The Herbal Secret for Breastfeeding Relief, The Bipolar Misdiagnosis Crisis, and a Fungus Fighting Cancer, What Your Doctor Might Not Tell You

GENERAL HEALTH

Deadly Zombie Fungus Compound Shows Promise in Cancer Treatment

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered that a compound from a parasitic fungus known for infecting caterpillars shows potential in slowing cancer cell growth. This fungus, Cordyceps militaris, produces cordycepin, a chemical that has demonstrated promise as a cancer treatment. The study, published in FEBS Letters (a peer-reviewed publication,) reveals that cordycepin disrupts overactive cell growth signals by mimicking ATP, the energy molecule in cells, thereby inhibiting cancerous growth. This approach could lead to treatments that are less harmful to healthy tissues compared to current options.

🚨A warning to the Integrative Report community: The FDA doesn’t regulate supplements, so be wary of purchasing cordyceps capsules, powders, teas, and coffee blends. There’s no way to know for sure how much cordyceps each contains or if it contains any at all.

🐇 Down the Rabbit Hole – Curious to learn more about cordyceps? This section provides trusted sources, such as recommended books and links, for deeper research.

• C. militaris is touted as one of the medicinal herbs that can be grown at home. Here’s a website with detailed instructions.

• Here is an overview of C. militaris’ chemical constituents with some other great information to binge on

• Here’s a peer-reviewed report on the anti-inflammatory properties of C. militarist

❗️ For our position on sources that do not align with Christian values, as well as our affiliate disclaimer, see our full statement.

MENTAL HEALTH

Doctors Are Getting It Wrong: The Misdiagnosis of Bipolar Disorder

Is it just us, or does it seem like so many people are now being diagnosed with bipolar disorder? There’s statistics to back it up. In only one decade:

• Outpatient Adults: diagnoses have nearly doubled!

• Outpatient Youth: diagnoses have increased approximately 40-fold!

But what if the diagnoses are wrong? A mind-blowing study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research shows that around 40% of people who were misdiagnosed with Bipolar Type 2, instead had borderline personality disorder.

It is believed that the reason for so many misdiagnoses is that the two disorders have similar symptoms:

• Affective instability

• Difficulty controlling anger

• Impulsivity

• Recurrent suicidal tendencies

• Difficulties with functioning socially

But what is especially worrisome is that each diagnosis has specific treatment methods, so many patients could potentially be suffering due to a lack of correct treatments. The findings from the MIDAS project suggest that this misdiagnosis may be partly due to clinicians not utilizing standardized diagnostic tools like the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID).

So where do we go from here?

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, especially Type 2, and the treatment hasn’t been helping, it might be worth taking a second look. Ask whether a structured diagnostic tool was ever used. Ask if borderline personality disorder was ever ruled out.

These aren’t easy questions, but they’re necessary. Misdiagnosis doesn’t just change the label, it changes the treatment plan, the medications, and often, the outcome.

The bottom line? If something feels off, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. Find a provider who takes time, asks questions, and uses research-backed tools like the SCID. A correct diagnosis is the first step to getting the right kind of help, and everyone deserves that chance.

🐇 Down the Rabbit Hole – Curious to learn more about bipolar and borderline personality disorders? This section provides trusted sources, such as recommended books and links, for deeper research.

• Here is a full PDF download of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) by the American Psychiatric Association.

• More from the APA on bipolar disorders

• More from the APA on borderline personality disorders

• Here is a link to an article about the updated practice guideline on the treatment of borderline personality disorder released in 2024

❗️ For our position on sources that do not align with Christian values, as well as our affiliate disclaimer, see our full statement.

HERBALISM

Study Shows Marshmallow Leaf Eases Postpartum Pain

*This study refers to Althaea officinalis (L.) as “hollyhock”, but in the United States, we more commonly refer to Althaea officinalis (L.) as “marshmallow”. 

A recent randomized clinical trial in Iran has demonstrated that marshmallow Althaea officinalis (L.) leaf compresses, combined with warm and cold treatments, significantly alleviate breast engorgement in postpartum women. The study involved 40 lactating mothers, 1 to 15 days postpartum, who applied the herbal compresses three times daily over two days. The intervention group experienced a marked reduction in engorgement severity compared to the control group, with statistical significance reported (P < .001).

Participants were instructed to apply a warm compress before breastfeeding, followed by a cold compress afterward. The intervention group received additional marshmallow leaf compresses during the warm treatment phase. Both groups were advised to breastfeed every 2 to 3 hours, aligning with standard nursing practices. The findings suggest that incorporating marshmallow leaf compresses into routine warm and cold compress therapy may offer an effective complementary approach for managing breast engorgement in lactating women.

🔎🕵️‍♀️This Article is this Week’s Deep Dive!!!

For those who want to explore further, check out our in-depth article that includes additional insights and a quiz!

🐇 Down the Rabbit Hole – Curious to learn more about marshmallow Althaea officinalis (L.)? This section provides trusted sources, such as recommended books and links, for deeper research.

• Here is a trusted source for an herbal monograph on Althaea officinalis (L.)

• This narrative review provides a comprehensive review of marshmallow’s historical and contemporary medicinal applications

• Here is a review of the pharmacological activity of Althaea officinalis (L.)

• Here is an interesting study where antioxidant and flavonoid content was measured in marshmallow flowers to see which color presented the highest amount

❗️ For our position on sources that do not align with Christian values, as well as our affiliate disclaimer, see our full statement.

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