Category Archives: Integrative Medicine

BREVARD, N.C. (October 11, 2022) Gaia Herbs, a leading natural herbal products company in the United States, celebrates its 35th anniversary with continued dedication to its mission of connecting people, plants and planet to create healing through its Made to a Gaia Standard promise. This commitment underscores the companys focus on responsibly sourced ingredients, seed to bottle, expert formulations and industry leading testing protocols to deliver purity, potency and transparency across its professional and retail product lines.

The Gaia Herbs farm in Western North Carolina, where many of Gaia Herbs product ingredients have been sourced, was recently recognized as Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) at the Silver level by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, based on the companys dedication to sustainable farming practices that better the environment and a commitment to fair farmworker treatment.

The ROC status is a prestigious certification for food, textiles and personal care ingredients, and we are honored to be counted among other leaders meeting the highest global standards for soil health, farmworker fairness and animal welfare, said Alison Czeczuga, Director of Social Impact and Sustainability at Gaia Herbs. Our ROC farm is the heart of Gaia Herbs and demonstrates our commitment to agriculture that is future-focused and sustainablebecause the reality of the future depends on the actions of today.

Additionally, Gaia Herbs has relaunched its professional line as Gaia PRO, which features more than 30 new products, available exclusively to health care practitioners (HCPs) and their patients. More than a line of quality products, Gaia PRO is a partnership between Gaia Herbs and HCPs. Helpful for naturopathic physicians, functional and integrative medicine physicians, nutritionists, and more, Gaia PRO offers a unique suite of toolsincluding educational materials, white papers and information sessionsthat can help providers empower their patients to confidently pursue their health and wellness goals.

Product integrity has differentiated Gaia Herbs products for 35 years. Made to a Gaia Standard means that all of our supplements are held to the highest purity and potency standards in the way they are grown, harvested, manufactured and rigorously tested, said Jim Geikie, President and CEO of Gaia Herbs. There has never been a more important time to show our commitment to the science, and we believe our approach will be valued by medical professionals and discerning consumers alike. Our continued promise balances the time-honored wisdom of herbalism with the analytic rigor of todays science to deliver products made to the highest standard.

Gaia Herbs also added two new members to its Board of Directors, adding additional capabilities that will help Gaia Herbs in the future. Kyle Bliffert, the former CEO of Professional Health at Nestl USA, joined the board in June 2022. As a nutritional supplement industry veteran, Bliffert spent the past 30 years leading brands such as Nordic Naturals, Atrium Innovations, and Pure Encapsulations, lending his experience in building brands to enhance Gaia Herbs PRO line capabilities and its practitioner engagement. Bliffert will lend his expertise to Gaia Herbs strategic emphasis on Functional Medicine and the Gaia PRO line. Gaia Herbs also welcomed Gloria Goins to the Board of Directors in September 2022. Goins successfully launched new employee and business strategies at companies such as Amazon, The Home Depot, Prudential Financial and Cingular Wireless (now part of AT&T).In addition to being an innovative business partner, Goins brings exceptional experience in diversity, equity and inclusion (DE+I) initiatives, focusing on partnerships that promote health equity among underserved communities. Goins expert background in legal, Human Resources, Marketing, and DE+I at blue chip companies will strengthen Gaia Herbs overall governance. The addition of Bliffert and Goins to the Gaia Herbs Board of Directors demonstrates the companys commitment to learning from industry experts and to continuously evolving its products to better serve its customers.

About Gaia Herbs

For 35 years, Gaia Herbs has been connecting people, plants and planet to create healing, as a leading herbal brand inNorth America.Embodying their Made to a Gaia Standard promise, the company is devoted to creating the highest-quality health and wellness products, assured for purity, potency and integrity. The company offers more than 200 herbal products, including liquid extracts, functional powders, gummies, teas, patented Liquid Phyto-Caps and a pipeline of unprecedented potential botanical supplements. Gaia Herbs Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) farm is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains ofWestern North Carolina, where the company uses regenerative agriculture methods to sustainably grow more than three million plants each year and leverages its ISO-certified laboratory to determine the prime harvest and extraction timingwhen the phytochemicals are at their peakto ensure optimum purity and potency. Gaia Herbs introduced the world's first herb traceability program,meetyourherbs.com, sharing complete transparency around the testing and sourcing of its products. The company is proud to be recognized as a Blue Zones Workplaceand a Certified B Corporation using business as a force for good. Learn more atgaiaherbs.comand join in the conversation onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedIn andInstagram.

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Gaia Herbs celebrates 35 year legacy with coveted sustainability certification and Gaia PRO launch - EurekAlert

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- World Mental Health Awareness Day -- The Chopra Foundation, through its mental health initiative, Never Alone, and NFTs for Good start-up, Seva.Love, are joining forces with The Girl Generation the world's largest collective of organizations working together to end Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in a global campaign to end gender-based violence and empower those who are survivors or at-risk of FGM/C with the education, tools and mental-health resources to navigate and overcome the societal, emotional, spiritual and physical complexities of this issue.

FGM/C refers to the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons, and worse still, it is often performed without anesthesia or proper aftercare. It is estimated that more than 200+ million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and that 7 girls are cut every minute.

