Hervey Bay Herbal Medicine

14/11/2025

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a small molecule produced in humans primarily by the gut-liver axis and has become an important biomarker, and possible mediator, of cardiometabolic and renal disease.

Dietary choline, phosphatidylcholine (lecithin), L-carnitine and betaine, mainly from red meat, eggs and dairy, are metabolised by gut microbiota to trimethylamine (TMA). TMA is absorbed and oxidised by flavin mono-oxygenase 3 (FMO3) in the liver to form TMAO.

Multiple large prospective cohort studies have found higher plasma TMAO strongly predicts cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction, stroke and mortality, independent of traditional risk factors. While there is some mechanistic support for this, causation remains unproven in humans; TMAO may be a marker, not a driver of disease. Some marine fish naturally contain high TMAO, yet fish consumption is cardioprotective, suggesting context-dependent effects.

Vegetarian/vegan diets produce markedly lower TMAO, in part due to their gut flora modulation. Antibiotics or microbiome shifts can suppress its formation.

In an intriguing outcome, allicin, the major bioactive compound in raw garlic, was shown to significantly mitigate atherosclerosis in ApoE⁻/⁻ mice by remodelling gut microbiota and suppressing TMAO formation. Treatment reduced TMA-producing taxa such as Desulfovibrio while enriching beneficial genera including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, resulting in lower plasma lipids, attenuated vascular inflammation and diminished plaque burden—highlighting a gut-TMAO-atherosclerosis mechanism. In the parallel human study, participants identified as high TMAO producers consumed 55 mL of raw garlic juice daily (around 48 mg allicin) for one week. This led to roughly 35–40 % reductions in urinary TMAO and 20–25 % reductions in plasma TMAO, with concurrent improvements in microbial diversity and an increase in health-associated taxa.

The study supports garlic’s capacity to modulate cardiometabolic risk via novel microbiome-dependent pathways. While the dose of garlic juice was quite high, lower amounts of fresh crushed raw garlic or allicin-releasing herbal products could likely have a significant impact over a longer timeframe. Garlic’s beneficial effect might be particularly marked when consumed in conjunction with a meal containing animal protein to lower the resultant spike in TMAO.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35087050/

11/11/2025

Lithium doesn’t just stabilize mood; it may help the brain protect and repair itself at doses far lower than those used to treat mood disorders.

This figure shows how lithium, one of the oldest and most effective treatments for preventing mood episode recurrence, restores balance across brain chemistry and cellular health. It acts on multiple levels at once, from neurotransmitter activity to the molecular machinery that keeps neurons alive.

🟡 Balances brain communication
Lithium quiets overactive excitatory signals (dopamine and glutamate) and strengthens calming inhibitory ones (GABA), helping prevent the rapid mood shifts and overstimulation seen in bipolar disorder.

🟡 Reduces cellular stress
Inside neurons, lithium lowers oxidative and nitrosative stress, limits protein buildup, and improves mitochondrial function—all of which reduce inflammation and protect cells from damage.

🟡 Supports brain growth and resilience
Lithium activates signaling pathways (including BDNF and mTOR) that promote neuronal survival, new connections, and long-term cognitive stability.

Lithium’s benefits extend beyond mood regulation. By stabilizing both neural activity and cellular energy systems, it supports brain longevity—turning a simple mineral into one with profound potential as a tool for preserving mental health.

Microgram (300-1000 mcg) doses of lithium (orotate) have been proposed to support baseline coverage with no adverse events likely at those doses.

Image: The science and practice of lithium therapy

28/10/2025

The Simple Sound That Supercharges Your Body’s Healing Power

A groundbreaking study has revealed that humming for just five seconds can increase nitric oxide levels in the body by an astonishing 1400 percent. This simple act, often dismissed as a habit or form of relaxation, may actually be one of the most powerful natural tools for improving health, boosting immunity, and supporting overall wellbeing.

Nitric oxide is a vital molecule produced in the sinuses and throughout the body. It helps blood vessels relax, enhances circulation, and delivers oxygen more efficiently to every cell. It also plays a key role in fighting infections, reducing inflammation, and improving brain function. When you hum, air vibrations stimulate the nasal passages and dramatically increase the release of this healing gas.

Researchers found that even short periods of humming cause nitric oxide levels to soar far higher than during normal breathing. The result is a wave of oxygen-rich blood that nourishes tissues, strengthens the immune system, and supports heart and lung health.

This discovery sheds light on why ancient breathing and meditation practices often include chanting or humming sounds. What was once considered spiritual may also be deeply biological, a way of tuning the body’s chemistry for balance and repair.

You don’t need equipment or training to benefit. Just take a deep breath, close your mouth gently, and hum for a few seconds. In that moment, you are not only creating sound but activating one of the body’s most potent healing responses.

21/10/2025

Congenital Heart Defects: Decoded 🧬❤️
Genes You Need to Know:
⚡️ NKX2-5 → The conductor (VSD/ASD/ToF)
⚡️ TBX1 → MVP for conotruncal defects
⚡️ NOTCH1 → Valve architect
Practice-Changing Insights:
🔬 Screen first for NKX2-5 in familial CHD (JACC 2024)
💊 Notch inhibitors reduce mortality in HLHS trials (Circulation 2024)
By the Numbers:
📊 82% of CHD cases trace to these pathways (Nature Genetics 2023)
📈 Precision Dx improves outcomes by 40% (NEJM 2024)

16/10/2025

It may seem far-fetched, but a recent study just revealed that consistent exercise has the power to help the brain forget traumatic memories by promoting neurogenesis (the creation of new neurons), particularly in the hippocampus, which can rewire neural circuits and disrupt older, maladaptive memories.

To elaborate, exercise stimulates the birth on new neurons, especially in the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for memory and emotion. When new neurons integrate into existing circuits, they can forge new connections and weaken or “loss” older ones, which helps to disrupt the recall of traumatic memories.

Exercise increases the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which helps existing neurons grow stronger and supports the creation of new ones. Consistent exercise also strengthens the prefrontal cortex, which is vital for focusing attention, managing emotions, and making decisions, helping to regulate the brain’s response to stress.

For trauma survivors, engaging in physical activity like running can be a way to regain a sense of control over their body, which is an important psychological factor in processing trauma.

SOURCE: https://scitechdaily.com/new-research-reveals-that-exercise-can-rewire-brains-and-erase-traumatic-memories/

SEE ALSO PMID: 31533339

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