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SIDE NOTES:
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New Clinic Location in Long
Island: the InnerSource community is
growing, and Drs. Pina and Peter recently leased a beautiful space in
Huntington to set up shop. Both docs will be available at the new
space. The address is:
11 Stewart Avenue
Huntington, NY 11743. Click here for
map. ClinicOPEN HOUSE and LECTURE will be May 8th and 9th
(see events below for details)
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Support Licensing of Naturopathic Medicine in New York State and change health care for the better: Visitwww.NYANP.org and
come join us in speaking to your NY legislators in Albany on LOBBY DAY,
April 28, 2009.Seeevent below.
Naturopathic Physicians in New York
are working for healthy patients every day - but we need your help to
make our state a healthier place to live by securing licensing for
Naturopathic Physicians.
The hyoid bone, a horsehoe shaped bone, is found in
the neck,and is the only bone not connected to another bone in the
body.
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articles
Hawthorne
- for a healthy heart 
by peter bongiorno nd, lac
In naturopathic and Chinese medicines, the botanical
medicine most well associated with the heart is Hawthorne, whose Latin
name is Cratageus (pictured right). Hawthorne, a member of the rose
family, is known to strengthen the heart muscle and protect the arteries
and veins. It's main use is to increase circulation to the coronary
arteries, which are the arteries that feed the heart muscle itself.
Studies of patients with heart failure have shown improvement using
Hawthorne daily. One study of 952 stage II heart failure patients found
that those who used Hawthorne in addition to their regular medications
had significantly less fatigue, difficulty breathing and palpitations.
Moreover, a number of those patients who used the Hawthorne tended to
need less medications. Hawthorne can also help gently lower blood
pressure, but may take a few weeks to take effect. It can also help
decrease side effects of beta-blocker medications and help resolve
arrythmias. On a spiritual side, hawthorne is often recommended for those
with a 'spiritual' heartache, or disconnection from one's spirit. It is
thought in native American medicine to help open the heart to forgiveness
of others or forgiveness of life events that may keep a person from
healing. Anyone on heart medications should first check with their
physician before using Hawthorne. In general, herbs are wonderful for
they contain many natural compounds that help heal on both physical and
spiritual realms. From time to time, I enjoy a little Hawthorne at night
as an extract infused into my Chamomille tea - and also in the morning
with some green tea as part of a heart- healthy ritual.
-Habs M. Heart failure treatment with and without
Hawthorne special extract. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd. 2004
Aug;11 Suppl 1:36-9
- Mitchell B. Plant Medicine in Practice. Churchill
Livingstone. p.79,134
- Tilgner S. Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the
Earth. Wise Acre Press. pp. 73-74
Chaste
Tree and hormonal balance
by pina logiudice nd, lac
Since Peter was writing about one of his favorite
herbs, I thought I would take this opportunity to share information about
an herb that I have spent time researching and using called Chaste Tree,
also known as Vitex. For many women who have challenges with menstrual
and reproductive cycles, Vitex
is an excellent natural choice to help promote normal menstrual flow.
Vitex helps normalize the pituitary gland, which is the gland in the
brain that releases follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone,
two hormones needed to properly time the release of eggs from the ovary
as well as maintain the overall menstrual cycle. It is thought that Vitex
can increase luteinizing hormone, while mildly attenuates follicle
stimulating hormone's activity, balance relative levels of progesterone
and estrogen. As a result, it can help with PMS symptoms, premenstrual
acne, cramps, amenorrhea (loss of cycle, and menopause with hot flashes.
Sometimes, I will recommend Vitex be used with Black Cohosh, another
well-known women's herb. Chaste tree is not a short-term herb, for
it can take four to six months to take full effect. One very recent
double-blind, placebo controlled multi-centered study of 217 women showed
that Chaste tree was effective in alleviating  moderate
and severe premenstrual syndrome. I have seen it help regulate women's
cycles for those who are looking to ready their body for pregnancy. With
concurrent acupuncture, results are excellent, and I hope more studies
are performed using both remedies together. While writing this article, I
was curious where the name for the plant originated. What I learned was
that past physicians noticed that the plant helped reduce unwanted libido
and thus called it "chaste." Male members clergy
also used to chew on the plant to help curb desire. Given the research
about its ability to change hormones, this may make physiologic
sense.
- He Z. et. al. Treatment for premenstrual syndrome
with Vitex agnus castus: A prospective, randomized, multi-center placebo
controlled study in China. Maturitas. 2009 Mar 6.
- Hudson T. Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine.
Keats. 1999 pp. 20-21.
upcoming lectures and
events TOP
Stress and the Digestive System
also known as "the Naturopathic Apologetics of Treating the Gut'
Where: NYU School of Medicine
When: Monday, April 13, 6 - 7p.m.
Dr. Bongiorno will be speaking with the UMDNJ medical school community
about the strong connection among the factors of digestive health,
stress, nutrition and manifestations of disease. Click here for more
details or call 718.354.7339.
