It’s a good thing that some scientists never paid attention when their mothers warned them not to play with their food as children. If they had, they may never have discovered that topically applied onions, soybeans and turmeric powder can demonstrably improve the appearance and cellular health of skin. Several new presentations at this year’s meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology explain the exact “hows and whys” of this phenomenon. Read more »

I’m going to end this week by engaging in some good ol’ fashioned mythbusting. Have you ever heard a doctor emphatically state that you should never combine nutritional supplements and conventional cancer treatment? How about all those so-called experts who tell you that eating lots of fat will put you on the fast track to chronic disease. Are they as right as they think they are? I’m sure many of you have been made to believe that skin care creams sold by dermatologists are more effective than those you can buy at your local supermarket or the cosmetics counter of your pharmacy. Let’s put that notion to the test. Finally, can we at least agree that chocolate is fattening? I mean come on! Everybody knows that! It’s time to reconsider what we’ve been taught and take a closer look at what the real scientists are actually trying to tell us. Read more »

If you’ve ever listened to talk radio on the weekends then you’ve probably come across more than a few infomercials selling so-called “nutraceuticals”. Nutraceutical is a term that marries the words “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical”. A common feature of these sales pitches is to offer a money back guarantee. This is an attempt to address the widespread skepticism of many people when hearing programs that pitch products that seem too good to be true.
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Most holistic healing is prescribed in an individualized manner. A “one size fits all” approach is rarely adopted. In short, natural health practitioners attempt to treat each patient based on their own unique needs. But how do naturopathic physicians decide on which treatments are best? They often integrate personal experiences with their knowledge of traditional healing techniques and awareness of the most current scientific findings. Read more »

I’m entirely open to seeing a doctor and having appropriate medical tests conducted. I’m even willing to judiciously use medication if it’s truly warranted. But there are many conditions that effect quality of life without threatening mortality. These are the types of health concerns that are often best addressed by natural means. A good example is a common problem that afflicts a large segment of the adolescent population. Acne vulgaris is a skin condition that’s a major cause of both physical and psychological harm. It just so happens that there is an all natural, inexpensive and safe treatment plan that may help abate the suffering. Read more »

Anti-aging products are big business these days. This isn’t a new trend, but it’s an understandable one. The fact is that, statistically, we’re living longer than ever. Unfortunately, we’re not necessarily living healthier. It’s nearly impossible to avoid the ubiquitous toxic elements present in the environment. In addition, most studies tell us that psychological angst and stress levels are on the rise. But, no need to despair. We simply need to understand which lifestyle choices promote longevity and focus on making them a bigger part of our daily routine. One practical way to do this is to regularly drink (or supplement with) green or white tea. Read more »

In an attempt to personalize HealthyFellow.com, I’m going to invite you all into a part of my world that only my wife and select family and friends ever venture into: our bathroom. Don’t be scared! There’s a perfectly logical reason for this. If you’re anything like me, you probably stare at the seemingly endless wall of natural hair and skin care items at your local health food store with a perplexed look on your face. The good news is that this very expression often attracts the cosmetics attendant on staff to try to rescue you from your daze. The bad news is that I rarely feel like I end up walking out of the store with exactly the type of product I was looking for. But through much trial and error, I’ve found a group of products by a single manufacturer with which I’ve experienced some success. I’m not trying to sell you anything, but rather hope that this information will assist you in finding cleaner products at a fraction of the cost and time. Read more »

Last week I presented a case for North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) as a natural way to manage the common cold and flu. In the second part of my 2 part column on ginseng, I’ll focus primarily on another member of the Panax family known as red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer). Red ginseng is typically grown in China or Korea, and is marked by a six year growth cycle. In pre-scientific times, it was considered a virtual panacea, but its reputation has cooled considerably in the 20th and 21th centuries. In my own recent review of the medical literature, I’ve discovered what seems to be a renewed interest in the scientific study of ginseng. There were literally thousands of clinical and laboratory experiments to choose from. I’ve selected three specific health issues to illustrate the breadth and power of this comeback root. Read more »

One of my goals in writing this blog is to present a wide variety of topics that address the health we see, the inner workings of the body that we often take for granted and the quality of life that we perceive. All three of these areas impact one another. That’s a basic tenet of natural medicine. Today’s update focuses on the external aspects of health (weight loss and wrinkles) and the internal battle for wellness (breast and prostate cancer). Approaching these issues in a proactive way will likely provide a psychological boost as well.
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Summer is nearly upon us and that means that many us will be spending more time outdoors in the sun. While this is a good thing in many respects, it also increases the likelihood of sun damage and premature aging of skin. Another very real concern is skin cancer. But these risks may be significantly reduced if we protect ourselves from excessive UV radiation during the peak hours of the day and by supporting the body from the inside out.
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The foods we eat contain a multitude of chemicals that we’re often not aware of. Some of these substances tend to promote health while others are associated with an increased risk of disease. Ellagic acid is an example of a regularly consumed phytochemical (plant chemical) that may very well contribute to the betterment of our health.

The question many people have is, “How do we really know if something is healthy for us?”. In the case of ellagic acid the answer is found in the condition of the skin. But this is a unique substance, in that it helps whether you consume it in a food/supplement form or apply it directly to the skin.
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One of the more difficult things for a parent to endure is seeing a child suffer from a chronic condition. It’s especially hard if the condition affects the skin, which often attracts unwanted attention and can cause psychological distress as well.

Eczema is one of the most common skin disorders in young children and some adults. It may affect as many as 20% of children in the USA. Eczema is defined by an irritation and swelling of the skin that frequently involves extreme dryness and itchiness.
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If you flip through the advertisement sections in your local newspaper or favorite magazine, you’ll probably see multiple ads for skin care creams and lotions. You might even see some promotions for anti-aging dermatologists and skin care spas. But when’s the last time you’ve seen an ad promoting the value of nourishing your skin from the inside out? In today’s blog, I want to share some tips that may help you improve the quality of your skin and reduce the number of products that you “need” to put on it. Read more »