Beating Allergies Naturally
August 30th, 2010
During allergy season many people feel more susceptible to colds and infections, which is true, they are. These people are likely in a TH2 dominant state and are, as a result, less capable of attacking viruses and/or bacteria and more reactive to external triggers such as food, pollen, dander, and dust. Therefore, one of the [...]
Read more...Men’s Health: Don’t put off your visit to the doctor
August 17th, 2010
by Dr. Greg Eckel
Nature Cures Clinic physician
In medical school I was taught that men do not go to the doctor as often as women. That idea is also present in medical literature.
Out here in practice, I’d say this tends to be the case as well. The box that has been drawn around men [...]
Summer Skin Care Tips
July 15th, 2010
by Dr. Hilary Costello
Nature Cures Clinic physician
As we bloom into the heat and sunny weather of another glorious Oregon summer, many of us want to make sure that we are taking good care of our skin. It is our time to shine and build up Vitamin D stores.
After a long spring, such as we have [...]
Tell President Obama why the U.S. needs naturopaths
July 7th, 2010
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians is working to give voice to naturopathic medicine at the national level, by asking President Obama to appoint a naturopath to a new 25-member health advisory board. As naturopathic medicine continues to gain respect among more conventional practitioners, we believe this is a step in the right direction.
More [...]
Summer exercise tips
June 15th, 2010
by Dr. David Russ, Nature Cures Clinic chiropractor
In honor of June and everyone’s fervent hope that the Portland sun really does grace us with warmth and brightness, here are Dr. Russ’s top six things to do to avoid injury and enjoy yourself outside.
1) Favor aerobic activity over anaerobic activity
Without going into [...]
Allergy Relief: The Whole Body Approach
May 8th, 2010
By Dr. Erika Siegel
Nature Cures Clinic physician
Spring is such a magical time in the great Northwest. Thanks to our winter and spring rain, we see blossoms unfolding in great abundance this time of year. Unfortunately, for hay fever sufferers, this may bring sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, itchy throat, and even fatigue.
Our allergy response is [...]
What to plant in your garden
May 5th, 2010
Many of the practitioners at Nature Cures Clinic maintain a vibrant garden in their backyards, to foster good health. Since we’re focusing on organic gardening and organic food this month, Dr. Hilary Costello has compiled a list of essentials for starting your own garden.
If you’re interested in starting a garden, but don’t [...]
Community-Supported Agriculture: What is it?
April 14th, 2010
By Dr. JJ Pursell
Nature Cures Clinic physician
Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Community Supported Agriculture consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or [...]
Food For Thought
April 14th, 2010
by Dr. Rose Paisley
Nature Cures Clinic physician
My daughter Lola’s elementary school has been working towards building an edible garden. The goal is to bring the classroom outdoors, bring beauty to the campus, and eventually bring the harvest into the school lunch program. Through the process of preparing soil, planting seeds, watering, weeding, and harvesting, the [...]
Cosmetic concerns: what toxins to avoid in your skin care
March 25th, 2010
A recent study in the United Kingdom found the average British woman wears more than 500 chemicals every day.
These potentially-toxic ingredients come in the form of fragrances, lotions, makeup, shampoos and conditioners, and other body products. This puts the largest organ of your body — your skin — under constant siege. The onslaught can [...]
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
March 16th, 2010
In honor of Women’s Health Month, I felt it important to discuss a syndrome that, like women, is elusive, complex, and foolish to ignore. The syndrome is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
PCOS appears in between 4 and 12% of women seen in American clinics (1. 2) and in 20% of obese women (3). These numbers may [...]
Read more...Diabetes – The New Epidemic
February 17th, 2010
by Maria Zilka, NT
It would be hard to find a medical expert these days, conventional or otherwise, who wouldn’t agree that our sugar-based diets are killing us. Our daily bread has turned into a non-stop feeding frenzy of refined carbohydrates including many breads, pastries, sweets, over-processed cereals and artificial sweeteners. And despite the [...]
The Blood Sugar Roller coaster (This is one ride you don’t want your kids to get on)
January 16th, 2010
Our brain’s primary fuel source is sugar (glucose). When our blood sugar gets low- the brain cries “FEED ME NOW!” and will stop at nothing to be satiated. This will make a sensible person eat half of a birthday cake at the office before coming up for air and realizing what she has done.
When kids [...]
Soaking your grains, nuts and seeds
January 16th, 2010
If you’ve been to one of Maria Zilka’s nutrition classes, then you probably know a thing or two about soaking and sprouting. It’s one of the ways Maria likes to show people that it’s not hard to eat well, it just takes a bit of planning.
