Category Archives: Integrative Medicine

Dr. Andrew Weil M.D. is nothing less than a legendary leader within the field of integrative and botanical medicine. Now, at 77 years old, hes still the perfect picture of health.

Throughout his life, Dr. Weil's traveled the world to study holistic, plant-based wellness, received his doctorate from Harvard University, wrote multiple New York Times best-sellers including The Natural Mind, 8 Weeks to Optimum Health, and Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Well-Being, and is a partner at the healthy-eating restaurant chain, True Food Kitchen. Hes also the founder and Director at the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.

Dr. Andrew Weil

Most recently, however, Dr. Weils dedicated himself to promoting the benefits of a Japanese tea called matcha to Western audiences with his newest brand, Matcha Kari.

Needless to say, he possesses an infinite amount of both wellness and entrepreneurial knowledge. Recently, I spoke with Dr. Weil and am excited to share some of what Ive learned with you.

Dr. Weil on Eating Better

Most of us would love to eat a healthier diet.

But between the plethora of diets, trends, and well-meaning advice, it often becomes so overwhelming that it's easier just to give up altogether. Or, on the flip side, you get sucked into a new diet, and it quickly spirals into a near-obsession.

Dr. Weil has seen this cycle repeat itself with patients, friends, and colleagues throughout his careerand he gets it! The modern concept of eating well is really complicated. However, he doesnt think it has to be.

It's extremely confusing, Dr. Weil says. Some of the diets seem too extreme and not healthy. I don't think it's a good idea to leave out a whole macronutrient like carbohydrates, for example. We already eat huge amounts of fat and proteins!

Dr. Weil then brought up a new term hes begun to hear more often: orthorexia nervosa. Basically, its an unhealthy obsession and attention to the health characteristics of food. Its not yet officially recognized as an eating disorder, he says, but many eating disorder specialists say they are seeing more and more people with this behavior.

So, if we want to eat better, but not get caught up in unhealthy cycleswhat do we do?

I think there are some general rules, says Dr. Weil. Its a good idea not to eat refined, processed, and manufactured food. I think that's what's doing us in. I urge people to try to eat foods as close to the way nature produces them as possible.

He then discusses observations he made while in Okinawa, Japan. Okinawa is a blue zone meaning the population lives longer than most other places. I've gone there a number of times to study healthy aging, Dr. Weil says. They have had the highest concentration of centenarians in the world for a long time.

In a small village, he met with a group of elderly people and asked them, Whats the secret? They all replied, Eat everything. Now, this doesnt mean what we might think it does. They certainly didnt make it to old age by eating every last french fry at McDonalds. And, he quickly notes, the rise of fast food has sabotaged Okinawa and longevity.

Instead, the elderly Okinawans meant that you shouldnt cut out the whole, nutritious, natural foods that, to this areas residents, was their diet. There, this meant mostly vegetables, grains, fish, and soy.

Essentially, to these unintentional health food experts, as long as youre consuming truly healthy, non-processed foods, you should enjoy every healthy bite you can.

For the Love of Matcha

Japan has been a huge part of Dr. Weils life in more ways than his studies on longevity. Hes actually been traveling there for over six decadesever since he was an exchange student back in 1959.

Hes also a lifelong entrepreneur with no signs of slowing down. In fact, as a way to further blend his love of business with Japan, hes recently had the opportunity to launch a new brand, Matcha Kari. Its all dedicated to a drink hes been passionate about since first visiting Japan called matcha.

So, what is matcha? Its simply green tea but in a powdered form. It has a long history in Japan, says Dr. Weil, and was originally used by Zen monks to keep them awake during long hours of meditation. Then it became popular among samurai, then nobility, and then it became part of the Japanese tea ceremony.

Today, its an incredibly popular drink in Japan and is quickly spreading across the world. However, Dr. Weils been a proponent of matcha since studying in the country as a teenager.

"On the second night that I was in Japan," Dr. Weil remembers, "my host mother took me next door to her neighbor who was a practitioner of the tea ceremony. The three of us sat around, and she prepared matcha for us. I was just blown away by the color. It's the most vibrant, beautiful green I'd ever seen."

Initially, he was entranced by the spectacle. Then, he became obsessed with the mental stimulation different from any he'd experienced before. Unlike the harsher buzz and subsequent crash of coffee, the caffeine in matcha is combined with a rare amino acid called L-theanine. This acid creates a calming effect that slows down the release of caffeine, enables energy to last longer, and boosts concentration levels.

For years after, Dr. Weil tried to introduce matcha to a wider Western audience. Though anyone who did try it loved it, he says, It was really way ahead of its time. So that never took off.

Still, he kept hoping matchas time would comeand he believes that time is now.

First off, more people are recognizing that coffee might be causing adverse side effects. "I've met people who drink one cup of coffee in the morning and have no idea that's why they can't sleep at night," Dr. Weil says. This includes everything from stomach irritation to withdrawals to chronic insomnia.

Though he's by no means anti-coffee, he also knows that every body is different. For those who may not respond best to coffee, but still need a jumpstart in the morning, matcha just might be the perfect replacement they've been searching for.

Create Better Habits for Sleep and Life

Dr. Weil's not alone in professing the merits of routine and healthy habits. This applies to our wellness, our relationships, and our workplaces. Once we discover whatever works bestand we finally stick with iteverything just seems to run more smoothly.

