Recent Studies and Links

As a Functional Gut Health and Hormone Specialist, I’m always learning. There are new studies being released almost daily, and what we know is constantly changing. So a huge part of my job is keeping abreast of the latest developments in functional medicine.

I decided to put together this blog post with some of the most interesting research available to us. “The more you know”, and all that!

May 2023

Why d-Mannose May Be as Efficient as Antibiotics in the Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Lower Urinary Tract Infections—Preliminary Considerations and Conclusions from a Non-Interventional Study

July 2022

Interesting new data on generational trauma  → Adverse experiences can change future generations through epigenetic pathways.

May 2022

Is Bone Health at Risk for Adolescents on Birth Control? A new review suggests that benefits continue to outweigh risks when it comes to preventing teen pregnancies

Hormonal Contraception and Bone Health in Adolescents

March 2022:

30 Years of Research Shows Sauna Bathing is Game-Changer for Longevity and Heart Disease. I recommend HigherDose Sauna to supercharge your self-care and boost holistic recovery.

February 2022:

Evidence suggests that patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are hyper-responsive to environmental, physical and visceral stimuli. IBS patients also frequently report poor sleep quality.

66.7% of long haulers tested positive for reactivated EBV, as compared with 10% of controls. The study suggests that symptoms may be related to this reactivation, more so than the initial virus.

January 2022:

A new study published in Science Advances suggests that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound in the cannabis and hemp plant, significantly reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Many women have suspected it but finally there’s confirmation that Covid-19 vaccines may cause some small changes to the length of their menstrual cycles. A study funded by the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) found the length of a woman’s cycle was impacted by nearly one day on average after each dose of a vaccine, but it did not seem to impact the number of days of bleeding.

 

December 2021:

According to new research, hormonal IUDs do not have a purely local effect on the uterus – but, instead, affect the entire body. In other words, the contraceptive drug released by the IUD (levonorgestrel) travels to the breasts, brain, and other tissues. And importantly, levonorgestrel is NOT progesterone so acts differently in those tissues compared to progesterone. At the same time, hormonal IUDs can dramatically lighten flow and are arguably the gentlest type of hormonal birth control.

• The Pros and Cons of Hormonal IUDs (Mirena, Kyleena, and Skyla)
• Breast MRI Shows IUDs Have Systemic Effects

 

September 2021:

Breastfeeding and COVID-19: From Nutrition to Immunity: The accumulated body of knowledge regarding the role of breast milk in the development of the neonatal immune system and protection against infection by other respiratory viruses is discussed, with a focus on the anti-inflammatory role of the antibodies, microbes, and viruses provided to the infant in breast milk and its relevance to the case of SARS-CoV-2.

Groundbreaking FDA-Approved Study: Mushrooms and Chinese Herbs for COVID-19 – Pacific College: Top researchers at the University of California have launched a groundbreaking FDA-approved clinical trial to study natural medicine to fight COVID-19.

 

August 2021:

The Chinese herbal formula Huoxiang Zhengqi for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (CHAIRS): a study protocol for a double-blinded randomized controlled trial: This study is on a common Chinese herbal formula that has been used for hundreds of years, for nausea, symptoms of food poisoning/travelers diarrhea, and for IBS-D. This trial aims to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of HXZQ for IBS-D, which is expected to be an effective IBS-D treatment.

July 2021:

Black Seed and DHT: Animal studies show that Black Seed might have the potential to block DHT

Reishi Mushroom and Testosterone: Study found that reishi mushrooms reduced 5-alpha reductase levels, thus preventing the conversion of testosterone into DHT

 

June 2021:

BPA and Crohn’s Disease: Evaluating the relationship between endocrine disruptors and Crohn’s Disease

 

Additional Reading:

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