Radio Naturopath

This week, I found an article that discussed the LUTEAL UGLIES. That's when people who menstruate feel LOUSY the second half of their cycle. The article I read said that it's due to declining estrogen, but I think it's really due to estrogen dominance. I discuss how that happens and what you can do about it. Then, we talked about how plant-based diets help to stem the risk of diabetes more than low-carb diets! That's exciting news for people who don't want to eat a lot of animal protein. Having said that, I still believe that the right diet for YOU is the (insert your name here) diet. Naturopathic medicine is all about biochemical and general human individuality!Support the show

This week, I talked about the senate hearings with Anthony Fauci. Hero, or no? I encouraged everyone to remember that he WAS a hero during the AIDS crisis, and he helped research and getting medicine into the hands of people who desperately needed it. For COVID, we need to remember that there were everyday heroes that helped very sick people, especially early on. I have spoken with nurses who cared for COVID patients and they were indeed very sick. It's not useful to blame someone for the cause of the pandemic, or even side effects from the vaccines. Everyone was doing the best that they could with what they knew at the time, and the best thing to do is to help people who are still ill and also to figure out what happened and how we can do better, using a team approach. Right now it seems to be a sport to set up people on opposite sides of an issue and let them fight it out. I am SO tired of this!I also talked about the benefits of a lower protein diet. I also talked about the benefits of a higher protein diet. The final answer is that there is an amount of protein that is JUST RIGHT for you!Support the show

This week, it was a potpourri! We talked about how coffee can postively affect the microbiome. As long as you can tolerate it, it appears that coffee is a superfood! Then we found a shocker: chronic physiological stress leads to cognitive decline. So, stress reduction helps it! And did you know that Vitamin C can help to prevent cancer? Eat some lettuce and tomato with your cold cuts! And mast cells may be related to irritable bowel syndrome. So, if you're getting seasonal allergies, your IBS may be worse! We help you sort that out. Support the show

This week, I reviewed the cyclosporiasis outbreak a little more; not much has changed. I'm waiting to hear a friend's experience with treatment. Then, I got into how much caffeine is enough, or too much? According to the American Heart Association, 400 mg is fine for most people! It's NOT fine for me. I'd be wired, tired, heart skipping beats, and headaches! Hence individualized medicine. Then we talked about whether bergamot can really help lower cholesterol, and cocoa flavanols and heart health. Support the show

This week, we reviewed the latest on cyclosporiasis. Hint: DON'T stop eating produce. Shop local! Go the farmer's markets and talk to the actual farmers about their growing practices! Then, it was all about cholesterol. There's a new drug on the market, an oral PCSK-9 inhibitor, before which there were only injectables. Is it a good idea to focus so much on lowering cholesterol? I talk about the importance of addressing oxidative stress, and how it's at least as important as lowering cholesterol levels. Then we discussed a few supplements. I'm a big fan of amla!Support the show

This week, I started off mentioning the smoky skies due to the Canadian wildfires, and that it's not the best idea in the world to spend a lot of time outdoors while it's here. It can definitely affect people already compromised by allergies, asthma, COPD, and other lung conditions. Then we got into what's going on with cyclospora parasite outbreak, what's likely the cause, how likely you are to get it, and how to protect yourself. Spoiler: you're not really likely to get it, since right now there are only 40 known cases in Connecticut. Further spoiler: SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMERS!Then we talked about the longhorned tick and its special concerns; it's more likely to give you anaplasmosis or ehrlichiosis. We finished with more foods that can help to lower cholesterol, and will talk more about cholesterol next week.Support the show

This week, I reviewed the latest on my Lyme treatment, which is not too bad, some antibiotics, herbs, and probiotics. Then we talked about the great vitamin K2, whose job is to direct calcium to your bones and away from places you don't want it, like in your knees, kidneys, and arteries. Then on to post-meal probiotic gummies for gum health and fresh breath! We did a bit on alternatives to knee surgery, and then finished with why YOU should participate in open water swimming!Support the show

