Dr. Druz is keenly interested in personalized prevention strategies that combine traditional medicine with functional and integrative therapies. She is a nationally recognized cardiac imaging expert with board certifications in cardiovascular disease and internal medicine. In this interview, she discusses the unique obstacles in diagnosing cardiovascular disease in women and steps that should be taken to increase physicians awareness on this critical topic.
Is serum TSH the best indicator of thyroid function? Kent Holtorf, MD, asserts that TSH, produced by the pituitary, doesn’t necessarily reflect thyroid status in peripheral tissues — especially in patients suffering from a range of specific conditions. This article reviews basic thyroid physiology which demonstrates scenarios when thyroid activity cannot be measured by standard lab tests.
There is a common misperception that professional supplement brands use only organic herbs and herbal extracts. In reality, the majority of these products comprise herbs that are conventionally grown — which potentially exposes patients both to the chemicals found in pesticides and herbicides, and those found in the solvents used for extraction. Be sure to know what is in the herbs you recommend to your patients.
For years, naturopathic medical schools have included the diagnosis and treatment of reversible hypometabolic symptoms in their curricula — and practitioners have accordingly treated their patients for it. Yet, conventional medicine has resisted the concept. This is largely due to the American Thyroid Association’s official position that hypometabolism is induced…
Joseph Pizzorno, ND, is passionate about the topic of environmental medicine and the role of detoxification treatments for counteracting damage caused by excessive exposure to chemicals ubiquitous in modern society. “Toxicity has become the primary driver of disease in the industrial world,” he says. “Thousands of studies now exist showing we have high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, and that they cause disease. And we see a much higher correlation of illness when we look at total body load of toxins.”
Plasticizers and BPA have been implicated in causing birth defects, childhood chronic illnesses such as asthma, fertility issues, and cancer. They are known endocrine disruptors that mimic hormones such as estrogen, thyroid, and testosterone. A recent study reveals that people who eat fast food had 20 - 40 percent higher levels of phthalates as compared to people who did not recently eat fast food.
Oral micronized progesterone (OMP) has been shown to effectively mitigate menopausal symptoms, but its cardiovascular safety is largely unknown. Jerilynn Prior, MD, published encouraging research that indicates that OMP does not negatively impact cardiovascular risk factors. This indicates that OMP may be a promising and safe treatment for menopausal symptoms.
Jilian Stansbury, ND presents a botanical monograph on Saw Palmetto, for lesser-known indications.
In this modern age of chemical overload, liver protection is more important than ever. This critical organ is assaulted daily by environmental toxins, prescription and non-prescription drugs, alcohol, excess hormones, and synthetic food additives. As one of the largest organs in the body, the liver’s chief function is to metabolize…
