Coastal Blog

Joel Hall is our go-to guy for anything nutrition and supplement related. Here's our attempt at giving you some insight into the ever-insightful Mr. Hall.

Results of a Cochrane Review meta-analysis on omega-3s fatty acids and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have generated many news articles proclaiming that omega-3s do not help reduce CVD events and mortality so you may want to skip them altogether. We, along with Nordic Naturals, give our take on the news.

Bug bites are more than just a nuisance. Those bugs can carry an array of nasty diseases like Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and dengue. Dr. Bartlett covers some natural options for avoiding bites and avoiding toxic chemicals.

In this article, part 2 of a series on acupuncture for pain, Dr. Bartlett reveals more research that supports its use for chronic pain treatment. As large players in health care start supporting alternative therapies, it's becoming clear that the time has come for mainstreaming alternative therapies for pain. Relying on opioids as a first-line pain therapy has proved to be a bad idea. It's time to give ancient practices their rightful place at the table.

Lyme disease is an incredibly complex disease with a steady rising incidence rate. (Maine has the highest incidence rate in the country!) Its treatment requires a collaborative effort, employing multiple wellness modalities. Dr. Mazone shares insights on its complexity and what can be done to address it.

The Maine Forest Service continues to warn of increases in browntail moth caterpillar infestation. Although activity is at its highest May through July, cases of the browntail moth rash can start as early as April. Find out what you can do to reduce your chances of coming into contact with the toxic caterpillar hairs and what you can do if you develop the rash.

A lot of attention surrounds the abuse and addiction rates of prescription oral pain medications. Although a suitable choice for acute pain following traumatic injury or surgery, they may not be the best option for chronic pain. Topical pain medication has the potential to treat, or help treat, pain with fewer side effects. In this article, we cover the different types of topical pain medications and why they may be a better choice for chronic pain.

Dr. Kathleen Bartlett reports on numerous high-quality studies that have investigated the use of acupuncture for treating chronic pain. Spoiler alert: the research indicates that acupuncture is an effective treatment for pain. This is part one in a series where Dr. Bartlett summarizes her extensive research.

This week, Joel shared details of a phone call with us that we just had to share with you. It reinforced why we do what we do and why we encourage you to keep pursuing treatments until you find what works. We hope you'll find this success story as encouraging as we did. 

We're addressing recent Apothecary by Design news because so many of you have asked how it impacts us. The short answer is that it doesn't at all since we are not connected with ABD in any way. Read on!