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The science behind “Crazy Cat Ladies”   Are you a cat or dog person? This question is more than just a conversational icebreaker. Your answer may determine whether you’re more or less likely to [...]

Pain remedies your surgeon might not know about. After undergoing surgery or surviving an accident, it’s routine to receive a prescription for opioids (narcotics) – a class of drugs that includes [...]

As more research emerges on cannabis and psychedelic substances like psilocybin, it’s becoming nearly impossible to ignore their medical merits. And as we look back on the history of these [...]

A recipe for home-made formula, rich in nutrients. To a clean quart-sized container, add the following ingredients: Fill 2/3 of the container with goat milk Fill 1/3 of the container with water 1 [...]

What does psilocybin-assisted therapy look like when clients enter the clinic on antidepressant medication? Common practice is to tell patients on SSRIs and other prescription drugs that they [...]

A psychedelic plant used to heal addictions.   In this video by Psychedelic Spotlight, I answer common questions about the psychedelic medicine ibogaine, like: Does ibogaine work for [...]

Moms who breastfed may be protected against cognitive decline later in life. Data suggests that breastfeeding a child may protect a woman against cognitive decline later in life. Specifically, a [...]

It could save your life. We need to talk about vitamin D, and why it’s the vitamin that might just get us through the SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. We’ve known for quite some time now that [...]

The hygiene of armpit and pubic hair for people of all genders.   Once upon a time, the Gillette company realized it could double its market if women bought razors. Because most ladies don’t [...]

Understanding celiac disease, wheat allergy, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and other gluten-related disorders   It used to be quite rare to meet somebody who avoids gluten – the protein [...]

Eating gluten may drive autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the body’s master of metabolism, regulating important functions like digestion, energy production, mental [...]

What the research says about fabric facemasks and SARS-CoV-2 particle transmission   Most of us have picked up a cloth mask or two since the start of the pandemic. Companies have put their [...]

Smart choices for a happy brain In last week’s post I explored the ways in which inflammation can cause depression. The science shows that we cannot blame genetics alone for depression, and [...]

Move over serotonin, inflammation is the new target of depression treatment   Is inflammation a bad thing? Not necessarily: Inflammation helps the cells of the immune system fight infections [...]

What vitamin B3 has to do with addiction   Taking a vitamin B3 (niacin) supplement may help treat alcohol use disorder and ease the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol use disorder (AUD, [...]

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The versatile vitamin’s mechanisms of action   This article serves as Part 3 in my series on vitamin C, pain, and opioid use disorder. Check out Part 1 to learn about the vitamin’s use in [...]

What we know about ascorbate for withdrawal and cravings Part 2 in my three-part series on vitamin C, pain, and opioid use disorder.   I first heard that vitamin C could help with opioid use [...]

Nutritional support for acute, chronic, surgical, and cancer-related pain What do humans have in common with other primates, bats, and guinea pigs? (No, not a love of cheese!) What we all have in [...]

Why you should never, ever take Tylenol after drinking. Acetaminophen (also known as Paracetamol, and sold under the brand name Tylenol in North America) is a contentious drug, and one that I [...]

Who says you can’t have cookies for breakfast? This high-fiber, gluten-free, dairy-free-friendly recipe is balanced with protein, healthy fats, and just a touch of mineral-rich maple syrup [...]

Through simple body hacks, we positively affect our mood, focus, and productivity. In this video, explain the gist of how the nervous system reacts to stress, and I introduce the concept of vagus [...]

Our immune systems consist of two parts: the innate (or general) immune system and the adaptive (or acquired) immune system. In this video, I explain the basics of these immune systems, [...]

  What are T cells and what do they do? Dr. Zelfand explains the importance of these special white blood cells. She illuminates how T cells can transform into T Helper (Th) Cells 1, 2, 3, or [...]

In this video, Dr. Zelfand explains how our bodies react to stress and how those reactions can, if left unchecked, wreak havoc on our immunological function. Topics covered include adrenal [...]

Let’s skip the personal essay. I loathe the long essays people write at the introductions of recipes, so I’ll spare you the blatherings about how much my family loves this recipe and [...]

