Hemp Oil Benefits and Challenges
Cannabinoid rich hemp oil has emerged as a promising botanical therapeutic with both clinical experience and published studies to support its use. The Stanley brothers are largely credited for first awakening the public to its benefits. The six Colorado siblings developed a hemp extract low in ∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in marijuana, and high […]
Read MoreDr. Chris Meletis Inducted into NUNM Hall of Fame
Beaverton, Oregon — Naturopathic physician Chris Meletis was inducted into the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) Hall of Fame on December 1, 2018 in recognition of the vital role he has played in the enhancement of Naturopathic Medicine’s reputation, prestige, and pursuit of excellence. Established in 1956, National University of Natural Medicine is the […]
Read MoreFrom Herbalist to Author: the Writer's Journey
How long does it take to publish a textbook series? For this naturopathic doctor and renowned herbalist, the journey spans nearly a decade. “I think this is the culmination of my many notes and class handouts and conference venues and powerpoint presentations or lecture notes that I would give to students or give to conference attendees. […]
Read MoreNUNM President David Schleich Announces Plans to Retire
Press release courtesy of National University of Natural Medicine PORTLAND, Oregon (Sept. 6, 2018) — National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) President David J. Schleich, PhD, has announced his plans to retire July 1, 2019. During his tenure, NUNM has undergone a period of growth and transformational change, becoming one of the nation’s foremost leaders […]
Read MoreSugar industry's propaganda campaign exposed a half-century later
In the 1960s, British scientist John Yudkin challenged the popular belief that saturated fat and cholesterol were the main dietary factors involved in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease (CHD). Citing epidemiological data and other evidence, Yudkin argued that refined sugar (which at the time was primarily sucrose) was the most important dietary culprit. In […]
Read MoreNutritional Treatments for Opioid Addiction
Addiction to illegal opioid narcotics (such as heroin) and prescription opioids (such as morphine, hydrocodone, and methadone) are major public health problems in the United States. In 2015, approximately 2 million Americans were addicted to prescription pain relievers (obtained legally or illegally) and 591,000 people were addicted to heroin. In that year, 20,101 drug overdose […]
Read MoreWhy niacinamide is one of my favorite nutrients
When I first began studying nutritional therapies in the early 1970s, vitamin C was my favorite nutrient. As I learned more about individual nutrients, magnesium replaced vitamin C at the top of the list, and has remained there ever since. Students in my nutrition classes used to joke that, if they did not know the […]
Read MoreImproving the success rate of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy
In the past few decades, it has become apparent that recurrences of peptic ulcers can be prevented by eradicating Helicobacter pylori, a bacterial infection that occurs commonly in the stomach of ulcer patients. Treatment with a combination of antibiotics, acid blockers (proton pump inhibitors) and sometimes bismuth is often effective for eradicating this infection, but […]
Read MoreFunny, Fearless, Fascinating: a Conversation with Nutritional Medicine Guru, Alan Gaby
We all know the book. Most of us probably have it. For many of us, especially the younger docs, Nutritional Medicine by Alan Gaby, MD, was our go-to reference during interminable student clinic hours and board exam study sessions, and now has a hallowed place of honor on our office bookshelves. Has it been awhile […]
Read MoreIn Service, with Love: How One ND is Changing the Face of Medicine in His Community
Chris Meletis always knew he wanted to help people. After graduating from Reed College in the late 1980s, he went on to continue three years of conventional medical school, determined to provide care to marginalized communities, before realizing that he was almost on the perfect path–but not quite. After a conversation with a naturopathic doctor […]
Read MoreBook Review: Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals, Volume 1
In Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals, Volume 1, the first in a five-volume series, Dr. Jill Stansbury makes a strong case for herbs in clinical case management–with tremendous success. As a licensed naturopathic doctor and esteemed clinical herbalist, Dr. Stansbury shares thirty years of experience with botanical medicine from all over the globe in this […]
Read MoreSkin Deep: Dermal Absorption of Essential Oils
For one reason or another, many of us have applied essential oils topically, either neat (undiluted) or as a blend in a carrier, possibly as part of a clinical aromatherapy application. The integumentary system (the skin) is designed as a selectively permeable barrier to protect the human organism from its external environment.1,2 The inherent nature […]
Read MoreMelaleuca: An Essential Oil Heavy-Hitter in the Battle with MRSA
Tea Tree Oil & Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus It is well-known that the world-wide overprescribing of antibiotics during the last several decades has led to the serious problem of antibiotic-resistant organisms and resultant infections. Agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working to address the issue, […]
Read MoreTwo Confessions and the Birth of NatNotes
Confession: I am not a research junkie. I don’t pour over articles in immunology journals while commuting home on the subway or conduct clinical trials in my spare time. In truth, my protocol is typically to wait for the headline-winning piece to emerge, then fact-check it and verify references before sharing it on my FB […]
Read MoreEducating, Innovating, and Inspiring: a Conversation with Rhiannon Lewis
