Botanical Medicine and the Microbiome: A Path to Better Metabolism

Research shows that obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes are often linked to an imbalance in the gut microbiome—specifically, a decrease in beneficial bacteria and an overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens.

One major consequence of this imbalance is an overgrowth of Gram-negative bacteria, which increases levels of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). LPS triggers inflammation, contributing to gut permeability (often referred to as …

Check how toxic you are by answering the following questions below. The more questions you answer “yes” to, the more toxic you are likely to be, and the more likely you are to benefit from a professionally supervised detox.

1. Are you constantly tired?



2. Is your skin spotty or dull?



3. Do you miss days of passing stool?



4. Is your stool irregular?



5. Do you have dark circles under your eyes?



6. Do you have aches and pains in your joints?



7. Do you suffer from high levels of phlegm or sinus congestion?



8. Do…

Liver overload and disrupted sleep are not new concepts. Each organ has specific times when its function peaks, and according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver's peak hours are between 1-3 a.m. If the liver is overloaded, you may wake up during this time. Similarly, around 1-3 p.m., it's common to feel groggy—another indication of liver strain. While improving sleep hygiene is essential, it's equally important to reduce factors like alcohol and sugar that burden the liver. Chronic sle…

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the beat-to-beat variation in heart rhythm.  HRV is a measure of your body’s ability to react to changes in your life and accurately predicts states of stress and inflammation. Short-term changes reflect current energy expenditures, stress, emotional states, and cognitive work load.

The measure of your HRV applies to health on multiple levels; cardiology, mental health, sleep health, lifestyle, intensive care unit settings, blood pressure, remote monitoring, onc…

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel is an antioxidant rich dietary fibre easy to prepare and pleasant to enjoy. The entire pomegranate plant is a pharmacy full of rich extracts. The fruit and fruit extracts have been shown to promote good health benefits for wound healing, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The roots and bark exhibit healing properties against parasites and worm infestation. The flower buds are used to alleviate the symptoms of diarrhea,…

Recent scientific studies have highlighted a significant association between severe eczema and various systemic conditions, including liver, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as osteoporosis and fractures. This broad range of related health issues suggests that eczema is not just a skin condition but may reflect underlying imbalances in the body.

The Gut-Liver-Skin Connection

In my clinical practice, I have observed that many skin conditions, including eczema, are often …

Ever wonder why so many people are now gluten intolerant? The change in landscape of the microbiome is certainly part of the picture however, the wheat itself has changed over time.

The original wheat was very labour intensive to grow and harvest yields were minimal. As the need to feed more people with less work grew, the idea was favourable to breed wheat so it had more appealing qualities to withstand the weather, differences in soil and reduced labour load.

Einkorn is the most primitive…

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in adults worldwide, and lipid metabolism disorders are significant risk factors.

Cholesterol is a waxy and fat-like substance made in our body. It is made in all cells, but mostly in the liver. Cholesterol is a back bone building block for steroid hormones, bile acids and vitamin D.

Cholesterol comes from the liver making its own and the diet.  Foods like egg yolks and shellfish are high in cholesterol. If you eat only 200 to 30…

Bridgeport Connecticut's WPKN radio broadcast host Dr. Z., interviews Dr. Laura M.Brown, ND.

In this interview Dr. Brown answers the top ten questions about gut health

10 questions

1. What affects our gut health?



2. What does sleep have to do with good gut health?



3. What kind of testing is available for gut health assessment?



4. What is the connection between autoimmune disease and gut health?



5. Are we born with a microbiome?



6. What are your favourite botanical medicines for healing th…

Knee osteoarthritis is the most popular type of osteoarthritis that causes extreme pain, especially as we age. Currently, there is no cure. To lessen knee pain, glucosamine is often suggested. In humans, glucosamine is required to make glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, and hyaluronic acid. These are used to make collagen and the material that lines your joints. But as a supplement is glucosamine safe? Does it affect blood sugar?

Glucosamine is an amino (protein) sugar. It is produced naturall…