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Cupping Therapy: A Modern Take on an Ancient Technique

By Stacy Collier, Contributing Writer

For thousands of years cupping therapy—the placement of special cups over areas of pain or restriction and creation of negative pressure (vacuum) to disrupt the stagnation–played an important role in medicine. This ancient practice spanned from Egypt, to China, Greece, Europe and the Americas.  Though most commonly used for musculoskeletal pain relief, the clinical applications […]

BAPP Program Moves Ahead to Reduce Herb Adulteration

By Erik Goldman

With the release of its long-awaited Standard Operating Procedure for Disposal/Destruction of Irreparably Defective Articles in November, the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) has taken a major step forward in its ongoing effort to rid the nutrition and herbal medicine industries of adulterated or otherwise fraudulent ingredients. The “BAPP SOP” guidelines, as the new document […]

Smell Training with Herbal Oils Could Restore Olfaction Post-Covid

By Erik Goldman

Loss of olfaction is one of the most common and vexing sequelae of Covid-19, often persisting for many months after the acute phase of the infection. The vast majority of Covid patients experience some degree of olfactory impairment, and roughly one quarter fully lose the sense of smell (anosmia) during the acute phase of the […]

Nearly 15% of All Healthcare Dollars Wasted on Useless Admin

By Erik Goldman

Administrative waste—defined as unnecessary non-clinical expenses that have no beneficial impact on patient care—accounts for roughly 15% of all US healthcare spending, according to a new analysis by the policy journal, Health Affairs. Up to one-third of all money spent on healthcare in the US goes toward non-medical administrative costs. That’s nearly twice the level […]

Framingham Data Link High Omegas with Better Midlife Brain Health

By Erik Goldman

New data from the third generation of the Framingham Heart Study indicate that higher red blood cell Omega-3 concentrations correlate with healthier brain structure and better cognitive function in midlife. The study also suggests that the effects of Omega-3 fatty acids on the brain are mediated, to some degree by apolipoprotein-E (APOE) genotype. “In multivariable […]

In Leaky Gut, Bovine IgGs Can Minimize Autoimmune Triggers

By Kareem Kandil, MD, ND, Contributing Writer

People with gastrointestinal symptoms and immune system dysfunction represent one of the fastest-growing and most clinically challenging patient subsets. This constellation of problems can manifest as chronic fatigue syndrome, small bowel bacterial and/or fungal overgrowth (SIBO/SIFO), and autoimmunity. It’s estimated that over 50 million Americans suffer from at least one autoimmune condition. The current healthcare […]

Hormone Replacement Therapy & Bone Health: Cyplexinol Nutritional Support

By Erik Goldman

Hormone Replacement Therapy & Bone Health: Cyplexinol Nutritional Support On average bone density decreases by 10% in women during the five years of menopause due to changes in estrogen. While Hormone Replacement Therapy offers support in maintaining bone health, there can be a precipitous loss when women discontinue HRT. Along with the decline in estrogen, […]

New Research Points to the Gut As Key for Depression Treatment

By Chad Larson, NMD, DC, and Mark Engelman, MD, Contributing Writers

They say the way to a person’s heart is through the stomach. The same could be said about a person’s brain. With all that we’re now learning about the gut-brain axis, it is becoming clear that mood, cognitive function, sleep cycles, and many other aspects of our psychological health are directly influenced by factors originating […]

The Truth About Melatonin: Dosing, Quality, and Clinical Uses

By Deanna Minich, PhD, Contributing Writer

Over the last five years, melatonin has become one of the world’s most popular dietary supplements, with global sales topping $1.5 billion. An endogenous neurohormone, melatonin also functions as an antioxidant, chemopreventive, and anti-inflammatory molecule. It is most commonly known for sleep promotion, but it has other clinical uses, including immune health support, adjunctive treatment […]

Krill Oil Improves Arthritic Knee Pain in Large Australian Study

By Kristen Schepker

Fish oil is a commonly recommended holistic treatment for joint pain. Does krill oil — a related supplement with strong anti-inflammatory properties — impart similar benefits? The answer is “Yes,” according to researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency.   A large CSIRO study of a commercially available […]