However, much like our diets, actually developing these habits into a routine is much easier said than done.

There are so many reasons for that, says Dr. Weil. One piece of advice I give to people isif you want to have better habits, spend more time in the company of people who have the habits that you want. They rub off.

It's a simple statement that makes so much sense. If you want to eat better, spend more time eating around those with healthy diets. Want to grow into a more positive leader with strong core values? Start working with other leaders who already possess those qualities.

Another way to start creating a better routine is by actively recognizing the benefitseven if it takes a while to really feel them. "At the beginning, you may not immediately see results," Dr. Weil says. "But...the benefits accumulate as you practice [habits] regularly over several weeks or a month."

In short, these new habits might feel like a hassle at first. But how will that mentality shift once you realize how much better you feel after getting a full night's sleep, starting a meditation practice, or focusing on great leadership?

Soon, living life any other way won't be an option.

Listen to my entire conversation with Dr. Andrew Weil on the donothing podcast.

You'll learn more about how he got into integrative medicine, how he built his internationally-known brand and business, and so many more insights on health, wellness, and living a longer, healthier life.

Also, Id love to connect with you on Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as have you keep up with my company imageOne. Learn about my mission to show business leaders how mindfulness can transform you and your business in my book donothing. Visit http://www.donothingbook.com for more information.

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How to Eat, Sleep and Live Better, with Dr. Andrew Weil M.D. - Forbes

Liza Goldblatt, a Point Reyes Station resident and one of several board members appointed to the Coastal Health Alliance in September, was recently awarded for her work bridging conventional and alternative medical practices nationally and across the globe. My passion is about building inclusive, collaborative, team-based, patient-centered carewouldnt that be a dream? Dr. Goldblatt told the Light last week. Back in the 80s, I would say traditional Chinese medicine and no one would know what I was talking about. Now you say acupuncture and theres some level of familiarity. There has been pretty tremendous growth. But its slow: why doesnt every hospital have these practitioners on staff? In October, the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicinean organization that unites a membership of health professionals across a variety of disciplinesawarded Dr. Goldblatt its annual change-maker award, which honors the work of those whose activism, advocacy, policy or politics has accomplished broad change, laws or consciousness shifts that have advanced people-centered medicine and health care for all of us on the planet. Dr. Goldblatt herself is not a licensed practitioner. She holds a masters degree in public health administration from Portland State University and a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology with a specialty in Tibet from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her first job with explicit ties to medicine was as president of the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine; she looks back on it as a critical fork in her pathsparked by personal success in alternative ways of caring for her body as a college student. Back in college at Mills, where I studied music performance, I was overplaying the piano and got the equivalent of tennis elbow. My Kaiser doctor actually referred me to an acupuncturist and in six treatments my pain was gone, she recounted. I had had such success, I wanted to give back. In 2004, Dr. Goldblatt returned to San Francisco to serve as the vice president of academic affairs at the American College of Traditional Medicine. In 2013, she became the executive director of the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health, which seeks to strengthen understanding and cooperation among educators, researchers and clinicians across health care disciplines. She now participates in other groups with a similar mission, including a committee under the National Academy of Health and Medicine Divisionan operating unit of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicinecalled the Global Forum for Innovations in Health Professional Education. She explained her philosophy. I started meditating at age 20, thinking about different approaches, different cultures, and I think that we cannot really separate the body, the mind, the emotions, the spirit. I think many of us feel that [conventional] medicine separates them too much, she said. The term complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM, refers to a host of practices, including five licensed ones recognized by the United States Department of Education: acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, chiropractic, naturopathy, midwifery and massage therapy. Part of Dr. Goldblatts vision is that conventional practitioners will be educated in these areas, and vice versa, so they know what each others expertise can offer. Pamela Snider, a founding board member of the academy that honored Dr. Goldblatt this fall, wrote, Thank you, Liza for holding your light on the big changes we must makewithout which the clinical encounter has a weak foothold in returning the sick to health. We honor your heart, brilliant mind and prescient vision in this. Dr. Goldblatt has recently brought her focus to a local level, joining the board for the Coastal Health Alliance. She spoke highly of the organization, where the longest-termed doctor, Anna OMalley, has a holistic approach, and there is an acupuncturist on staff. There is always room for improvement, however, said Dr. Goldblatt, who plans to look for ways to increase access for patients in West Marin, especially as the alliance formalizes its merger with the Petaluma Health Center.

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Point Reyes leader in health care receives honor - Point Reyes Light

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--World-renowned writer and teacher Dr. Deepak Chopra has partnered with The AI Foundation to create an advanced, totally personalized Artificial Intelligence (AI) of Dr. Chopra called Digital Deepak. Joined by their missions to harness the power of human potential and create a better future, Dr. Chopra and the AI Foundation have trained Digital Deepak to have personal, one-on-one conversations with people around the world. Those who wish to be among the first to experience and interact with Digital Deepak can now join the wait list by downloading the Digital Deepak app on all iOS or Android devices, or at http://DigitalDeepak.ai.