Maybe right about now you’re thinking, “time? Who has any [...]
New Year’s Resolution: Join the Nature Cures Clinic group cleanse!
December 17th, 2009
Welcome to the Nature Cures Clinic Group Cleanse and Elimination Diet Program – A program designed to address the most common causes of chronic health issues.
We’ve found that the underlying causes of many of our patients’ health problems are due to toxins in the system. Toxins are not just what we take in [...]
New Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations: Our Take
December 16th, 2009
When the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) announced new recommendations for breast cancer screening, it unleashed a firestorm of controversy. Women across the country joined with many cancer organizations to condemn the new recommendations.
Briefly, the updated recommendations for breast cancer screening include the following:
- Delay mammography until women are 50, rather than beginning at [...]
Winter Health Tips
December 14th, 2009
It’s been just about a year since a major winter storm hit the Northwest. While we’re crossing our fingers that we won’t be tromping through a foot and a half of snow this holiday season, it’s better to be prepared for the worst. You can stave off a number of weather-related illnesses and conditions with [...]
Read more...‘Tis the Season
December 1st, 2009
“Think of giving not as a duty, but as a privilege.” JD Rockefeller Jr.
‘Tis the season for shopping, holiday decorating, celebrations and family traditions. Yet, most importantly, it’s the time of year for giving.
In this spirit, the staff and doctors at Nature Cures Clinic are providing support to the Allen Temple Emergency Aid [...]
Herbs and Immunity
November 16th, 2009
There are lots of ways to support a healthy immune system through the winter months. One easy way is through the daily intake of herbs known as tonics. Tonics increase the tone and vitality of skin, organs and body systems. By increasing the vitality of the immune system you are able to defend off bacterial and viral invaders at a more efficient rate enabling you to either arrest a cold/flu or shorten its duration drastically.
Below are 2 recipes for you to enjoy:
Read more...New Breed of MDs: More like NDs
November 12th, 2009
An article in the Washington Post this week tells how medical school programs are adapting their curriculum to include a more holistic approach to medicine – focused on the patient as a whole, and not just one particular ailment they might have. At Johns Hopkins University, medical students are now taught to analyze “genetic, environmental [...]
Read more...Dr. Nigh on the Radio
November 9th, 2009
Dr. Nigh served as a guest expert on stress reduction for the “Tom on Leadership” show on BlogTalk radio Friday November 6, 2009. Check out the show on stress reduction for executives here.
Read more...Legumes: Healthy and Hearty
October 22nd, 2009
The summer clothes are packed in the back of the closet, the days are getting shorter, and colder weather is creeping in day by day. With winter on the way, many people find themselves wanting to cook heartier meals. Here at Nature Cures Clinic, we are committed to helping you eat healthy and stay [...]
Read more...Get a free nutritional assessment when you donate to your community
October 21st, 2009
Nature Cures Clinic is proud to sponsor a quarterly donation program benefiting a local non-profit. And now we’re giving you a little more incentive to help us out!
This fall we are collecting donations for the Allen Temple CME Church Food Pantry/Emergency Aide Center. When you donate five items at our clinic, you’ll receive a FREE [...]
Naturopathic Prevention of Swine Flu
October 11th, 2009
The mainstream media and most conventional physicians would have you believe that the only way to prevent swine flu is by getting a shot. Nonsense! Healthy immune systems have been protecting people from infectious diseases for many thousands of years. Our immune systems didn’t lose this ability in the last few decades, but the key [...]
Read more...Swine Flu Vaccination Information
October 9th, 2009
There is one prominent fact about the current H1N1 vaccinations being promoted in the media and by virtually all conventional physicians: there is absolutely no evidence that the vaccination will prevent swine flu. Despite all the media and all the hype about this vaccination, there still is not one study that shows this vaccination will [...]
Read more...B12 Deficiency and Depression
October 7th, 2009
There are many reasons that any given person with depression might be depressed. Like all illness, depression can have many contributing causes, from past traumas and grief, to chronic illness, toxic exposures, and many others. Unfortunately, in the conventional medical world most cases of depression – no matter what the cause – are treated the [...]
Read more...New Editorial on Health Care Reform
October 1st, 2009
Dr. Greg Nigh recently wrote and published an editorial on health care reform. You can check it out online at opednews.com. Even more important than reading it, though, is to follow through on the suggestions there. If the government is unable to pass meaningful reform, we can still reform our personal health care.
