John’s Articles

Patients loved my dog Missy, a gentle Border Collie I often took into my family practice office. Having her there was therapeutic for them and for me. The companionship of animals has provided humans with a powerful healing bond for thousands of years. No wonder animal assisted therapy (AAT) has

Stress and poor oral health are interrelated. The presence of oral disease and dental disorders can cause stress from low self-image, which can have a negative effect on well-being and personal happiness. Stress, chronic anxiety and depression can lead to self-neglect, including neglect of dental hygiene. For many people, dental

The breath is an important ally for connecting and integrating mind and body. Our breath has the dual nature of being regulated by both voluntary and involuntary mechanisms. We really take the involuntary, automatic quality of the breath for granted. Thank goodness we don’t have to remember to breathe each

Writing can help you access inner wisdom that can be used for health and healing. Journal writing is a simple, inexpensive, convenient form of self-care. Research shows that emotionally expressive journal writing can lower high blood pressure, reduce arthritis pain, asthma severity and cancer pain, promote wound healing and enhance

Would you like to lower your blood pressure without drugs in just 2 weeks? High blood pressure (hypertension) is defined as a pressure equal to or greater than 140/90. It can lead to stroke, kidney failure and heart failure.  Pre-hypertension is defined as a pressure greater than or equal to

‘When walking, walk. When eating, eat.’ ~Zen proverb This classic mindfulness instruction is being shown by modern research to have many health benefits. Mindfulness meditation usually focuses on the breath, bodily posture, physical movement, thoughts and emotions. The goal is to enrich life by living in the only time we

First, do no harm! Second, relieve suffering! Third, contain cost! “Primum non nocere”, the historic ethical mantra of medicine, is getting a much-needed 21st century update in the form of the Choosing Wisely Campaign. Twenty five medical specialty societies, representing over 500,000 US physicians, have already created specialty-specific “Top 5

Profitability, stress management and satisfied workers characterize the healthy workplace. Job stress can be defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. While many of us need a certain amount of

First do no harm! This historic ethical mantra of medicine is getting a much-needed 21st century update in the form of the Choosing Wisely Campaign. Twenty six medical specialty societies, representing over 500,000 US physicians, have created specialty-specific lists of procedures that are sometimes overused, may add avoidable cost to

“First, do no harm” This Hippocratic ideal guides the practice of medicine. Both physicians and patients share this goal of good medicine. This means using appropriate tests to determine a correct diagnosis, using appropriate treatment for the diagnosed condition, avoiding harm caused by testing and treatment, and doing all this

Conventional Western biomedicine has its limits. Health professionals and consumers are both interested in safe, effective, low-cost, high-quality approaches to promote health, prevent disease, manage symptoms and relieve suffering. In particular, conventional medicine’s limited effectiveness in managing chronic diseases has been an important factor in the exploration of alternative options

A cancer survivor is anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, from the time of diagnosis through the rest of their life. Modern medical, radiaton and surgical treatments have led to a growing population of cancer survivors, who now number over 12 million, or 1 in 25 Americans. Lifestyle choices

Strokes and heart attacks can occur when arteries are narrowed by plague buildup. High levels of LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol and low levels of HDL (‘good’) cholesterol contribute to this buildup. Lowering elevated levels of LDL and raising low levels of HDL can reduce the risk of these major cardiovascular events.

Just relax! It sounds so simple. Relaxation does indeed sound simple but skillful relaxation isn’t necessarily easy. While there are many unskillful, unhealthy ways to relax, you can achieve significant cardiovascular, emotional and other health benefits from the regular practice of skillful relaxation for stress management. One of the best

Cough and cold season has arrived. This means more conversations about antibiotics than at any other time of year. Increasingly, these conversations have implications far beyond the exam room and beyond the immediate illness under discussion. Consumers and health care providers are being urged to refine their conversations to achieve

Modern scientific research is helping fulfill the 2,000 year old admonition that Hippocrates gave to both physicians and patients- “let food be your medicine”. Much of the best nutrition research is generated by the Department of Nutrition of the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)- the oldest such department in

Does the cold, dark winter take a toll on your mood? Many of us feel an effect on our mood this time of year. Terms such as ‘winter blues’, ‘wintertime depression’ and ‘winter-onset depression’ refer to a potentially serious form of depression called ‘seasonal affective disorder’ (abbreviated SAD) which affects

Some of my most satisfying moments with patients have been our conversations about religion and spirituality, often beginning with questions like- How important would you say religion is in your life- very important, fairly important or not very important? This question was part of a 2012 Gallup poll which showed

Do you know your blood pressure numbers? Knowing your blood pressure, and keeping it normal, can save your life!Partnering with your primary care provider (PCP) is essential to prevent hypertension and treat it if it develops. The top (systolic) number is the pressure when the heart is contracting to pump