Want to provide an immersive healthcare experience? Consider clinical aromatherapy, says nurse-turned-clinical aromatherapist, researcher, author, and educator, Rhiannon Lewis. Her heart’s path has called her to bring clinical aromatherapy to the forefront of complementary care, and decades later, it’s clear that her influence circles the globe. Rhiannon Lewis,Clinical Aromatherapist From Bedside to Botanica: A Heart’s […]
Read MoreA Practitioner's Code of Ethics in the Age of Social Media and Partisan Politics
The Backstory After a late night of Facebook bingeing (because sometimes, you really cannot tear your eyes away from the reactions of your “friends” to current events), I woke up one morning feeling a little emotionally bruised from the goings-on in our world, and more than a little weary to take on the onslaught of […]
Read MoreFood, Medicine, and Poison: Solanaceae Family Values
Dr. Jillian Stansbury, botanical medicine professor extraordinaire, joins us on NatNotes as a guest blogger, waxing poetic on the physical and metaphysical aspects of the Solanaceae family of plants! Representative Plant Species Atropa belladonna – Belladonna Datura stramonium – Jimson weed Hyoscyamus niger – Henbit Solanum dulcamara – Bittersweet Nightshade Lycopersicon esculentum – Tomato Tabacum nicotania – […]
Read MoreSharing the Light: An Interview with Dr. Verna Hunt
Have you ever been in the awe-inspiring presence of a living legend? Dr. Verna Hunt, a chiropractor and naturopathic doctor in Ontario and graduate of what is now known as the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, carries with her the flame of wisdom — and she is more than happy to share the light. As […]
Read MoreAlkynes of Awesome: Dr. Tim’s Free Radical Love Has Revolutionized Aromatherapy Chemistry
If you’ve ever met Dr. Timothy Miller, you know that his love for life in general is absolutely insoluble, and his infectious enthusiasm only deepens when he’s talking about two of his greatest loves: aromatherapy and chemistry. (Do you see why aromatherapy chemistry was a perfect calling?!) It’s no secret that truly understanding chemistry […]
Read MoreJourney through the Periodic Table of Elements with Angelica Lemke, ND
While I was a student in the Bastyr University library, I was combing the book stacks and found tucked away a mysterious large blue book called, Homeopathy and the Elements by Jan Scholten, published in 1995. I checked the book out of the library, feeling a deep curious hunger to understand its contents. Looking […]
Read MoreEducar, innovar e inspirar: una conversación con Rhiannon Lewis
¿Quieres brindar una experiencia de atención médica inmersiva? Considere la aromaterapia clínica, dice Rhiannon Lewis, enfermera convertida en aromaterapeuta clínica, investigadora, autora y educadora. El camino de su corazón la ha llamado a llevar la aromaterapia clínica a la vanguardia de la atención complementaria y, décadas después, está claro que su influencia da vueltas por […]
Read MoreIgG Tests for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A Research Summary and Analysis
In this NatNotes blog post, we’re going to be looking at the best trial on IgG testing for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Recently, I have been pouring through all of the studies and there aren’t that many, but all of the studies on food sensitivity testing for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, and this […]
Read MoreMeal Replacement for Diabetes: A Research Summary and Analysis
In this NatNotes blog article, we’re going to look into reversing diabetes with liquefied food. That is a pre-packaged liquid-only meal replacement program. And this was a study done in the United Kingdom by a group of researchers in 2017 and they were looking at diabetes because diabetes is an epidemic affecting huge swaths of […]
Read MoreListing Your Business Online
Listing Your Business for Free Using These Simple Steps One of the key components of running a successful business in today’s age is visibility. With your extensive training as a natural medicine practitioner, you’ve already got the ability, but sadly that’s not enough. People need to see you and get to know you. Even the […]
Read MoreSupporting Busy Women – Lifestyle, Diet, & Medicinal Food
Botanical Insights My practice is filled with busy women who are struggling to work, manage a household, stay fit, and juggle many roles, from careers and families to personal interests and just the basic tasks of life. When the women I work with show an interest in herbs, cooking, classes that I teach, and saving […]
Read MoreHow The Opioid Crisis Affects The Elderly
The number one reason Americans today seek medical attention is pain according to the National Institute of Health. In fact, pain is a more common condition than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. Some of the links on this page may link to our affiliates. Learn more about our ad policies. Table of Contents Opioid Use Among […]
Read MoreHerbs for Weight Loss
We have all seen patients who struggle with their weight and for whom, on taking a look at their diets and their activity levels, we conclude that their biochemical balance must be working against them. Results of tests for thyroid function, diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, and liver function may help us uncover precise diagnoses in […]
Read More“Down Home” Detox
There is a great deal of research available on nutraceuticals, chemical constituents in plants, whole herbs and foods that support systemic detoxification by a variety of mechanisms. I’m not going to write about those this time. Instead, let’s focus on what a whole detoxification regimen might include in addition to those pills and potions. Following […]
Read MoreReview of Herbs for Allergies: Important Options to Remember
We welcome springtime with great joy here in the Pacific Northwest, embracing the sun, the flowers and the fresh green growth after months of winter’s gray drizzle. Many people, however, pay for their delight in the garden and first blush of colorful blooms with respiratory allergies. What really works to reduce this tendency, not only for hay […]
Read MoreHerbal Sexual Tonics for Men: Help or Hype?