Read more...Reform Health Care, and Start With Your Own
September 30th, 2009
A substantial overhaul of our national disease management system is now highly unlikely. What we will get is possibly an alteration in its financing. Perhaps insurance companies will form cooperatives, perhaps the government will pay for the treatment of more currently uninsured individuals, perhaps some costs will be contained with malpractice reform.
And of course, [...]
Vitamin D – We Can’t Say It Enough
September 29th, 2009
We’ve told you before how sufficient levels of Vitamin D can help reduce your risk of many chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, depression and diabetes.
While these are all very serious conditions that deserve your attention, there’s another ailment that’s dominating the headlines right now. You’ve heard it blasted in big letters — the [...]
Acai: Hype or Health?
September 15th, 2009
We’re examining superfoods again here at Nature Cures Clinic.
Today we’re taking a look at the massive marketing campaign that’s surrounding one little Brazilian berry, acai.
When it comes to foods that contain high levels of antioxidants, acai is the popular new kid on the block. Lab studies show the fruit to contain high levels of [...]
What’s for Lunch? Tips for packing a healthy lunch for work, school or play
September 11th, 2009
This is the time of year when we start to reign in our free-spirited eating habits of summer and hunker down a bit by packing healthy lunches for ourselves, or kids going off to school. Lunch doesn’t have to be a boring sandwich, salad or canned soup. Here are some nutritious and delicious ideas [...]
Read more...Why You Should Cut Down on Sugar, and How You Can Do It
August 30th, 2009
It’s fairly common knowledge that soda, sugared cereals, candy bars and the like aren’t good for your body, and can help you put on excess weight.
And now the American Heart Association is giving you a few more reasons to cut down on the amount of sugar you consume. A new study [...]
Organic Under the Microscope
August 18th, 2009
Nature Cures Clinic is committed to helping you live a healthy lifestyle. We believe that part of maintaining your health includes eating as many fresh and organic foods as possible. So when the topic of organic food hits the headlines, we take notice! Right now two things are happening:
First, there’s one very [...]
Kids, Health, and Vitamin D
August 13th, 2009
If there were any easy way for tens of millions of people to reduce their risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, depression, osteoporosis and many other chronic diseases, shouldn’t that be in the headlines?
Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine discovered exactly that. In a large survey of the vitamin D status of children [...]
Confused about the flu hype? Boost your immunity!
August 13th, 2009
Did you get it yet? You’ll probably be hearing a lot of people talking about the flu vaccine, if you haven’t heard it already. This year with all of the talk of the H1N1 flu and the annual push for vaccination for the seasonal flu, the marketing blitz is on. These are [...]
Read more...Summer Skin Health: From the Inside Out
August 13th, 2009
Nature Cures Clinic Nutritional Therapist
We’re deep in the heart of summer and after days of berry picking, hanging out at the river, hiking in the mountains and being outside in the heat your skin may need some attention. In the Spring we focus on preparing the skin for months ahead by doing our “spring [...]
Vegetarian Diets Deemed Safe — Again!
July 21st, 2009
Some of you may have been eating a vegetarian diet for years, and are already well-aware of its wealth of benefits. You may know all about the lowered risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity, osteoporosis, dementia, and rheumatoid arthritis; or you may delight in knowing you’re creating less impact on the earth’s resources.
[...]
Antioxidant Power of Purple Corn
July 10th, 2009
Chances are you’ve heard about the health value of blueberries.
With their deep blue color, they’re high in anthocyanins, a form of flavonoids . The flavonoids found in blueberries may provide protection against disease by upping the antioxidant defenses in the body.
As you may or may not know, Nature Cures Clinic is now on Twitter; you [...]
Fish Oil: Cure-All?
July 9th, 2009
There’s no supplement that can cure everything, but if the latest research is any indication, fish oil seems to come pretty close.
You’ve probably heard the claims that it can increase your baby’s brain function and promote a healthy pregnancy. But it doesn’t stop there!
The physicians at Nature Cures Clinic have access to much of the [...]
Over Prescribed, Record Broken
March 29th, 2009
I have a running record that you don’t want to break. Previous record was a person on 26 different daily medications, which I thought was outrageous. Then it happened at the Diabetes Expo in Portland, Oregon. A woman sat down and pulled out her list of medications. 33. She is on 33 medications a day. [...]
Read more...Big Pharma’s unspoken influence on health care and other musings
March 17th, 2009
In a recent NY Times article students at Harvard medical school were surprised at the extent big pharma had on their education. In recent grades Harvard received an F for failure to disclose the conflicts of interest of their lecturers among other things. We have discussed this topic in our podcast ‘Nemesis of Medicine‘. This [...]
