I have just had two more articles published in Today’s Practitioner Magazine!
Today’s Practitioner magazine is a free online practitioner magazine dedicated to advancing integrative medicine – I am a regular contributing author.
My two latest published articles:
Lithium Orotate and Brain Health
Treating Kidney Stones with Chanca piedra (Phyllanthus niuri (Stonebreaker)
For more health news, check out my website:
By Rob Lamberton, BSc Biology, FNTP, FDN-P (candidate)
#RobLamberton #RobertLamberton
Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity (AoPWV) measures the speed at which the pulse wave travels through the aorta — directly reflecting arterial stiffness and vascular aging.
Unlike cholesterol levels or blood pressure alone, AoPWV provides a functional measure of vascular elasticity, the key determinant of cardiovascular resilience.
The Reference Values for Arterial Stiffness Collaboration published the landmark study:
European Heart Journal (2010; 31:2338–2350) — “Determinants of pulse wave velocity in healthy people and in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors.”
This study established age- and blood-pressure-adjusted norms for carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), now recognized worldwide as the clinical gold standard for arterial stiffness.
AoPWV identifies vascular aging years before clinical symptoms appear — enabling early lifestyle or nutraceutical intervention.
Monitoring this marker empowers individuals to maintain cardiovascular flexibility, reduce disease risk, and extend healthspan as well as lifespan.
My Clinical Experience
If you would like to know more about my functional approach that I use to help clients deal with health issues, maintain a good AoPWV and optimize their health, reach out to me.
🔗 Learn more at: roblamberton.com
#AoPWV #CardiovascularHealth #VascularFlexibility #Longevity #HeartHealth #FunctionalMedicine #IntegrativeMedicine #RobLamberton #RobertLamberton
By Rob Lamberton, BSc, FNTP, FDN-P (Candidate)
Product Formulator & Functional Health Consultant | roblamberton.com
In the Amazon and Brazilian forests, the medicinal herb Pedra Hume Caá — often called the “vegetable insulin” — has long been valued for its ability to balance blood sugar and strengthen kidneys and liver. Modern phytochemical studies confirm its effects on alpha-glucosidase inhibition, antioxidant defense, and insulin sensitivity (Rain-Tree
🌿 Supports glucose regulation and metabolic balance
💧 Assists kidney and urinary detoxification
🔥 Reduces inflammation and oxidative stress
🩺 May help normalize lipid and blood-pressure levels
Pedra Hume Caá contains potent flavonoids and polyphenols — including myrciacitrins, myrciaphenones, quercitrin, catechin, and gallic acid.
Mechanisms include:
As a Product Formulator & Functional Health Consultant, I view Pedra Hume Caá as a cornerstone medicinal herb for metabolic and longevity formulas. It pairs well with:
⚠️ Because of its hypoglycaemic effects, monitor closely when combined with antidiabetic or antihypertensive agents.
Human and animal data show low toxicity at traditional doses. Avoid during pregnancy or in hypoglycaemia. Standard use: leaf tea (1 cup 2-3× daily) or 1–2 g leaf capsules per meal.
My Personal Experience Clinical Experience: (anecdotal)
Pedra Hume Caá includes compounds referred to as Aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs) which are substances that act on nerve endings exposed to high blood sugar concentration to prevent some of the chemical imbalances that occur and thus protect the nerves.
I have prescribed to patients dealing with blood sugar/diabetes issues – as part of a complete functional approach a blood sugar/diabetes formulation I developed which includes Pedra Hume Caá and within 24 – 48 hours their neuropathic pain in their legs and feet disappeared after many years of discomfort.
I help nutraceutical companies and clinics design science-driven products using medicinal herbs that optimize metabolic health, cognition & longevity. Let’s collaborate on your next evidence-based formula – plus I have well developed supply chains to access these lesser known but very powerful medicinal herbs.
FormulationScience #MedicinalHerbs #MetabolicHealth #IntegrativeHealth #BotanicalMedicine #Longevity #ProductFormulator #RobLamberton #RobertLamberton
By Rob Lamberton, BSc, FNTP, FDN-P (Candidate)
Product Formulator & Functional Health Consultant
roblamberton.com
🌿 Rediscovering a Forgotten Element
Lithium — one of Earth’s simplest elements — has an unexpectedly profound relationship with human biology. For decades, lithium carbonate (LC) has been prescribed in psychiatry as a potent mood stabilizer. But recent research has reignited interest in a far gentler form: lithium orotate (LO), a micro-dose compound now being explored for its potential neuroprotective and longevity benefits.
A 2025 Nature study from Harvard Medical School revealed a startling finding: brain lithium deficiency correlated with Alzheimer’s-like changes in both human and animal brain tissue. Even more striking, when researchers administered low-dose lithium orotate, it reversed these pathological changes, improved mitochondrial health, and restored memory function in Alzheimer’s-model mice (Aron L et al., Nature, 2025).
