Holistic Health Articles

Here is my collection of articles on Holistic Health. Click on the title of any article to read its complete text. Comments are always welcome.

Cheerfulness - I had never considered cheerfulness as a life power until yesterday when I paid a visit to personaldevelopmentbooks.net. This is a wonderful site and resource that I subscribe to, and I recommend you do as well. Here's why -- subscribers of the site receive a free e-book each week pertaining to personal development. This week they are making available to their subscribers a small booklet from 1899, a book so insightful that it has the capacity to transform the lives of its readers. It's one of those books that changes the way we look at the world.

Strontium -- Preventing and
Reversing Osteoporosis - "Can strontium prevent osteoporosis?" That was a question I was asked yesterday. And the answer is a resounding yes. Not only can it prevent it, it can reverse it. This abundanat mineral builds bone density. It doesn't just slow down the loss of bone density, it creates it. It's safe, its natural. There are no known side-effects. The people in the world that are losing bone density and developing osteoporosis are doing so unnecessarily.

Vitamin C from China -- Is It Safe? - Take a look at your vitamin C bottle. Chances are it doesn’t say where it was produced. But since vitamin C from China makes up at least an 80% of the world’s supply, most likely yours comes from there. Some estimates of the Chinese market share is put at 90%. In fact, the Washington Post reports that there are no longer any manufacturers of vitamin C in the United States, and only one in the Western world. (I was told, however, by Nutribiotic, that their Meta C product is manufactured in the United States.)

High Potassium Level - Today I received a phone call from my doctor saying that my blood work showed a high potassium level and that she wants me to return next week to have another test. She seemed very concerned and asked what I was eating, what vitamins I was taking. I told her that the night before the test I did eat one source of high potassium: mashed potatoes. She said that might be the cause.

Making a Good Brain Great -- A Review - Today I decided to write a review of Making a Good Brain Great by Dr. Daniel G. Amen. And the reason is simple: It's an important book. If you just consider the high percentage of elderly people in the United States with Alzheimer's disease you will probably agree with me. I only became aware of the book this past weekend, while visiting Washington, DC. My wife and I noticed it at my sister’s house. My sister was enthusiastic about the book and encouraged us to borrow it, which we did.

Health Care Crisis
and Medical Tourism - There is a health care crisis going on in the United States, and I, like millions of others, are being crushed by it. It's caused by the high cost of medical care and health insurance. To put this into perspective, over the last five years, inflation increased at a rate of under 3% per year. The cost of health care insurance has increased by 12% per year. My situation is better than most but it is not ideal. My wife and I, both self-employed, have a health insurance policy. But to keep the cost of the policy affordable ($300 per month is still costly) we elected a plan with a $10,000 deductible. This policy includes a free physical exam each year up to $300. That's good. But last week my doctor recommended a test that would cost me several thousand dollars. That's not so good because my insurance won't cover it. What do I do? What would you do?

Paradigm Shift in Medicine - I hear that a paradigm shift in modern medicine is underway. That's great news to me, but I haven't found it here. Today I had my annual physical exam. It was the first one since I moved to South Carolina last June. It was interesting to see that very little attention was paid to me as a whole person. And I found it interesting that the doctor referred to the supplements that I take as drugs. When we were done, she said, referring to the vitamin C, E, B6, B12, gotu kola and flax seed oil, “You sure take a lot of drugs. I don't know how you do it.” In actuality, I don't take any drugs.

Magnetic Therapy Debate - I went to a presentation yesterday about magnetic therapy and the logic made sense. Were all the claims true? I found today that there are studies from Europe and Asia that back up the claims I heard. However, a lot of the studies were tests using electromagnetic therapy, which is a lot more powerful.

Grapefruit Seed Extract Debate - My wife and I first heard of Nutribiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract when her homeopathic doctor recommended it as a treatment for a skin condition. It worked. I recently have used it for treatment of a digestive disorder. It worked for that too.

Diagnose-Me - Today I came across a service called Diagnose-Me on the Internet that I believe is an important service that everyone could benefit from. It takes you through the most comprehensive medical history that you could ever imagine.

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil - The health benefits of coconut oil are many but there seems to be a lot of misinformation about it by misinformed health professionals. Tell your doctor you enjoy the health benefits of coconut oil and see what the response is. If the response is disbelief and disdain, then maybe you need a new doctor.

ADD Without Drugs - I have ADD. And that's OK with me. I'm glad I have it. I have lived successfully with ADD without drugs. And the reason I don't take the drugs is because I don't want to be fit into the mold of normalcy. Because I am someone with the traits or characteristics of what is often called ADD, and because I do a lot of reading on the subject, I have developed my own perspective about it. I like to contrast the ADD brain to the non-ADD brain. Metaphorically, I describe the ADD brain as a personal computer and the non-ADD brain as a typewriter. The people who have typewriters are able to produce pages of letters and articles and whatever needs to be typed, methodically, one page at a time. But the person with the computer sometimes isn't able to get anything accomplished. And the reason is because no one gave them an operating manual on how to work the computer.