Diabetes and Natural
Medicine
Natural Gourmet School - New York City
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Diabetes has become ubiquitous in our society, so it
is indeed fortunate that it can often be controlled with natural
interventions. One in eight New Yorkers have diabetes, and 25% of those
do not know they have it. Learn how to prevent and heal this condition by
natural means. Click here for more
details or visitwww.naturalgourmetschool.com to sign up.
Lobby
Day for Naturopathic Medicine
Albany, New York - the Capitol
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 9AM to 4PM
Have you been helped by naturopathic medicine? Well,
now is the chance to help naturopathic medicine in return - and change
health care in New York State for the much better. You will join us
in meetings with NY legislators to let your voice be heard. Learn about
the legislative process. Everyone who is passionate about our medicine
will be there. Healthy lunch is provided too. It is a fun
day!. Please visit www.NYANP.org for
more information
InnerSource
NEW CLINIC OPEN HOUSE May 8th and 9th
location: Our Long Island
Office at 11 Stewart Ave, Huntington, NY
Friday, May 8, 2009 - 5:30 to 8:30PM
Saturday, May 9, 2009 - 12 noon to 5PM
Please join us for an open house to celebrate our new clinic in
Huntington, Long Island. We are looking to bring a new healthy energy to
our space and would like you to be a part of it. Healthy snacks will be
plentiful. On Saturday, May 9th from noon to one pm, Dr. Pina will give a
talk about the naturopathic
pillars of health.
Cancer: Natural Methods
for Prevention and Treatment Options
Natural Gourmet School - New York City
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Dr. Bongiorno will cover risk factors for the disease,
ways to help prevent it, and what to do if diagnosed. You will leave with
a list of specific foods and lifestyle recommendations proven to reduce
cancer rates and recurrences. Click here for more
details or visitwww.naturalgourmetschool.com to sign up.
Natural Gourmet School - New York City
Monday, June 29, 2009 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Come learn how we can help our genes make great
decisions on our behalf, and how to make truly informed choices about
eating for health. Click here for more
details or visitwww.naturalgourmetschool.com to sign up.
 research TOP
Sugar Linked to Acne: A study of 50 men and
boys ages 15 to 25, all of them with acne, were studied for 12 weeks.
They gave some participants high-glycemic foods such as white bread,
sweetened cereals and pasta, and the others were given foods higher in
protein and lower on the glycemic scale, such as fish, whole-grain breads
and fruit. At the end of the study, the subjects on the low-sugar and and
low-glycemic diet had far greater reductions in skin problems and other
symptoms of acne. Those on the low glycemic diet also had lower
androgens. Androgens are male hormones similar to testosterone thought to
play a role in acneic skin.
take home message: Despite the common
conventional thought that diet plays little role in acne, it is obvious
from this study that sugar clearly affects the skin (pun intended).
Reference: Smith RN, et. al. The effect
of a high-protein, low glycemic-load diet versus a conventional, high
glycemic-load diet on biochemical parameters associated with acne
vulgaris: A randomized, investigator-masked, controlled trial.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Volume 57, Issue 2, August
2007, Pages 247-256
Vitamin
D: Low Levels May Occur in Babies and Supplementation Can Protect
Children From Type 1 Diabetes:One review shows that
vitamin D deficient mothers who breast feed may not supply adequate
vitamin D to their babies during the winter months. In these cases,
supplemental drops have been recommended by the American Academy of
Pediatrics. In another study, children given additional vitamin D were
approximately 30% less likely to have type 1 diabetes in later life
versus those not given the supplement, according to the results of a
systematic review and meta-analysis in the Archives of Disease in
Childhood. Vitamin D is necessary for not just bone health, but also
blood sugar control, mood, cancer protection and immune regulation.
take home message: It is important pre-pregnant
and pregnant moms have their vitamin D checked, and they should get out
in the sun, and eat vitamin D rich foods too, and if necessary, use a
supplement.
The Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
June 2008
Arch Dis Child. Published online March 13, 2008.
* from the upcoming book from dear friend and master
health gourmet Kristin O'Connor. To learn more about Kristin and about
more healthy cooking, please visit: KO COOKS
Ingredients:
1 cup raw buckwheat  
groats
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup peas
1 TBS sorghum flour
1 TBS ghee
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. white
pepper
How To:
In a medium saucepan, combine buckwheat groats and 2 cups of chicken
broth, bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for 20
minutes. In a small saucepan, start the rue by melting the ghee. Stirring
continuously with a whisk, stir in sorghum flour. When ghee and flour are
thoroughly
combined, gradually add 1 cup of chicken broth; continue to stir with a
whisk until mixture thickens to a
consistency of yogurt, salt and pepper. When groats are cooked, add peas
and rue, Stir to combine and serve.
This recipe is a cardiovascular delight! It will help
lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and will support those with blood sugar
imbalances.
quote
"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every
problem as a nail." -Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)
innersourcehealth information:
offices: Huntington, Long Island and
Union Square, Manhattan
legal disclaimer: please note that none of the
information provided in this newsletter nor the services of InnerSource
Natural Health and Acupuncture should be considered medical advice and is
not meant to replace or substitute the advice of a licensed physician.
Please note that under New York Education Law 8211, we advise each New
York patient as to the importance of consulting with a licensed
physician.
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