The possibilities for this groundbreaking AI include:

For Dr. Chopra and the AI Foundation, the goal is to elevate human consciousness on the broadest scale, ultimately unlocking humanitys ability to solve urgent global problems, and leading the way to personal transformation. As with Dr. Chopras newest book, Metahuman, Digital Deepak is a tool he is making available to everyone as a further step in his journey to our collective awakening to fundamental reality for all of humanity. Digital Deepak is launching in beta training and users involvement and feedback is important for the development of Digital Deepak to reach perfection. A preview of Digital Deepak was presented last month in a first-ever public demonstration on stage at Dr. Chopras annual Sages & Scientists Symposium, a prestigious annual conference dedicated to exploring the roots of consciousness and the future of well-being.

Whatever problem you want to solve in the world, always begin with yourself, said Dr. Chopra. Our personal ecosystem is tied to a greater social ecosystem. Our personal transformation ultimately leads to social transformation. My hope is to reach a critical massat least one billion peopleso that we can all move in the direction of a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.

Digital Deepak is one of the first examples of what the AI Foundation is pioneering, called Personal Media, which is direct, one-to-one dialogue on a limitless scale. By unlocking this capability for personal interaction on a global scale, the AI Foundation believes that people can educate each other, present different points of view, share personal stories, and build more empathy, awareness, and collaboration toward resolving issues that affect us all. Dr. Chopras AI is a major step in this direction.

By creating Digital Deepak, for the first time we are giving literally everyone the ability to personally interact with and gain insights from one of the worlds most trusted leaders in wellness, said Dr. Lars Buttler, CEO of the AI Foundation. At the AI Foundation, we are driven by the idea that AI has incredible potential to benefit humanity, and Digital Deepak exemplifies our mission to promote positive global uses of AI. With his own AI, Deepak can break the restrictions that separate us in time and place. Our ultimate goal is to give all 7 billion people their own AIs, enabling everyone to create a better future with the power of personal media.

DEEPAK CHOPRA MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. He is the author of 90 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego. His latest book and national bestseller, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.

For more information, download the Digital Deepak app on all iOS or Android devices now, or visit http://DigitalDeepak.ai.

About Deepak Chopra

Dr. Chopra is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

About The AI Foundation

The AI Foundation is dedicated to moving the world forward by giving each of us our own AI that shares our personal values and goals. The company has brought together many of the worlds top innovators, AI scientists, engineers, and investors from Silicon Valley, Hollywood and Madison Avenue, all united around the idea of making the power of AI available to all, while protecting us from its dangers. The AI Foundation creates foundational technologies, products and services to unlock the full human potential, while also focusing on tools for detection and protection to safeguard our future with AI.

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Deepak Chopra and the AI Foundation Partner to Bring Personal Transformation to Billions with the Power of Deepak's Own AI - Business Wire

Practicing 6-element philosophy of Holistic recovery, Integrative medicine, Individualized and Family-centered Approach, Respectful Environment and Continuity in Care, Alpha Healing Center located in Baroda, Gujarat witnesses high success rate of the de-addiction programs http://www.alphahealingcenter.in

Alcohol & drug abuse is one of the serious issues we face today. With its rise, more and more lives succumb to their addiction every year, taking over the control of their mind and body. Addiction impacts the life of not only the addict but his family too and make their lives stressful. With right and timely treatment and therapies, their lives can be transformed. Conventional addiction control and treatment drugs and therapies work in the long run; however, they have their limitations. Hence, theres a pressing need for a different approach. And thats where, holistic healing becomes important. Holistic healing focusses on the individual and works on his mind, body and spirit to aid recovery from addiction and enhance his lifestyle through proven evidence-based therapies and wellness programs. It promotes identifying and exploiting stress release mechanisms, creating and pursuing creative channels. With its highly effective comprehensive remedies for drug and alcohol addiction, Alpha Healing Center is making a positive impact and transforming many lives.

Alpha Healing Center is one of the leading and inimitable holistic healing and wellness destinations in India to provide incomparable holistic healing therapies to drug & alcohol addicts. Situated in the environs of the abounding city, Vadodara, Gujarat, it is one-of-a-kind, unrivaled de-addiction and rehabilitation center in India that offers an array of multi-disciplinary evidence-based treatment programs for various addictions and ailments. Amongst many, its Alcohol Addiction, Drug Addiction, depression, trauma and PTSD treatment programs are known to have high success rate.

The center also runs a highly successful and result-oriented 14-day Smoking and Tobacco de-addiction residential program that combines holistic treatment with counseling, balanced nutrition and recreational engagements for speedy recovery of the patients.

Nestled in the womb of lush nature, AHC boasts of world-class in-patient care facilities, providing a perfect and conducive milieu to drive inward focus and effectivity of enhanced therapies. An ISO approved rehabilitation facility, it specializes in de-addiction and rehabilitation programs and operates on the holistic model of purification that involves mind, body and soul. The center is well equipped with ultramodern recreational facilities like organic farming, indoor and outdoor sports, spa & massage, yoga room fitness center, swimming pool and an in-house theatre and has exclusive female zones with 24x7 female security facilities.

AHC believes in providing person-centerd healings and care and not just curing the ailment and embraces an all-inclusive approach and offers advanced evidence-based therapies to aid holistic recovery for substance abusers and addicts. The experts at the center work relentlessly to offer customized treatment and wellness programs to meet the unique requirements of the patients. These include Partial Care Program, Intensive Residential Program and Traditional Residential Program. The residential programs are 8 12 weeks long and tailored based on the individual needs. AHC also facilitates patients participation in an inpatient medical stabilization program for opioids addicts. The operations at AHC are process driven. The center maintains EMR (Electronic Medical Records) of its patients to ensure confidentiality and transparency.

