Authors Leroy Hood, MD and Nathan Price have a bold vision for the future of health care in their new book The Age of Scientific Wellness (2023). They see the future moving away from a disease-oriented system to one based on the “science of wellness.” The tools to do this are available today, and they… Read more »
Regenerative medicine is a transformative field focused on repairing, replacing and regenerating damaged tissues and organs by harnessing the body’s natural healing processes. Since 2024, this term has become increasingly popular as more people seek holistic and less invasive alternatives to traditional medical treatments. As a physician with over 20 years of experience in internal… Read more »
Fourteen years ago, Desert Health was launched to shine a light on the shift towards lifestyle medicine — doctors prescribing food and lifestyle choices over pills. Naturopathic doctors, who learn this in medical school, have led the way followed by a growing number of functional and integrative doctors today. However, there is still a major… Read more »
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a popular supplement in the anti-aging realm, as significant research supports its effectiveness in enhancing energy production. My husband’s integrative doctor, Joe Scherger, MD, has had him taking it orally for several years. But because it works at the cellular level, it’s hard to directly measure its efficacy, and while… Read more »
Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to deliver health benefits for cardiovascular support, cognitive function and joint integrity. However, it is important to also recognize the potential risks associated with their use. One of the primary risks associated with supplementation revolves around the potential for excessive bleeding or interference with blood clotting mechanisms. Omega-3… Read more »
Warm water aids digestion. Those four words are part of Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine and naturopathic medicine as taught in Germany. I have used warm water for the treatment of a variety of ailments of the gastrointestinal tract such as difficulty swallowing, indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. When patients ask me what I take for… Read more »
Did you know that 80% of chronic disease is preventable and curable with lifestyle change?1 How stressed or depressed you are, how you eat, how you sleep, how you move and if you smoke or drink alcohol are the lifestyle choices that can cause heart disease, diabetes or hypertension. Sound depressing? The flip side is… Read more »
Years ago, my older brother had type 2 diabetes which he managed with insulin injections. Eventually his kidneys failed, and after five years of dialysis and multiple secondary complications, he passed. When my brother first told me he had diabetes, it scared me. I knew how it could end and that I was also at… Read more »
Your doctor diagnoses high blood pressure or cholesterol, and you await a call from your pharmacy to pick up the prescription you may be on for life. What if instead, you anticipate an email with your newly prescribed 10-day meal plan? You swap reading a long list of side effects for recipes that can address… Read more »
When it comes to your health, do you rely solely on the advice of your primary care physician, or do you also seek input from a natural health provider? If faced with a serious health concern, you’d probably get a second opinion to understand all your options, so why wouldn’t you do the same to… Read more »
What exactly is resonance? You may be familiar with a demonstration that features a vocalist singing a particular note where upon a crystal wine glass breaks into pieces. What actually happens is that the atoms in the glass begin vibrating at a frequency identical to the frequency of the note sung by the vocalist. This… Read more »
A client recently described fibromyalgia as “widespread pain throughout my body which feels like my nerves are on fire.” She further stated, “Myofascial release seems to send a message to my nervous system that says, ‘You are safe.’” Fibromyalgia is a chronic, debilitating condition that affects approximately four million adults per year. It is more… Read more »
Photomedicine Therapy (PMT), more specifically Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT), is the application of red and near infrared light to areas of the body to assist recover from injury or damage. LLLT is different from natural light in that it is one precise color; it is also coherent (travels in a straight line), monochromatic (single… Read more »
When it comes to health care, there are many options of providers and specialists. This is to your advantage, but it can all be so confusing. This article is intended to clarify a few of the different types of medical doctors and common terms. While not an exhaustive list, it is meant to aid you… Read more »
Barbra Angel (Romanowska) is a musical prodigy. As a child, her world was a symphony. Everyday sounds filled her head in a chorus of pitches that made it hard to focus on schoolwork and socializing. She lived in a world of her own which helped save her from the harsh reality of growing up in… Read more »
Microscopic nutrition is the study of your blood, cells and plasma. It offers the opportunity to see how healthy these life liquids are and what is really going on inside your cell body. The process involves a small prick of the finger to obtain a few drops of blood, which is then viewed under a… Read more »
Music has always played a critical role in celebrating cultural traditions, sporting events, holiday celebrations, civil rights protests, and entertainment. Music therapy has been in practice for centuries, but today, is increasingly recognized in the medical community as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and trauma. It is now being administered in hospitals, nursing homes, recovery… Read more »
Cysteine is an amino acid your body uses to create collagen, the major type of protein in connective tissue. Besides building your hair, skin and nails, cysteine helps convert glucose to energy and is a component of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant. Cysteine is classified as “conditionally essential,” meaning your cells can create it if other… Read more »
Youthfulness and longevity is the ultimate health goal, right? It’s no wonder anti-aging supplements and products are popping up everywhere. We all strive to feel and look amazing, but many of these marketed products aren’t backed by scientific research and can potentially be a waste of money. One product that many naturopathic and functional medicine… Read more »
Most people try to avoid surgery or aggressive treatment if possible. Conservative care, which may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, exercise therapy, nutritional counseling, chiropractic, talk therapy, home management and over-the-counter medications, offers less invasive options and may be beneficial as a starting point or in conjunction with more aggressive treatment plans. Conservative care… Read more »
