Metabolic detoxification (detox)—or biotransformation—is a physiological function that removes toxic substances of endogenous or exogenous origin from the body. Because the function and regulation of this process varies from person to person, different people can have a different sensitivity to toxic substances and their effects on the development of a variety of diseases such as liver conditions, fertility problems, and cancer. Along with sex, age, and lifestyle, genetics play an important role in this variability. But do we actually know…

by Michael Stanclift, ND It goes by many names, ubiquinol (“yoo-bik-quin-ol”), ubiquinone (“yoo-bik-quin-ohn”), coenzyme Q10, or everybody’s favorite nickname, CoQ10. It’s found all over the body, in our mitochondria, which gives you an idea of how important it is to our health. CoQ10 is a fat-soluble antioxidant that we get by eating oily fish, organ meats, and whole grains, and CoQ10’s job is to help us make energy and protect our cells from free radicals. A wide range of medical…

by Joseph Lamb, MD “In 1982, while on sabbatical at the Linus Pauling Institute, I became convinced from the discussions I had with Dr. Pauling and many other luminaries that visited the Institute that the only way to really differentiate disease care from health care was through the development of a system that quantified health in terms of function and not the absence of disease.” —Jeffrey Bland, PhD President, Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute We all likely agree with Dr. Bland…

by Melissa Blake, ND Metabolic detoxification is a complex set of coordinating systems working together to neutralize and eliminate toxic substances from the body. It is an amazing and intricate design. As suggested by design expert Irene Au, just like any good design, “when it works, no one notices, but when it doesn’t, it sure stinks.” Patients know far too well just how much it does stink. Excess toxic burden (too much in, not enough out) has been associated with…

In this brief hallway chat, Mimi Guarneri, MD addresses how to manage stress and aging using integrative medicine and lifestyle approaches. Dr. Guarneri also answers a few questions on how to personalize use of phytonutrients (e.g., quercetin) and bioactives (e.g., omega-3) for gut and heart health, with the proper use of biomarkers and elimination diet protocols. Download the transcript          

by Noelle Patno, PhD The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Viruses that cause colds include more than a hundred different kinds of rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and many more. No wonder adults get colds 2-3 times a year on average and with even higher frequency for children and college students. As the most common human illness that leads to missed work and school, colds stay prevalent due to the many variants…

Most patients seeking pain relief rely on the following three families of drugs: opioids, gabapentinoids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs). These widely used drugs are associated with serious side effects.1 During the past decade there has been an increasing interest in cannabis-derived natural products for pain management with a better safety profile and adequate pain relief. However, we still know surprisingly little about the effectiveness on pain of nonintoxicating cannabis-based products—conventionally referred to as “industrial hemp.” To fill this knowledge…