Led by the visionary leadership, AHC is backed by zealous, highly qualified and experienced team that includes Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Hypnotherapists, Dieticians, Art and Music Therapists, Yoga teachers and counselors who come with the sound experience of running an international center in New Jersey. Trained under the international experts, AHC team works together to comprehend, integrate and customize the treatment approach for optimal results in recovery and enhanced health and lifestyle of the patients. The novel evidence-based therapies supported by neuroscience research contributes to the high success rate of the de-addiction programs offered by the center. The center incorporates a 6-element philosophy of Holistic recovery, Integrative medicine, Individualized and Family-centered Approach, Respectful Environment and Continuity in Care. Every aspect is carefully considered during the pre-evaluation and tailoring the residential program and it differs from case to case. The treatment methodology clubs behavioral therapies and wellness programs to offer balanced care and accomplish a long-term positive result for the patient. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Individual Therapy, Group Therapy, Family Therapy, counseling, balanced diet, exercises, spiritual activities, etc.

AHC functions beyond just recovery of the patients. It takes pride in fostering a healthy living through its wellness programs that are designed to inculcate a life-long responsibility and commitment towards holistic health in patients. The center also aims at promoting sobriety resilience and inclusion in the community. To pursue this, the therapists work with the patients to develop post treatment plan in accordance to their needs and provide resources, supervision and support in their home community.

AHC is easy to access for those who are looking to treat their addiction and have made their courageous decision. The center has a full-fledged 24x7 customer care available on the toll-free number 1800-102-0489. You can also reach out to the coordinators and counselors at the center on 9136783804 / 85111 33142 / +91 7490023387.

Alpha Healing Center India (Deaddiction-Rehab Center)

Disclaimer: Content Produced by Alpha Healing Center

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Alpha Healing Center, helping patients overcome addiction and mental health illnesses - Times of India

A groundbreaking clinical approach has been developed combining new diagnostic techniques to detect a leaking blood-brain barrier (BBB) with a new anti-inflammatory drug that for the first time slows or reverses age-related cognitive decline.

In two related studies published in the journalScience Translational Medicine, researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and the University of California, Berkeley (UC) report that when given the new drug to reduce inflammation, senile mice had fewer signs of dysfunctional brain electrical activity and were better able to learn new tasks, becoming almost cognitively adept as mice half their age.

Other findings indicate two practical pathways measuring the leakiness of the blood-brain barrier via MRI and abnormal electrical brain activity via EEG that can be used to screen people for a leaky BBB.

These findings represent real hope that we can stop, and even reverse, the deterioration that until now we considered an inevitable part of aging, said senior study author BGU Prof. Alon Friedman M.D., Ph.D., and research partner Prof. Daniela Kaufer, UC Berkeley Department of Integrative Biology. It is the first diagnostic, coupled with personalized drug intervention targeting the BBB.

We tend to think about the aged brain in the same way we think about neurodegeneration: age involves loss of function and dead cells, said Kaufer. But our new data tell a different story about why the aged brain is not functioning well it is because of this fog of inflammatory load. But when you remove that inflammatory fog, within days the aged brain acts like a young brain. It is an extremely optimistic finding in terms of the capacity for plasticity that exists in the brain and indicates that we can reverse brain aging.

The BBB is a semi-permeable interface that separates circulating blood from the brain. It also prevents the transfer of unwanted molecules or infectious organisms from the blood to the brain. Increasing evidence shows that breaching the integrity of this barrier causes many brain diseases and neurodegeneration as a result of aging.

In analyzing brain tissue from humans, Kaufer found evidence of albumin in aged brains as well as increased neuroinflammation and production of TGF-, a protein that controls cell growth.

Because albumin is typically synthesized only outside the BBB, increased albumin within the brain indicates BBB damage leading to inflammation.

Profs. Kaufer and Friedman also showed that introducing albumin into the brain can, within a week, make the brains of young mice look like those of old mice, in terms of neuronal functions and their susceptibility to seizures. These albumin-treated mice also navigated a maze as poorly as aged mice.

The Friedman group in the BGU Brain Imaging Center developed an MRI imaging protocol dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging and mathematical algorithms that quantify leakage in the BBB.

When we infuse albumin into the brains of young mice, we recapitulate aging of the brain: the gene expression, the inflammatory response, resilience to induced seizures, mortality after seizures, and performance in a maze. And when we record their brain activity, we find these paroxysmal slow wave events (PSWE), Kaufer said. And all is specific to the site we infuse, so doing this is sufficient to get an aged phenotype of this very young brain.

Administering a new anti-inflammatory drug that specifically targets TGF- signaling decreased the PSWE occurrences in BBB leakiness. The drug, a small molecule called IPW, not only helps to alleviate the effects of a leaky BBB but seems to also heal the barrier. These PSWEs may explain some of the symptoms we see in Alzheimers disease patients and therefore lowering the PSWE burden may help those patients, said Dr. Dan Milikovsky who led the project in Prof. Friedmans laboratory.

