Peer Reviewed Articles
The Role of Cortisol in Sleep
06-01-2010 The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis interacts with sleep in multiple ways. This article reviews the effects of the HPA axis on sleep and the converse. The hormones secreted by the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary that interact with the adrenal cortex are discussed, with implications on sleep disturbances and insomnia. A review of the stages of sleep and sleep architecture is given, and particular attention is paid to the role of cortisol. A dysfunctional HPA and alterations in the rhythm of cortisol production is described as a basis for understanding many cases of insomnia. This abnormal cortisol production and cycling is the basis for the hypothesis and the small body of research on the use of natural therapies to regulate the HPA axis and cortisol production.
Acupuncture for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Review of Evidence-Based Research
04-01-2010
NMJ Original Research: Reproducibility and Reliability of Two Food Allergy Testing Methods
03-01-2010
Nutritional Protocol for the Treatment of Intestinal Permeability Defects and Related Conditions
03-01-2010 Under healthy conditions, the intestinal mucosa permits the absorption of vital nutrients from the gut lumen while presenting a barrier against the passage of pathogenic substances into the body. Leaky gut syndrome describes a pathological increase in permeability of the intestinal mucosa that causes increased absorption of intestinally derived endotoxin, antigens, inflammatory mediators, and, in some cases, intact bacteria.
An Overview of Melatonin and Breast Cancer
02-01-2010
Natural Depression Remedies
12-01-2009 Depression is a common mental disorder that presents with some or all of the following symptoms: a depressed mood, a loss of interest in things that once brought pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep patterns, changes in appetite, a lack of energy, and poor concentration. These symptoms lead to impairments in an individual’s ability to take care of his or her everyday responsibilities and can become chronic or recurrent.
Vitamin K and Osteoporosis
09-01-2009 Vitamin K4, K5 and K6 are all synthetically derived compounds used in experimental settings. In regard to osteoporosis, phylloquinone and menaquinones are the most relevant so this review will address only these vitamers biological significance in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.