Read more...Amazing Drug to Reduce Heart Disease Risk!
December 2nd, 2008
Imagine the billions in profits that would be earned if a company developed a drug that could to the following things for diabetic patients:
significantly lower blood glucose
significantly lower total cholesterol
significantly lower LDL (”bad”) cholesterol
significantly lower CRP, an important risk factor for heart disease
significantly lower triglycerides
significantly lower VLDL (another type of “bad” cholesterol)
Significantly raise HDL (”good” [...]
Hit Job
November 13th, 2008
A recent study on antioxidants is a classic “hit job” on alternative medicine.
This study compared aspirin to a combination of antioxidants for their ability to prevent progression of arterial disease and diabetes. The study found that there was no difference in effectiveness between the two therapies. And without missing a beat, newspapers around the country [...]
Growing Smarter Kids
November 10th, 2008
A Canadian study found that eating more fruits and vegetables was associated with better academic performance among high schoolers.
A second study looked at brain performance in children 6 to 14 years old before and after one year of taking a multivitamin/mineral supplement. The results are hardly surprising: there was a significant improvement on two different [...]
Read more...Respiratory Infections in Children
November 7th, 2008
Children’s cough/cold medicine has been shown to be more dangerous than helpful. But a recent study suggests that there are other kinds of therapies that will benefit kids with colds.
A recent study in the Journal of Pediatrics found that school-aged children supplemented with fish oil experienced upper respiratory infections with less frequency. In addition, those [...]
Green Tea Extract and Cardiovascular Disease
November 6th, 2008
Imagine the size of the headlines if a pharmaceutical were found to reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, lower LDL (”bad”) cholesterol, and enhance the body’s antioxidant capacity. Now imagine that this new drug can work in as little as three week. It would be the most prescribed drug on the market.
Well, you don’t have to [...]
Children and the Flu Vaccination
October 24th, 2008
The CDC’s position on vaccinating children is straight-forward: all children ages 6 months to adult should get a vaccination every year.
Which is just great, except for the fact that there is no evidence vaccinating children prevents hospital visits or reduces trips to physicians. As if to add insult to injury, according to the CDC, “the [...]
IV Magnesium and COPD
October 24th, 2008
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the top 5 killers in the United States. It includes asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and other respiratory conditions. New research has found that when magnesium is administered intravenously, it significantly improves the respiratory function of individuals with COPD.
IV magnesium is one of many nutritional therapies used daily [...]
Recent Asthma Studies
October 22nd, 2008
About 20 million adults in the US have been diagnosed with asthma, and another 9 million children under the age of 18 have gotten the diagnosis. If anything could cut the risk of an asthma attack in half, that should be big news. And that’s exactly what a recent study found.
A study involving almost 55,000 [...]
eBooks Finally Available!
July 24th, 2008
At long last! We’ve put two new eBooks in our shop. They are the first two books in the Nature Cures Clinic QuickGuide Series.
The QuickGuide Series will feature books on a wide range of popular health topics. However, these books aren’t your typical health books. They cut through all the filler material that pads other [...]
Support CROW Clothing
July 10th, 2008
Portland visual artist, writer and speaker damali ayo is now also a clothing designer, and Nature Cures Clinic is thrilled to be supporting her new venture. CROW Clothing is a completely sustainable fashion line designed by damali. The clothing industry is notorious for its poor environmental record, its harsh working conditions and its heavy reliance [...]
Read more...Vitamin D Levels and Metabolic Syndrome
June 11th, 2008
Do we still need reasons to supplement with vitamin D? A recent study
published in the European Journal of Endocrinology found that subjects
with the highest blood vitamin D levels had an astounding 73% reduced
risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is the name given to a
collection of signs and symptoms that together indicate an increased
risk of cardiovascular [...]
Physical Activity and Dementia in the Elderly
June 11th, 2008
Want to cut the risk of dementia in elderly individuals by 50%? Get them
to move their bodies. In a study published in the Journal of
Gerontology, it was found that in elderly individuals with poor
physical functioning, increasing their physical activity and
functioning conferred a 50% reduced risk of dementia during the 6.1
years of follow-up. Given the millions [...]