Health food stores often have an entire section of products dedicated to enhancing the libido, improving erectile function, and boosting low testosterone, sometimes located right next to the pills that help you gain muscle mass and “burn” fat. Low testosterone levels are frequently demonstrated with modern lab testing, especially in the elder decades of a […]
Read More“Women’S Herbs” For Men
Approximately half of all men experience some symptoms of prostatic hypertrophy in the latter decades of life,1 and American men have an 18% chance of developing prostate cancer.2 Herbal medicine is both therapeutic to and preventive of the development and progression of this common disorder. Most readers will be familiar with the value of nettle root (Urtica species), […]
Read MoreTasty Herbal Options for Children
How many of you have ever struggled to find a botanical medicine that children would take? What can you do when children are too young to swallow pills, tinctures are a bit too vile to consume, and not enough tea can be consumed to do the trick no matter how much licorice you add? Sure, […]
Read MoreHerbal Medicines for Hair Loss
In addition to genetic predisposition to androgenic alopecia and poor circulatory health, stress may exacerbate the process. Acute stress causes hair loss in animals and humans. One investigation of serum cortisol levels and glucocorticoid receptor expression in patients with severe alopecia areata showed a lower expression of glucocorticoid receptors compared to controls1; researchers believe this […]
Read MoreAstragalus: Use of the Herb in the Treatment of Allergy & Autoimmunity
Astragalus membranaceus, going by the common names Huangqui in China, and milk vetch in the United States, is one of the most fundamental herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Astragalus roots have also been used as a medicinal food by slicing longitudinally and simmering in soups; and for culinary purposes, such as a thickening agent, by processing out […]
Read MoreYokukansan: A Traditional Kampo Formula for Dementia
With Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia affecting millions of elders, the need for safe remedies to both halt the progression and help treat symptoms is greater than ever before. One of the greatest challenges for caregivers and family members of patients with cognitive impairment is handling aggression and other disturbing behavioral issues that […]
Read MoreChildhood Infections & Injuries: Topical Herbal Formulas
No one escapes childhood without some scrapes, burns, bruises, and infections. Every herbalist and family physician needs a supply of gentle but effective topical applications for lice, burns, and other common issues. Most readers will be familiar with all-purpose wound-healing agents such as Calendula and Symphytum, both useful as tinctures and teas to apply to cuts and abrasions, as […]
Read MoreRosmarinic Acid for Allergies
Research is growing regarding the use of rosmarinic acid, a safe and ecologically abundant constituent of common herbs that you probably already know and love. Rosmarinic acid is found in rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis of course, and in many Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae) family plants, which are commonly referred to as the mint family, including Coleus species, Lycopus virginia, Lavendula,1 Melissa officianalis,2,3 Nepeta cataria, Ocimum sanctum, Origanum […]
Read MoreSarah was Saved by a Radish: A Case Study of Congenital Biliary Atresia
I first moved to the Pacific Northwest in the early 1980s to attend National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon, and found a wooded rural home with a large friendly family next door. On getting to know the neighbors a bit, they were delighted that I was beginning the naturopathic program and shared that an […]
Read MoreBotanicals for Emotional Illnesses
This article is a bit “out of the box.” As some readers may be aware, I have been living in Peru for 6 months a year for the past 5 years, studying shamanism and ethnobotany with several indigenous Amazonian tribes. Their ideas about mental and emotional illness are so strikingly different from the Western paradigm […]
Read MoreA Long Perspective on Longevity: Antiaging and “Inflammaging”
Over the many millennia of humanity’s evolution, the average life expectancy has increased substantially, from well under 30 years in Paleolithic times to about a world average of 67 years at present. There are striking differences in the average life expectancy in various countries, with Japan and other Asian countries on the high end at […]
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