Integrative Medicine Resources
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 by health professionals and the […]
Lifestyle Medicine for Cancer Survivors
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 such as health-supportive nutrition, maintaining […]
Managing Cholesterol Without Drugs
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. Although drugs are commonly used […]
Managing Stress with the Relaxation Response
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 ways to skillfully relax is […]
Using Antibiotics Wisely
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 the goals of good medicine- […]
What’s on Your Plate?
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 any school of public health, […]
Wintertime Depression
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 people during the coldest and […]
Religion, Spirituality and Health
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 approximately 70% of Americans consider […]
Lifestyle Medicine for Hypertension
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 blood. The bottom (diastolic) number […]