Chronic Disease

Covid Virus Can Cause Retinal Damage

By Janet Gulland, Contributing Writer

Add retinal damage to the long and growing list of potential sequelae of Covid-19. Researchers at the University of Missouri have shown that the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for triggering the ‘classic’ respiratory and immunologic symptoms of Covid can also pass the blood-retinal barrier, causing retinal damage and visual impairment. Like the blood-brain barrier, the blood-retina […]

Hibiscus & Lemon Verbena: Herbal Allies for BP Regulation

By Jonathan Jones, PhD, Contributing Writer

Hibiscus sabdariffa (hibiscus) and Lippia citriodora (lemon verbena) are two polyphenol-rich botanicals that, when combined, can act synergistically to regulate blood pressure. Oxidative stress, a key factor in the development and progression of hypertension, can lead to vascular damage and atherosclerosis. Mitigating oxidative stress is, therefore, an important aspect of managing hypertension. Natural polyphenols, like […]

The Latest Applications of Predictive Genomics in Longevity Medicine

By Erik Goldman

Risk assessment is a foundation of good clinical practice. Accurate and individualized risk prediction allows for informed decision-making, enhanced disease screening and personalized risk-reduction strategies for your patients. We’re all aware of the use of penetrant genes like BRCA1/2 as genomic markers for cancer susceptibility. But there is a lesser-known disease susceptibility indicator known as […]

Women & Autoimmune Disease: An “Xist”ential Question

By Janet Gulland, Contributing Writer

The statistics have been clear and consistent for decades: autoimmune conditions are at least three times more common among women than men. Some studies suggest it’s more like a factor of four. For specific diseases like Lupus, the disparity is 9-fold. For Sjogren’s syndrome, it’s 19 to 1. This appears to be an objective biological […]

Microplastics: A New Cardiovascular Risk Factor

By Erik Goldman, Editor

The presence of micro- or nano-plastic particles in carotid atheromas significantly raises the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from any cause within 3 years. That’s the blunt conclusion of a new multi-center study headed by researchers at the Department of Advanced Medical & Surgical Science, University of Campania, Naples, and involving more than […]

Natural Alternatives to Ozempic

By Erik Goldman

GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy have rapidly become some of the most widely prescribed drugs for weight loss and metabolic disorders. While they can sometimes be valuable aids in helping people normalize their weight and their glucose metabolism, the mechanism of action for these drugs can have some unhealthy consequences. Many people are […]

Eczema: A Holistic Approach

By Janet Gulland, Contributing Writer

Eczema is seldom life-threatening, but it can have profoundly detrimental impact on the people it affects. Clinicians who can bring a holistic, root-cause approach to this common condition can make a big difference in the lives of their patients. “Roughly 20 million Americans have eczema. It’s a huge population. Patients are desperate for help, and […]

For Disease Risk Reduction, Broc Rocks!

By Meg Sinclair, Staff Writer

Imagine if there were a drug that could reduce risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease by roughly 40%, without any adverse effects. Even better, people would only need to take it 2 or 3 times per week to obtain these preventive benefits. It turns out there is such a thing. It’s called broccoli. People who […]

The Gut-Lung Axis: Implications for Asthma Care

By Erik Goldman

Research on the Gut-Lung Axis, which encompasses the complex interrelationship between the gut microbiome, the immune system, and the respiratory tract, has opened a portal to entirely new ways of caring for patients with asthma and other respiratory disorders. Supplementation with probiotics that shift microbiome production of key short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) is showing promise […]

UPShots Clinical Research Roundup

By Janet Gulland, Contributing Writer

Research on diet, nutraceuticals, and herbal medicine continues to grow worldwide. Here are summaries of a few recent studies that have grabbed our attention at Holistic Primary Care. Cinnamon Fosters Weight Loss in Type 2 Diabetes A gram of cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia), thrice daily, promoted weight loss and lowered hemoglobin A1c levels in a small […]