FEBRUARY 14, 2022 OLD ACQUAINTANCES

As a physician I always discuss if the patient has any hobbies. I feel a hobby is necessary to boost self esteem, as well as relaxing It can be your way to chill and enjoy a little time for yourself

The year is 1943 The film is " Old Acquaintance" The character of Kit Marlowe ( Bette Davis) returns to her hometown to lecture as a newly successful author and to meet her dear childhood friend/ rival Millie ( Miriam Hopkins ) The friends have distinctly opposite personalities, Kit is witty perceptive, wry and calm, while Millie is intense, self-involved and histrionic. Together they embark on a journey that changes both of their lives.

After watching this movie my best friend and I started to embark on our own journey. We call it " Old Acquaintances" in recognition of the movie we loved.

It is a website where our own creative hobbies can be shown to you. Each of us has our own distinct hobbies: One does quilting, while the other does needlepoint. Both have been collecting antiques and vintage items for years in their respective homes. Both are also beekeepers.

So we decided to create a web site where we can sell our quilts, needlepoints, antiques/Bric a brac and products of our beehive. The products of our beehive are in our Apothecary. The apothecary is affiliated with Botanical Bounty in New York CIty.  www.oldacquaintances.com

We hope you enjoy our creative hobbies 

Until tomorrow

FEBRUARY 10, 2022 BEING PROACTIVE ABOUT CANCER : GALLERI

Today, the majority of cancers are found out too late, and the results are too often deadly. The unscreened cancers drive the majority of cancer deaths in the United States.

The earlier that cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chance of successful treatment and survival There are several cancer types, such as breast, colorectal, prostate and lung can be detected through screening tests. However, the majority of cancer deaths each year are from cancers with no routine screening, So what do you do >

We are now offering the Galleri test which is for multi-cancer early detection. This is what the test can do:

1. can detect many of the unscreened cancer that cause 71 % of cancer deaths

2. Detects a cancer signal across more than 50 types of cancer with a low false positive rate of 0.5 %

3. Predicts where the cancer originated with high accuracy to help guide next steps to make a definitive diagnosis

4. It is simple and easy- a blood draw

5. An example of some of the cancers detected are carcinoma of the appendix, bile duct carcinoma, colon and rectum, anal, lung, small intestine, pancreas and many more

Call our office in NYC 212 421 3202 or in CT 203 717 1339 today to set up your Galleri test. This test can save your life

Until tomorrow…

FEBRUARY 9, 2022 HERBS FOR THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

The removal of inflaming or offending foods is the key in patients who are allergic, but this is one approach. My other approach is to take the HERBAL approach.

Two MUSTS are probiotics (friendly bacteria) and glutamine. I prefer powder form as the irritated gut needs soft repair and restoring abilities. It is a lot easier with a powder versus capsules or tablets.

I have been taught to use an antimicrobial tea (per many conferences at either Southwest Botanical Conference in Tempe AZ or the Medicine of the Earth conference in Asheville NC)

This tea consists of :

1. Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)

2. Matricaria recutia (Chamomile)

3. Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel)

4. Organum vulgare (Majoram)

I would mix equal parts of the above herbs (about 2-4 oz) and drink 1-2 cups per /day. The first two herbs, chamomile and licorice help rebuild the digestive mucosa and reduce the frequency and intensity of the GERD.

There is an herb called Hamamelis that tightens the lower esophageal sphincter. This is one of the digestive barks. Of all the major systems in the body, I feel there are more herbs that can alleviate problems of the digestive system. I often utilize Weiss's Herbal Medicine text among others to mix/match herbs that I frequently use. There are simple demulcents for esophagitis (a precursor to GERD). These herbs can be used as teas or syrups. These are Althea, Ulmus and Symphytum

Until tomorrow

FEBRUARY 8, 2022 STINGING NETTLES

I love the plant, Urtica dioica. It is known by many names . Some names are common nettles, stinging nettles, or greater nettle. These plants are weedy perennials and are common in North America, Europe Asia and even Africa. These plants are from the family Urticaceae. One of the courses I took at the New York Botanical Gardens after I finished my Botanical Medicine Program was Botanical Latin. In college I not only studied Latin, but was a teaching assistant for first and second year Latin students. When I think back I do not know how I did that, but it was NOT IMPOSSIBLE. The Latin word for nettle is urtica. The medical term for painful or intense hives is called Urticaria.

The tiny fine hairs on some of the nettle plants deliver a sting. Thus, the name Stinging Nettles. These hairs are like fine hypodermic needle injections. Ouch!!!