This week, I reviewed the symptoms of various tick borne illnesses, and what pharmaceuticals are usually given for acute illness. I also discussed herbs that can be helpful, including oregano oil I talked about tick borne relapsing fever, which is more common west of the Rockies, and is not caused by the Lyme species we usually have in New England, but by Borrelia hermseii. We talked about symptoms and treatment. Then, to lighten the mood, we talked about a British study that showed that people who drink fruit juice have better moods than those who don't, regardless of whether they also eat fruit! I'm going back to drinking a small glass of smoothie in the morning. Support the show

This week, I talked more about treating my Lyme disease with herbs and antibiotics, and some of the pitfalls. It's a slow process, good days and bad days. I also talked about how important it is to make sure your lymphatic system is functioning properly so that you can carry the waste products of the microbes out of your system. Food, exercise, herbs! Then we talked about the Summer Solstice, what it actually is and how to observe. We finished with a study that shows that resistance training can extend your life!Support the show

This week, I talked about having accepted that yep, I have active Lyme disease again, and how I'm treating it. Amoxicillin to take the top off, all kinds of Buhner herbs to fight Lyme and coinfections, and probiotics to keep my immune system healthy and to replace what the antibiotics are killing. Gentle exercise, no cycling , and rest rest rest. As I'm sitting here typing this I can see my bike club riding past my house on the way back from a ride I was suppose to be on. Well, I will keep treating and hope that I feel well enough to ride in a few weeks!Support the show

This week, I talked about post-viral syndrome that can happen to anyone, and also to people with long COVID or long vax syndromes. It's where your immune system stays kicked up even after fighting off a current infection, and gives you symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, cough, and digestive upset. We talk about help for this. Then, we had a listener ask for a review of tick repellants and tick born illness, so we got started on that. We also talked about the dreaded Lone Star Tick. Better not to be bitten by one of those!Support the show

This week, I talked about the dreaded DEMODEX BLEPHARITIS, that nasty mite that loves to hand out in your eyelids. There are natural and pharmaceutical ways of eradicating it and we talk about them! As if that's not bad enough, there's TOENAIL FUNGUS, natural help for that too, but the pharmaceuticals work faster. We finish with how sham surgery can help knee pain better than meniscus repair.Support the show

This week, I talked about hydration especially in the heat. It's really important! There's different mineral levels based on your sweat and activity level, and even glycerol for hyperhydration!We also talked about using technology to encourage folks to drink adequate fluids to prevent kidney stones, and it was found to be difficult! But it wasn't because hydration doesn't work, it's just that even when you encourage people to drink, they don't always get it done! So, if you tend to get kidney stones, it's STILL a good idea to hydrate. Support the show

This week, I had an epidural pain injection, so I talked about the experience. Overall: thumbs up! The worse thing for me, as usual, was the pre-procedure anxiety. Otherwise it went very well! Then, I talked about a hot topic: FOOD NOISE. It's a recently coined term and it isn't even in the Oxford Dictionary yet! The first time I heard it, I knew EXACTLY what it meant. The term is popular because those GLP-1 drugs calm it down. Can you calm it without GLP-1s? Yes, but it's not easy. It's a very interesting social term, borne of a society with marked food abundance and the very natural response of wanting to eat when food is available. I finished today talking about supplements that can be helpful after surgical procedures, in honor of Ron. Support the show

This week, we got into modern natural dental care, and why we tend to get more cavities as we age. Some people have none, some a few here and there, and some lose most of their teeth! So we talk about fluoride vs. hydroxyapatite, microbiome and probiotics, and should you do an oral rinse?Ron just had a hernia repair, so we talked about foods that can help hasten recovery. Hint: protein, protein, protein!Support the show

This week, we talked about Ron's unfortunate situation with a bowel blockage, what causes it and how to manage it. When it's very acute, it involves an overnight stay in the hospital. To prevent it, it involves some diet alteration. I also offered some turmeric, which is a great anti-inflammatory. We hope it doesn't happen again!I talked about the health benefits of two great antioxidants, astaxanthin and resveratrol. Great for cardiovascular, genetic, eye health, and more! I then started into foods that can help to keep cholesterol low. Support the show

