It’s been around for millennia, but not until a few decades ago has the American public become truly aware of the ancient healing art of qigong (pronounced “chee-gong”). So just what is qigong? Qigong is one of the four branches of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the other three being the more widely known acupuncture, herbal… Read more »
Testosterone therapy has been a very popular topic in men’s health over the past decade, but not much attention has been given to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in women. With over 75 years of peer-reviewed medical literature from around the world, the evidence is overwhelming that TRT can improve quality of life in both men… Read more »
Indio High Health & Nutritional Science Academy (HANS) teacher Jason Tate has a dream – to build a comprehensive wellness clinic in his high school – and he is almost there. Tate has brought many dreams to fruition in his tenure as a biology teacher at Indio High including the formation of the HANS academy… Read more »
A year ago, I was soul-searching. There were great things happening in my work, and I was passionate about the wellness programs we were providing. However, I was starting to see new possibilities for greater impact and for me to live a more balanced life. Eventually, what I wanted became clear, so I am now… Read more »
There are several forms of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy including pellet therapy in which a pellet about the size of a cooked grain of rice is easily implanted in the upper fatty part of the hip or buttock. The therapy is viable for both men and women; women typically receive 2-3 pellets and men receive… Read more »
Shay Moraga was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the beginning of 2016 and shares her journey with Desert Health® readers in an ongoing column… In this New Year, I look forward to reviewing my goals from last year and reflecting on how the past year has played out. However, the goals I set… Read more »
Jason Fung, MD, taught me how not to eat. I never realized I could skip meals and have greater mental clarity and more energy. In his book, The Obesity Code (Greystone, 2016), Fung, a nephrologist turned obesity physician, describes with great clarity and solid science that obesity is a hormonal illness: the central hormone is… Read more »
In May 2010, while living and working in Greece, I received the call that would change my life. It was from my mother living here in the desert. She had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. That call completely altered my life, as I left my career in Europe and moved to Palm Springs to… Read more »
Life is beautiful gift. From the sand between our toes to tall, snowcapped peaks. From the sun that warms our days to the glow of the midnight moon. Do you take time each day to notice the early morning shadows on the mountains, or the new yellow flowers that have come into bloom? On a… Read more »
The Advantages to Treating You as a WHOLE Person The body is a fantastic network of systems. An incredible realization for me as a physician is that every system impacts every other system in our body. The premise of Functional Medicine and Integrative Medicine is that all of these parts need to be treated concurrently… Read more »
Imagine sitting at a long banquet table piled high with the most delicious, nutritious food imaginable, but when the servings are distributed, your plate remains empty. This is the reality for millions of people in California – ironic for the state which provides the nation with the vast majority of its fresh produce. The people… Read more »
I recently attended the 8th annual Integrative Medicine for Mental Health conference in Orange County. Health care practitioners from many disciplines converged to learn about new and integrative approaches to treating mental health disorders such as ADD, ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar, dementia, pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANDAS), autistic spectrum disorders and Alzheimer’s. The general theme… Read more »
The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys and composed of two parts. The outer section, the adrenal cortex, produces hormones that are vital to life, such as cortisol (which helps regulate metabolism and helps your body respond to stress) and aldosterone (which helps control blood pressure). The inner region, or the adrenal medulla, controls… Read more »
Heart disease is still the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S., and it does not seem to be getting any better despite all the amazing advances and inventions in modern western medicine. If you, or your loved ones, are concerned about heart attack, stroke, diabetes, high cholesterol, or you have… Read more »
Have you ever feared that you might be “found out”? “Unmasked”? Exposed as a “fraud” in an area of work, activity or performance? You may be surprised to know that feeling like an impostor is quite common. Many successful and famous people confess to feeling this way sometimes – in fact, it’s prevalent among high… Read more »
Staying active at all ages is one of the best ways to promote your overall health. A well-rounded exercise program should include aerobic exercise, strength-building, balance and flexibility activities. One of the most important, but least understood, activities is stretching. Stretching is key for optimum joint and muscle function – especially in the knee –… Read more »
One of the best parts of medical school was a group of girlfriends who met weekly to support each other. This same group meets through a monthly conference call and on our last call, many of us expressed that we are struggling with anxiety. It was a poignant reminder to me that the stresses in… Read more »
William Davis is a cardiologist and author of the Wheat Belly books. In his latest book, Undoctored, Davis takes the bold position that anyone can take control over their own health and go beyond the knowledge of most physicians. Medical care will still be necessary for accidents, major infections or other life-threatening events. When it… Read more »
Hormones are essential for every activity of life! This includes the processes of digestion, metabolism, growth, reproduction, and mood control. Many hormones, such as neurotransmitters, are active in more than one physical process. These chemical messengers play a vital role in optimal health and well-being. Chakras are energy centers located within the human body that… Read more »
This is the third of a six-part series on brain health from Deborah Schrameck, NC, PT, of the Eisenhower Wellness Institute. Additional articles can be found here. Do you have people you gravitate towards or a place you go when you have had a stressful day? Nan was always that person and place for me.… Read more »