Did you know that some of the world’s most therapeutic natural resources are right in our own backyard? For centuries, people worldwide have turned to mineral hot springs to heal what ails them. These unique waters contain a deep concentration of earth’s elements, essential to the human body and to life. All the more, the… Read more »
July/August 2023
In 2021, the renowned New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care launched the Contemplative Medicine Fellowship, a 12-month training for physicians, advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants, designed to immerse participants in the alleviation of suffering while supporting clinic responsibilities. The following editorial, which first appeared in the international journal Palliative & Supportive Care,… Read more »
Yes, that’s me enjoying a cool cascade of nature’s medicine from the mineral-rich waters of Desert Hot Springs. The secret is out and wellness retreats are springing up as investors seek this liquid treasure and its ability to heal what ails us. In this edition, we introduce some of the area’s hidden gems. Explore to… Read more »
Let’s Shatter the Stigma
- By Student Emma Feller
I’m done with mental health being such a taboo topic of conversation. I’m done with the initial shock of others when bringing up my own mental health in a conversation. I’m so done with mental illness issues being treated as rare and shameful. Having an experienced perspective on mental health is both fortunate and unfortunate.… Read more »
Why is Vitamin D so Important?
- By Pam Gossman, DNP, APN, BC-FNP, CPHQ
Vitamin D is often called the “sunshine vitamin” because it is produced in our bodies when we soak up some rays. But did you know that vitamin D plays a crucial role in keeping our bodies healthy and functioning optimally? Let’s delve into the importance of vitamin D and why it’s essential for your health… Read more »
Be the Author of Your Own Story
- By Susan Murphy, PhD
You may have heard the statement “everyone has a book in them.” The Wall Street Journal found that 80% of the population plans to write one someday. Have you thought of writing a book? If so, there are several important reasons to write that book: So, what’s my story about becoming an author? The… Read more »
Wildfires Impact Everyone
- By Sam DiGiovanna
Though most of the Coachella Valley is not in what we consider the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), where brush fires threaten hillside homes, we can still be affected by smoke particles released into the air from those fires. This reminder was recently made very clear with the effects of Canadian wildfires on air quality in… Read more »
Dreams to Remember
- By Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos
The average person has three to seven dreams per night. Did you know that vivid early morning dreams, the ones you have just before awakening, are the easiest to remember? According to experts, this dream memory happens during the rapid eye movement (REM) stages of sleep, when brain activity increases and is not as deep.… Read more »
Setting Boundaries through Cancer and Beyond
- By Shay Moraga
Going through cancer is such a personal and intimate choice for everyone, especially how you share your journey with others. Maybe you choose to keep it close to your heart until you can process and express your feelings, thoughts and even fears. After all, you must still live the day-to-day life of family, friends and… Read more »
The Importance of a Good Cry
- By Amy Austin, PSYD, LMFT
I don’t know about you, but I can cry watching a cute TikTok clip. But if people are around, I’ve noticed that I try to keep my emotions in check. Why do I hold back? Why not experience the agony and the ecstasy of shedding tears and having a good old-fashioned ugly-faced cry? With a… Read more »
Work-related Pain and Injuries
- By Luke Gentry, DPT, OCS
In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, many of us spend long hours at computers, often sacrificing our well-being for the demands of our jobs. However, neglecting our physical health can have serious consequences, leading to discomfort, pain and injury. Cervicogenic headaches, neck pain, thoracic pain, low back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome are common work-related injuries… Read more »
Craniosacral Therapy: Listening to the Fascia
- By Delaney Quick, ND
Unlike bodywork practices such as massage, chiropractic or Rolfing, craniosacral therapy (CST) applies very gentle pressure to effect change on the system. The pressure used is similar to the weight of a penny or a feather on the back of your hand. Patients who have not experienced craniosacral sessions often wonder how CST can effect… Read more »
Nature’s Medicine All Around Us
- By Shari Jainuddin, NMD, BCB
As you drive around the outskirts of the Coachella Valley and view the desert landscape, you will see one of the most resilient, oldest medicinal plants on earth. Native to Southwestern United States and northern Mexico, Larrea tridentata, commonly known as creosote bush and greasewood, covers this arid ground in almost a perfectly spaced pattern.… Read more »
Since early adolescence we have been primed to focus on our physical appearance. The world identifies who we are through our coiffed exterior presentation, and we spend a lot of time and money polishing the image others see. Imagine a world in which the interpersonal work to which we dedicate time is met with society’s… Read more »
Quiet the Mind and Find Inner Peace
- By Dipika Patel, CHHC
We persistently find answers to what we are seeking, and there will always be others looking for the same answers. We will continue to find conversations and thoughts of turbulence if we search for them. If we are looking for mayhem, we will find mayhem. If we are looking for peace, we will find peace.… Read more »
The Transformative Power of Yoga
- By Jennifer Yockey
In today’s fast-paced and demanding world, finding true health and well-being can seem like an elusive quest. However, there is a practice that has the potential to transform lives, heal the body and mind, and ignite the spirit. That practice is yoga. As a yoga teacher, holistic life coach, athlete and someone in recovery from… Read more »
Look Up, Lean Back
- By Joseph E. Scherger, MD, MPH
We all look down too much. Our modern culture has us frequently looking down at devices, keyboards, papers and books. However, our neck is designed for us to be looking in the opposite direction. All the muscles in the back of the neck are erector muscles; our hunter-gatherer bodies should be looking forward and up. … Read more »
Understanding Vertigo
- By Agustin Orozco, DAOM, LAc, LMT
Dizziness, or vertigo, is a frequently reported symptom among those seeking medical attention. Patients often describe their symptoms as their body moving in a swaying or rotating motion, the environment around them appearing to do so or both. Vertigo can have a diverse range of causes and presents with varying characteristics. However, certain factors can… Read more »
Adding Life to Your Years and Years to Your Life
- By Scott Stoll, MD
“Healing is not just a matter of time, but also opportunity.” – Hippocrates Most of us have grown up in a world where processed foods and fast foods are the norm. Soda and sugary cereals for breakfast, donuts and coffee with cream and sugar at break time, candy bars and bagels in the afternoon and… Read more »
Do You Know Your (New) Numbers?
- By Marly Paulus
Many of us set an ideal target weight based on what our scale tells us. But, that’s only a fraction of the story. Here’s how testing your body composition gives you the full story and how to most effectively improve it. Beyond weight and height, body composition considers your individual muscle, organs, bone, fat, tissue… Read more »