I’m concerned about my bone density because I was told I have osteopenia. Are all calcium supplements the same? Do you have other recommendations?  –A.F., New York

Answer: Osteopenia, or lower-than-normal bone density, is frequently found in post-menopausal women but can affect men and women of all ages.  Over the past few years, some questionable research suggested a connection between calcium supplements and atherosclerosis. But last November, Harvard researchers presented research showing no connection between calcium supplements and coronary artery calcification. If your doctor suggests calcium supplements for you, here’s some information:

Calcium carbonate: The least expensive form of calcium to manufacture, calcium carbonate is also called bone meal or dolomite.  This requires lots of stomach acid to digest, so very little calcium goes to your bones where needed. Because it stays in the gut, you will find this compound also sold as Tums and Rolaids, two products used to neutralize acid (not for bone growth).

Calcium citrate: The easiest form of calcium to find, calcium citrate is absorbed about as well as calcium carbonate but requires less stomach acid to digest, so it can be taken with or without food.  But be careful, as this type of calcium can sometimes cause headaches. There’s a bunch of brands for this.

Tricalcium Phosphate: Easy to absorb, this is a combination of calcium and phosphorous which your bones (and body) need as well. Nature Made makes adult gummies with this type of calcium.

Calcium aspartate or calcium gluconate: These intelligent forms of calcium offer your body aspartate or gluconate which is used in other metabolic pathways to produce energy. Sometimes this bioavailable form of calcium is combined with vitamin D, magnesium and/or zinc.

Calcium collagen chelate: Minerals that are ingested as chelates, or organic salts offer good absorption and that means less tummy upset. Life Extension and Swanson brands both make this.

Calcium as Microcrystalline Hydroxyapatite (MCHC): This easily absorbed form of calcium is derived from freeze-dried calf bone. This provides other bone-builders like phosphorous, magnesium, zinc, and chromium that nourish your bones. Solaray and Xymogen brands both make this.

For people who don’t drink milk, Hawaiian Spirulina tablets (a blue-green algae) may help. It actually contains 300 percent more calcium than whole milk, plus other minerals. Remember, minerals like calcium are best absorbed when taken in combination with other minerals like strontium, magnesium, and vitamin D.

Other important factors in bone health include adequate levels of vitamin K2 which is involved in clotting. And strontium. It has a two-fold effect on osteoporosis meaning it prevents bone breakdown while also stimulating new bone growth. Medications only work one side of that equation.  A 2004 study in New England Journal of Medicine concluded that strontium reduces risk of non-vertebral fractures by 41 percent over three years, and increases bone mineral density by about 14 percent. Eliminated processed and refined foods is a must.

The post Calcium Supplements for Bone Strength appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Your post on rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune disease intrigued me. I didn’t realize eating beans, peanuts, peas, lentils, soy or tofu was an issue. I eat these foods frequently, and I still hurt. Can you tell me more?  –D.B., Houston, Texas

Answer: We have many medications for autoimmune diseases, but what you eat could negate the effects of your drug. I feel the avoidance of lectin-containing foods is wise for people who have a pain syndrome like lupus, MS, rheumatoid or Lou Gehrig’s. I’m not saying these food groups are bad, they have fiber and some nutrients, it’s just that some people experience flares from the consumption.

Research shows that these foods may harm the delicate intestinal lining.  If they ‘poked’ microscopic holes in there, then lectins and partially undigested food globules would leak into your bloodstream. It’s called “leaky gut” but medically-speak refers to this process as “increased intestinal permeability” or “intestinal malabsorption.” Once the door opens in your small intestine, and your intestinal villi are compromised, all kinds of symptoms occur.

It happens like this: Lectins and undigested globules of food proteins are spotted in your bloodstream because they leaked out of your gut. They are also spotted in an organ (because they will park themselves eventually). Then your immune system gets fired up.

Your immune cells crank out pro-inflammatory cytokines which cause pain and swelling and attack the organ where they see the foreign protein ‘parked.’ For example, if they park themselves in your thyroid, you might have Hashimoto’s or Graves, parked in your myelin, it spells more neuropathy for multiple sclerosis. Your joints, and it flares rheumatoid arthritis.  Think of pro-inflammatory cytokines as pain-causing chemicals that you don’t want hanging around in excess.

In case you share my column with clinicians, it goes like this: There are many food antigens, among them lectin and gluten (gliadin) which  increase intestinal permeability, leading to intestinal malabsorption. You see an up-regulation of the NF-Kappa B pathway which launches production of pro-inflammatory cytokines; food antigens can counter the positive effects of medication because they cause production of inflammatory cytokines, histamine or interferon gamma.

The theory suggests that foods (like wheat, cereal, beans, tofu and lentils) could spell trouble for autoimmune sufferers.   This is why the paleo diet, and the work by Dr. Loren Cordain and Dr. David Wolfe is gaining so much traction, it is grain and lectin free and I think it could resolve many pain syndromes. I also recommend Doug Kauffman’s Phase One diet.

Foods with the highest lectin activity include grains (especially wheat, legumes (especially soy), nuts, dairy and nightshades like eggplant, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and others.  I’d give this diet 4 months at least, forever if you feel better. Many ask if soaking beans removes the lectins, I think it can help but I don’t think it is 100 percent effective. Protect your gut lining with probiotics, digestive enzymes and avoidance of refined/processed foods.

The post The Best Diet for People with Autoimmune Disease appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I live in chronic pain, no one is sure why. I take hydrocodone and ibuprofen daily but I’m still in pain. Can you recommend any vitamins to help me? –M.C., Dallas, Texas

Answer:  I’m sorry you are going through this. Luckily your doctor prescribes pain medicine for you, many won’t out for fear of addiction. Every day, I receive letters from people feeling helpless (and hopeless) because their physicians are not compassionate enough to prescribe analgesics.

Anyway, there are many herbs, spices, teas and supplements for you. First, some background on why pain happens. Your body cranks out substances (called cytokines) in response to an injury which help patch you up. One well-known cytokine is called “Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha” or TNFα.

Don’t let the name scare you, it doesn’t cause tumors, it actually tries to prevent them by causing cancer cells to commit suicide called “apoptosis.”  So when your body makes TNFα, it’s your god-given cancer fighter.  It also helps fight infection.

Problem is, too much causes backlash and you begin to hurt all over. Elevated TNFα levels are associated with rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, migraines, type 2 diabetes, heart failure, COPD, Lyme disease, depression, narcolepsy, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis and dozens more.

People with high amounts of TNFα often have a hyper-reactive immune system and are diagnosed with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus and multiple sclerosis. Drugs like Remicade and Enbrel are TNF blockers but they are thousands of dollars if you pay out of pocket. There are natural TNF blockers.

This will interest you: A deficiency of either magnesium or CoQ10 drives up TNFα. Yes, running out of either nutrient contributes to pain and sadly, there are hundreds of medications that rob these nutrients from your body! Refer to my Drug Muggers book for the lists.

If I were writing you a ‘script’ to ease your pain, I would recommend natural TNF blockers. I’d pen out the following, but before buying anything, ask your physician if this is reasonable, and what dose is best for you:

* Magnesium malate 250 mg three times daily

* Astaxanthin 12mg every morning

* Ubiquinol (this is activated CoQ10) 200mg at lunch

* Boswellia 250 – 350mg two or three times daily

* Slippery Elm lozenges or tea (protects stomach from ibuprofen)

In addition, I recommend probiotics, the sort that contain prebiotics as well as organic acids. I suggest you drink green tea (or matcha) every day and eliminate foods that contain refined sugar/corn syrup, MSG, artificial dyes and artificial sweeteners. I’d sprinkle turmeric spice on everything. Give this protocol a few weeks and then send me a love note, you should feel better. It should be fine to integrate this while taking your analgesics (hopefully over time, you’ll need less of that). Ask your doctor what’s right for you.

The post Natural Script to Relieve Pain appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

I keep stopping my blood pressure medications because of side effects, mainly fatigue, dizziness and leg cramps! Please help me solve this or recommend different medicine?

–A.P., Tuscon, Arizona

Answer: This is a great question especially since high blood pressure (a.k.a. hypertension) now affects one in every three American adults.  That’s a staggering 78 million people and the American Heart Association says this number will continue escalating.

As a pharmacist for 23 years, I’ve watched you endure uncomfortable side effects while trying to control blood pressure with various medications. Please don’t get off medicine “cold turkey” because there can be backlash. Rather, ask your doctor if it’s better to wean slowly. That said, here are affordable solutions that should bring relief and allow you to stay on your medication more comfortably. I’ve categorized the information based on medication category. Discuss everything with your physician.

Beta Blockers- As implied by their name, these drugs block “beta” receptors on cells of your heart and arteries, and all over causing symptoms head to toe. Two of the most popular beta blockers are atenolol and propranolol. A common side effect is vivid dreaming or nightmares. That also happens to people who become deficient in melatonin, a sleep-promoting compound you make in your brain. Guess what, beta blockers suppress melatonin levels, shown in 1999 by a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.  CoQ10 is also depleted which may cause chronic fatigue, depression, restless legs or cramps. Beta blockers are what I call drug muggers of melatonin and CoQ10; restoring levels may be your side effect solution. Take CoQ10 in the morning (it’s energizing) and melatonin at bedtime.

Diuretics- These include loop, thiazide and sulfonamide diuretics and cause you to urinate more fluid, reducing pressure in your ‘pipeline.’ Furosemide and HCTZ are popular ones. This drug category causes side effects of fatigue, weakness and  leg cramps, twitches or muscle spasms. It happens due to the loss of an important mineral or electrolyte from all that excessive urination; it’s often magnesium or potassium loss. CoQ10 is also reduced. The side effect solution includes potassium, CoQ10 and a magnesium supplement. Also coconut water, for real, it restores electrolytes.

ACE Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers- Medications in these two categories ultimately dilate blood vessels, thus reducing pressure. Enalapril and losartan are examples. A common side effect is dizziness. It can be caused by the sheer drop in blood pressure so try taking your medicine at night so you can sleep through the wooziness. Get up very slowly in them morning to avoid feeling faint, sometimes termed “orthostatic hypotension.”  Body aches and pains are common side effects too. That’s because these medication categories are drug muggers of magnesium. You become deficient. Try magnesium malate (or aspartate) about 300mg taken twice daily, or whatever your practitioner says.

I have helped millions of people feel well again by restoring the right vitamins and minerals. It’s all in my best-selling book Drug Muggers.

The post Side Effect Solutions to Blood Pressure Drugs appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I’ve had a couple of years of bad insomnia. I’ve tried medications, but I want something natural. Suggestions? –P.T., Denver, CO

Answer: There are many natural supplements that are known to help insomnia among them GABA, kava, valerian root, catnip, glycine, hops and melatonin. I’ll discuss the last three in today’s column. Let me start with the simple amino acid, glycine, which helps people suffering with Huntington’s, certain seizure disorders and memory loss. Like a blanket of calm, it helps you achieve deeper stages of sleep.  Unlike most sleeping pills, glycine should not give you a groggy ‘morning hangover’ until noon, nor will it result in dry mouth (very common with diphenhydramine sleep aids).  Usually two to three grams taken an hour before bed time allows sleep to crawl into bed with you. As an interesting aside, research points to glycine’s use  as an antibiotic, specifically against H. pylori, an organism associated with ulcers and stomach cancer. Even though glycine is found in meat, you won’t get enough of its sleep-inducing effects unless you supplement. Capsules are available, but powders may be better if you want to titrate your dose.

For those of you who love beer, one of the bittering ingredients is Humulus lupulus. Say that three times fast! We call it “Hops” herb for short. Without hops, beer would be sweet. (Hey, maybe I would like it then?!) Anyway hops (as opposed to beer) helps people fall asleep faster, and is one of the best insomnia remedies I can think of. It’s been used for centuries.  While Hops is safe for human consumption, it can be quite harmful for dogs, so keep away from Fido! The FDA gave hops GRAS status which means it is “generally recognized as safe.” There’s an ingredient in hops called 8-prenylnaringenin or 8-PN which reduces the incidence of hot flashes. Aside from helping with menopausal concerns and insomnia, hops is touted to ease anxiety, earaches and cramps. An ingredient in it works as a COX 2 inhibitor, similar to the drug Celebrex so if you are in pain, this may be useful.

For many night-time thrashers, it’s a question of how much melatonin you secrete from your pineal gland. Melatonin production can be augmented if you supplement, because the pills (or sublingual sprays) get absorbed into your bloodstream and trigger the same sleep reaction as if you had made the hormone yourself. For some, melatonin supplements are highly effective. For others, it must be combined with glycine, hops, valerian root or kava. I always suggest low dosages, about 0.2 to 0.3 mg per night, but you will find many supplements containing more. Be very careful with yourself, this is a hormone. That said, melatonin has a widespread (wonderful) effect on the immune system and specifically awesome for people with auto-immune disorders and chronic infections.  All of the supplements discussed today are sold at health food stores and some pharmacies, but always ask your doctor what’s right for you.

The post Natural Ways to Get Some Zzzs appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I’m not a fan of fungus, but I’ve heard that shiitake mushrooms are good for cancer. What do you think? –C.E., Boston, Massachusetts

Answer: I think some mushrooms are amazing! Shitake, known botanically as Lentinula edodes, are seriously great for immune function. They’re not just a Japanese delicacy, these mushrooms have been used for centuries, and have a safe history of healing that goes back thousands of years. Chinese medicine traditionally uses mushrooms to enhance qi (pronoucned “chee” which refers to your vital life force). We are not talking portabello though, this is altogether different.

Shiitake extracts definitely support immune function, but they also appear to have antiviral (even influenza), antibacterial, and antifungal effects. Ironic that fungus fights fungus, but it’s basically the good fungus (shitake) killing the pathogenic ones. The 2009 study published in Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice had data to show that  shitake had “extensive antimicrobial activity against 85% of the organisms it was tested on, including 50% of the yeast and mould species in the trial.” This study even compared it to ciprofloxacin, a popular antibiotic. I found a trial suggesting antiviral effects against HIV virus as well as proliferation of leukemia! The activity was due to “lentin” an antifungal compound found in shitake. Is the study tight enough for you to go off your current treatment? No way, but it’s worth including in your regimen, with your doctor’s blessings.

Researchers isolated a substance called “lentinan” in shiitake that sparks your own immune system to do a better job at getting rid of cancer cells. Researchers conclude that lentinan helps “prolong the survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer.” In another Japanese study, published in Cancer & Chemotherapy, July 2012, researchers looking at shiitake’s effects on liver cancer suggested that the mushrooms “might be used for alleviating side effects of chemotherapy and preventing the progression of liver cancer for patients with chronic hepatitis.”

Shiitake is active against the hepatitis B virus, so you might say this is a liver-loving mushroom in many ways. It protects the colon too. Over 10 years ago, a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that lentinan was “able to retard the development of tumors” in mice.  In fact, they said, “significant regression in tumor formation was observed.” Remarkable!

Many studies have found that shiitake mushrooms are helpful for everyday ailments. For example, some research shows that shiitake may reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, and lower blood pressure. Did I mention that shiitake mushrooms are a natural source of protein and vitamin D? Both  are important for immunity.

Shiitake mushrooms taste good, I add them to my jasmine rice along with pure saffron, turmeric, onions, grapeseed oil and garlic. Yum!  There are excellent supplements/extracts of Shitake sold at health food stores, and you can also buy multi-tasking formulas which contain several different medicinal mushrooms. Those are a little harder to find, two good ones are MycoPhyto by Econugenics or Mushroom Optimizer by Jarrow.

The post Shitake Happens to Protect You from Cancer appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I’ve got a cold, and I’ve sneezed about a hundred times today! Should I start taking echinacea, and will it help me with the sneezing?

–A.T., Sanibel, Florida

Answer: It’s the season for the common cold with over one billion cases of it in the United States each year.  Sneezing is perhaps the most annoying symptom of all. Most people don’t realize sneezing is actually your neurological process.  Dust, a change in temperature, or even a bright light cause impulses to build up in the “sneezing center” of the brain.  Signals are then transmitted to nerve endings and ahh choo, the reflex of a sneeze occurs. It’s actually a protective mechanism for your body. Tell that to the person who gets wet from your spewing mucus right?!  Most gesundheits clock in around 35 miles per hour! And no, echinacea won’t stop sneezing, but it does have other virtues.

Don’t be terribly quick to cool a fever, it’s your body’s way of heating up the germs to kill them. Prevention is ideal. Stop touching germy objects such as doorknob, cell phone, or escalator and staircase handrails. Airports, subways, malls and pharmacies are loaded with germs because so many people frequent it. I recommend gloves when you frequent these places. Think of it as a fashion statement for your immune system.

Medicine helps. If you have a stuffy nose, pseudoephedrine is helpful, or a nasal spray. For a non-productive cough, dextromethorphan can help. If you have a runny nose, diphenhydramine can be taken at bedtime, or loratadine for a non-drowsy option. Remember, over-the-counter drugs don’t shorten duration, but they do ease symptoms.

Echinacea purpurea is a perennial flower native to eastern North America that wakes up the immune system to help you fight infections.  We’ve just learned that daily consumption of echinacea may help stave off the common cold!  A large study done by Cardiff University in the United Kingdom (UK) demonstrated that taking echinacea for four months significantly decreases your likelihood of catching cold; it may also shave time off your illness by 26 percent.  The study also showed that these preventive effects continued to increase with regular echinacea consumption, something that is new to our thinking. You see, many clinicians think echinacea is best when cycled for a few weeks on, then a few weeks off (as opposed to taking it routinely).

Ask your doctor if echinacea is right for you, and what your dose should be. For immune system maintenance, you might see doses around 300 mg twice per day. You can also drink echinacea tea for a lower dose.  Keep in mind, some people are allergic to this botanical class, and also, echinacea is rarely recommended for people with auto-immune disorders as it can trigger flare-ups.

So, as flu and cold season continues, consider echinacea as well as probiotics, which improve your body’s own natural killer cells. Naturally, vitamin C and zinc should be part of your arsenal.

The post Echinacea Wards Off The Common Cold -Ahh…CHOO! appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I heard you recommend a drug called Lactulose as a laxative but you said it helped with brain fog too. How can it work at both ends? –J.C., Decatur, Illinois

Answer: It’s true, the prescription medication called Lactulose, is a classified as an “osmotic laxative” which means that it pulls water into the bowel, and it also affects brain function by removing ammonia, a potent neurotoxin which is more common than you think. Mira Lax is another good laxative in this drug category.

Lactulose is not naturally occurring like psyllium is, it is synthetic. Lactulose is a non-digestible sugar, which treats both constipation and hepatic encephalopathy. That last one is a complication of liver disease that causes neurological problems by increasing ammonia in the body.

Lactulose is tasty, inexpensive and carried by pharmacies. The dosage varies based upon your response, and what you’re treating (ie constipation or encephalopathy).   Start with a low dosage and gradually increase if needed. A typical dose might be one or two tablespoons by mouth every day, but again, you can go up or down from there, depending on what your doctor says is right for you. Lactulose can cause severe dehydration and depletion of electrolytes which can affect the heart so a trace mineral supplement (taken 60 minutes or more away from the Lactulose) may be needed, especially magnesium which runs the heart. Drink water during the day.

Once you take a dose of lactulose, the sugar molecules (which never get digested, so don’t worry if you have diabetes), get broken down by the bacteria that live in the lower part of your gut. Probiotics are needed to metabolize Lactulose. In fact, if you had a healthy probiotic stash, you probably wouldn’t have constipation to begin with. But anyway, the probiotics in your colon digest the lactulose and  produce compounds that cause a little more acidity in your lower bowel (you want that, it has nothing to do with acid reflux so don’t worry).  As a result, more water is retained in your bowel, and thus more water in your stools. It softens them, making them easier to pass. Lactulose is particularly helpful for people in nursing homes. It takes a few days to begin working.

Lactulose helps draw ammonia out of the body, which can become elevated in people with liver cirrhosis as well as Lyme disease patients. True story, you didn’t know? The Lyme germ (from tick bites) can raise ammonia in the brain, which then causes astrocyte swelling, and that triggers nasty neurological symptoms such as mild encephalopathy, brain fog, lightheadedness, fatigue, body pain, confusion, visual disturbances and altered sense perception. There are more specific ways to treat this, the topic of a future column.

The drug valproic acid may increase ammonia and lactulose helps.  Inborn errors of metabolism increase ammonia. Usually, the condition requires intravenous drug treatment but in mild cases, a prescription for lactulose solution is pretty common along with a protein-restricted diet.

The post A Laxative that Works at Both Ends appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

What is licorice root? I heard you at a lecture talk about it and say something like it could take the place of lots of different drugs, and that it helped with chronic fatigue.  –W.W. Dallas, Texas

Answer: Licorice root is an herbal remedy often used in Chinese traditional medicine. It’s ancient, and was used by the Greeks and Romans for many health concerns such as ulcers, sore throat, asthma, depression, menopause, arthritis, heartburn, gastrointestinal concerns of all sorts and various viral infections (like hepatitis and the flu). Unfortunately, licorice candy (mmm, Twizzlers) doesn’t have quite the same effect, but hey, that’s not to say you couldn’t indulge in that every now and then! Just know that licorice root is a totally different animal, and unlike candy, it has many medicinal properties.

Licorice contains healing flavonoids, phytoestrogens, and glycyrrhizin. Some of these compounds block the breakdown of a hormone called cortisol in your body which helps you deal with stress. Many of us are walking around with severe adrenal fatigue, and depending on a few other medical factors, licorice root could be just what you need to help cope with stress. It also happens to boost levels of natural interferon, which is an important component of your immune system helping you defend yourself from infection.

Licorice root helps soothe irritated membranes while removing mucus from your respiratory tract, making it a great adjunctive remedy for cough and cold. The phytoestrogens also mimic the effect of estrogen, which can help with menopausal symptoms, as well as cognitive function but be careful here because anything that is estrogenic (even mildly so) has the potential to drive certain cancers, especially those of the reproductive tract.

A 2011 study performed on rats in China provided evidence that glycyrrhizin could protect against some of the more drastic negative outcomes from spinal cord injuries, by suppressing inflammatory chemicals (called cytokines) and blocking the release of a gene that promotes further inflammation (HMGB1). In a separate human study, it was also observed that licorice root reduces body fat in part by suppressing aldosterone, which is the hormone that tells your body to hold on to salt and water.

Licorice root is available in many oral dosage forms. Excessive intake of licorice root can exacerbate hypertension and other heart problems, by disrupting the salt and water balance that your body strictly maintains so ask your doctor if it’s right for you. It happens compliments of the glycyrrhizin.

Some companies now make a deglycyrrhizinated form of licorice root, which is the form that is free of glycyrrhizin. It’s called “DGL” and while this form doesn’t really improve adrenal fatigue concerns, it is great for long-term use and specifically helpful for digestive problems of all sorts including gastritis, reflux and heartburn. DGL is best taken in a chewable tablet form about 20 minutes before eating your meals. DGL is a supplement I usually recommend to people who find themselves compelled to take acid blockers and antacids.

The post Licorice Helps Chronic Fatigue and Heartburn appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

My hero is Ray Lewis of the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, and I heard he took Deer Antler Velvet to recover from his muscle injuries faster. Do you recommend this?  –D.D., Baltimore, Maryland

Answer: As a Bronco’s fan, I’ll answer your question, albeit reluctantly! I’ve never recommended deer antler velvet extract, but it’s sold at health food stores and online. Deer antler spray was thrust into the Super Bowl spotlight with reports alleging Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis ordered the supplement as a sublingual spray and a pill to help him recover from a torn tricep injury, but interestingly this supplement is also touted as a male sexual performance aid. Hang on for more on that.

Deer antlers grow incredibly fast. The dietary supplements (when authentic) harvest antler velvet from growing deer, moose, elk and caribou. The antlers are removed from the animal before they form solid bone, and the velvet is removed. It can be painful, and I’m worried that new demand will shortcut proper harvesting techniques. Anyway, after processing, the extract contains calcium, magnesium and zinc as well as glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen, all of which support bone health. This crazy stuff is banned by the NCAA and the NFL (National Collegiate Athletic Association and National Football League respectively). Why? Because it contains IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1), a hormone that boosts testosterone. It’s the IGF-1 that is banned, not deer antler.

This is a good time to tell you that IGF-1 is a totally natural growth hormone. It’s what makes children grow into adults. It’s circulating in your blood as we speak, so IGF-1 is not bad, it happens to increase muscle strength and improve muscle recovery while breaking down carbs faster. You can measure IGF-1 with a blood test.

As I said, antler velvet tends to mildly increase levels of your sex hormone testosterone. Is it a substitute for Viagra? While a little extra “T” does improve desire and sexual function, I doubt it will put enough lead in your pencil if your arteries are truly clogged. You see, erectile dysfunction is often a sign of coronary artery disease, so to mask it with a supplement or drug that gets your motor started doesn’t make sense to me. I’d rather you unclog the pipelines to get your blood flowing down south (and to your heart) but that’s a different column altogether.  As for women, deer antler velvet supplements may increase estrogen levels. If you’re low in estrogen and need it for menopausal concerns, I guess you could ask your doctor about this supplement, but what if you are normal or high? That’s a major problem. These supplements contain estrogen compounds so it could worsen any kind of hormone-sensitive condition such as uterine fibroids or cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical problems, endometriosis, fibrocystic breast disease or breast cancer. While it all sounds impressive, I simply can’t find solid studies to recommend it.

