Last update: 04/17/25 By Eugene L. Heyden, RN   “Vitamin D insufficiency is common; repletion of vitamin D to normal levels in patients who have chronic low back pain or have had failed back surgery may improve quality of life or, in some cases, result in complete resolution of symptoms.”  ~Schwalfenberg, 2009, emphasis added “Among…

Last update:12-19-24 By Eugene L. Heyden, RN “Therapeutic fasting is defined as the controlled and voluntary abstinence from all calorie-containing food and drinks from a specified period of time.”  ~Furmli et al., 2018 “According to case studies and randomized trials, therapeutic fasting has been shown to reverse insulin resistance, resulting in the discontinuance of insulin…

Last update: 12-23-24 By Eugene L. Heyden, RN “The mast cell is a complex immune cell that in its mature form resides in the tissues that interact with the external environment such as the air passageway, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. While best known for its central role in allergy, anaphylaxis, and asthma, mast cells primarily…

  By Eugene L. Heyden, RN “Heparin is emerging as a promising therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.”  ~ Korzenik, 2000 “Hypercoagulable state may be an important contributing factor in the pathogenesis of IBD, especially ulcerative colitis (UC). “Apart from its anticoagulant effects, there are several studies which have shown that heparin possesses various anti-inflammatory and…

  By Eugene L. Heyden, RN “Hypercoagulable state may be an important contributing factor in the pathogenesis of IBD, especially ulcerative colitis (UC).”  ~ Mousavi et al., 2015 “Bromelain is widely administered for its well-recognized properties, such as its anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and fibrinolytic affects, anticancer activity and immunomodulatory effects, in addition to being a wound…

Last update: 03-05-24 By Eugene L. Heyden, RN “Hypoxia [inappropriately low blood oxygenation] can induce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.”  ~ Vavricka et al., 2014 Without delving into the matter, one would never guess that an airline flight could negatively affect the individual with IBD.  But it can.  There are unseen forces at work. During airplane…

  By Eugene L. Heyden, RN “Studies have shown that opioids have immunomodulatory activity, including modulation of the inflammatory response and healing and repair of tissues. Short-term blockade of opioid receptors leads to increased endogenous levels of opioids, which is the basis for naltrexone use in CD [Crohn’s disease].”  ~ Kais, 2013 “Signaling through opioid…

Last update: 02-07-24 By Eugene L. Heyden, RN “The biggest weakness of current cancer treatments is that they only treat the cancer and not the actual patient.”  ~ Wada et al., 2022 “The Warburg phenomenon, with the attendant acidification of the extracellular milieu of tumors, has fascinated cancer scientists for many decades, but the modulation of…

Last update: 06-06-23 By Eugene L. Heyden, RN “VitC monotherapy in palliative care alleviates cancer-related pain and fatigue and improves the patients’ quality of life.”  ~ Li et al., 2022 “In palliative care, high-dose VitC is currently gaining ground due to its highly safe and tolerable profile. Not only is high-dose VitC known to relieve pain…