As a kid I grew up in doctors’ offices and labs. It’s not because I was sick. Rather my mother and father both worked there. My mother was a microbiologist who applied those skills to live blood cell analysis and allergy testing, and then later worked in government microbiology labs where she researched models of […]
Among the core tenets of holistic and functional medicine are the ideas that lifestyle-based interventions aimed at mitigating root causes of chronic disease will improve clinical outcomes, and that this can reduce healthcare costs. These premises makes intuitive sense. But proving them on a healthcare system level has been challenging. Two recent studies provide significant […]
Many Americans had their first “taste” of teff—Ethiopia’s ancient cereal staple– through the writing of Abraham Verghese, MD, the beloved Stanford surgeon who authored the 2009 novel, Cutting for Stone. The story begins in Verghese’s childhood homeland of Ethiopia, and in it, the author describes his love of injera, the traditional sourdough flatbread made from […]
Co-enzyme Q10 is among the most widely purchased dietary supplements worldwide. Yet many people who take it don’t get the optimal benefits they seek from this important metabolic cofactor. New research suggests that Geranylgeraniol (GG), a naturally-occurring substance in the seeds of the Annatto plant (Bixa Orellana), can increase the body’s natural production of CoQ10, […]
The California Department of Public Health recently authorized licensed naturopathic doctors to become COVID vaccine providers, permitting them to participate in the state’s vaccination efforts if they so choose. Under the California’s Business and Professions Code, naturopaths may give the COVID vaccines provided they are licensed in the state, and they are doing so at […]
Looking for easy—and tasty—ways to help your patient raise their folate, potassium and Vitamin C levels, elevate their Vitamin D, and increase their intake of immune-boosting phytochemicals? The Institute for Natural Medicine’s colorful new e-book, Winter Weather Foods for Immune Support, is an excellent place to start. Packed with simple and mouth-watering mostly vegan recipes […]
As practitioners, we encourage our patients to eat more brightly colored, phytonutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, and there’s no question that color is strongly correlated with nutrient content. But we should not overlook nature’s white, tan, and brown-pigmented delights. And by that, I mean mushrooms! Edible mushrooms contain diverse immunoregulatory compounds, like chitin, β-glucans, sterols, terpenes […]
When we hear about the microbiome and its role in human health, the focus is usually on the gut. But what about the communities of microorganisms residing in other parts of the body––like the vagina?
VIEW WEBINAR Many of our patients experience daily immune system challenges, and children are no exception! Stress, busy school & extracurricular schedules, and erratic or poor eating habits can all impact the body’s natural defense mechanisms. On top of that, there’s exposure in schools to a whole new host of germs. Kids’ immune systems really […]
Why do some women seem to move easily through menopause while others suffer greatly? Why do some menopausal women respond well to hormone therapy while others get little relief? The answer may have less to do with sex hormones and more to do with imbalances in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-thyroid (HPAT) axis.
Copyright © 2024 Holistic Primary Care. All Rights Reserved.