This week, I talked about foods that can interfere with fat loss. Hazelnuts and kiwi fruit, right??? Shocking stuff. Ultra processed foods, sugar, refined carbohydrates, juice and sweetened drinks, non-organic animal products. We also talked about how early menopause can increase a woman's risk of cardiovascular disease. Less hormones means less resilient blood vessels, more need for repair, and more likelihood of blockage!Support the show

This week, we talked about iron deficiency anemia, because Ron has it! We think it's from the baby aspirin he took for four years as directed by his cardiologist. He stopped, and he's now taking iron. We hope he'll get his energy  back soon! I also gave an update on the surgery I don't need for my back, and I what I AM doing. Ice, ice, baby! We finished with the health reasons it's important to sleep in complete darkness, and how you can do it. Support the show

This week, I talked about local herbs and how they can help, like autumn olive, goldenrod, and chicory. I continued the series on better sleep, with a good mention of yoga nidra, a guided meditation that can really help with good sleep and energy! We also focused on the best temperature for sleep. Support the show

This week, the MRI showed that I have post-surgical epidural fibrosis over my L4 left thecal sac and left L4 nerve root! That is the likely cause of my continuing femoral nerve pain. I will see the neurosurgeon this week to find out next steps. Meanwhile, I've gotten going on a number of natural remedies to help. I went to the CNPA Conference and got smarter! There were all sorts of things to learn. We talked about the circadian cycle, hormones, sleep, and weight management. Yoga Nidra increases alpha and theta brain waves and helps with sleep. Cell salts can be used to help anything, so simple and powerful! We had a great talk about MCAS, mast cell activation, too. Support the show

This week, I talked about monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) and what they can do for you. All good stuff, mostly related to cardiovascular health! Then I talked about two of the best nuts to get MUFAs, macadamia and pistachios. They're good for you in so many ways! Then I talked about sleep: why you don't sleep as well when you age, and then started on many ways to sleep better. Good sleep is key to health!Support the show

This week, I talked about how an electrostim device may be helpful for back pain, nerve pain, and spinal stenosis pain. Just attach electrodes and get an auto-massage! Then, CREATINE, it's all the rage, and probably can be helpful for you too! The Mediterranean diet is studied to be protective against stroke risk in women. And, what's up with that Dubai chocolate craze, and where did all the pistachios go??? We started a series on SLEEP, as in why you should go to bed earlier. Support the show

This week, I talked about what it's like to get a tooth extraction! No straws, no hot/spicy, no crunchy! Then I talked about LOWER respiratory illnesses, since I talked about UPPER ones last week. Coughs and mucus, supplements and herbs to take, teas to drink, and lots of hydrotherapy! We finished with how to prevent and treat GI bugs naturally. Hint: wash EVERYTHING, a lot!Support the show

This week, I did a review of natural care for colds and flus, since people are gang-housed indoors and spreading the viruses! Neti-pots, nasal sprays, teas, herbs, vitamins, rest, diet, all the things! Your natural primer for your winter immune system.Support the show

This week, I talked about what it was like to get laser iridotomy surgery! As with most things, it wasn't that bad. Still using drops for a few more days and will have the next one later in the month. I then talked about lots of ways to celebrate Valentine's Day when you're single, with the NEXT topic, great ideas for self care! Then I went on to why chocolate is good for you, which bears repeating this time of year. Support the show

This week, I gave the update on my femoral nerve (may be over-exercising) and my narrow angles (going to have the iridotomies!) We talked about narrow angles and how they are treated. Looks like they're more conservative in the UK and China; in the US, you get those iridotomies! We talked about natural ways to keep that intraocular pressure low, including herbs, and things to avoid if you have narrow angles. Then we finished up with the last of those easy New Year's resolutions!Support the show