Oxygen-Based Colon Cleanser Breakthrough - I came across an oxygen-based colon cleanser that should be of interest to everybody. It's os special interest to me. As someone who was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease (many years ago) I am always focused on ways to keep my digestive system in optimal health. I never want to suffer the extreme and painful effects of that again. And it's not just a concern about Crohn's Disease. The digestive tract is responsible for the processes that sustain our health with the absorption of nutrients, minerals and vitamins. It's also responsible for the detoxification and purification of the body. When my digestive system is working properly, my skin is clearer, my body doesn't ache, and I have more energy.

Holistic Health and Awareness - I became committed to holistic health after traditional medicine left my body in a state of ruin. Furthermore, I was told that my health would progressively get worse as the years passed by. I wasn't left much choice.

Crohn's Disease -- Symptom Free - Recently I received an e-mail from a reader who saw on this site that I had Crohn's Disease many years ago, and wanted advice since I have been symptom free for so many years. This is a very debilitating chronic disease that I was able to beat by having a good diet and a balanced life. Not only did I beat it, I beat it while staying away from the anti-inflammatory drugs, which have side effects such as liver damage.

IV Vitamin C -- A Great Resource on Curing the Incurable - According to Dr. Levy, vitamin C in large doses has cured virtually every acute virus that he has treated. He says the evidence suggests that the effectiveness of IV vitamin C treatment is predicated on whether or not you can get a high-enough dosage of the vitamin within the direct proximity of the virus.

Natural Healing - The Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Healing by Gary Null, Ph.D. has been updated and expanded. If you're not familiar with Gary Null, then as far as your health goes, this is your lucky day. This is a must for your library. Gary Null has been helping people privately with health issues for years, yet he has never charged a dime. He is the recipient of 22 health and medical awards. His research has already stunned millions of viewers on Oprah, 60 Minutes and 20/20. PBS even produced a full-length documentary about his work. This book is the ultimate reference guide, containing 2400 cures and treatments that have saved lives where drugs and surgery have failed.

Body Pain Solutions -- An Interview with the Expert -- Melvin Mapp - Recently I introduced myself to a man who specializes in body pain solutions. His name is Melvin Mapp. His mission is to help people eliminate pain from their bodies. And he does it very quickly. And differently. His success speaks for itself. For example, there was one man, a wealthy real estate mogul who suffered severe leg pain for 17 years. No one could help. When one of his associates told him of Melvin, he figured he had nothing to lose. The pain was so severe he could no longer drive. He was driven to Melvin's office in a limousine. The driver assisted him up the sidewalk. An hour later, 17 years of body pain and suffering were gone. That is a typical story that have people knocking on his door. I was so fascinated by Melvin's story that I asked him if I could interview him, to share his story on my website. He agreed. Here it is:

Inflammation Factor - I've been reading about the Inflammation Factor (IF), a revolutionary idea in a new book entitled the Inflammation Free Diet Plan by Monica Reinagel. This book can save lives. Inflammation is a killer. It leads to heart disease and cancer. It also plays a major role in Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, Multiple Sclerosis, premature aging, and asthma, to name but a few. If you have inflammation and you can reduce it through diet, you can find relief from joint pain, hay fever, asthma and skin allergies. It also rejuvenates skin, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin C Advocate --
Robert F. Cathcart, III, MD - If you are looking for an expert on Vitamin C, you need look no further than Robert Fulton Cathcart, III, MD. He has a practice in Los Altos, California, where he has treated over 30,000 patients with high dosages of vitamin C for conditions such as hepatitis, viral pneumonia, AIDS, flu, arthritis, to name but a few.

Vitamin C Pioneer Dr. Fred Klenner - Dr. Tom Levy writing in the introduction of his book, Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases and Toxins: Curing the Incurable "At the height of the polio epidemic in 1949, when all young parents lived in the fear that their babies and young children would be the next victims, Frederick R. Klenner, M.D., published that he had successfully cured 60 out of 60 polio patients who had presented to his office or to the emergency room! Furthermore, he reported that none of the 60 patients treated had any residual damage from the polio virus that often left its survivors crippled for life. This evidence was subsequently presented by Klenner in 1949 to an annual session of the American Medical Association that dealt with the treatment of polio patients. You will see that Klenner's research and data are clear-cut and straightforward, and it will then be completely left up to the reader to determine how such information was ignored in the past and remains ignored today."

Concern about CFL Bulbs - Why do I have concern about CFL bulbs? Even if they didn't give me headaches, I think there must be better solutions. I'm all for anything that can reduce greenhouse emissions and reduce global warming. So the new hoopla about Compact Florescent Lighting (CFL) bulbs and all the carbon dioxide they we reduce from the atmosphere is welcome news. But they contain 4 mg of mercury, which means they need to be recycled. But most recycling facilities don't accept them.

