Radio Naturopath Episode 283: Happy Hanukkah! Our COVID-19 Quarantine and Helpful Supplements, Pelvic Pain

Last Thursday, Ron had an acute GI bug, from which he recovered very quickly. However, unknown bugs are COVID-19 until proven otherwise. Here's how Ron and I handled it; it included getting tested and quarantining! I also answered a listener's questions about supplements to help to prevent or mitigate the illness.

Happy Hanukkah! I talked a little about that.

I also did a review of pelvic pain and natural treatment, as taken from Lise Alschuler's lecture at the NHAND conference.

Radio Naturopath Episode 282: Help for Bruising, Histamine Intolerance

This week, I gave a short update about my fracture healing process. Then I went into bruising, why it itches, why all the pretty colors, and some help for it. I also talked about histamine sensitivity and intolerance and how to calm it down.

Radio Naturopath Episode 281: Natural Fracture Healing, Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Almost Thanksgiving! OK, so I'm well enough to make a show and talk all about my fracture experience! I talked about the different kinds of fractures, what kind mine is and how it happened, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment, including nutrition and supplementation. I finished off with why traditional Thanksgiving foods are good for you.

Radio Naturopath Episode 280: CDC on How COVID-19 Is Spread; It's 11:11; Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

This week I talked about the CDC's statement on how COVID-19 is spread, basically being exposed to aerosols, worse if unmasked, within 6 feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes. Droplets are easier to avoid, and fomite spread, although possible, is not as significant. I also talked about the discussion around taking elderberry for COVID-19, and the advice is mostly favorable.

It's 11:11! Some people feel like there is a spiritual significance to this.

The main topic today was dysfunctional uterine bleeding. I'm seeing it more in my practice, so I thought I'd discuss it more. Of course, help for it is multifactorial, and involves diet and lifestyle change, exercise, and nutrition and homeopathy.

Radio Naturopath Episode 279: Election Day Stress, Humidity in Your Home, Get More Rest

Whew, Election Day 2020! At this writing I don't know who won the election and I'll edit when I find out. I talked about election day stress, which most people are feeling regardless of your side of the aisle. What can you do about it? Well, if you are so inclined and able, you can canvass or staff phone banks. Whether or not you're going to do that, you can also take time to engage in stress reduction techniques, such as avoiding social media, avoiding ALL media, sleeping more, and anything that makes you feel calmer.

Here's a timely topic: the humidity in your home! What should it be and how do you adjust it? Also, this the time of year to get more REST. Here's some ideas!

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 277: Should You Get The Flu Shot? Feeling Down? Maybe It's Acedia

This week, Ron really wanted to know if he should get a flu shot, since Medicare and the media are marketing to him that he's high risk and should absolutely get one. I discuss the pros and cons of getting one, and remind everyone that a flu shot is NOT a pass, you still have to take care of your immunity and follow COVID-19 and other hygiene and nutrition precautions!  I talk about some supplements to take for possible flu prevention. 

I also talked about that feeling that a lot of people have during the pandemic, ACEDIA. There was a great article posted by Jonathan Zecher. It's a kind of spiritual ennui, a deep directionlessness and angst. GREAT.

Radio Naturopath Episode 276: Dexamethasone and the President; How to Stay Healthy in the Autumn; Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

This week I talked about dexamethasone, the drug that may well be affecting the president's behavior. I explained what steroid are, the different types, and how they affect the body. I also talked about potential harm of this drugs. 

Today is October 12, the second Monday in October. It's Canadian Thanksgiving! I talked about that and its origins, and about celebrating it in Canada when I was there.  

I also talked about some ways to stay healthy in the autumn. Food, exercise, rest , hygiene!

Radio Naturopath Episode 275: The President Has COVID-19; Overweight/Obesity and COVID-19 and Risk Reduction

President Trump has contracted COVID-19. As is often the case when a president falls ill, there seems to be some confusion and protection about the president's actual health status. I wish him well and a full, speedy recovery, and same to the at last count 22 White House staff who have also contracted the virus. I expect there will be more. But I believe that the President and all of his staff and advisors behaved irresponsibly. In the time of a pandemic, or in any crisis or situation where there are leaders, it is incumbent upon the leaders to set a good example. By not wearing or requiring masks, by holding outdoor and indoor events without masking or social distancing, the president and his staff put countless people at risk. This virus is mild to most and deadly to some, and when anyone contracts it they don't know which they'll be. I believe that the Trump administration set a poor example for the American people in not taking COVID-19 seriously, and now that the president and many of those around him have shown that their actions definitely result in contracting the virus, they need to change their approach. From a public health, leadership, and human standpoint, the Trump administration has failed to set a good example for the American people. This is NOT how to lead. They should have been masking, encouraging and modeling physical distancing, and following the science. Let's hope that going forward they change their ways. 

Also, it is unfortunate to report that overweight and obesity contribute to the outcome of COVID-19. People with obesity are more than 2x as likely to be hospitalized, have 75% greater risk of going to the ICU, and 48% greater risk of dying. This does not mean that ALL overweight/obese people will have severe disease, but a greater percentage. I talk about ways to mitigate the risk using basic health practices, eating whole foods, hygiene, and supplementation. 

Radio Naturopath Episode 274: COVID-19 and Aerosol Spread; Swimming and Health, Uterine Fibroids, Gray Hair

This week, I talked about contested evidence that COVID-19 is spread in great part by aerosols, in addition to droplets. It's not spread as easily by fomites, by touching objects and transmitting to your face. Also, even though it is spread by aerosol, in order to contract it you really need sustained, close contact with someone who is shedding virus. There are households where only one member contracts the virus while others are able to distance from that person. This virus is apparently not as easily caught as measles, where 90% of people surrounding a measles-infected person can contract it. So, distancing, masking, sanitizing really do help. The worst situations for contracting this virus are those where people are talking, shouting, or singing for sustained periods: bars, parties, events, indoor areas with lots of people and poor ventilation, or anywhere where people have sustained close contact, especially if they are not masked. This is helpful to know how to avoid it, but it makes schools, bars, restaurants, gyms, yoga and dance studios, and house gatherings, and large events very problematic. 

We also talked about the health benefits of swimming; red root for uterine fibroids; and pantothenic acid for graying hair. It's on Owncloud.