Cashew nuts are not new to the American diet, but cashew apple is. Cashew trees native to Brazil and the West Indies also grow in Central America, Asia and Africa. People in these countries have long eaten not only the cashew nut, but the apple itself. The cashew apple has a fibrous juicy pulp which can be eaten directly or squeezed to make cashew apple juice – a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants. This juice is starting to…
Dear Dr. K: I’ve read several articles by you about the immune health benefits of probiotics. In a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article I read that gut flora could lead to colon cancer. Can you tell me more? Yes I can. You are actually touching on a subject of cutting-edge research. There have been three recent publishings (probably the fodder for the WSJ piece) on this subject: New England Journal of Medicine, Genome Research and Cell Host Microbe. The…
My paternal grandparents had no indoor plumbing. When I visited them as a child I was put in charge of bringing in water for coffee and breakfast oatmeal. I would run to the well and pump hard — with no result. Then I’d remember the priming glass of water kept inside. Pouring it in the pump first always led to bountiful water. The dramatic aspect of priming happens with many vaccines, which is one reason many are given as a…
• Harvard researchers studied the tolerance of baked milk in highly allergic children with cow milk allergy. Fourteen of the fifteen children tolerated milk if it was baked in a product such as a muffin, cake or bread.
Research at the University of Turkey in Finland demonstrates that if expectant mothers take probiotics during the pregnancy, their infants have a significant reduction in the risk for eczema. And at another Norse medical center, Glostrup University in Copenhagen, scientists have finished a multi-year study looking at individuals on allergy shots and the frequency of autoimmune disease. They discovered a marked reduction in autoimmune disease in those receiving allergy shots.
Argyria is a blue-gray discoloration of the skin caused by ingestion of silver. Colloidal silver is available in a variety of OTC tonics and has been used for centuries as an antimicrobial. Unfortunately, chronic use of silver can cause a permanent Tin Man appearance (and The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999 issued a final rule establishing that all over-the-counter (OTC) drug products containing colloidal silver ingredients or silver salts for internal or external use are not generally recognized…
Researchers at Creighton University have developed a new antihistamine that blocks the H3 histamine receptor. The new drug that blocks H3 is called by its research name – PF-03654746. It’s an exciting discovery because it appears to be the first antihistamine that reduces congestion. Up until now the only way to reduce nasal congestion was to take an antihistamine/decongestant combination such as Allegra-D or Zyrtec-D. These drugs contain Sudafed, which works, but brings the potential issues of causing insomnia and…
Dear Dr. K: Do you have anything to share from your recent trip to the Southeastern Allergy meeting? The meeting was excellent. The presentation I found most provocative was on allergy to medical devices. Unfortunately, this is becoming a more common source of allergic difficulty. The spectrum of reactions has included allergy to joint replacements, fracture-stabilizing metals, spine-straightening rods, cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators and their wires, coronary and other arterial stents and dental products, including implants and orthodontic materials. Although some…
Bucking waves, currents and winds made a really tough task for the athletes competing in the 2013 World Paddleboard Championship in Hawaii even tougher. But our favorite relay team of Dr. Patrick and Dr. Steve Klemawesch beat the elements and finished the 32-mile, open-ocean stand-up paddleboard competition in July. The crossing in open Pacific waters begins on Kaluakoi Beach on the north shore of Molokai and finishes in Maunalua Bay on the south shore of Oahu. Competing as a team…
• Elemental silver has been used for centuries for its antimicrobial properties. In the Middle Ages it was successfully used to treat syphilis, TB and other infections. It is still available today, but caution should be used because excessive doses of silver tonics available over the counter can be toxic to internal organs.