Welcome to Acupuncture and Herbs by Karen Vaughan, L.Ac., Registered Herbalist (AHG)
Karen VaughanKaren Vaughan Acupuncture and Herbs253 Garfield Pl Apt 1RBrooklyn
,
NY
,
111215(718) 622-6755
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EMR Protection
I have been concerned about electromagnetic radiation for some time, long before the cell towers and cordless phones invaded our lives. I live in an old house with unshielded wiring. I have been using MRET technology and tubular cell phone headsets to shield my family and clients.
I love these programs which let you use your dreams consciously, develop your insight and improve your focus, all with tones that entrain you and no words.
In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a time release version of an inexpensive Vitamin B (Niacin- not niacinamide) was compared to a common cholesterol drug, ezetimibe (trade name Zetia), made by Merck. The vitamin gave superior results.
This amusing video shows a homemade substitute for Nyquil, which contains a number of ingredients you might not want to put into your body. His uses Southern Comfort as the alcohol, but if you click through to Vimeo there are a number of comments with other home remedies. I prefer to use either Thieves’ Vinegar or honey, fresh garlic and ginger syrup. Or a drop or two of essential oil of rosemary over the glands and at the nape of the neck.
We are badly in need of a study that compares good vegetarian to good meat-containing diets using quality foods, with high vegetable content and good quality fats in both diets. Too often vegetarians are compared to a standard American population, health-conscious vegans are compared to non-health conscious omnivores and studies on omnivores with low meat diets are extrapolated to suggest that a diet with no animal food altogether may be superior. The study should isolate the effects of gluten from other starchy foods and meats from fish. Continue reading…
A recent large study of children with high body mass indexes (BMI) found that many children of normal body mass had high fat percentages while 25% of children with high BMI were not obese by fat percentage criteria.
BMI (weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) does not distinguish between the weight of muscle, fat or bone and has a statistical artifact that tends to classify tall children as overweight. Continue reading…
Cordyceps sinensis has been part of my anti-cancer formulas for many years, since Thai doctor Santi Rosswong suggested that I add it to my reishi formulas for stamina. It appears from recent research that the herb stops cell proliferation as well.
Cordyceps is a strange herb, a fungus that colonizes then kills an insect, as shown in a BBC video (with one of the other 680 described cordyceps species found on 6 continents.) When the Cordycepssinensis fungus attacks a Continue reading…
A recent New York Times article found that by using functional MRIs on long term persistent vegetative state patients, a few could hear and process information. The idea sounds exciting, helping differentiate those who had residual brain function from the majority that did not. But a few caveats are in order: Continue reading…
When Agave nectar first burst on the scene as a healthier sweetener, it appeared to be superior to sugar and other dietary sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup. It was easy to imagine that for thousands of years Native Americans had been tapping the sap of the agave plant, Continue reading…
I just wrote a piece on how Paxil (paroxetine) can cause serious birth defects, shown when independent Swedish researchers reanalyzed data from the manufacturer. Now new information shows that it, along with imipramime, does no better than a placebo at helping depression. Continue reading…
What can I eat? Don’t worry, this is a normal reaction upon hearing that you should give up dairy and gluten. And it takes planning, and a shift in what you think is good to eat.
For some time I have been promoting probiotic foods (foods with “good bacteria” for the gut) as superior to probiotic pills. The probiotics in food are present with their prebiotic food sources, often have fat or other compounds to protect them from digestive juices and are found in the forms that our bodies evolved to expect. Now a study from the University of Montreal shows that fermented blueberry juice, using the organisms that are found on Continue reading…
Many women wonder if they should take antidepressants while pregnant. A recent study shows that there are more complications of birth including C-Sections, premature births and induced deliveries. Paroxetine (Paxil) was associated with twice the rate of congenital heart defects and hypospadias (a penis malformation.) Tricyclic antidepressants were more strongly associated with malformations and persistent pulmonary hypertension. Continue reading…
Yael Grauer has hosted the January Herbal Blog Party on warming herbs this month here.
January’s herbal blog party is on warming herbs. Several herbalists helped participate to share what helps get them and their loved ones through the winter.
Though not specifically a blog post, Herbal Roots Zine has a great (and affordable) issue out on ginger, an awesome warming herb.
In Yael Grauer’s post, Finding Warmth in the Heart of Winter, she wrote about warming cooking spices in the desert winter, cooking with asafoteida and drinking mulled wine in Oxford.
David Mendosa has for some time been suggesting that using lemon juice or vinegar will benefit blood sugar spikes. Lemon juice, vinegar, even lactic acid fermented foods as suggested in Sally Fallon’s book Nourishing Traditions, will lower blood sugar spikes. And the fermentation Continue reading…
Do you feel cold inside in the winter? Is it very hard to warm yourself up? Taking cayenne or hot chili peppers may increase heat at the surface for a few minutes, but may leave you feeling even colder Continue reading…
This week I opened up Science Daily and found an article that said there is no evidence to support the use of B-vitamins for reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke or death associated with cardiovascular disease. Seems pretty straightforward doesn’t it? But there was also an article the same day that I got saying that B-vitamins were effective in reducing cardiovascular disease in celiac patients, using Continue reading…
Low Vitamin D status in diabetics makes them more likely to have cardiovascular disease according to new research. Women with type 2 diabetes, have a third more low vitamin D status than women of the same age who don’t have diabetes.
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Breastfeeding.com
Does Your Water Hydrate You?
iH2O by GIA Wellness has a linear structure like water directly from a mountain spring which better penetrates your cell membrane.
1. Pasture raised or wild meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and any natural animal fat
2. Vegetables, including leaves, stems, bulbs, roots
3. Fruits and berries (includes avocados and olives)
4. Nuts such as almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, coconut, etc.
5. Herbs and spices
Avoid/minimize
(in order of importance)
1. Sweeteners, including sugar (white, brown, organic, whatever), maple syrup, rice or agave syrup, etc.
2. Vegetable oils other than extra virgin olive, avocado, palm, and coconut.
3. Cereal grains and flour or grain products (bread, pasta, pastries, etc.) Especially avoid glutinous grains like wheat, barley, rye or triticale.
4. Dry legumes (beans and peas, including soy and peanuts)
5. Dairy products. If you take them, use goat or raw or both
.
(thanks to Rachel and Donald Matsez, authors of The Garden of Eating)
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