Chronic Pain

CBD (Cannabidiol)—could it be the nutraceutical of the year? Part 1
March 27, 2018
Retired military physician and West Point graduate Philip Blair, MD is an internationally-recognized expert on CBD: What is it? Is it legal? Why are hemp sources of CBD preferred over marijuana-derived CBD? Will it make you high? Uncoordinated? Are there other untoward effects? Addiction or dependency potential? What does research tell us about the endocannabinoid system? Does CBD have the potential to alleviate pain and help curb the opioid epidemic? What can CBD do for anxiety, depression or PTSD? For head injuries? For neurodegenerative disorders? Seizures? As a sleep aid? GI ailments? What’s the basis of its anti-inflammatory effects? Can it address skin disorders and promote healing? Does it enhance athletic performance and speed recovery time? What’s the difference between tinctures, oral capsules, liposomal forms, topical lotions, and vaping solutions? Why is the “entourage effect” important? Can pets benefit from CBD? How do you evaluate the quality of CBD products? Click HERE for part 2. And click HERE for the article, "The Scientific Evidence Proving CBD’s Benefits," for more information.

CBD (Cannabidiol)—could it be the nutraceutical of the year? Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with retired military physician and West Point graduate Philip Blair, MD, an internationally-recognized expert on CBD. Click HERE for part 1.

Intelligent Medicine Radio Show for March 17, Part 2
March 19, 2018
A caller worried about kidney function seeks natural alternatives to NSAIDs for joint pain; L-Arginine vs. pre-eclampsia and major depression; Rx for fungal toenail leaves patient stuck with $1500 pharmacy bill; Oral vs. topical bio-identical hormone replacement; Screening rectal exams found ineffective; New gout drug raises safety issues. Click HERE for part 1. Click HERE for articles and resources relating to this podcast episode.

Q&A with Leyla, Part 1
February 7, 2018
Vitamin D slashes cardiovascular risk. Will cheaper, innovative, efficient healthcare tank the stock market? I took Cipro for many years for UTIs and have tendon ruptures, is there any way of resolving this side effect? My 56-year-old girlfriend has arthritis in her hands, what are the best supplements to take? What is the best diet to follow if you have coronary artery plaque -- are cheese and coconut oil really ok? Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: “The Herbal Pharmacist,” Part 2
August 3, 2017
"The Herbal Pharmacist," David Foreman, tackles chronic pain, a problem that affects 100 million Americans and exacts a huge financial toll. What are the downsides of current prescription and over-the-counter pain medications? Are there natural anti-inflammatories? Could Celadrin play a role in pain relief? How might magnesium and Omega 3 fatty acids ameliorate pain? Click HERE for part 1.

Intelligent Medicine Radio Show for July 1, Part 1
July 3, 2017
Remembering iconoclastic physician John Sarno, author of "Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection", who died this week at 93; To your health--immune-enhancing probiotic beer debuts; What type of Magnesium is best? When to take L-glutamine for exercise; Is there no limit to human longevity? Does frequent sex make you smarter, live longer? Hydrogen breath test to detect Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). Click HERE for part 2. Click HERE for articles and resources relating to this podcast episode.

Q&A with Leyla, Part 2
January 4, 2017
Fish oil and surgery: risks and benefits. I have leg pain, cramps and migraine, would it help to increase my dopamine? Should CoQ10 or ubiquinol be taken away from a statin? How does leptin and leptin resistance relate to insulin levels? Click HERE for part 1.

Proper Diagnosis and Treatment of Pelvic Pain, Part 1
December 8, 2016
Stephanie Prendergast, author of "Pelvic Pain Explained: What Everyone Needs to Know," explains how pelvic floor dysfunction may underlie a wide variety of challenging conditions: prostatitis in men, vaginal pain in women (vulvadynia), and sexual, bowel and urinary problems (including interstitial cystitis) in both sexes. How prevalent is pelvic pain? When should one suspect that their condition might be related to pelvic pain? What mistakes do doctors make in misdiagnosing or mistreating pelvic floor disorders? What can trigger them? Why does the media sometimes misrepresent this condition? How is it diagnosed? Are Kegel exercises and biofeedback still part of therapy? What is therapy like? Who’s qualified to properly diagnose and treat these problems? What’s being done to increase awareness of the under-appreciated roles pelvic floor dysfunction and pudendal neuralgia play in many difficult-to-treat disorders? The take-home message is one of hope for sufferers if proper therapy is applied. Click HERE for part 2.

Proper Diagnosis and Treatment of Pelvic Pain, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Stephanie Prendergast, author of "Pelvic Pain Explained: What Everyone Needs to Know." Click HERE for part 1.

The Potential Benefits of Medical Marijuana, Part 1
December 1, 2016
Dr. Rachna Patel is a pioneer in research and application of medical marijuana. She is careful to distinguish her practice from “card mills” that indiscriminately hand out prescriptions for marijuana to mostly recreational users. Rather, she tailors various formulas comprising differing ratios and dosages of THC and cannabidiol according to patients' medical conditions. She finds many of her patients with pain conditions respond well to medical marijuana: fibromyalgia, arthritis, and neuropathy. Many are able to taper their prescription meds due to the pain relief they obtain. She describes topical application of marijuana for psoriasis and sore joints. Patients with MS experience decreased spasticity and patients with Parkinson’s Disease see improvements in tremors. Patients with anxiety enjoy freedom from panic attacks. Medical marijuana is well-suited for insomnia. It ameliorates GI pain in IBS and colitis. What patients are NOT candidates for medical marijuana? Can it be used in kids and adolescents? How might it paradoxically help ADHD? Do patients feel stoned? Does it create addiction or dependency? What about "amotivational syndrome" that is reported in chronic pot smokers? Does it provide support to cancer patients? Might it possess anti-inflammatory effects? Why does Dr. Patel eschew use of inhaled marijuana products? Should users trust the internet or should they access prescription marijuana via official licensed dispensaries? Click HERE for part 2.