Fish Intake and Colorectal Cancer
June 11th, 2008
In a very large, long-term study of colorectal cancer, it was found
that intake of fish oil and dietary fish dramatically decreases the risk
of colorectal cancer. In this study, which monitored over 21,000
subjects for 22 years, it was found that those who consumed fish 5
times/week had a 40% reduction in colorectal cancer. In classic “let’s
understate [...]
Black Tea and Ovarian Cancer Risk
June 11th, 2008
In a hospital-based study involving 414 women with cancer, it was found
that women who drank 2 of more cups of black tea had a 30% reduced risk
of ovarian cancer. Consuming 2 or more cups of decaffeinated coffee has
had nearly a 30% reduction in risk (29%, actually). No protective effect
could be found for women who [...]
Plant Sterols, Fish Oil and Cardiovascular Disease
June 11th, 2008
A combination of two supplements can significantly improve total
cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL. Published in the Journal of
Nutrition, this study looked at 60 individuals with elevated lipids.
Those individuals who were given a combination of plant sterols and
omega-3 oils experienced a significant improvement in their lipid
profiles. Specifically, their total cholesterol dropped by over 13%,
their triglycerides fell [...]
Depression in the Elderly
June 11th, 2008
A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry followed 521
people over the age of 65 for 2-3 years. At the beginning of the study
none of the subjects were depressed. However, at the end of the study it
was discovered that those people who had lower levels of vitamin B12 and
folate in their blood – [...]
Pycnogenol and Osteoporosis
April 29th, 2008
A double-blind, placebo controlled trial involving 156 patients with osteoporosis found that supplementing with pycnogenol – an extract of pine bark – significantly reduced many of the symptoms associated with medications used to treat osteoporosis. Specifically, there was a 58% reduction in pain, there was increased walking distance on a treadmill [...]
Read more...Vitamin C and Exercise Recovery
April 29th, 2008
For all you exercise fans, a study in the Journal of Sports
Medicine and Physical Fitness has shown that supplementing with 1
gram of vitamin C prior to exercise reduced the level of muscle
damage induced by the exercise. In addition, other important health
indicators such as antioxidant status and stress levels in the body were
lower in the vitamin [...]
DHA and reading comprehension
April 29th, 2008
A study published in the journal Clinical Pediatrics found that when 4-year old children were supplemented with a fatty acid known as
DHA, they had a statistically significant improvement in their listening comprehension and vocabulary acquisition. In the study, 175 children were assigned to receive either 400mg daily of DHA or a placebo. The best dietary [...]
Vitamin D and Vascular Disease
April 23rd, 2008
Low levels of vitamin D have already been associated with everything from cancer to depression. A new study has found that low vitamin D levels lead to a significantly increased risk of peripheral vascular disease (PVD).
PVD covers a wide range of conditions, from atherosclerosis to embolisms. While only a small portion of individuals with [...]
Olive Oil and Heart Disease
April 21st, 2008
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and around the world. One in three adults in the US, it is estimated, has some degree of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
A recent study found that individuals who consumed the most olive oil in their diets had the least amount of thickening of [...]
Nature Cures Clinic On TV!
April 21st, 2008
Our clinic was recently featured in three segments on Portland Channel 12 KPTV. If you didn’t catch us on TV, you can check it out at these links:
Part One: IV Therapy and the Treatment of Fatigue
Part Two: Naturopathic Therapies for Cancer Patients
Part Three: Treating Migraines with Naturopathic Therapies
Nutritional IV
April 8th, 2008
Most people think of IVs as something they get in a hospital that’s filled with medications. But there are so many more ways to utilize IV therapy, ways that go far beyond just giving drugs.
At Nature Cures Clinic we use nutritional IV therapy to treat a wide range of diseases and conditions. IVs can be [...]
Don’t miss us on TV! Dr. Eckel & Dr. Nigh on Portland’s “Good Day Oregon”
April 7th, 2008
Channel 12 KPTV in Portland will be airing three segments featuring our clinic beginning tomorrow morning (Tuesday, April and continuing daily through Thursday. Each segment will be on the “Good Day Oregon” program, and our segment should air at approximately 8:15am each of the three days.
Please let anyone know who you think might be [...]
Don’t Wait – Meditate!
November 6th, 2007
Nature Cures Clinic is happy to announce it’s affiliation with the national Don’t Wait – Meditate! campaign that is kicking off this week. You can click here to learn more about it, and to make the pledge and sign up.
The goal is to get 100,000 people to make a pledge to meditate every day. But [...]
The Most Important Vitamin?
October 15th, 2007
We’ve written before about the increasing amount of research on vitamin D. There are few nutrients that can claim the health benefits of this single vitamin.A study recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine adds even more weight to the importance of this vitamin. Low blood levels of vitamin D have been correlated with [...]