The post Does Deer Antler Velvet Really Work? appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

The post I want to be able to read my prescription, what are all those abbreviations? appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Here are some interesting FDA-approved items for 2012 in the United States. My column is printed in various languages so I apologize that I’ve only listed English brand names, please ask your local pharmacist for translations. Happy new year! Love, Suzy

Stendra (Avanafil) Tablets, Rx: Used for erectile dysfunction, this medication is a “me too” drug and works like the others. www.stendra.com

Picato (Ingenol) gel, Rx: Applied to your skin to treat red, scaly lesions mainly on the face and scalp (termed actinic keratosis). The medication is derived from the Euphorbia peplus plant, grown in Queensland, Australia. www.picato.com

Inlyta (Axitinib) tablets, Rx: Chemotherapy for advanced kidney cancer; especially for those who have not responded to other treatments; while not approved, this may help breast cancer patients too. The drug suppresses “VEGF” and this cuts off blood supply to tumors, thus shrinking them. www.inlyta.com

Pregnitude Powder, OTC: Mix this supplement with water and take twice a day if you’re trying to conceive but having difficulty. It contains myo-inositol, which supports egg health and healthy ovulation. www.pregnitude.com

Zioptan (Tafluprost) eyedrops, Rx: Eyedrops that lower intra-ocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Like other medications in this category, it’s possible that your green or blue eyes may turn more brown in color.  www.zioptan.com

Qsymia (Phentermine/Topiramate) Capsules, Rx: This drug is taken for obesity, and it’s the marriage of Adipex and Topamax in a single pill. It reduces appetite, burns calories and gives you a sense of fullness. Women are not allowed to take Qsymia (pronounced Q-see-ME-uh) unless they are taking birth control. www.qsymia.com

OraQuick Test by Orasure (Lab test), OTC: Sold at retail pharmacies, this will help you find out if you have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. No need to send blood away like older tests, OraQuick gives you results within 20 minutes using a mouth swab. It’s not foul proof, it will miss about one infected person of every twelve tested. www.oraquick.com

CoQ10 Adult Gummies by Nature Made (Coenzyme Q10), OTC: A powerful antioxidant (CoQ10) needed for good health and energy in a yummy gummy. Two fruit-flavored treats provide 100mg CoQ10. They are preservative and gluten free, and free of synthetic dyes.   www.naturemade.com

ZzzQuil (Diphenhydramine) Liquicaps: The active ingredient has been around for decades, and sold by various other brand names including Benadryl. ZzzQuil is used for sleep, which is different than NyQuil (cough/colds) although both products are made by the same trusted maker. www.zzzquil.com

Dymista (Azelastine and Fluticasone) Nasal Spray, Rx: The marriage between two drugs (Flonase and Astelin) and helps with allergies, probably faster and better than either drug alone. www.dymista.com

CitraNatal Harmony Vitamins, Rx: Prenatal vitamins that contain “calcium citrate” known to be easier on mom, creating less gas and bloating than other calcium salts. This contains DHA (a type of fish oil) crucial to your baby’s brain health.  www.citranatal.com

iBGStar Monitoring System: This device measures blood sugar and is the first FDA-cleared meter that connects directly to your iPhone or iPod Touch. www.ibgstar.com

The post New Drugs for 2012 appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I’m going through a lot right now. This year, my New Years’ Resolution is to exercise more, hoping to take my mind off everything. My schedule only allows me to go to the gym twice per week. Will this help me feel better, in terms of anxiety or mood?  –F.A., New York

Answer: You’re among an estimated 38 percent of Americans that make a New Year’s resolution to either lose weight or exercise more. That’s around 125 million people! While you tighten those abs, you increase happy brain chemicals, thus enhancing feelings of a good mood and reducing anxiety. Exercising during the day improves sleep. So yes, this is the perfect time for you to commit, and I commend you for using the gym as your solution as opposed to other solutions, like the drinkable, addictive sort.

To get these benefits, the CDC recommends that you get least two and a half hours of moderate exercise per week.   So your question is a good one, if you only make it to the gym twice a week, are you still getting the neurological “brain” benefits the other five days of the week?

Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil compared brain cell (neuron) growth in rats that were either active or sedentary.  Not surprisingly, the active rats show two to three times more neuron growth, plus they had better memory skills than the rats who got to rest.

We all know our jeans fit better when we exercise, but how long will exercise boost brain function and mood? Dr. Bucci, an associate professor of psychology and brain science at Dartmouth, says this varies from person to person.

Don’t stop working out after you’ve achieved a size four!  Researchers examined what happens to memory when exercise is suddenly halted, and the results were dramatic.  After just one week, all the health and memory benefits declined in the rats who had been exercising.  After 10 weeks of inactivity, the previously active rats’ brains were almost indistinguishable from those of the sedentary rats!

What does this mean for us? It means get off your butt and shake your booty. I can tell you firsthand, when I hunkered down to write my first book in 2006, I ignored my exercise regimen for 6 months solid. I felt it too. I kept losing my keys, documents on the computer… I would forget what I went into the room for and stuff like that. Today, I don’t hunker down, I allot time to write, as well as time to take a walk, hike, hula hoop, yoga, dance or do pilates. Something! I feel terrific and my mind is very sharp. If you’re unable to exercise because of physical limitations, do one brain game per day like sudoku, scrabble or a crossword. It increases neuroplasticity allowing your brain to grow cells, reorganize and rewire itself. Simply defined neuroplasticity means: Use it or lose it. 

The post Exercise Improves Memory and Enhances Mood appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

–R. P. Albany, New York

Answer: The common cold has been around for eon, even though it has morphed a bazillion times. It’s brilliant at outsmarting us, this is why we don’t have an effective remedy to cure or prevent it.

Health experts will tell you the obvious, get enough rest, allow your body to sleep more if it wants to, drink plenty of water, take cough drops, take vitamin C, sip chicken broth and keep a trash bin near the bed in case you have to throw up in a hurry.

These are all great suggestions, especially the last one, but if you’ve been there, and got the T-shirt, you know this is not nearly enough.

Job one is to wash your hands frequently. Keep them away from your face, and don’t use them to cover a sneeze or a cough. This is so simple and yet whenever I people watch, I notice everyone fidgeting with their face and heaven forbid picking stuff out of their teeth or nose. Yeah, seriously that was going on in the car next to me yesterday.  Instead, use a tissue and then throw it out. Don’t opt for a hanky, it’s kind of gross to reuse those.  No tissue? Use the crook of your elbow to cover your nose or mouth.

Vitamin C. I mentioned this earlier because it is used commonly to prevent cold, and alleviate certain symptoms, particularly those involving mucous membranes. It improves your white blood cell count and assists your body in making glutathione, a very strong antioxidant that escorts poisons out of your body.

Probiotics- The only way for you to have a strong immune system is to build one. Good clinical science proves a healthy gut barrier protects your body from pathogenic invaders, and revs immune function.

Mushrooms, the medicinal sort.  Look for maitake extract at the health food store, or beta-glucan. These mushrooms provide compounds to your body that fight germs. Their incredible immune-boosting effects are well documented in medical research.

Vitamin A keeps your mucous membranes wet and strong, which helps soothe your nose, mouth, and throat. When the delicate membranes are functioning properly, they will trap particles and pathogens before they enter the body.

Vitamin D. It’s great for most immune disorders because it enhances your T cells and helps you keep all sorts of bugs at bay. Usually, doctors suggest about 5 – 10,000 IU during the winter months, but it depends on your serum levels. Ask your physician.

Zinc. This prostate-loving mineral also reduces the duration of illness, and severity of symptoms. The trick is to start zinc at the very first sneeze.  Luckily for you, zinc is found in nuts, dark chocolate and seafood so you can eat your way to better levels.

Certain spices like thyme, garlic and saffron. These possesses anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral compounds making them strong medicine in my kitchen.

The post Ways to Avoid the Flu appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I went through your timeline on facebook, and learned why I’m still tired and overweight. My physician says my TSH is normal, just like you said he would, can you discuss hypothyroidism in your column? –G.O., Decatur, Illinois

Answer: There’s an epidemic of tired, overweight folks who don’t know they’re hypothyroid because of improper testing. Some old school physicians are still drawing blood levels of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) as the sole method to evaluate thyroid function. TSH is incapable of telling you or your doctor what’s happening inside your cells. It’s fine to check as part of a comprehensive profile, but not by itself. People are often told they have “normal” thyroid levels, based upon their “normal” TSH. TSH is a brain hormone and has nothing to do with intracellular (mitochondrial) levels of active thyroid hormone called “T3.”  You see, TSH may very well be normal, while T3, (the hormone you want) is desperately low. You will hold on to weight, have dry skin, suffer with hair loss, fatigue, muscle aches, arrhythmias, depression, forgetfulness, anxiety and low libido. Regardless of your misery, you may still be told your okay, because your TSH is okay. Big mistake! Huge!

TSH is just a messenger hormone, it’s not active although levels are ideal around 0.1 to 1.0 mIU/l. People who feel fantastic have adequate levels of T3 inside their cells. Measuring a “free T3” gives you relevant, usable data. I’d shoot for 3.5 to 4.2 pg/ml myself. During the same blood test, you should also measure T4 (which is inactive hormone, but it converts to T3). This is important to ascertain because it gives you a gauge to see how much hormone is available to eventually become active.

Evaluating blood levels of Reverse T3 also called “Reverse thyronine” and abbreviated as “rT3”  is equally important. Reverse T3 is a mirror image of active T3. Elevated rT3 causes all the symptoms of clinical hypothyroidism I just mentioned. It’s often high in people with heavy metals. I lecture around the world, and still meet physicians who dismiss rT3. Did you know that hypothyroidism is a major cause for diabetes? When rT3 is high, that means it’s poised like a pitbull on your cells’ receptor sites preventing the real deal (T3) from entering the cell. The net result of elevated rT3 is you feel like zombie. But again, if your TSH is normal, or your rT3 is never measured, you will be dismissed as normal.

I prefer natural dessicated thyroid (NDT) for medication treatment, such as Nature-Throid, and Armour over levothyroxine (Synthroid). My rationale is that NDT drugs contain both T3 and T4. Remember T3 is what you ultimately want. Synthroid is exclusively T4, so your body has to convert it to T3 before you can use it. Unfortunately, people with metabolic issues, or digestive problems can’t convert well. Your physician can also prescribe plain “T3  compounded”  if that is more appropriate for your individual case.

To learn more about your thyroid and proper testing, watch my video Click Here

The post How You Measure Thyroid Hormone – It Matters appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

My doctor asked me to get more fiber in my diet. What are some health benefits and what are good ways to incorporate it into my daily life? I’ve always been a meat and potatoes man. -D.C., Palm Beach, Florida

Answer: Fiber is fabulous! It’s Step 3 in my Diabetes Without Drugs book because it helps lower cholesterol.

Technically, fiber is a carbohydrate and there is the soluble kind, and the insoluble kind. The insoluble sort is not absorbed into the bloodstream during digestion. Isn’t it odd that something which can’t be absorbed during digestion still has beneficial effects? Welcome to the wacky world of health where strange is the new normal!

As I said, there are two different types of fiber, soluble and insoluble both of which exist in the same food. It’s a little confusing but generally speaking, good sources of soluble fiber include bran, oatmeal, and fruits and vegetables. These slow down digestion and that my friend, slows down the release of blood sugar. This stabilizes your appetite by quelling blood sugar spikes. Fiber may reduce your risk for complications of type 2 diabetes, because your body isn’t forced to pump out truckloads of insulin since it’s not facing roller-coaster high blood sugar swings.

Fiber has been scientifically shown to lower LDL cholesterol, without adversely affecting HDL cholesterol. This gives you an excellent advantage at reducing risk of heart disease. Think of it this way, it helps scrub your arteries clean. That’s not the only area it scrubs clean.

Not to be graphic but insoluble fiber, also called “cellulose” will scrub your colon clean. It will literally push waste material through the intestine making it useful for constipation. Be aware that fiber will drive out your medication faster too, so separate administration of fiber from oral medications. If you’re constipated, drink lots of water, consider aloe vera and eat vegetables, soybeans, legumes, apples, oatmeal and of course prunes.

I’ve seen my share of people spending hundreds of dollars a month on laxatives. No wonder, most Americans don’t even eat half the daily recommended value of fiber! Women should consume approximately 25 grams per day, and men 35 grams.

Your question about how to incorporate fiber into your life is good because I am aggravated with all these sugary treats and drinks labeled with “added fiber” to imply that they are nutritious. Don’t be fooled. The fiber I suggest is found naturally in organic fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and beans. Also, peas, broccoli, prunes, apples, oranges, carrots, berries, legumes and potatoes. Not meat though, sorry.

Switching white bread for whole grain (not whole wheat) will up your fiber intake, and this is fine assuming you’re not gluten sensitive, or on the Paleo or Phase One diet, or sensitive to grains. Dietary supplements offer a fiber advantage because they’re easy, but be careful you don’t end up a pill-junkie. Pysllium husk supplements are sold at pharmacies and natural health food stores nationwide.

The post Fiber is Fabulous For You appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I saw Dr. Oz interview a doctor on television about cholesterol. The guest said your total cholesterol doesn’t matter and I read that in your book 6 years ago. Suzy, I take a statin, and do a “Lipid Profile” annually. Is this okay? –M.D., Austin, Texas

Answer: No, it’s not okay, and I’m about to shock everyone, unless you’ve read my books, then this will be review.

Recently I wrote a column about LDL and that we should not necessarily strive to lower it. We need to know the type and number of LDL particles. For example, Lipoprotein A  or “Lp(a)” and another called apolipoprotein B or “Apo B” are two subtypes of LDL particles. These particular scores directly affect your cardiovascular risk. Do you have those numbers on your lab test? I bet you don’t.

In my first book, The 24-Hour Pharmacist from 2007 and many syndicated columns I’ve explained that statins are not very effective in reducing LDL particle number or Apo B and usually do not increase the size of your LDL particles, that’s why I don’t encourage them.

It’s confusing for consumers (and physicians who unwittingly accept drug propaganda) because studies conclude statins reduce total LDL. And yes, they do reduce “total” LDL, they are also excellent anti-inflammatories so they are not completely without merit. But I’m bent on you reducing Lp(a) and Apo B, the dangerous subtypes of LDL known to raise risk for heart attack and stroke.  One day I’ll tell you which vitamin reduces those bad boys, since drugs can’t, but now, back to this testing dilemma.

I’ll never submit myself for a routine “Lipid Profile” because it would waste my money. Half the people who have heart attacks have normal total cholesterol. If your results shows a low LDL (considered the bad particle), then you may assume you’re okay but you see, a low total LDL score doesn’t say much. Your triglycerides might be through the roof! You may have a huge concentration of dangerous Lp(a) and Apo B, subtypes of LDL that are never measured in that basic lipid profile.

Likewise, you may be happy with your high HDL cholesterol score, (HDL is considered a good cholesterol), but what if you have the wrong kind of HDL particles? Yeah, some HDL is bad, you didn’t know that?!  You’re still at very high risk.  These basic “Lipid Profiles” don’t provide the crucial details. It’s like a car mechanic who you hire to fix your engine, but you only let him look at the hood of your car, he can’t open the hood to see inside!

The better tests, sometimes covered by insurance measure particle size, type and sometimes the actual number of LDL and HDL particles. I urge you to ask your physician to order tests from Berkeley HeartLab, a leader in this field. There’s also another one called the “VAP Test” by Atherotec Diagnostics and finally, the “NMR Lipoprofile” by LipoScience.

The post Shocking Cholesterol News appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

What are some natural dietary supplements that can help me lose weight, or at least manage it during the holidays? –C.A., Gainesville, Florida

Answer: When it comes to weight management, nothing works better and faster than exercising and reducing your portion size. Do that alone and you can down a pound of pumpkin pie with no worries. There is no quick fix to circling the buffet three times in a row, however, there are lots of  inexpensive vitamins and minerals that can assist you in your quest to manage weight. Everything below has scientific studies to back up my comments. Just follow label directions for dosage, and of course, ask your doctor if these are right for you:

Asparagine- This amino acid found in asparagus increases insulin sensitivity which helps the body store energy in muscle, rather than storing it as body fat.

Biotin- Best known for it’s beauty properties for hair and nails, this B vitamin boosts metabolism by stabilizing blood sugar (improving glycemic control) and reducing insulin. Fabulous, because insulin is known to store fat on us.

Zinc- This mineral improves immunity and protects the prostate, but it’s very closely tied to leptin. Low zinc reduces leptin, and that could cause you to feel hungry all the time. Restoring zinc could impact leptin and allow you to feel satisfied after one plate of stuffing instead of three.

Vitamin A- This vision vitamin just so happens to tell your genes to stop storing all the food you eat as fat! Studies suggest vitamin A is capable of shrinking fat cells.

Niacin- I recommend this B vitamin for people with high cholesterol, but it’s nice for weight loss because it increases adiponectin, a natural fat-burning hormone that you make.

Chromium- This mineral makes the body more sensitive to insulin, thus reducing body fat and increasing lean muscle; it helps balance blood sugar.

Lipoic acid- I recommend this for people with diabetes to help manage blood sugar; it helps shuttle glucose into the cells, and this helps you burn carbs more efficiently. Good for neuropathy too.

Magnesium- This mineral improves mood and regulates blood pressure. Low magnesium impairs your ability to convert carbs and sugar into fuel, so it gets stored on as fat on your thighs or butt. Correcting a magnesium deficiency helps stimulate metabolism by increasing insulin sensitivity. It seems to also block fat absorption.

Do you think I’m suggesting you take all of these? I hope not. I’m only sharing options that might work for you. People often ask me what I do to stay thin. I don’t take anything above, however, I consistently work out. I eat a dairy and gluten free diet, in fact, I avoid all grains for the most part with the exception of rice since sushi is my big temptation. Hey you’ve got to live a little, it’s the spicy mayo I crave! Do you think that’s good with turkey?

The post What Works for Weight Loss appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I asked an elderly Japanese friend why she looks so young for her age. She said she drinks tea made with reishi mushrooms. Is there anything to this? –A.F., Castle Rock, Colorado

Answer: The short answer is yes. The Chinese name for reishi mushrooms is ling zhi, meaning “plant of immortality.” These medicinal mushrooms have a history of safety that goes back at least 2,000 years. In my book, any herb that’s been used continually for centuries deserves respect from modern medical science as opposed to snide comments as if it’s “snake oil.” Mushrooms and fungi with incredible healing powers are now starting to gain attention from integrative physicians as well as folks who choose to self-treat after modern medicine fails them.

Right now there are more than 800 scientific studies on reishi mushrooms on file in the National Institutes of Health’s database. According to these studies, some on animals, some on people… reishi offers potential support for cardiovascular issues, infectious disease, liver detoxification, arthritis pain, asthma and other respiratory and immune system disorders. Overseas, it’s common for cancer patients to willingly fork over the considerable expense for these mushrooms, and sometimes insurance covers. You see, back when they were gathered from the wild, these mushrooms were rare and expensive. Now that they are cultivated commercially, reishi is relatively less expensive and readily available at health food stores nationwide.

If reishi has even half of the healing and disease-preventing power that traditional Asian healers claim for it, one could easily see why it would be considered a longevity herb and part of your anti-aging arsenal.

Studies have shown that reishi can help improve cholesterol ratios and control blood sugar. It has anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, antiviral, and anti-bacterial properties. Did you hear that? Anti-bacterial… fabulous since the winter season is upon us.

There are many anti-cancer assertions, based upon studies on immune function. Here’s where things get really interesting. One study done in Puerto Rico and published just last year in the medical journal Nutrition and Cancer found that reishi has the ability to stunt the growth and spread of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) cells. The study was done in test tubes on the cells themselves, not in living humans. Now, take into account that naturopathic physicians have already experienced some success in treating this fast-growing form of breast  cancer. And researcher and Professor Michelle Martinez Montemayor, Ph.D (who conducted the study) came to this conclusion: “Our findings suggest that reishi extract could be used as a novel anticancer therapeutic for IBC patients.”

What is my point? If you have cancer, of any kind, I’d discuss reishi as an adjunctive treatment with your oncologist. I take reishi supplements on and off throughout the year just for good health (True Reishi brand), and I also buy dried herb from my local herbal apothecary which I soak in water and then cook in my slow cooker on low for 12 hours. This makes a more potent blend.

The post Mushroom Power: Plant of Immortality appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

ANSWER: I can see why this is confusing for people with arthritis.
As you know, glucosamine and chondroitin are used to build cartilage
within the joints. And in osteoarthritis, there is a deficit of cartilage
in the joints, so these supplements are helpful.

Any supplement that improves the shock-absorbing
quality of the joints is useful to an osteoarthritic sufferer. But the
most important point here, is that osteoarthritis is limited to joint
degeneration. Now, people with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) have
what’s called an auto-immune disorder. It’s an inflammatory process
affecting the entire person.
Essentially, something goes wrong and causes the immune
system to go berserk. The body suddenly views itself as a foreign
substance and launches attack on itself. In RA, the joints are
destroyed the most, even though the whole body is affected.
So if you give a person with rheumatoid arthritis any supplement
which builds up cartilage, you are fueling the fire because the body
can attack itself with more fury.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are definitely not for people
with uncontrolled RA, but there are other natural substances which
may benefit. For example, anything that calms down the immune
system or reduces inflammation would be great. Things like omega
3 fatty acids (fish oils), SAMe, Boswellia and Turmeric are just a
few of many options.

The post Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers – Don’t Take Glucosamine appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Readers

This is the EXTENDED more comprehensive version of the article that printed in your local paper: 

 Dear Pharmacist, 

My brother suddenly developed seizures, at the age of 26, never having a history. I’ve searched your archives at your site but do not find columns there on the topic. I’d like to discover why he suddenly got this, since he was so healthy until then. Now, he’s on 5 medications!  –J.P., Sacramento, California

Answer: I haven’t covered that topic extensively because it’s complex and I fear that people will not consult their physicians like I tell them to. One wrong move on your part, and you could experience a grand mal. So with my strict warning to ask your doctor about what you learn today, I’ll go ahead and highlight some lesser known causes of epilepsy since your doctor will undoubtedly explore the obvious causes, and do the run-of-the-mill testing and MRIs, and so forth. You might think some of my ideas below are strange, but being a functional medicine trained practitioner of 14 years (www.functionalmedicine.org), I proudly specialize in “strange” and I think that’s why some of you love me, lol.  Anyway here goes:  

Medications- Some drugs can lower your seizure threshold, making it more possible for you to experience a seizure, even if you’ve never had one before. Among the list (and please know this is just a mere possibility, it certainly doesn’t happen to everyone): Bupropion used for depression seems to trigger this problem in about 4 out of every 1,000 people taking it, at least that is what’s currently reported.  Also, fluoxetine, another antidepressant that belongs to the SSRI class (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), may spark seizures in 2 of every 1,000 people. Other SSRIs, including citalopram, sertraline, paroxetine and fluvoxamine, have similar seizure threshold lowering potential. The drug clozapine used for schizophrenia is associated. Approximately 5% of people taking the drug for one year may develop a seizure. Cocaine! Yes, well I know you are not using that street drug but it is included in my list. How about penicillin? There’s a possibility, moreso with this drug than with a relative, Amoxicillin.  And tramadol, used for pain management. Any drug that causes low sodium (as in “hyponatremia). And many other medications, ask the pharmacist to give you the patient insert so you can read more about the medicine you’re taking. 

Kidney disease- I’ll keep this short because it’s easy for you to get a renal profile lab, just ask your doctor. The point is undiagnosed kidney disease is a hidden cause for seizures.

Low thyroid- The autoimmune form of hypothyroidism is called Hashimoto’s disease, and one rare complication is encephalopathy. Stay with me here because your health (and life) depends on it. If you don’t know about Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy or HE, you are likely to get diagnosed with a seizure disorder, or a stroke. Symptoms include seizure activity, disorientation, tremors, concentration/attention span problems, dementia, difficulty retaining information, muscle jerks, fatigue, headaches, speech difficulties and possibly coma. The body temperature may be low in patients with HE.

Medications used to treat seizures do nothing for a person with HE, and you could die if you’re misdiagnosed. High dose prescribed steroids work for this condition, which again, often gets diagnosed as a seizure disorder because it’s so rare. Thyroid medication may be helpful for some, but I should tell you that this complication can occur in euthyroid patients, meaning they have “normal” thyroid levels. The hallmark of HE is very high antithyroid antibodies. This can be determined by a blood test. 

The autoimmune disease is often driven by consumption of a food allergen like gluten for example. Also high on the food allergy list is dairy, including two particular milk proteins, casein or milk butyrophylin, and other grains like amaranth, spelt, oats and so forth). Cyrex Labs can test you to tell if you’re sensitive to these or not. 

Not everyone with Hashimoto’s encephalopathy need medication, but some do. I often recommend Nature-Throid (similar to Armour but available in more strengths), or compounded T3 which must be ordered by your doctor, about 5 or 10 mcg daily, or whatever your physician feels is best to your particular condition. I am not able to prescribe (or diagnose you) I’m just trying to educate you so that you can have a conversation with your doctor and review your labs. As for blood levels, most physicians that I circle with, say you’ll feel your best if you can get that reverse T3 below 16, and your TSH between 0.1 and 1.0, and your get your free T3 to fall between 3.5 – 4.2 if possible.  Check your labs. Aim for these, as well as a body temperature above 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Low body temperature is a hallmark of this condition (and sometimes in seizure disorders, and believe it or not Lyme disease which I’ll talk about later). Low body temperature indicates poisoned mitochondria. The poison could be any toxin, like heavy metals, or it could be bacterial, viral or fungal bugs! Probiotics are essential of course.

