Vitamin C for Opioid Addiction
What we know about ascorbate for withdrawal and cravings Part 2 in our three-part series on vitamin C, pain, and opioid use disorder. I first heard that vitamin C could help with opioid use disorder when I was asked to write an article on vitamin C, mood, and addiction for Nutrition in Focus. The…
Vitamin C to Ease the Pain
Nutritional support for acute, chronic, surgical, and cancer-related pain Part 1 in our three-part series on vitamin C, pain, and opioid addiction. What do humans have in common with other primates, bats, and guinea pigs? (No, not a love of cheese!) We cannot make L-gulonolactone oxidase (GLO), the enzyme needed to biosynthesize ascorbate (vitamin…
Magnolia Bark for Nervous System and Stress Support
Honokiol and magnolol to soothe stress, mood, and neuroinflammation The bark of the magnolia tree (Magnolia officinalis) is native to China, where it is known as Hou Pu and has been used as a health supplement for thousands of years. Traditionally, magnolia bark has been shown to help with conditions of “nervous tension.”[1] This…
Fighting COVID-19, Pneumonia, and Inflammation with Medicinal Mushrooms
Fungi friends to the rescue! Evidence of the use of mushrooms for medicinal purposes dates as far back as 5,000 B.C.E.[1] Since that time, many clinical studies have confirmed and explained their clinical value. Medicinal mushrooms have been shown to help with a wide variety of ailments through a myriad of mechanisms, but they…
Herbs for Female Libido Support
5 herbal remedies to rev a woman’s engine In the Greek myth, Tiresias struck two snakes in the act of mating and was himself then transformed from a man into a woman. When the Gods Zeus and Hera were later debating whether men or women experienced more pleasure during sex, they called upon Tiresias…
Improving Erectile Health – Part 2 of 2
Nitric oxide support for sexual health In Part 1 of this series, we looked at the physiology of a type of erectile dysfunction (ED) known as endothelial ED and explained the importance of blood vessel health on male sexual function. This week, we will explore some natural strategies, that have good scientific evidence for…
When More Testosterone Doesn’t Help Erectile Health – Part 1 of 2
The role of vascular health on male sexual function “I’m injecting 150 mg of testosterone cypionate every week. I look muscular. I have lots of energy – so much I actually need to take sleeping pills to wind down at night. So why can’t I get a good erection? What is wrong with me?”…
Fat-Soluble Vitamins, Immunity, Vaccinations, and Respiratory Health (Video)
How vitamins A, D, and E help keep us safe all year long In this video, Dr. Erica Zelfand explains the important impact of fat-soluble nutrients on immune function. After explaining the difference between fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, Dr. Zelfand explores the details of how vitamins A and D and different forms of vitamin…
Melatonin and Respiratory Infection Risk in Seniors
How melatonin may stave off pneumonia When most people hear “melatonin,” they think of a sleep-support supplement. Fair enough: the hormone is well shown to support healthy circadian rhythms and improve the quality of sleep. Thanks to melatonin’s strong antioxidant effects, however, it may also play a role in protecting us against the serious…
The Immune-Boosting Power of Lactoferrin
Mother’s milk — for the rest of us The highest concentrations of lactoferrin are found in colostrum, the first form of milk produced by a mother’s mammary glands immediately after she gives birth. But don’t be fooled: lactoferrin supports the health and immune function of adults and babies alike. Lactoferrin has a myriad of…
All About T Helper Cells (Video)
What are T cells and what do they do? No previous knowledge of immunology is required to glean inspiration and insight from this video! Family physician Dr. Erica Zelfand explains the importance of these special white blood cells. She explains how, depending on what they’re exposed to, T-cells can transform into T Helper (Th)…
Innate and Adaptive Immunity (Video)
How the immune system fights off invaders, from splinters to vaccines Our immune systems consist of two parts: the innate (or general) immune system and the adaptive (or acquired) immune system. In this video, family physician Dr. Erica Zelfand explains the basics of these two systems, illuminating how they each fight germs (like bacteria,…