Together, the evidence points to a dysfunction in the brains vasculature as one of the earliest triggers of neurological aging, Friedman said. This combination of two biomarkers and a drug gives us the innovative ability to diagnose and treat patients with blood-brain barrier leakiness, and cease treatment once the BBB closes and danger decreases.

Kaufer added, We got here through this back door starting with questions about plasticity having to do with the blood-brain barrier, traumatic brain injury and how epilepsy develops. But after wed learned a lot about the mechanisms, we started thinking that maybe in aging it is the same story. This is new biology, a completely new angle on why neurological function deteriorates as the brain ages.

The researchers have started a company to develop IPW and other therapeutics with the goal of reducing brain inflammation, and thus permanent damage, after stroke, concussion or traumatic brain injury. The drug may eventually help older adults suffering from early dementia or Alzheimers disease with demonstrated BBB leakage.

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New Diagnostic Techniques and Drug May Slow and Even Reverse Cognitive Decline from Aging - Global Health News Wire

This week, Madonna made headlines for a very eccentric, Madonna-esque Instagram post. In her picture, she was laying on what looked like a hospital bed, receiving intravenous therapy (IV) as a woman played a Tibetan bowl above her body.

Felt amazing afterwards!!, she wrote in the caption.

Madonna wasnt in the hospital, however. While her exact whereabouts are unclear, she was getting a vitamin IV drip, an emerging wellness service not covered by insurance that has caught fire with celebrities. IV drips, though prohibitively expensive for most, have become in vogue among self-care enthusiasts who can afford the treatment.

In these procedures, consumers receive a saline or vitamin mixture administered intravenously.The mixture depends on the specific treatment, and IV drip marketers have formula that are designed to cure aging, low libido, as well as a general detox, to name a few. Yet the most popular IV drip is what is variously known as the Myers' cocktail, a vitamin and mineral mixture containing magnesium, calcium, various B vitamins and vitamin C. IV drips are often used as a hangover remedy, something that marketers have latched onto.

Its the fastest way to replace missing [nutrients], Dr. Marina Yuabova of Integrative Wellness in Brooklyn, New York, told Salon. Yuabova is also a Family Nurse Practitioner and Assistant Professor at City University of New York.

IV drip clinics are popping up across the United States, selling infusions for those who want to escape the painful physical effects of having had one too many drinks the night before. These services range in price from $90 to several hundred dollars, depending on the service provider and where one is located which is still more expensive than a night at the bar for most imbibers.

In San Francisco, where well-heeled techies are enamored of expensive and sometimes questionable wellness regimes,The I.V. Doc sells a range of hangover treatments that range in price from $150 to $269. At Yuabovas clinic in Brooklyn, a comparable IV drip costs around $300. In Manhattan, some clinics charge up to $500. In contrast, a hangover "pill" which are often sold at gas stations, and widely regarded as scams can range from $1 to $20 in price.

Yuabova explained to Salon when it comes to treating a hangover, an IV drip helps to instantly replenish the fluids and nutrients that one's body loses while drinking alcohol.

Within 15 minutes youll feel your headache clear up, nausea goes away, no more nausea or vomiting, Yuabova said, adding that when someone drinks excessively, its like somebody came in and rubbed all the nutrients out of the system."

I have previously written about how self-care has become a status symbol reserved for those who can afford to indulge in such luxuries. The wellness industry, which is estimated to be worth $4.2 trillion globally, is profiting off Americans anxiety, depression, and overall poor health, and while there is no shame in people trying to help themselves, it is worth examining the socioeconomic gap regarding the availability of these wellness trends. They seem to be increasingly popular among those who can afford them: the on-demand fitness app ClassPass now allows customers to reserve drips in various cities.

Separate from ClassPass, some clinics offer concierge services in which a nurse travels to the customer. A quick search on Instagram for the hashtag #IVdrip reveals tens of thousands of people taking photos from their homes while getting an intravenous infusion.

Meghan Connolly is a 28-year-old real estate agent living in Miami. She first tried IV drip therapy for a hangover in 2016.

I tried it initially because I thought it was cool and I heard it was a hangover trend, she told Salon. Connolly said she discovered on her first visit to the clinic they also offered drips for wellness. As a woman with endometriosis, she discovered that the drips helped with chronic illness as well. She estimates that she goes a minimum of twice a month, sometimes up to fives times a month, often a mix between treating a hangover and her illness. On average, she spends between $90 and $200 per visit depending on the remedy.

When I do it it helps me maintain overall wellness, my pain isnt as bad and I dont have as many flare-ups or episodes, Connolly said, adding when it comes to treating a hangover, she is functional the next day. As I get older, and when I go out and have like three drinks, the next day I cant function; when I was in college I could have six drinks and go to class the next day.

Alex Tran is 35-year-old digital marketing strategist in Seattle, Washington. While partying in Las Vegas with a friend, she turned to an IV drip to ensure she would be able to enjoy the next day.

I was out until 7am in the morning, Tran told Salon in an email. We had lunch reservations at 1230pm and I almost didnt make them.

It cost $150 for a nurse to come to her hotel room. The process took around 40 minutes. For Tran, her IV bag was filled with vitamins and electrolytes that made her feel refreshed and like she was never drunk at all.

Tran said it was a bit of splurge, but something she would consider doing again on vacation.

It is a bit expensive, so Id splurge if I were on a time crunch or on a schedule with others, she said.

