Vitamins & Supplements

Botanical Medicine Research Roundup

By Janet Gulland, Contributing Writer

Research on medicinal herbs and phytochemicals continues to surge worldwide. Here are summaries of a few of the recent studies that grabbed our attention here at Holistic Primary Care. Horsetail Extract Matches Thiazide for BP Regulation A standardized extract of Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) produced clinically and statistically significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

Herb Experts Challenge CA Coroner On Mulberry’s Role in McClintock Death

By Erik Goldman, Editor in Chief

Botanists and herbal medicine experts are challenging the Sacramento County coroner’s conclusion that white mulberry (Morus alba)—an herb with a long record of safe use—caused the death of Loretta McClintock, wife of Congressman Tom McClintock (R-CA4). Mrs. McClintock, died unexpectedly on December 15, 2021, at the age of 61 years. Her husband had returned home […]

The Transformative Benefits of Nicotinamide Riboside and NAD+: Targeting a Root Cause of Aging

By Erik Goldman

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “At the biological level, aging results from the impact of the accumulation of a wide variety of molecular and cellular damage over time.” Age-related functional decline occurs from exposure to physiological and metabolic stressors that cause subsequent epigenetic changes. Overall health depends, in large part, on cellular resilience […]