Vitamin D deficiency- Seizures can be the initial manifestation of vitamin D deficiency and I’d recommend that serum levels be checked at least annually. Ideally, I think levels should be between 70 and 90 ng/ml. The strange part is this: The very medications used to treat a seizure condition are drug muggers of the active form of vitamin D, called “calcitriol.”  So yes, medications used to treat seizures might reduce the threshold for, and increase the risk (and incidence) of seizures, over time, in susceptible individuals; this is why blood tests are imperative. if you take an anticonvulsant medication, including phenytoin, carbamazepine or phenobarbital, I’d recommend taking vitamin D every morning,  By the way, these drugs have a tendency to increase clearance of thyroid hormone too, leading to low thyroid (another cause for seizures). Am I saying to stop these medications? Heavens no. Absolutely not. I’m trying to keep you safe if you have to take them by telling you what to do over the long haul. Anyway, I’d suggest 3 to 10,000 IU taken daily, but this dosage should really be determined after you find out your baseline serum D levels. Just as an aside, vitamin D can help with diabetes, by increasing insulin sensitivity. 

Too much MSG- This food additive -used to enhance flavor- is also known as “monosodium glutatmate” and it goes by a bunch of other aliases on food labels, making it hard to spot, and even harder to avoid because it’s in practically everything!  MSG is known as as an “excitotoxin” because it sort of vibrates the brain cells to death, hence the term “excitotoxin.” The immature brain, like that in a fetus or infant is four times more sensitive to excitotoxins than the adult. Sensitivity also increases in the elderly. We, as humans, are five times more sensitive to MSG than mice, and 20 times more sensitive than Rhesus monkeys. I’m telling you this because most studies are done in animals so when I read a study, I feel safe assuming that humans fare out worse than the animals used in the MSG studies. Before you dismiss the idea that what you eat matters to your brain, realize that scientific research strongly supports the notion that “excitotoxicity” is a major mechanism contributing to neuronal degeneration (brain death) and is in fact, tied to epilepsy. It occurs in part due to excessive glutamate production. Guess what, supplements of GABA sold at health food stores may offset the glutamate, and calm your brain down. Taurine could help too. Ask your doctor about these natural options and bear in mind that you’re doctor should study the actual dosages used because epilepsy requires higher dosages than those marked on the product label. Ask what is safe for you, based upon your liver and kidney function, and your particular condition. 

L-Serine deficiency- Serine is an amino acid. Deficiencies are sometimes related to cerebral palsy, seizures and stiffness or weakness of the muscles. 

Lithium deficiency- People think this just causes bipolar disorder, but low lithium is associated with seizures too.  seizures without any mood problems! Sometimes the gentle over-the-counter version of lithium supplement can help, called lithium orotate and if not, there are strong medication version. Ask your doctor.

Lyme disease or other infections- Yes, bacteria can get into your brain and spinal cause, and absolutely trigger seizures. Just because it’s last on my list does not mean I’m only giving it honorable mention, I’m giving it serious mention. It can be really rough on people too, especially because most people don’t know if they’ve been bit by a tick, and testing is a frustrating experience to say the least, because tests are not always accurate. You can test for Lyme using Igenex labs, or you can treat with antibiotics based on the entire clinical picture, which almost always includes other symptoms. Please consider this if you have no other identifiable cause, or if you’ve recently picnicked, gone camping or have a pet which carry ticks. 

The post Strange Causes for Seizure Disorders appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

I’ve had restless legs syndrome (RLS) for 4 years and it’s keeping my husband awake, and I’m so tired during the day I can’t function. My doctor is sick of me, and wants to try Horizant now, since Requip and Mirapex didn’t work. Should I try? –T.N., Centennial Colorado

Answer: Your doctor is sick of you? After 4 years and all the money you’ve paid, you should be free of this nighttime calamity! RLS symptoms include an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, and an unpleasant sensation of creepy-crawlies, as if worms are in your legs; there may be burning, tingling and symptoms worsen when you lie down, but often get better if you stretch or walk. Soon, I will  offer ideas to help you overcome the condition, but first let’s discuss the prescription medication Horizant, a brand name of “gabapentin enacarbil.” 

On a flight home, I was reading the October 22nd issue of People magazine, and I came across an ad for it which begins with “RLS is actually a neurological condition.”  Hmm, that got my attention. It is not always “neurological.” It may be a vitamin or mineral deficiency which can be evaluated by a blood test. Anyway, the ad says to “Call your health care provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse or worry you: Thoughts or actions about suicide, self-harm or dying; attempt to commit suicide, new or worse restlessness or panic attacks, acting aggressive, being angry or violent; acting on dangerous impulses.” 

Remember, you started with restless legs! Whenever I see scary potential side effects-even if they are uncommon- I wonder why patients find that acceptable, and why physicians prescribe drugs that cause more serious problems than the original issue.  

RLS is often caused by low levels of the hormone dopamine, which acts as a natural “happy” neurotransmitter in your brain.  An easy way to evaluate dopamine is to measure another hormone called “prolactin” and if that is elevated, you can bet you’re dopamine deficient. Dopamine can be created in the brain by taking supplements of the amino acid “Tyrosine” along with some vitamin B6 (yes, both at the same time in the morning, but ask your doctor if it’s okay). RLS may also be caused from deficiencies of “ferritin” a stored form of iron. Hematocrit may be normal, but ferritin could still be low.   If you take a statin cholesterol reducing drug, you could develop symptoms that reek of RLS. Only replenishing what the drug mugger stole will relieve your symptoms so in the statin case (because they are drug muggers of CoQ10, vitamin D and creatine) you must restore those. Additionally, L-carnitine, folic acid and magnesium are all critical considerations to support muscle health because they ease leg cramps, weakness and muscle spasms.

The post Non-Drug Solutions for Restless Legs Syndrome appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

A friend of mine suggested that I get more vitamin A to help my immune system.  I’ve always heard that vitamin D is better. Do you think that’s a good idea? –P.K., Rockwall, Texas

Answer: Yes, just keep in mind that vitamin A is not the be-all and end-all for immunity. You need adequate supplies of all vitamins and minerals to keep your immune system in tip-top shape which will prepare you for the upcoming cold and flu season.

Vitamin A helps maintain the integrity of your skin and mucous membranes, both of which serve as first line protective barriers against the invasion of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. When you have a runny nose, you assume it’s the vengeance of your cold. Yeah, I know it’s unpleasant, but making mucous is a natural part of fighting infections. Mucous membranes line your nose, throat,  intestines and vagina. When those body parts lack a thick, slimy layer of mucous protection, you’re a sitting duck for infections. There are numerous studies that show A’s profound effect on immunity, particularly Rheumatoid arthritis. In the July 2012 issue of the Journal of Immunology researchers found that vitamin A could suppress formation of a pain-causing compound (Interleukin-17) and simultaneously reduce antibodies that attack your joints and collagen.

Adequate supplies of vitamin A also supports healthy DNA, so in this regard, it may help reduce one’s risk for free radical damage, which is associated with a higher risk of cancer. There are studies supporting A’s anti-cancer benefits.

Vitamin A supports eyesight, especially your nighttime vision. A is fabulous for skin, and can help clear up acne. The drug Retin-A is based upon a vitamin A derivative, and dermatologists frequently prescribe it for blackheads, whiteheads, and cystic acne. Vitamin A boosts collagen formation; collagen keeps your skin firm and springy so you might say this nutrient erases wrinkles.

The Daily Reference Intake for vitamin A is 5,000 IUs daily, but you may need more, like 15 – 25 thousand IUs, if you take a drug mugger, for example, a fat-blocking supplement or drug, acid-reducing medications or mineral oil.  You could eat your way to sufficient levels of vitamin A if you consume a lot of meat, cheese, and milk. Plant foods contain beta-carotene and if you’re in good health, your body will convert this to vitamin A, without ever putting you at risk for toxicity. You get beta-carotene (and other healthy carotenoids) from carrots, red peppers, spinach, tomatoes and pumpkins. It’s a good idea to educate yourself about what vitamins and minerals can do for your body, and how to make sure you get enough of each nutrient to support healing and hopefully protect against disease. One of the best sources I keep in my library is the book NutriCures by Alice Feinstein, available through most major bookstores and online. 

The post Why YOU Need Vitamin A and D appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post How To Look 15 Years Younger appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist, 

Dr. Oz said magnesium was the number one thing for exhaustion. Do you agree? What are the best supplements? –C.T., Charlotte, North Carolina

Answer: I adore him and know it’s impossible to state everything about fatigue in a 20 minute segment, or for that matter, a 500 word column (which is what I’m given) so this week’s column is about what else you need to know to overcome fatigue.

Magnesium or “mag” as I call it, is definitely needed for energy production, and I’ve written about the benefits of this mineral in prior columns because deficiency is epidemic. But no, I don’t agree it’s the “number one” thing you need.  Symptoms of mag deficiency include sugar and chocolate cravings (I’m not making this up), cardiac arrhythmias, irritability, panic attacks, anxiety, muscle weakness or spasms, tearfulness, depression, personality changes, constipation, leg cramps and fatigue.

Your body needs mag all day long, some of it’s used to fuel biochemical reactions, you urinate some out and require some to make dopamine (a happy brain chemical). Here’s what Dr. Oz didn’t say on that segment: Magnesium is leached by medications, something I’ve termed the “drug mugging” effect.  Over 200 medications deplete mag, among them antacids, antibiotics, digoxin, heartburn/reflux medications, birth control, methylphenidate, corticosteroids, almost all blood pressure medications and diuretics. See chapter 12 of “Drug Muggers” for more drug names and how to supplement. Surprise, there are other muggers too, including coffee, black and green tea, green coffee bean extract and white refined sugar. Just having Celiac disease, Crohn’s, inflammatory bowel disease and chronic diarrhea can reduce magnesium.

Eating nutrient-dense foods is always my first choice to restore minerals, but in this case, eating magnesium-rich foods may not be enough to correct a serious deficiency. The best supplements are “chelated magnesium” or “magnesium glycinate” or my favorite “magnesium taurate.”  That last one provides your body with both magnesium and taurine, and taurine is imperative for your heart cells! That’s a lot of bang for your buck right there. I buy Cardiovascular Research’s brand of magnesium taurate at Amazon.com because it’s a specialty product, and I can’t usually find it at health food stores. 

My point is that fatigue is not usually due to low mag. There’s more involved, , such as iron deficiency anemia, or poor B vitamin status. You could have mitochondrial dysfunction, meaning your cells have trouble generating energy. That equals fatigue.  Mitochondria suffer at the hands of heavy metals like mercury or cadmium (from cigarette smoke). Mitochondria can die from chronic undiagnosed background infections (we all have germs hiding in us). In this case, you might benefit from transfer factor supplements such as “NT Factor Energy.” See where I’m going with this yet? It’s not all about mag. Your thyroid may be sluggish, so ashwagandha or iodine may help. Adrenal fatigue responds to herbs like ginseng or licorice, or prescribed hydrocortisone. My column “Stressed Out?” can truly help you, so I’ve archived it at my site www.DearPharmacist.com 

The post Fatigue Solutions That Make Sense appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist, 

I heard on the Dr. Oz show that green coffee bean extract could help me lose weight, what do you think of this? –G.H., Gainesville, Florida

Answer: I think it has good potential as part of a bigger plan that includes a Paleo diet and exercise. I always recommend a sensible weight loss plan as opposed to a magic pill.  The only problem I foresee is that most people with extra baggage suffer from undiagnosed hypothyroidism, adrenal problems such as cortisol imbalance, or estrogen dominance and no amount of green coffee bean extract will fix that. Nevertheless, I know many of you have rushed out to purchase this pill rather than order blood or urine  tests which is the only way to uncover the underlying cause of your weight problems.

I’m a big fan of Dr. Oz, and I’ve had the privilege of being on his show 3 times. He didn’t mention one important fact on the segment, so I’m going to share it with you today.  First, a little background.

Dr. Oz said the most effective green coffee been supplements contain at least 45% “chlorogenic acid.” It is this naturally occurring compound that induces thermogenesis, which speeds metabolism and burns fat. I agree with that and just so you know, tea (black, green or white) and coffee all contain chlorogenic acid; it’s what imparts these drinks with that familiar, slightly bitter taste. Seriously, and you thought it was caffeine I bet. Chlorogenic acid is interesting. It induces eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase), and that improves erectile dysfunction. One study found that chlorogenic acid (about 140mg/day) lowers blood pressure BP 5.6/3.9 mm Hg. 

Anyway, if you supplement with green coffee bean extract (or drink coffee and tea) then I need to warn you that chlorogenic acid is a drug mugger of magnesium, iron and zinc: 

Magnesium deficiency: Heart arrhythmias, depression, muscle cramps, twitches, tics and hypertension. 

Iron deficiency: Fatigue, pale skin, brittle nails, heart arrhythmias, dizziness, heavy arms and legs, and general weakness. 

Zinc deficiency: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), infertility, higher susceptibility to colds/flu, loss of taste, hearing or smell, brain fog, poor wound healing, hair loss. 

All I’m suggesting is that you restore what the ‘drug mugger’ steals from your body. You can do that with a supplement called “Trace Minerals,” or Hawaiian spirulina, both of which are sold at any health food store or pharmacy. Take it 4 to 6 hours away from the green coffee bean extract.

Finally, I bet some of you are hung up on the part about coffee and wondering if the drug mugging happens with decaf. Yes it does. The decaffeination process has no bearing on this. Chlorogenic acid is still robbing you of essential minerals, and possibly other nutrients like your B vitamins and intestinal microflora (probiotics). Herbal teas are fine because they are free of chlorogenic acid.  

The post What Dr. Oz Forgot to Say About Green Coffee Bean Extract appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post New JAMA Study Bakes Fish Oils- Don’t Believe It! appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

Please write about biotin deficiency, this is what killed my husband. No one detected it and I want to alert everyone. Love your work, hope to meet you one day. –J.P., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Answer: I’m sorry about your loss. Today, I will write about it. Together we will be preventing more deaths. The problem is that physicians and consumers think of biotin only as a “beauty” vitamin to improve nail strength and hair growth.  It’s also known as vitamin H, or B7. The sad part is, thousands of medications are “drug muggers” of biotin, meaning they prevent absorption or diminish our ability to make it in the body.  Here are signs that suggest biotin deficiency:

Nerve pain- Numbness, tingling, prickly sensations, pain or any other “paresthesia.”  It can occur by itself, or as part of kidney disease, insulin resistance or diabetes.

Skin conditions- Eczema, psoriasis, seborrheoeic dermatitis, flaking, itching, flaking, scaly, dry or inflamed skin, sores in or around the mouth, burning mouth/tongue, all of these problems suggest biotin (or another B vitamin) deficiency.

Poor immunity- Results in more frequent bacterial or viral infections, anywhere, even in your eye (conjunctivitis).

Cognitive problems- The brain needs biotin to make neurotransmitters that keep you feeling mentally alert, happy and attentive. Low biotin can cause fatigue and depression.

High cholesterol- Animal studies have shown that biotin (along with chromium) can reduce cholesterol and triglycerides. Low biotin increases risk for fatty liver.

Anorexia- You’re not hungry if you have biotin deficiency. Sounds like a dream right, but it can actually contribute to depression, lethargy, and weakness.

Anemia- The hemoglobin cells lose their ability to tote oxygen, leaving you feeling winded, short of breath, inattentive and fatigued with little exertion. Prolonged anemia raises risk for heart failure.

Cardiac Arrhythmia- Biotin deficiency can absolutely cause you to suffer palpitations, skipped beats and other electrical disturbances that can cause a fatal heart attack.

You must get as irritated as I do to read Internet posts from so-called experts saying that biotin deficiency is “rare” or that we get enough from foods. I believe biotin deficiency is extremely common and covered this nutrient in Chapter 6 of Drug Muggers.

Biotin is made by yeast and bacteria, the same friendly microorganisms in our intestinal flora. Keep in mind, all medications strip away our probiotics, reducing our biotin stash. Antibiotics are huge drug muggers as are estrogen-containing hormones, acid blockers, antacids, anti-convulsants, steroids, anti-virals, breast cancer drugs, anti-inflammatories and certain analgesics; also people who smoke, drink alcohol, coffee or take alpha lipoic acid run out of biotin quickly. My list adds up to a bazillion people! Biotin supplements are sold over-the-counter but of course ask your doctor if it’s right for you. About 1,000 to 5,000 mcg per day should help. Your body washes away excess biotin. Food sources: Organ meats, nuts, cashews, dairy, liver, scrambled eggs, cauliflower, leafy greens, legumes and seafood.

The post Biotin Deficiency Can Be Fatal appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

What an awful year 2012 has been, I’m stressed and tired. I cry easily. It’s not who I am! Can you help me? –V.D., Broomfield, Colorado

Answer: Sounds like you’ve exhausted your adrenals glands, you can tell if you have this particular energy pattern:

* Difficulty rising-you don’t really wake up until 10 am

* You feel better after lunch

*You have an afternoon low between 3 – 5 pm

*You much pretty good after 6 or 7 pm

* You’re tired by 8 – 10 pm but resist going to bed

* If you fight it, and stay up, you catch your second wind around 11 pm, lasting until 1 – 2 am.

If this sounds like you, it’s probably “hypoadrenia,” also known as adrenal burnout or adrenal insufficiency.  Adrenal glands pump out cortisol hormone to help you deal with stress. If you have one big stressor (such as grief) or a million micro-stressors, then over time, your adrenal glands stop producing adequate cortisol hormone. You will drag yourself through each day never knowing what is wrong with you. Physicians who fail to recognize this disorder assume you have depression and prescribe antidepressants or stimulants. Only when a proper diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency is made, can you buy natural herbs to support adrenal gland health, or take a prescription medication called hydrocortisone which restores natural cortisol. Many people with undiagnosed hypoadrenia, soothe their hormonal imbalance by binge eating or drinking, alcoholism or drug addiction.

A few other signs of hypoadrenia include the need to lie down after emotionally stressful times, muscle weakness, mild depression, fatigue, craving foods high in salt or fat, increased menopausal or PMS symptoms, more allergies, lightheadedness upon rising, frequent sighing, using caffeine or sugar to wake up, low libido and apathy. Some find they feel better after spending the night with a friend, or getting out of the house.

As I see it, the biggest problem is that adrenal fatigue causes hypothyroidism, causing a cascade of other terrible symptoms and no amount of thyroid medication will correct hypothyroidism, unless you simultaneously nourish your adrenal glands with adaptogenic herbs.

Adrenal hormone testing is simple. I recommend Diagnos-Techs, ZRT Labs or Neuroscience Labs, because those three labs offer saliva testing in a “4 point” manner. This means you provide 4 saliva samples, morning, noon, evening and midnight.

Herbs and vitamins that support adrenal health include DHEA, schizandra, eleuthero, rhodiola, ashwaghanda, ginseng, turmeric, theanine, astragalus, beta sitosterol, ginger and B vitamins  especially pantethine.

It’s a mortgage and a nightmare to take all of those so I recommend you buy one formula that can “multi-task” meaning it includes several of those goodies. The effect is synergistic, and the price is nice. You can find a couple of good formulas at health food stores such as “ADRENergize” by Enzymatic Therapy or “Stress Advantage” by New Chapter. If you are picky like me, take a physician-formulated product that guarantees therapeutic dosages such as “a-Drenal” by RLC Labs (I take it myself); most any practitioner can order this for you, or buy online at naturalhealthyconcepts.com

The post Stressed Out? Adrenal Supplements to the Rescue appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

You’re sort of obsessed with gut health because you frequently suggest probiotics to people seeking better health. I don’t take probiotics but I do appreciate your perspective. Not one of 14 doctors over six years has ever suggested probiotics. What’s the big deal?  –R.M., Ocala, Florida

Answer: Hmm, maybe you would not have needed 14 doctors if any one of them had warned you of the adverse health consequences of microflora deficiency? Think allergies, irritable bowel, depression, hypothyroidism, cancer and autoimmune disorders galore. The ramifications for poor probiotic status cause disease from head to toe.

A new approach to modern health care, known as medical ecology, seeks to change the way we think about bacteria. There are more than 100 trillion microbes that live inside you, that’s more than the number of actual cells that form you into a human being. You are merely the sum of the bacteria inside you, so it’s critical that the good organisms outnumber the bad ones, or else disease sets in. People who enjoy good health, do so because of their strong immune system which powers up at birth, with an assortment of healthy bacteria obtained from mother’s milk. The bacteria in a mother’s milk, for example, contains up to 600 species of organisms that prepare her baby’s digestive tract and lay the foundation for her immune system not only for childhood but well into adulthood.

Research is showing that countless species serve a good purpose in an interesting article written by Carl Zimmer entitled “How Microbes Defend and Define Us.” (New York Times. 12 June 2012). As adults, collectively-speaking, our intestinal microflora bugs weigh about 2 or 3 pounds, about as much as a brick. If you want to enjoy good health, your goal should be to make sure that of those 100 trillion bugs, most of them are good ones! While there are always going to be pathogenic organisms, it’s fair to say many members of our internal ecosystem are getting a bad rap for no reason.

Love your skin?  You can thank your bacteria for that. Likewise, if you have sensitive skin, or a skin disorder such as psoriasis or eczema, you can blame your bacteria for that as well. Special skin cells  produce an important moisture layer that protects our delicate skin from toxins, keeping it supple, healthy, and also prevents it from cracking.  Just as the bacteria on your skin are essential to a healthy hide, researchers are discovering even more positive effects produced by our invisible inhabitants. While researchers debate the evidence, you might continue scratching yourself to death! Why not try probiotics? They’re a very safe, inexpensive and fundamental way to promote a healthy immune response and ensure beautiful skin. Results are immediate, usually within days to just a few weeks, especially if the diet is cleaned appropriately. For more on eczema, please refer to my new ebook called “Eczema, Itchin’ for a Cure.”

Do you enjoy eating food without the discomfort of heartburn and bleeding ulcers? Thank your gut bugs because they are keeping the invaders (like H. pylori) at bay. Never get sick? Let’s hear it for the bugs! Do your best to nourish the health-promoting microorganisms because if you don’t, the bad guys are opportunistic, and they will take over the terrain, thus changing the ratio of those 100 trillion microbes. By occupying various niches in the intricate landscape of our bodies, our resident microbes protect us from foreign bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Many well-designed studies prove this.

To improve the ratio of good to bad microbes I recommend taking probiotic supplements, sold by some physicians and at health food stores. Everyone associates probiotic supplements with gastrointestinal health and relief of constipation but probiotics are great for skin health, weight, staying healthy as we head into cough and cold season (hint hint), lifting depression and believe it or not, thyroid health. Yes, that healthy bacterial garden in your gut activates approximately 30 percent of your thyroid hormone, which in turn boosts energy and burns fat.

From our skin to our cheeks and teeth, the diversity in bacterial species found in our bodies is incredible. One place with an especially diverse bacterial ecosystem is our gut, which is estimated to contain anywhere from 500 to 1000 different species of bacteria, collectively called “gut flora” (References 1,2,3).  It’s hard to imagine isn’t it, especially because you’ve probably only heard of a handful of organisms among them the most famous Lactobacillus acidophilus, it’s sometimes on the label of yogurt, which by the way is NOT your best method of getting probiotics. I’ll explain that shortly. You may have also heard of Bifidobacterium, another good gut bug. And Lactobacillus GG (Culturelle), is very good at preventing antibiotic-induced diarrhea. There is a friendly yeast organism which some people like to supplement with too, called Saccharomyces Boulardii, it was first isolated from the fruit of mangosteen and lychee. This yeast helpful to overcome overgrowth of bad yeast like Candida and is particularly useful in children with gastroenteritis, people with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (often induced by antibiotics like Vancomycin and Metronidazole), and also other Clostridia species that affect the brain, sometimes seen in kids with autism.  S. Boulardii supplements are sold nationwide, and  can be taken with any brand of probiotic (because it is a yeast). You can ask your doctor about this over-the-counter supplement but S. Boulardii and probiotics should be fine for everyone.

I’m picky about probiotics. We all have a unique “flora fingerprint.”  No two are the same among humans. You can change your flora easily, with every meal. For example, eat a cinnamon bun and you’ve easily demolished millions of happy, healthy bacteria. All prescribed or over-the-counter medications reduce your probiotic bacterial stash so I’m disappointed to hear that not one of your 14 practitioners suggested a probiotic to restore gut flora. You must put back what medication stole or you’ll pay with your health. With probiotic supplementation, results are immediate, usually within days to weeks. Oh, and yogurt, is probably the worst way to take in probiotics since the organisms are likely dead by the time you eat it, and the dairy provides a strong casein and lactose hit. Many people are unknowingly allergic to casein and this adds another layer of problems to someone with a serious health condition. I’m just saying that for many people with chronic illness, dairy-derived probiotics are probably not the best choice.

Are you getting the message? Take probiotics, and eat foods that don’t upset the delicate balance or add to your food sensitivity burden. What you eat upsets balance, so consider eliminating artificial dyes, sweeteners and chemicals, as well as soda, white refined sugar, anything from a box that could sit in your cabinet for a year and still be eaten (!), anything food that is “fast” or refined/processed, inferior oils and fungus-promoting foods (sugar, vinegar, candy and mushrooms) Oh, and I’d prefer your diet be gluten and dairy free. Going grain-free is even better, and imperative, if only for a few months to reduce auto-immune related cytokines for those of you suffering with auto-immune disorders. The closest diet to what I’m suggesting here, and one that will help you achieve optimal health is The Phase One Diet, and another known as The Paleo Diet. Either will suit you and you’ll be impressed with the way you look within a month.

