Blog
e-Sports Supplement Guide
Attention all e-gamers, you need to take a hard look at adding supplements to your daily routine. The demands of e-gaming can negatively impact your health and performance while playing. This blog will cover several areas e-gamers should consider supplementing their...
5 Key Supplements for Heart Health
Cardiovascular disease is the #1 Killer of Americans. About one-third of the deaths worldwide are caused by a heart or stroke-related disease. Several years ago, I wrote my first book, “4 Pillars of Health: Heart Disease,” and covered even more, the statistics about...
Address the Stress: Indirect Support for Common Women’s Health Concerns
According to an article published on the American Psychological Association (APA) website, stress plays a crucial role in 4 areas specific to women's health: Menstruation, Pregnancy, PMS, and Menopause. We can throw in one more that affects both men and women, and...
It’s Never a Bad Time to Focus on Your Immune System
Challenging times for immune health stimulated the reason for writing this article. While recent events have prompted most of us to take our immune health more seriously, there are others who face immune challenges on a daily and lifetime basis. While understanding...
Natural Help for Men with Frequent Urination at Night (Nocturia)
Nocturia or better defined as the need to awaken ≥1 time per night to urinate.1 Nocturia is divided into two main categories: upper urinary tract and lower urinary tract dysfunction. Nocturia is the leading cause of sleep deprivation and has a detrimental effect on...
Stress & Relaxation: Botanical Style
Occasional stress is a common health concern around the world. Not only is stress a negative for a person’s mental health, but it is also a significant contributing factor to many other conditions such as chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, digestive disorders,...
A Twist on Plant Based Diets
Over the past decade, we have seen a migration to a “new” diet. As if we didn’t have enough “diets” to choose from, i.e., paleo, vegan, vegetarian, Atkins, etc., plant-based can be a bit confusing to most. This blog will take a closer look at what a “plant-based...
Stress and Your Immune System
You may be shocked to learn a connection between mental wellness (health) and your immune system. The scientific term for this connection is psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), the study of the interactions between the brain and the immune system. The central nervous...
Understanding Soluble Fiber: Inulin
Fiber 101 Most of us now understand that fiber should be an essential part of our everyday diet. However, most people don't know that there are two types of fiber: Soluble and Insoluble. They are both critical for health. What’s the difference? Simply put, soluble...
Stress: Its Negative Impact on Digestive Health
How Does Stress Impact the Digestive System? First and foremost, it is essential to understand that the brain and your digestive system (gut) are in constant communication. There are more nerves in your gut than in the entire spinal cord.[i] When your body is...
Start the New Year Running: Condider Key Supplements to Get off to a Great Start
Are you on the wheel of New Year’s Resolutions? Does this sound like you: you start one in January and never finish the goal, so you start over again the next January? Why wait until the new year to start. As we look forward to the new year, you may be on the long...
Men’s Health
Regarding “Men’s Health,” two areas are at the top of the list: genitourinary (reproductive organs and urinary system) and cardiovascular health. The genitourinary system receives a lot of press with the abundance of commercial advertisements around prostate health...
Technological Advancements to Improve Your Supplements: Bioavailability
Necessity is the mother of invention (innovation), a commonly used proverb when someone comes up with a way to do things better or hasn't been done previously. This proverb is not limited to ultra-technical fields and is now quite the driving force for innovation in...
Total Body Recovery
When we think about body recovery, the first thing that comes to mind can be different for each of us. For me, I think about recovering from a workout. Others may think about recovery from a medical condition. This blog will focus on two areas of body recovery:...
Sage Advice for Menopause
Menopause is the natural decline of female reproductive hormone production and the conclusion of a woman’s menstrual cycle. It usually begins sometime in the 40s or 50s. Common menopause symptoms include hot flashes, brain fog, vaginal dryness, chills, night sweats,...
Foundational Digestive Help (Health)
When builders build a home, they usually start with a solid foundation and then work up from there. The same is true concerning taking care of your body and overall health. For example, since digestion plays a significant role in your overall health, starting with a...
Liver Health: Caring for the main filter of the body
Let's face it; the liver is the primary organ in the body that often gets overlooked when it comes to health. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is responsible for the smooth flow of emotions, Qi, and blood. Therefore, it is the organ most affected...
Let Food Be Your Medicine: Botanicals ROCK!
Hippocrates was credited with saying, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." He was an important figure in the history of medicine because he was among the earliest to assert that natural processes caused diseases. The idea of what we eat and drink...
Underlying reasons you may struggle with your weight
One of the more popular questions I receive is, "What can I do to lose weight?". Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who claim to eat right and exercise and still struggle with their weight. As a 58-year-old male, I have noticed the same thing. I eat an...
Back to School or Work Help
Regardless of age, going back to school season is a great time to make sure you have a few of the essential health areas covered. We need to focus on four areas: Immune Health, Stress, Sleep, and Memory/Focus. This blog will dive into what supplements can be...
