In the last post we explored how trans fats are an underlying cause of inflammation that sets the stage for heart disease, a fact that is fairly well documented. To be clear, rancid or oxidized oils that contain trans fats are themselves not the direct source of endogenous oxidized cholesterol (despite the similar name) and […]
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The Thyroid: One Very Misunderstood Gland
A patient diagnosed with hypothyroidism gets a routine lab test back showing high TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) indicating her brain is signaling for more thyroid hormone. Instead of increasing the dosage of her natural thyroid or investigating any secondary causes of the hypothyroidism, the prescribing physician puts our mutual patient on synthroid (synthetic thyroid). Follow-up […]
The Holistic Treatment of Chronic Sinus Infections
Nothing can have you feeling down in the dumps quicker and more completely than a full blown sinus infection. Although common in spring with the rise in airborne allergens, susceptible individuals can succumb to a sinus infection any time of the year. In its chronic state, is not uncommon for sinus infections, despite multiple courses […]
Exercise May Be Bad For Your Health
Just like any herbal supplement, exercise must be initiated with the proper dosage to have a therapeutic effect without causing undue stress on the body. Too little exercise…well…we all know the consequences of this. Too much exercise can be just as bad however. Due to the action of oxidative stress, your body can age prematurely […]
Knowledge is Not Enough
It doesn’t take long for a practitioner of holistic medicine to discover that knowledge alone is not enough to make your patients well. A solid education and a few CEU classes will place most well-read practitioners in a position where they are able to offer a number of treatments and lifestyle changes that would make […]
Home Remedy: Water Kefir
It seems not a day goes by in the clinic when I haven’t espoused the benefits of incorporating fermented foods into my patients’ diet. Given my outspoken passion for home fermenting, I sometimes wonder if my patients think I might bubble and explode from all the probiotic rich foods and beverages I consume on a […]
The Story of Reflux Part 1: Too Much or Not Enough?
It used to be common knowledge that indigestion or heartburn was a sign that you were eating too much of the wrong foods. Avoiding certain foods and the occasional antacid, purchased over-the-counter, were the typical means of treatment. If a patient was ahead of the game, they may have taken steps to improve their digestive […]
Two Rules for Weight Loss
I just finished reading an inspiring letter in the recent Spring 2012 issue of Wise Traditions in Food, Farming, and the Healing Arts, the quarterly journal of the Weston A. Price Foundation. This contribution by Ron Buch from Woodbridge, Virginia is a great example of how lowering carbs and eliminating processed foods is the “slow […]
The Story of Reflux Part 2: Treating the Root
Establishing whether you are producing too much stomach acid or not enough is prerequisite for the proper treatment of reflux. It is common practice within the allopathic medical profession to prescribe acid-stopping drugs on the basis of symptoms alone. While this might be effective for the those producing too much acid, what happens if you […]
Stress, Sugar, Sleep, and Your Adrenals
One uncompromising axiom of cheap medicine is less stress and more sleep, and the two are very much related. The topic of sleep will require multiple blog posts to cover but we can begin by talking about adrenal health and how weak adrenals set the stage for poor sleep, chronic inflammation, fatigue, and pain. Researcher […]