Two compounds that are delivered with its sting are tartaric acid and oxalic acid. Both are irritating to the skin. These compounds are also found in some fruits and vegetables. There is a tiny amount of formic acid which is found in bee and ant venom. I use bee venom a lot in my practice

What I find odd is that the relief for the stings comes from the sap of the crushed leaves. In the United States we have it easy with the stinging nettles. One of the most potent nettle plants are the Tree Nettles from Australia and New Zealand. This plant also called Ongaonga, can cause blistering, a severe rash and intense stings. Animals that come in contact with this plant often die.

Nettle leaves are used for allergies, sinusitis and to decease inflammation

Until tomorrow

FEBRUARY 7, 2022 MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

For those patients with a chronic, slowly progressing disease like Multiple Sclerosis, I must tell them the same thing about living in the now. More than 250,000 Americans are diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) annually with women being affected slightly more than men. For some reason I have seen more men in my practice with MS. The most common initial symptom is sudden loss of vision in one eye or tingling or numbness in an extremity. There are other symptoms such as mental changes, slurred speech and difficulty holding their urine, but symptoms vary from patient to patient. Symptoms can disappear in weeks or months. There are some patients who do not have another attack for years. I have seen one patient who had an attack at 26 and did not have his second symptom until he was age 52.

While the care of a neurologist and conventional therapies are needed, there are some other tests that need to be done in patients with MS. I am not a MS specialist. The cause is still unknown. It has been postulated that MS is an autoimmune disease. Others feel it is caused by a virus. I do believe that the cause is multi-factorial. I believe that all the hypothesis are viable. I know that if treatment is started early for a newly diagnosed patient, can be quite effective. Other testing that I feel should be done is heavy metal testing, environmental testing, and food allergy testing--especially gluten sensitivities. This was research by Roger MacDougall who was affected by MS and bound to a wheelchair. His condition slowly improved when he eliminated all gluten from his diet.

A different dietary lifestyle must be sought. In 1948, Dr Roy Swank believed that a diet low in animal fat can arrest the progression and symptoms of the disease. I have seen a slower progression in patients whom follow the Swank protocol. Newer dietary lifestyles have been used since 1948 with better results, however these are basically all derived from the Swank protocol. Unfortunately, this compassionate doctor died in 2008. http://www.swankmsdiet.org/

The recommendations of the Swank protocol are as follows:
1. Saturated fat intake no more than 10 grams(1/2 ounce daily)
2. A daily intake of 40-50 grams of polyunsaturated fats (I suggest much lower and margarine, and hydrogenated oils are strictly forbidden)
3. One teaspoon to one tablespoon of cod liver oil daily
4. Normal protein intake (6-10 ounces daily- try leaner protein)
5. Intake of fish 3-4 times a week (no tuna, swordfish or crustaceans)

In addition to serum and provocative 6 hour urine testing, I recommend a IgG RAST serum allergy test. The conventional testing of all scans should be done with the guidance of a neurologist.

In my practice I utilize many supplements/ medication. These supplements can be powder, capsule and/or intravenous routes of administration. Good multi-vitamin and mineral formulas are essential.
I use both tumeric (Curcuma longa ) and Gingko biloba in MS patients. There are interesting relavent studies regarding these herbs. I use low dose naltrexone at 1.0 - 6.0 mg There are excellent studies using LDN in patients with MS. In addition if not allergic to honeybees there is evidence of benefits to bee venom. ( BVT)

At this point it is very difficult to know with any certainty which supplements, in what dosages, and in what combination(s) would be helpful for multiple sclerosis, if at all. We also have little idea how these supplements interact with medicines currently used for multiple sclerosis. My aim is to give the patient an alternative or integrative approach to treatment.

FEBRUARY 3, 2022 ALUMINUM

Aluminum is toxic

Almost all store-bought deodorants are laced with aluminum. While aluminum is not a heavy metal, it has been found to be toxic. Because aluminum permeates our air, water, and soil, small amounts are present in our food, the average person consumes between three and ten milligrams of aluminum a day. Only recently has research revealed that aluminum is absorbed and accumulated in the body. Aluminum is a popular metal used to make cookware, cooking utensils, and foil. I have also found aluminum in the coils of coffee makers. Excessive use of antacids is the most common cause of aluminum toxicity along with deodorants. Mylanta, Maalox, Amphojel, and many others have a high aluminum hydroxide content. Many over-the-counter drugs used for inflammation and pain contain aluminum, including Arthritis Pain Formula and Bufferin

