APRIL 21, 2011 THE FEEL GOOD HORMONE

"WISDOM IS THE BEST GUIDE AND FAITH IS THE BEST COMPANION" - Dalai Lama

What am I without faith? I am nobody. I have faith. I do think I had faith as a child but lost that faith in G.O.D. for many reasons as I grew older. The big picture was that the origin of my faith, the Roman Catholic Church, has no place for a gay man. As I grow older, I have forgiven the overall catholic religion. It is not their fault. It was the fault of the older priest who actually asked me to leave the confessional box when I told him about my life at age 17. It was unfortunate for me to say the least. It did not help my self esteem at that time. I know better today what is right for me. The faith I have in the G.O.D. of my understanding is unique to me. It is the G.O.D. of my understanding--not what I was taught in church or school.

I have the wisdom to know the difference.

By the way the above is the last line from the 12 step Serenity Prayer.

The 'Feel Good Hormone", serotonin is not really a hormone but a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) that is within our brain and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. I say GI tract but actually it is the small intestine. You need a clean, functioning, non-insulted small intestine with NO inflammation. When inflammation starts in the small intestines, you cannot produce the serotonin which is then sent to the brain.

Did you even know that serotonin is produced in the intestines? Probably not because it is always heard that it is a brain 'hormone'. But, the enterochromaffin (EC) cells in the intestines produce about 80 - 90% OF THE HUMAN BODY'S TOTAL SEROTONIN.

So an insulting injury to the intestines such as a food allergy, excessive yeast, heavy metal intoxication and even a chronic infection can alter the serotonin level by decreasing its output from the intestines.

Any one of the four can be insulting to the small intestines. It is difficult for a lay person to grasp the idea that there is gut-brain communication. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, but also a gastrointestinal hormone which plays a role in many of the GI disturbances (diarrhea, vomiting, bloating and flatulence). The latter two are most likely caused by a food allergy or yeast overgrowth. This might mean you eat too much bread, pasta, cakes, cookies, vinegar products, dried fruit, peanuts, cantaloupe and much more. Oh yes-- let's not forget the beer, wine and alcohol. All are yeasty.

Until tomorrow...

APRIL 20, 2011 HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU KID

"Never let yourself be drawn into other people's priorities at the cost of your inner peace."

My inner peace is nurtured by being close to nature. I felt that strongly while studying in Ithaca. I felt this way as a child. Although the studies in Ithaca were about plants, I also have an affinity for other aspects of nature---animals, water, landforms, sunlight, wind... My mentor, 7 song allowed me to publish the above photographs. He must have inner peace while observing the frogs, foxes and newts. The photographs brought happiness to my heart and a smile to my face. I am grateful that he allowed me to post them.

This summer will be a test of my inner peace and endurance. I am meditating and praying for a drama free season. I want to really 'live' among the plants, the bees, the bats, and the flowers. I am not accustomed to seeing amphibians but I have read that there are about 30 species of amphibians and reptiles living on or visiting the Fire Island National Seashore. This ranges from the giant leather back sea turtle to the quiet, remorseful Fowler's toad. I have never seen a fox on the island, but we have tame deer with a large population estimated at 600-800. The red fox used to be a commonly seen mammal on the island.

We are losing the herbaceous plants and small trees every year. I do not want to think that in time we may never see an old American Holly, Sassafras or Black Cherry.

Be drawn to the inner beauty of yourself. Be drawn to nature and its wonder. Be drawn to flowers. Be drawn to learning something new. My next learning experience is to record the bird species on the island. I have been told that Fire Island is the best birding location. We will see.

PHOTO CREDIT: 7SONG

Until tomorrow...

APRIL 19, 2011 CANCER ..IT CANNOT CONQUER THE SPIRIT

WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO...