Dr. Leyla Hussein, Global Advocacy Director and Deputy Team Leader for The Girl Generation and FGM Survivor, shared that "this partnership is extremely critical as it demonstrates that: we will show up for African Girls, FGM is violence and leaves long life physical and emotional scars, and lastly, that we are ready for a Global movement that will end FGM."

Despite the nauseating frequency of this practice, FGM/C continues to live in the shadows and receives hardly any representation at the global level. This is what our collaboration intends to change, launching just in time for Mental Health Awareness Day (Oct 10th) and International Day of the Girl (Oct 11th) with a festival in Kenya, Africa intended to educate girls, women, men, change-makers and creatives from across five African countries on this issue. The event will also introduce them to the use of practices such as meditation, yoga, breathing, self-reflection and art as not only an outlet for pain, but also as tools for transcending traumatic experiences.

Dr. Chopra says it best: "FGM is a relic of barbaric times. There should be no tolerance for this procedure, and it needs to be a criminal offense wherever it continues to be practiced. The Chopra Foundation is committed to raising awareness around this brutal custom and eliminating it for all of time."

Alongside our on-the-ground efforts, the Chopra Foundation, Never Alone and Seva.Love will be deploying a long-term awareness and fundraising campaign over the next year intended to ignite a global dialogue around this issue, while simultaneously raising the funds needed to tackle it in a meaningful way by rallying the web3 community. Through this holistic approach, we intend to dismantle the structures that enable FGM/C to exist and to provide survivors and those at risk with the tools and resources needed to live safe, healthy lives now and for generations to come.

Poonacha Machaiah, CEO the Chopra Foundation and Seva.Love, asserted that "we must make every effort to eradicate this inhumane practice. Millions have already been traumatized by FGM, and this practice must end."

Actress, Humanitarian, and Never Alone Initiative co-founder, Gabriella Wright, reflected that "we owe it to our future generations to take care of each other NOW. Let's break this cycle of trauma for a global collective healing that can sustain humanity and the planet. Everyone matters in this journey."

The Chopra Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization (#36-4793898) dedicated to improving health and well-being, cultivating spiritual knowledge, expanding consciousness, and promoting world peace to all members of the human family. The Foundation's Never Alone movement will be providing the world with the tools to proactively pursue their path to joy and freedom from suffering.

Seva.Love is the metaverse for wellbeing initiative that has been founded by technology entrepreneur Poonacha Machaiah and world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine, personal transformation and NY Times bestselling author Deepak Chopra, MD. Seva.Love is championing wellbeing and social impact in Web3 by curating leading artists, influencers, wellbeing experts and creating conscious communities.

The Girl Generation (TGG)-Support to the Africa Led Movement to End FGM/C Programme (ALM), is a consortium led by Options Consultancy Services and includes Amref Health Africa, ActionAid, Orchid Project, Africa Coordination Centre for Abandonment of FGM/C and University of Portsmouth. It works closely with the Population Council's Data Hub, the programme's data and measurement arm. The programme envisions a world where girls and women can exercise their power and rights and have expanded choice and agency and be free from violence, including FGM/C. The programme is being implemented in four (4) countries in Africa - Kenya, Ethiopia, Somaliland, and Senegal.

SOURCE The Chopra Foundation

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The Chopra Foundation and its Never Alone Initiative, partner with the tech-based social impact start-up, Seva.Love, and The Girl Generation to Launch...

Rumor has it that eating too many tomatoes causes inflammation in the body, which can lead to arthritis symptoms. But are tomatoes really to blame? Should everyone with arthritis swear off the vegetable (or fruit, depending on who you ask)? Good thing you asked because its time to officially debunk this myth.

Arthritis is the degeneration and inflammation of the joints that causes uncomfortable symptoms like joint swelling, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. There isnt a cure for arthritis, but diet *can* play a major role in mitigating inflammation and managing symptoms, says Melinda Ring, MD, an integrative medicine physician at Northwestern Medicine.

Certain foods are more likely to trigger inflammation in the body, she says. And while the foods you do or do not eat won't cure or eliminate all your arthritis troubles, they can make an impact.

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Read on to see what foods pass the inflammation test, and if tomatoes are in or out.

In short, no. There is really minimal scientific data that supports the elimination of tomatoes, or nightshades, by looking at inflammation markers or symptoms, says Dr. Ring. It is not an across the board statement that nobody with arthritis should eat them, because in fact, nightshade vegetables are rich in lots of really healthy phytonutrients.

So, why do tomatoes get such a bad rep? Nightshades, which are a family of plants including tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplant, naturally produce a toxin called solanine, which is long believed to trigger inflammation and joint pain. But there is actually no scientific or medical link between the two. Instead, studies actually show that tomatoes can reduce systemic inflammation, and that solanine does not directly cause inflammation in humans. It's true purpose: to protect plants against animals and harmful fungi.

That being said, people do have individual sensitivities or intolerances to different foods, and tomatoes can potentially trigger arthritis symptoms in some, says Dr. Ring. If you find your joints are extra sore, swollen, or stiff after eating tomatoes (or any food for that matter), try an elimination diet.

If someone wants to see if they have a reaction to a food, including the nightshade category, eliminate [a specific food] for a couple of weeks, says Dr. Ring. Then, add it back into your diet, and see if you notice a different response in terms of pain.

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In other words, if arthritis symptoms disappear or lessen with the elimination of nightshades, it might be your bodys way of telling you to scale back.

Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder, but if you experience an immediate or severe reaction to a specific food, its time to check-in with your doctor or an allergist. Severe allergies or anaphylactic reactions to nightshades are rare, but if you have trouble breathing, or experience throat swelling or difficulty swallowing, stop eating immediately and seek medical care.

Simply put, yes. Sugar, processed foods, alcohol, charred foods, meats, additives, and gluten can cause inflammatory responses and can sometimes be avoided to minimize arthritis symptoms, says Dr. Ring.

But dont panic! Certain foods can trigger an inflammatory response for some and not others, so there is not one cure-all eating plan. However, a good rule of thumb for someone with arthritis is a plant-forward, Mediterranean diet, that focuses on whole and not processed foods, stresses Dr. Ring.

Certain foods can also help quench inflammation, she says, including foods that are rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seeds, chia seeds, and fish like salmon and sardines, along with vegetables and fruits are rich in antioxidants also help with inflammation in the body, she says. In addition, turmeric, ginger, green tea, and fermented foods have also been shown to promote a healthy gut, support the body, and lower chronic inflammation, she explains.

But remember that not everyone reacts the same to all foods, and eating habits are extremely personalized. Ultimately, food should still be something that somebody enjoys and sees as pleasurable and nourishing, says Dr. Ring. While we should always be striving to improve our diet, we should also enjoy the food we eat.

Andi Breitowich is a Chicago-based writer and graduate student at Northwestern Medill. Shes a mass consumer of social media and cares about womens rights, holistic wellness, and non-stigmatizing reproductive care. As a former collegiate pole vaulter, she has a love for all things fitness and is currently obsessed with Peloton Tread workouts and hot yoga.

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Are Tomatoes Bad For Arthritis? Here's What An MD Has To Say - Women's Health

Research suggests that when conventional medicine and integrative health treatments are practiced in tandem, cancer patients win. The multidisciplinary team at Columbias Center for Comprehensive Wellness puts that science into practice. The center offers treatments such as acupuncture and massage to support children with cancer and cancer patients of all ages during their treatment with chemotherapy and radiation.

Theres more evidence now than ever before that integrative treatment, as a support to essential conventional care, is a safe, effective approach to oncology care, says Elena J. Ladas, PhD, RD, the center's co-director. Integrative treatment, in combination with conventional medicine, gives patients the best quality of life.

Integrative health, also known as integrative medicine, is an approach to health care once referred to as alternative. In recent years, scientific research helped move such treatments as massage, acupuncture, nutrition, and exercise counseling into the mainstream.

One of the center's early studies found that treatment with milk thistle, a hepatoprotectant, can reduce toxic effects of chemotherapy on the liver. (Hepato means liver). Several studiesfound that acupuncture is an effective treatment for pain and chemotherapy-related nausea vomiting. The center's researchers also found acupuncture is safe among patients with severe immunosuppression or low platelet counts due to the cancer treatments.

Health professionals like Ladas and her team see the benefits of partnering different forms of medicinelike offering acupuncture alongside chemotherapyto best benefit patients. It's a benefit patients recognize: More than 80% of Columbias pediatric oncology patients take advantage of the integrative care. And they all come back for more, says Ladas, even when theyre off cancer therapy.

Our patients report integrative therapies help them with a variety of side effects related to cancer treatment," she says, such as pain, anxiety, insomnia, neuropathy, constipation, nausea/vomiting, and even excessive weight gain secondary to prolonged exposure to steroids.

Because of private donations, patients receive treatment for free. Its vital to the programs success, says Ladas, noting the economic diversity of patients. If these services werent free, people simply would not get them. This program brings wellness to all patients, irrespective of their ability to obtain or pay for integrative services. We view it as health equity; everyone should have the chance for as good a quality of life as possible while enduring treatment for cancer.

The center created the first integrative health program for children with cancer, a natural fit for Columbias Center for Comprehensive Wellness, because multidisciplinary careusing every available resourceis how most pediatric oncologists operate to lessen the pain experienced by their patients. (The survival rate for the most common pediatric cancers exceeds 80%.)

Our patients receive care in a soothing and welcoming atmosphere; they even sometimes look forward to coming in for treatment, says Luca Szalontay, MD, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Seeing their loved one relax puts caretakers at ease, too, and allows doctors to focus on medical needs. The result is an unmistakably palpable change in the well-being of patients, their caretakers, and our medical workers, says Szalontay. Everyone wins.

At Columbia, integrative health professionals are a part of the patients comprehensive care team. Integrative health professionals attend medical rounds with physicians and nurses and make clinical recommendations in medical charts. Everyone in contact with a patient shares knowledge and updateseach aware of what another is doing.

The treatments used by Columbias Center for Comprehensive Wellness are based on the latest scientific research, and the center is also a leader in conducting scientific research about integrative treatments. The field has really come around, says Ladas. Its advanced, but we have a long way to go.

Current research projects at the center include studies on:

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At Columbia, Integrative Therapy for Children with Cancer Is Mainstream - Columbia University Irving Medical Center

The Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine report is an in-depth examination of the global Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine's general consumption structure, development trends, sales techniques, and top nations' sales. The research looks at well-known providers in the global Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine industry, as well as market segmentation, competition, and the macroeconomic climate. A complete Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine analysis takes into account a number of aspects, including a country's population and business cycles, as well as market-specific microeconomic consequences. The global market research also includes a specific competition landscape section to help you better understand the Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine industry. This information can help stakeholders make educated decisions before investing."The recession is going to come very badly . Please get to know your market RIGHT NOW with an extremely important information."

