The Economist: Think Yourself Well
The Economist weighing in on a Heart Rate Variability Study (my area of research) looking at vagal tone, (stress levels) in meditators. I wasn’t able to find the original article quickly, but what the Economist reports is that subjects with high vagal tone (low stress) find it easier to generate positive emotions and that,…
Read MoreSkip the Anti-inflammatories Before a Workout
What I learned: In summary: take ibuprofen before your workout for sore muscles and more inflammation!! Why? 1. Taking Ibuprofen before a workout can lead to micro damage to the intestines. 2. This damage can lead to intestinal leakage. 3. Small amounts of bacteria and digestive hormones can leak into the blood stream 4. …
Read MoreBetween Heaven and Earth
A gentle reminder, the first teaching in Chinese Medicine is that humans live between heaven and earth, like trees, grass, animals and insects. We invented machines, but we are not machines. Machines cannot heal themselves, nor nourish themselves, nor lay themselves down to sleep. The slight irregularity in our heart beats and gaits is a…
Read MoreAccess Hollywood: Acupuncture Treatment Video
For those interested in celebrities (Mariah Carey, Gwyneth Paltrow and JLo are mentioned) and what a treatment is like. Pretty accurate, minus the models… Click on photo to watch
Read MoreAutism and the Brain
Tricky business of turning off some parts of the brain to improve performance. An article from Scientific American about using electrical stimulation to improve creativity. And an article from NYTimes about using the peculiar and sometimes prodigious skills of autistic individuals for productive enterprise. We’ve discussed autism a bit here and here. In the November/December…
Read MoreBenefits of Probiotics
Discussed the new trend in thinking about bacteria in the body and how to foster a healthier population here and here, in posts called “Bacteria: Friend or Foe?” The skyrocketing incidence of Clostridia Dificile makes this study very timely. Europe has been way ahead of us in regards to probiotics. Probiotics Linked to Lowered…
Read MoreItaly Rules: Cell Phone Caused Tumor
This feeds the ongoing controversy over the long term safety of cell phones. The jury is out, but use the precautionary principle and be careful. Use a headset as much as possible and don’t leave your phone in your pocket. Nagging done. Italy: Court blames tumor on cell phone Read more: To do his job,…
Read MoreBenefits of 1/2 hour a day of walking/exercise
This fun video created by and for Kaiser docs shows that just a half hour of exercise can provide the following benefits, so they will be “prescribing” exercise in one half hour dosages. It is high time! Exercise provides a reduction of 47% knee pain in arthritis patients 50% alzheimer and dementia 58% Diabetes…
Read MoreAcupuncture Article Today in San Francisco Chronicle
This article has very few specifics, but is a nice summary for those who are unfamiliar with acupuncture and a nice validation. I like this part “It creates minute traumas along the skin’s surface to bring a beneficial inflammatory response.” This is part of the way I explain acupuncture ever since reading a book…
Read MoreFlu Shots Provide Little Protection
I am hoping that we are entering an era where data and science matter again. From election results to weather patterns, scientists have been dismissed as biased or corrupt by agents who are biased or corrupted by the industries they represent. Too many aspects of medicine have been accepted on faith because they should…
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