This study, along with several human and ecological data sets, is reframing lithium not as a psychiatric drug — but as a trace brain nutrient essential for long-term neurological integrity.
At micro levels, lithium interacts with cellular pathways that regulate neuroplasticity, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress. Its key actions include:
A landmark 15-month human trial (Nunes MA et al., J Alzheimer’s Dis., 2013) showed that micro-dose lithium stabilized cognition in Alzheimer’s patients versus placebo. Meanwhile, global population studies (Fraiha-Pegado J et al., Nutrients, 2024) show that communities with higher trace lithium levels in drinking water have lower rates of dementia and suicide.
Together, these data suggest that trace lithium plays a subtle but essential neuroprotective role — one that may help safeguard cognitive longevity.
While both compounds deliver the same elemental ion (Li⁺), their pharmacology, safety, and intended use differ dramatically.
Lithium Orotate (LO)
Lithium Carbonate (LC)
Both provide lithium — but their dose magnitude and biological outcomes are profoundly different. LO functions as a nutritional cofactor, not a pharmaceutical intervention.
Although LO’s preclinical safety profile is strong, human data remain limited. Practitioners and consumers alike should use it with respect and professional guidance.
Avoid use:
Micro-dosing (1–5 mg elemental Li⁺ daily) appears well-tolerated, but higher doses risk crossing into pharmacologic territory.
As a Product Formulator & Functional Health Consultant, I view lithium orotate as one of the most promising precision micronutrients in neuro-longevity science.
In properly structured formulas, LO can play a supportive role in mood, focus, and cognitive resilience formulations — especially when synergized with:
In these combinations, LO acts not as a drug but as a trace element catalyst — gently supporting synaptic signaling, mood stability, and mitochondrial repair.
The next evolution in formulation science will integrate compounds like LO within multi-pathway brain health systems that combine adaptogenic, mitochondrial, and genomic support.
Lithium orotate represents a bridge between psychiatry and functional medicine — a small molecule with outsized potential for neural preservation and emotional balance.
It may soon join other “longevity micronutrients” such as ergothioneine, nicotinamide riboside, and sulforaphane as part of a new generation of evidence-based, neuroprotective formulations that focus on healthspan rather than disease treatment.
I collaborate with nutraceutical companies, functional clinics, and longevity brands to develop evidence-based product formulations for cognitive, mood, and mitochondrial health.
If your organization is creating the next generation of nootropic, adaptogenic, or brain-longevity products, let’s connect.
🌿 Rediscovering a Forgotten Element
Lithium — one of Earth’s simplest elements — has an unexpectedly profound relationship with human biology. For decades, lithium carbonate (LC) has been prescribed in psychiatry as a potent mood stabilizer. But recent research has reignited interest in a far gentler form: lithium orotate (LO), a micro-dose compound now being explored for its potential neuroprotective and longevity benefits.
A 2025 Nature study from Harvard Medical School revealed a startling finding: brain lithium deficiency correlated with Alzheimer’s-like changes in both human and animal brain tissue. Even more striking, when researchers administered low-dose lithium orotate, it reversed these pathological changes, improved mitochondrial health, and restored memory function in Alzheimer’s-model mice (Aron L et al., Nature, 2025).
This study, along with several human and ecological data sets, is reframing lithium not as a psychiatric drug — but as a trace brain nutrient essential for long-term neurological integrity.
At micro levels, lithium interacts with cellular pathways that regulate neuroplasticity, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress. Its key actions include:
A landmark 15-month human trial (Nunes MA et al., J Alzheimer’s Dis., 2013) showed that micro-dose lithium stabilized cognition in Alzheimer’s patients versus placebo. Meanwhile, global population studies (Fraiha-Pegado J et al., Nutrients, 2024) show that communities with higher trace lithium levels in drinking water have lower rates of dementia and suicide.
Together, these data suggest that trace lithium plays a subtle but essential neuroprotective role — one that may help safeguard cognitive longevity.
While both compounds deliver the same elemental ion (Li⁺), their pharmacology, safety, and intended use differ dramatically.
Lithium Orotate (LO)
Lithium Carbonate (LC)
Both provide lithium — but their dose magnitude and biological outcomes are profoundly different. LO functions as a nutritional cofactor, not a pharmaceutical intervention.
Of Note: Here in Canada, Health Canada does not distinguish between Lithium Orotate and Lithium Carbonate – they consider both to be restricted prescription drugs!
Although LO’s preclinical safety profile is strong, human data remain limited. Practitioners and consumers alike should use it with respect and professional guidance.
Avoid use:
Micro-dosing (1–5 mg elemental Li⁺ daily) appears well-tolerated, but higher doses risk crossing into pharmacologic territory.
As a Product Formulator & Functional Health Consultant, I view lithium orotate as one of the most promising precision micronutrients in neuro-longevity science.