It cannot cripple love

It cannot shatter hope

It cannot corrode faith

It cannot destroy peace

It cannot supress memories

It cannot silence courage

It cannot steal eternal life

It cannot conquer the SPIRIT

Cancer sucks...We all know that, but I have seen individuals with cancer living amazing lives. Those who completely turn their lives around. These individuals still have cancer, but seek out inner peace, strength, and love. It all depends on the attitude. Some patients find it difficult to continue struggling especially when their cancer is already metastatic (spreading). I can understand this and sympathize. When I read the above message I was moved to tears. Unfortunately I have witnessed first hand what this disease can do, and in some cases I was there when the individual(s) took their last breath. I was whispering words of love in their ear while holding their hands. I am grateful--deeply grateful to be a small part in their lives.

Breast cancer is the common form of cancer among women in Europe, North and South America, and Australia. I see more women with breast cancer now than I did five or six years ago. It is estimated that between 1 in 4 to 1 in 6 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

There are still conflicting opinions about the role of soy in cancer. We do know that phyotestrogrens may confer protective effects against estrogen induced tumorigenesis. These phytoestrogens can be found in soy as a food, but there is still a matter of who is lecturing or writing on the subject.

I do not think there is an easy answer to this apparent conundrum. Be informed, be well read and be assertive.

Many herbs are used for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. I do recommend two books to read. One is Intergrative Oncology, by Matthew Mumber . The other book is by Donald Yance titled Herbal Medicine, Healing Cancer . Ralph Moss wrote another book which I recommend. Check out http://www.cancerdecisions.com/

Until tomorrow...

APRIL 18, 2011 MANUKA HONEY

"WHEN SOMEONE WE LOVE BECOMES A MEMORY...THE MEMORY BECOMES A TREASURE."

A loving memory of someone whether alive or deceased is important for all of us to continue on with our lives. I have many memories of family, children, and my partner who are all still alive and well. Anyone we love becomes a memory in our minds, and the memory becomes a treasure. We build countless treasures. Sometimes these treasures are years of memories of the past long long ago and the individual in the treasured memory is no longer with us. Recently a patient who was a friend and part of 'my family' through the years passed on. I treated him for a long time. He now is part of a treasured memory . I can remember him at Beth Israel Medical Center getting his pacemaker. I loved his nonchalant attitude and stern face. You couldn't help but love him. No individual with any disease must suffer. His suffering is done. I do believe he is in a better place. He reminded me so much of my dad.

I will miss him. Memories are true treasures.

Let's continue with bees. Who doesn't love honey? Honey has long been revered for its antimicrobial properties. At the University of Wales, Professor Rose Cooper is studying how Manuka honey can interfere with the growth of three (3) different bacteria that can infect wounds. They are Group A streptococci, MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Have you ever heard of Manuka honey? Probably not. I did but never paid too much attention to it until I started getting involved with honeybees. Manuka honey is derived from the nectar collected by honey bees foraging on the Manuka tree in New Zealand. Manuka honey is included in some licensed wound care products.

YOU GOT TO LOVE THE BEES... Every part of the hive is used by the bees. The beekeeper can use every part of the hive made by the bee as well. We have discussed the Honey. whether Manuka honey and all other honey it is made from nectar from plants foraged (gathered), modified and stored in the honeycomb by the bees. Honey will not rot or ferment. For those just learning about bees - a good beekeeper always respects his bees and doesn't take all the honey.

I honestly do not feel we as physicians, or rather herbalists, fully understand the potential benefits of honey. Studies show that Manuka honey hampers the attachment of bacteria to wounds. More studies need to be done. Let's face the facts. We are over using antibioitcs. We as physicians are causing resistance by always using 'big gun' antibioitcs. We need to find alternatives. Manuka honey, as well as other honeys are viable antibioitc substitutes. We also know there are herbal antibioitcs like berberine, goldenseal, yarrow and countless others.

After the honey is harvested, the Beeswax can be gathered to be used for various wax products like seals and candles. I bought wax last year for making herbal salves and ointments. Only worker bees of a certain age will secrete beeswax from a series of glands on their abdomen.

The Propolis is a resinous mixture that the honey bees collect from tree buds and other botanical sources. The propolis has been touted for many health benefits, but more studies need to be conducted. The same is true of the Royal Jelly

Until tomorrow...

APRIL 17, 2011 APIS MELLIFICA

DREAMS have no expiration dates...

LOVE has no boundaries...

IMAGINATION has no limits...