As I have often explained to my friends and family, each person has their own unique “flora fingerprint.”   This is a remarkable finding, because it speaks to the fact that each person’s body is different and should be treated as such.  It’s like your fingerprint, no two are the same among humans; same with your flora fingerprint. While some species of bacteria from a family called Bacteriodes, have found to be present in nearly every healthy adult, there are many  other species that exist in all sorts of combinations (1,2).  The relative concentrations of the different strains will vary dramatically in an individual from birth, to weaning, to adolescence and adulthood.  When you ingest micro-organisms from a probiotic supplement and it contains a strain that your body does not recognize your immune system perceives it as a germ and launches a low-level attack on it (think auto-immune), but the reaction could take months for you to notice, or hours. There is just no way to tell. What you want to do is avoid supplements that have a bunch of strains because the odds are that some will be foreign to you. Additionally, woman’s gut flora is altered dramatically when she becomes pregnant. So there’s a lot happening in a pregnant belly, and it directly affects the health of her fetus.

With increasing insight into this field, scientists are realizing we have a long way to go before we fully understand the complex nature of gut flora.  No doubt about that. I am still stunned when I hear health care practitioners argue about the fact that probiotics do anything for us. I was recently in a cancer lecture, and one of the world’s leading cancer experts said that probiotics were never anything he recommended in his practice! Really, because that just made me want to throw my high-heel shoes at him! If there’s one thing that boosts immunity, it’s a healthy gut flora. In my opinion, this is the simplest, cheapest and fastest way for a person to protect their health!

This cutting-edge research has shown that even between individuals of the same age, the gut flora make-up can differ quite dramatically! In other words, out of the 1000′s of possible species of bacteria, any individual may have any number or complex combination of them at once in their gut (1,2).  This news has exciting implications for our individual well-being and might offer solutions to a number of health problems (3).

As a proponent of gut health education, I was thrilled to read about a large study called the Human Microbiome Project.  Published and conducted by Dr. Julie Seger, a senior investigator at the National Human Genome Research Institute, the Human Microbiome Project tracked the bacteria species present in 242 healthy individuals over two years.  With this data, these scientists were able to create a more accurate picture of our ever-changing microbiomes.  The microbiomes contain a vast amount of genetic material, which scientists can then decode as another piece of the puzzle (2,4).  It has been shown that a patient’s unique gut flora combination can even change the way they metabolize drugs, making this a very important area of research (5).  If physicians were able to choose drugs on the basis of your probiotic flora fingerprint, there would be fewer adverse reactions and better outcomes. Ah, but that’s me dreaming…

Each new piece of information we learn provides us with clues for the treatment of numerous health conditions (2).  So what can you do to nurture your gut flora?   I used to suggest talking to your physician about your own, individual “flora fingerprint” but then I learned from a dozen or more readers who emailed me that their physician had no knowledge of us having a “fingerprint” nor did they think too much of probiotics. This whole concept of a “flora fingerprint” will come as news to many physicians for a few more years, so just politely nod when they tell you there’s no such thing, or maybe hand them a copy of my Drug Muggers book, opened to chapter 17.   Sorry, you’re kind of on your own here, or you can speak to a naturopath, chiropractor, dietician, nurse, massage therapist or nutritionist – they usually know about the importance of probiotic supplements and gut health.

Take a high-quality probiotic supplement tailored to your specific bacterial needs.  Because every person produces their own unique fingerprint of “good” bacteria, called probiotics, it is essential that you choose a probiotic supplement. Think of your GI tract as having a beautiful garden. Pick products containing bacterial strains which nurture the growth of your own beautiful garden.  Some probiotics available in health food stores provide many strains, but taking strains that are not native to YOUR gut could cause your body to launch an attack on these new intruders. Remember, your body has an army of immune cells, sitting there waiting for germs to appear. When you take in strains of bacteria that you don’t normally make, your immune cells see that as a germ, a virtual invader that has entered seeking to destroy you and off you go, a little autoimmune problem that you’d never trace to your probiotic supplement.

My philosophy is that, with probiotics, the more, the messier.  One of my favorites supplements is Dr. Ohhira’s probiotic because it contains only those strains most common to the human microbiome. In other words, it has the strains that most of us have inside us so the body doesn’t perceive the organisms as invaders. I consider this to be among the safest formulas on the market, and use it myself. It goes back to nurturing your flora fingerprint and also this product never freeze-dries their strains, they are live and viable when you get them. The 12 strains in this product go a long way in reducing inflammatory cytokines, as well as support digestive health. It’s sold at health food stores nationwide, or online HERE I asked for, and received a deal for my fans, so if use coupon code “suzysave” at this trusted website store you will get a free sample size bar of their Kampuku Soap, a probiotic-based soap that is healing to various skin conditions. Prices are

Another option, for extremely sensitive people or those with multiple chemical sensitivities, I often recommend Klaire Labs “Ther-Biotic Detox Support” because it contains 3 strains only. Great for super sensitive folks, but it’s physician only so you have to go to your doctor and ask them to order it. You will have to keep this one in the refrigerator. I was unable to acquire us a coupon for this brand.

You  may have to experiment and there are other good brands, but to help those of you getting started I thought I would outline a few possible combinations. Some of these are sold OTC, and others are physician-formulated (ie Xymogen) so ask your doctor to order for you.

1. Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotic and Sacharomyces Boulardii (by Nutricology or Jarrow for example)

2. Klaire’s Ther-Biotic Detox Support and Sacharomyces Boulardii

3. Florastor and Xymogen’s ProbioMax

One more thing, this idea of dosage is silly. I know that supplements measure their bacterial strains in terms of CFUs or colony forming units, but this is irrelevant as far as I’m concerned. You can take 10 billion CFUs per day, but if they’re not live, viable strains that are common to your gut flora, it’s useless, and perhaps harmful. So don’t worry so much about CFUs, that’s just a designation that scientists use to compare quantities, it has nothing to do with quality. Taking a supplement that supports your “flora fingerprint” is important for both total health– your gut flora will thank you (6).

Any medication, prescribed or over-the-counter has the ability to destroy your probiotic status. Yes, you heard that right, all medicines are drug muggers of your probiotics. If you take any medication on a daily basis, you should be restoring gut flora. You must put back what medication stole or your body pays the price. On a related note, antibiotics do not discriminate between the “good” bacteria and the “bad,” so be sure to use them sparingly.  A great thing to do is take your antibiotic in the morning, and a probiotic in the evening. There is debate about whether or not to start the probiotic while you’re on the antibiotic, and I do think you should. No sense in waiting until the end of the antibiotic course, by then you will have annihilated most of your 100 trillion organisms!  So do as I suggest, take them simultaneously, just separate the antibiotic from the probiotic by at least 4 hours. This ensures that your population of “good” bacteria won’t be completely destroyed while you recover from the infection.  Remember, nurturing your own “flora fingerprint” is absolutely essential for healthy digestive and immune systems, so embrace your gut flora and help keep it going strong! (6, 7)

Yeah, seriously love your gut bugs, they keep you healthy. They are stored in your appendix, so if you’ve had that organ removed, you need to be absolutely vigilant about taking high quality probiotics on a daily basis.  Generally speaking, if you begin  probiotic supplementation, you may experience mild stomach discomfort, cramps and even a little bit of diarrhea, this is normal and harmless and comes with repopulating the territory. Your body has to get rid of harmful pathogens, yeast (like Candida) all while implanting cultures of healthy new organisms, the sort that make you healthy, improve mood, support blood sugar and help you lose weight. It’s worth a few days of minor discomfort for the long haul. Probiotics can be taken without regard to meals. And if you are taking a supplement of S. Boulardii (such as Florastor or one made by Xymogen or Jarrow brands), it’s okay to take those without regard to meals as well.

In this article I have only scratched the surface of gut ecology, and new developments in this area of research are happening every day.  The take home points would be that we have a unique flora fingerprint, we should NOT take probiotic supplements indiscriminately, and dump in strains that we have never seen before… and we should avoid refined sugars, processed foods, alcohol and other ‘irritants’ which affect our Microbiome status. For more information about your “flora fingerprint,” be sure to check out my Facebook page where I often post about this, and also read good books on the subject.  There are two other books that I think are fabulous as they pertain to GI health.  The first one is “Boost Your Health with Bacteria” by Fred Pescatore, MD, and Karolyn A. Gazella. The other book is “Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet and Prilosec” by Martie Whittekin, CCN.  These books are devoted to improve GI flora and contain a lot of useful information.

Sources:

1.  Zimmer, Carl.  “How Microbes Defend and Define Us.” New York Times. 12 June 2012.

2.  Zimmer, Carl.  “Tending the Body’s Microbial Garden.” New York Times.  18 Jun 2012.

3.  Sears, CL. “A dynamic partnership: Celebrating our gut flora.”  Anaerobe 11 (5): 247–251.  2005.

4.  Image: “Invisible Residents.” Published 18 Jun 2012.

5.  Wikoff, William et. al. “Metabolomics analysis reveals large effects of gut microflora on mammalian blood metabolites.” PNAS. 20 Feb 2009.

6.  Cohen, Suzy.  “Dear Pharmacist: Flora fingerprint protects.” Newsday. 2 April 2011.

7.  Harmon, Katherine.  “Bugs Inside: What Happens When the Microbes That Keep Us Healthy Disappear?” Scientific American. 16 Dec 2009.

The post Eating “Bugs” is a Good Idea appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post How To Discontinue Medications Safely appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post Simple Remedies To Heal Sun Fungus appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

“America’s Pharmacist”

Dear Pharmacist,

 My life’s never been the same since 2004. Overnight, I developed arthritis, vertigo, headaches                    and fatigue. I used to run every day! I’ve been to 10 doctors for never-ending symptoms too embarrassing to list. Last week, I fell in love with you Suzy because you wrote about “Lyme Disease” and I looked it up. It explains my life. I called my doctor, but she said Lyme isn’t common here, and dismissed me, so I’m stuck now. Can you offer guidance? –S.N., Chicago

Answer: You’re not “stuck,” there are many Lyme literate medical doctors (LLMDs) in our country, and here are three people who educate: Dr. Lee Cowden, Dr. Joseph Burrascano and Stephen Harrod Buhner; each has a different viewpoint. The controversy surrounding Lyme is latched on tighter than a tick. .

Lyme is frequently dismissed or misdiagnosed leaving you sick, tired and eventually disabled. It mimics multiple sclerosis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s, ALS, Alzheimer’s, fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and epilepsy so it’s hard to pin down. Bummer, because if you’re diagnosed incorrectly, precious antimicrobials needed to kill Lyme bugs are never taken, leading to potentially catastrophic problems. I’m not being melodramatic, ask any Lyme sufferer! No two patients have the same symptoms, which come and go: Chronic pain, exhaustion, brain fog, poor memory, insomnia, yeast infections, twitches, trigeminal neuralgia, anxiety, back/neck pain, neuropathy, migraines, dizziness, muscle/joint pain, cramps, bladder or testicular pain, urethritis, buzzing, sound sensitivity, eye or ear pain, air hunger and irregular heartbeat. That’s for starters.

Don’t assume there has to be a tick bite, followed by a bullseye rash. That rash only occurs in 50 percent of people, and most won’t ever see a tick, some of which are the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Besides, ticks are not the only way to get infected. Lyme is carried by fleas, biting flies, lice, mosquitoes and dust mites. Kissing or having sex with someone who has Lyme may cause transmission. Some people carry Lyme even though they’re asymptomatic and well. Oh, and it can remain dormant for months to years.

If you have a long history of health issues, with symptoms that change daily or monthly, but never go away, I’d seriously consider Lyme testing by a lab that specializes in it, for example Galaxy, Igenex, Fry or Advance Labs. Galaxy Labs only tests for Bartonella, so for initial screening I recommend Igenex or Fry labs. Inaccurate results by regular labs may produce a false negative, so you think you don’t have Lyme when you do. Years of misery could ensue. The medical disparity between testing labs is unfathomable so I urge you to test using one of my suggested labs. They’re expensive, but worth it.

Don’t assume Lyme infection is caused only by Borrelia burgdorferi, because other co-infecting organisms such as Babesia, Rickettsia,  Bartonella or Ehrlichia could be behind your symptoms. My recommended labs are better at detecting those bugs.  Finally, the “CD57” blood test offers a clue, and tracks your progress, and I recommend LabCorp for that particular test. Visit ilads.org for more Lyme information.

The post Long History of Pain? Think Lyme Disease appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post Protect Yourself From Heart Attack appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post Magnolia Bark Is A Natural Tranquilizer appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

You’re sort of obsessed with gut health because you frequently suggest probiotics to people seeking better health. I don’t take probiotics but I do appreciate your perspective. Not one of 14 doctors over six years has ever suggested probiotics. What’s the big deal?  –R.M., Ocala, Florida

Answer: Hmm, maybe you would not have needed 14 doctors if any one of them had warned you of the adverse health consequences of microflora deficiency? Think allergies, irritable bowel, depression, hypothyroidism, cancer and autoimmune disorders galore. The ramifications for poor probiotic status cause disease from head to toe.

A new approach to modern health care, known as medical ecology, seeks to change the way we think about bacteria. There are more than 100 trillion microbes that live inside you, that’s more than the number of actual cells that form you into a human being. You are merely the sum of the bacteria inside you, so it’s critical that the good organisms outnumber the bad ones, or else disease sets in. People who enjoy good health, do so because of their strong immune system which powers up at birth, with an assortment of healthy bacteria obtained from mother’s milk. The bacteria in a mother’s milk, for example, contains up to 600 species of organisms that prepare her baby’s digestive tract and lay the foundation for her immune system not only for childhood but well into adulthood.

Research is showing that countless species serve a good purpose in an interesting article written by Carl Zimmer entitled “How Microbes Defend and Define Us.” (New York Times. 12 June 2012). As adults, collectively-speaking, our intestinal microflora bugs weigh about 2 or 3 pounds, about as much as a brick. If you want to enjoy good health, your goal should be to make sure that of those 100 trillion bugs, most of them are good ones! While there are always going to be pathogenic organisms, it’s fair to say many members of our internal ecosystem are getting a bad rap for no reason.

Love your skin?  You can thank your bacteria for that. Likewise, if you have sensitive skin, or a skin disorder such as psoriasis or eczema, you can blame your bacteria for that as well. Special skin cells  produce an important moisture layer that protects our delicate skin from toxins, keeping it supple, healthy, and also prevents it from cracking.  Just as the bacteria on your skin are essential to a healthy hide, researchers are discovering even more positive effects produced by our invisible inhabitants. While researchers debate the evidence, you might continue scratching yourself to death! Why not try probiotics? They’re a very safe, inexpensive and fundamental way to promote a healthy immune response and ensure beautiful skin. Results are immediate, usually within days to just a few weeks, especially if the diet is cleaned appropriately. For more on eczema, please refer to my new ebook called “Eczema, Itchin’ for a Cure.”

Do you enjoy eating food without the discomfort of heartburn and bleeding ulcers? Thank your gut bugs because they are keeping the invaders (like H. pylori) at bay. Never get sick? Let’s hear it for the bugs! Do your best to nourish the health-promoting microorganisms because if you don’t, the bad guys are opportunistic, and they will take over the terrain, thus changing the ratio of those 100 trillion microbes. By occupying various niches in the intricate landscape of our bodies, our resident microbes protect us from foreign bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Many well-designed studies prove this.

To improve the ratio of good to bad microbes I recommend taking probiotic supplements, sold by some physicians and at health food stores. Everyone associates probiotic supplements with gastrointestinal health and relief of constipation but probiotics are great for skin health, weight, staying healthy as we head into cough and cold season (hint hint), lifting depression and believe it or not, thyroid health. Yes, that healthy bacterial garden in your gut activates approximately 30 percent of your thyroid hormone, which in turn boosts energy and burns fat.

From our skin to our cheeks and teeth, the diversity in bacterial species found in our bodies is incredible. One place with an especially diverse bacterial ecosystem is our gut, which is estimated to contain anywhere from 500 to 1000 different species of bacteria, collectively called “gut flora” (References 1,2,3).  It’s hard to imagine isn’t it, especially because you’ve probably only heard of a handful of organisms among them the most famous Lactobacillus acidophilus, it’s sometimes on the label of yogurt, which by the way is NOT your best method of getting probiotics. I’ll explain that shortly. You may have also heard of Bifidobacterium, another good gut bug. And Lactobacillus GG (Culturelle), is very good at preventing antibiotic-induced diarrhea. There is a friendly yeast organism which some people like to supplement with too, called Saccharomyces Boulardii, it was first isolated from the fruit of mangosteen and lychee. This yeast helpful to overcome overgrowth of bad yeast like Candida and is particularly useful in children with gastroenteritis, people with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (often induced by antibiotics like Vancomycin and Metronidazole), and also other Clostridia species that affect the brain, sometimes seen in kids with autism.  S. Boulardii supplements are sold nationwide, and  can be taken with any brand of probiotic (because it is a yeast). You can ask your doctor about this over-the-counter supplement but S. Boulardii and probiotics should be fine for everyone.

I’m picky about probiotics. We all have a unique “flora fingerprint.”  No two are the same among humans. You can change your flora easily, with every meal. For example, eat a cinnamon bun and you’ve easily demolished millions of happy, healthy bacteria. All prescribed or over-the-counter medications reduce your probiotic bacterial stash so I’m disappointed to hear that not one of your 14 practitioners suggested a probiotic to restore gut flora. You must put back what medication stole or you’ll pay with your health. With probiotic supplementation, results are immediate, usually within days to weeks. Oh, and yogurt, is probably the worst way to take in probiotics since the organisms are likely dead by the time you eat it, and the dairy provides a strong casein and lactose hit. Many people are unknowingly allergic to casein and this adds another layer of problems to someone with a serious health condition. I’m just saying that for many people with chronic illness, dairy-derived probiotics are probably not the best choice.

Are you getting the message? Take probiotics, and eat foods that don’t upset the delicate balance or add to your food sensitivity burden. What you eat upsets balance, so consider eliminating artificial dyes, sweeteners and chemicals, as well as soda, white refined sugar, anything from a box that could sit in your cabinet for a year and still be eaten (!), anything food that is “fast” or refined/processed, inferior oils and fungus-promoting foods (sugar, vinegar, candy and mushrooms) Oh, and I’d prefer your diet be gluten and dairy free. Going grain-free is even better, and imperative, if only for a few months to reduce auto-immune related cytokines for those of you suffering with auto-immune disorders. The closest diet to what I’m suggesting here, and one that will help you achieve optimal health is The Phase One Diet, and another known as The Paleo Diet. Either will suit you and you’ll be impressed with the way you look within a month.

As I have often explained to my friends and family, each person has their own unique “flora fingerprint.”   This is a remarkable finding, because it speaks to the fact that each person’s body is different and should be treated as such.  It’s like your fingerprint, no two are the same among humans; same with your flora fingerprint. While some species of bacteria from a family called Bacteriodes, have found to be present in nearly every healthy adult, there are many  other species that exist in all sorts of combinations (1,2).  The relative concentrations of the different strains will vary dramatically in an individual from birth, to weaning, to adolescence and adulthood.  When you ingest micro-organisms from a probiotic supplement and it contains a strain that your body does not recognize your immune system perceives it as a germ and launches a low-level attack on it (think auto-immune), but the reaction could take months for you to notice, or hours. There is just no way to tell. What you want to do is avoid supplements that have a bunch of strains because the odds are that some will be foreign to you. Additionally, woman’s gut flora is altered dramatically when she becomes pregnant. So there’s a lot happening in a pregnant belly, and it directly affects the health of her fetus.

With increasing insight into this field, scientists are realizing we have a long way to go before we fully understand the complex nature of gut flora.  No doubt about that. I am still stunned when I hear health care practitioners argue about the fact that probiotics do anything for us. I was recently in a cancer lecture, and one of the world’s leading cancer experts said that probiotics were never anything he recommended in his practice! Really, because that just made me want to throw my high-heel shoes at him! If there’s one thing that boosts immunity, it’s a healthy gut flora. In my opinion, this is the simplest, cheapest and fastest way for a person to protect their health!

This cutting-edge research has shown that even between individuals of the same age, the gut flora make-up can differ quite dramatically! In other words, out of the 1000′s of possible species of bacteria, any individual may have any number or complex combination of them at once in their gut (1,2).  This news has exciting implications for our individual well-being and might offer solutions to a number of health problems (3).

As a proponent of gut health education, I was thrilled to read about a large study called the Human Microbiome Project.  Published and conducted by Dr. Julie Seger, a senior investigator at the National Human Genome Research Institute, the Human Microbiome Project tracked the bacteria species present in 242 healthy individuals over two years.  With this data, these scientists were able to create a more accurate picture of our ever-changing microbiomes.  The microbiomes contain a vast amount of genetic material, which scientists can then decode as another piece of the puzzle (2,4).  It has been shown that a patient’s unique gut flora combination can even change the way they metabolize drugs, making this a very important area of research (5).  If physicians were able to choose drugs on the basis of your probiotic flora fingerprint, there would be fewer adverse reactions and better outcomes. Ah, but that’s me dreaming…

Each new piece of information we learn provides us with clues for the treatment of numerous health conditions (2).  So what can you do to nurture your gut flora?   I used to suggest talking to your physician about your own, individual “flora fingerprint” but then I learned from a dozen or more readers who emailed me that their physician had no knowledge of us having a “fingerprint” nor did they think too much of probiotics. This whole concept of a “flora fingerprint” will come as news to many physicians for a few more years, so just politely nod when they tell you there’s no such thing, or maybe hand them a copy of my Drug Muggers book, opened to chapter 17.   Sorry, you’re kind of on your own here, or you can speak to a naturopath, chiropractor, dietician, nurse, massage therapist or nutritionist – they usually know about the importance of probiotic supplements and gut health.

Take a high-quality probiotic supplement tailored to your specific bacterial needs.  Because every person produces their own unique fingerprint of “good” bacteria, called probiotics, it is essential that you choose a probiotic supplement. Think of your GI tract as having a beautiful garden. Pick products containing bacterial strains which nurture the growth of your own beautiful garden.  Some probiotics available in health food stores provide many strains, but taking strains that are not native to YOUR gut could cause your body to launch an attack on these new intruders. Remember, your body has an army of immune cells, sitting there waiting for germs to appear. When you take in strains of bacteria that you don’t normally make, your immune cells see that as a germ, a virtual invader that has entered seeking to destroy you and off you go, a little autoimmune problem that you’d never trace to your probiotic supplement.

My philosophy is that, with probiotics, the more, the messier.  One of my favorites supplements is Dr. Ohhira’s probiotic because it contains only those strains most common to the human microbiome. In other words, it has the strains that most of us have inside us so the body doesn’t perceive the organisms as invaders. I consider this to be among the safest formulas on the market, and use it myself. It goes back to nurturing your flora fingerprint and also this product never freeze-dries their strains, they are live and viable when you get them. The 12 strains in this product go a long way in reducing inflammatory cytokines, as well as support digestive health. It’s sold at health food stores nationwide, or online HERE I asked for, and received a deal for my fans, so if use coupon code “suzy12” at this trusted website store you will get a free sample size bar of their Kampuku Soap, a probiotic-based soap that is healing to various skin conditions. Prices are

Another option, for extremely sensitive people or those with multiple chemical sensitivities, I often recommend Klaire Labs “Ther-Biotic Detox Support” because it contains 3 strains only. Great for super sensitive folks, but it’s physician only so you have to go to your doctor and ask them to order it. You will have to keep this one in the refrigerator. I was unable to acquire us a coupon for this brand.

You  may have to experiment and there are other good brands, but to help those of you getting started I thought I would outline a few possible combinations. Some of these are sold OTC, and others are physician-formulated (ie Xymogen) so ask your doctor to order for you.

1. Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotic and Sacharomyces Boulardii (by Nutricology or Jarrow for example)

2. Klaire’s Ther-Biotic Detox Support and Sacharomyces Boulardii

3. Florastor and Xymogen’s ProbioMax

One more thing, this idea of dosage is silly. I know that supplements measure their bacterial strains in terms of CFUs or colony forming units, but this is irrelevant as far as I’m concerned. You can take 10 billion CFUs per day, but if they’re not live, viable strains that are common to your gut flora, it’s useless, and perhaps harmful. So don’t worry so much about CFUs, that’s just a designation that scientists use to compare quantities, it has nothing to do with quality. Taking a supplement that supports your “flora fingerprint” is important for both total health– your gut flora will thank you (6).

Any medication, prescribed or over-the-counter has the ability to destroy your probiotic status. Yes, you heard that right, all medicines are drug muggers of your probiotics. If you take any medication on a daily basis, you should be restoring gut flora. You must put back what medication stole or your body pays the price. On a related note, antibiotics do not discriminate between the “good” bacteria and the “bad,” so be sure to use them sparingly.  A great thing to do is take your antibiotic in the morning, and a probiotic in the evening. There is debate about whether or not to start the probiotic while you’re on the antibiotic, and I do think you should. No sense in waiting until the end of the antibiotic course, by then you will have annihilated most of your 100 trillion organisms!  So do as I suggest, take them simultaneously, just separate the antibiotic from the probiotic by at least 4 hours. This ensures that your population of “good” bacteria won’t be completely destroyed while you recover from the infection.  Remember, nurturing your own “flora fingerprint” is absolutely essential for healthy digestive and immune systems, so embrace your gut flora and help keep it going strong! (6, 7)

Yeah, seriously love your gut bugs, they keep you healthy. They are stored in your appendix, so if you’ve had that organ removed, you need to be absolutely vigilant about taking high quality probiotics on a daily basis.  Generally speaking, if you begin  probiotic supplementation, you may experience mild stomach discomfort, cramps and even a little bit of diarrhea, this is normal and harmless and comes with repopulating the territory. Your body has to get rid of harmful pathogens, yeast (like Candida) all while implanting cultures of healthy new organisms, the sort that make you healthy, improve mood, support blood sugar and help you lose weight. It’s worth a few days of minor discomfort for the long haul. Probiotics can be taken without regard to meals. And if you are taking a supplement of S. Boulardii (such as Florastor or one made by Xymogen or Jarrow brands), it’s okay to take those without regard to meals as well.