In properly structured formulas, LO can play a supportive role in mood, focus, and cognitive resilience formulations — especially when synergized with:
In these combinations, LO acts not as a drug but as a trace element catalyst — gently supporting synaptic signaling, mood stability, and mitochondrial repair.
The next evolution in formulation science will integrate compounds like LO within multi-pathway brain health systems that combine adaptogenic, mitochondrial, and genomic support.
Lithium orotate represents a bridge between psychiatry and functional medicine — a small molecule with outsized potential for neural preservation and emotional balance.
It may soon join other “longevity micronutrients” such as ergothioneine, nicotinamide riboside, and sulforaphane as part of a new generation of evidence-based, neuroprotective formulations that focus on healthspan rather than disease treatment.
I collaborate with nutraceutical companies, functional clinics, and longevity brands to develop evidence-based product formulations for cognitive, mood, and mitochondrial health.
If your organization is creating the next generation of nootropic, adaptogenic, or brain-longevity products, let’s connect.
Introduction
In the world of plant-based therapeutic tools, there are a few herbs that carry both historical gravitas and modern-era caution. One of these is Jamaican Dogwood, scientifically known as Piscidia piscipula (sometimes P. erythrina). This West-Indian native tree has been used for centuries in folk medicine for pain, nervous system tension, and sleeplessness. In this article we’ll explore the botany, traditional uses, modern-evidence, safety profile, and clinical considerations for use in integrative practice—always framed within the lens of responsible application.
Jamaican Dogwood is a medium-sized tropical tree in the Fabaceae family, native to the Greater Antilles, southern Florida and parts of Central America. sbrmc.adam.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3herbalreality.com+3
The vernacular name “dogwood” is somewhat misleading (it is not the same genus as the common American dogwood). Historically, the bark and root‐bark have been used by indigenous peoples (e.g., the Taíno) and early herbalists for their narcotic-like and analgesic properties (hence the species nickname “fish-poison tree,” since extracts were used to stupefy fish). en.wikipedia.org+1
Herbalists describe the taste of the bark as bitter, acrid, with a slight chemical-like aroma and a tingling burn in the mouth—an indication of its potent pharmacologic nature. herbalreality.com
Historically, Jamaican Dogwood has been employed for:
While human clinical data are scant, animal and in-vitro studies suggest several relevant pharmacologic actions:
But—it must be emphasized—the human clinical trial data are extremely limited, and the herb carries potential toxicity if misused. herbalreality.com
From a practitioner perspective, Jamaican Dogwood demands respect:
In a functional-medicine or naturopathic practice, Jamaican Dogwood may have a niche role—but with caveats. A typical framework might be:
Jamaican Dogwood is a potent medicinal herb with a long tradition of use for pain, nervous tension and insomnia—but it is not a “light” herb. The evidence in humans is limited, and the margin for safety is narrower compared to many other botanicals. For the enlightened practitioner, it may serve as a short-term tool in a broader protocol, provided that the underlying causes are addressed, the patient is well-selected, and usage is carefully monitored.
As always: herbal interventions are best integrated into a holistic framework of nutrition, sleep, stress-modulation, movement and structural support—reflecting the art and science of functional medicine.
Formulator’s Perspective:
I help companies and clinicians design functional formulations that merge herbal pharmacology with modern longevity science. If you’re developing a pain-relief or relaxation formula, let’s connect!
👉 More in-depth articles on this and other health topics available at roblamberton.com
Jamaican Dogwood – Gaia Herbs blog. Gaia Herbs
Jamaican Dogwood – Uses, Side Effects, and More. WebMD. WebMD
Jamaican Dogwood (Piscidia piscipula / erythrina) monograph. Herbal Reality. herbalreality.com
Jamaican Dogwood (Piscidia erythrina) – Restorative Medicine library. Restorative Medicine
Jamaican Dogwood – RxList. RxList
Jamaican Dogwood – Heart of Wellness article. heartofwellness.org
For years, we heard moderate drinking could benefit the heart. But new research says the risk begins with the first sip (WHO 2022
A global analysis of 28 million people found that even one drink daily increases risk for cancer, liver disease, and premature aging. The Canadian 2025 guidelines now classify two drinks per week as “high risk.”
Poor sleep then worsens hormone balance, mood, and weight regulation — creating a vicious cycle of stress and fatigue.
Alcohol → gut permeability → inflammation → oxidative stress → adrenal activation. Together these impair detoxification and mitochondrial function — the foundation of energy and longevity.
✨ Your sleep is your greatest healer — protect it by reducing the toxic load that starts with “just one drink.”
My Personal Experience
Early in my working career, I was involved in the medical/surgical business and I spent a lot of time sitting in on surgical cases – it was a great education on the power of high tech medicine!
If I was going out for business lunches or dinners with colleagues or clients it was pretty common for everyone to drink!
How times have changed…
How about you? Have you changed your drinking habits based upon the recent research suggesting that no amount of alcohol consumption is safe?