The holiday festivities, for most of us, revolve around a table piled high with family recipes and sweet treats. Avoiding gluten might be difficult during these gatherings, but here are some tips to ease your mind and still be a part of the tradition this season. There are many grains and flours that are naturally… Read more »
Floatation therapy incorporating restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST) has fascinated researchers, clinicians and explorers of consciousness for years, promising something special – a powerful transformation, a mystical peak experience, an intense change in biochemicals, improved performance, or a healing of our ills. The soundproof isolation tanks which were first used by John C. Lilly in… Read more »
Fall and winter are the perfect time for outside activities in the desert. While our counterparts are shoveling snow, desert fitness buffs will be hiking, biking and going on nature walks in our near-perfect weather. The City of La Quinta is the desert’s fitness destination. Packed full of hiking trails, bike paths and meandering walkways… Read more »
Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by exposure to the herpes-zoster virus. It can also be a reactivation of childhood chickenpox caused by the same virus. Shingles can be a very painful condition and early treatment is essential to reduce long-term discomfort. Of course antiviral medication can be warranted; however, natural therapies are highly… Read more »
One of the most concerning health issues of our time is the increasing exposure we all face to environmental toxins. There is mounting scientific evidence that toxin exposure is playing a significant role in triggering or amplifying many chronic diseases including obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancers, and multisystem conditions such as… Read more »
Denise Minger is curious, tenacious, witty and smart. She graduated summa cum laude with a major in English and aspirations of becoming a college professor. Her passion is writing and in school she was drawn to classes that culminated in 40-page research papers because she “deeply enjoyed producing them.” But upon graduating, life took a… Read more »
Only in the past thirty years has stretching been widely accepted as a valuable part of exercise. In this country, many of us grew up playing sports with little to no stretching warm up or cool down, and for some (amateur golfers and equestrians come to mind), that routine – or lack thereof – continues… Read more »
It sounds like something out of an old science fiction movie, but ozone therapy is scientifically valid and used by certified doctors worldwide due to its therapeutic properties. In the United States, there are a small number of doctors trained and certified in ozone therapy. The first ozone generator was patented in 1896 by Nikola… Read more »
As of 2012, half of all adults in the U.S. reported one or more chronic health conditions. Approximately 117 million adults (one in four) had two or more chronic health conditions with heart disease and cancer at the top of the list.1 It is also reported that over 50 million Americans suffer from multiple autoimmune… Read more »
Ayurveda is an ancient practice of healing which views health and disease from a unique perspective. According to Ayurveda, there are five components that can change or influence our energy flow: the food we eat, the quality of our thoughts, the quality of movement (exercise), compassionate touch and most importantly, the giving and receiving of… Read more »
Vitamin D is a nutrient present in almost every single cell in the body. It is primarily used to regulate calcium and mineral uptake, mineral metabolism, and bone growth. However, the abundance of vitamin D in the body’s cells indicates it has much broader actions than may be entirely known. One main role of vitamin… Read more »
The foundational belief of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TMC) relies on a system of pathways called meridians that transport QI, or energy, throughout the body and upon which acupuncture points are located. This system and the paths it follows were first delineated around 2,500 BCE, and are still referred to, largely unchanged, today. However, Western science… Read more »
Some of the most challenging times in our lives can be helping a loved one get help for drug or alcohol addiction. There can be many hurdles before they get help, including their reluctance or refusal to go, and finding the center most appropriate for your loved one. Here are a few tips to help… Read more »
The term ‘Functional Medicine’ grew out of the vision and energy of a group of scientists, medical doctors, chiropractors, naturopaths, nutritionists and other health professionals that began meeting in the late 1990s. Under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Bland, these practitioners began holding regular conferences which eventually led to the formation of The Institute for… Read more »
Ideally, we should be getting our vitamins, minerals, and nutrients from our food intake alone. However, in this day and age, our food production is completely different from that of 50 to 100 years ago, and the sad reality is that most people eat calorie-rich but nutrient-poor foods. Because of the world in which we… Read more »
Nutritional deficiencies often go unnoticed or undiscovered in routine lab work and annual physicals. However, each vitamin, mineral, and nutrient has specific deficiency signs and symptoms that commonly occur. By paying attention to changes in our body’s physical health, deficiencies can be assessed before any long-term complications. A list of common nutritional deficiencies below is… Read more »
AH, VACATION. A time to take a break from the daily grind. But just because you’re away from home and work doesn’t mean you should give up on your exercise regimen. If you do, you may find it hard to get back in action once your trip is over. In fact, your body can respond… Read more »
The concept of Qi dates back to the beginning of Chinese civilization. It has been translated as “vital energy,” “life force,” or “breath” but no single English word will suffice, perhaps because the nature of Qi is that it can have different manifestations in different situations. The Chinese character for Qi means vapor, gas, air… Read more »
Almost daily, we witness ‘stick-to-itiveness’ and perseverance expressed as “true grit.” Personally, I am attracted to the word “grit” which suggests to me courage, resolve, firmness of character, and an indomitable spirit. These are all lofty personality traits to pursue. The elusive mystery resides in how we achieve the qualities of this simple, yet weighty,… Read more »
Thanks to new science called gene sequencing, researchers have discovered 1,800 disease genes. This information is part of what was learned with the conclusion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. Additionally, hundreds of genes have been discovered that influence the way we metabolize nutrients, perceive taste, regulate hunger and respond to exercise. Your diet… Read more »