Many people are taking sides when it comes to the new vaccines coming out for the pandemic. The pro-vaccine community says that it will confer immunity and help end the pandemic. The anti-vaccine community is concerned about safety and long term effects from preservatives and adjuvants. But rarely do you hear about how to support your body and immune system during the process. So this is not a post about taking sides. It is my job to help people be as healthy as possible,

Salmon is a great food to get your dose of Omega 3's for the week. It is shown to be great for heart health and to reduce inflammation. A plant based diet does this as well but you have to be very careful to supplement with Omega 3's. These oils are an Essential Fatty Acid. This means that the body doesn't make them. So they need to be in our diet. Many people don't eat enough Omega-3 fats and instead eat more pro-inflammatory oils like canola, corn and vegetable oils. Th

Murky stagnant water Free flowing and healthy water These are 2 pictures of the same stream behind my father’s house. I’m standing on a bridge that has a small dam under it to back up water to flood the cranberry bogs upstream so they can harvest the cranberries. When I looked at the murky water behind the dam and the clear flowing water on the other side, it reminded me of acupuncture. I explain to patients, that in Chinese Medicine, STAGNATION = ILLNESS & PAIN. I use the st

Dr. Sparks in front of the Daoist Traditions Herbal Dispensary I love teaching people about all the wonderful opportunities and...

Ingredients: The ingredient part of the label must contain EVERYTHING in the product you are purchasing. It also is in order of the...

I am so excited to have my own garden again this year and that means a ton of organic, macrobiotic vegetables. But not everyone has a green thumb, space or time to grow their own. If you can't buy your veggies at the local farmer's Market, then you need to know what your'e putting in your mouth when it comes to pesticides. The Environmental Working Group, www.ewg.org, releases their Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 every year in the spring. They test the fruits and vegetables avail

The onion poultice is a folk remedy that has been used for hundreds of years. It helps to bring blood to the affected area. It is typically used for ear pain. It is said that it helps to decrease the pressure on the ear drum by stimulating the eustachian tube to drain. Now, while I would recommend seeing your doctor for ear pain, sometimes that is not an option. NEVER put anything IN YOUR EAR without a doctor telling you to do so, after they have looked in your ear, as yo

If you haven't heard of Lyme Disease, let me explain. Lyme disease is transmitted by tick bites, most commonly the deer tick, which is very small. They can also transmit other infections like Babesia and Bartonella, to name a few. These are called co-infections. Acute Lyme means that it is new and you have had it less than 6 weeks. This is something that is more easily solved. Chronic Lyme means that you have had it for over 3 months and you could have it for a lifetime.

When I lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I learned a lot about local folk remedies and natural health tips that had been handed down for generations. One of my favorites the Sulfur Sock. Farmers have used it for over 100 years to keep away mites, ticks and other bugs. I personally don't love spraying Deet all over me so I am always looking for other bug repellants. There are plenty of trails behind my place that I love to walk frequently so I have my outfit ready to go. I

Don't forget that it is TICK SEASON! This is especially important for those who live in in the North East, but Lyme Disease is spreading. I am sure most of you have heard about Lyme Disease and it's possible chronic debilitating symptoms. I can tell you first hand that this is nothing to mess around with because I specialize in helping folks with Lyme and Mold. The best way to keep from getting Chronic Lyme or Co-Infections is to avoid getting Acute Lyme or Co-Infections. T

I have realized, by talking with friends, that most people don't know how to support themselves when they get an acute illness. There are great ways to support the body to go through an illness and come out the other side stronger. It is really a 4-phase process and I will outline the basics here. Please email me at, info@drsparksnd.com, if there is anything you would like to me to go into deeper detail about in future Health-E-News or you would like to sign up for my new

I like to make a few different kinds and keep them in the fridge. Then I take a few spoonfuls whenever I have a sweet tooth or dessert craving. Chia seeds have protein, zinc, essential fatty acids and loads of fiber. The protein is great for immune cell building, zinc has been know to help boost the immune system. Essential fatty acids are good for heart health and fiber is great for clearing old cholesterol from the body and keep the GI tract healthy. Be careful as they

These have always been a a staple in my family. Growing up my mother made them on snow days. I remember standing next to her at the counter and rolling out the long dough snakes to make the pretzel. They are very easy to make. Nowadays I make them a little healthier. But it is definitely a guilty pleasure Preheat oven to 475 Ingredients 1/8 cup hot water (not boiling) 1 package active rapid rise yeast 1 3/4 cup warm water 1/3 cup brown sugar (optional coconut sugar) 5 cu

Exercise -exercise during the day (it helps calm mental chatter and is beneficial for your body), but NOT within 2 hrs of bedtime Eating – try not to eat heavy meals within 3 hours of bedtime. Studies have shown that eating a small piece of juicy fruit or a glass of milk (L-tryptophan) before bed has aided in the sleep process. Avoid using alcohol, tobacco, caffeine or other drugs as many of them affect your nervous system and thus your sleep Electronics - try not to use

In order to restore the body to a healthy state we must obey natural law. You can take all the supplements in the world but you will have a hard time achieving your health goals without following these recommendations. By following the basic guidelines we are able to support all of our systems and achieve wellness. Each week try to incorporate one new treatment guideline. Sunshine: Be outside 30 minutes per day. In our busy schedules we tend to forget to take time to be in

Bentonite Clay is an amazing product that can be used in many natural health applications. My reason for posting about it here is mainly for use during Tick/Lyme Season. You can read more about Ticks and Lyme in that blog post. Drawing Pack for Tick Bites: Mix bentonite clay and enough water to create a thick paste. You can also add echinacea tincture if you have it. Then apply to the tick bite, after you have removed the tick. Leave it on until it hardens. Wash it off.

This is one of those recipes that is so easy to make but will have your family asking if you took cooking lesson from a chef. It is so...

Mustard poultices have been used as a folk remedy for centuries as a treatment for bronchitis, pleurisy and pneumonia, as well as other ailments. It is said that relieves pain and also increases circulation to the area. It also increase perspiration and heat to help release toxins through the skin. Mix together: ½ cup mustard powder 2 cups flour 1 egg white (can use more water if you have an egg allergy) Enough water to make a paste. Using wooden spoon, spread out between t

Dry skin brushing stimulates the lymph channels to drain toxic mucoid matter into the blood, thereby purifying the entire system. This enables the lymph to perform its house-cleaning duties by keeping the tissues detoxified. The immune system is housed in the lymph nodes so it is important to keep the lymph moving and to clean out the old. The only other way to move lymph is by professional lymph massage, movement and exercise. Dry skin brushing also helps to shed dead skin

You're probably wondering why I am talking about Spring Fever in March. Well let me tell you. What you do now can possibly help or hinder your seasonal allergy response later. When people take time in February or March to cleanse and purge, they can help the body with the processing of allergens. The key here is to do the cleansing before allergy season. The liver is what "detoxes" the body and it has different pathways to do this. You can help the liver with this by sup