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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 […]

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 […]

Bacillopeptidase F: Its Impact on Metabolic Syndrome Disorder

By Erik Goldman

Metabolic disorders, especially overweight and obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia are some of the most common illnesses all over the world, carrying a high burden of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In this free webinar, renowned integrative physician Fred Pescatore, MD, will share the science on a soy-derived fibrinolytic enzyme called Bacillopeptidase F, which is shown to […]

Who’s at Risk for High Uric Acid?

By Kristen Schepker, Assistant Editor

Serum uric acid measurements are the definitive indicators of uric acid elevation, but a thorough assessment of diet and lifestyle factors can also provide many clues about who is likely to develop uric acid problems down the road, said Dr. Perlmutter. He recommended asking patients about the following factors: Fruit juice (any kind) consumption Intake […]

Long Haul Covid: A Variant of Post-Viral Syndrome

By Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, Contributing Writer

Long-haul Covid has unique features, but essentially, it is a variant of post-viral syndrome. That’s good news because many of the features of post-viral syndrome are easily treated. Between 20% and 25% of all Covid patients have persistent symptoms of some sort. Those numbers are similar to what we see with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and […]

Clearing the Fog Around Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

By Erik Goldman

Mast cell activation syndrome—a multi-system disorder characterized by aberrant activity of these key immune cells—is widely prevalent, and on the rise as the world becomes more toxic, infectious, and stressful, says Tania Tyles Dempsey, MD, a clinician who specializes in this common but mis-diagnosed problem. The syndrome differs from mastocytosis or mast cell cancers in […]

BREESI & QUEESI: Tips for Diagnosing MCAS

By Erik Goldman

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is inherently complex, and it can manifest in a bewildering number of ways. Patients may experience waxing and waning symptoms in seemingly unrelated organ systems, with no obvious pattern. MCAS overlaps with other chronic syndromes such as Ehlers-Danlos (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia. It’s a complicated […]

Processed Foods & Energy Drinks: A Public Health Emergency

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

Highly processed foods and energy drinks do more harm than good—and Americans have a huge appetite for them. That’s bad news for the future health of the country.  According to a new analysis of data from nearly 41,000 US adults, consumption of ultra-processed foods rose markedly from 2001 to 2018, accounting for nearly 60% of […]

Glycocalyx Restoration is Key for Lowering CVD Risk

By Erik Goldman

Repair of the endothelial glycocalyx is a vital element in the restoration of cardiovascular health, according to Mark Houston, MD, director of the Hypertension Institute at Saint Thomas West Hospital, Nashville. The endothelial glycocalyx (EGX) —literally “sugar coating” in Greek—is a very thin gel-like layer that lines the luminal surface of the blood vessels. It […]

Food Triggers, Immune Dysregulation, and Autoimmunity

By Chad Larson, NMD, and Mark R. Engelman, MD

We hear a lot these days about the impact of diet for boosting immunity. While it is true that carrots, kale, or oranges are good sources of immunity-boosting phytochemicals, it is also true that foods—even ‘healthy’ foods– can also cause immune dysregulation or autoimmune disorders in some patients. Compounds—especially dietary proteins– within ordinary foods, are […]