A Seasonal Newsletter from
Naturopathic Health Care
 
Amy Rothenberg ND & Paul Herscu ND, MPH



Spring 2021
lotus
369 Pleasant Street Northampton, MA 01060
115 Elm Street, Suite 210, Enfield, CT 06082
1.860.763.1225
For new patient appointments in person or via Telemedicine click here.
Is Your Reflux Medicine Good for You?
 
As a licensed naturopathic doctor, I am not against drugs. I know there is a time and place for pharmaceuticals and applaud advances across the medical sciences. But for some common complaints, some of the most commonly prescribed medications may well be putting a whole lot of people at risk.

A while back, I wrote about how how Zantac, a popular antacid, has been shown to break down into carcinogens. And more recently I authored a piece shared below about how PPIs may be putting people more at risk for COVID-19. And the thing is, there are so many effective, gentle approaches to the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) which I delineate in that writing. I hope you will find this information useful for you or someone you love.
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We are deep into spring now, enjoying long walks in our beautiful neighborhood and time in the garden. We had given up on a transplanted quince shrub which appeared all but dead last fall, but just this morning I see that from the dead base of the roots, several new shoots of quince are emerging! Amazing. Gardening is full of metaphors, and this one brightens my day--- about resilience and the urge for life!
 
Happy Spring!
AMY (& PAUL)
Is Your PPI Putting You at Risk for COVID-19?
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Studies show proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) make people more susceptible to falling ill with COVID-19 and having more serious illness.

As the worldwide pandemic stretches into its second year, analyzing data collected from COVID-19 patients brings pertinent and actionable information. In an ongoing story related to challenges with medication for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a number of meta-analyses find that those who use proton pump inhibitors like Omeprazole (Prilosec), Esomeprazole (Nexium), Lansoprazole (Prevacid), and Pantoprazole (Protonix) are at increased risk for developing COVID-19 and are more likely to develop secondary infections and overall more severe manifestations of COVID-19.

RECIPE: Springtime Confetti Salad!
Sometimes as we round the bright days of April, I realize that I need a change from the heavier winter days of stew and soup and the carb-rich meals that grace our winter table.

When I feel like that, I make my Springtime Confetti Salad. It's super easy: grate carrots, red cabbage and raw beets. Add big fistful of chopped up fresh parsley. Drizzle with olive oil, cider vinegar and fresh squeezed lemon juice, and throw in a generous handful of sliced almonds or if you want to splurge, pine nuts. I love how tart and alive this salad is. It’s refreshing and healthy and bright as spring!

RECOMMENDED: Where we bring to light an organization or product we support.
As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, we have another epidemic, long in the making, that of gun violence. Please consider supporting The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence.

From their website: The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence (Ed Fund) is a 501(c)(3) affiliate organization of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. We use a public health and equity lens to identify and implement evidence-based policy solutions and programs to reduce gun violence in all its forms. We seek to make gun violence rare and abnormal….. The Ed Fund makes communities safer by translating research into policy. We achieve this by engaging in policy development, advocacy, community and stakeholder engagement, and technical assistance.

You can donate here.
Naturopathic Health Care:
Northampton, MA & Enfield, CT!

We are continuing to see all our patients via telemedicine at this time. For help with your underlying chronic aliments, for support in helping create a resilient immune system and for general health care needs, call the office to schedule. Give the gift of health to yourself or a loved one this sp season!
860.763.1225
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