In this article I have only scratched the surface of gut ecology, and new developments in this area of research are happening every day.  The take home points would be that we have a unique flora fingerprint, we should NOT take probiotic supplements indiscriminately, and dump in strains that we have never seen before… and we should avoid refined sugars, processed foods, alcohol and other ‘irritants’ which affect our Microbiome status. For more information about your “flora fingerprint,” be sure to check out my Facebook page where I often post about this, and also read good books on the subject.  There are two other books that I think are fabulous as they pertain to GI health.  The first one is “Boost Your Health with Bacteria” by Fred Pescatore, MD, and Karolyn A. Gazella. The other book is “Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet and Prilosec” by Martie Whittekin, CCN.  These books are devoted to improve GI flora and contain a lot of useful information.

Sources:

1.  Zimmer, Carl.  “How Microbes Defend and Define Us.” New York Times. 12 June 2012.

2.  Zimmer, Carl.  “Tending the Body’s Microbial Garden.” New York Times.  18 Jun 2012.

3.  Sears, CL. “A dynamic partnership: Celebrating our gut flora.”  Anaerobe 11 (5): 247–251.  2005.

4.  Image: “Invisible Residents.” Published 18 Jun 2012.

5.  Wikoff, William et. al. “Metabolomics analysis reveals large effects of gut microflora on mammalian blood metabolites.” PNAS. 20 Feb 2009.

6.  Cohen, Suzy.  “Dear Pharmacist: Flora fingerprint protects.” Newsday. 2 April 2011.

7.  Harmon, Katherine.  “Bugs Inside: What Happens When the Microbes That Keep Us Healthy Disappear?” Scientific American. 16 Dec 2009.

The post Eating “Bugs” is a Good Idea appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post What Supplements Help, What Could Hurt with Autoimmune appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

Bartonella is best known to cause “cat scratch fever.” Infections cause chronic fatigue, joint pain, rheumatoid-like symptoms as well as anxiety, agitation, seizures, psychosis, bipolar, panic and other mental/cognitive problems. Bartonella is considered a Lyme co-infection organism and is transmitted by ticks, fleas or bites and scratches from cats or dogs. A study published in the May 2012 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases sampled 296 patients. Of those, 62 percent had antibodies to Bartonella and 41 percent had remnants of bacterial DNA from the organism strongly indicating that exposure to Bartonella is associated with RA. The researchers stated “However, our results thus far do implicate Bartonella as a factor in at least some cases. If the link between Bartonella and rheumatoid illnesses is valid, it may also open up more directed treatment options for patients with rheumatoid illnesses.” What they mean by “directed treatment options” is antibiotics that kill this bug. The specific offending Bartonella organisms include B. henselae, B. kohlerae and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii.

Testing for Lyme disease is a huge challenge because the germ’s DNA sequences in Western blot tests (termed “bands”) are not tested for properly. Bands associated with Lyme germs that are commonly found in the blood of a Lyme patient will hardly ever show up using conventional labs which detect only a few bands, that Lyme patients don’t usually have. What a horror. This medical horror has left millions of people with Lyme thinking they do not have it, when they do. This is because the government has not corrected the problem. You see, there used to be a vaccine for Lyme that injected proteins into you (think of them as dead bands because they were not really living germs). The goal was to desensitize you to Lyme germs, should you come into contact with it. They didn’t want everyone and their brother in the population to come up positive for Lyme (when they didn’t have it) because the vaccine was being offered publicly.  The lyme vaccine was eventually discontinued but the laboratories still do not test for Lyme properly. 

If this is confusing, hang on, because there’s the issue of false positives and false negatives! Oy, I don’t know why science has to be so complicated.  For general lyme testing, I would use Igenex Labs (Igenex.com) or Fry Labs (frylabs.com) because other labs commonly produce false negatives, thus prolonging your suffering.

Since the focus of my article pertains to Bartonella or “Bart” for short, as a cause of Rheumatoid, I would actually recommend using Galaxy Labs, I think they have state-of-the-art equipment, and they use a patented enrichment culture to significantly increase odds of detection of Bartonella species. Most other labs will miss this bug. Truly, I think they have an incredibly innovative way to test for Bart so if you have Bart symptoms, including arthritis, use them. Other Bart symptoms include a variety of brain, cognitive and neurological symptoms, pain on the bottom of your foot or feet, muscle twitches and brain fog.

I almost always recommend Igenex Labs, but Galaxy Labs has a very high rate of accuracy when it comes to testing Bart. It’s not 100% because the germ has to be present in the blood they test… unfortunately Bart doesn’t always hang out in the blood.  Galaxy Labs offers a single blood test, and also one that requires 3 samples, drawn on 3 separate days. I’ve seen the kit, and even tested a friend. I have to say the instructions are easy as pie, you just need to find a lab to get your blood drawn.  Same thing with Igenex.

Physicians should diagnose you based upon symptoms, your failure to respond to standard RA treatment, Galaxy, Igenex or Fry lab results, elevated blood levels of “VEGF” which Bartonella microbes produce. One other thing. If your doctor says to you that your Lyme test produced a “false positive” based upon a positive IgM response then he/she is wrong. People with active long-standing Lyme commonly produce IgM antibodies, and that means the infection is active. Listen carefully.  It has re-awakened itself. Practitioners, and sadly even top-notch infectious disease specialists who are not literate in Lyme mistakenly assume that a finding of a positive IgM is irrelevant and it’s not! Have them look up the term “epitope switching” or “antigenic variation”  which explains why an IgM finding is confirmation for Lyme. It basically means that the germ’s protein sequence has switched, and the germ is alive and well in you. Your immune system gets tricked because it sees the new protein sequence (on the same old bug) as a new infection, so you get a positive IgM western blot (which again, most doctors brush off), but this means that the germ is still in there, it’s flipping its proteins around and it’s an active infection.   The doctors are looking for a positive IgG, not IgM, so they tell you to ignore it. Do not accept “You’re okay, that’s a false positive.”

Antimicrobials (herbal or prescribed) help eradicate the organism. The topic of treating Lyme and Bartonella co-infections could fill a book!  There are many authors who have already addressed this topic. I can tell you that pharmaceutically-speaking, the drug Rifampin is particularly good at treating Bart, but it does require a prescription. If you get it, brace yourself for a herx, a very common reaction to cytokines produced when germs die off.

The post Maybe You Don’t Really Have Rheumatoid Arthritis appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist, 
Help me make an herbal medicine cabinet since you have such a good understanding of plants that act like drugs. –B.M., Tulsa, Oklahoma

The post How To Make An Herbal First Aid Kit appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post Excess Weight Creates Excess Estrogen: That Spells Cancer appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

Click Here To Learn More About I-Throid

The post Thyroid Health 101 appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Readers,

The post Nobody Likes Me appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I have reason to suspect that members of my son’s high school baseball team are using steroids to give them an edge on the competition. Are there any safe, natural alternatives to enhance performance? –G.H., Gainesville, Florida

Answer: Steroid abuse among teenage athletes is indeed cause for concern! Side effects range from acne and increased aggressiveness to high blood pressure and liver damage. To really dissuade your son, tell him that side effects could include girly breasts that need to be surgically removed! While steroid use might promote muscularity, it could ultimately short-change his stature by several inches of height.

Okay, lecture over. A fascinating study just completed in 2012 by researchers at the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago found that the aroma of jasmine flowers helped professional baseball players improve their batting performance. No joke. In this study, the players took a whiff of their wristband, which was impregnated with the scent of jasmine, and then they stepped up to the plate. Batter up. At another point in the study, the players stepped up to the plate and sniffed wristbands that did not have jasmine aroma.

Players’ batting performance was evaluated by judges who had no idea which players had sniffed jasmine-infused wristbands. Players evaluated their own performance as well. Long story short, the researchers concluded that jasmine helped improve the mechanics of swinging the bat, the overall bat speed as well as the trajectory of the ball.

“These results suggest that jasmine could have potential utility in not only enhancing athletic ability, but also other endeavors requiring precise-hand eye coordination,” researches concluded. Such endeavors might include things like micro-surgery and musical performance, they noted.

Lead researcher Alan Hirsch, MD, said that he wasn’t surprised by the findings, as previous studies have shown jasmine to improve athletic performance in other sports, including bowling. Strike!

My 19 y.o. son said this all sounded a little hokey, but you know what, given what teenage locker rooms smell like, several drops of jasmine on a wristband will go unnoticed by the other guys. If your son is overly concerned about smelling too feminine, keep the wristband in a baggie and slip it on in the field. Inhale deeply before the game, several times.Please share my column with your son’s coach so he can get the whole team on board. They have nothing to lose except the playoffs.

Another natural performance enhancer that I like is the age-old herb called rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea). Studies have yet to find a single harmful side effect with rhodiola, an adaptogen frequently used to lift mood and destress you mentally, but of course ask your doctor if it’s right for you. what if it’s okay to take the herb for a couple of weeks before the big game, or even before finals. It’s sold nationwide, along with pure essential oil of jasmine.

The post Going to Bat for Natural Performance Boosters appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Imagine for a moment a “miracle molecule” that could dramatically improve your health, if you could increase the amount of that molecule in your body.  What is it?  Nitric oxide, otherwise known by its chemical formula as “NO.”  The most important human molecule that you’ve probably never heard of!   The science of NO is relatively new, although NO-active drugs such as nitroglycerin, have been used for hundreds of years.  Doctors just didn’t know that nitroglycerin worked through nitric oxide!

I learned of it when I read the book entitled, “The Nitric Oxide Solution” by Dr. Nathan Bryan which is available at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/The-Nitric-Oxide-NO-Solution/dp/0615417132 About a year after reading the book, I met the author at a health expo and was impressed with his knowledge and passion for helping others.

I interviewed Dr. Nathan S. Bryan, who just so happens to be the world’s leading expert on NO, and the brains behind the best NO supplement I know of called “NEO 40” here’s the link: http://www.neogenis.com/  (Just FYI, I do not work for him or have any connection to this product).

I asked Dr. Bryan what a regular person can do to maintain healthy levels of nitric oxide if they can’t easily convert it from L-arginine. He had this to say, “Not being able to effectively produce sufficient amounts of NO is just the first step that eventually leads to disease.  I think that restoring NO levels early on is part of a good health care protocol, it helps you achieve optimal health and may prevent certain diseases. You need many other nutrients to make the conversion, among them vitamin C and B12.”

He also went on to say that if you’re over 40 years of age, you may not have enough nitric oxide. And he should know!  Dr. Bryan is also a Professor of Molecular Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and has spent years researching nitric oxide diagnostics and therapeutics strategies to restore NO in humans. Waning levels of NO after the age of 40 does not surprise me, pretty much everything else declines too.

Since NO is so cutting edge, it’s possible that not all physicians know the whole story on the wonders of nitric oxide and the importance of having enough in your body. They may not be talking to you about NO, so you need to educate yourself.  Here’s why you should say YES to NO. I think this molecule should be on many peoples radar,  if you are seeking optimal health.

The Nitric Oxide Nobel Prize

NO was first discovered by Dr. Robert Furchgott in 1980 as a vasodilating substance produced by the cells lining our blood vessels, or endothelial cells.  He first described the substance as “endothelium derived relaxing factor” or EDRF ¹.  Dr. Lou Ignarro later discovered that EDRF is nitric oxide².  Ten years prior Dr. Ferid Murad discovered that nitroglycerin actually works through the release of NO ³ and activation of an important enzyme ⁴.

These three scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1998 for the discovery of the critical cardiovascular role of nitric oxide.  Dr. Valentin Fuster, then president of the American Heart Association, noted in an interview with the New York Times that “the discovery of NO and its function is one of the most important in the history of cardiovascular medicine.”

Now more than 10 years after the Nobel Prize and more than 120,000 scientific papers later, we are beginning to appreciate its vital role in health and disease.  Nitric oxide is a signaling molecule. When it’s created and released, this gas easily and quickly penetrates nearby membranes and cells, sending its powerful cues to your body. In less than a second, NO signals:

• Arteries which begin to relax and expand.
• Immune cells which start to kill bacteria and cancer cells.
• Brain cells which now better communicate with each other.

In fact, NO sends crucial signals within every cell, tissue, organ and system of the body.  But perhaps its most important signaling function is within the circulatory system, the system that, in 21st-century America, so often goes wrong, triggering heart attacks and strokes.

What Does Nitric Oxide Do For You?

Now, this molecule won’t turn water into wine or raise anyone from the dead! It’s not that kind of miraculous, but biologically speaking, it’s definitely impressive because studies have shown that it can:

• Prevent high blood pressure (hypertension).
• Keep your arteries young and flexible.
• Prevent, slow, or reverse the buildup of artery-clogging arterial plaques.

• Help stop the formation of artery-clogging blood clots—the result of plaques bursting and  spilling their contents into the blood stream.
• Reduce inflammation.

By doing all of the above, it can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke, the #1 and #3 killers of Americans.

Supplements that raise NO can be taken called “NEO 40” from https://secure.neogenis.com/product-listing.html

The molecule of NO has more tasks to do in the human body. Studies show it can also:

• Improve penis erections.
• Enhance sexual sensitivity and blood flow to the clitoris.
• Reduce the risk of diabetes and disastrous diabetic complications, such as chronic kidney disease, blindness, hard-to-heal foot and leg ulcers, and amputations.
• Limit the swelling and pain of arthritis, and boost the power of pain-relieving drugs.
• Calm the choking inflammation of asthma.
• Protect your bones from osteoporosis.
• Help provide the mood-lifting power behind antidepressant medications.
• Assist the immune system in killing bacteria.
• Limit skin damage from the sun.

What Happens to You Without Enough NO?

Many symptoms of nitric oxide insufficiency occur with age. We may experience lower energy, we may begin to forget things, like what we went into the room for, or where we put our keys. There may be a noticeable change in our sexual appetite and performance, which may decline. It’s possible that without enough NO, we begin to develop aches and pains that over time can manifest as specific disease. You have to look at the total picture of your health, having just one of these problems is not necessarily an indication of low NO, but if you have a few, and you are over the age of 40, it is likely that NO levels have declined.

Research in the past 20 years shows that the loss of nitric oxide may be responsible for many of these symptoms of aging and at the root of cardiovascular disease.  And the most reliable way to know if you are nitric oxide-insufficient or not is your age.

Scientists first discovered that NO is made from L-arginine, so you will frequently hear health care practitioners say that supplementing with this amino acid (L-arginine) is a good way to increase your body’s natural production of nitric oxide. News flash, but this is not really an effective way to increase NO. You see, as we age we lose our ability to produce NO by converting L-arginine and it happens in part because we need numerous other cofactors and vitamins to carry this reaction. So do not depend on L-arginine to help you, in fact, taking high doses could back fire.

If You’re Over 40, You Probably Don’t Have Enough

Aging and hypertension are well-documented cardiovascular risk factors ^5,6.  And NO insufficiency has a very definite role in both.  When we are young and healthy, the artery cells, or endothelium, produce NO through L-arginine efficiently.  In a recent study, a group of scientists showed that aging can cause greater than 50% loss in endothelial function in the oldest age group tested ⁷.  Further, another group of scientists reported a loss of 75% of endothelium-derived nitric oxide in 70-80 year old patients versus young, healthy 20 year olds⁸.  Another group demonstrated that being older was predicts abnormal vasodilation in certain arteries⁹.  And lastly, a 1996 study shows that age was the most significant predictor of endothelial function¹⁰.  Collectively, these important findings illustrate that endothelial function declines progressively with age, as a consequence of declining nitric oxide levels. These findings are illustrated in Figure 1.  This decline is present even in healthy adults who have no other cardiovascular risk except being over 40!  Most of these studies found that impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation was clearly evident by the fourth decade.  These observations enable us to conclude that nitric oxide levels are a problem as we age, and that reduced availability of nitric oxide may increase risk of cardiovascular disease, sexual dysfunction and even Alzheimer’s disease.

If you’re over 40, restoring your nitric oxide level is one of the most important things you can do for your health.

More Nitric Oxide Research

Since the Nobel Prize was awarded, there has been an explosion of research about NO and its effect on many different problems associated with aging- more than 100 thousand scientific studies, including the following:

Memory Loss: Don’t Forget NO!

Can’t remember where you put your keys? You may have lost your NO, too.

“There is an impressive amount of evidence suggesting the involvement of NO in . . . learning and memory,” wrote a team of Iranian researchers in the journal Behavioural Brain Research¹¹.

Are Sleep Problems Caused by Low NO?

Sleep worsens with age: 58 percent of adults age 59 and over report having difficulty sleeping at least a few nights a week. Finnish researchers measured NO levels in young (four months), middle-aged (14 months), and old (24 months) rats. They found that, compared to young rats, old rats’ NO didn’t increase in the brain during sleep deprivation, and that infusing the old animals with NO didn’t induce sleep. “These results support our hypothesis that aging impairs the mechanism through which NO in the [brain] induces sleep,” concluded the researchers, in Neurobiology of Aging¹².

NO and Sleep Apnea

In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you’re roused to semiconsciousness repeatedly during the night because sagging soft tissue at the back of the throat plugs your airway. It afflicts an estimated 30 million Americans, many of them overweight men. And it dramatically increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. Is there a connection between NO, sleep apnea, and heart disease? Highly likely, said French researchers, writing in the American Journal of Pathology, in August 2010¹³. They studied 62 people with OSA and found that many had reduced NO production and impaired endothelial function—and they theorized that it’s low NO that might cause the arterial disease so common in people with OSA.

More NO, Less Arthritis Pain

In a study in the Clinical Journal of Pain, researchers from the Physical Therapy Program at the University of Colorado–Denver theorized that NO is a key factor in the reduction of arthritis pain¹⁴.

They hypothesized that NO is decreased in joints stressed by “chronic load-induced stress” (such as knee arthritis in people who are overweight) and “biochemical change-induced stresses” (such as the oxidative damage in bones caused by diets high in saturated fat and low in antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits).

Based on the fact that NO is decreased in arthritis, the researchers speculated that “NO-based intervention may produce substantial pain relief without undesirable side effects, by increasing circulation, decreasing nerve irritation, and decreasing inflammation in joints.”

Their conclusion: NO “can bring dramatic relief to people with painful osteoarthritis.”

Skin Diseases: Less Sun Damage with NO?

“It has become clear that this extraordinary molecular messenger [NO] plays a vital role in the skin, orchestrating normal regulatory processes,” noted a team of French researchers in the medical journal Nitric Oxide¹⁵.

The researchers listed the many roles NO performs in the skin, including:

• NO plays a role in the maintenance of the “barrier function” the all-important role of the skin in keeping out unwanted germs and toxins.

• NO may help protect keratinocytes from damage and death from the sun’s UV radiation.

Sexual Function: When NO Means Yes

New research shows that erectile dysfunction (ED) is an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease (CVD): in a 10-year study, guys who had ED at the start of the study were 80 percent more likely to develop CVD by the study’s end¹⁶.

Yes, ED is usually a circulatory problem—lack of blood flow to the penis. Adequate amounts of Nitric Oxide are necessary to produce dilation of penile arteries. This allows sufficient amounts of blood to enter the penis resulting in an erection. The same applies to women. Without proper blood flow to the clitoris, women cannot experience orgasm or increased sexual sensitivity.

Aging Is THE Risk Factor

There are many risk factors for heart disease. High blood pressure. High cholesterol. A mom or a dad (or both) who died of heart disease.

But one risk factor that is common to everybody who reaches age 40 is… reaching age 40. Yes, aging, all by itself, is a risk factor for a heart attack or stroke. Why?

Aging leads to an accumulation of protein in artery walls, making them stiffer. With aging, you have fewer capillaries, the tiniest, cell-wide blood vessels. But perhaps most importantly, as you age, so does your endothelium: you don’t generate as much NO, and your arteries don’t dilate as easily and as widely. They’re narrow. They’re stiff. They’re a setup for a heart attack or stroke.

A couple of studies graphically demonstrate the effect of aging on your endothelium.

The older you are, the weaker your endothelium—because of less NO

In one study, Italian researchers evaluated forearm blood flow—the standard measurement of endothelial health—in 47 people with normal blood pressure and 49 people with high blood pressure¹⁷. They found that in both groups, those who were older had poorer endothelial-dependent vasodilation: the NO-sparked ability of arteries to widen and permit better blood flow. And that weakening of the endothelium was in perfect parallel to aging- decade by decade, NO-powered, endothelial-dependent vasodilation decreased.

All in all, those 60 and older had vasodilation that was 52 percent weaker- less than half as strong- as those 30 and younger. And these were older people who did not have high blood pressure!

“Advancing age is an independent factor leading to the progressive impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation in humans,” concluded the researchers in the journal Circulation.  “(with age comes a) progressive reduction of NO availability.”

In other words, it happens to everybody who gets older!  And if you’re over 40, you probably need more NO!

So What To Do?  Restore Your Nitric Oxide!

Thankfully, nitric oxide restoration is not only possible but EASY!

There are plenty of ways to generate more NO. Here are some suggestions:

1. A diet rich in NO-producing nitrate and nitrite mainly from leafy greens.

2. An NO-boosting dietary supplement that does not rely solely on L-arginine

3. Regular exercise, it’s easy and free!

4. Rest baby rest! Sufficient sleep is just one lifestyle factor that preserves and increases NO.

5. Turn off the news on TV, it’s always bad and it could stress you out. Seriously, any way that you can manage stress in your life will help to boost NO. Regular yoga, meditation and avoidance of stressful people will help you. Even taking a deep breath, in through the nose, and out through the nose will help you. Try it right now. Take 3 deep breaths, don’t you feel better already?!

You cannot win the battle folks! The age-related decrease of NO is going to happen, but here’s the good news:

• You can SLOW DOWN the loss of NO.
• You can STOP the loss of NO.
• You can REVERSE the loss of NO.

Many people associate L-arginine with nitric oxide, but in fact, it is the L-arginine pathway that becomes dysfunctional with age.  Therefore L-arginine supplementation often does not work in adults over 40.  However, it can be effective in young healthy individuals with functional endothelial function.

My point is that people with endothelial dysfunction are by definition, unable to convert L-arginine to NO. L-arginine should not be recommended following acute myocardial infarction (heart attack that is).  Further, supplementing L-arginine to promote nitric oxide production in people with risk factors for heart disease such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle and history of heart disease DOES NOT NORMALLY WORK.  Because of their conditions, these people have endothelial dysfunction, therefore cannot convert L-arginine to nitric oxide. And all the Viagra in the world won’t restore normal levels of nitric oxide.

And Now You Can Test Yourself

It’s pretty ground-breaking but I’m happy to tell you that there is a home test kit that anyone can buy, which tests for NO and you can do it at home. I tried it. The test kit includes test strips that are instantly-readable and measure the nitric oxide present in your saliva. The information for the tests and NEO 40 supplements are available at www.neogenis.com (I am in no way financially connected, just trying to raise awareness for a terrific product, and a brilliant author and researcher

Feel free to repost or print.

Love,

Suzy

Oh, and here are my references

1. Furchgott RF, Zawadzki JV. The obligatory role of endothelial cells in the relaxation of arterial smooth muscle by acetycholine. Nature 1980;288:373-6.

2. Ignarro LJ, Buga GM, Wood KS, Byrns RE, Chaudhuri G. Endothelium-derived relaxing factor produced and released from artery and vein is nitric oxide. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1987;84:9265-9.

3. Katsuki S, Arnold W, Mittal C, Murad F. Stimulation of guanylate cyclase by sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerin and nitric oxide in various tissue preparations and comparison to the effects of sodium azide and hydroxylamine. Journal of cyclic nucleotide research 1977;3:23-35.

4. Arnold WP, Mittal CK, Katsuki S, Murad F. Nitric oxide activates guanylate cyclase and increases guanosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate levels in various tissue preparations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 1977;74:3203-7.

5. Lakatta EG, Yin FC. Myocardial aging: functional alterations and related cellular mechanisms. The American journal of physiology 1982;242:H927-41.

6. Kannel WB, Gordon T, Schwartz MJ. Systolic versus diastolic blood pressure and risk of coronary heart disease. The Framingham study. The American journal of cardiology 1971;27:335-46.

7. Taddei S, Virdis A, Ghiadoni L, et al. Age-related reduction of NO availability and oxidative stress in humans. Hypertension 2001;38:274-9.

8. Egashira K, Inou T, Hirooka Y, et al. Effects of age on endothelium-dependent vasodilation of resistance coronary artery by acetylcholine in humans. Circulation 1993;88:77-81.

9. Vita JA, Treasure CB, Nabel EG, et al. Coronary vasomotor response to acetylcholine relates to risk factors for coronary artery disease. Circulation 1990;81:491-7.

10. Gerhard M, Roddy MA, Creager SJ, Creager MA. Aging progressively impairs endothelium-dependent vasodilation in forearm resistance vessels of humans. Hypertension 1996;27:849-53.

