Nature’s Medicine All Around Us

For the fourth article in this series, I’ll discuss a plant with a striking red bloom, Calliandra californica (aka Baja Fairy Duster, Fairy Duster, Zapotillo, Powder Puff). Despite its name, it is not native to the state of California, but Baja California of Northern Mexico. Over 150 species in the Calliandra genus are found in… Read more »

Stress and Its Impact on Cancer Outcomes

In the serene confines of the Aegean Sea lies the island of Ikaria, where residents embrace a lifestyle that keeps them vibrant well into their golden years. This special place is one of only five known blue zones where people live approximately a decade longer than the average and have lower rates of chronic disease,… Read more »

Skin Cycling and The Moon

In keeping with the beauty industry’s ongoing campaign to inspire new trends, one of the latest is skin cycling. Is there anything to it? The answer is in the ancient wisdom of the moon and its influence on our biological cycles.  The moon is about gravitational pull. Skincare is about fighting gravity. Thus, it makes… Read more »

So Much More in ’24

The start of a new year is the ideal time to ask ourselves what we want to change about ourselves or our lives. There is something about a new year that gives us that extra motivation to start fresh and change our lives so we can experience something better. The usual resolutions are weight loss,… Read more »

A Guide to Healthy Weight Gain

While health conversations predominantly revolve around weight loss, there is a frequently overlooked group whose goal is to achieve healthy weight gain. This includes athletes or fitness enthusiasts, patients recovering from illness or surgery, some elderly individuals, people with medical conditions that contribute to weight loss (e.g. cancers, gastrointestinal disorders, hyperthyroidism) and those who are… Read more »

Get Your Head in the Game

What keeps golfers from reaching their potential and hitting more good shots?  Most of the time, the problem is interference from intrusive thoughts and emotions. Golfers have a lot going on in their head. For example, while standing over a simple short putt, golfers may think, “Do I have the right line? The last thing… Read more »

2024: Stop, Challenge, Consider, Choose

As we usher in 2024, let this be the year that the rhythm of life is not dictated by its pace but by our deliberate actions—where each step is a conscious choice. By embracing “Stop, Challenge, Consider, Choose,” we create thoughtful intention guiding us towards a more purposeful and hopefully, more peaceful existence.  Stop: The… Read more »

Nature’s Medicine All Around Us

In this series on the medicinal value of local vegetation, I have discussed Fouquieria splendens (Ocotillo) and Larrea tridentata (Creosote bush). Now, we’ll look at Bougainvillea, one of the most decorative plants in the area.  Unlike the previous two plants, Bougainvillea is not native to the desert. This shrubby vine comes from South America and… Read more »

Aging Doesn’t Have to be a Pain

As we age, many parts of our body wear out. Bones become more brittle. Muscles aren’t as malleable as they used to be. We ache after playing pickleball. We hurt after a round of golf. We pull muscles just getting out of bed or bending to pick up something. And our choices to relieve the… Read more »

Holiday Mindfulness

I love this time of year. As November draws near, I start thinking about my holiday menus, invite lists and the flurry of activity and travel that are sure to ensue. It’s time for cooking, entertaining and all the merrymaking of the season.  But with that also comes the temptation of veering off course from… Read more »

Nature’s Medicine All Around Us

In the July/August edition of Desert Health, I wrote about one of the impressive plants native to the Southwestern United States, Larrea tridentata (aka creosote bush). In this edition, I’m going to discuss yet another plant that is not only native to the South-Southwest, but also exclusive to it.  Fouquieria splendens (aka ocotillo) is a… Read more »