Vital, diverse, complex, and extensive; these are adjectives used to describe our skin, which is the body’s largest and thinnest organ. It contains approximately 96 million pores, which is roughly 17 to 20 square feet in average sized adults. It comes as no surprise, then, that keeping this organ healthy is crucial to our overall health.With functions as diverse as temperature regulation and sensations, the skin protects us by preventing bacteria, pathogens and pollutants from entering the blood stream, by taking in nutrients, moisture and oxygen, and by eliminating wastes and toxins.  So, it’s logical to assume that we all...

Quarternary amonium compounds are synthetic derivatives of ammonium chloride an ammonium salt that occurs naturally (1). That it occurs naturally should in no way merit its inclusion in product ingredients that are considered natural. Many components occur in nature and are however not something someone would want to consume or even use topically. An example is a type of vitamin E –D–L Alpha Tocopheral which comes from petroleum and regardless of the hype and propaganda involved should be avoided. Ammonium chloride is colorless and odorless in crystal or powder form. It is used industrially in freezing mixtures, batteries, dyes, safety...

As part of patient education we have recommended discontinuing vegetable oils and using extra virgin organic olive oil, organic virgin coconut oil, organic macadamia nut oil and organic pure butter. There are oils such as sesame, peanut, etc., that people like for cooking. Remember high heat can be dangerous especially when the heat is rapid, high and causes the oil to smoke— not good, so use good sense and moderation and the right oils. The term heart healthy vegetable oil(s) is an oxymoron. The danger to the cardiovascular system is great and when you toss in the implications in macular...

What are free radicals? Technically, free radicals are atoms with one electron as opposed to the normal two electrons in their outer shell. Being reactive and unstable they seek another electron to become stable. A free radical grabs an electron from an adjacent atom, therby meeting its own electron need but damaging the neighboring atom and in turn creating a new free radical. When enough atoms become damaged from this chain reaction, the molecule that contains them becomes damaged. These free radicals attack DNA which in turn can lead to cellular dysfunction, mutation and cancer. When they attack enzymes and...

The common misconception that the medical effect of an herb is similar to a pharmaceutical drug-in that it is due to a single ingredient has led to a dangerous notion that in turn should allow big Pharma to patent and dispense them in a dangerous and toxic manner, not unlike the one already in place for the patent drugs that are their stock and trade in today’s “better living through chemistry” environment. The push toward standardizing herbs to the “so-called” active ingredient making them more like drugs is on. When there is no respect for each herb as found in...