Read more...New Podcasts
June 4th, 2007
We’ve posted two new podcasts in the past few weeks, and they are getting more listeners than any before! One is on the health consequences of gastric bypass surgery, and the most recent podcast questions the relationship between genes and many common diseases.
You can listen to any of our podcasts by visiting our podcast page. [...]
Spring Cleanse
March 16th, 2007
Spring is the perfect time to clean things out. Not just in your house, but in your body as well. Join Dr. Andy Swanson and Sara hart, LMT, for their upcoming Spring Cleanse. Sign up by sending a note to Dr. Andy Swanson. And hurry! Only 10 registrants will be allowed.
The cleanse will last for [...]
Upcoming Talks
March 2nd, 2007
Be sure to check out the talks that are coming up, listed under our events calendar. In addition to Dr. Eckel’s talks on treating gastrointestinal disease, Dr. Rose Paisley has just set up a series of talks at the Culinary Arts Institute. Click the talk title to the left to get the full description.
This series [...]
Portland Podcast by Naturopath/Acupuncturists Dr. Nigh and Dr. Eckel
February 7th, 2007
If you haven’t checked out the bi-weekly podcast produced by Nature Cures Clinic, you’re missing out on some great information. Every other week or so week Drs. Nigh and Eckel post a new podcast covering important information about health and health politics. They also answer questions submitted by listeners.
The three most recent podcasts, titled “The [...]
Winter Massage
November 30th, 2006
As the seasons change from our luxurious long summer, the grey skies descend upon us and the rain returns. Nationally, the reputation of the NW continues to include the sense of it being drearily depressing. For those of us who make this our home, we must find ways to defy this!
Massage therapy is a wonderful [...]
Podcasts
October 16th, 2005
New! Visit our Podcasts
Every week Drs. Nigh and Eckel post a new podcast covering important information about health and health politics. They also answer questions submitted by listeners. You can submit questions by sending an email to questions@naturecuresclinic.com To subscribe to our podcasts, use this address:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/NatureCuresClinicPodcasts
in your favorite podcast receiver (iTunes or Yahoo, etc) and [...]
Coffee as an Antioxidant?
September 15th, 2005
Results of a study presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society found that coffee is a leading source of antioxidants in the diet of many Americans. Health reporters – most of whom likely have a morning cup of coffee – used this to write articles showcasing coffee as a “healthy drink” when consumed [...]
Read more...Essential Fatty Acids and Depression
June 5th, 2005
It is widely accepted that diet had a profound influence on health. The occurrence of the most significant chronic diseases in this country – cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes – are all significantly influenced by the diet. While the role of nutrition on the health of our bodies now makes regular headlines, the role of [...]
Read more...CRP, Diet, and Drugs
May 27th, 2005
Conventional medicine has long used cholesterol levels to determine heart disease risk. Millions and millions of people are prescribed one of the statin drugs (Lipitor, Lovastatin, etc) only because their cholesterol measures over 200. Statins are also said to have anti-inflammatory effects as well, and so are being heralded as wonder drugs for those with [...]
Read more...Ginkgo and MS
May 1st, 2005
Diseases of the nervous system are dramatically on the increase. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and others have been increasingly prevalent for the past decade, and the rise shows no signs of slowing.Unfortunately, there are essentially no therapies available to effectively halt or reverse the progre,ssion of these conditions.
A new study conducted at by the Department [...]
Organic Food for Optimal Nutrition
April 9th, 2005
Over the past 100 years, the very nature of food has been transformed. It used to be that a “whole food diet” – meaning that the foods eaten have not been processed in any way – was the only option. Today, the vast majority of the foods eaten have been processed, with nutrients taken out [...]
Read more...Fish Oil and Alzheimer’s
March 27th, 2005
The essential fatty acids found in fish oil are vital to health. Research has shown that by getting enough of those fatty acids, DHA and EPA, in one’s diet, the risk of many chronic diseases drops dramatically. Now a new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience illustrates yet another reason to include fish oil [...]
Read more...Medication Makes Things Worse
February 21st, 2005
A recent issue of the British Medical Journal revealed that a medication commonly given to Alzheimer’s patients in nursing homes to reduce agitation is actually making the Alzheimer’s progress faster.
The drug with this effect is quetiapine (brand name Seroquel) is one of a handful of anti-psychotic medications given to patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia.The study [...]