The global complementary and alternative medicine market size was valued at USD 82.27 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.03% from 2021 to 2028.

Leading players of Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine including:

Arab Yoga Foundation (AYF), Soul Warrior, Sukoun, Aura Wellness, Intouch Clinic, Landmark Fitness Ltd., Osana Family Wellness, Cairo Osteopathy, Blue Tree Clinics, House of Nature Medical Center, Zen Yoga, Salmiya SKY Meditation Centre, Jordan Chiropractic & Acupuncture

Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @ https://www.mraccuracyreports.com/report-sample/496004

The report is classified into multiple sections which consider the competitive environment, latest market events, technological developments, countries and regional details related to the Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The section that details the pandemic impact, the recovery strategies, and the post-pandemic market performance of each actor is also included in the report. The key opportunities that may potentially support the Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine are identified in the report. The report specifically focuses on the near term opportunities and strategies to realize its full potential. The uncertainties that are crucial for the market players to understand are included in the Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine report.

As a result of these issues, the Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine industry has been hampered. Because of the industry's small number of important enterprises, the Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine area is heavily targeted. Customers would benefit from this research since they would be informed about the current Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine scenario. The most recent innovations, product news, product variants, and in-depth updates from industry specialists who have effectively leveraged Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine position are all included in this research study. Many firms would benefit from Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine research study in identifying and expanding their global demand. Micro and macro trends, important developments, and their usage and penetration across a wide variety of end-users are also included in the Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine segment.

The market analysis done with statistical tools also helps to analyze many aspects that include the demand, supply, storage costs, maintenance, profit, sales, and production details of the market. Furthermore, the global Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine research report provides the details about the Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine share, import volume, export volume, and the gross margin of the companies.

Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine Segmentation by Type:

Traditional Alternative Medicine & Botanicals, Mind Healing, Body Healing, Sensory Healing.

Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine Segmentation by Application:

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), Obesity, Diabetes, Infertility

Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine report answers some key questions:

What is the expected growth of global Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine after covid-19 vaccine or treatment is found? What are the new business practices that can be implemented post-pandemic to remain competitive, agile, customer-centric, and collaborative in the global Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine? Which specific sectors are expected to drive growth in the global Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine? What are key government policies and interventions implemented by leading global Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine countries to help further adoption or growth of Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine . How have the market players or the leading global Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine firms have addressed the challenges faced during the pandemic? What growth opportunities the global Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine offers?Access full Report Description, TOC, Table of Figure, Chart, etc. @ https://www.mraccuracyreports.com/reportdetails/reportview/496004

Highlights of the Report:

The report provides Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine industry demand trends in Q1 and Q2 2021. Individual circumstances of the Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine segments are discussed in the report. The report contains forward-looking information on risks and uncertainties. The report studies the consumer-focused sectors of the Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The trade scenarios of the products and services in particular segments are detailed in the report along with regulation, taxes, and tariffs. The trends that are impacting the Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine for past few years are discussed in the report. The report studies the potential impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine industry economy and performance of the market players in the same context.Table of Content:

1 Scope of the Report1.1 Market Introduction1.2 Research Objectives1.3 Years Considered1.4 Market Research Methodology1.5 Economic Indicators1.6 Currency Considered2 Executive Summary3 Global Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Players4 Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Regions4.1 Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine Size by Regions4.2 Americas Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine Size Growth4.3 APAC Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine Size Growth4.4 Europe Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine Size Growth4.5 Middle East & Africa Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine Size Growth5 Americas6 APAC7 Europe8 Middle East & Africa9 Market Drivers, Challenges and Trends9.1 Market Drivers and Impact9.1.1 Growing Demand from Key Regions9.1.2 Growing Demand from Key Applications and Potential Industries9.2 Market Challenges and Impact9.3 Market Trends10 Global Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine Forecast11 Key Players Analysis12 Research Findings and Conclusion

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Integrative Health or Complementary and Alternative Medicine Market Size and Forecast to 2029 -Arab Yoga Found - openPR

If you want to jump on the mushrooms-as-medicine trend, you may consider talking with your doctor or an integrative registered dietician about lions mane. This large, white, shaggy fungus has been part of medicinal culture in East Asia for centuries, used historically as both food and medicine for a variety of health concerns.

The beneficial compounds can be found in the lions mane fruiting bodies (the part that contains spores) and mycelium (the root-like structure), says Monique Richard, RDN, an integrative dietitian nutritionist in Johnson City, Tennessee, and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The fruiting bodies and mycelium contain many active ingredients. Namely, polysaccharides, erinacines, hericerins, steroids, alkaloids, and lactones, according to Lindsay Delk, RDN, a registered dietitian-nutritionist in Houston who specializes in the connection between food and mental health. These ingredients may explain the many possible health and wellness benefits of lions mane, which range from heart health to immune support.

However, its important to note: Although there is increased interest in lion's mane for a variety of health conditions, unfortunately there is only very limited research in humans. Here are studies, mostly performed in the lab, that may pique your interest and show some theoretical benefits of the shroom. More studies in humans are needed to substantiate these possible human-health benefits, so keep this in mind.