Strangely, the cost of this service is cheaper than getting IV therapy in a hospital. Generally hospital IVs are life-saving necessities, not optional services. An IV bag of sterile saltwater is one of the most common components of emergency medicine, yet patients can experience price hikes of 100 to 200 times the manufacturers price thanks to the countrys complicated healthcare system, as reported by the New York Times in 2013.Some hospital IVs are billed to the patient at $500 to $800, thoughinsurances will generally cover these whereas at IV drip clinics, customers pay out of pocket.

In 2017, Hurricane Maria created a shortage of sterile intravenous medications in hospitals after Baxter International Inc., whose plants in Puerto Rico produces 44 percent of the IV bags used in U.S. hospitals, was damaged by the storm. Hospital werent the only ones impacted, but IV drip clinics were, too. Yuabova said she was impacted by the shortage, and now today, she overstocks in case another one happens.

Originally posted here:
The rich can buy their way out of hangovers now - Salon

By Sydney Janssen

Many herbs today are advertised for their supposed health benefits, but it turns out there has been little research done to support these claims. In fact, herbal supplements are not closely monitored by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and dosage levels are not regulated. It is safe to take the doses commonly used, but excessive amounts may be toxic. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is a part of the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services and delves into the science behind these herbs.

A section of their website, Herbs at a Glance, has a list of many of the most popular herbs, and each page explains what the herb is, how much we know about it, its health effects, if its safe, and more. These herbs include peppermint, turmeric, lavender, green tea, ginger, garlic, flaxseed and flaxseed oil, cinnamon, chamomile, and aai, among many others.

Peppermint, for example, is quite popular. The herb is available in tea, as capsules, as a liquid extract, and in the original form as a leaf. It is commonly used as a dietary supplement to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome, digestive problems, the common cold, headaches, and more. Some also apply peppermint to the skin to treat headaches, muscle aches, itching, and more.

Even though peppermint can be found in almost any store and is commonly believed to have these health benefits, few studies have been conducted on it, and this research mostly focuses on IBS. Even more worrying, the results of these studies are also somewhat inconclusive. Some studies suggest that oil-coated peppermint capsules may improve symptoms, and a few conclude that when peppermint is combined with caraway oil, it might help with digestion however, this product has not been tested and is not available within the U.S. There is little evidence to show that it helps with headaches when used topically, and insufficient evidence to determine its effectiveness against nausea or the common cold. Overall, there is not enough evidence to conclusively state that peppermint leaf is helpful for any condition, and the oil might only help with some individuals. Regarding the safety of peppermint, potential side effects include allergic reactions and heartburn, as well as rashes and irritation on the skin.

Turmeric is another common spice and is often used as a dietary supplement to reduce inflammation, help with arthritis, improve stomach, skin, liver and gallbladder problems, treat cancer, and more. It has been used as a medicine in South Asia to combat breathing problems, fatigue, and other issues.

The effects of turmeric on various health conditions have been researched, and established literature includes studies conducted on humans. However, many of the resulting claims arent strongly supported by science. For example, the curcuminoids found in turmeric are said to help reduce inflammation, but this is not strongly backed. These studies only showed that the curcuminoids might reduce the number of heart attacks bypass patients had after surgery, control knee pain from arthritis in a similar way to Ibuprofen, and reduce skin irritation in patients who have undergone radiation treatment for breast cancer. Turmeric is generally considered safe, although high doses or long-term usage may lead to gastrointestinal problems.

So, next time you see an advertisement or claim on the health effects of a common herb, make sure you think twice about how accurate this information is, and if youre not certain, be sure to check out the NCCIH website.

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Herbs as 'Health Foods': Are They Worth the Hype? - The Catalyst

People living with asthma use a variety of methods to keep their condition under control. Common methods include taking daily medicine to lower inflammation in the airways, and using inhalers for quick relief when an asthma attack strikes, according to theNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Asthma

For some people, complementary treatment options can boost the effectiveness of conventional treatments and help keep symptoms under control. Two such complementary options include acupressure and acupuncture.

Acupressure is a form of massage (also known as bodywork) thats been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years as a treatment for illness and pain, according to theUCLA Center for East-West Medicine. Its based on the same ideas as another type of traditional Chinese medicine: acupuncture.

Both forms of therapy involve stimulating pressure points on the body, but in acupressure the practitioner uses the hands and elbows to apply physical pressure, and in acupuncture he or she inserts very thin needles in the skin; the needles are activated through gentle movements of the practitioners hands or with electrical stimulation, according toJohns Hopkins Medicine.

The idea is that by stimulating various pressure, or acupoints, on the body, you can work on bringing about therapeutic effects for a given condition, according to Malcolm B. Taw, MD, the director of the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine in Westlake Village and an associate clinical professor in the UCLA Department of Medicine in Los Angeles. A review published in 2015 in the journal Pain Medicinelooked at current research and evidence on the definition and function of acupoints and concluded that they may release certain substances or sustain certain changes in ways that adjust the function of specific organs, maintain homeostasis in the body, or affect symptoms of various diseases.