11. Baluchnejadmojarad T, Roghani, M. Chronic epigallocatechin-3-gallate ameliorates learning and memory deficits in diabetic rats via modulation of nitric oxide and oxidative stress. Behavioural Brain Research 2011;225:305-310

12. Rytkönen KM et al. Nitric oxide mediated sleep is attenuated with aging. Neurobiology of Aging 2010;31:11

13. Priou P et al. Endothelial Dysfunction and Circulating Microparticles from Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. American Journal of Pathology 2010; 177(2):974-983

14. Hancock C, Riegger-Krugh, C. Modulation of Pain in Osteoarthritis: The Role of Nitric Oxide. Clinical Journal of Pain 2008;24(4):353-365

15. Cals-Grierson MM. Nitric Oxide Function in the Skin 2004;Nitric Oxide Jun;10(4):

179-193

16. Inman B et al.  A Population-Based, Longitudinal Study of Erectile Dysfunction and Future Coronary Artery Disease. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2009;84(2):108-113

17. Taddei S et al. Vasodilation to Bradykinin Is Mediated by an Ouabain-Sensitive Pathway as a Compensatory Mechanism for Impaired Nitric Oxide Availability in Essential Hypertensive Patients.  Circulation Journal 1999; 100:1400-1405

The post NEO40- The direct link to improved energy, memory, stamina, heart health and sex life! appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

I’m busy Suzy, and always on the move. I don’t have time to eat fresh organic vegetables all day long. Do you have any supplement secrets, you seem to have it all together! –S.B., Dallas, Texas

Answer: I hear ya! Before moving to Colorado, I lived in a small city in Florida and my supermarket had a 6 foot organic section. I travel a lot too. In these situations, I recommend a high-quality multivitamin to fill nutritional gaps and detoxification supplements.

I took broad spectrum multivitamins for many years, and those are totally fine, but recently I’ve switched to spirulina as my “multivitamin” from Mother Nature. This beautiful blue-green algae has flourished on Earth for eons. It’s resiliency comes from it’s power-packed nutritional content of essential amino acids, beta carotene, calcium, magnesium, B vitamins and powerful antioxidants.

I learned about spirulina years ago while researching my Diabetes Without Drugs book. It helps with blood glucose maintenance, so I made it step one in reversing diabetes. I try everything I write about, and when I did amazing things happened to me. After a few weeks, my nails and hair grew faster. I felt different, lighter. I didn’t realize right away, but spirulina was helping me with my long-standing and seemingly untreatable iron deficiency anemia. My energy and productivity quickly improved, and I got back to dancing Zumba.

It worked because spirulina contains an easy-to-digest, highly bioavailable form of iron. I never even got tummy upset from it. After a few months, my ferritin (a blood test measuring iron) increased dramatically, doing nothing else so recently, I called the makers and said, “I want to tell the world about spirulina! How can I help you?” Today, I’m one of their scientific advisors  and I’m very proud of my alignment.

Hawaiian spirulina contains a unique blue-green pigment called phycocyanin which protects the liver. It contains chlorophyll, an internal deodorant which supports detoxification and could end bad breath and other smelly digestive troubles, while easing constipation. The minerals will improve iron levels, while boosting T3 (thyroid) hormone production. Hawaiian spirulina is the most potent because it’s cultivated from pristine Hawaiian aquifers, extremely rich in minerals which you need for 300 metabolic processes.

Spirulina contains “superoxide disumutase” (SOD) the most powerful free radical scavenger known to humankind, and enzymes known to reduce DNA damage. When I take spirulina, I know I’m giving my cells tremendous protection from DNA damage.

Not being a big red meat eater, spirulina is my protein source because it contains an impressive 60 percent complete and highly digestible protein.  I take 1 gram tablets three times a day, and use a little powder in my smoothies. Spirulina is sold everywhere by many companies. I’m partial to Hawaiian “Spirulina Pacifica” by Nutrex Hawaii (www.nutrex-hawaii.com). because it helped me. I’ve asked for and obtained a gift for all of my readers, Nutrex is offering you 25 percent off your purchase, just mention my name or type coupon code “suzy” online. Click Here To Learn More

The post Supplement Secrets for Better Health appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

The post LDL Cholesterol Isn’t Entirely Bad appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

My wife has osteoporosis in his back pretty badly. I read your article a few years ago, about strontium being a good mineral for bone health. Do you still recommend today? –C.C., Sacramento

Answer: Everything I said 4 years ago, in my first column holds. Strontium has been clinically proven to support bone health. I wish more physicians would suggest over-the-counter strontium supplements before prescribing bone-building “bisphosphonate” drugs like Actonel, Boniva and Fosamax or even other effective medications such as Evista or Forteo. To be clear, neither Evista or Forteo are bisphosphonate drugs, they work via a different mechanism of action to preserve bone integrity. But back to the topic at hand, about an inexpensive supplement called strontium which is a mineral found in bones and how that might help a person before they resort to medications of any sort. 

A 2004 study in New England Journal of Medicine concluded that strontium reduces risk of non-vertebral fractures by 41 percent over three years, and increases bone mineral density by 14.4 percent. Impressive when you compare that to standard treatments! You’re probably wondering WHY no one has mentioned this to you. Conventional practitioners educate themselves at seminars that are not based in “functional medicine” like my educational track, so they are not aware of strontium’s potential benefits. Doctors interested in scientifically-based holistic medical seminars should visit www.functionalmedicine.org.

Strontium offers a one two punch with its dual mechanism of action. It prevents bone breakdown, while stimulating new bone growth! Medications work one side of that equation. It may support joint health and prevent tooth decay, in sharp contrast to certain medications which destroy the teeth/jaw. I wonder if it could help with cancer-related bone pain too?

Brand new research published in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology said “The agent can now be considered as a first-line option to treat women at risk of osteoporosis fractures, whatever their age and the severity of the disease.”

Strontium is a natural component of bone, about 100 micrograms in every gram of bone, so supplementing enhances more of what you have (or had in the case of osteoporosis). Strontium’s brothers include calcium and magnesium, they are all chemically similar. In Europe, there are drug versions called “Stronat” and “Protelos” because they patented a unique salt called strontium ranelate. This drug version is used in clinical trials. In the US, non-drug versions of “strontium citrate” or “strontium gluconate” are sold at the health food stores, compounding pharmacies or holistic physician’s offices. High-quality brands include Life Extension’s “Strontium Caps,” OrthoMolecular’s “Strontium,” Nutricology’s “Strontium Osteo Complex,”  Solaray’s “BioCitrate Strontium,” or Doctor’s Best “Strontium Bone Maker.” You must have enough calcium in your body for strontium to work well. Most people do, but if you don’t, and you need both calcium and strontium, space them apart. For example, take strontium first thing in the morning (empty stomach), then at lunch, take calcium (preferably with vitamin D). When it comes to bone health, vitamin K2, natural progesterone hormone, silica, iodine, zinc, chromium and magnesium are important players, and of course weight-bearing exercise.

Some experts now feel that whole grains, which contain phytates, prevent absorption of minerals essential to bone health. Finally, gluten, caffeine and carbonated beverages are all associated with crumbling bones.

The post Strontium: A Better Way to Build Bones appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist

Watch My Video On How To Make Marshmallow Root Tea And The Benefits Click Here

The post Marshmallow Root Relieves Lots of Aches & Pain appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post Natural Relief for Lupus appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post Nightshade Foods, Delectable or Deadly? appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist, 
I had such a bad reaction to eating hazelnuts that I required a shot, and some steroids. I don’t eat much nuts, sometimes cashews. Do you think I’m allergic to all nuts? –C.J., Coral Springs, Florida

Answer: You should avoid other nuts too, I’ll tell you which in a minute. Luckily, you didn’t have full-blown anaphylaxis which occurs in about one third of all tree nut ingestions, especially with peanuts, which by the way are actually legumes.  It shocks me that airlines still serve peanuts to passengers -hundreds of people at a time- when there is such an incredibly high sensitivity rate!

The post Minimizing Allergies to Nuts and Fruits appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Readers, 
The most wonderful thing about our planet is that it grows good medicine. Making herbal teas is one of my secret passions. You can drink teas, and in some cases apply them to your skin. I’ve been playing with herbs for years, it’s fun and I honestly think it’s a wonderful adjunct to your other medical treatments.

The post Herbal Tea for Your Health appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post Advice for Ulcers and H. Pylori Infection appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Readers,

The post Best New Health & Home Products appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,
My son takes an antibiotic for acne and I need one for urinary tract infections. My question is not about natural alternatives, I don’t believe in that stuff. I just want to know what the side effects are of antibiotics and any other safety precautions. Thanks for letting you pick your brain. –T.E., Decatur, Illinois

The post Antibiotics Are Stupid: It’s Up To You To Be Smart appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

My friends daughter has rickets, I didn’t think that was possible in this day and age. How do I protect my kids?  –A.E., Boston, Massachusetts

Answer: Rickets is the result of vitamin D deficiency and it causes bowed legs and spinal deformity in children. Low D in adults contributes to osteoporosis. Vitamin D turns into a hormone in your body, and emerging studies suggest that statin cholesterol-lowering drugs are drug muggers of vitamin D (and CoQ10).

You can test your vitamin D levels, the blood test is inexpensive. Just as an aside, if you are low in D, you are probably low in A too. Upping your vitamin D with supplementation can help offset drug mugging from statins, control auto-immune disorders, improve blood sugar levels, reduce cell damage that leads to cancer, and help with conjunctivitis. People with gluten intolerance (and Celiac disease) need to know vitamin D is essential to close “tight junctions” so unwanted proteins do not leak out into your bloodstream. Vitamin D keeps zonulin in check so simply put, a deficiency in vitamin D can worsen intestinal hyperpermeability and increase auto-antibodies. Back to rickets, since that is my focus today.

Why is rickets making a comeback? I can answer that in a single word: Sunscreen. Early last year a smattering of stories alerted people in the United Kingdom that a 12 year-old girl complaining of aching legs had been found so deficient in vitamin D that she was in a pre-rickets condition. It turned out her mom had been slathering her with SPF 50 sunscreen every day before she went outdoors. A number of UK doctors then stepped forward to acknowledge that rickets was becoming more common.

Rickets can cause deformed legs and spines and that simply should not be happening. If you want to protect your kids, let them get some of the sunshine vitamin! You can eat it too. Vitamin D is found in cod liver oil, wild-caught cold-water seafood and egg yolks. Some people shy away from seafood (due to mercury concerns) and from eggs (because of cholesterol concerns which I don’t agree with). Milk and cereals fortified with Vitamin D may not be ideal either, due to dairy or grain sensitivities.  So what are you going to do?

Even if you have a healthy diet of lean grass-fed meats, organic fruits and vegetables, and nuts, I still think you should bare some skin in the sun. At this time of year, getting sunshine for 10 to 20 minutes several days a week is impossible if you live in the northern latitudes. Also, depending on upbringing, religious beliefs and personal preferences, some parents teach modesty with their daughters. They insist on long sleeves, skirts, pants or head cover-ups. If this is the case, a D supplement is particularly essential in reducing risk for rickets and adult-onset auto-immune disorders.

The post Vitamin D Helps from Head to Toe appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,
Have you noticed the trend of celebrities dying from medications? I can think of Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, and most recently Whitney Houston? Do you think they should restrict the use of painkillers to prevent this? –T.W., Birmingham, Alabama

Answer: No, people in pain should not have to suffer because others abuse their medicine. At the time of my writing, Whitney’s death has not been officially ruled as drug-related, although her history would make it seem obvious. Regardless of the coroner’s ruling, I think it’s important we not lay 100 percent of the blame on medicine for celebrity deaths. The intention of these medications is not to cause death, it’s to offer temporary relief to millions of users who take as directed. Tranquilizers can ease grief and anxiety. Analgesics relieve pain and offer quality of life. It is the misuse and abuse of analgesics and tranquilizers often combined with alcohol that have a deadly impact, not the medicine itself. If someone cuts their wrists, do you blame the knife?

Many people are outraged at the medication, or their makers, but you can’t possibly understand the other side of this story unless you’ve been there yourself. Imagine this.

You have a medical condition that affects your nervous system like multiple sclerosis, or perhaps you have low back pain from a car accident. In other words, it’s a pain that is hard to see unlike a broken leg in a cast. You can tolerate the pain if you take hydrocodone every day. You’ve lost your job because of your disabilities, so you’re not dressed as sophisticated as the other customers. Pharmacist Jones is skeptical of you, she thinks you might be an addict, and he doesn’t like you showing up in her pharmacy every 30 days like clockwork for your 60 pills. She fears you will bring your friends, and word will get out that she dispenses narcotics to pretty much anyone.

You forgive her judgement, you just need your medicine so you can get out of bed every morning and get through your day. One day you are turned away because your doctor prescribed 180 tablets instead of 60. The physician only wrote for that large amount because he knows that you can no longer afford to see him monthly, so he prescribed enough to hold you over for three months (this practice is not uncommon). Maybe you live out of town, so he prescribes a lot. Regardless, the pharmacist perceives 180 tablets as ‘excessive’ and tells you she’s out of stock. In pain, and shame, you or your wife (or caretaker) must drive to several other pharmacies until a compassionate pharmacist fills your prescription. Fair?

Pharmacists are naturally cautious about what they dispense, but when celebrities die from drugs, it occurs because of a series of very bad decisions, not the medicine itself.  Restricting medicine at the pharmacy level will never stop the problem and besides, chronic pain patients should never have to pay the price for substances abusers.

The post What If No One Can See Your Pain? appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Readers,

A few weeks ago newspaper headlines called aspirin therapy into question. Currently, almost one third of older Americans take a baby aspirin every day to help prevent heart attacks. And a new study, the headlines shouted, shows that while aspirin therapy does indeed help prevent heart attacks, it also creates other problems. For every heart attack that aspirin therapy prevents, the London study says, it causes two “bleeding events.”

This study is not the first to show potential dangers with long-term use of aspirin. We’ve known for decades that aspirin can harm the delicate lining of the digestive tract. And if you read my Drug Mugger book, you’d know aspirin is a drug mugger of vitamin C which you need to keep your arteries elastic, and potassium which is needed for healthy blood pressure.

The 64 thousand dollar question here is: What exactly do the researchers mean by “bleeding events”? By definition, these events could include hemorrhagic stroke, bleeding from ulcers, and bleeding from the lower gastrointestinal tract. These are pretty serious conditions; impending signs of a “bleeding event” may include abdominal pain or heartburn. The supplement called Glutamine (about 1,500 mg per day) offers protection against aspirin-induced stomach ulcers. And FYI, ginger is an effective blood thinner which soothes your GI tract, rather than stripping it.

The most effective thing you can do to reduce heart attack risk is move! Even walking briskly for 20 minutes a day offers aerobic benefits. Eat plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables and avoid anything fried or greasy. Do not eat processed foods. No more carbs or grains, they raise cholesterol. Consider nutrients like vitamin C and D, magnesium, taurine, aged garlic and the herb called Hawthorne. Last week I wrote about CoQ10 and fish oils for cardiovascular benefit. To receive this article via email, sign up for your “free health tips newsletter” at my website.

Drink more water, go to sleep earlier, meditate and reduce micro-stressors in your life. Constantly replaying bad situations in your mind doesn’t help you and stress is a killer. It contributes to stroke, heart attack, obesity, diabetes and cancer so don’t sweat the small stuff.

Our culture trains us to pop a pill for all our ills. As a pharmacist, I assure you that many drugs just blow the smoke out of the house while the fire rages. You must uncover the underlying imbalances and deficiencies and genetic SNPs (snips) that increase heart attack risk.

Take control of your lifestyle and diet, it’s never too late. I’m recommending two books to help inform you and minimize your risk for cardiovascular disease. These are both by Stephen Sinatra, MD, Reverse Heart Disease Now and The Cardiac Solution: Metabolic Cardiology. In an upcoming article, I am going to devote a column to the importance of nitric oxide in the heart, and will share some truly pioneering cardiovascular research by Dr. Nathan Bryan. Stay tuned for that.

The post Even Baby Aspirin Has Risks appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post Gifts of Love for Your Heart appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,
I am 87 y.o. and at the end of my journey. I’ve been through so much, and today, I’m writing letters to special people. I wish to thank you for improving the quality of my life the past few years with your columns and books. There is so much to say… a simple thank you will have to suffice. I wish I could go back and make changes earlier on, but I can’t. I hope my daughter and the younger generations will listen to you. Happy New Year Suzy.  
L.S., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Answer: I’m honored to be among the “special” people in your life, thank you very much. I’ve chosen your letter to inspire others to reclaim their health. I still recall a letter that was written by an 85 y.o. man explaining how he’d live his life differently if he could. The letter is found in the late Leo Buscaglia’s book, Living, Loving and Learning. Here it is:

If I had my life to live over again, I’d try to make more mistakes next time. I wouldn’t try to be so perfect. I would relax more. I’d limber up… I know very few things that I would take so seriously, I’d be crazier. I’d be less hygienic… I’d climb more mountains, I’d swim more rivers, I’d watch more sunset… I’d eat more ice cream and fewer beans. I’d have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.

You see I was one of those people who lived prophylactically and sensibly and sanely hour after hour and day after day… I’d try to have nothing but beautiful moments- moment by moment by moment.

I’ve been one of those people who never went anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had to do it all over again, I’d travel lighter next time. If I had to do it all over again, I’d start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I’d ride more merry-go-rounds, I’d watch more sunrises, and I’d play with more children, if I had my life to live over again. But you see, I don’t.”

The post What If You Could Live Your Life Over Again appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

You’ve said that stress causes higher levels of the hormone cortisol and that causes weight gain and disease. I have lost my home and dealing with the emotional fall out and the anguish of scaling down and moving. How can I control cortisol as I deal with this grief? My good health is all I have left. –M.L., Palm Beach, Florida

Answer: Sorry about your loss. Cortisol is produced by your adrenal glands and helps regulate the speed at which you turn food into fuel, and hence your blood sugar levels; it supports immune function and bone health. It’s not a bad guy unless it gets too high, or flat-lines after prolonged periods of stress.

Stress is by far the number one reason that cortisol levels become elevated. Excessive amounts cause you to hold weight in your mid-section (think belly fat). High cortisol means more infections and higher incidence of hypertension, osteoporosis (brittle bones), reflux, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and stroke. Stress can make you terribly sick by upping your cortisol hormone. Conventional medicine’s answer is usually a benzodiazepine-type of tranquilizer such as Xanax, Valium or Ativan which provides a quick fix.

Supplements help you with the stress response better because they don’t cause addiction, and they can lower cortisol unlike drugs. Reducing cortisol is good for your waist line.  Even if you can’t eliminate stress, and have to go through it, you can still improve your body’s response to the stress. This is important. Make the word “adaptogen” your best friend because adaptogenic herbs are your best solution to stress. Four of my favorite are ashwagandha, ginseng, rhodiola and gotu kola.

Well-designed scientific studies have revealed undeniable stress-relieving qualities. You should not need all four, just pick one to try based on it’s other properties and potential side effects. Ask your doctor if it’s right for you before buying them at the health food store. Google these herbs to learn about them. It’s okay to switch them out every few months. Adaptogens often take a few weeks to begin working.

Ashwagandha improves endurance, provides instant calm, fights fatigue, reduces inflammation and enhances sex drive. Panax ginseng also enhances sex drive, while improving energy levels, mental focus and well-being. Rhodiola, which thrives in freezing cold Siberia, improves stamina, cognitive function, melancholy and ability to cope. Gotu kola herb offers a mild, relaxing sense of virtual euphoria. Take Gota kola when you need it to kick back and relax, the way you might enjoy a glass of wine. Speaking of alcohol, this may be an effective stress-reducer but it’s going to make a mess of your cortisol over time. I’d prefer you drink green tea, in most people that provides instant calm.

Treat yourself to massage. In 2005 University of Miami researchers reviewed some scientific studies and found that a single massage can reduce cortisol levels by an amazing 31 percent! Yoga is another way to find peace and calm. More meditation means less medication.

The post Control Stress Naturally appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I’m determined to stick with my New Year’s resolution to lose weight by cutting calories. Any tips to help me? –F.P., Tulsa, Oklahoma

Answer: Medical studies have shown that caloric restriction is an effective way to lose weight. Caloric restriction increases the activity of PGC-1 alpha, a lovely gene in your body that improves fat burning ability, energy and thyroid function. One supplement that activates this gene is resveratrol and there are others which I discuss in my “Diabetes Without Drugs” book.

I prefer when people “edit” what they eat, rather than “diet” and by that I mean edit the oils you cook with, the spices you sprinkle, the snacks you munch on and so forth. But caloric restriction is equally important. Make sure they come primarily from fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-fed, hormone-free meats, and whole grains if you can handle the grains. Grains are a big topic because many grains have gluten, or they’ve been contaminated with fungus. Paleo diet lovers never eat grains. Regardless of your preference, my point is that excess calories come from processed and heavily refined foods so those are the ones to avoid.

Manufacturers play tricks with food labels to conceal calories. They know you’re not going to closely study food labels, especially because the print is so small to begin with. A quick scan of the calorie count could leave you consuming hundreds of extra calories without realizing it. My next examples are just the tip of a gigantic “fooled you” iceberg.

Look at soda. Admittedly, I don’t recommend drinking it if you are on a diet (even “diet” soda) but the label is a great example to enlighten you. Pick up a 16.9 ounce-bottle of Canada Dry ginger ale. It looks like one serving. (Gone are the days of the tiny soda bottles I remember when I was a kid.) Flip it over, and the calorie number on the label says 90. Not bad, right? Look again. It’s 90 calories PER serving and there are “About two.” What’s with the “about”? In actuality, it’s more like 210 calories in that bottle. Fooled you! I must applaud Coca Cola because at least they print “200 calories” in large letters on the front of the bottle offering clarity.

How about a chicken pot pie? Flip a 16.5 ounce Marie Callender’s frozen pot pie over, and you’ll see 570 calories on the label. When the cute little bubbling pie comes out of the oven, you’ll dig right in. But wait! You’ll have to cut that pie in half if you only want 570 calories, because that’s the amount per serving. Hmm, fooled you again!

To take advantage of caloric restriction benefits, stay away from refined foods and shop along the perimeter of the grocery store. Never venture into the interior aisles unless you want honey, maple syrup, coffee/tea, or nuts.

Did You Know?
Eating gold kiwifruit increases vitamin C, and reduces severity of the common cold.

The post Food Labels Can Deceive You appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,
I read your facebook post about people with asthma and how they should be dairy free. I feel better after just one week. I also read where you recommend two supplements for asthma which I just started (Coleus Forskholii and N-Acetylcysteine). You are saving my life Suzy. What else? –J.R., Rockwall, Texas

Answer: My answer will set you back about $10 per month. If you have even a flea’s foot-sized interest in health matters, you’ve no doubt heard about the problems associated with too little vitamin D. A deficiency of this powerhouse vitamin has been implicated in just about everything from obesity, heart disease, cancer and international threats to world peace. Okay, I’m exaggerating a little. Today, let’s add yet another health problem to the list of maladies impaled on the lance of this nutritional white knight. Asthma.

The post Vitamin D Helps With Asthma appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I can’t give up sodas. I’ve been downing them daily since childhood, but I know they’re bad for me. Can you suggest a healthier drink that’s still sweet but has fewer calories? –R.L., Plantation, Florida

Answer: I posted recipes for natural healthy soda at my website, so today I’m going to tell you to try chai! In China, Russia and India, the word “chai” simply means “tea.” In America, not too long ago, some clever marketing folks decided to use the word for a special blend containing aromatic spices native to India, and now you can find chai drinks everywhere. Yay.

Even when you order “Masala” chai in cafes or Indian restaurants, you’re getting way less sugar than what you’d get in a soda, a couple of teaspoons versus nine or ten, which is typical for non-diet soda pop. If you learn to make your own chai at home, you can substitute stevia, agave or honey as your sweetener, and it’s still going to offer grand health benefits.

I’m a huge tea fanatic myself, and chai is one of my favorites along with matcha, tulsi and rooibos.  Chai starts with black tea, a powerful antioxidant which has anti-cancer compounds in and of itself. The individual spices that make up chai are also medicinally active:

Cinnamon: Several recent studies confirm cinnamon’s ability to control blood sugar. It’s sold in oral supplement form just for that purpose. Cinnamon is warming and eases digestive upset as well as flatulence.

Ginger: Good for digestion, and especially helpful with nausea and morning sickness. Ginger, being a strong anti-inflammatory may help with arthritis, reduce cholesterol, protect against colds and lower blood pressure. Is chai sounding good to you yet?

Cloves: A great digestive aid, this spice also has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial action. In mice, it proved to be an aphrodisiac, woo hoo! And when clove oil is applied topically, it almost instantly relieves toothache pain.

Cardamom: This antioxidant spice contains anti-cancer compounds, and it has well-known aphrodisiac power. Good for urinary infections, clarity of mind, heartburn, bloating and bad breath.

There are thousands of chai recipes. Some include fennel which is good for menopausal problems and breaking fevers. Saffron, one of my favorite spices ever, is a powerful immune and mood booster. Anise helps with coughs and is a digestive aid, no surprise there. See the pattern? Chai contains healthy spices that help you digest meals, that’s why you should replace your after-dinner Frangelico with chai. Sam buys Bhakti Chai, and mixes this with frothed vanilla almond milk for a delicious chai latte that I crave when it’s snowing or right after a big dinner. And don’t think chai is just for the winter months. If you’ve never tried iced chai, or chai smoothies you’re in for a treat. No matter how you drink it, chai is still better for you than soda because it offers impressive health benefits, and being low in sugar, it’s easy on your waistline.