Lions mane mushrooms contain hericenones and erinacines, two compounds that can stimulate the growth of brain cells in lab studies, per past research. In theory, this may have beneficial effects on people with brain conditions.

Past research studied the effects of lions mane supplementation on brain function in a group of middle-aged and older adults who had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Mayo Clinic describes MCI as the stage between the normal cognitive decline that comes with aging and the more severe decline of dementia. The study found that adults who took four 250 milligram (mg) tablets of lions mane three times a day for 16 weeks showed a significant boost in cognitive function compared with those who didnt. However, these benefits didnt continue once people stopped supplementation.

A more recent study, published in June 2020 in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, found that taking three 350 mg capsules of lions mane daily for 49 weeks may have helped lead to significant improvements in brain health in people with mild Alzheimers disease.

Still, additional research is needed.

Properties of lion's mane have been shown to support the digestive tract. In particular, lions mane may help prevent ulcers by stopping the growth of Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria that can have negative effects on gut lining, Richard says.

The authors of a study published in 2019 in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms gave lions mane extract to a group of mice with H. pylori. Those that were treated with lions mane had lower levels of H. pylori in their stomachs than mice that didnt receive the extract.

A test-tube study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology also revealed that lions mane inhibited the growth of H. pylori.

While these results may appear promising, human research is needed to substantiate this benefit.

Lions mane may also protect the intestines from inflammation and inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease, Richard says.

A study in patients with ulcerative colitis,published in March 2016 in PLoS One, found that those who took a supplement containing 14 percent lions mane extract reported improved symptoms and quality of life after three weeks.

That said, in research published in July 2016 inPLoS One, the authors repeated this study with Crohns patients, and both the treatment and the placebo group saw similar improvements.

According to Delk, lions mane decreases inflammation, which may help relieve depression and anxiety.

She names one study, published in 2019 in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, in which overweight and obese patients with mood disorders were given lions mane supplements for eight weeks. Not only did these patients experience decreased depression and anxiety symptoms, but they also reported improvements in sleep quality. Blood samples also showed increases in pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF), a protein that plays an important role in mood and brain health.

In a past study, women with nonspecific health complaints and diseases were given four cookies containing 0.5 grams of powdered lions mane daily for four weeks. Those who received lions mane cookies reported feeling less irritation and anxiety by the end of the study compared with women who received placebo cookies.

One limitation to this study is that it included only 30 women. Larger studies are needed to show how these findings might help with anxiety, and to see how lions mane compares or combines with mainstream therapies for anxiety, like meditation and talk therapy.

Research in animals suggests that lions mane may strengthen the immune system, helping protect against bacteria, viruses, and other harmful substances.

A past study found that daily lions mane supplements extended the lifespan of mice injected with a hefty dose of salmonella bacteria by nearly 4 times more than mice that didnt receive supplements.

A study published in February 2017 in Food & Function found that lions mane mushroom boosted activity in the intestinal immune system in mice. The intestinal immune system works to protect the body from harmful substances that make their way to the gut via the mouth or nose.

As the authors of a study published in June 2017 in Frontiers in Immunology explained, these effects may be partly due to beneficial changes in gut bacteria that activate the immune system.

However, most of the research has been done in animals thus far; human studies will hopefully show how lions mane might help the immune system.

Lions mane has several unique compounds that may help fight cancer.

According to a study published in August 2020 in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, polysaccharide HEFP-2b, a compound in lions mane, slowed the growth of colon cancer cells in a test tube.

Another test-tube study, published in May 2020 in Food and Function Journal, demonstrated that peptides found in lions mane may help treat lung cancer. Researchers found that these peptides have the ability to capture free radicals (harmful substances linked with cancer) and trigger the death of cancerous lung cells.

But while these findings are promising, the anti-cancer effects of lions mane have only been studied in test tubes and animals. Human studies are needed.

Lions mane may improve blood sugar control and symptoms like nerve pain, making it a potentially helpful tool for diabetes management.

For example, a test-tube study published in November 2020 in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that several compounds in lions mane prevented alpha-glucosidase activity. In this way, lions mane may work similarly to alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs), a group of antidiabetic medications used to manage type 2 diabetes. AGIs limit the absorption of carbohydrates from the small intestine, helping lower the rise in blood sugar following a meal, according to a July 2022 article in StatPearls.

Whats more, a study in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicinerevealed that feeding diabetic rats 40 mg of lions mane per kilogram of body weight significantly increased their pain threshold after six week of treatment. This suggests that lions mane may offer pain relief for diabetic neuropathy, a type of diabetic nerve damage that can cause pain and numbness in the legs and feet.

However, people with diabetes who are taking medication to control their blood sugar levels should approach lions mane with caution. Lions mane may interact with diabetes treatments, Richard says, causing blood sugar levels to drop too low.

In addition, most of the research in diabetes has been done in animals and test tubes so far more studies in humans may show if lions mane can help with diabetes.

Research suggests that lions mane may lower your risk of heart disease, mainly through its effects on cholesterol.

For example, a test-tube study published in BioMed Research International found that lions mane extract may help prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the bloodstream, which is beneficial for overall heart health.

Meanwhile, previous research evaluated lions manes cholesterol-lowering effects. Researchers fed lions mane to obese rats once a day for two weeks. By the end of the study, these rats showed significantly lower levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (also known as bad cholesterol), and triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood) than rats that werent given lions mane.

