Primo Health Blog

A portal for functional health topics and news.

Posts about degenerative disease:

Natural Oral Hygiene

Natural Oral Hygiene

Oral Hygiene and the Health of the Body

Years ago, a physician who suspected a patient had heart disease would probably not refer him to a gum specialist. The same holds true for diabetes and arthritis. Times have changed. The past 5 to 10 years have seen a growing body of research linking the health of your mouth to the overall health of your body. According to the American Dental Association, 40 percent of people with gum disease also have a chronic health condition. What's feeding the link? Not taking proper care of your mouth results in bacterial growth, which causes inflammation that not only spurs diseases of the teeth and gums, but can cause problems for other body systems if left unchecked. Oral problems can also be a symptom of other diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease.

Living with Diabetes

Living with Diabetes

Living with Diabetes: Supplements to Make the Job Easier

There are two primary types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Both types result in high levels of blood sugar levels, which may manifest itself through any of the following symptoms: increased thirst and an increased need to urinate; feeling edgy, tired, and sick to your stomach; and having an increased appetite (but loss of weight). In addition, other symptoms may include: repeated or hard-to-heal infections of the skin, gums, vagina, or bladder; blurred vision; tingling or loss of feeling in the hands or feet; and dry, itchy skin. If left uncontrolled, high blood sugar may result in a variety of serious complications. There are nutrients and supplements that can ease some of the burden of living with diabetes.

Health Benefits of DHEA

Health Benefits of DHEA

DHEA

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS – Dean of Academics, Huntington College of Health Sciences

Over 2500 medical articles have reported the benefits of dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, a hormone secreted from the adrenal glands. As a dietary supplement, DHEA has many applications to human health. Following is a discussion of some of these applications.

How DHEA works

Aging is a gradual deterioration of our various organs and systems. It is not just "getting older." People don't simply die because they are older. Death results from failure of an organ or system.

The Health Benefits of Colostrum

The Health Benefits of Colostrum

Colostrum 

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS – Dean of Academics, Huntington College of Health Sciences

Colostrum is the first milk that a mammal produces after pregnancy. This secretion of colostrum does not last for long; rather, it is created for the newborn to give it vital nutrients, antibodies, and other factors it needs right after birth. Therefore, after a few short days, the production of colostrum all but stops.1

So what makes colostrum special for adult individuals? In fact, through hundreds of years of use and over 1,000 clinical studies, colostrum has been demonstrated to be safe and effective for a variety of clinical conditions. These include viral illnesses, allergies and autoimmune diseases, heart disease, cancer, weight-loss programs, athletic stress, leaky gut syndrome, wound healing, and muscle repair and growth.2 In short, the most important components of colostrum can basically be broken down into two major categories: immunity modulator and growth factors.

Health Benefits of CoQ10

Health Benefits of CoQ10

Coenzyme Q10

By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS – Dean of Academics, Huntington College of Health Sciences

Although structurally related to vitamin K, coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ10) is not a vitamin, but rather coenzyme that helps to utilize oxygen as part of its important role in cellular energy metabolism. Research has also shown that CoQ10 functions in a number of other beneficial ways including free radical scavenging.1 Following is a brief review of that research.

Free radicals

Chemically, free radicals can be defined as a molecule with an unpaired electron. In the process of trying to balance itself by gaining or losing an electron, the free radical causes oxidative damage on a cellular level. CoQ10 has the unique property of being able to accept or donate an electron without itself becoming a free radical. By doing this CoQ10 can help neutralize free radicals and the oxidative damage they cause. This is significant since numerous disease states are thought to be due to excessive oxidative stress of free radicals, including hydroxyl radical, peroxynitrite, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. In addition, CoQ10 may inhibit certain enzymes involved in the formation of these free radicals.

Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Cinnamon:
A Supplement for Diabetes, Body Composition, Cardiovascular Health & Antioxidant Protection
By Gene Bruno, MS, MHS

Don’t you just love the smell and taste of cinnamon in a warm, gooey cinnamon bun? As it turns out, the cinnamon may actually provide you with some significant health benefits (although the same can’t be said of the gooey bun; sorry). So let’s take a closer look at cinnamon.

Background

The use of cinnamon for health is not new. In fact, cinnamon bark has been used for several thousand years in traditional Eastern and Western systems of medicine, for such purposes as anorexia, bloating, dyspepsia with nausea, flatulent colic, and spastic conditions of the GI tract.1 Cinnamon also has a history of traditional use in Korea, China and Russia for treating people with diabetes.2

Health Benefits of Cat's Claw Plant

Health Benefits of Cat's Claw Plant

Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa)  

By Art Presser, PharmD - President, Huntington College of Health Sciences

Background:

Cat’s Claw is a woody vine that winds itself around trees, upwards of 100 feet, in the Peruvian rainforests. Hook-like thorns adorn the leaves, resembling the claws of cats, hence the name. For hundreds of years, local Indians, medicine people, and shamans have stewed the inner bark and roots of Cat’s Claw to prepare medicines to treat a variety of illnesses.

There are actually over 30 species of Uncaria, however the two species of medicinal interest are U. guianensis and U. tomentosa. Although both species produce similar benefits, U. tomentosa has been more thoroughly researched, has a greater range of uses, and is hence preferred in the American market.

Supplement of the week: Designs for Health Immunitone Plus

Supplement of the week: Designs for Health Immunitone Plus

Quick Overview

Immunitone Plus™ is an herbal formula that is designed to support healthy immune system function during cold and flu season. It contains herbs that support normal natural killer (NK) cell activity and the balance of cytokines, which are the regulatory proteins released by immune cells as part of a normal immune system response.* The standardized herbs in this formula contain optimal and consistent amounts of the most active ingredients. Immunitone Plus™ is suitable for long term use and for all age groups.

Product Desription

This powerful immune supportive formula combines herbs that have antiviral and antibacterial abilities as well as the ability to maintain Natural Killer (NK) cell activity and cytokine synthesis. Immunitone Plus is safe enough to use for chronic viral conditions, and in cases of a weak immune system and acute illness.* There is impressive research on every ingredient of Immunitone. This formula is extremely powerful yet safe enough to use in high doses for acute applications, while also being suitable for long-term use in chronic conditions. This formula contains green tea standardized to a very high level of EGCG as well as standardized Echinacea augustifolia, Andrographis paniculata, and even Goldenseal. Standardized herbs contain optimal and consistent amounts of the most active compounds.

Astragalus Root Health Benefits

Astragalus Root Health Benefits

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous)

By Art Presser, PharmD - President, Huntington College of Health Sciences

Background:

Astragalus comes to us from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is first mentioned in Shen Nung Ben Cao Jing, a 2000- year-old classic as Huang Qi. Huang Qi means “yellow leader,” and astragalus is considered a most important tonic. Traditional uses include lethargy, colds, flu, appetite (lack of), stomach ulcers, and deficiencies of chi (namely, general weakness and fatigue). Other Chinese uses include diabetes, lowering blood pressure, and water retention.

The plant is native to northern China where the 4-7 year old roots are harvested in the spring to make medicine preparations. There are over 2000 types of Astragalus worldwide, but it seems that the Chinese variety has been the most studied. Astragalus gummifera, also known as tragacangth, is an old friend of the pharmaceutical industry, long used as a thickening agent.

Supplement of the week: Designs for Health Lipoic Acid Supreme

Supplement of the week: Designs for Health Lipoic Acid Supreme

Quick overview

This very powerful supplement contains 300 mg of lipoic acid, along with 4 mg of pure biotin and 500 mg of taurine. Research shows that lipoic acid competes for biotin-dependent enzymes. Long term supplementation of lipoic acid may reduce biotin levels, so it is recommended to supply them together. Taurine and biotin play important roles in maintaining healthy insulin function.*