While my friends would already know that any Disney park would be the last place I would want to visit, thousands of visitors in one Disney park had their dreams (or for some, their nightmares) come true recently. With nearby positive COVID cases, Chinese government officials locked down Shanghai Disney park until they could show…
We all ask what COVID does, but ‘What does COVID not do?’ might be the better question as we work to understand not only the symptoms of COVID and Long COVID, but more importantly the mechanisms by which this virus and others cause such long-term harm. Interestingly, this mounting push for understanding exactly how viruses…
Going away on a vacation for a week and returning to a water leak and subsequent water damage is never fun. Going away for months serving your country and returning to your home base’s living quarters to find mold growing is just as disheartening. While both may be covered cost-wise, one by insurance and the…
COVID 19 has clearly left its marks on both individuals and society as a whole, and researchers have found another example of the profound immunological impact of this viral infection in reviewing the medical records of numerous children: COVID increases the rates of type I diabetes in infected children. This should not shock those who…
Functional and natural medicine live in a world where their angry cousin, conventional medicine, keeps shouting for evidence, for studies, and for proof. Thankfully, the vast majority of what we do has sound evidence to support it directly or indirectly. The moaning and groaning of the grumpy cousin are therefore unwarranted- except for the rare…
While alligators, as a top predator, don’t fear much in the wild, they should be concerned about the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contaminating their environments. Their thick skin prevents harm from potential attackers, but their immune systems can be sabotaged by the widespread fluorinated organic chemicals polluting much of American waterways. Having recognized that alligators…
The University of Minnesota is working to evaluate and remediate recently discovered excessive mold growth in one of their freshman dorms. After several students reported health concerns and visible mold, the university initiated a full inspection with a report to be released soon. So far, they report having found Cladosporium sphaerospermum but no mention of…
This common herbicide in your food and in your yard increases the risk of lower birthweight in high-risk pregnancies and appears to increase the risk of a neonatal intensive care unit admission. With 8% of U.S. births falling into a high-risk category due to some other health factor in the mom, many babies enter the…
We live in a paradoxical age, a time when information is more available to the average person than ever before in history, yet the truth seems more elusive than ever. Multiple factors play a role in creating this volatile and anxiety provoking situation. Together these factors challenge even the most diligent of truth seekers, while…
A study of the history of warfare emphasizes that an army’s supply lines are often the difference between victory and defeat. Our immune system’s battle for our health, though enacted at a microscopic level, likewise depends on supply lines. The recent pandemic, by highlighting the effects of nutrients like vitamin D on the outcomes of…