Chi self-massage is a Taoist concept originating back thousands of years. I was first introduced to the practice when studying at the Taoist Institute and taught to do chi self-massage before getting out of bed in the morning. The idea is to cultivate “chi,” or energy, using breathing, visualizations and movement to direct life force… Read more »
Ozone therapy has a wide range of clinical applications. While most clinical studies have focused on cardiovascular disease, ozone therapy also plays a role in the management of diabetes, cancer, chronic infections, auto-immune disease, aging and pain. Topical or local injections also are effective for dermatological infections, cystitis, colitis, osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears and spinal… Read more »
The ketogenic, or keto, diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet growing in popularity due to the many health benefits it can offer. The concept is to drastically reduce carbohydrate intake and increase healthy fat intake which puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. When this happens, your body becomes very efficient at burning… Read more »
The kidneys are vital organs in the human body, yet we rarely focus on them until something goes wrong, such as a painful urinary infection or the passing of kidney stones. The kidneys play a role in controlling blood pressure, acid-base balance, electrolyte concentrations and the removal of toxins. They participate in converting vitamin D… Read more »
One of the most common reasons for a child’s doctor visit is digestive complaints. Children can experience chronic abdominal pain, intermittent abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and general discomfort from eating. These symptoms often cause them to miss school, leave school early or refrain from social activities. Parents may try at-home elimination diets such as removing… Read more »
When a loved one dies, the emotional devastation can leave us with a strong desire to see them one more time. We want a second chance to say things we didn’t share. Regret can feel like a clamp around our hearts. What if we can still connect with our loved ones in visitation dreams? Visitation… Read more »
We are familiar with daily self-care practices for our physical body – brushing our teeth, eating healthy food, regular exercise, solid sleep – but did you know it is just as important to maintain a daily self-care routine for our energy flow? Our physical body consists of energy systems and fields within and around us… Read more »
Chronic pain impacts over 50 million people in our country and, typically, there are few safe and affordable treatment options. For patients who are not candidates for surgery or regenerative injections such as prolotherapy and PRP (platelet rich plasma), NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), acetaminophen, steroids and opioids are the standard of care. Unfortunately, these medications… Read more »
The vernal equinox is here and it’s time to transition to more daylight hours as we move toward the summer solstice three months from now. This time of year is ripe for reflection, looking at the quality of balance in our lives to see what may be blossoming for us. In the somewhat rare… Read more »
Environmental toxicants are ubiquitous in conventional body care products and can negatively affect both adults and kids. Reducing the burden of toxicants on the body includes purchasing and using non-toxic personal care products. There is a varying degree of toxicity in different types of products and replacing certain products can have a more positive effect… Read more »
The law of attraction, put simply, is the ability to attract into our lives that on which we are focusing. It is a universal law that affects everyone regardless of age, race, nationality or religion. It responds to vibrational power of our thoughts, beliefs and words and then materializes them into our reality. Simply put,… Read more »
Losing weight can be a challenge and having a coach as your partner along the journey can make a difference in successfully achieving your goals and maintaining results. A study in the National Library of Medicine states that coaching raises awareness and responsibility for health behaviors.1 Being accountable to someone for your weight loss typically… Read more »
Ayurveda is an ancient healing system from India that remains relevant for modern-day concerns such as stress and insomnia. An Ayurvedic drink known as golden milk, containing cow or plant-based milk along with turmeric and other spices, has gained popularity in the last few years as a remedy to induce restful, quality sleep and boost… Read more »
Every day we are bombarded by input: computer screens, telephones, traffic, food, blaring TVs, and everyone else’s energy. Our bodies are constantly challenged to integrate all this information, which can be exhausting. When our bodies are not able to process all of this information, we can experience imbalance that affects our nervous system, resulting in… Read more »
If you have been battling unwanted pounds or gained weight over the holidays, you are not alone. There are many reasons we maintain unwanted pounds and even gain weight – all of which are within your control. More people die from feasting than from famine, so its important to remember that overeating is a crime… Read more »
2020 is here: out with the old and in with the new! Now is the time to release negativity and stale energies from the past, replacing them with positive, healthy and life-affirming new energy. One way to achieve this result is through the adoption of new rituals that support health and improve wellbeing. One such… Read more »
The numerous holiday invitations making their way onto your calendar about now can pose some challenges, or even anxiety, when it comes to eating a gluten-free diet. The last thing you want during this busy and festive time of the year is to accidentally eat something that doesn’t agree with you. There is no doubt… Read more »
For most of us eating is a pleasurable experience, but for some it is a double-edged sword that leads down a path of emotional cues, cravings and bad choices. In previous issues of Desert Health, I discussed the neurotransmitter dopamine and how it drives us toward foods and substances to fulfill pleasure to get us… Read more »
As a wellness director, I conduct an ongoing personal and professional search for the most current trends of effective remedies in the marketplace. During a recent meeting of wellness professionals in the Coachella Valley, we discussed the topics of achieving radiant health by using structured water and vibrational therapy. These were intriguing topics featuring a… Read more »
Although naturopathic medicine has been in practice in the U.S. for over a century, I often still get asked, “Are you a real doctor?” In California, Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are licensed primary care providers, able to diagnose and treat illness as a general practitioner/ family practice doctor. NDs can order lab tests and imaging; perform… Read more »