Radio Naturopath Episode 273: COVID-19 and Variolation, Iodine and COVID-19, High Fiber Foods for Health

There have been more developments in COVID-19. This week, I talked about the concept of variolation. This is taking from hundreds of years ago where practitioners in the East either powdered dried smallpox scabs and blew powder with a pipe into people's noses, or took fluid from smallpox vesicles and rubbed it into the skin of patients, so that they developed a few small lesions on their skin. In both cases, patients would experience mild illness and then immunity. This is before the process of vaccination was discovered. This process is called "variolation" because smallpox is caused by the variola virus. Well, two physicians, Monica Gandhi, M.D., and George Rutherford, M.D., wrote a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine describing this process, and assert that mask-wearing contributes to variolation. They describe several settings, including factories and cruise ships, in which there was mandatory masking and the vast majority of people got asymptomatic or mild cases of COVID-19. This is very promising, because if there is finally universal mask wearing, more of society can be reopened.

I also talked about a UConn study in which it was found that if people gargle with a 0.5% solution of povidone-iodine for 15 seconds, any COVID-19 is inactivated. This makes it possible that gargling and nasal rinsing with this low concentration of povidone-iodine could significantly slow down rates and severity of infection. This was studied intentionally to help people in the dental industry, where aerosolization of oral fluids is a feature of that work. 

I also talked about some high fiber foods that are good for you!

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 271: COVID-19 Safety Reminder, Bowel Habits During Travel, Gout

I gave a review of good COVID-19 safety practices, reminding everyone that the way we're still spreading this virus is spending time with too many people in close quarters, especially indoors and without masks. This is not a great time to go to bars or attend parties, and probably not even to eat in restaurants! The virus will die out without hosts, so if we mask, sanitize, limit how many people we come in contact with, and do it in a safe way, the virus will eventually die out. We are by no means there yet, so all those practices still need to be followed. 

Ron asked a great question: why do my bowel habits change when I travel? Mostly because of the stress of not being in your own, safe bathroom! Also diet change to some extent, but I think it's mostly that we need to feel safe when we're in the bathroom, and the hotel or highway bathroom doesn't cut it!

I talked about gout: what it is, where it tends to occur, how to eat and drink to prevent it, and some meds and supplements that are used. 

Radio Naturopath Episode 270: Notes on the Amish, Help for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Ron and I went to Pennsylvania Dutch Country! It was really interesting to learn that there are about 40,000 Amish in greater Lancaster County, PA, the difference between Amish and Mennonite, that church is in each other's homes, and that they DO use electricity as long as it's not attached to the grid. Some still have ancient coal stoves, but coal is very expensive, so many have gas-powered stoves and refrigerators, and air compressor powered small appliances. Some are so newfangled that they're getting solar panels! Apparently church is on alternate weeks, so we saw TONS OF BUGGIES on the road, and late in the day we saw young folks in buggies a-courtin'! We knew this because the boys had no facial air and the girls had white pinafores. We learned all this stuff at the museum of the Amish Village! https://www.amishvillage.com/ I also ate whoopie pies and shoo-fly pie and went to the DUTCH HAVEN! https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tZP1zcsSY9Pjy80M2C0UjWosLBMNjO2NEtJTEqzTEuzMLUyqDA3szBISUxOSjYzTUpOTTH04k4pLUnOUMhILEvNAwB3nBQD&q=dutch+haven&oq=DUTCH+HAVEN&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0j46j0l3j46j0.4987j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 I think my parents took me there when I was a kid. 

This week's big topic was IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME. I thought lots of people would appreciate the topic; somewhere between 3-20% of my listeners. All about what it is and isn't, and how it's usually some combination of stress, anxiety/depression, and eating foods that just don't work for you. We talked about some meds ,and more supplements that can help.

Radio Naturopath Episode 269: Atherosclerosis in the Aorta, Hip Bursitis

This week on Radio Naturopath I responded to two questions from listeners. The first was about reducing atherosclerotic plaque in the aorta: so the whole thing about reducing oxidative stress, eating less sugar and processed foods, drinking less alcohol, getting exercising, eating healthy fats and avoiding poor quality ones. 

I also talked about hip bursitis: what it is, how it's generally treated, and how to feel better. 

Radio Naturopath Episode 268: Avoiding Food Intolerances and Allergies Can Help You; Those Pesky Bumps On Your Arms

This week I talked about the various kinds of food allergy testing you can do. IgE or IgG, skin prick, blood draw, or finger stick. This can be helpful for improving many conditions, including any kind of digestive upset, skin conditions including eczema, respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, joint pain, and so many more. I broke down the different types and methods of testing.

I also had a question about Those Bumps On Your Arms. I explained that it's hyperkeratosis pilaris, and that it's caused by nutritional insuffciencies. You can also do some exfoliating and apply nourishing lotions or oils, but you have to correct the nutritional issue before it improves. 

Radio Naturopath Episode 267: COVID-19: Healthy Diet and Exercise to Help Outcomes, No Large Gatherings, Reopening School, Connecticut Travel Advisories

This was all about COVID-19, because leading up to the new school year, there's a lot going on. I talked briefly about Stella Immanuel, M.D., the physician whom President Trump tweeted about, and her support of the use of hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and azithromycin. I didn't talk about discrediting her, although she has some interesting ideas about spirituality and possession. In terms of her concern about the drugs, the answer is somewhere in the middle. On the one hand, hydroxychloroquine is not supposed to be used to prevent COVID-19 infection, but may be part of a cocktail for a hospitalized patient. It's not a miracle drug and doctors will be using a variety of therapies based on the patient's case, which may include this drug. 

On Friday, July 31, 2020 Real Time with Bill Maher aired, and he called out the obese of our nation, and criticized the press and Drs. Fauci and Birx for not promoting the value of exercise and diet for improving the outcome of this pandemic. He thinks that one reason we are not doing well is because as a country, we eat poorly and don't exercise. This is a very complex issue and didn't offer thoughtful solutions, so I suggested some. It's true, we've got to eat better and get exercise!

I'm not a fan of large gatherings, like graduation celebrations, weddings, big parties at this time. When people gather to celebrate, even if the intention is to distance and mask, they don't. Alcohol makes this phenomenon worse. It's my opinion that large gatherings should be postponed until after the pandemic is over. 

I talked about reopening school. Only 16% of Connnecticut teachers want to return to the classroom. My patients who are teachers and school staff are terrified of returning to school. It's been my observation over the years that as soon as school starts, people start coming in with colds and coughs. COVID-19 is going to be worse, since it spreads so readily. I'm even nervous for my practice that asymptomatic patients will come in. 

I finished off with the COVID-19 Travel Advisory for Connecticut. As of July 28, 2020, travelers from only 15 states are allowed to enter Connecticut without quarantining for 14 days. Fortunately, many of them are contiguous, all of New England, and then New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The rest are further west: Michigan, Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, and Oregon. But before traveling to any of those state, you need to check THEIR travel advisories!

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 265: Richard Redfield and Masking, Stay Hydrated in the Heat, Menopause 2020, Part 1

It's like Ground Hog Week! This week, I quoted Richard Redfield, the director of the CDC, who said that if we all wore masks, we could get a handle on this virus in about 2 months. I keep repeating it, but it's important. I went on to remind people that it's hot and they need to hydrate. Then, as requested by a listener, I started on my latest information about helping with menopause symptoms. There's so much to discuss that I'm going to continue next week!

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.