Anna Abele ND LLC

01/21/2026

A pilot registry study found that treatment with an oral gotu kola extract (Centella asiatica) significantly improved the closure and healing rates of chronic venous leg ulcers when used in addition to best management treatment.

The study included 160 patients with venous ulcers and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). One group received 675 mg/day of oral gotu kola extract (standardised to 35% total triterpenes) along with best management (BM) practices (compression, elevation, wound cleaning), while a control group received only BM.

The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the herbal group:
• Ulcer Closure Rate: 96.2% of ulcers in the gotu kola group achieved complete closure after 90 days, compared to 83.7% in the control group.
• Faster Healing: after just one month, 65% of ulcers in the gotu kola group were completely healed, versus only 18.75% in the control group.
• Reduced Ulcer Area: the average ulcer area in the gotu kola group decreased dramatically (from 2.34 cm² to 0.33 cm²), a significantly greater reduction than that observed in the control group (from 2.4 cm² to 1.61 cm²).
• Improved Microcirculation: the herbal group showed enhanced microcirculatory parameters, including improved skin resting flux and transcutaneous oxygen/carbon dioxide partial pressures, indicating better blood flow and tissue oxygenation.

Gotu kola remains our leading herb for tissue repair and microvascular support, and this trial further vindicates its clinical value. Notably, the dose used was high, but still realistic and achievable in practice. The benefits observed in this venous ulcer study are well explained by its established pharmacology. The triterpenes asiaticoside and madecassoside improve microcirculation and venous tone, helping reduce venous hypertension and local tissue hypoxia—central drivers of ulcer chronicity. At the same time, the herb promotes healing through enhanced fibroblast activity, collagen synthesis, and extracellular matrix repair, accelerating granulation and re-epithelialisation. Its anti-inflammatory effects temper chronic wound inflammation, while modulation of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling supports angiogenesis and tissue remodelling.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40719428/

01/14/2026

Adults with heart disease who had a previous heart attack and took vitamin D doses tailored to reach ‘optimal’ blood levels reduced their risk of another heart attack by more than half compared to those who did not, according to a preliminary study presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025. The meeting held on November 7-10 in New Orleans, was a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science.

Previous studies found low vitamin D levels are linked to worse heart health. The TARGET-D randomised clinical trial included 630 adults with heart disease who also had a previous heart attack. More than 85% of participants began the study with vitamin D levels in their blood below 40 ng/mL (100 nmol/L). Unlike earlier vitamin D randomised trials that used standard doses, the TARGET-D trial personalised the doses based on the results of each participant’s blood test.

“Previous clinical trial research on vitamin D tested the potential impact of the same vitamin D dose for all participants without checking their blood levels first,” said Heidi T. May, principal investigator of TARGET-D and an epidemiologist and professor of research at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City, Utah. “We took a different approach. We checked each participant's vitamin D levels at enrolment and throughout the study, and we adjusted their dose as needed to bring and maintain them in a range of 40 to 80 ng/mL.”

Participants in the TARGET-D study were randomised to two groups: The standard of care group did not receive management of their vitamin D levels, and the treatment group received tailored vitamin D supplementation, with doses adjusted every three months until their vitamin D blood levels were above 40 ng/mL. Once the vitamin D level was above 40 ng/mL, levels were checked annually and doses adjusted if levels dropped below that target.

Researchers monitored both vitamin D and calcium levels for the participants in the treatment group throughout the study to prevent vitamin D toxicity. Doses were reduced or stopped if vitamin D levels rose above 80 ng/mL (200 nmol/L).
The study’s key findings include:

• People who received personalised dosing of vitamin D supplements to achieve vitamin D levels greater than 40 ng/mL for nearly four years had a 52% lower risk of heart attack compared to participants whose vitamin D levels were not managed.
• More than 85% of participants had vitamin D levels below 40 ng/mL when they enrolled in the study.
• Nearly 52% of participants in the treatment group required more than 5,000 IU of vitamin D each day to reach the target blood levels of greater than 40 ng/mL.
• There were no significant adverse outcomes from the vitamin D intervention
Researchers found that tailored vitamin D doses did not significantly reduce the primary outcomes of death, heart failure hospitalisation or stroke; rather, supplementation appeared to be beneficial for preventing heart attacks specifically.

For several years, informed by a broad reading of clinical and observational research, I have aimed for a minimum serum vitamin D level of 100 nmol/L (40 ng/mL) in my patients. In many cases, patients self-fund testing, as vitamin D measurement is often deprioritised in mainstream practice and higher target ranges are regarded as lacking clinical relevance beyond deficiency prevention.

This study provides important support for the clinical value of targeting higher vitamin D levels—an approach long adopted by many natural and integrative practitioners.

For more information see: https://bit.ly/49kHooj
and
https://newsroom.heart.org/news/heart-attack-risk-halved-in-adults-with-heart-disease-taking-tailored-vitamin-d-doses

12/25/2025

I hope this holiday sees you sleeping well

12/11/2025

Another great update from Kerry

In this video I review recent research on Celery Seed that expands our clinical understanding of this herb.

