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The Perils of Plastic
April 1st, 2008Halfway between California and Hawaii floats the Great Pacific Garbage Patch—3.5 million tons of plastic trash, roughly twice the size of Texas. Known as the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, this 10 million-square-mile vortex of water bottles, plastic bags, and Styrofoam has grown tenfold every decade since the post-WWII plastics boom.
The Arnica Cure
April 1st, 2008The cheery yellow flowers of Europe’s native arnica plant (Arnica montana) have “had a place in folk medicine for hundreds of years,” says Laurie Steelsmith, ND, LAc, author of Natural Choices for Women’s Health (Three Rivers Press, 2005), “helping those who suffer from bruises, contusions, joint pains, or any kind of physical trauma.” We no
Keep An Eye on MS
April 1st, 2008With multiple sclerosis, you want to halt the deterioration of nerves and brain cells as soon as possible. But often doctors can’t detect that deterioration until late in the game—when the damage already has permanently affected the brain.
The Fibromyalgia Fix
April 1st, 2008Relieving the chronic pain of fibromyalgia may have gotten a little easier, thanks to a study comparing the efficacy of four common self-help approaches: aerobic and flexibility exercises; strength training along with aerobics and stretching; the Fibromyalgia Self-Help Course (topics include managing fatigue, pain, sleep, stress, and emotional issues such as worry, frustration, depression, and
Ask The Doctor: Diabetes & Artifical Sweeteners
April 1st, 2008As you know, when you eat sugar (or simple carbohydrates), your blood glucose levels rise, and your pancreas releases insulin to usher the sugar into cells. As a diabetic, however, you either don’t produce enough insulin or your cells don’t respond to the insulin (or both), and your blood glucose levels remain sky high.
I’m diabetic. Should I use artificial sweeteners, such as Splenda or NutraSweet, instead of sugar?Ask The Doctor: Mercury Exposure
March 1st, 2008You bring up an excellent question, and I hear it at my clinic almost weekly. Your experience at the doctor’s office mirrors the typical approach to heavy-metal testing—if the physician tests you at all.
My family doctor tested my blood for heavy-metal poisoning and told me he saw no sign of lead or mercury. I’ve since heard that the test he used may not be very accurate. Should I get retested?Healing Houseplants
March 1st, 2008Sprucing up your home or office with a touch of Mother Nature can do more than just brighten the space. These three plants can also do wonders for your body and mind, says Shelley Torgrove, certified clinical herbalist in Denver:
Rosemary ... for mental clarity and memoryQuick Cold Sore Remedy
March 1st, 2008Wear a high-SPF lip gloss or balm. According to Seattle naturopath Tamara Cullen, prolonged sun exposure can trigger flare-ups.
Lay off the chocolate and nuts. Foods high in arginine disrupt the amino acid balance in your body, which can aggravate the herpes-simplex virus (HSV-1), says Cullen. Cut back as soon as a sore appears.
The next time you feel that telltale tingling, take charge with these tips.Take a Bite Out of Plaque
March 1st, 2008Does your dog’s breath make you cringe every time he comes in for a cuddle? Love those big, sloppy kisses—but need to wash your face immediately after? Just because bad breath is common in dogs doesn’t mean it’s normal, says Larry Bernstein, VMD, a holistic veterinarian in North Miami Beach, Florida, and president of the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy.
Eighty percent of dogs have some form of dental disease by the time they’re 3. But proper care can turn your pet’s mouth—and health—around.Calm Restless Legs
March 1st, 2008The English physician who first described restless legs syndrome (RLS) in 1683 wrote of “leapings and contractions of the tendons” so intense his patients were “no more able to sleep than if they were in a place of greatest torture.” Yet throughout the 1800s, RLS sufferers who complained of its hallmark “creepy crawly” or “itchy, burning” sensatio
Get a step ahead of this common condition.
