Radio Naturopath
Radio Naturopath Episode 387: Help for Colds and Flus 2023
This week we delved more into the cold and flu season, which is not over, and gave various recommendations for prevention and treatment. This doesn't get old, because we keep catching these things, COVID or not! One teaser: MUSHROOMS. Eat them! They are great immune boosters.
Radio Naturopath Episode 337: Should You Try To Catch Omicron? Help Me, I'm Anxious!
This week I talked about whether it's a good idea to deliberately try to contract the Omicron COVID-19 variant. My conclusion, in short, is NO. Czech folk singer Hana Horka, who was unvaccinated, died after contracting the Omicron variant while her husband and son were sick. The bottom line is, you just never know how you'll fare with any variant of COVID-19, whether you're vaccinated or not. Chances are you'll do fine but there is the chance that you won't. You could also infect someone else, and unnecessarily take up space in the hospital. If you're vaccinated, eating healthfully, getting good rest and exercise, and wearing masks when appropriate, you're likely to catch a milder case due to lower viral loads. Be patient; summer is coming and we can all go outdoors again!
COVID-19, and life, make many people anxious, so I thought it was a good time to review anxiety and how to help it naturally and with lifestyle. It's genetic, situational, and lifestyle-mediated. There's help for it!
Radio Naturopath Episode 302: More on J&J Vaccine, CBD for Health, and Natural Help for Asthma
This week we talked about how the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 is still very low risk compared to the risk of catching COVID-19. Having said that, if you're a woman under 50 it's probably a good idea to take the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, since they have no incidence of unusual blood clots. If you have gotten Johnson and Johnson, let your doctor know immediately if you have any unusual symptoms, especially severe headaches with blurred vision, seizures, loss of consciousness; or any severe unremitting abdominal pain. If this occurs it will likely be in the 2 weeks following vaccination. As I said, this is VERY unlikely to occur, and you're much more likely to get a blood clot sitting still on an airplane trip.
We covered more about the various benefits of CBD, such as help for pain, anxiety, depression, and inflammtion. We also talked about natural help for asthma, and will discuss this and exercise induced asthma next week too!
Radio Naturopath Episode 278: Happy Halloween! COVID-19 Uptick in CT; Is It Allergies Or Is It COVID-19?
I talked a little about having a safer Halloween. I reminded people that sadly, there is an uptick in COVID-19 cases all over the country, even in Connecticut, although it's not as severe here as in the Midwest. I listed the 11 towns that are now considered hot spots, many in eastern CT, and one of them is WINDHAM, but not Mansfield, thankfully. The main topic was Is It Allergies or Is It COVID-19? Many people have fall allergies, and currently those are mostly dust and mold. There's really not much pollen to be had right now, so people are sneezing from being indoors, breathing in the dust and mold that was sitting in their heating ducts and is now blowing out, mold from interaction with firewood, and dust from putting on jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts that have been sitting since April. Wash 'em! Use a HEPA filter! I gave a lot of good suggestions.
Radio Naturopath Episode 272: COVID-19: Sorting Out the Statistics, Testing Recommendations, The Bradykinin Theory and How to Calm Yours
This week I talked about: you guessed it, COVID-19. There were reports that only 6% of the people who had COVID-19 as one of their diagnosis codes had that as the only diagnosis; the rest had other conditions at the same time. Our dear leader and some of the right interpreted this to mean that only 9000 people actually died of COVID-19, not 200,000+. I sort this out; it's clear that these poor folk simply had comorbidities at the time of their death, and 6% of these deaths had no other diagnosis codes. This doesn't mean that they only died of COVID, but they could have comorbidities that were simply not listed. Nope, you don't get a pass, you still have to mask, distance, and wash. Also, the new head of the COVID-19 task force is now a neuroradiologist, Scott Atlas, who is in line with moving the economy and schooling forward, perhaps too quickly.
There was a study at Oak Ridge National Lab in Texas that suggested a bradykinin model of disease in COVID-19. Bradykinin modulators may be helpful in reducing the severity of the illness. There are many foods that you can eat that have polyphenols in them, which calm bradykinin. I list them off for you!
Radio Naturopath Episode 266: COVID-19: Nasal Spread, Masking and Nasal Cleansing; More Natural Help for Menopause
Today I talked about an actual study that shows that COVID-19 replicates very well in the nose and it's an important vector of spread. It also spreads to the lungs not by migration, but by nasal secretions actually being aspirated into the lungs. I make the case that nasal cleansing is a very good idea, because even if you have the virus, you may kill some of it and clear some of it out. It's very important to GARGLE immediately after nasal cleansing to catch secretions that wind up in the back of the thoat.
I also continued with the discussion on menopause from last week, and talked about the issues with using natural hormone therapy. I also talked about diet, exercise, rest, supplements for anxiety, and homeopathy.
Radio Naturopath Episode 264: Wear Your Mask Correctly; All About FIBER, Your Health and Digestion!
This week, I played a broken record: affirmed that people REALLY NEED to wear their masks CORRECTLY when they're in difficult-to-distance situations, such as grocery stores. This was inspired by several trips to local stores where I observed numerous people wearing their masks over their noses but not their mouths, at least 3 stores. I explained why this is useless. On a happy note, the topic of the day was all about fiber! How to promote it in your body, what foods to eat, various fiber supplements, why it's good for you.
Radio Naturopath Episode 263: Wear Your Mask Properly, A History of Hygiene and Health, Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis
Today, I discussed my concern that people are going into shops or in places where masks should be worn and wearing them incorrectly. I saw at least three people in one store with their mouths covered and their noses uncovered. I explained why this is a worthless act and why you need BOTH your nose and mouth covered. I also explained if you have a health or emotional reason why you can't or won't cover both your nose and mouth, the healthful, safe, considerate thing is not to enter the store, nor go to places with crowds where it's difficult to maintain distance. The solution to shopping is either to get curbside or delivery service, or have someone else shop for you!
I gave a history of the advent of hygiene, and how that has helped with our health and longevity. I also talked about diverticular disease!
Radio Naturopath Episode 262: COVID-19: Relative Risk of Activities, Tri-State Travel Advisories, Eat Your Berries, Flowers are Good For You, and IS Breakfast Good For You?
This week, I talked about relative risk of various activities during the pandemic, indoor dining with guests vs. outdoor barbecues, various shopping experiences, and the like. I discussed the travel advisory for states with high rates of infection when traveling to Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. Four of my most beloved people are in three of the states: AZ, FL, and NC!
Then I went back to touting the benefits of more different fruits. Eat your berries and cherries! I talked about why it's good to have flowers in your home. Plus, should you eat breakfast?
Radio Naturopath Episode 257: Coronavirus, Leaky Blood Vessels, Hypertension, Obesity, Diabetes and Clots
This week I talked about how it's important to keep your endothelium intact! That's the lining of the inside of your blood vessels. If it's leaky, the virus can get in, damage the pericytes that keep your blood vessels elastic, cause more leakage, and encourage clots! This is very bad for people who have chronic inflammation, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. We talk about how to keep those blood vessels strong to help to prevent that from happening with foods, supplements, and activity.
There has also been concern that people taking ACE inhibitors and ARBS for their blood pressure increase their ACE2 receptors, giving more sites in the lungs for the virus to bind. So is it a good idea to keep taking those drugs? Listen and find out!