Overlooked Cause for Cognitive Issues
In modern medicine, we often look at cognitive issues being caused by age, neurotransmitter issues, free radical damage, and even circulatory problems. What often gets overlooked are other underlying risks such as sleep and stress. When we look at stress, sleep, and...
Putting COVID-19 in the Rearview Mirror Part 1: Regaining Your Active Lifestyle
If you were one of the many people (including myself) to get sick with COVID-19, you most likely noticed extreme weakness, fatigue, and a decreased overall zest for life. Even though I was fully vaccinated, I became very sick for 11 straight days with a fever of...
Technology & Supplements: Advancements and Improvements
Coming from a traditional pharmacy background, I have always been intrigued by the technology that went into creating medications. What has been great to see are the technological advancements in natural medicines too. This blog will cover just a few of the “cool”...
Beets: Are They the Next Superfood?
They have been a superfood for multiple reasons and are becoming popular for the benefits beetroot provides to health. To understand why beetroot should be considered a superfood, we need to take a look at what the definition of a superfood is: according to...
Sexual Dysfunction Revolution: Natural Health to the Rescue
The Herbal Pharmacist® blog recently published a blog on infertility in men, which received copious amounts of praise. Requests were made for an article for men and women regarding more sexual health concerns. This article will cover topics few wish to discuss, yet...
Male Infertility: Who doesn’t want to hear “Happy Father’s Day”?
One thing you don't see very often is blog posts on infertility. This blog will address a common issue and some natural solutions to consider. According to a study published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, “Infertility affects an estimated 15% of couples...
E-Sports Supplements: Beyond Caffeine
Attention all e-gamers, you need to take a hard look at adding supplements to your daily routine. The demands of e-gaming can negatively impact your health and your performance while playing. This blog will cover several areas e-gamers should consider supplementing...
Brain Health: Thinking “Outside the Box”
Recent studies show that we may need to focus on our body's ability to produce BDNF to maintain, improve and repair brain health. While starting with an acronym isn't always the best attention grabber, knowing the acronym has something to do with brain health should...
Ancient Botanicals with Modern Applications
Hippocrates was credited for the saying “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. He was an important figure in the history of medicine because he was among the earliest to assert that diseases were caused by natural processes. Currently, the idea of what...
PEA vs. CBD
I introduced you to PEA and its many proven health benefits in a previous blog. The question often comes up of how PEA compares to CBD. The battle of the three-letter acronyms starts here! PEA stands for Palmitoylethanolamide, and CBD stands for Cannabidiol. We can...
PEA: The Supplement Ingredient, the Majority of Us, Need to Know
Most people reading this article for the first time have never heard of PEA. Please don't feel bad because I hadn't heard much about it until the last year or so. This article will focus on this amazing ingredient and why you should add it to your daily supplement...
Healthy Brain = Healthy Body
What do you think of when you see the words "Healthy Brain"? Most of us think about our parents or grandparents and how they forget things or aren't quite as sharp as they used to be. However, this is only part of the equation for a healthy brain and its...
Prostate Health: Not Just an Old Man’s Concern
It is amazing how many men don’t know much about their prostate. It seems the only men who do anything are those who have a problem with it. This article will help explain why this gland is so important, what health issues can arise and how to support prostate health...
Chaga: Ancient mushroom with modern health benefits
History The first mention of the use of Chaga comes from the 16th century, and its use in Russia. Chaga was used in a variety of ways, including general well-being, internal cleansing, and curing and preventing diseases in general.[i] While we can’t say that Chaga...
Where and How Your Herbs are Grown Matters
In a previous blog, I wrote about the advancements in technology and how these innovations contributed to making our supplements better. However, it is good to note where and how your herbs are grown may impact their effectiveness. When we factor in different growing...
Advances in Technology Benefits Your Dietary Supplements and Health
Necessity is the mother of invention (innovation), a commonly used proverb when someone comes up with a way to do things better or hasn't been done previously. This proverb is not limited to ultra-technical fields and is now quite the driving force for innovation in...
e-Gaming Supplements: Improve your Health and Gaming
Attention all e-gamers, you need to take a hard look at adding supplements to your daily routine. The demands of e-gaming can negatively impact your health and your performance while playing. This blog will cover several areas e-gamers should consider supplementing...
Cognitive Health at Work, Play, Sports, e-Gaming and More
What is Cognitive Health/Function? What do you think of when you see the words “cognitive health”? Most of us think about our parents or grandparents and how they forget things or aren’t quite as sharp as they used to be. Let me be the first to tell you that...
Mental Wellness – Balancing Stress, Sleep and Cognitive Health
We often hear about mental illness, but not mental wellness. Is the concept of mental wellness new to you? Consider this; mental wellness is about how all aspects of your life, i.e., social, emotional, physical, spiritual, intellectual, and how they collectively...
Finish the Year Strong
Normally I do a long post on specific health challenges and my natural approaches, but today I want to encourage you to finish this year strong and carry it over into the new year. Check out my blog post on Goals and how to set/achieve them. Why wait until the...
