Abhyanga

The traditional Hindu wellness system called ayurveda is meant to achieve balance and wellness in life. Many elements of ayurveda involve self-care, whether that means making a nutritious meal, intentional breathwork, or engaging in the self-massage known as abhyanga.     The massage uses warmed oil gently rubbed into the skin. Abhyanga is traditionally one… Continue reading Abhyanga

The Rise of Liquid Biopsies

An emerging diagnostic tool shows incredible promise for early cancer detection. Known as a “liquid biopsy,” this is a simple blood test that screens for cancer cell DNA fragments in the bloodstream, as well as other markers of the disease. Unlike a surgical or needle biopsy, a liquid biopsy is quick, painless, and far less… Continue reading The Rise of Liquid Biopsies

Cardio Exercise as Cancer Prevention

You can count cancer prevention among the many benefits of cardio exercise. A new research study publishing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has shown that regular cardio exercise is linked to the reduction of risk from nine types of cancer. Those include head and neck, stomach, colon, rectum, esophagus, kidney, lung and liver.… Continue reading Cardio Exercise as Cancer Prevention

Blood Sugar and Heart Disease

A study out of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine indicates that individuals with higher-than-normal blood sugar levels are at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The researchers found that the risk was significant—between 30 percent and 50 percent more than a person with normal blood sugar levels.      Elevated levels are considered… Continue reading Blood Sugar and Heart Disease

Fighting Acid Reflux Naturally

Recently, researchers announced they have discovered a link between common proton pump inhibitors (PPIs: antacid medications like omeprazole) and the onset of age-related dementia. The results were a shock to the many people managing the symptoms of gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) and other forms of acid reflux. Although labeled only for short-term use, PPIs are… Continue reading Fighting Acid Reflux Naturally

Is Seasonal Affective Disorder Real?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has gotten a lot of press over time. It’s been blamed for high rates of alcoholism in Scandinavian countries, winter time depression elsewhere, and other concerns. The truth is that some of those claims have been overblown, but SAD is a recognized mental condition caused by a lack of natural light… Continue reading Is Seasonal Affective Disorder Real?

The Benefits of the “Mediterranean Lifestyle”

Unless you’ve been living under rock, you’ve no doubt heard of the Mediterranean diet and its many benefits. Now, a study out of England is illustrating the benefits of that diet extend to a lifestyle modeled on how Mediterranean’s live may reduce the incidence of serious disease and increase potential lifespan.     The study… Continue reading The Benefits of the “Mediterranean Lifestyle”

Are Weight Loss Drugs for You?

Unless you’ve been in a self-imposed news blackout for the last year, you’ve likely read coverage about the new drugs being used—extremely successfully—for weight loss. The drug getting the most press is semaglutide, marketed under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic. (A similar drug, tirzepatide, is marketed under the brand name Mounjaro.)       Originally… Continue reading Are Weight Loss Drugs for You?

Early Detection for Alzheimer’s

New research suggests a simple clinical interview may be a reliable indicator of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease risk. A study by Florida State University College of Medicine researchers found that a two- to three-hour interview, involving trained interviewers asking memory-testing questions and rating responses on a 1-to-5 scale reliably predicted risk for development of Alzheimer’s… Continue reading Early Detection for Alzheimer’s

The Wisdom of Second Opinions

Doctors are expected to be definitive. Patients want to know that any diagnosis or prescription is absolutely correct. Unfortunately, very little in medical practice is absolute. Medicine is a highly advanced but imperfect science. That’s why it’s often a wise strategy—if sometimes emotionally fraught—to seek a second opinion for any serious diagnosis.     A… Continue reading The Wisdom of Second Opinions