This 6th edition of Desert Health[sup]®[/sup] marks the culmination of our first year in publication. We could not have gotten here without the continued support and contributions of the many health care companies, professionals, contributing writers and community groups featured within our pages. I am truly grateful to all of you. Desert Health[sup]®[/sup] was created… Read more »
November/December 2011
The Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine defines this practice as “medicine that confirms the importance of the practitioner/patient relationship; focuses on the whole person; is evidence-based; and uses all appropriate modalities, health care professionals and disciplines to achieve health and healing.” Following this logic, patients win. We receive medical attention that considers… Read more »
Many answers we seek to feel vibrant and take care of our health and wellness, exist as natural remedies dating back 5,000 years. There is a science of self-understanding that originated in India called Ayurveda, translating from Sanskrit to mean “Science of Life.” It is a system of empowerment that looks at everything affecting a… Read more »
After reading Desert Health[sup]®[/sup]’s October feature on breathing, I expressed my appreciation for this newsworthy editorial, and was asked to share my life-changing struggle with Valley Fever (VF). VF is a debilitating lung disease which is challenging to diagnose as its symptoms mirror those of other conditions. Everyday we use our life force to keep… Read more »
One third of people over the age of 65 take a fall every year. 74 percent of those who fall obtain injuries that require medical attention.[sup]1[/sup] Many of these falls, and the life altering consequences that ensue, can be avoided. In the spirit of National Fall Prevention Awareness Day (always the first day of Fall),… Read more »
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that is difficult to treat by traditional methods. There is no test that confirms this diagnosis, which is based upon the following clinical criteria:1 widespread musculoskeletal pain for at least 3 months and2 excess tenderness in at least 11 of 18 predefined anatomic sites, 9 on each side of… Read more »
Fibromylagia is a condition characterized by fatigue, body pain, sleep difficulties, and depression. To date, there are limited, successful treatment options to fully relieve the symptoms. The lack of successful treatment options is thoroughly frustrating to individuals with fibromyalgia. From a naturopathic perspective, the first part of a successful treatment program is to address the… Read more »
The use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers in medicine is noted as far back as the 1800’s. But for many of us, the words only conjure up the memory of a ‘weird’ Michael Jackson sleeping in one. The most noted beginning of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is from use by divers in the early 1900’s for… Read more »
Desert Health[sup]®[/sup] promotes those local organizations and practices which set the Coachella Valley apart as leaders in the field of health care and integrated medicine. One such organization is the Valley’s Desert Healthcare District. Created in 1948, the Desert Healthcare District’s original mission was to provide hospital services to residents of the region. In 1998,… Read more »
The eyes are the central focus point of a person’s face and convey a wide range of expressions. They aid us in communication and give our listener important non-verbal clues. Given the importance of our eyes, we naturally want to look and feel our best. An outpatient eyelid lift can help restore your natural eyelid… Read more »
Hearing loss is a major public health issue. After arthritis and heart disease, it is the third most common chronic illness in the U.S. Unfortunately, hearing loss often goes untreated. Why is it that hearing problems often fail to prompt a visit to see a doctor? There are many misconceptions about hearing loss and related… Read more »
An interview with Dr. Gerald B. Weiss, board-certified neurologist and pain management specialist What is the first step if you think you suffer from migraines? When patients come to me, we do a complete neurological evaluation to diagnose the pain as a migraine on a clinical basis. If a patient has not had an MRI… Read more »
(pronounced ‘Bo-GO-zee-en’) Profession: Orthopedic Surgeon fellowship trained in hip and knee replacement Studied: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA. Internship and residency in Orthopedic Surgery at South Pointe Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic Hospital Fellowship in adult lower extremity reconstruction at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Practice: Star Othropaedic in La Quinta; Staff Physician… Read more »
If you have prostate cancer, your current options for therapy include sitting back and waiting to see if the cancer grows (active surveillance), total removal of the prostate gland, or radiation therapy of the entire prostate gland. The second and third options often results in life-altering side effects such as erectile dysfunction (in up to… Read more »
As the years pass, some daily activities become a little more difficult. Perhaps we have an injury or the body can no longer do what the mind thinks it can. Take my mother for instance, at 92 years young, she decided to remove a vine from a tree. Needless to say, after a few yanks,… Read more »
Surveys by AARP state that 90% of Americans over 50 years of age want to remain in their homes as they age.[sup]1[/sup] “Aging in Place” is the new term coined to reference the ability to continue to live in one’s home safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.[sup]2[/sup] It means living… Read more »
Many people have heard of the terms oxidative stress, antioxidants and free radicals, but may not understand what they really mean. The process of oxidative stress can be difficult to comprehend, but a basic understanding is very important. Oxidative stress is a general term used to describe the steady state of oxidative damage in a… Read more »
We live in a toxic world. Our air, water, land, and foods are loaded with toxic chemicals. A recent study of infants (blood drawn from the umbilical cord at birth), indicated that the average child at birth had over 250 different toxins. From an evolutionary perspective, these toxins are a relatively recent problem. Our current… Read more »
Color is known to affect our mood and emotions, but did you know that the colors in foods do more than just look tasty? I often tell my clients to eat a rainbow everyday, and here’s why… Colors in foods promote the expression of healthy DNA coding and are called phytonutrients – chemicals in foods… Read more »
Movement is Life and The Key to Staying Young
- By Jessica Blaisdale, LMT, and Robert Haberkorn, DC
Resiliency, the ability to move and adapt to our changing world, is what keeps us alive. This same quality is also what keeps us young. On the surface we look for resiliency in our skin as a sign of youth, but that resiliency is even more important in our organs and our joints. Over time… Read more »