I wish every child would get this message of encouragement from their parents. I always have had a vivid imagination. I love that all of my dreams have no expiration date, because some of them have been in the works for many years. Since there are no expiration dates I can dream on till I am no longer here. What a wonderful concept. I always knew love had no boundaries, but unfortunately society through the ages has always put boundaries on love between individuals. Society is biased in many ways. It has challenged the love between different races and economic classes, between men and men, and women and women. These society related boundaries have not overcome the love between individuals thus far, and I know they never will.

As bee season approaches I have become fascinated with all things related to bees (Apis mellifica), one of which is Royal Jelly. This thick milky white, creamy substance is consumed by the Queen Bee all her life. It is made by special glands of the worker bees. If the queen did not have the royal jelly, she would fail to develop.

The Western honey bee or European honey bee is known as Apis mellifera. The genus Apis is Latin for Bee and mellifera comes from Latin meaning 'honey' and 'ferre' (to bear)-- thus honey bearing bee. This was coined by the Father of Botany --Carolus Linnaeus in 1758. When you see a plant genus and species with the italic 'L' - you know it was coined by Linnaeus. He tried to correct it to honey making bee - Apis mellifica when he realized that bees to not bear honey, but use nectar to make honey.

Both workers and queens are fed royal jelly during the first three days of the larval stage. Then the workers are switched to a diet of pollen and nectar or diluted honey, while those intended queens will continue to receive royal jelly. What is it about the 'royal jelly'?

Then we have the whole honeybee as a homeopathic remedy. This was discoverd by Rev. Brauns in Germany in 1835. It is a popular remedy and its preparation has changed through the years. Some of these changes improved its efficacy. Older preparations left the stinger and venom as part of the preparation. Today the homeopathic remedy made from the stinger of the honey bee is termed Apium virus.

Not much has changed with the use of Apis mellifica in homeopathic remedies. Years and years ago, the bees were seldom touched by the men who cared for them. By using movable frames, bee keepers may now have a relationship with their bees, which I believe is a good thing. I hope to develop a close relationship with my bees like I have read about and even seen in individuals like Chris Harper (http://www.honeybeelives.org/ ) The movable frames allow more beekeeper control of swarming thus breeding a gentle bee like the Italian. I will have Russian Honeybees from the Kremlin.

Increased use of pesticides in food production has caused bees to become contaminated with pesticides. Many bees have also been treated with other chemicals in an effort to help them fight off viruses and other diseases that have afflicted them more and more over this same time period. The result is pesticides and chemicals being taken back to the hive and contaminating the source of the homeopathics. Bees used as the source of Apis mellifica homeopathic remedy are no longer pure and free of contaminants.

Until tomorrow...

APRIL 16, 2011 DRYING YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER

"All of our dreams come true...if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney

I do believe that all dreams can come true if we pursue them. It does take a lot of courage to pursue your dreams. I have tried to the best of my ability to follow my dreams. I still have some dreams left. I have one special dream that I have only shared with my life partner. It is a special moment in our hearts.

Wants and dreams are two separate things. There are a few, very few things I want in life. I had the courage to go back to a medicine fellowship and to study herbs/botany.

An artistic, nature loving, and nurturing hobby is to dry flowers. The appearance and sometimes the aroma of a flower can be preserved by careful drying. Dried flowers can still look alive and the bright vivid colors may last for months. I enjoy the beauty of garden fresh cut flowers most of all, but dried flowers are next on my list followed distantly by silk flowers.

There are three ways to dry flowers: 1. pressing 2. air drying and 3. using dehydrating agents or desiccants. I still have a dried red rose from March 1994 (which was the beginning of my sober journey). It is stored in a Congenital Heart Disease book. It is amazing what I remember. I pressed the flower between two heavy objects.

Air drying involves hanging a bunch of tied flowers upside down in a warm, dark dry room. I have also done this method of drying. The third method is using agents such as alcohol, powder, borax or sawdust to preserve flowers. I have never dried flowers with this method.

I would love a large kitchen with dried flowers and herbs hanging upside down in various places. Or perhaps one day I will have an Herbal work shop on our farm. Now there is a DREAM!

