly/chris-dipaola-the-voice-of-westerly-remembered-for-his-reliability-love-of-radio/article_b542a5f0-4bc3-11ed-b85f-d7cd5530b9cd.html

Radio Naturopath Episode 369: Hurricane Ian, Managing Low Back Pain

This week I talked about, surprise, what it was like to experience a hurricane! Being in Florida during a hurricane is not really a vacation. First there's prep, then there's anxiously awaiting, then there's scarily enduring, and then there's the aftermath. Fortunately, my mom's house has good construction so we weathered the storm well. No electricity for only 3 days, and no internet for a week! My heart goes out to those who lost lives, were injured, or lost homes and property. Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, and North Port were tragically damaged.

This week's health topic was low back pain. I had some a couple of weeks ago that put me in the ER thinking I had a kidney stone, but it was just my spondylosis acting up! The pain can be that bad! So, we discussed how it happens, conventional treatment, and began to discuss natural support for low back pain. We'll continue with more natural help next week.

Radio Naturopath Episode 358: Help for your Poison Ivy, Stool Shape and Your Health

This week it was about less fun but necessary topics. Poison ivy is no fun, super itchy, and can range from annoying to problematic to even dangerous. Here's some useful tips to deal with it naturally. Of course, if the rash is progressing over your whole body, going into your mouth, throat, nose, eyes, or genitals, it's time to go to the doctor or urgent care. Sometimes it's just safer to get a steroid pack. But if it's merely annoying and not in a dangerous spot, there's lots to try, from menthol to grindelia to clay! I also had an interesting question from Eliana, a listener in Israel. She wanted the lowdown on stool shape and consistency! So we talked about the Bristol Stool Chart and what conditions can cause various stool changes. Somewhat unpleasant but necessary. And wasn't the bathroom called the "necessary" in Revolutionary War times?