Naturopathic Perspective

Can Curcumin Attenuate Type 2 Diabetes? You Beta!

By August West, Contributing Writer

Daily supplementation with 1,500 mg of curcumin extract reduced fasting blood glucose, lowered hemoglobin A1c, and improved pancreatic β-cell function in obese people with type 2 diabetes. Those are the topline findings from a recent, year-long, placebo-controlled trial, involving 229 participants. Curcumin-treated patients also got a small but significant bonus benefit: weight loss. “We believe […]

HRT, BMPs, & Bone Health: Cyplexinol Musculoskeletal Regenerative Nutrition

By Erik Goldman

Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) are signaling growth factors that induce mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into osteoblasts and chondrocytes for de novo bone and cartilage production.  First discovered in the 1960s, BMP complexes ushered in the field of regenerative medicine in the context of orthopedic surgery. Today, BMP-complexes are available as an oral nutritional supplement, […]

Fullscript’s New Goal: Minimize Dx Lab Test Hassles

By Erik Goldman

Diagnostic testing is an essential element of modern clinical practice. But for many practitioners, it is also a major source of headaches. Multiple accounts with different labs, opaque pricing, variations in insurance coverage, tracking patient compliance, compiling and interpreting results, scheduling follow-up visits, translating data into patient-friendly treatment plans….let’s be honest: diagnostic testing is fraught […]

Folic Acid: Too Much of a Good Thing?

By Gil Winkelman, ND, Contributing Writer

It is time to rethink how we’re using folate, and its derivatives, methylfolate and folinic acid. Recent research suggests that people who routinely take more than 1000 μg of folic acid per day may be at increased risk of cognitive decline, asthma, impaired immune function, and certain types of cancer (Fardous AM, et al. Nutrients. […]

A Good Relationship Gone Bad: Recognizing & Restoring Health in GI Candidiasis

By Erik Goldman

Candida is a commensal microorganism living in the digestive tract of the vast majority of our patients. For most, it causes no harm. But certain common lifestyle factors and medication exposures promote overgrowth of Candida species, leading to a fungal-predominant dysbiosis with sometimes severe systemic symptoms. Candidal overgrowth is often an important piece of the chronic illness […]

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 […]

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 […]

Shiitake Mushrooms: Make Sure They’re Well-Cooked

By Janet Gulland, Contributing Writer

Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) are a healthful and nutritious culinary delight—provided they’re cooked thoroughly. Eaten raw or undercooked, however, they can trigger a florid dermatitis in some people. A recent case report in the New England Journal of Medicine provides an important reminder of the possibility of this uncommon but dramatic reaction. Drs. Eglė Janušonytė […]

Naturopathic Schools Scrap Merger Plan

By Erik Goldman

After months of deliberation and community feedback, Bastyr University and National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) have decided against moving forward with a proposed merger. In a joint statement issued on November 7, Drs. Melanie Henriksen & Devin Byrd, the presidents of NUNM and Bastyr, respectively, stated that, “we believe at this time it is […]

Supporting Whole-Body Health During Menopause: The Latest Research & Holistic Approaches

By Erik Goldman

In this webinar, Cory Ambrose, ND, MAT presents the latest research on how to guide your patients through menopause. She discusses the physiological changes that occur during this time, with special attention to the interactions between estrogen and various neurotransmitter systems. We will highlight well-researched, novel phytonutrients to help support healthy hormone and vasomotor balance. […]