Several douche preparations, including Massengil and Summer's Eve, contain aluminum. It is also an additive in most baking powders and is sometimes evident in drinking water. Have your water checked today. (http://www.e-watertest.com/)

Many symptoms of aluminum toxicity are similar to those of Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis. Aluminum toxicity can lead to colic, rickets, gastro-intestinal disturbances, poor calcium metabolism, extreme nervousness, anemia, headache, decreased liver and kidney function, forgetfulness, speech disturbances, and memory loss, softening of the bones, and weak, aching muscles. Research suggests that a chronic calcium deficiency may change the way in which the body uses minerals. Bone loss and increased intestinal absorption of aluminum and silicon combine to form compounds that accumulate in the cerebral cortex of the brain. These compounds prevent impulses from being carried to or from the brain.

An accumulation of aluminum salts in the brain has been implicated in seizures and reduced mental faculties. Autopsies performed on Alzheimer's victims revealed that four times the normal amount of aluminum had accumulated in the nerve cells in the brain. This suggests that long-term accumulation of aluminum in the brain may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease as well as some reports for Parkinson's disease.

Because aluminum is excreted by the kidneys, toxic amount of aluminum may impair kidney function. Working in aluminum smelting plants for long periods can lead to dizziness, impaired coordination, and losses of balance and energy.

Accumulations of aluminum in the brain was cited as a possible cause for these symptoms as well. Aluminum is also used in food processing (pickles and relishes, in particular) , beer (especially when in aluminum cans), bleached flour, table salt, tobacco smoke, cream of tartar, Parmesan and grated cheeses, aluminum salts, and canned goods. I do a serum ( blood) test level for aluminum as well as a 6 hour provocative metal challenge from Doctor's Data. (http://www.doctorsdata.com/)

Until tomorrow…

FEBRUARY 2, 2022 ECZEMA

I recently saw a patient with eczema. I started by asking the patient about her dietary lifestyle. In most individuals a skin problem like eczema is allergy related. Most of the time it is an environmental allergen like detergent, certain clothes, and body sprays. I jump right in and start to ask about their breakfast, lunch and dinner menus as well as their snacks.

Are your snacks high in sugar? Do you 'pick' between meals? Do you eat a lot of carbohydrates like pasta, crackers and bread?

I would suggest an Ig G Food test for delayed hypersensitivity. This may be paid for by your insurance and even if not, I would suggest getting the test. Many laboratories do this test, especially Biotek .

It is difficult to stop eating these foods if it is not seen in writing that the patient may be allergic or sensitive to the food. Once the allergens are stopped you will be surprised how the eczema lessens.

I also try some herbs which I consider traditional for skin ailments as burdock, calendula, yellow dock, sarsaparilla and dandelion. All except calendula are also liver detoxifiers. I also rely on dermatologists to help me find the exact skin condition. Is it psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis? I do know that a change in dietary lifestyle will alleviate any of those conditions. The problem is most other doctors would give a steroid for a skin condition. I do not!

You can buy 2 ounces of a skin salve. You can get it from Flower Power on East 9th in NYC or on any of the great herbal sites like http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/ or http://www.gaiaherbs.com/

Now add the following to the salve:

1. 1/2 teaspoon of these herbal tinctures:

Pau d' arco

Goldenseal

Barberry

2. 8 drops of the following essential oils

Chamomille

Tea Tree Oil

Stir all together into the salve. It will be semi-liquid and apply throughout the day.

Until tomorrow...

FEBRUARY 1, 2022 WHY YOU SHOULD BUY BEESWAX CANDLES

Do you love candles ? I do and I have always bought beeswax candles. NOW i make my own beeswax candles using the wax from my own beehives.

I love the peace and serenity when sitting watching the candle burn. Not all candles are created equal. Somew candles are made with harmful ingredients that turn toxic BEESWAX candles are non-toxic and require no additives Paraffin candles pollute the air whereas beeswax DO NOT

There are even studies to show that beeswax candles emit negative ions when bur ed. These negative ions are said to help clean the air. The other reasons are that bee candles have a natural gentle scent whereas some candles are scented which may cause allergies. I know many patients that are chemically sensitive and react to scented candles

Since beeswax has a higher melting point that other candles, the beeswax candles burn more slowly and last much longer. Candles made of beeswax are almost completely drip free

I know that when I burn a beeswax candles ( most of time I burn my own) I feel confident I am NOT adding toxins to the air

NOW BUY YOUR BEESWAX CANDLES TODAY FROM BOTANICAL BOUNTY AT 212 723 1823

Until tomorrow