Pressing acupoints via acupressure, for example, can help release muscle tension and promote blood circulation, according to theMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. More specifically, applying pressure to acupoints can signal to the body to turn on self-healing or regulatory mechanisms, sending vital energy (known as qi, pronounced chee) through natural pathways in the body called meridians. Research suggests that once the pressure point is stimulated, the qi flows from the pressure point through the meridian and into the target area. Similarly, stimulating pressure points with needles via acupuncture is thought to stimulate the central nervous system to release chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain, which may kickstart the bodys natural healing abilities, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

There are many acupoints that may be used to treat asthma symptoms. A few include bladder 13 (located on the back), conception vessel 17 (located on the chest), as well as lung 1 and kidney 27, which are located along the front of the torso, according to Dr. Taw.

Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for relieving allergic asthma, according to Maeve OConnor, MD, the chair of the Integrative Medicine Committee for the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and an allergist in private practice at Allergy Asthma & Immunology Relief in Charlotte, North Carolina. Allergic asthma is a type of asthma where symptoms are caused by allergens like dust, mold, pollen, and food, she notes.

RELATED: What Type of Asthma Do I Have?

In one study published in April 2017 in theJournal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, patients with allergic asthma who added 15 acupuncture sessions to routine care over the course of three months saw greater improvements in disease-specific and health-related quality of life compared with patients who received only routine care.

Another study found that patients with allergic asthma who received 12 acupuncture sessions that targeted the pressure points thought to be connected with asthma over four weeks reported a greater improvement in general well-being compared with a control group of individuals who received the same number of acupuncture treatments, but ones that didnt necessarily target pressure points linked to asthma.

Plus, blood tests of those individuals who received asthma-specific acupuncture showed reductions in inflammatory cytokines (small proteins that influence how other cells communicate) after four weeks. Why does this matter for people with asthma? Well, asthma is a condition that leads to inflammation of the airways. The study shows that acupuncture can influence the physiological processes found in asthma by lowering levels of specific mediators involved with inflammation, Taw says.

In addition, a review and meta-analysis published in the January 2019 issue of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that using acupuncture in addition to conventional asthma treatments led to a statistically significant improvement in symptom response rates, and resulted in lower levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a protein your body produces in response to infections and injuries. Too much IL-6 can contribute to chronic inflammation, according to research published in the October 2014 issue of Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology. And as weve already seen, chronic inflammation is a hallmark of asthma. Therefore, the review and meta-analysis suggests that acupuncture may help lower inflammation in people with asthma by lowering levels of pro-inflammatory proteins like IL-6.

Ultimately, acupuncture is a good add-on to conventional asthma treatments, according to Taw. But acupuncture shouldnt replace your usual asthma treatments. We wouldnt advise patients to stay away from conventional treatments, Taw says. But if they wanted to add it on, we have no problem adding acupuncture to help with the symptom response.

While several studies have looked at acupunctures effects on asthma (including the aforementioned ones), few have investigated the effectiveness of acupressure for helping with asthma. And while acupressure and acupuncture are therapies that follow similar principles, we cannot conclude with certainty that acupressure will create the same effects shown in acupuncture research studies, according to Taw.

But Taw adds that there are few safety concerns for acupressure for asthma when it is done correctly, and may be worth trying for some despite the lack of evidence behind it. Acupressure is very safe, with minimal to no risk overall, Taw says.

But its always a good idea to check with your doctor before beginning acupressure or any other complementary treatment. You should be especially cautious with acupressure if youre pregnant, as stimulating certain pressure points such as the large intestine 4 (known as he gu) may induce labor and could cause harm, according to the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine.

Its possible to perform acupressure on yourself (the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine offers this handy guide to locating the various pressure points), but you may want to seek help from someone whos trained in this form of bodywork to better learn how to do it safely and effectively. Ask your doctor and people you trust for recommendations.

Studies have mostly focused on asthma and acupuncture, and so far, the research suggests that adding acupuncture into your asthma treatment plan may improve your quality of life, boost your immune system, and ease symptoms.

Unfortunately, the research on asthma and acupressure is lacking, so we cant know how effective it is. While acupressure and acupuncture are therapies along a similar continuum, we unfortunately cannot conclude that acupressure will also lower inflammatory mediators, improve quality of life, and reduce symptoms, Taw says.

That said, acupressure may help with symptoms, and there are very few safety concerns. But again, its a good idea to talk with your doctor or healthcare provider about adding any new complementary therapy whether acupuncture, acupressure, or another modality to your care.

If youve talked to your doctor and have decided its a good idea to try acupuncture or acupressure, find a practitioner you trust. Receiving acupuncture treatment in particular from an unqualified practitioner may result in complications, mainly through the use of nonsterile needles or improper delivery of treatments, according to theNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Though relatively few complications have been reported, improper delivery of acupuncture treatments can lead to serious health effects, including infections, punctured organs, collapsed lungs, and central nervous system damage.

Ask your doctor and trusted friends for referrals, or find a practitioner through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Link:
Do Acupuncture and Acupressure Help With Asthma? - Everyday Health

The nonprofit Chopra Foundation in California is bringing its Sages and Scientists Symposium to Bentonville this weekend beginning Thursday. Itll be held at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Deepak Chopra, the foundations namesake and the co-founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in Carlsbad, Calif., is the organizer of the conference. Chopra moved from India to the U.S. in his early 20s to continue his study of Western medicine. Following a residency in New Jersey, he landed in Boston, where he quickly rose to chief of medicine at New England Memorial Hospital.

