A very useful concept to embrace is that there is a veritable pharmacy inside your head. Stocked on its shelves are healing substances that can be much more powerful and safer than anything a pharmacist can prescribe. What’s more, there’s no need to worry about ingesting potentially dangerous chemicals because every “drug” on supply is 100% natural and specific to your physiology. This fact is most clearly evidenced in double blind, placebo controlled experiments. In such studies, both patients and researchers are unaware of who is receiving the “real” medicine and who’s being given an inert substance or placebo. What inevitably happens, to a varying extent, is that a significant percentage of those given the inert substance demonstrate favorable effects. This so-called “placebo effect” is an example of the mind’s pharmacy at work. Read more »

There are a great many gaps of knowledge in the field of natural medicine. A plethora of hypotheses abound, but hard data pertaining to serious medical conditions is often difficult to come by. This unfortunate reality places patients and physicians in a decidedly awkward position. Some choose to wait until more evidence of higher quality presents itself. Others apply the admittedly incomplete or preliminary information currently available as best they can. To my mind, a balance between these two camps is generally the most judicious way to proceed. My ideal approach is to keep an eye out for breaking new research and, at the same time, use the evidence that’s currently available when putting together an integrative plan of action. Read more »

There are two new contributors in today’s edition of Twitter Thursday. This week I’ve included entries by Dr. Belleruth Naparstek, a psychotherapist and world renowned expert in guided imagery and Fredrick Hahn the author of the best selling books, The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution and Strong Kids Healthy Kids. In addition we have a few returning figures from the Twitter health scene: Dr. Jonny Bowden, Rick McGuire and the LA Times.
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Every column I write contains the most accurate and current information of which I’m aware. However, the research I provide is simply a snapshot of what is known at that given time. I’m well aware that soon after I post a blog, there’s more data that could and should be added to the mix. That’s why from time-to-time, I revisit some of the more popular topics and build upon the previously reported research. This is part one of a two part update that will conclude on Friday of this week.
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Today marks a rather momentous event in my life. It’s the one year anniversary of HealthyFellow.com. This site is my first real attempt at writing a professional blog. In the past I’ve kept a public menu blog as part of my weight loss journey and I’ve even dabbled in a smaller scale natural health site. But it wasn’t until late last year that I was contacted about being a part of something bigger. It was an uncertain time in my life. I was ending my long term employment with a major entertainment company and I wasn’t quite sure where I wanted to go from there. The one thing I did know is that I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the work I was doing. I’ve always loved film, but I didn’t feel as if I was contributing enough to the world around me. It was this confluence of events that lead to the development of this site. My goal, simply put, was to provide science-based, natural health information with a heart that was suitable for both patients and physicians. I think I’m succeeding in doing that, but I know I have a long way to go. Read more »