A sweet treat for a crisp autumn day. This fruit compote recipe – which can easily be adapted into an applesauce recipe – can be enjoyed hot or cold. With no added sweetener and just [...]

You don’t have to be a hippie to nosh on this ‘nola. I almost never eat store-bought granola because it’s high in sugar, high in carbs, and low in protein. Most granola is [...]

The role of cardiovascular health on male sexual function – and what to do about it “I’m taking testosterone and anastrazole. I’m lifting more weight than the other guys at the gym. I look [...]

No matter the time of year, there seems to always be some excuse for dessert. If it isn’t pumpkin latte season, then it’s the winter holidays, or Easter, or Passover, or somebody’s birthday. Or [...]

Sew a button back onto an old shirt, donate a box of old clothes you never wear, trim your fingernails, tune the guitar. These are the little things we can do to start waking ourselves up, to [...]

In this video, I demonstrate how to perform the wet sheet wrap treatment, an old-school nature-cure remedy for a myriad of acute ailments like colds, flus, respiratory “crud,” pain, [...]

In this webinar recording, Dr. Erica Zelfand covers a broad range of topics including what psilocybin is, how it works, and who might potentially benefit from having access to psilocybin therapy. [...]

We share this wild planet with countless viruses, including rhinovirus (which causes the common cold), influenza A and B (which can lead to the flu), and COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), the latest [...]

Although the ideal way to use ketamine in the treatment of depression and mood disorders likely entails receiving the treatment in a safe and comfortable setting, in an unrushed atmosphere, with [...]

Simple (and tasty) strategies for increasing your daily fiber intake – without having to “cheat” on Dr. Atkins. This is Part III in my three-part series on low-carb diets and [...]

From heart health to trim waist lines to healthy bowel movements, fiber’s got you covered. This is Part II in my three-part series on low-carb diets and fiber. As explored in my previous [...]

Low-carb diets like the paleo, Atkins, and ketogenic programs are all the rage. How did they come to be so popular? And are they sustainable in the long run?   This is Part I of III in my [...]

Chaos consciousness isn’t for everyone. Dan is beaming as he declares, “Dang, you’re so beautiful! It’s such a coincidence – but there are no coincidences! – that I should [...]

If you own a human body, chances are you’ve taken at least one course of antibiotics in your lifetime – whether it was bubble-gum flavored amoxicillin for that ear infection in childhood, [...]

Unlike conventional pharmaceuticals, psychedelic medicines offer both brain chemistry-altering science and mystical experiences. The nuances and proposed mechanisms of these synergistic [...]

When a pregnant gorilla goes into labor, her mate paces back and forth nearby. He is alert, engaged, and fierce, ready to attack and destroy anyone or anything that may cause his female or his [...]

MTHF-Huh? MTHFR stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, a gene that codes for an enzyme of the same name. However, if the MTHFR gene is mutated, the enzyme produced is imperfectly [...]

“Detox” is one of those edgy yet deceptively vague terms used to market anything from supplements to fragrances to yoni steam baths. (Yes, that really is a thing.) But do you really need to drop [...]

In this video, I discuss the importance of overcoming obstacles in order to bring about the deepest healing possible. If a patient came in with a sore finger and I gave them anti-inflammatory [...]

In this video, I discuss some of the challenges to forgiving others that have hurt us and explore creative ways to heal our hearts anyway. I draw on personal experiences from my own life, my [...]

As I write this post, my home office is a mess of clothes, itineraries, guidebooks, and the scattered contents of a first aid kit. I’m packing for my upcoming trip to East Africa, carefully [...]

We pick up funny thought patterns, us humans. Sometimes these ideas are planted by companies with an agenda to sell items, other times old wives’ tales get engrained into our beliefs. [...]

America’s Approach to Informed Consent (or Lack Thereof) When it Comes to Vaccination Last week I helped grade exit exams at a local medical school. I was specifically grading the students on [...]

What was your first food? Have you ever asked your parents? Depending on your age, it might have been banana, sweet potato, oatmeal, or Cheerios. Perhaps it was meat, first chewed in your [...]

True or false: A pap smear is a screening tool for ovarian cancer. Bloating and indigestion can be symptoms of ovarian cancer. Women in their 30’s are at the highest risk of developing ovarian [...]