Anti-bacterial Chemicals in our Water
January 24th, 2005
Our society’s phobia of germs is coming back to haunt us.
A recent study conducted by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health has found something unsettling in our water. Anti-bacterial chemicals have been added to soaps, tissues, detergents and other products for years. Apparently, though, no one considered what became of those chemicals once they [...]
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Strokes
January 8th, 2005
Millions and millions of women who had been on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for years got some unfortunate news a few years ago: HRT leads to an increase risk of some serious health problems. While the vast majority of menopausal woman had been put on HRT to prevent everything from osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease and [...]
Read more...Preventing Allergies and Asthma
January 3rd, 2005
Two recent studies reveal the power of preventive medicine in reducing the risk of two common and serious conditions: allergies and asthma. While billions are spent annually on prescription and over-the-counter medications to treat these conditions, a few simple choices could mean the difference between health and chronic disease.
A study published in the journal Infection [...]
Gastric Surgery Better Than Dieting?
December 27th, 2004
The prestigous New England Journal of Medicine has published a study saying that gastric bypass surgery is a “more effective way” to treat severe obesity than dieting. However, if enhancing health and vitality is the ultimate goal, gastric bypass surgery can’t hold a candle to weight loss through diet and exercise.
The most common kind of [...]
The Burden of Recurring Sinusitis and Bronchitis
October 25th, 2004
In a survey conducted of 606 self-identified sufferers of recurring sinusitis and bronchitis, nearly half of them had missed at least one day of work due to one of these illnesses, and a quarter of them had missed three or more days of work. In addition to over $6 billion being spent annually to treat [...]
Read more...Sitting in Traffic Raises Heart Attack Risk
October 24th, 2004
A new study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine identifies another way in which modern life is hazardous to our health. After speaking to nearly 700 heart attack survivors, it was found that the longer an individual spends sitting in traffic, the greater the risk of a heart attack.
Surprisingly, the risk applied [...]
Is Disease Really in Your Genes?
October 24th, 2004
A research team made up of government and non-government genetic researchers have published a study that casts yet more doubt on the role of our genes as a “master blueprint.” The study was done on mice, in which a seemingly tiny .085% of the entire genome was deleted. However, this amounts to 2.3 million individual [...]
Read more...Preventing the Flu Without a Vaccination
October 14th, 2004
Flu season is quickly approaching, and the shortage of flu vaccines has many people panicked. The CDC is recommending that vaccines be preferentially given to those at greatest risk: the elderly, children, and those with serious illnesses.
However, in the panic about getting a vaccination, a simple truth is easily forgotten: prevention is the best medicine. [...]
Preventing Heart Disease
October 14th, 2004
A recent study conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine discovered something truly astounding. If a patient had at least one risk factor for developing heart disease – the largest and preventable cause of death in the country – less than 45% received diet counseling and less than 30% received exercise advice during a [...]
Read more...Ulcers and Anti-inflammatory Medications
October 4th, 2004
Anti-inflammatory medications are the most commonly used over-the-counter medications in the world. Every day millions and millions of individuals reach for aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve symptoms of inflammation. In addition, prescription anti-inflammatory medications are among the most heavily prescribed drugs in the world.
However, doctors in Australia have discovered that these medications have a more [...]
Food Allergies and Food Reactions
October 4th, 2004
According to the European Food Information Council, about 20% of individuals surveyed believe that they have food allergies. However, they say that when tested, only about 1 to 2% of them actually do have allergies. There is a problem with this data, though. It is a problem that has to do with the use of [...]
Read more...Caffeine Withdraw
October 4th, 2004
Caffeine withdraw is serious business.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins studied 150 years of research on the effects of withdrawing from caffeine. Their findings will be of little surprise to anyone who has skipped a day or two of coffee after having a few cups daily on a regular basis.
Among the symptoms reported by individuals who stop [...]
Monthly Menses: A Window Into a Woman’s Health
September 27th, 2004
When women of menstruating age experience irregular and/or painful periods, they are very commonly prescribed birth control pills (BCP). The high doses of estrogen found in BCP, taken on a specific schedule, will force a woman’s body to menstruate at a specific time of the month. Those taking BCP usually also experience less pain prior [...]
Read more...Alzheimer’s Prevention Through Diet
September 19th, 2004
The fat found in cold-water fish is high in two essential fatty acids: EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). These are also known as omega-3 fatty acids.
EPA and DHA have been shown to reduce the risk of virtually every major chronic disease suffered in society: heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and other [...]