Happiness and the Flu - Can happiness and the flu coexist? I'm trying to figure that out, because now, after many years, I have the flu and I'm not having fun. What a nuisance! That's why you haven't seen much writing from me over the last week. I hope the worst of it's over. The most unpleasant part of this flu has been the chills and the fever and then at night, the cough when I try to sleep. The bottom line for me is that when I feel this lousy, the biggest challenge is to smile and be happy.

Laughter is Good for Health - The more you laugh the better. But how often do you laugh in the course of a day? We are told we need to sleep eight hours a day, drink eight glasses a water a day, eat three square meals a day, but nobody ever told us how often we need to laugh a day. William Fry, M.D., professor of psychiatry at Stanford University Medical School and expert on health and laughter, reports the average kindergarten student laughs 300 times a day. Yet, adults average just 17 laughs a day.

Prevalence of Autism Still on the Rise - What is going on with autism? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data from 2002 (don't ask me why it's five years old) showing that autism rates have climbed again, now up to a prevalence of about 1 in 150 American children. The most recent data put the figure at 1 in 166. How high will it have to get before this country stops pouring mercury into our skies and into our bodies? It's a known brain poison. If it doesn't get you during childhood it still may get you in your golden years as it is also implicated in Alzheimer's Disease.

Lessons from an Illness - Today I have concluded that it's no fun having a cold. Everything in life becomes an energy challenge. Sometimes I feel hot, sometimes I have a chill. It makes it much harder for me to have the enthusiasm to write. My brain seems like it's in a fog. I think my enthusiasm subsides because I feel so limited physically. I try to keep my thoughts on ideas that will increase my energy, but it's more of a challenge with all the interruptions of coughing.

A Curry Cure for Alzheimer's - A curry cure for Alzheimer's? Could "add some curry sauce to your vegetables" become a recommendation from doctors of Alzheimer's patients if future research proves what current research is pointing to? That sounds like an enjoyable and tasteful way to keep the brain healthy to me. Nursing homes might get some new menus. Amazing information is revealed in the current Journal of Alzheimer's Disease issue. It states that an ingredient from the spice of curry and turmeric called curcumin could become instrumental in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Research from UCLA shows that curcumin helps the immune system get rid of the protein called amyloid beta. It is amyloid beta that builds up to form the damaging plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

HRT Debate Rages On - I know that the HRT debate is a hot topic for a lot of women. When my wife saw an article in today's Wall Street Journal about some important new research, she requested that I mention it on my blog to help get the word out.

When to Buy Organic - When to buy organic is a question I frequently have to answer. Today I went grocery shopping. I had on my list broccoli, onion, sweet red pepper, apples, blueberry juice, bread, carrots, mushrooms, celery, potatoes and tofu. I chose organic on every item on my list except two. With most everything on the list I had an easy decision, but on two items, the broccoli and onion, I went back and forth as to what to do. I ended up making the non-organic choices on those two items. At the store I shopped, organic onions were only available if I bought a big bag. I didn't know if I could eat that many onions before they spoiled. The organic broccoli didn't seem fresh and it was quite a bit more money. But the deciding factor was the fact that broccoli and onions are considered two of the cleanest non-organic foods when it comes to pesticides. More on that later.

Gotu Kola and the 256-Year-Old Man - I have been a big fan of gotu kola for years but what I found out today motivated me to order four bottles (very cheap) of it. It also didn't hurt that I found some last night that I had never unpacked from our move seven months ago from Washington, DC. It contributed to me having one of the best nights sleep since I've been here. It put me in a great mood, too. It does some amazing things. For instance, if you would you like to give yourself an energy boost without caffeine, and at the same time improve your circulation, enhance your nervous system, sharpen your concentration, increase your intelligence, enhance your memory, purify your blood, fortify your immune system, clear up any skin problem such as psoriasis or eczema, balance your left and right brain hemispheres, dramatically extend your longevity, and to top it all off, awaken your crown chakra, then this herb is for you.

Chronic Attitudes - In my own life, sometimes I get overconfident in my abilities to control my mind and stay focused and happy. This happens after long periods of time where everything goes perfectly and I'm feeling blissful day after day. Then wham! Something happens that sends the message: "Earth to Greg. Warning. Warning. Wake up."

Vibrational Medicine - I had first hand experience to the efficacy of vibrational medicine. My health was in a shambles the first time I went to see a practitioner named Dr. Henry Merwick. He was in his 80s at the time and this was over 25 years ago. My kidneys and liver were both severely damaged by the side effects of the western medicine that treated me two years earlier. Also my digestive disorder was in a shambles and I had arthritis. In the 25 years since I have seen him, I have had no more problems.