The post Chai Tea Has Impressive Health Benefits appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post The Right Hormones Can Make You Happy appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Readers,

The post Thanksgiving Recipes From a Healthy Heart appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post ‘Tis the Season To Be Healthy- A New Year, A New You appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,
I’ve been very sick with pancreatitis. Do you have any treatment regimens or vitamin recommendations that could stop this problem? –J.M., Tulsa, Oklahoma

The post Understanding Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist, 
I read your Diabetes Without Drugs book, and I am on Step 3 feeling better, and have lost 18 pounds. I was surprised to see such positive remarks about coffee, you really seem to approve of that for diabetics. Why? Everything I hear is that it’s bad. Thanks, –M.E., Decatur, Illinois

The post Coffee, tea, or… diabetes? appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

What can be done to relieve the discomfort of tinnitus? The crackling, buzzing, and popping in my friend’s ear drives her to distraction. She’s tried several commercially available products from the health food store, all without relief so far. What do you suggest? –L.J., Orlando, Florida

Answer: Buzzing, clanging, whooshing, musical tones, humming, ringing, even jack hammering… tinnitus can drive you absolutely bonkers. I can’t stand it even when my neighbor fires up his leaf blower, and that’s over in 20 minutes. You may recognize these celebrities who have confessed to bouts of tinnitus: Eric Clapton, David Letterman and Steve Martin.

The internal racket can be caused from exposure to sudden or chronic loud noises, free radical damage, age-related hearing loss, medication side effects, ear wax and a number of diseases. That’s just for starters. All I can do here is give you some more perspective about options. If your tinnitus doesn’t yield to simple remedies, see your doctor for an evaluation.

Look in your medicine cabinet. There’s a surprisingly long list of prescription and OTC drugs that have been tied to tinnitus: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), loop diuretics (like furosemide), and many antibiotics, anti-depressant drugs, and salicylates (like aspirin). Auditory-related side effects might develop all of a sudden, even if you’ve been taking the drug a long time. Discuss this possibility with your doctor and pharmacist. In cases of reversible tinnitus, sometimes switching medications brings relief.

Stress ramps up the noise! Consider biofeedback. Studies suggest that biofeedback training could help you find your internal ‘control knob’ and turn down the volume.

Deficiencies of specific nutrients can sometimes affect hearing health: Zinc, Coenzyme Q10, vitamins D and B12.  Also, magnesium, a mineral in spinach and leafy greens has been shown repeatedly to support auditory mechanisms, improve hearing loss and ease tinnitus. As we speak, the Mayo Clinic is conducting a clinical trial to verify this. And an Israeli study long ago found that military personnel with tinnitus were often short on B12.

Asian folks seem to have good grip on this condition. Chinese medicine doctors use acupuncture and a variety of herbals to deal with tinnitus. These treatments vary considerably, but could be very effective. I keep up with Korean news because my 24-Hour Pharmacist book is published in this language. A recent study concluded that two compounds: Bojungikgitang and banhabaekchulchonmatang significantly improve tinnitus.  American health food stores are going to screech and whine if you ask them to order that stuff, so don’t even bother. A few studies support the herbal gingko biloba, which may help by improving blood flow and scavenging free radical toxins. Other herbs worth looking into include black cohosh root and vinpocetine which improve blood flow and oxygen to the brain; goldenseal could help too, and also mullein herb which addresses inflammation. Become a fan on my facebook page and interact with me about health topics: Facebook.com/SuzyCohenRPh

Did You Know? 
People with pale skin (who burn easily) appear to be more likely to be deficient in vitamin D.

The post Tinnitus: What To Do For Ringing In The Ears appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post Hot Flashes or PMS? Progesterone to the Rescue appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I have plantar fasciitis causing terrible heel pain and my doctor says it will take a year to heal. Is there anything I can do to speed that up?  –P.D., Sanibel, Florida

Answer: You have my sympathy because I’ve been dealing with plantar fasciitis myself for the past three months. It’s the price I paid for stomping too hard in Zumba class.

Plantar fasciitis is usually caused by a pulling of the long ligament, the plantar fascia, which runs along the bottom of your foot. It may hurt all the time, or just act up while walking and running. The inflammation announces itself as a dull or stabbing pain. When it flares up, it can feel like you’ve planted your heels on a sharp knife!

Typically, doctors recommend applying ice and taking oral anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen or naproxen, or injections of corticosteroids. Getting off your feet certainly helps! You can get custom-made orthotics from your podiatrist (or other physician) which insert into your shoes and offer more support for your feet. I bought an inexpensive gel insert at my local pharmacy and that helped a little bit. You can learn some exercises to stretch out and relax the inflamed tissues in your feet.

So, there you have the typical treatment experience includes medications, stretching exercise, orthotics and ice packs. Wearing supportive shoes are important. While I don’t recommend this for everyone, I personally found that wearing high heels takes the pressure off my heel, and puts it on the ball of my foot. For a while, it was the only way I could find relief, but this does not work for most people, especially men, lol. The stretching, ice packs and yoga helped me, but my best relief might surprise you. It was acupuncture. Seriously! You would think heel pain was enough, but imagine needles going into the area! Well no joke, this did the trick for me.

And a study confirms what I already know. Scientists in Greece at the University of Athens published their findings last summer. They tested two groups of athletes with plantar fasciitis. Both groups received conventional treatments, but only one group received acupuncture. Those who got needled experienced significantly more relief after just a matter of weeks. The researchers concluded that “acupuncture should be considered as a major therapeutic instrument for the decrease of heel pain, combined with traditional medical approaches.”

The earlier you begin acupuncture, the better. You can locate an acupuncturist at www.acufinder.com or ask your doctor for a recommendation. If you have access to a chiropractor or physical therapist, ultrasound is beneficial. I also believe in herbs such as calendula, ginger, bromelain and turmeric as dietary supplements. You can massage the area with arnica cream too.

Did You Know? 
Pregnant women in the US who want to know if they are carrying a baby with Down syndrome can now take a blood test called MaterniT21 rather than doing amniocentesis.

The post Plantar Fasciitis: Healing Painful Heels appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

DRUGS THAT MIGHT CAUSE NIGHTMARES
Dear Readers
The following medications can have an adverse reaction that causes bad dreams, and/or nightmares.  One of the most popular classes of medications that did NOT make it to the list below is synthetic hormones, the type used for post-menopausal symptoms or for contraception (pills, patches, shots).  There are dozens of medications in this class.  Here are the rest of the medications, in alphabetical order by their generic name.  I did not list the American brand names, because my readership is Internet-based, and there are just too many brand names used worldwide for me to list.  You’ll need the generic (chemical) name of your drug in order to find it on this list.  Thanks, Suzy

•    Albuterol
•    Aliskiren; Amlodipine
•    Aliskiren; Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
•    Almotriptan
•    Alprazolam
•    Amantadine
•    Amitriptyline
•    Amlodipine
•    Atenolol
•    Atenolol; Chlorthalidone
•    Atorvastatin
•    Atropine; Hyoscyamine; Phenobarbital; Scopolamine
•    Belladonna Alkaloids; Ergotamine; Phenobarbital
•    Bendroflumethiazide; Nadolol
•    Bisoprolol
•    Bisoprolol; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
•    Bromocriptine
•    Buspirone
•    Carbidopa; Levodopa
•    Carbidopa; Levodopa; Entacapone
•    Carteolol
•    Carvedilol
•    Cefpodoxime
•    Cephalothin
•    Cetirizine
•    Chloral Hydrate
•    Cinoxacin
•    Ciprofloxacin
•    Citalopram
•    Clarithromycin
•    Clonazepam
•    Clonidine
•    Clorazepate
•    Clozapine
•    Cysteamine
•    Darunavir
•    Diazepam
•    Doxepin
•    Dronabinol, THC
•    Droperidol
•    Duloxetine
•    Efavirenz
•    Efavirenz; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir
•    Enalapril, Enalaprilat
•    Escitalopram
•    Estazolam
•    Ethosuximide
•    Etravirine
•    Fenfluramine
•    Flurazepam
•    Gatifloxacin
•    Gemifloxacin
•    Grepafloxacin 
•    Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Methyldopa
•    Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Metoprolol
•    Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Propranolol
•    Hydroxychloroquine
•    Ketamine
•    Latanoprost; Timolol
•    Levobetaxolol
•    Levobunolol
•    Levodopa
•    Levofloxacin
•    Lorazepam
•    Mefloquine
•    Melatonin
•    Mephobarbital
•    Methyldopa
•    Metoprolol
•    Midazolam
•    Moxifloxacin
•    Nadolol
•    Naltrexone
•    Oseltamivir
•    Oxazepam
•    Paliperidone
•    Penbutolol
•    Pentobarbital
•    Peramivir
•    Phenobarbital
•    Pindolol
•    Pramipexole
•    Prazepam
•    Primidone
•    Procarbazine
•    Promethazine
•    Propafenone
•    Propranolol
•    Quetiapine
•    Quinacrine
•    Rasagiline
•    Rosuvastatin
•    Sertraline
•    Sibutramine
•    Sodium Oxybate
•    Sparfloxacin
•    Temazepam
•    Timolol
•    Trazodone
•    Triazolam
•    Trimipramine
•    Trovafloxacin, Alatrofloxacin
•    Varenicline
•    Zanamivir
•    Zolpidem

The post Drugs That Might Cause Nightmares appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Hurray for apple season! Studies suggest that apples have compounds in them that can help protect against prostate and colon cancer. Apples have quercetin too, that’s a natural anti-histamine and varicose vein fighter. Apples protect our lungs, and studies hint that they are good for asthmatics. Let’s celebrate together. I made this delicious apple crisp recipe. Even though it’s gluten and dairy-free, and vegan, it will be the BEST YOU EVER TASTE!

The post Suzy’s Apple Crisp- Delicious, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan :-) appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

Every fall, I worry about catching cough and cold. My Jewish grandmother used to come over and cook soup with bones in it. She insisted it would keep us healthy and made us suck the marrow out of the bones. Truthfully, we never got sick. What do you think of this idea? I don’t want to torture my own kids but she may have on to something. –B.E., Hartford, Connecticut

Answer: Anything that helps you avoid illness (and pricey antibiotics) is fine by me! Growing up, my mom made us kids do the same. I can still hear her ravenously sucking the marrow out of the bones, they never had a chance. Bone marrow soup contains red marrow, which provides immune system factors such as myeloid stem cells, which are precursors to red blood cells that bring oxygen to your organs. It also contains lymphoid stem cells, precursors to white blood cells and platelets.  White blood cells fight germs and platelets help your blood clot properly.

If you’re still grossed out about cooking such a prehistoric soup, keep listening. Bone broth will provide your body with two important amino acids, glycine and proline. Glycine is needed to help our body form a powerful liver antioxidant called glutathione, which neutralize poisons. Proline has been researched extensively and supports heart health by blocking dangerous “lipoprotein a” from sticking to your arteries (think atherosclerosis). While the idea of bone broth might make you want to fast, the truth is, bone broth is great for a fasting or detoxification program because it supports both phase I and II detoxification and builds up collagen to support healthy bones, discs in your back, your skin, ligaments, cartilage and tendons. I think bone soup can support wound healing, and joint health all while soothing inflamed mucus membranes in the digestive tract. Perfect for IBS, leaky gut, Celiac and Crohn’s disease. Getting hungry yet?

Because I always try what I write about, I bought some bones tonight and made the soup. It tasted good. I flavored it with fresh garlic, celery, carrots, parsley and onions. I cooked it for 5 hours on low, although you could use a crock pot and let it simmer overnight.

Bone marrow soup provides minerals, especially calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Great, because these support bone, heart and muscle health… and they make your nails grow fast. When cooking the soup, add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to help extract the minerals from the bone. To ramp up immune-boosting properties, buy fresh or dried astragalus root, a wonderful Chinese herb. Add one-quarter cup to your soup for the last 20 minutes, but don’t do this if you take methotrexate or cyclophosphamide drugs. Skim the astragalus and any fat/foam from the soup before consuming. I draw the line at bones, but if you are friskier, make your soup with oxtail or chicken feet.

Did You Know?

New research suggest that blood pressure drugs called “beta blockers” slow the spread of breast cancer.

The post Bone Marrow Soup, Yummy or Yuckkkkkkkk? appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Recently, I was watching the news and saw headlines that suggested taking vitamins could be dangerous for our health and I was alarmed. Truthfully, it just annoys me that snippets about this study get any media coverage at all.  I don’t know one person, not one, who has been harmed by taking nutritional supplements! Since I scour the news -both print and television- I have seen firsthand the sensational headlines intended to invoke fear in our society, and drive more people into the arms of proven methods of healing, whatever those may be. You have to live under a rock to NOT be aware that certain people in positions of power are downing the entire supplement industry, one nutrient at a time with the primary goal to either ban certain nutrients or make them available only by prescription. Did you know that you can get a prescription form of the B vitamin “folic acid” as well as fish oil supplements right now? 

The news that multivitamins, vitamin B6, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc and copper might hasten our death is just ridiculous, and I hope my article shows you how easily statistics can be manipulated. This was reported in October 2011, in The Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal I normally respect.

Do you really think vitamins and minerals are suddenly bad for you? By that token, you would have to believe that eating vegetables, fruits, and nuts are bad too, because they contain the same nutrients as those proposed to be deadly in this study! C’mon people! Should we all go on a lollipop diet? That’s right, I just want to suck lollipops all day, those must be safe because there are no studies to prove that they’re harmful. Yet.

When you hear bold headlines, it is important to consider what the strong points and the flaws of the study might be. Does something sound too good to be true?  Or, can the numbers and percentages be skewed in a favorable direction by including (or excluding) a particular arm of the study trial. If you massage numbers enough, you will be able to conclude all sorts of interesting things. You’ll see that below in Point #1.

Your conclusion will be the same as mine if you think about this particular study, that is to say: It’s sad when Mother Nature is questioned, and vitamins are condemned based on weak and disconnected statistics, yet other therapies that literally include “myocardial infarction” as a side effect remain on the market. This scary fact doesn’t get any airtime. Now, I’ll go through some of the reasons I feel this study should be ignored. We can do this together, it’s easy, and you’ll be amazed.

Point #1: Numbers are a very fun thing to play with, you can skew them any way you want to, and draw different conclusions. If I take the same study, and massage the data by accounting for age and energy intake (ignoring the other numbers that account for disease, lifestyle and dietary habits) then the news about vitamins would have been good. It’s not that the results should be presented this way, or that, I’m just showing you that data can be presented in all sorts of ways, depending on what you want to prove.  I found out from the Health Ranger Mike Adams website (Natural News) that the following POSITIVE associations with vitamins occurred:

• Vitamin B complex was associated with a 7% reduction in mortality

• Vitamin C was associated with a 4% reduction in mortality

• Vitamin D was associated with an 8% reduction in mortality

• Magnesium was associated with a 3% reduction in mortality

• Selenium was associated with a 3% reduction in mortality

• Zinc was associated with a 3% reduction in mortality

Point #2: The conclusions drawn, were not based upon an actual clinical trial that offered a double-blind, placebo controlled analysis. Not that nutrition research needs to always have a research clinical trial associated with it, but if you are going to draw conclusions about death rates, then certainly it’s reasonable to expect a trial!  In this case, the conclusion regarding mortality was drawn from data that tracked 38,722 older women who said they took vitamins for 20 years. Key word “said.”

Point #3: The University of Minnesota researchers had women fill out questionnaires. The women “said” they took vitamins. That’s it! Should scientists draw sweeping conclusions about mortality based on questionnaires? Have you ever filled out a long questionnaire and fibbed a little, maybe you were in a hurry or thought what you wrote down would affect the way you were treated? Can you remember if you took a supplement 20 years ago, or for what period of time? I can’t remember what I took last month, no less 20 years ago when I was 26 years old. The death rate could be due to any number of factors, not necessarily because a vitamin was taken. Let’s talk more about that death rate now.

Point #4: Women who said they took supplements experienced, on average, a 2.4 percent increased risk of dying over the course of two decades, compared with women who didn’t take supplements, after the researchers adjusted for factors including the women’s age and calorie intake. Is 2.4 percent significant to you when you are dealing with this demographic? Here’s how they got that. Let’s use the example of a plain multivitamin. Of the 12,769 women who took a daily multivitamin (keep in mind, this is all based on a self-reporting system), 40.8 percent had died by the end of 2008, whereas 39.8 percent of the 10,161 women who had not taken a daily multivitamin had died. Wow! 40.8 % vs. 39.8 %. Seems like somebody is playing with numbers here. It’s really just a 1 percent difference, but it sounds scarier to skew the stats and tell people there was  a “2.4 % increase.” Boo!

Point #5: What was the baseline health status of the women? Remember that the women who began the study were 62 years of age or older back in 1986 when the trial began. They were followed for about 20 years and during that time some of them may have had simmering health issues (like high blood glucose, cholesterol or undiagnosed kidney impairment) that they were unaware of.  Further, what if these ladies failed to take vitamins in their youthful years, or took poor quality ones? Did they exercise in their youth or as adults? What was their cholesterol, insulin, Lp(a), body mass index, homocysteine levels and CRP levels? Did they have digestive problems? Who knows? Well-informed scientists would never assign sole blame to vitamins when the data is being extracting from seniors who almost always have multiple health concerns and take numerous prescription drugs. There’s no linear connection, do you see how ridiculous this all is?!

Point #6: Nutritional status was never objectively evaluated. How did they eat? Did they smoke?  Were they exposed to pollution or UV radiation, two well-known causes for free-radical damage? What if they ate a poor diet? For all we know they were taking dietary supplements in between cheeseburgers and fries, rather than part of a healthy well-balanced diet. It’s irresponsible to blame vitamins for death when the women may have been ill to begin with, and may have been deficient in key nutrients.

Point #7: What was their medication profile like? This was the most obvious gap in the article as far as I’m concerned. I suspect there was a lot of drug mugging going on! These ladies could very well have been so nutritionally depleted that they died of some other reason? Studies show that a CoQ10 deficiency can be a contributing factor (if not lead to) congestive heart failure. Did you know that there are hundreds of medications that suppress CoQ10 in our body? What were their levels? What about magnesium? This is a mineral important for heart rhythm. It’s absolutely crucial and dozens of medications are drug muggers of this mineral. My point? Not one of the participants was ever given a Cardio-ION, Genova or SpectraCell blood test to determine baseline micronutrient status? Ever. Let’s focus on vitamin B6 deficiency right now. Over 150 drugs rob your body of that. Run low of B6 and you’re levels of toxic homocysteine will climb, raising risk for hypertension, heart attack and stroke! So how did these scientists sort out whether these elderly women were dreadfully deficient of a particular vitamin, or died from taking one? They didn’t. For more on drug nutrient depletion, read my book “Drug Muggers, Which Medications are Robbing Your Body of Essential Nutrients and How to Restore Them” (Rodale 2011) sold on Amazon and at book stores nationwide.  You can also buy an exclusive hardcover edition of the same book from Rodale, CLICK HERE.

Point #8: This was not a clinical trial, with a placebo arm. This was what is called a “survey study” or an “observational study.” Any conclusions drawn from these types of studies are very limited, as you cannot determine cause and effect from these types of studies. It’s never good to draw conclusions from observations. For example, my observation is that some people who get admitted to a hospital pass away. Shall we therefore conclude that hospitalization contributes to a higher death rate?

Point #9: Vitamins and minerals are just supplements that fill a nutritional gap, and if you refer to point #1, you’ll see all the positive findings that were not provided to you. Your cells are hungry for nutrients; they make all your biochemical reactions go off without a hitch. I used to tell my kids that vitamins were just like a ‘salad in a pill’ providing you with some nutrients that come from good food. Now, with that said, I firmly believe that it’s best to get nutrients from eating living plant-based foods, and juicing every day. This is your best source of healthy nutrients, and enzymes. And use dietary supplements to fill those nutrient gaps, or to restore what medication may be depleting. There’s nothing wrong with that in my world.

But if you believe the recent hype, you might start to believe that the very nutrients extracted from foods and put into dietary supplements are bad too. From that you might also conclude that eating healthy foods would then be bad too! See how nonsensical this is. You would never conclude that because we know certain foods  are good for us (organic fruits and vegetables, nuts etc) and  certain foods are bad for us (trans fats, artificial ingredients and additives and refined processed foods).

Remember my friends, dietary supplements are regulated by the DSHEA Act of 1994, through the FDA. They are intended to SUPPORT adequate nutrition, not to prevent disease, and certainly not to prevent death. If you have concerns, it’s always best to ask your health care provider(s) and your local pharmacist what is right for you. Because vitamins do have an impact on the body, it’s ideal to customize your regimen based on your activities, age, gender, medication profile and dietary habits.

The post Are Your Vitamins Helping or Hurting You? appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

The post Holy Basil is a Heavenly Herb appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Answer: Muscle relaxant drugs offer temporary relief for a pulled muscle, sprain, strain, stiff neck or other muscle problem. I think medications are fine for a little while, but most of you reading will need to tease out the underlying cause of your own pain.  Many of you suffer with muscle spasms and it may not dawn on you that you take a drug that depletes a nutrient from your body, which then causes chronic muscle spasms or cramps. For real.

Not knowing this could cause pain and frustration, and might force you to take muscle relaxant drugs forever! Hundreds of drugs can cause muscle aches and pains, including blood pressure drugs so please refer to my book, Drug Muggers.  More specifically read the chapters on calcium, magnesium, CoQ10, vitamin D and vitamin B6. In my book, I’ve listed the medications that deplete these nutrients, and potentially harm your muscles, causing weakness, cramps and spasms. Also, see your physician and consider physical therapy, gentle chiropractic and massage.

I will now provide a list of popular herbs and medications that temporarily relieve the pain. All of them can mess with your head, meaning cause brain fog, drowsiness and dizziness. Please don’t take these and drive:

Baclofen (Lioresal), Rx- Used for muscle spasms; it improves levels of our natural GABA, which calms our nervous system. Often used in multiple sclerosis and amazingly, it could help reduce cravings for alcohol.

Cramp Bark, Herbal supplement- The name says it all; this herb may help reduce leg cramps, spasms and pain resulting from a stiff neck. Ladies, this could help reduce cramps at that time of the month. Sold in health food stores as tea, tincture and capsule. Careful, it can lower blood pressure.

Valerian, Herbal supplement- Often used for insomnia and anxiety, but it also relaxes muscles.

Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), Rx- This is related to antidepressants and can cause dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation and dizziness.

Carisoprodol (Soma), Rx- It blocks the transmission of signals in the brain and spinal cord. It makes you terribly sleepy so you don’t feel the pain! As a pharmacist, I have to tell you I’ve seen a lot of abuse with this drug.

Kava Kava and Passionflower, Herbal dietary supplements- Both of these support muscle health and cause relaxation. Take one or the other, sold at health food stores.

The post Best Medications and Herbs for Muscle Relaxation appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

The post Gluten Allergies More Common Than You Think appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist, 
What are the best treatments for hemorrhoids, both the internal sort and the external?  I ask because my wife and I suffer with these. Lucky us. –S. D., Gainesville, Florida

Answer: In the United States, approximately half of all people will suffer from hemorrhoids at some point in life, usually between the ages of 20 and 50. It’s not necessarily a problem of the elderly or constipated, it can happen to anyone, even people who are healthy, but happen to sit for very long periods of time. Hemorrhoids -whether internal or external- happen due to weak veins that swell because of pressure. If these weak veins occur on the legs, we refer to them as “varicose” veins. The blood pools, and causes veins to swell and engorge; this can be caused by many situations, among them obesity, pregnancy, lifting heavy objects or boxes, straining on the toilet, coughing, sneezing, standing or sitting for long periods of time. People who eat a high fiber diet and stay well hydrated are less likely to suffer with hemorrhoids, whereas people who eat processed foods will eventually feel it in the end.

Before I offer suggestions, I will first describe internal and external. The primary difference is pain. With internal hemorrhoids, there is no pain because the swollen veins are higher up in the rectum where there are no nerves. There maybe no symptoms at all, or you may have bleeding after a bowel movement. For some bleeding may be the first, and only sign of internal hemorrhoids. For others, you may have a thin stool, and the urge that you are not finished yet. External hemorrhoids hurt like crazy and if untreated it can thrombose, meaning it can turn purplish-blue and bleed. They can itch, burn and irritate the anus, and you can feel them easily. No matter the type, don’t sit excessively, or let your butt fall asleep on hard chairs!

The post 10 Tips for a Healthy Hiney appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

My 5-year-old daughter has developed a persistent cough. Can you recommend something to help? –L.E.,  Seattle, Washington

Answer: Please make every effort to find out what’s causing that cough and see your pediatrician. Likely triggers include pet dander, pollen, mildew spores, perfumes or scented products, and even chemicals used in crafts. And be sure to ask your child what she thinks makes her cough. Heres a good story. A friend of mine had a persistent cough that developed every winter when she was a child. She kept telling her parents that she was coughing because it felt like she had hair in her throat. That was back in the days when every other child in America, it seemed, had a tonsillectomy. Predictably, her pediatrician recommended a tonsillectomy.

To make a long story short, my friend had her tonsils removed. And it didn’t make a bit of difference. She kept on coughing, year after year, every winter. As an adult, my friend had a light bulb go off inside her head. That cough really was from hair, or rather fur. Her mother used to cover her against the cold with a squirrel coat. She went to sleep every night with her face buried in the folds of that old fur coat—that old shedding fur coat. If her parents had only listened to her about the “hair,” she might have been spared the surgeon’s scalpel.

I don’t suggest use over-the-counter cough remedies for your child although cough drops are okay. That may sound like an odd recommendation coming from a pharmacist. But medical researchers have shown that most of the time they don’t work well on children, plus they can have some serious side effects. For example, in a 2007 study at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine groups of children with upper respiratory tract infections received either remedies containing the cough suppressant dextromethorphan or a spoonful of honey or no treatment at all before going to bed.

Researchers had parents report on both coughing and whether the child got a good night’s sleep. Guess which remedy won the day? That old-fashioned, tried-and-true remedy- a teaspoon of honey. Here’s what the researchers said: “Parents rated honey most favorably for symptomatic relief of their child’s nocturnal cough and sleep difficulty due to upper respiratory tract infection.”

