Dr Laurell Matthews ND

03/23/2026

While it can be a useful tool for your health journey, don't trust your health to AI!
My colleague Dr. Adam Sandford wrote an excellent blog about the pitfalls of AI for health advice and the wiser ways to use. Like him, I consult AI for complicated cases, but double check sources and layer in real life experience.
https://docsandford.com/archives/articles/ai-confabulation-in-healthcare/

02/07/2026

Microplastic Detox: How to Reduce Exposure and Support Natural Detox Pathways

Microplastic Detox: Key Takeaways Microplastics are tiny plastic particles found in food, water, air, and everyday products. They have been detected in human blood, stool, and organs such as the heart and lungs. Reducing exposure is the first step in microplastic detox. Avoid heating food in plastic, limit bottled water, choose natural fibers, and reduce packaged foods. Gut health is essential…...

Microplastic Detox: Key Takeaways Microplastics are tiny plastic particles found in food, water, air, and everyday products. They have been detected in human blood, stool, and organs such as the he…

01/18/2026

There are several aspects to this. Toxic chemicals like preservatives significantly contribute to diabetes risk, by increasing oxidative stress at a cellular level. Plus preservatives are more common in highly processed foods. So this is a good reminder to eat more whole foods.

Common preservatives used to keep food safe and extend shelf life may be linked to a higher risk of several cancers and type 2 diabetes, according to two new studies from France. https://cnn.it/3NzMmF9

09/04/2025

When a patient feels seen, I know I have truly done my job.

08/18/2025

I have been recommending Lithium orotate to people with a history of Alzheimer's in their family for over a decade. Now, the latest research has me wondering if we should all take low dose lithium.

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.

08/03/2025

It’s not always what you’re eating—it’s what your body does with it. Maybe you've tried a low-histamine diet and cut out other triggers—yet still feel awful. You’re not alone. The truth is: your body’s ability to clear histamine matters just as much as what you eat. Many folks assume they have “histamine intolerance.” Others are told that if their labs or symptoms don’t meet full Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) criteria, nothing can be done....

It’s not always what you’re eating—it’s what your body does with it. Maybe you’ve tried a low-histamine diet and cut out other triggers—yet still feel awful. You’re not alone. The truth is: y…

07/30/2025

This is the most beautiful little frog I have ever seen. The photo doesn't even quite capture how glowing and golden it looked sitting on my cucumber leaves. Does anyone know what type of frog this is?

07/25/2025

This will be one of my best years for growing winter squash. And this trellis of t-posts and wire makes them much more manageable. These plants bring me a ridiculous amount of joy. You have to celebrate the little things.

07/20/2025

Look who came to visit! A bumblebee moth! We have the best diversity in our flower beds this year, and I am happy it is attracting new friends like this.

07/10/2025

I am grateful for all of volunteers in my garden including dill, cilantro, squash, and a tomato plant. This sunflower is my favorite. It must be a cross between the varieties I grew last year and is more robust than any of them.

07/01/2025

I’ve really been enjoying the sights and sounds of nature this year, especially the birdsong. I’ve been making an extra effort to slow down during my breaks to watch and listen.

And then there are days like this, when this little cutie and its twin show up in the yard. 🥹

I’m so grateful for these chances to pause and connect with the natural world. Even a brief moment in nature can have a profound effect on our wellbeing.

06/14/2025

Not every garden is Insta-perfect—and that’s okay. 🌱
There are more weeds than I’d like to admit, and many of these plants are just getting started because I planted them later than planned. Life has been full, and the garden reflects that.

But this space—messy, growing, and deeply alive—is still my sanctuary.

Here’s to showing up for our real lives, not just the filtered ones. 💚