Hepatitis Vaccination Risk
September 18th, 2004
According to a recent study published in the journal Neurology, there is yet another disease risk resulting from a vaccination.
In a review of almost 2000 patients between 1993 and 2000, it was discovered that receiving a hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination increased the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) by over 300%. The disease was [...]
Antibiotics and Heart Disease
September 18th, 2004
Several months ago it was discovered that lifetime consumption of antibiotics by women increased the overall risk of developing breast cancer. Now a team of researchers at Vanderbuilt University School of Medicine have found yet another very significant reason to be cautious with antibiotic use.
After studying nearly 1500 people, they found that consumption of the [...]
Tainted Flu Vaccines
August 28th, 2004
Chiron Corp., maker of flu vaccines, has found that about 4 million of the 50 million doses of vaccine it has produced are “tainted.” While it is never stated exactly what the vaccines are tainted with, a vice president of the company made an ironic statement regarding the problem: “We are confident that we’ve identified [...]
Read more...Diet Soda May Not Help Weight Loss Effort
August 13th, 2004
Tens of millions of people drink diet sodas every day as a way of cutting their calories. The conventional wisdom is that diet beverages won’t cause weight gain, since there are no calories in them. This is unlike regular sodas sweetened with sugar or high fructose corn syrup, which can contain the equivalent of several [...]
Read more...Diet and Exercise for Menopausal Women
August 12th, 2004
A recent government study found that nearly 400,000 of the 2 million deaths in the United States annually can be attributed to poor diet and lack of exercise. A more recent article in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has added even more evidence to the importance of a healthy diet and regular [...]
Read more...400,000 Die Yearly From Poor Diet and Inactivity
July 9th, 2004
Our conventional medical industry focuses primarily on the use of medications to treat disease. However, a recent article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association points out two major causes death that no medication will ever treat: poor diet and lack of exercise.
These two factors together are rapidly gaining on tobacco use as [...]
A Better Way to Lower Blood Pressure
July 9th, 2004
The standard therapy for the tens of millions of Americans diagnosed with high blood pressure is medication. Of the many types of anti-hypertensive medications available, diuretics are the oldest and the most effective.
A team of researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has “discovered” what naturopathic physicians have been counseling their [...]
Our Daily Toxic Exposure
July 9th, 2004
A recent article by neuro-psychologist Sheila Bastien, Ph.D., pointed out that we are exposed to more than 500 chemicals and toxic substances every day. This isn’t surprising given that over 70,000 chemicals are now produced and used regularly.
Dr. Bastien listed just a few of the sources of these chemicals we are exposed to on a [...]
Smoking Takes 10 Years Off Lifespan
July 1st, 2004
In a study that has lasted for 50 years, those who smoke throughout their life will die an average of a decade earlier than their non-smoking peers. Of course it has been known a long time that smoking has a host of negative health consequences, but never has a study been carried out for so [...]
Read more...What is the glycemic index?
June 10th, 2004
The glycemic index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrate foods based on their immediate effect on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion have the highest glycemic indexes. The blood glucose response is fast and high. Carbohydrates that break down slowly release glucose gradually into the blood stream and have low glycemic [...]
Read more...Yo-yo Dieting Decreases Immune Function
June 7th, 2004
A recent article published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (June 2004) gave yet another reason to avoid the weight loss/weight gain cycle of dieting. The repeated changes in weight are a stress to the body, and stress has a number of negative consequences.
In this study, women were interviewed to determine their pattern [...]
The Problem with Retail Multivitamins
June 7th, 2004
The pharmaceutical company Wyeth has recently announced a new multivitamin in their Centrum® line. It is called “Carb Assist,” and is advertised as a product to help the body process carbohydrates (see product here). It is clearly trying to tap into the growing market of health-conscious individuals who have discovered that excess carbohydrates in the [...]
Read more...Migraine Sufferers Spend 70% More on Health Care
June 2nd, 2004
Families with a migraine sufferer spent an average of $4700 more per year on health care than families without a migraine sufferer. The spouse of a migraine sufferer had health care costs that were an average of 24% higher than average.
Chronic and recurring pain of any type is exhausting and frustrating. Unfortunately, standard medications used [...]
Hydrotherapy Benefits Heart Failure
November 11th, 2003
The latest edition of the American Heart Journal (October 2003) finally acknowledges one of the most basic naturopathic therapies: hydrotherapy. A study involving patients with chronic heart failure had them apply alternating hot and cold water three times a day to their arms and legs.
As the press release reported: “After hydrotherapy, patients reported improvements in [...]