Expert Interview

ENCORE: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Fats and Oils, Part 2
July 26, 2018
Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Diana Noland, RD, MPH, CCN, LD. Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: The Cannabis Cure, Part 1
July 19, 2018
The Cannabis Cure, a book by herbal expert Dr. Cass Ingram, is the subject of today’s podcast. It’s not about getting high, according to Dr. Ingram. Cannabis was first recorded as an herbal remedy in the writings of the Chinese emperor Shen Neng around 2,000 B.C. Today, researchers have been able to optimize its healing effects. Conditions found to be responsive to cannabinoid therapy include headaches and migraines, pain syndromes, glaucoma, insomnia, anxiety, fibromyalgia and delayed onset muscle soreness, colitis and Crohn’s, seizure disorders and neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s Disease and MS. Dr.Ingram favors an herbal formula called “Hempinol” as an over-the-counter alternative to purified cannabidiol (CBD) extracts which may be too strong and are of questionable legality. Hemp oil can be taken sublingually or applied topically. How does it work? What is the “endocannabinoid” system? Does hemp oil make you drowsy, uncoordinated or stoned? Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: The Cannabis Cure, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with herbal expert Dr. Cass Ingram about the benefits of cannabinoid therapy. Click HERE for part 1.

Topical CBD (cannabidiol) for pain, skin conditions and more, Part 1
July 11, 2018
Joel Greengrass, CEO of Theramu, shares how he personally got involved with CBD. Suffering from MS, he was on 7 medications for pain, spasticity, anxiety, and insomnia. Using both oral and topical CBD, his symptoms were relieved to the point that he was able to wean himself from all but one prescription—then he started a company. What does the research say about how skin application of CBD exerts its effects on pain and inflammation? Can it relieve arthritis, minor injuries, and muscle soreness? Inflammatory skin conditions? Does it have cosmetic effects? Why does Theramu leverage the synergy of emu oil together with CBD? A recent JAMA article found less than 1/3 of on-line CBD products delivered their promised potency, and some contained undisclosed amounts of THC—how does Theramu assure potency and safeguard against undesirable adulterants? Joel details the experiences his customers have been having using CBD for conditions like anxiety, PTSD, headaches/migraines, insomnia, neurological disorders and GI complaints. Is CBD “street-legal” for professional athletes? Is it safe for children and pets? Can it get you “stoned”? Click HERE for part 2.

Topical CBD (cannabidiol) for pain, skin conditions and more, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Joel Greengrass, CEO of Theramu, about how skin application of CBD exerts its effects on pain and inflammation. Click HERE for part 1.

Dietary Supplements: How to Separate Fact From Fiction, Part 1
July 10, 2018
Jeremy Appleton, ND, of Klaire Labs joins us to discuss supplement quality. Is it true as is sometimes alleged by critics, that “supplements are unregulated?” Are adverse effects of supplements leaving a toll of deaths and injuries? How does Dr. Appleton rate the overall quality of nutraceuticals, botanicals, and natural products that are currently on the market? What are the three biggest challenges impeding the improvement of supplement quality? Is the existing federal regulatory structure adequate to ensure that supplement products are safe, effective, and likely to deliver on their claims? What are the quality assurance features/measures that make Klaire’s product line unique? Some people place the blame for poor quality supplement products on “bad raw materials” from China and India. Is that is a fair assessment? What are the most important quality verification methods that physicians really need to understand? What about magnesium stearate? Should supplements be “GMO-free”? Click HERE for part 2.

Dietary Supplements: How to Separate Fact From Fiction, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation on supplement quality with Jeremy Appleton, ND of Klaire Labs. Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: The Father of the Modern Science of Immunology, Part 1
July 3, 2018
(Originally published July 2016.) This year, we celebrate the centennial of the death of Elie Metchnikoff, the Russian zoologist who is recognized today as the father of the modern science of immunology. Metchnikoff discovered the white blood cells that act as cellular “pacmen” to devour foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria. But Metchnikoff is probably best known today as the originator of our understanding of the role probiotics play in human health and disease. Metchnikoff kicked off a sensation in 1904 when he touted live cultures as an anti-aging elixir, igniting a world-wide yogurt craze. Metchnikoff was one of the first to systematically study the aging process; he linked it to “autointoxication” in the intestines. While his theories fell into disrepute in the mid-Twentieth Century, were he to be alive today he would be gratified with the current resurgence of interest in the Microbiome and its impact on health and longevity. The modern concepts of “endotoxins” and “leaky gut” owe a debt of gratitude to Metchnikoff’s seminal discoveries. At first greeted with skepticism and derision, Metchnikoff was ultimately awarded the Nobel Prize for his research. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: The Father of the Modern Science of Immunology, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Luba Vikhanski as we celebrate the centennial of the death of Elie Metchnikoff, the Russian zoologist who is recognized today as the father of the modern science of immunology. Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: The Effects of Altered States of Consciousness, Part 1
June 28, 2018
Is your health portfolio complete without meditation? The new book “Super Mind" is the subject of today’s podcast with Dr. Norman Rosenthal, a clinical psychologist who has studied the effects of altered states of consciousness achieved by TM (Transcendental Meditation). TM has been shown to be effective for a variety of disorders including hypertension, PTSD, substance abuse, and anxiety/depression. The benefits of regular meditation extend to improved productivity and well-being, and a richer experience of life. What does TM entail? Are all meditation practices alike? Is TM a spiritual practice that is at odds with one’s religious orientation, or does it complement prayer and observance? What of recent reports that meditators may experience “side effects” like worsening of their psychiatric disorders? What happens to the brain and body in a meditative state? How do you know you’re doing it “right?” Added, proven dividends of meditation may include decreased sleep requirements and improved athletic performance. Click HERE for part 2.