Despite these findings, Michelle Routhenstein, RDN, a preventive cardiology dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist at Entirely Nourished in New York City, doesnt recommend using lions mane to prevent or treat heart disease. Its not supported by human studies and the safety and side effects havent been studied either, she explains.

There are safer, more effective ways to prevent heart disease through your diet, under the care of your primary physician, Routhenstein adds.

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Potential Health Benefits of Lion's Mane Mushroom - Everyday Health

Now 34, Anna* has been on and off anti-anxiety medications since she was 21. By the time she met with a new physician three years ago, she felt like she had tried everything. Every medication I took gave me terrible side effects, she says. Headaches, nausea, sleep disturbances, low sex drive, and even full-blown panic attacks were part of Annas daily life. After a while, she succumbed to the idea that she had to deal with side effects if she didnt want to have anxiety. But as I got older and I talked to more people who were also suffering from anxiety, she says, I realized that living with those side effects shouldnt be necessary.

About 18 percent of adults in the U.S. suffer from anxiety disorders each year, making them the most common form of mental illness. Only 37 percent of those receive treatment, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America. For Anna, the problem wasnt getting treatment but finding one that worked. After her daughter was born, Annas symptoms became worse. I couldnt continue taking the medication I was on once I became pregnant because it wasnt safe, she says.

For a time, hoping to leave behind the medications and their side effects, she tried combating her anxiety by increasing exercise and meditation. But that natural approach only helped a little bit. Eventually, she went back on prescription medication. Once again, the cycle of side effects began. Some days were better than others, but she was never completely free of them, making her feel like she had to accept that this was her version of normal.

But that was debilitating. Something as simple as going grocery shopping could bring on a panic attack. In addition, her anxiety was standing in the way of being the best mom she could be to her daughter because it was paralyzing her. She knew she needed to do somethingabout the anxiety and the side effects she was experiencing.

The GeneSight test gave Annas clinician information to help inform medication selection that better treated her anxiety.

Over time, Anna became more vocal with her physician about her concerns. At first, [the doctor] said, I dont think its the medications; I think youre just too anxious, Anna recalls, which only made her feel worse. Finally, when Anna made it clear she wasnt willing to continue with the current medication or try another one, her physician suggested a genetic test called the GeneSight test. I was a little hesitant at first, says Anna. But as soon as I learned that the test only required a cheek swab, I was completely comfortable with it.

The GeneSight test analyzes variations in a patients genes to determine how the body may metabolize or respond to certain medications that treat depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other psychiatric disorders. Metabolism is the process by which medications are broken down in the body. The GeneSight test provides your clinician with information about which medications may require dose adjustments, may be less likely to work for you or may have an increased risk of side effects based on your genetic makeup.

When medications are broken down at faster rates, your body may not accumulate enough to alleviate symptoms, says Robin Miller, MD, the medical director of Triune Integrative Medicine in Medford, Oregon, who has ordered the GeneSight test for many of her patients over the past seven years. But if a medication is broken down at a slower rate than normal, you may have too much at any given time, which may lead to side effects.

The test can be taken in a doctors office or self-administered at home, but must be ordered by a healthcare provider who can prescribe medication. The sample is sent to the GeneSight lab for analysis, and test results are sent to the provider in about two days. Many insurance companies will help cover the cost, and 95 percent of patients pay $330 or less for their GeneSight test.

Even with its unique ability to provide insight on how a patients body may break down or respond to a specific psychiatric drug, the GeneSight test is not intended to be used solely to determine treatment. There are so many factors that can affect your mood, and there are so many factors that can affect how medications work, Dr. Miller says. As an integrative medicine physician, she recommends a holistic approach to finding the best treatment. I try to get my patients to clean up their diet and exercise, and I talk about the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy, where they can discuss past experiences and traumas that can affect anxiety and depression, she explains. She considers the GeneSight test to be one part of figuring out an overall treatment plan.

Once your doctor receives the test results, medications are placed into one of three categories: Red for significant gene-drug interactions; yellow for moderate gene-drug interactions; and green for medications that the body is expected to metabolize or respond to normally based on a patients genetics.

According to her results, Annas body metabolizes certain psychiatric medications slowly, causing horrible side effects. Receiving reassurance that [the side effects were a result of] how my own body was reacting [and metabolizing] and not my anxiety made me feel so much better, she says. I thought I was being difficult, or I was strange and the anxiety was getting the best of me. I did not realize it had to do with my body. The test revealed that the two medications in her green category were ones shed never taken before.

Within two weeks of being on the new medication, her side effects were gone. I felt instant gratification and relief knowing I had found something that will work for me, Anna says.

The GeneSight test has changed how I view medicine, she says. I used to feel like a guinea pig, and that [my doctors] were just kind of guessing. This sort of tool can really help guide them. Its so beneficial for everyone, for doctors as well as patientsespecially, anyone nervous to put anything in their body. I wish I had known about it a long time ago and I tell so many people now.

Today Anna finds her anxiety is much more manageable. I used to have panic and anxiety attacks every day at work and when I was with my daughter out in public, but now its very rare that I have one, she says. Im a lot more laid back, less on edge, and more of a people person. With a clearer understanding of how her body processes and responds to certain medications, Annas no longer worried about her futureand thats a huge relief.