Check out http://www.pressed-flowers.com/

How long do you think people have been drying flowers? Well you will never believe this but dried flowers were found in a 4,000 year old Egyptian tomb.

I know from my herb/botany readings that some botanists preserved their species by drying them.

For your first project, I would suggest drying a small dainty flower. I would suggest a pansy. Instead of just using two heavy books or objects, first cover the flower with tissue or wax paper and then press between the heavy objects. Let it sit for 3-4weeks. You will be amazed how flat like paper these flowers will become.

Until tomorrow...

APRIL 15, 2011 BEING READY....FOR SLEEP

"The best way to prepare for any moment in the future is to be fully conscious in the present."

I do not know if anyone could be prepared for any moment in the future. I was not prepared when my mother died in 1982. I had no inkling that she was ill. I was prepared for my father's death as I was fully conscious in the present at that time. I was returning from graduating the Integrative Medicine Fellowship in Arizona. I left knowing he was very ill, but he did say, "I will be there when you return." He was, yet for only 1 more day. To be fully conscious in the present is knowing who you are, and what your goals and aspirations are. I am reminded of this today, as a close friend/patient/'family member' passed on who always reminded me of my dad. I will miss you, Daniel.

At this time in my life I am prepared for the future. I live each day to the fullest as if it were my last day on Earth. I say good morning to G.O.D. and thank G.O.D. for another day as it ends. (I also say good morning to Gracie, my Amazon Green Parrot every morning.) I reflect on the whole day as it ends. I ask myself if I harmed anyone unknowingly and do I owe anybody an amend or apology. I am prepared for the future. As much as this might sound morbid, I am prepared now if my life were to end. I have lived. I had aspired to be the man I always wanted to be. I have met most, not all of my dreams. I am ready.

Who doesn't want to be ready for a good nights sleep. Adequate quality sleep is just as important and vital to good health, emotional balance and long long longevity. Some people can fall asleep anywhere. I am NOT one of those individuals. I never sleep on a plane even if it is the Red Eye from the west coast to east coast. Some people have trouble falling asleep. Some people have trouble staying asleep. Sleep disorder is classified either as dyssomnias as insomnia, excessive sleeping and narcolepsy.

I want to focus on the most common which is INSOMNIA. There is acute and chronic. The acute form is from one night to a few weeks usually resulting from a stressful situation. I have had those. Have you had any episodes of acute insomnia? The chronic condition can be a result of emotional or medical issues such as chronic pain, anxiety or depression. My chronic insomnia can be traced to my medical residency days when we were required to stay up for 36-72 hours without ANY sleep. A wink here or there. Some chronic insomnia can be due to excessive alcohol, cocaine, caffeine, and other stimulants. If you ever had an addiction this can result in chronic insomnia. I can relate to that also in a distant past. Can you relate to that type of chronic insomnia?

I have read about Yin and Yang insomnia. I didn't know such types existed. This is why I read, research, study and relate. In the Yin type, the patient is exhausted and often pale. It is usually those individuals with no energy. These are the patients with chronic fatigue syndrome due to Epstein Barr Virus (the cause of mononucleosis). I have used the nervines and adaptogenic herbs for this type of insomnia.

For the Yang insomnia, this is an excessive person. This is the type A personality. I also call this individual the Type G or giver. This is the irritable, restless, or agitated person. I am the Type A or Type G with years of therapy, twelve step meetings and sponsorship NOT resulting in agitation and irritability. I still use nervines but personally I do so well with the herb, Passion Flower. I have seen others use Hops, California Poppy and Valerian. I personally have some problems with valerian. Valerian makes me a bit agitated. I have seen that in other patients as well. For those who do not want to take conventional sleep agents like ambien, halcion, or klonepin I recommend herbal treatment.

I also have had great success with a Homeopathic remedy that I use almost every night. It is by HEEL called Neurexan. It is available at http://www.longevitynutritionals.com/ It is a homeopathic using Avena sativa, Passiflora incarnata, and Zincum valerianicum.

I started with 2 sublingual tabs but it is so much better with 4 sub-lingual tabs every night.

Until tomorrow...