Making New Year’s resolutions is a tradition that dates back to medieval times. We love them because they bring inspiration and hope for a brand new start, but more often than not, they also bring disappointment. What if, instead of resolutions, we set intentions? Think the two words are interchangeable? They definitely are not, and… Read more »
Why do some people survive cancer against all odds when others do not? That question sent Kelly Turner back to school to get her Ph.D. As a cancer patient counselor, Turner was searching for answers in an effort to help her clients and was angered at the fact that no one had studied this population to… Read more »
As we welcome the New Year, we say goodbye to many important people we lost in 2015. Among them is, Gloria Greer, whom I greatly admired as one of our Desert’s original publishers (Sand To Sea 1974), a respected journalist, editor, television host, and champion for her non-profit Act for MS. I had the pleasure… Read more »
“Life is 5 % what happens to you and 95% what you do with that.” Although life doesn’t come with a re-set button, you can give your personal life a fresh start anytime you choose. Why not declare that “2016 is going to be a fresh start”? I believe that what we do every day… Read more »
There are many things you need to do before going on a trip. You need to know what you will be doing, how long you’re going to be there, how you will get there, where you will be staying, and when you will be coming home. Getting ready for joint surgery is like that –… Read more »
Low back pain is a significant health issue and one of the most common reasons for a doctor’s visit. Over 80% of the population has experienced at least one memorable episode of significant back pain in their lifetime, and it is the leading cause of disability and days lost from work. The spine is a… Read more »
It’s very common to fear what we don’t understand and then hide behind blinders, living in denial or buried in fear. This pattern usually causes more problems than are necessary. This is certainly true around the subject of memory loss. We see some changes in ourselves or a loved one and imagine the worst–something we… Read more »
How many doctors do you know who are truly healthy and fit? Why is that? Aren’t they in the health industry? The answer to that is no. Most doctors learned their trade in traditional medical schools which taught little about health and wellness, and a lot about medicine. We can be thankful for the latter,… Read more »
Do you know the most important part of an inpatient treatment program for addiction? The first hour after discharge. Learning much about the “addict self” which looms large, while supporting and building a sometimes underdeveloped and undernourished “sober self” is quickly put to the test when on one’s own, often feeling vulnerable and raw. There… Read more »
“TMJ” is a term many people have heard but few know what it really means. The TMJ refers to the Temporomandibular joint, the connection between the jawbone and the skull. As many people who experience problems associated to it know, it can be very fickle. The official term for any dysfunction of the TMJ is… Read more »
Dr. Joe Crowe, a famous breast cancer surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic, had operated tirelessly all day on that Friday in November 1996. After he said goodbye to his last patient, he got a very bad headache, which hit him in a flash, and he had to sit down. A minute or two after that,… Read more »
The majority of people believe that men and women have about an equal incidence of eye disease causing vision impairment. The reality is that women are more affected than men, with the difference starting to accelerate at about age 50. Women have a higher incidence of cataract, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. This trend… Read more »
Unresolved inflammation is associated with several widely occurring chronic diseases including arthritis, autoimmune disease, cancer, obesity, dementia, periodontal disease, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. These chronic diseases affect 125 million Americans. The presence of inflammation is what makes most people aware that something is wrong in their body. Anyone who has had a rash, sore throat or… Read more »
The craniosacral system is comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. This system extends from the skull or cranium down to the tailbone or sacrum. Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a gentle hands-on technique that is used to loosen abnormal tensions in this system and surrounding tissues.… Read more »
When a client asks for a deep tissue massage, the first question I ask them is, “What does a deep tissue massage mean to you?” For many people, it means PAIN and PRESSURE, which technically is very far from the truth about deep tissue bodywork. In its most simple terms, there are two primary categories… Read more »
Around this time every year we all make resolutions to lose weight, get in shape, and take control of errant behaviors. This year, take advantage of that January mindset to do just one thing: get healthy. Commit to a fresh start by getting back to basics and all of those other goals will fall in… Read more »
Conventional treatments for cancer are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormones and targeted biological therapy. For those seeking alternatives or additions to increase efficacy or to mitigate side effects, a wide array of choices exist. Interventions which have been scientifically studied and have shown positive outcomes range from drinking green tea to receiving acupuncture to applying ozone… Read more »
With the New Year upon us, we make our yearly resolution to shed excess weight, get a handle on our sugar intake and curb unhealthy cravings. Looking for a fast solution, most are drawn to the “quick fix” programs that are pervasive throughout the internet. The countless choices are overwhelming. The popular choice is often… Read more »
Wellness can be defined as an approach to health care that emphasizes illness prevention and prolonging life, rather than emphasizing the treatment of disease. This viewpoint, as well as the current condition of health among humans, has inspired a new career academy at Indio High School under the leadership of Jason Tate, a biologist and… Read more »
On average, 1 in 4 women experience some difficulty achieving an orgasm. As women age, sexual sensitivity can fade leaving one feeling sexually uninspired and less intimate. Many of the same women who have difficulty achieving orgasm also have problems with urinary stress incontinence (when you accidentally leak a little bit of urine when laughing,… Read more »