Category: Naturopathic Medicine

Is there a cure for COVID-19 (coronavirus)? Is vaccination the only answer? A few curious scientists asked themselves those questions and then performed extensive research looking for the answer. In an article published by the American Society for Microbiology; Microbiology: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Screening, the authors researched treatments due to their concerns that the pace of drug development and registration for human use was not helping in winning the war against emerging infectious diseases. They screened a library of 348 FDA-approved drugs for anti-MERS-CoV activity in cell culture. MERS-CoV is the beta coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS. They identified four top compounds with the potential to treat the coronavirus: Chloroquine, Chlorpromazine, Loperamide, and Lopinavir. Each one was able to inhibit MERS-CoV replication as well inhibit the replication of SARS coronavirus and human coronavirus. Although their protective activity (alone or in combination) remains to be assessed in animal models, their findings may offer a starting point for treatment of patients infected with zoonotic coronaviruses like MERS-CoV. Although they may not necessarily reduce viral replication to very low levels, a moderate viral load reduction can create a window of time for a human to mount a protective immune...

When people think of liver disease they usually associate it with alcohol abuse or hepatitis. But there is another, much more prevalent factor at play, and it’s becoming increasingly worrisome as trends reveal the startling truth. Statistics clearly show that children and adults in the U.S. are getting heavier and this is only predicted to increase. Being overweight does not always come with risks to health, in fact, being underweight has its own set of health risks. However, being obese is associated with conditions that can lead to chronic illness and early death. In 2007/2008 33.8% of adults over 20 years old in the U.S. were estimated to be obese, and 5.7% were extremely obese. Last year, 2019 figures from the CDC found that 36.5% of U.S. adults age 20 and older and 17% of children and adolescents aged 2–19 years were obese. Obesity is associated with the following chronic health conditions: Heart disease High blood pressure Diabetes Cancer Gall bladder disease Osteoarthritis Gout Breathing issues, such as sleep apnea   Obesity and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease A disease associated with obesity that is sometimes overlooked is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is the build-up of fatty tissue in...

A Functional medicine doctor seeks to develop a treatment plan using natural remedies based upon the patient's history, elaborate ‘functional’ lab testing and evaluation. They may examine the genetic and epigenetic factors for each patient to develop an individualized therapeutic approach that addresses these underlying factors. Do I Need a Naturopathic Doctor if my Medical Doctor Offers Functional Medicine? Yes! A Naturopathic Doctor (ND) takes a deeper look at the overall health of the patient and takes the time to find the underlying cause of a disease. ND’s do not only look at lab values and then recommend supplements or foods. A ND will take into account the patient's current health history, past history, family history and genetics, as well as comprehensive dietary evaluation and lab test results. Naturopathic doctors are considered the experts in alternatives to prescription drugs. NDs know all of the contraindications and indications for combining alternative treatments and prescriptions. They seek to balance the whole person, not just the physical body, by taking time to spend with patients. The scope of practice for ND’s varies across the USA, so it may be necessary to employ an Medical Doctor (MD) for care that the ND cannot provide...

Dr. Sasha Fluss, ND at NatureMed Clinic Boulder/Denver Thousands of people search “thyroid” each day on Google. What comes up is a confusing assortment of chat groups, conventional treatments, alternative treatments, a mix of symptoms and in general a lot of information but no real answers. The question is: Why are so many people searching for info on their thyroid health? Aren't they being treated? Cured? Shouldn't they feel better? What is the Thyroid? The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped gland that sits behind the trachea in the lower part of the neck. The thyroid is stimulated to release thyroid hormone; T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) by the pituitary gland through TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). T3 and T4 are essential for the function of every single cell in the body. T4 is the main circulating hormone and it is converted to T3 (active thyroid hormone) in the peripheral tissues. No wonder you don't feel well when your thyroid gland is malfunctioning: These thyroid hormones regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, metabolism and the rate at which food is converted into energy. Now lets define some terms: Hypothyroidism: a "low" functioning and sluggish thyroid gland. Less thyroid hormone is being released leading to: Fatigue and sluggishness Weight gain...