This week, I talked about getting a PRP (platelet rich plasma) injection in my right knee to treat osteoarthritis. It was a fairly easy experience! I have minor swelling, and Dr. Zach said expect it to improve slowly over a couple of weeks. I also got diagnosed with NARROW ANGLES in my eyes WITHOUT increased eye pressure, but I need to see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. I am at risk for acute angle closure glaucoma, which is vision-threatening. However, I think because I have normal pressure I'm at less risk. I'd be happier if I were seeing the ophthalmologist TOMORROW.   Then I discussed the new upside food pyramid from the USDA. I am mostly in favor of it! It encourages people to cut way back on processed food, starches and sugars, and to consume more protein and produce, things I have been encouraging my patients to do for years. Nutritionists complain that it encourages more red meat, but that advice is more nuanced and I discuss that. Support the show

This week, I talked about lingering nerve issues for both myself and Ron since our respective surgeries. I have discovered that compression is helpful, specifically compression wear! I have most of my discomfort in my lateral left thigh, and when I wear a sleeve in that area, it significantly calms the discomfort, at least while I'm wearing it. Ron finds leg/foot sleeves helpful for his foot neuropathy. It at least feels better for a while! I also talked about, you guessed it, New Year's Resolutions. They mostly have to do with being kind to yourself, especially around food. More of that next week! Support the show

This week, I gave the wrapup for popular health news and topics in 2025. People were interested in longevity and healthy aging; those notorious GLP-1 and GIP drugs for weight loss; the best vitamins, minerals, and supplements for health. Big stories dealt with when the body starts aging rapidly; protein powders and lead levels; measles outbreaks and vitamin A. We finished with a discuss of a study that shows that most people in the world don't get enough essential fatty acids, and ways to do that. Support the show

This week, I talked about this cold that's going around, that prevented me from making a new show last week! It makes you tired, the mucus goes backwards and gives you a sore throat, and the thing sticks around for 2-4 weeks. Good times! Here's all sorts of natural ways to address it. I also talked about how higher levels of serum Vitamin D can be protective against repeat heart attacks and strokes, and what blood levels are ideal. Support the show

This week, it was a hodgepodge of good stuff! First, we talked about Japanese fitness walking, or interval walking training (IWT). Gentler than high intensity interval training, and so many health benefits! Then we discussed how longer, sustained walks positively affect health. And the five essential Japanese morning exercises! We touched on red light therapy for healing, then went on to how dehydration increases anxiety. Who knew? And sleep: get better sleep to prevent dementia, and power naps for better focus, cognition, and productivity. Support the show

This week, I talked about the removal of the black box warning on hormone replacement therapy. Evidence shows that supplemental hormones overall provide more benefit than harm, for cardiovascular, sexual, and mental health. There is still a general warning about the risk of endometrial cancer. But it will be left to pharmaceutical companies to provide information, such as on package inserts, about possible risks of taking these medicines. The idea is that the risks that were stated after the Women's Health Initiative Study were overblown, and millions of women since then have been denied information and opportunity to benefit from supplemental hormones during menopause. However, herbalist Susun Weed doesn't agree with this, and believes it's not necessary to use exogenous hormones during menopause. There are definitely many non-hormonal, helpful lifestyle changes to make that can mitigate menopausal symptoms. Where do I fall? Somewhere in the middle. I have definitely seen patients' lives change for the better while using supplemental hormones. I have also seen patients do very well with non-hormonal menopause therapies. Let's sort this out!Support the show

This week, I talked about PRP, and how it's a solution for joint pain that can make it so that you can hold off having a joint replaced, if it works. I'm definitely interested, so I'll return to my orthopedic doctor and see what he thinks. Then I gave a big reminder about winter hydration, since people tend to suddenly hydrate less with the sharp turn from early October shorts weather to mid-November fleece and woolies! Then, in keeping with day-before-Thankgiving show tradition, we talked about yummy, healthy things to eat on Thanksgiving. Support the show

