Humans are creatures of habit. We have heard this time and time again, yet what does it mean?  Psychologically, our brains are working to determine the most efficient ways to navigate our life and make it through our day. Some of us make thousands of decisions a day, and habits allow us to become more… Read more »

2020 has been a monster of a year, with shelter-in-place orders and constant, head-spinning policy changes. It’s no wonder people fall back to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as poor eating and drinking habits.  In April, the World Health Organization issued a press release warning against alcohol consumption. At the same time, according to Nielsen ratings,… Read more »

Ashwagandha is a revered herb in India, and it’s a workhorse of traditional Indian medicine known as Ayurveda. Indeed, its name means “smell of horse,” both for its aroma and its ability to make one as strong as a stallion. Ashwagandha can be given to emaciated children to restart growth and to adults to increase… Read more »

The medicinal mushroom craze has arrived. Long used in traditional Chinese medicine for their potent health benefits, these superfoods can now be found, not only in health food stores, but also in coffee shops serving up chaga chais, cordyceps lattes, and lion’s mane matcha teas.  There is even the “Shroom Room” in Venice Beach, one… Read more »

As we continue to struggle with settling into the new norm, we know that establishing routines is important for our mental and physical health. This is especially true when considering diet and exercise. Even if you’ve let yourself go over these past few months, it’s never too late to get back on track. Remember, you… Read more »

Electrolyte hydration drinks are big business. The market is valued at $1.5 billion per year and growing due to increased awareness about health and fitness, along with a desire to avoid carbonated beverages. But before you gulp down a Gatorade or Emergen-C, let’s discuss what electrolytes are, whether you need to supplement them and potential… Read more »

Families across America are witnessing snapshots of high school seniors graduating respectably this year without prom or public ceremonies. The media has focused on Generation Z and the impact this moment has on young adults abruptly finishing school with absent closure and the unknown of how and when college commences.  In many of the current… Read more »

I was all set to theme this article, “Is there light in the darkness?” when my beloved dog, Havi, passed away on June 8. He had been coughing and had a heart murmur for years, but after X-rays, it was deemed he had multiple issues. I just didn’t expect he would wake up and stumble… Read more »

Times are tough and the rawness of reality can be both cruel and surreal. With the uncomfortable dysfunction of the present and our unknown future, we have come to realize something needs to change, transform and transcend. It cannot go back to the way it was, as the way it was lends itself to why… Read more »

Since the beginning of 2020, many of us have felt the symbiotic balance between humanity and Earth as more fragile than ever. The moment a highly contagious virus took the hurried pace of our lives and slowed it down, we started to pay attention. When our nomadic ancestors migrated with the seasons, animals, and weather… Read more »

Throughout my years as a professional coach, I have worked with men and women helping them to identify what is holding them back from their desired outcomes. Clients come to me seeking better health and better relationships with themselves and others. What I often discover is that many have not recognized and dealt with their… Read more »

Overwhelmed. Anxious. Freaked out. Scared. Desperate.  These are some of the words that seem to be describing our current global mood.  Places have shut down everywhere, people are being told not to travel, to stay at home, to head back to their home countries, to work from home, to stay six feet away from one… Read more »

The forced slow down we’re experiencing has likely made you look for ways to be productive regarding your job, household projects and hobbies, but you may not have thought about treating your health in the same way. Below are some tips to inspire you to use this downtime to improve your diet and sleeping habits… Read more »

When you hear the three words “you have cancer,” your world just stops. You go into shock. You can only hear the pounding of your heart fearfully beating within your chest. It is that moment your body goes numb and your world turns upside down. The joy of everyday life is sucked out of your… Read more »

You may have heard the saying, “Laugh till it heals.” Current research agrees; laughter is considered a form of medicine. And it is a sharp gift that can cut through fear.  During these stressful times of facing a buggy-man named COVID-19, it may be time to use this gift as a blessed weapon because laughter… Read more »

While many look negatively at China and their cause and effect of COVID-19, there is much we can learn from their actions, insights and use of both Eastern and Western medicine. One of my teachers, John Chen PhD, OMD, is a pharmacist and fifth-generation Chinese medicine doctor who graduated from USC. He explained that China… Read more »

While white blood cells (WBC) account for only one percent of our blood, they have an enormous impact on our entire system and protect the body from illness and disease. Moving within our bloodstream, they work with our immune system as little warriors constantly doing battle to fight infections, bacteria and other foreign invaders. Most… Read more »

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has wide ranging actions on our body as an antioxidant, immunomodulator, co-factor for collagen and hormone production, and as a pro-oxidant burst in high doses.1 Vitamin C is well established for its treatment of infections and has been shown to shorten the duration of the common cold as well as reducing… Read more »

With February (“love and heart month”) behind us, that time when you give a little more – flowers, cards, gifts or an “I love you” to that special someone – have you ever taken a step back to ask, “What if I gave as much love to myself as I give to others?” Well, that… Read more »