*To protect her privacy, only the patients first name was used in this story.

The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors.

More:
How I Finally Found A Way To Manage My Anxiety - Women's Health

Treatments for psoriasis fall into four categories: topicals, phototherapy, systemics and complementary or integrative medicine, according to the NPF. The choice of therapy depends on the severity of the disease, says Dr. Green.

Topical treatments are creams applied directly to the affected area, slowing the rapid production of skin cells and reducing inflammation. The most common topical medications are topical steroids, which contain an anti-inflammatory ingredient to heal swelling and redness and usually require a prescription from your doctor. However, topical steroids cant be used in some areas because they may cause side effects like bruising, pigmentation and redness.

In 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new, nonsteroidal topical cream for adults for the first time in 25 years called tapinarof. Patients can use this treatment from head to toe without any limitations, which is great for those who have mild to moderate psoriasis, says Dr. Green.

The FDA has also approved several over-the-counter topical treatments for psoriasis, such as lotions, shampoos, tars and bath foams that often contain coal tar and salicylic acid.

Phototherapy is a type of light therapy that a dermatologist may prescribe if topical treatments are ineffective. This therapy involves regularly exposing the skin to ultraviolet (UV) light, particularly UVB light. UVB rays are found in natural sunlight and slow the growth of skin cells.

There are several types of phototherapy, and its most effective when patients receive therapy at least two to five times a week for several weeks, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD). Phototherapy is not prescribed for patients with skin cancer or in the case of any condition or medication that makes them more sensitive to UV light.

Systemic treatments are prescription drugs taken orally or through an injection or infusion and are usually prescribed when topicals and phototherapy are unsuccessful. These drugs, known as biologics or biosimilars, work throughout the body to target specific molecules inside immune cells and correct the overactive immune response causing psoriasis flares.

Biologics and biosimilars include medicines that come from live organisms, including animal cells and microorganisms like yeast and bacteria. Both treatments are highly regulated by the FDA and deemed by the organization to be safe and effective.

The best way to prevent psoriasis flares is to follow your dermatologists treatment recommendations, moisturize well and avoid trauma to the skin. Lowering stress can also help, says Dr. Stevenson.

The AAD suggests practicing stress-relieving activities, such as yoga, meditation and attending support groups. Lifestyle changes like reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, avoiding skin exposure to dry, cold weather, treating infections and avoiding cutting yourself while shaving can also help prevent flares. Dietary considerations, such as increasing fruits and vegetables and avoiding foods that are high in fat, sugars, sodium and meat as well as limiting processed foods, may play an important role in minimizing psoriasis symptoms, according to an article in Immunity.

Read the original post:
What Is Psoriasis And Can It Be Treated? - Forbes

Four candidates running for two seats on the U-M Board of Regents in the Nov. 8 general election made their case at an Oct. 3 forum hosted by the Faculty Senate.

Participating were incumbent Democrats Michael J. Behm and Katherine E. White, Republican Sevag Vartanian and Green Party candidate Sherry Wells. The event took place in the Alexander G. Ruthven Buildings University Hall and was livestreamed on YouTube.

Faculty Senate Chair Silvia Pedraza introduced each of the candidates and allowed each one a five-minutes statement.

Behm, who was elected in 2014, described advancements made by the board during his term. He referenced strides regarding labor, carbon neutrality and investment in the Flint and Dearborn campuses. Behm said he hopes to continue to work to establish trust between the campus and administration, and create an environment of safety on campus.

In the last eight years of the university, weve had a combination of challenges and advancements, he said. There are huge issues and I feel as though the board has tackled them well, and theres a lot more to deal with.

White, who was first elected in 1998 and is seeking her fourth eight-year term, emphasized her qualifications and experience. As the only member of the board with a background in academia, the military, and science and engineering, White said she would bring a unique perspective.

Everyone who teaches, theres something about that profession that really opens your heart, and it gives me great passion to go to work every day, White said, citing her position as a tenured law professor at Wayne State University.

Wells said she thinks the board should be imbued with new ideas and opinions.

The advantage of being new to the University of Michigan in so many ways is that I use my attorney skills: listening, learning, researching, and legislating and administering, she said. I definitely would be bringing more of a common person to the table, and I invite you to give me that opportunity.

Vartanian said his experience in the banking sector would be helpful when dealing with the universitys large endowment. He said he has ideas about better ways to put the money to use to help the university.

As a regent, every question that gets raised I will look through the lens: Is this good for the students? Is this good for the faculty and staff? And is it good for the reputation of the University of Michigan? he said.

Pedraza then moderated a question-and-answer session consisting of questions submitted in advance by faculty members.

Gary Hammer, Millie Schembechler Professor of Adrenal Cancer and professor of internal medicine, molecular and integrative physiology, and cell developmental biology in the Medical School, asked the candidates about womens reproductive rights and if they plan to support freedom of choice on campus.

Behm, White and Wells all expressed their support of reproductive rights and a womans right to choose.

Vartanian pointed to a proposed constitutional amendment, also on the Nov. 8 ballot, that seeks to codify abortions rights in Michigan. My views on reproductive rights are irrelevant, he said. If our fellow Michiganders decide that we do want to have abortion in the state, then yes, I will make sure that we all can comply with the law.