COVID-19 vs. Common Flu Herbal Pharmacist Perspective
Since the "outbreak" of COVID-19, I have been dumbfounded by how much fear is being pushed down our throats by the media and governments. If you take a look at the “REAL NUMBERS” of both worldwide Flu and COVID-19, you can see that the Flu is much worse...
Black Cumin Seed: An Ancient Seed with Powerful Immune Support
Black cumin seed oil, a.k.a black seed oil (N. sativa or NS) and thymoquinone have been thoroughly studied for decades. With the heightened interest in ingredients that support immune health, taking a look at the extensive research done with regards to...
Foundational Supplement Program with Whole Food AstaPure® Arava
One of the most pressing questions consumers have is, “What supplements do I need to take daily?” The answer should be simple, start with a strong foundation. Just as if you were building a home, you would first pour a strong foundation in which to build...
Sarcopenia: The New Osteoporosis
Your Muscle Will Tell You More About Your Health Than Just Strength Before you blow by this article keep this in mind, muscle health or should I say lack of muscle health is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, the overall health of your...
Simple Steps to Achieving Your Goals
My concepts are Foundational and Fundamental ideas on achieving your Goals. Whether or not your goal is directly related to your health or not doesn’t really matter. The information I share will help you with whatever your goals may be. To reach your goal, you must...
Holiday eating: Let your food be your medicine.
Thanksgiving launches us into a feeding frenzy each year. During the weeks following Thanksgiving and all the way through New Years we will eat just about anything put in front of us. We will treat our plates just as a painter does their canvas: Fill it all in with...
Total Body Makeover-Cleansing
Want to look good? Sometimes you need to start your work from the inside. Cleansing and detoxification systems are the best way to start your total body makeover. As long as the focus of our year is building a strong health foundation, the topic of cleansing is...
Antibiotic Use and Probiotics
Even with public awareness campaigns by the WHO (World Health Organization) and other authorities, the over-prescribing of antibiotics continues. We can’t blame patients for this necessarily because we are at the mercy of our health care providers to determine the...
Probiotics Linked to Improved Skin Health
Are you showing more skin these days? Don’t take that the wrong way-with Spring here and summer on the way, it is an important time of the year to focus on your skin. It seems like now more than ever our appearance matters most. Since the skin is the largest organ...
Eye Health
In the next several months, different organizations will be honoring specific eye health months such as Glaucoma Awareness Month and AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month. This prompted me to write a general article on eye health. Now it is time to help those (like me) who...
Digestive Woes? Foundational Digestive Help 101
Too often we overlook the importance of taking care of this part of our body until something goes wrong with it. Conditions such as Heart Burn, Acid Reflux, GURD, Diarrhea, Constipation, IBS, IBD, Crohn’s, Leaky Gut Syndrome are getting out of control yet most of us...
Probiotic 101
True or False: All bacteria are bad for you. False! Simply put, there are two types of bacteria found in/on the human body-pathogens (disease causing) and probiotics (life promoting/friendly). In the large and small intestine, probiotics (also known as Flora or...
Are you bathing suit ready?
The winter is over, spring has sprung and depending on what part of the country you live in, it may be bathing suit season already. The fall and winter months are unkind to most of us because colder temperatures lead to less physical activity. Those same months are...
Using tonics for sustained health
For over a year now, I have made the shift back to using mostly herbs as part of my supplement program. My foundational supplements now include what are better known as tonics. In short, tonics are herbal in nature and provide nutritional support to a particular area...
Avoid Winter Dry Skin Issues
Now that we are into colder weather, dry skin becomes more of a problem. When we turn on the heat in our homes, the dry winter air plays havoc on our skin. In more severe cases the skin will crack and bleed. I hope after reading this tip you can all avoid problems...
Foundational Supplement Program
One of the top questions I get asked is “What supplements should I really take? There are so many supplements available and the thought of where to start can definitely be overwhelming. Keeping with my philosophy of “foundational and fundamental health” I will explain...
Knowing this number could save your life
What number you ask? Your Omega-3 Index number or perhaps better stated; your omega-3 levels. Why is this number so important? Omega-3s play a critical role in in just about all aspects of health because they are a key component of each and every cell membrane in your...
Trouble Sleeping? Easy and drug free solutions
For many of us falling asleep at night is like work. For others, we may fall asleep fine but wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back to sleep. Whatever your sleep dilemma, I am here to help. You may not be aware of the potentially severe health effects...
Children’s supplements
As a parent of two children I understand the everyday challenges and concerns of keeping our children healthy. Let’s face it, getting our kids to eat healthy at home is a challenge, but at school and other outside events it is nearly impossible. I believe it is even...
Memory and Cognitive Issues
While working in my pharmacy I had a regular customer who came in monthly to purchase her memory pills (lecithin). She would walk in and say “Dave, I need my memory pills” and reach down and pick up a bottle and walk to the register. One day several months later, she...