You should never give honey to children under the age of one or two, there’s even debate on that. It may trigger allergic reactions in very young children and has been associated with various toxins, depending on the type of honey. However, let me be clear that should also never give cough suppressant medication to young children either, unless recommended by a pediatrician because they can slow breathing.

Did You Know?

Researchers just found that GABA receptors in the retinal cells stopped functioning properly when vitamin C was deficient so taking vitamin C may help preserve vision.

The post Sweet Relief for Coughing Children appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Readers: Recently, I asked my facebook fans to share their favorite folk remedies. These homegrown tips are not intended to take the place of your physician’s advice, nor does my printing them imply effectiveness. So don’t email me if you wind up smelling like lasagna or a speed stick! Here is a sampling of the submissions:

When you get bit from an insect, like a fire ant or mosquito, you just roll on plain deodorant. It works like a charm. Sandy G.

I have chronic sinus (and fungal) infections. I read an article about oregano so I boiled the spice in water, let it cool to room temperature and strained it into a spray bottle. It works great!  Patricia A.

For RLS (Restless Legs Syndrome), I slip a bar or two of Ivory soap under my bed sheets, down low by my calves and ankles. I have no idea why it works, but it does. Ellen M.

I have a great way to relieve irritated skin, especially from when it is humid or sweat is just sitting on the skin. Make your own special body wash. Mix about 4 drops of 100 percent pure tea tree oil into some inexpensive body wash (or shampoo) and cleanse your skin. Keep on hand to relieve ant, flea or mosquito bites.   Ginny G.

You can put duct tape on a wart to starve it of oxygen.  Victoria W.

My wife has IBS and suffers quite a bit. We use one essential oil capsule of peppermint and it stops her cramping and soothes her stomach almost immediately. Dennis E.

YES YES YES to the peppermint oil. I had some bad IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) cramps throughout my peri-menopausal years and peppermint tea (or capsules) were the only things that could stop the painful cramps! Ellen M.

My husband had an infected big toe and he soaked it in a foot bath of warm water with epsom salt (about 1 cup) along with two or three drops of oregano oil. He did this three times daily for three days and the infection cleared.  Sandy L.

I had a persistent rash on my skin, and I applied coconut oil (purchase this at your local health food store) and it worked for me. Susan C.

You might be able to replace narcotics such as Vicodin (hydrocodone) or Oxycontin (oxycodone sustained-release) with herbs such as Valerian Root and/or Kava Kava. Yes, I have done this! Bethany R.

When I get an upset stomach or mild heartburn, I eat some pure ginger, the candied sort that has some crystallized sugar on it. Candied ginger is sold at health food stores, not supermarkets.  Dawn D.

For constipation, you can eat two cooked beets (boiled, roasted or marinated) and you should have a bowel movement that day. Suzy C.

My hiccups were annoying so I put good ol’ honey and a sprinkle of sugar on the back of my tongue and it stopped them immediately.  Tracy L.

The post Folk Remedies May Be Weird, But Effective appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

My husband and I would like to have a child soon. My sister’s little boy has autism, so I’m naturally concerned for my prenatal care and pregnancy. Is there any way to reduce my risk of having a child with autism? –C.J., Orlando, Florida

Answer: There is so much controversy regarding vaccinations that I’m not even going to entertain that here. Instead, I’ll tell you about a less debatable finding based on a brand new study, conducted at Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California Research Division in Oakland that found mothers of autistic children were twice as likely to have taken a an antidepressant in the year prior to their delivery. The risk appears even stronger if the antidepressant is taken during their first trimester.

The study published in July 2011, in the Archives of General Psychiatry, analyzed prenatal data for women who took antidepressants in the class of “selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors” known more commonly as SSRIs. These are the most prescribed mood enhancers in the entire world known generically as paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram and fluoxetine.

Researchers analyzed prenatal and maternal data from 1,805 children. Researchers stopped short of saying that antidepressants cause autism because that connection was not made. They simply reported that mothers of autistic children were more likely to have taken SSRI antidepressants, which begs the question: Should you wean off your antidepressants if you are planning to become pregnant?

It’s certainly worth a discussion with your doctor, outlining other treatment options for depression, both pharmaceutical and alternative. Knowing your options becomes incredibly important, especially since there is not a cure for autism so anything you can do to prevent it is helpful. SSRIs have uncomfortable side effects including brain fog, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, diarrhea, tremors, and suicidal thoughts in extreme cases.

My concerns aren’t about the medication, it’s that some physicians prescribe these drugs at the drop of a hat to women who have underlying hormonal or micronutrient deficiencies. If you’re planning to become pregnant, and you wish to discontinue your antidepressants talk to your doctor about how to wean off. Don’t suddenly stop taking an SSRI on your own, do it with medical supervision and approval, and most of all, do it slowly!

As often occurs with other journalists, the study is being reportedly inaccurately. They are saying that autism rates were increased in children whose mothers took SSRIs during the year before they got pregnant. The study suggests the problems were in women who took the medication in the year before delivery of their baby, that is, just before and during their pregnancy. Big difference. If you would like advice regarding natural alternatives, I’ll post those on my facebook FAN page, the link to that is on my website homepage. For information on autism, visit two great resources on the web:  www.autismspeaks.org and www.defeatautismnow.net.

Did You Know?

Frankincense essential oil can help relieve nervous tension, anxiety and exhaustion.

The post Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Linked to Higher Risk of Autism appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

My teenage daughter downs several diet sodas a day. She insists they’re a healthy, weight-loss alternative to regular sodas. Should I be concerned? –E.L., Phoenix, Arizona

Answer: In a word, YES. Several studies published this year suggest diet soda is not the healthiest beverage on the shelf. At the end of each of these individual studies researchers say something like, Hey, this research is not conclusive. This study doesn’t mean that everyone should stop drinking diet sodas… moderation is good… blah, blah, blah.  But when you put all these studies together, in my opinion, the fizzy stuff falls flat.

Put down your soda pop for a second and take a closer look at some of this research:

Back in February 2010, doctors at the International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles reported on research showing that people who drink diet soda every day have a 61 percent increase in the likelihood of having a “cardiovascular event.” That research hardly made the news.

Another study looked at 3,000 nurses and found that drinking just two diets sodas a day was associated with a decrease in kidney function. Let me remind you, kidneys are responsible for filtering your body of poisonous toxins. You really want your kidneys in tip top shape to keep yourself “clean” which is why I always harp on you to drink fresh, filtered water.

Drinking “diet” soda begs the question, will it help with weight loss? A study reported in an online issue of Diabetes Care in January 2009 found that people who drink at least one diet soda a day experienced a 36 percent increased risk for developing metabolic syndrome, a disorder that includes the triple threat of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high glucose. Metabolic syndrome almost always includes the condition of obesity. So if you connect the dots, it doesn’t appear that weight loss is a benefit of drinking diet soda. The mechanism behind why people experienced a higher risk for metabolic syndrome wasn’t teased out, nor can we conclude a definitive cause and effect. I can tell you this though, if any natural herb or vitamin was linked to even an inkling of the stuff diet soda is associated with, it would be yanked off the shelves in hours!

If you love soda (diet or regular), make it a special treat, rather than your beverage of choice all day long. Or try one of my natural recipes for soda. You just combine some carbonated (seltzer) water with some grape juice (or root beer flavored stevia drops), and voila, you have a natural fizzy drink. You should also include healthy teas as part of your diet, like Tulsi, Rooibos and Green tea. Why not try juicing? Blend 3 carrots, 2 celery stalks, a slice of ginger, 2 apples and take a swig. It’s good and good for you!

Did You Know?

A new study finds luteolin (which is concentrated in celery) boosts brain power and memory.

The post Sorry to Pop Your Soda Bubble appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist,

My doctor is referring me to a psychologist because I’m having so many bad dreams. These are new for me, and while I believe that dreams are “telling” I can’t help but wonder if it’s something I’m taking. In the last 6 months, I’ve began taking three new prescriptions. Could my drugs have any bearing on my sleep or dream state? –T.H., Denver, Colorado

Answer: Yes, medications can definitely impact the way you sleep, and cause vivid dreaming, lucidness, and even nightmares. There are over 130 medications that can cause nightmares and I’ve posted the list at my website, and this is the link: http://dearpharmacist.com/?p=1702

because I don’t have the room to do so in this printed column.  I’ll mention a few of those drugs shortly, but for the moment, let’s talk about nightmares. It’s normal to have them on occasion, but not all the time. I believe that dreams are a way for our unconscious mind to get our attention about a life situation, one that is particularly troubling. They are frightening and often contain emotional content or vivid details that stick with you throughout the day, if not forever. Nightmares are fairly common in children, but they are not usually associated with any underlying psychological problems. About 5 to 8 percent of the adult population, mostly women, have to deal with recurring nightmares. Just FYI, nightmares are considered one of the hallmark symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many war veterans and child abuse survivors can attest to this.

But as I said earlier, medications can trigger nightmares too.  Below is a list of some of the most popular drugs or dietary supplements I can think of, that have the potential to affect dreaming. If you see your medication on the list, and nightmares have become troublesome for you, then speak to your doctor about lowering your dose a little bit, switching medication categories, or trying something natural.

Albuterol- a popular inhaler used for asthma or bronchospasm

Alprazolam and diazepam- these medications are used for relaxation or sleep

Amitriptyline and doxepin- two older antidepressants

Statins- a class of medications used to reduce cholesterol

Bisoprolol- a blood pressure drug

Carbidopa/levodopa- used in Parkinson’s disease

Cetirizine- an antihistamine

Citalopram and Escitalopram- two newer popular antidepressant

Fenfluramine- an appetite suppressant used for weight loss

HCTZ (Hydrochlorothiazide)- a popular diuretic used to reduce blood pressure

Levofloxacin- An antibiotic

Melatonin- a natural sleep aid, but excessive amounts can cause nightmares
Mugwort- a natural herb sometimes used to expand consciousness and dream states, as well as for digestive health
Propranolol- used for high blood pressure, migraines and heartbeat irregularities

Zanamivir- inhaled drug used for Influenza
Zolpidem- popular sleep medication

FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF MEDICATIONS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE BAD DREAMS OR NIGHTMARES PLEASE CLICK HERE

Did You Know?

Researchers just learned that when you get a sunburn, a pain-causing protein called CXCL5 goes way up. Taking an aspirin helps relieve sunburn pain.

The post Having Bad Dreams, It Could Be Your Medicine appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

•    Albuterol
•    Aliskiren; Amlodipine
•    Aliskiren; Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
•    Almotriptan
•    Alprazolam
•    Amantadine
•    Amitriptyline
•    Amlodipine
•    Atenolol
•    Atenolol; Chlorthalidone
•    Atorvastatin
•    Atropine; Hyoscyamine; Phenobarbital; Scopolamine
•    Belladonna Alkaloids; Ergotamine; Phenobarbital
•    Bendroflumethiazide; Nadolol
•    Bisoprolol
•    Bisoprolol; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
•    Bromocriptine
•    Buspirone
•    Carbidopa; Levodopa
•    Carbidopa; Levodopa; Entacapone
•    Carteolol
•    Carvedilol
•    Cefpodoxime
•    Cephalothin
•    Cetirizine
•    Chloral Hydrate
•    Cinoxacin
•    Ciprofloxacin
•    Citalopram
•    Clarithromycin
•    Clonazepam
•    Clonidine
•    Clorazepate
•    Clozapine
•    Cysteamine
•    Darunavir
•    Diazepam
•    Doxepin
•    Dronabinol, THC
•    Droperidol
•    Duloxetine
•    Efavirenz
•    Efavirenz; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir
•    Enalapril, Enalaprilat
•    Escitalopram
•    Estazolam
•    Ethosuximide
•    Etravirine
•    Fenfluramine
•    Flurazepam
•    Gatifloxacin
•    Gemifloxacin
•    Grepafloxacin
•    Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Methyldopa
•    Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Metoprolol
•    Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Propranolol
•    Hydroxychloroquine
•    Ketamine
•    Latanoprost; Timolol
•    Levobetaxolol
•    Levobunolol
•    Levodopa
•    Levofloxacin
•    Lorazepam
•    Mefloquine
•    Melatonin
•    Mephobarbital
•    Methyldopa
•    Metoprolol
•    Midazolam
•    Moxifloxacin
•    Nadolol
•    Naltrexone
•    Oseltamivir
•    Oxazepam
•    Paliperidone
•    Penbutolol
•    Pentobarbital
•    Peramivir
•    Phenobarbital
•    Pindolol
•    Pramipexole
•    Prazepam
•    Primidone
•    Procarbazine
•    Promethazine
•    Propafenone
•    Propranolol
•    Quetiapine
•    Quinacrine
•    Rasagiline
•    Rosuvastatin
•    Sertraline
•    Sibutramine
•    Sodium Oxybate
•    Sparfloxacin
•    Temazepam
•    Timolol
•    Trazodone
•    Triazolam
•    Trimipramine
•    Trovafloxacin, Alatrofloxacin
•    Varenicline
•    Zanamivir
•    Zolpidem

The post DRUGS THAT MIGHT CAUSE NIGHTMARES appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Dear Pharmacist, 

It seems my kids spend the summer getting bumped and bruised. Can you recommend a natural remedy to treat all those boo boos?   –P.E., Clackamus, Oregon

Answer: Yes, I have just the thing. Not too long ago, a friend of mine took a nasty spill while riding her bicycle. She shared the details of what happened with me, and today, I will share her story with you. My friend’s next-door neighbor asked politely how she was doing after the minor accident, and she confessed to her neighbor that everything hurt.

“I have just the thing,” the neighbor responded and dunked inside her house, emerging a moment later with a jar of calendula cream. Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is an herb that has been used safely all over the world for centuries, specifically for wound healing.

My friend decided to give her neighbor’s cream a try, since she trusted the source. She trusted her because the lady had raised five teenagers who played every sport from soccer to volleyball. If this stuff came with the soccer mom’s seal of approval, it had to be effective.

As my friend relayed her story to me, I became excited to write about it too, since there are no prescription drugs or salves that do all that Calendula can.  My friend dabbed the cream on her bruises and scrapes, took a nap and woke up significantly better. Within days, she was as good as new.

This inspired me to research calendula. I wish I knew about it when my children were young. A few  European studies have concluded calendula to help soothe wounds and improve healing. It has antifungal, antiviral, and even anti-tumor properties! I think calendula would be fantastic for cradle cap and diaper rashes, or any rash for that matter. You can use it on minor burns, sunburn, bedsores, eczema and poison ivy. A small study proved it can ease the pain of radiation-induced dermatitis. Calendula may improve acne too. Health food stores and online retailers sell calendula in cream, lotions, ointments or tinctures. You’ll see various brands and companies selling it, a few of which include Boiron, Weleda, California Baby and Hyland’s.

If you are creating a first-aid cabinet, I highly recommend you include Calendula. Put it next to your hydrocortisone and tea tree oil. Calendula is so safe you can literally eat the eat the beautiful yellow flowers from which the cream is made, so long as you’re not allergic to flowers in the daisy or marigold family. Calendula extract imparts a beautiful yellow color, so it’s used as a natural coloring agent in cuisines around the world. Lately, I’ve been buying the fresh (and edible version) of flowers from my natural grocer to garnish salads and soups. It makes for a delicious conversation piece at my dinner table.

Did You Know?
Folate found in green leafy veggies (and supplements) was just shown to reduce colon cancer risk.

The post First Aid Ointment Comes from Calendula Flowers appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Answer: If all you waited was 25 minutes, you’re lucky. Pharmacists’ works like crazy, always on their feet and often without bathroom breaks. Forget food! The law doesn’t allow pharmacists a lunch break in many states. That said, your pharmacist is more devoted to you than you can imagine. Here’s a look inside your pharmacy.

The post Another Peek Inside Your Pharmacy 2011 appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I have high blood pressure and heart disease. I’m worried that I’m not doing enough. Do you have any recommendations? –K.S., Denver, Colorado

Answer: Yes. a brand new study conducted at the University of Helsinki in Finland found positive benefits from something very cool, but tart. Lingonberries.

They’re popular in Scandinavia, but you probably haven’t ever tried them, unless you’re lucky enough to have a Swedish grandmother who made you pancakes with a side of lingonberry jam. These bright red arctic berries have been around for centuries, and people squeeze them into juice or jam; sometimes they’re cooked in stew but they’re not eaten raw, because their tartness will make you pucker like cranberries do.

Long ago, Native American Cree people, used the “cowberries” or “partridge berries” in their Canadian homeland, to treat symptoms of diabetes.

The Finnish study, just published in June 2011, reported that lingonberry juice can help protect the delicate endothelial lining of blood vessels in lab animals with high blood pressure. This is important because the force of blood under pressure continually slamming into the walls of blood vessels damages the lining of the vessels, making it easier for plaques to accumulate and contribute to a heart attack or stroke.

Researchers found that high levels of certain phytochemicals (most likely flavonols) in lingonberry juice normalized damage to blood vessel linings in the animals.

Does this mean that lingonberry juice will do the same thing for humans? Possibly. There’s every reason to take advantage of the health benefits of this juice, and others that are packed with antioxidant power. Antioxidants add a ‘protection plan’ to your body, against everything from the common cold to cancer. I wish I could say that about atenolol, metoprolol, nifedipine, lisinopril or any other drug used to reduce blood pressure. There are hundreds. They simply don’t have antioxidant capabilities; I see nothing wrong with combining medication with lingonberry, if your doctor approves.

The Finnish study did not show that lingonberry juice can actually lower blood pressure like medicine, but it might protect those precious blood vessels against the ravages of hypertension and inflammatory chemicals. I mention this only because the new study has been misrepresented online with numerous claims that lingonberry juice lowers blood pressure. Being a journalist myself, sloppy reporting like this drives me nuts. To be clear, if you try the juice and don’t see reductions in your blood pressure, don’t give up because you may lose out on the protection it confers to your arteries.

Canadian researchers  are finding definite medicinal properties for the treatment of diabetes. Apparently, lingonberries causes a slight reduction in blood sugar.  Other studies have confirmed the anti-microbial effect of berries. Lingonberry juice is kind of new to the US, and found in some natural health food grocers and IKEA stores. It’s readily available online as a juice concentrate.

Did You Know?

Chantix, the anti-smoking pill is now thought to be dangerous for those who already have cardiovascular disease.

The post Protect Precious Blood Vessels with Lingonberries appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

I’ve been fighting low- to mid-level depression for years and at the same time trying to avoid becoming dependent on anti-depressant medication. I’ve tried St. John’s wort, and it didn’t help me. Can you recommend another alternative treatment? –D.C. Gainesville, Florida

Answer: Actually, yes. The herb rhodiola (Rodiolia rosea) has been safely used for centuries in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia to help people deal with stress and bounce back from debilitating illness. Many herbs have come under the scrutiny of modern science, but researchers are definitely able to validate rhodiola’s traditional uses… and then some. Rhodiola can relieve stress, lift depression and improve attitude. NFL fans, take solace, rhodiola could help you deal with the lock-out!

Rhodiola is a plant that thrives in Siberia and withstands the harshest growing conditions on the planet, so it has to be tough. Remarkably, it can help you withstand ‘harsh’ conditions too, meaning stress! Natives in Siberia and other countries along the Arctic Circle have traditionally reached for rhodiola whenever faced with dauntingly stressful challenges, both physical or mental.

In a 2007 study published in the Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, researchers gave rhodiola extract to a group people with clinical depression -the kind that requires medical care and constant follow-up. Of the 89 study participants, only the groups which received rhodiola supplements (two different dosages) experienced “a significant anti-depressive effect” over a period of six weeks as compared to the group who were given dud pills. Physical symptoms related to depression improved, such as insomnia, emotional stability and feelings of self-esteem.

It’s just amazing that not one single study participant reported any negative side effects from taking the herb. Did you hear that? ZERO side effects! Mind you, all prescribed anti-depressants currently available come with a whole gamut of potentially devastating side effects, everything from sexual dysfunction to brain fog.

Rhodiola enhances levels of key brain chemicals such as norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine. There is research to support it’s benefit on the heart, specifically certain cardiac arrhythmias. You can ask your cardiologist if he/she minds you trying this supplement.

Rhodiola appears to enhance performance of cosmonauts and athletes. And in a Moscow study, scientists gave rhodiola to military cadets who face mentally and physically demanding work, 24/7. The cadets receiving rhodiola performed better on a variety of tasks and experienced much less mental and physical fatigue than those who took the placebo. And get this, I found another study about students taking rhodiola before their exams! It’s a smart pill. The students all had slightly higher scores. Hmm… sounds to me like this could be a good herb to take right before a college-entry exam or a big job interview! Keep in mind, it may take a few weeks for optimal effects.

Did You Know?
Pomegranate juice helps your heart by keeping “nitric oxide” around longer, that’s a good thing.

The post Beat Depression Naturally- Rhodiola to the Rescue appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Answer: Yes. Here’s some advice that can help you make better selections:
Check for artificial colors- Dyes and Lakes are unnecessary additives to make supplements prettier but many are coal tar derived. Because there is no benefit obtained from artificial colors, I think they should be avoided. The U.S. FDA allows colors because they say they pose no risk when used properly, but I think that depends on who you ask. Some colors like tartrazine (a.k.a. FD&C Yellow 5 or E102) can trigger allergies in people; skin rashes, hives, migraines, nasal congestion, asthma, anxiety, depression or diarrhea. Some colors are are suspected in hyperactivity (ADHD) and DNA damage (think cancer). Colors are frequently used in medications to help distinguish tablets, but less frequently used in supplements. Do you want pretty or pure?

Check for allergy-causing ingredients-  I think it’s nice when a maker takes special care to avoid the items that many are sensitive to. Try to avoid wheat, gluten, dairy, corn, soy and sugar. There are many additives, some natural ones too, that can trigger problems. Download a free brochure called “Food Additives” from www.FoodAdditives.org.

Check for USP certification- It stands for “United States Pharmacopeia.” When you’re shopping at your local pharmacy, picking supplements, you sometimes see the three initials, “USP,” printed smack dab on the label which means the product has been certified. By the way, the USP-National Formulary is kind of like a very thick cookbook of sorts that provides directions on manufacturing, disintegration, solubility and testing parameters. What I like about the USP certification process is that it’s a third-party verification program that is recognized as a sign of quality in over 130 countries. I think it’s nice when someone other than the makers is able to certify quality, purity and potency. Just FYI, many good products  are USP certified, even though it’s not designated on the label. You can learn more at www.USP.org and in my book, Drug Muggers where I’ve offered you product lists and guidelines to find the highest quality vitamins and minerals based on my 22 years of experience.

Check for bizarre or unnecessary additives- Like high fructose corn syrup, carmine (red bug colorant), or shellac. The insidious thing here is that you can’t always tell what’s actually “added” because it’s done during manufacturing. For example, today on the FDA website, I learned that a big company has amended the food additive regulation to permit the use of hydrogen peroxide (!) in the manufacture of modified whey. If you love whey protein shakes, make sure it’s derived from organic cow’s milk that has never been injected with growth hormones!

Did You Know?
If you’re suffering with itchy watery eyes, conjunctivitis or seasonal eye allergies, try Zaditor eye drops. It used to be prescription, but it’s sold OTC now and it’s strong.

The post Shop Like A Pharmacist appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..

Any teenager dealing with acne has my compassion. It’s such a difficult age, when they’re trying so desperately to be attractive to peers. You’re reservations regarding isotretinoin are spot on. The medication has potential risks including liver damage, depression, and suicidal ideation; lawyers advertise on TV in order to gain clients. Because it can increase risk of birth defects doctors won’t even prescribe it to young women who could get pregnant. Alternatively,  antibiotics such as doxycycline, come with their own set of risks that can lead to long-term health issues such as digestive problems, leaky gut and Candida fungal overgrowth. If you take an antibiotic long-term, you definitely need a probiotic to replenish the healthy flora.

Fear not, I have a few suggestions that have every likelihood of success. My first suggestion is a skin clarifying system called TRIA that zaps the bacteria that cause acne. The heart of this three-step acne clearing system is a blue light that penetrates the skin surface and attacks the pathogens that cause acne. This kit did a terrific job on my son’s skin when he used it, and we could see results the first week. I recommend this product because it is non-medicated, in fact, the clarifying cleanser doesn’t even contain benzoyl peroxide which can be irritating to some individuals.

Now, more about this blue light. It causes a warming sensation on the skin. Blue light treatments are FDA-approved and some dermatologists use this technique in their offices. The TRIA product that I’m suggesting is over-the-counter, but is still professional strength. You can learn more at www.TriaBeauty.com.

Many dermatologists- at least the ones who are behind the times- still maintain that diet has nothing to do with acne breakouts. Nothing is further from the truth according to new medical studies. For more about what to eat to support beautiful, clear skin I strongly recommend picking up a copy of The Clear Skin Diet written by dermatologist Valorie Treloar, M.D., and naturopathic physician Alan C. Logan, N.D. (Cumberland House, 2007).

This book does a good job of outlining what to eat (and what to avoid) to promote clear skin and it offers recommendations for dietary supplements. You could easily implement Dr. Treloar suggestion to avoid dairy products; reason being the hormones used in dairy products adversely affect skin. According to Dr. Treloar, this step alone could go a long way to clear up troubled teenage skin. One more thing, teenage acne, has been tied to low zinc. Supplements of natural zinc lozenges are inexpensive and sold at health food stores nationwide. You might also try dabbing the spots with natural 100 percent Tea Tree Oil.

Did You Know?
A compound in green tea called L-theonine has just been shown to help you focus on your daily activities and stress less.

The post Non-Medicated Ways to Zap Zits appeared first on Suzy Cohen ~ Dear Pharmacist, Inc..