Aileen Das, associate professor of classical studies, Middle East studies, Judaic studies and history in LSA, asked how the candidates would respond to COVID-19 concerns on campus regarding the lack of masking, particularly in classrooms.

While Vartanian said individuals need to decide for themselves whether to wear masks, Wayne State still requires masks in classrooms and labs, and Wells said she finds it ironic and hard to understand why U-M has a looser stance.

Behm and White referenced the Centers for Disease Controls guidelines and the universitys adherence to protocol and scientific studies about the vaccine. Behm said the advantages of online learning continue to help students.

Theres that old saying, Out of crisis comes opportunity. I think weve learned quite a few things through the pandemic about how to deliver teaching, he said.

Asked how they would expand access for Flint and Dearborn campuses, Behm and White noted the importance of wraparound services. Based on his interactions with students across the campuses, Behm said the greatest need is child care and solid transportation to and from school.

Vartanian spoke about helping students find summer internships and employment opportunities, and Wells explained her idea for students from the Flint and Dearborn campuses to spend a semester at the Ann Arbor campus.

Tom Braun, professor of biostatistics in the School of Public Health, asked how the candidates planned to increase diversity on campus.

Behm advocated for programs that identify high-achieving students at a young age, Wells supported dropping standardized test requirements, and Vartanian detailed a summer program to bring students of color into the science, technology, engineering and math fields.

White added, A lot of times the University of Michigan and other universities, their admissions office relies very heavily on high school counselors recommendations. A lot of counselors have a lot of biases. We have to work hard to make sure were getting counselors that do see all potential for students across the board.

Finally, the candidates were asked about their support for unionized workers considering many U-M workers are represented by a labor union.

While Behm, Wells and White voiced their support for unions, Vartanian said that each issue would need to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.

Regents are elected for eight years and serve staggered terms, with two seats up for election every two years.

Other candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot, but who did not participate in the forum, are Republican Lena Epstein, Libertarian Eric Larson, Kathleen Oakford of the Natural Law Party, and Joe Sanger of the U.S. Taxpayers Party.

Read more from the original source:
Regent candidates discuss their ideas at Faculty Senate forum | The University Record - The University Record

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--News Direct--

Joining initiatives announced by the administration at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) and its partner, the Miraglo Foundation, are committing to pledge nearly $4.5 million for health provider education, joining more than $8 billion pledged by other aligned business entities, civic organizations, academic institutions, and philanthropic leaders to end hunger and to reduce nutrition-related disease by 2030.

The two organizations have been in conversation with the White House and are aligning in support of the United States Department of Health and Human Services federal programming and coordination efforts related to food and nutrition insecurity and nutrition-related diseases. Specifically, the White House's plan to end hunger and reduce nutrition-related disease by 2030, and programming outlined by the federal government around integrating nutrition and health, as well as, empowering all consumers to make and have access to healthy choices.

AIHM and the Miraglo Foundation, under the leadership of Mimi Guarneri, MD, FACC, ABOIM, and Founding President of AIHM, have committed to fundraising $4.5 million for 10,000 scholarships in fundamental nutrition education and 60 scholarships for the AIHM integrative health fellowship program for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers. The AIHM 1000-hour fellowship program offers an inter-professional and comprehensive understanding of integrative health and medicine, which includes clinical nutrition education. AIHM's leadership and board are also committing in-kind hours supporting this commitment and the White House's new strategies.

''We are fully committed to providing access to programs that improve nutrition and healthy lifestyle education for health care providers, including macro and micro nutrition, physical activity, sleep restoration, connection and community, and resilience," said Tabatha Parker, Executive Director, AIHM. "We believe that healthcare will not transform to a model that focuses on lifestyle solutions for chronic disease without the training of healthcare providers and the education of health to consumers," states Dr. Guarneri, AIHM Founding president.

AIHM and the Miraglo Foundation commit to fundraising for scholarships worldwide and providing access to programs that complement conventional medical education for healthcare professionals. The two entities envision more healthcare schools with programs addressing these gaps in education.

For more information, or if you'd like to support AIHM and the Miraglo Foundation's commitment, please go to http://www.aihm.org or http://www.miraglofoundation.org.

About AIHM

Founded in 1978, the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) is the leading interprofessional organization for traditional, complementary, and integrative health practitioners worldwide. In 2021, AIHM merged with the Academic Collaborative of Integrative Health (ACIH). Together, they are working to advance integrative health on a global scale and transform health and wellness through education, leadership, collaboration, research, and advocacy.

About Miraglo Foundation

The Miraglo Foundation is a California-based 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity founded in 2011 by two pioneering integrative healthcare providers, Mimi Guarneri, MD and Rauni Prittinen King, RN, MIH after years of traveling to impoverished communities around the world. "We found out that the only way to make an impact on people's lives is by training existing healthcare providers in healthy lifestyles and serving underserved communities, locally and globally. The White Houses' plan to end hunger and reduce lifestyle related diseases by 2030 fits with our mission and experience," states Rauni Prittinen King RN, MIH, Miraglo Foundation, President.

AIHM

Caitlin Marinaro

+1 858-240-9033

cmarinaro@aihm.org

https://aihm.org

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/the-administration-announced-ending-hunger-improving-nutrition-and-physical-activity-and-reducing-diet-related-diseases-and-disparities-984930549

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Read more:
The Administration Announced Ending Hunger, Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity, and Reducing Diet- - Benzinga