This week, I talked about a number of timely subjects! We started with why bioflavonoids are good for you. It's the antioxidants! We talked about the specific, precious herb saffron, which is turns out is good for mood, PMS, cardiovascular disease, and much more! Then we finished off menorrhagia, heavy menstrual bleeding, which affects so many women from early to late child-bearing age. We ended with something sweet: the health benefits of honey! You can even have some if you have Type 2 diabetes!Support the show

This week, I talked about the pros and cons of fasted vs. fueled exercise. They both have their pros and cons, but if you want to perform, you gotta eat. Especially women. Studies on fasted exercise were mostly done on men! Here's some ideas of what to eat, or how and when to NOT eat.I also talked about a popular natural medicine topic, senolytics. Stuff that slows aging! Mostly they're bioflavonoids and antioxidants, and they help prevent cellular damage and help with the excretion of built-up, used cells. We talk about some senolytics foods and supplements too!Support the show

This week, I talked about remembering the 5th of November, all about Guy Fawkes Day! Bonfires, burning Guy Fawkes in effigy, and a reason to get together and get warm around a celebratory fire when it's cold and dark outside!I then talked about the main topic, heavy menstrual bleeding, which is alarmingly common. There's lots of natural help that can be tried before resorting to pharmaceuticals and surgery. Natural medicine can be a great help for this common and difficult condition!Support the show

This week, of course we had to discuss healthier versions of Halloween candy, and also how to preserve the health of your teeth when indulging in sweets. Hint: drink water, brush your teeth and preserve your enamel! I didn't know what sugar skulls were made of, but traditionally, they're made of sugar! Surprise! You can also get edible ones. I talked about the tradition of the sugar skull and generally about Day of the Dead and Halloween. We got started with how menorrhagia, excessive menstrual bleeding, is treated conventionally, and next week we'll move on to naturopathic treatments.Support the show

This week, we talked about the big news about how there could be too much lead in your protein powder, because Consumer Reports put out the results of their studies on brand names. My ultimate thought is it's still possible to use these powders safely if you generally eat a healthy diet and don't overdo the powders. Also, some types of powders have less lead than others. It's right here!We then discussed more health benefits of monounsaturated fats, and whether seed oils are good for you. For seed oils, the problem is they degrade more easily, get oxidative damage when heated, and then incorporate into your cell membranes making them less functional. Avocados!Support the show

This week, I talked about HUSK CHERRIES, also known as golden berries, which are grown in tropical areas, and also Mansfield. We have been scarfing them at our house! Turns out, they have a lot of great health benefits. I also talked about alternative therapies and breast cancer, since this is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Should you take supplements? MAYBE. I finished by starting to discuss MUFAs, monounsaturated fatty acids and why they're good for you. Fancy some olive oil?Support the show

This week, I updated about my postsurgical progress. Then we talked some more about whether acetaminophen can actually cause autism. Hint: probably not, and there's some interesting points, such as the condition that caused the pregnant person to choose acetaminophen can be suspect for leading to developmental issues. That would be correlation, not causation. Many issues to discuss! We then went on to a tried and true topic, why omega 3 fats and fish oil is good for you. It does so many great things! Skin, brain, bones, inflammation, pain. Support the show

Well, RFK Jr. and President Trump are trying to make sure that pregnant folks don't take acetaminophen while they're pregnant. Is that necessary? My feeling is that it's probably OK if not done in excess. Is it a CAUSE of autism? Of course not! Autism has a lot of genetic components. It's possible that the increase in oxidation of the metabolites by glutathione can flip on some genes, but it would NOT be a primary cause. Autism has so many factors, genes involved, and presentations, and it requires treating each person as you see them for whatever specifics are going on with them. Support the show

This week, I talked about the controversy of whole vs. skim milk, the pros and cons of each, which there are a few. Is the fat good for you or not? It depends on who you ask, but mostly whole milk is OK! I also discuss the problems of consuming dairy from non-humans at all. Some people, based on their specific health issues, really shouldn't be having dairy at all! Then I compared a few of the non-dairy milk substitutes for health and general benefits. Hint: they're really not high in protein, and rice milk is WAY too high in carbs!Support the show

