Over the past few decades, developments in the field of oncology have allowed physicians to detect cancer earlier, intervene sooner with more effective treatments, and to monitor cancer growth more efficiently. However, even with advancements in modern medicine, far too many individuals still suffer from cancer and live in fear of how this disease may… Read more »

Vitamin D is making news headlines as an underappreciated, readily available vitamin with big health boosting potential. Internationally recognized as the leading authority on Vitamin D, Dr. Michael Holick has spent the last 30 years researching vitamin D and its role in bone, immune and nervous system function. He has written over 300 research papers… Read more »

Yeast has the reputation for causing infection, so the notion of taking a few billion a day to be healthy may be difficult to swallow. One yeast in particular, Saccharomyces boulardii, has an indisputable role in the health of the digestive tract in mammals. This yeast is considered a probiotic. “Pro-biotic” literally means “for life.”… Read more »

The President’s Cancer Panel issued a report to the President of the United States in 2009 entitled ‘Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk’. This panel is affiliated with the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services and the National Cancer Institute. A brief summary of these findings is important for all Americans to consider. The entire U.S. population… Read more »

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture employ a paradigm that uses the concept of Qi, or vital energy, traveling along defined pathways called meridians to both explain and treat disease and to restore harmonious, healthy body function. Qi can not be measured by standard western means and there are no corresponding anatomical structures to explain… Read more »

What is Integrative Cancer Care? Integrative cancer care uses a comprehensive approach to health, combining conventional and alternative therapies specific to the patient’s needs. Integrative cancer care is NOT about replacing your medical oncologist; it is about creating a diversified team of doctors and health practitioners to formulate your unique treatment plan. An integrative approach… Read more »

Contemporary life is stressful and to enhance the quality of our lives we must find effective ways to manage this stress. Many doctors now suggest we treat the ‘whole person’ by combining conventional Western medicine with complementary treatments, such as acupuncture, yoga and massage. Integrative medicine, as this is called, appeals to many patients because… Read more »

The human body is a complex, interconnected system, and a dysfunction in one location can present issues in a completely different area on the body. Supporting the basic foundations of health, such as digestion, is often overlooked in traditional medicine. If our basic body system is unhealthy it can cause progressive problems in other areas.… Read more »

Loving kindness is a precept of yoga that teaches us how to resonate and be compassionate with others.[sup]1,2[/sup] By cultivating loving kindness and resonating with others—including family, friends, strangers, and even adversaries—we begin to see that we are all essentially the same, with the same desires, fears and hopes. Understanding this, we can cope better… Read more »

It is often asked if a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) is qualified to practice as a primary care physician. The simple answer is yes. Naturopathic medicine is a distinct and comprehensive system of health care that combines a variety of natural medicines and treatments with conventional medical diagnostics and standards. Naturopathic doctors seek to restore health… Read more »

The latest in pain management medicine focuses on promoting the body’s natural healing process before turning to surgical repair or pain medications. The treatment is called Prolotherapy. Prolotherapy is a procedure that promotes the proliferation (growth) of new tissue in areas of damage. By stimulating the body’s inflammatory response around the injury, the body’s natural… Read more »

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is defined by the Mayo Clinic as “a complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that may worsen with physical or mental activity, but doesn’t improve with rest.” The symptomatic picture of CFS may vary widely among patients.  For years the mainstream medical community did not consider CFS a valid medical condition. … Read more »

I was on my way to the local farmer’s market this morning thinking about writing this column. In honor of National Nutrition Month, I decided to address an often-asked question regarding nutrition derived from today’s food… Q: “Do I really need to take vitamins or supplements?” A: In 1936, during the 74th U.S. Congress, a… Read more »

Whether or not you are a veteran, if you are dealing with a traumatic event that threatened your life and are experiencing intrusive memories propelling your mind back to that event (flashbacks), you are probably suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). By definition, PTSD is a condition involving an impairment of the stress response,… Read more »

The thyroid gland and thyroid hormones predominantly affect metabolism in our bodies (protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism). The thyroid hormones can also affect the way in which our body uses and processes other important hormones. Thus, our thyroid gland is an integral part of our total body system functions. Many patients are concerned about their… Read more »

The first of the year typically brings resolutions that include losing weight or exercising more. Both of these resolutions are based on the common knowledge that each act will go far in promoting health and wellness. In fact, they are the two most important things that we can do for ourselves. Making changes in your… Read more »

In the Unites States, eating disorders are taking their toll emotionally and financially. It is estimated that 34% of adults and 17% of children are obese.1 And anorexia is estimated to be between 0.5% and 1.0% of the general population, with 95% of these being women.2 The incidence in men is increasing significantly.3 Ours is… Read more »

Digestive issues affect a wide range of people in today’s society. The most common symptoms I see in my practice include acid reflux or GERD, constipation, bloating or gas and diarrhea. Following is my list of frequently asked Questions and Answers on digestive issues: Q: What is a probiotic and do I need to take… Read more »

Discovered in the 1920’s, HCG is a hormone produced by women only during early pregnancy which peeks at 14 weeks1 to sequester calories and nutrients for the fetus regardless of how much or how little the mother eats. How does this work? HCG is reported to selectively metabolize calories from areas with high fat stores,… Read more »

When contended therapies are presented, Desert Health will attempt to publish two viewpoints for reader consideration. The use of HCG as a dietary treatment was first published in 19541 by Dr. A. Simeons and has been controversial ever since. Early studies published in the 60’s and 70’s supported Simeons’ claims that HCG, when administered with… Read more »