11/13/2025

Beautiful and worth a listen

10/10/2025

09/29/2025

This is amazing.

09/09/2025

⚠️ Long COVID is real — and scientists may have just found the proof.

A groundbreaking study has identified viral fragments lingering in the blood of patients months after their initial SARS-CoV-2 infection. These “ghost proteins,” tucked inside microscopic packages called extracellular vesicles (EVs), were discovered in individuals experiencing persistent symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath.

Researchers detected 65 unique viral fragments—all tied to a replication protein called Pp1ab, which is absent in healthy human cells. This makes it the first potential measurable biomarker for long COVID.

The findings strengthen the idea that long COVID may be driven by hidden viral reservoirs or leftover debris disrupting normal body function long after acute infection. Interestingly, the viral proteins did not show up in every blood sample, suggesting their presence may be intermittent and influenced by factors like physical exertion.

If confirmed by larger trials, this discovery could lead to the world’s first reliable blood test for long COVID—a breakthrough that would not only help in diagnosis but also guide the development of more targeted treatments for millions still struggling with the condition.

📖 Source: Abbasi, Asghar et al. Possible long COVID biomarker: identification of SARS-CoV-2 related protein(s) in Serum Extracellular Vesicles. Infection, July 21, 2025.

09/09/2025

Think love is just butterflies and sweet nothings? Think again. Neuroscientist Stephanie Cacioppo says love is a biological need, just as vital as food or water. It’s not just a feeling. It’s wired into our survival system.

From the moment attraction sparks, your brain floods with dopamine and adrenaline (hello, heart race), a chemical combo that boosts energy, sharpens focus, and makes you feel invincible. As bonds grow, hormones like oxytocin and vasopressin kick in. Biologist Sue Carter explains they’re behind trust, loyalty, and emotional attachment, the same traits that helped early humans survive in tribes and raise families.

Theresa Larkin found oxytocin deepens commitment over time, while neuroscientist Lucy Brown revealed that love activates brain regions that also manage pain relief, sleep quality, and stress reduction. Yep, love literally heals.

But when love breaks, the same system crashes hard. According to Jacquie Olds of Harvard, heartbreak can trigger a stress storm, cortisol and norepinephrine spike, sometimes even causing broken heart syndrome, a real condition where emotional pain physically harms the heart.

Bottom line? Love isn’t fluff, it’s survival. Building strong, lasting connections boosts immunity, mental clarity, and may even help you live longer. The science couldn’t be louder: love deeply, connect often ,it’s your body’s superpower.

08/25/2025

This is interesting…

Harvard Medical School scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery linking lithium to Alzheimer’s disease treatment. Their research found that lithium levels are significantly lower even in the earliest stages of memory loss. Amyloid-beta plaques, known to cause Alzheimer’s, bind to lithium in the brain, reducing its availability and speeding up the disease’s progression.

This study marks the first time lithium, widely used in psychiatric medicine, has been shown to naturally exist in the brain at important biological levels. In mouse models, lithium depletion caused a rapid buildup of harmful amyloid-beta and tau proteins, increased brain inflammation, and worsened cognitive decline.

The breakthrough came when researchers used lithium orotate, a form of lithium that avoids binding with amyloid-beta plaques. At very low doses, lithium orotate reversed memory loss and other Alzheimer’s-like symptoms in mice without any toxicity. While human trials are still needed, this discovery opens the door to lithium testing as a way to identify people at risk and the potential for targeted lithium supplementation to prevent or even restore cognitive function in dementia patients.

This exciting development could transform the future of Alzheimer’s treatment and prevention, offering new hope to millions worldwide.

08/05/2025

Most of the clinical trials of the benefits of saffron in people suffering from depression are small and have been conducted in Iran. A new study has helped to address this evidence imbalance and provides us with greater confidence that this medicinal herb and spice can truly alleviate low mood.

A proprietary saffron extract (dose 28 mg/day) was validated in a large-scale placebo-controlled trial. The trial included more than 200 people and ran for 12 weeks In Australia. Trial participants were all healthy adults reported to have mild or subclinical depression as measured on the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS).

The researchers found that 72% of participants in the saffron group showed a clinically significant improvement in the DASS, compared to 54% in the placebo group (p = 0.010). A clear difference for saffron over placebo on the DASS was only evident after 8 weeks, suggesting that treatment should be trialled for at least this long before assessing any clinical benefit. There was no impact on sleep overall, but improvements in sleep disturbances were identified in the subset of participants with a greater severity of sleep issues. There were no serious adverse reactions reported.

The scientists concluded that their study, the largest conducted to date on saffron, provides evidence supporting the beneficial effects of three months of saffron supplementation on depressive symptoms in adults, but they also noted the large placebo response.

This saffron extract is in the solid dose products I prescribe in my clinic.

For more information see: https://www.supplysidesj.com/healthy-living/saffron-extract-relieves-mild-depression-in-study
and
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40414301/

07/14/2025

Tick Bites - Etiology, pathophysiology, symptoms, signs, diagnosis & prognosis from the Merck Manuals - Medical Professional Version.