This week, we talked about a few supplements to stop before surgery. Then we moved on to Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, a group of conditions that involve faulty ability to produce collagen in various parts of the body. Most commonly, people with EDS have hypermobile joints, but may also have dysfunction in the skin, heart, and blood vessels. Each person presents differently, so as always in naturopathic medicine, we treat the whole person!We moved on to plantar fasciitis (ouch), a painful condition of dysfunction of the covering of the sole of the foot. We discussed stretching, massage, acupuncture, and ways to soothe pain and get that circulation back into the soles of the feet. Support the show

This week, I talked about my upcoming surgery, and why you have to stop your nutritional supplements beforehand. It has to do with whether the supplement causes blood thinning, as they're concerned that you won't heal as well. So, I have to go through my myriad supplements and decide which ones are anti-platelet aggregators, meaning they make those blood clotting cells less sticky!Then, I did a review of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the USA. We talked about diagnosis and treatment, both conventional and natural. We finished with an interesting study: it was found that a simple gait change could help people with pain from osteoarthritis in their knees! Since I have that, I'm going to try it!Support the show

This week, I talked about my experience getting that dreaded mammogram callback! Thank goodness the spot they viewed is likely benign. It's important to get those screenings so that you can treat anything early.We went on to finish out why eating Mediterranean style is so good for you. Fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, clean protein, whole foods in general. Surprise!Forest bathing is good for the soul and honeydew melon is good for your body. We talk about why!I uploaded the show to File Station and created a blogpost at whus.org. Support the show

This week, I talked with Ron about our advancing health situations. I'm likely going to have a laminectomy (short procedure spinal repair) for my spinal stenosis. Ron is healing more and more every day, still getting sore but managing it, riding the bike mostly indoors! I also talked about how women get mammograms, have a finding that needs another look, and have the follow-up several weeks into the future while they wait and worry, and how that's of questionable ethics, especially when often the result is normal. Of course, it's necessary to investigate findings that could not be definitively noted on first look, but I think every effort should be made to not have the woman wait for further diagnosis an inordinate amount of time. We also talked about some fun stuff: a few more stress reduction items including deep breathing, why watermelon is good for you, why nightshades are probably ALSO good for you, and why the Mediterranean diet is good for you. Eat those plant foods, healthy fats, and protein!Support the show

This week, I talked specifically about how to lower triglycerides, since I have a number of patients who struggle with that. It's the boring stuff: eating fiber, high quality fatty acids, reducing carbs, and getting regular cardio exercise. There's not a lot of supplements that work better than lifestyle stuff for this, and the drugs have side effects. So eat healthy and get healthy and they'll go down!I also talked about specific ways to lower stress. Everything from self care, taking yoga, and, you guessed it, eating a healthy diet! By the way, eating a healthy diet is actually more important than whatever you actually wind up weighing. Support the show

This week, I talked about how ultraprocessed foods really aren't good for you, and ow and why. Surprise. A:so, why whole, unprocessed foods ARE good for you. Your health will be a lot better if you eat less chemicals, more produce, fiber, clean protein, legumes, nuts and seeds! I also have a bit about some life habits that can keep you healthier. I started talking about blood triglycerides, why it's important to keep them low, and how to do that. Support the show

This week, I talked about yummy taro root, which can be used like a potato in soups and salads, or as a powder for part of your favorite latte. It has resistant starch and fiber which are great for gut health! I also talked about electrolyte drinks and their pros and cons. Mostly, I think drinking some is a good idea! I also talked about the bumper crop of ticks and how to make some natural insect repellent. Support the show

This week, I talked about the heatlh benefits of ube, the purple yam, and how it's NOT taro. They're similar, but ube is ALWAYS purple and taro is not. We'll discuss taro next week! Then we talked about the benefits of carbohydrates and protein for peri- and post-menopausal athletes, taking from Selene Yeager and Stacy Sims, two terrific researchers. We started with supplements for fat loss. Hint: it's the LEAST important thing to do. This week, we discussed conjugated linoleic acid, CLA. Support the show