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Kratom has both saved and ruined lives. Clearer labeling could help. After weaning off Suboxone, Nicole Sanchez was opioid free for 11 years—that is, until she walked into a Sunoco gas station [...]

Por qué no recomiendo Paracetamol para la mayoría de las familias. Click here for english. Si alguna vez has entrado en una farmacia o has criado a un niño, es probable que hayas oído hablar del [...]

Why I don’t recommend Paracetamol for most families. Para leer este artículo en español, haz clic aquí. If you’ve ever walked into a pharmacy or raised a child, chances are you’ve heard of [...]

I had a traumatic experience (“bad trip”) on ayahuasca many years ago. I wasn’t okay afterwards. It took me over eight years to heal. In this podcast interview on Mi Yuyabo [...]

Psilocybin-containing mushrooms grow wild on every continent except Antarctica. Over 200 species of fungi contain psilocybin, so our planet is unlikely to be in short supply anytime soon. [...]

Check out my brand new course! The research has moved FAST in the last two years, so I scrapped my old course on microdosing and made a new one! Featuring real cases from my medical practice, [...]

Bad trips are a polarizing concept in psychedelics. Acknowledging that they exist can be a source of healing. Want to start a war on social media? Post something like this: “Bad trips exist.” As [...]

A guide to bowel tolerance. We often talk about taking vitamin C and magnesium to “bowel tolerance” – but what does that mean? Dosing a supplement to bowel tolerance means taking the highest dose [...]

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 [...]

Some people gain weight after switching to a gluten free diet. Here’s why. The sale of GF (gluten-free) foods grossed more than $2.6 billion by the end of 2010, and they’re expected to exceed [...]

One of my favorite beverages this time of year is golden milk. Made from tasty, healing Ayurvedic herbs blende d with coconut milk, this drink is delicious served hot or cold. It’s also one of [...]

Hooray for Chanukkah, festival of lights, and excuse to eat latkes! Traditionally, latkes are made from potatoes, which are a starchy, fast-burning carbohydrate. This essentially means that after [...]

You know your friend who doesn’t have kids yet? …Or your cousin who’s been married for 5 years to a guy that makes good money, but there’s no bump? …Or your neighbor whose child is already [...]

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about anal sex and when a condom is necessary. Let’s clear some things up, shall we? I should start this (admittedly risqué) blog post by explaining: my [...]

A recent study from Harvard has echoed what integrative physicians have been saying for years: There is little if any reason to give a child a bottle or glass of milk. . Health Problems [...]

When you transition to a health-conscious diet, it’s easy to focus on the foods to avoid, making it hard to know what the heck is left to eat! . If you’re ready to ditch the “health” bars that [...]

It would be a stretch to say that I hated the rose bush in my backyard, but not a big one. The rose bust would send its thorny branches out between those of the nearby laurel, snagging the skin, [...]

Part 3 in my series on reflux . Before treating reflux in a baby, it’s important to first assess if the reflux is really an issue. If your baby is spitting up after feedings, it doesn’t [...]

Part II of My Series on Reflux Here are 7 simple ways to get over reflux for good:  . {1} Clean Up Your Diet. Avoid the common reflux trigger foods, including: Spicy foods like salsa and hot [...]

E-mail hyper-vigilance and compulsive smartphone use is frying your nervous system, wrecking your sleep, causing anxiety, ruining your sex life, and compromising your productivity at work. . [...]

This is Part One of my series on Reflux. So many Americans these days are popping Prilosec daily or reaching for TUMS after meals. Even babies nowadays are on Zantac! Aside from being of limited [...]

Genetics alone can’t explain the rise in allergic diseases we’ve seen in the industrialized world. Allergic conditions are on the rise. In fact, the rate of peanut allergy has doubled in the US [...]

In this video Dr. Zelfand talks about the use of clomiphene (Clomid) for men on Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and how it works in the male body. This is a follow up video from last [...]

In this video Dr. Zelfand talks about the use of clomiphene (Clomid) for men on Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and how it works in the male body. This is a follow up video from last [...]

In this video, Dr. Erica Zelfand explains the differences between primary, secondary, and tertiary hypogonadism – the three different kinds of “Low T” (low testosterone). We [...]

Gynecomastia – also known as “Man Boobs” – happens when hormonal imbalances create swelling in the breast tissue. Most males actually begin life with swollen breasts. Parents of baby boys [...]

Just about every day in my practice, a new mom breaks down in tears. “I mean, I’m a new mom, it’s supposed to be hard and I’m supposed to be exhausted, right? I wish I could just toughen up.” All [...]

Every day in my practice I treat moms are who giving it their all and falling apart. And it isn’t their fault. . THE UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE OF WOMEN. It seems the odds are against new [...]

“Happy Holidays!” chimes the rep as she slides a sparkly-wrapped present across my desk, “here’s a little something for you.” After she leaves, I excitedly cut the red shiny ribbon, pull away the [...]

The holiday season is a time of magic, festivity, family time, and celebrating miracles both great and small. For some, however, the holidays are also a time of eating things you wouldn’t dare [...]

Why Getting the Occasional Cold or Flu Might Not Be Such a Bad Thing Every now and then I have a patient who boasts proudly, “I’m healthy as a horse! I haven’t had a cold or flu in [...]

By creating a vaccine against a relatively benign, self-limiting infectious disease, we’ve likely increased the incidence rate of another, more harmful condition. . If you’re over the age [...]

After sitting in the waiting room for 30 minutes, you follow a nurse to a windowless room. 20 minutes later your doctor walks in, thanking you for your (thinning) patience. What’s going on? . [...]

When Obesity isn’t a Choice, and Kale and Crossfit aren’t Enough It’s no secret that Americans are big. We’re the fattest people in the world. …And it’s a legitimate health issue. Obesity is, in [...]

A recent study reveals that even borderline low testosterone levels can cause depression in men. The study, which was presented at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in 2015, followed [...]

She. Began. Talking. Like this. With little. Gasps. And. Pauses. Between. Words. Last week I was having lunch with a dear friend who is in her 38th week of pregnancy. While telling me about her [...]

Electronic cigarettes (“E-cigs”) are gaining popularity. But could they do more harm than good? Electronic cigarettes (also referred to as “e-cigs”) offer smokers a less smoky, less stinky [...]

Going dairy free was kind of hard. After years of recommending the elimination and challenge diet to my patients, this past summer I finally took the leap of courage and did it myself. I knew it [...]

This is the gold standard for determining your food intolerances. When the gut is inflamed and irritated, it can begin reacting to foods that might otherwise not bother it. The elimination and [...]

Many dermatologists manage eczema with steroid creams. But is a steroid deficiency really the cause of dry, itchy skin? Eczema – or, as we doctor-types like to call it, Atopic Dermatitis – has [...]

There’s quite a bit of misinformation when it comes to herpes. Let’s clear some things up, shall we? . Myth: Herpes can only be transmitted during an active outbreak. Herpes is much more [...]

As more and more research shows the harmful effects of gluten, a protein found in wheat, many people are cleaning up their diets and going gluten free. Although I recommend a gluten free diet to [...]

It’s long been understood that folic acid supplementation before and during pregnancy reduces the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects in children. But can it also prevent autism? [...]

This is Part II of my previous entry on the importance of supplementing folic acid during pregnancy. Folic acid is one of the B vitamins. It is used by the body to make healthy new cells, balance [...]

I recently had the honor and good fortune of attending a women’s sweat lodge ceremony. Lead by a woman named JJ – full time mom, Unitarian minister, and protector of the lodge – we gathered on a [...]