Elderberry’s use in folk medicine has been well-documented. In the Middle Ages, elderberry was considered a Holy Tree, capable of restoring good health, keeping good health, and as an aid to longevity. Hippocrates referred to elderberry as “nature’s medicine chest.” Elderberries have twice the Vitamin C of oranges and 3 times the antioxidants of blueberries. They’re […]
The immune system serves to protect us. It performs a remarkable balancing act at barrier sites such as the skin, mouth and gut by fighting off harmful pathogens while tolerating the presence of normal friendly bacteria. Th17 cell is an important infection-fighting tool utilized by our immune system. For example, in stomach and skin, Th17 […]
Guest post by Beatrice Potter Probiotic foods are any foods that contain probiotics, which are ‘healthy’ bacteria. You may not have ever thought of bacteria being healthy before, since most people only think of pathogenic, ‘bad’ bacteria when they hear that word. However, having probiotics is vital to your body, since it needs a balance […]
Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is an orange-yellow colored polyphenol derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa), a spice often found in curry powder. The medicinal use of the turmeric plant has been described in ancient Indian and Chinese thousands of years ago. In India, turmeric has traditionally been used primarily for arthritis and muscular disorders, whereas in China, it has been […]
A growing body of research has shown the link between obesity and sleep loss. However, it was unclear the “chicken and egg” relationship between the two – does sleep loss result in weight gain, or does weight gain lead to poor sleep quality? A study in PLOS Biology suggested that it is not the sleep loss that leads […]
Inflammation is a part of the immune response that can prevent infection through production of pro- inflammatory cytokines and generation of inflammatory mediators in response to pathogens.[1] Inflammation is an essential part of human immune response. However, when the inflammatory process is poorly controlled, it can cause undesirable damages including massive tissue destruction. [2,3,4] Traditional Chinese Medicine […]
According to a recent analysis of data from two major eye disease studies, adherence to the Mediterranean diet — high in vegetables, whole grains, fish, and olive oil — correlates with higher cognitive function. Dietary factors also seem to play a role in slowing cognitive decline. Researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of […]
By now, we all know that too much salt is bad for you – too much salt consumption raises blood pressure and increases the risk of heart attack or stroke. Five grams a day is the maximum amount of salt that adults should consume according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). It corresponds approximately […]
Inflammation is the body’s primary defense mechanism against infections, wounds, and pathogens. However, uncontrolled inflammatory response caused by a sub-optimal immune system can lead to many problems. For example, in the case of COVID-19, for people with dysfunctional immune systems, we see the virus causing an uncontrolled immune response, triggering an overproduction of immune cells and their signaling […]
Our immune system is the main defense system that protects us against disease. Boosting the immune system can help to keep your body in optimal condition to combat bacteria, infections, and viruses. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has operated on the theory that our own body is the main defense against diseases. Recognizing that illness is caused […]