Now 73 years old, Chopra is considered a pioneer of integrative medicine, which recommends mixing mainstream Western medicine with alternative treatments. He has written nearly 90 books on the topic, many of them The New York Times bestsellers.

Chopra organized the first Sages and Scientists in 2010 in Carlsbad, where it was held annually through 2014. The most recent Sages and Scientists was in Beverly Hills in 2016.

In a recent interview, Chopra discussed his rationale for choosing Bentonville for this years event, which will attract thought leaders from around the world. The interview has been edited slightly for brevity and clarity.

Paul Gatling: How did you decide on having Sages and Scientists in Arkansas? Whats the appeal of having the event here?

Deepak Chopra: We decided to do it at Crystal Bridges for two reasons. One is Alice Walton was very gracious to give us the venue to do the conference. I have been to Bentonville several times over the years and to Crystal Bridges. And of course Northwest Arkansas has a great tradition of various things: food, culture, music, film and so on. I have a special proclivity to be enchanted by this kind of culture, so we decided to come to Bentonville, Ark., and people are coming from all over the world.

Gatling: Whats your take on Bentonville versus maybe what your preconceived idea of Bentonville was before visiting? I cant imagine youve been to Arkansas too many times.

Chopra: I have, actually. I have been there several times. Over the course of a year I come out at least three or four times. I love the atmosphere. Bentonville, particularly, has grown over the years. I remember it from the late 1980s, and it keeps getting even more culturally, unusually attractive to me. People are unaware of the fact there are direct flights from New York and Los Angeles. Once they come there, they find it very enchanting.

Gatling: How long have you known Alice Walton?

Chopra: I have known her since 1988. I knew Sam [Walton] as well. And I have known the [Walton] family for several years.

Gatling: Sages and Scientists, in general, what was the goal when you first began to organize these events?

Chopra: To bring together luminaries and thought leaders in academia, and also entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley, and also thought leaders in business and philanthropy in three areas. No. 1, well-being; No. 2, humanitarianism; and No. 3, a deeper understanding of the nature of reality or what we call the cosmos. We have thought leaders in every field, from machine learning to deep learning to understanding genetics and neuroscience and cosmology. We have the professor from MIT who created the VR for the landing on Mars. She very kindly accepted the invitation to speak about virtual reality and how that will have immense applications, not only for exploring intergalactic space but right here at home with the treatment of illness and disease.

Its going to be amazing, and every time weve done this conference, it has evolved to a new level of understanding. We have 3.5 days. The first day is the future of well-being and then the future of humanity and the future of the cosmos. Its a very ambitious program.

Gatling: You have said Sages and Scientists Symposium is a catalyst for your work to improve global well-being trends? Which trends need the most work? What is most concerning to you as a thought leader in that space?

Chopra: Right now, we know that only 5% of disease-related gene mutations are fully penetrant, which means they predict the disease. So if somebody has the BRCA gene for breast cancer, its almost 100% likely they will get breast cancer. But that applies to only 5% of all chronic illness, including cancers. For those kinds of mutations, there are new technologies emerging.

You may have heard of CRISPR, which is basically gene editing and splicing. Just like you can read a barcode of an item at the grocery store or cut and paste an email, you will soon be able to its already being done you can actually read the barcode of a gene and delete the defective gene and insert the healthy gene. Even that only helps 5% of chronic illness.

So 95% of chronic illness is related to inflammation in the body low-grade inflammation in the body, low-grade depression, anxiety, stress. If you pay attention to things like sleep, stress management, exercise, movement, yoga, deep breathing, healthy emotions and relationships, nutrition and the connection with nature that is why we also chose Northwest Arkansas then you can actually prevent a lot of chronic illnesses.

So the future of well-being is predictable. It requires your participation. Its preventable, and in many cases even reversible. We want to highlight what the future of health and well-being is. Right now, the discussions around health are not really about health. Theyre about insurance. Everybody needs to be covered, but I think people need to realize that a lot of disease is preventable, and they can participate in their own well-being.

Gatling: You are a proponent of alternative medicine. Whats your definition of alternative medicine? An alternative to what?

Chopra: So I dont use that word, even though I have been given that designation. Its integrative medicine, which means you use whatever works. Pharmaceuticals, surgery, radiation they all work in selective cases, and also particularly in acute illness. Integrative medicine means mostly lifestyle and stress management and nutrition and healthy emotions. Even things like good sleep. We have been doing studies on aspects of well-being, and we were among the first to be published in peer-reviewed journals how you can change the activity of your genes toward health and well-being or self-regulation, instead of inflammation.

Gatling: Whats the single biggest barrier thats keeping integrative medicine from the mainstream?

Chopra: There are special interest groups that have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, and thats not going to change unless theres public awareness of what it means to be healthy.

Gatling: How would you say you spend the majority of your time these days? Writing, speaking, traveling, advising, podcasting? What occupies most of your time?

Chopra: Writing and public speaking, but also at the Chopra Foundation. We collaborate with other researchers at places like Harvard and Duke and Scripps [Health] and UCLA on looking at integrative modalities. And we publish a lot of research in peer-reviewed journals.

Gatling: Suicide prevention is something that you are specifically focused on through some of your podcast work. Why are those rates so high in America or around the world?

Chopra: This is an epidemic that has reached a proportion that we never envisioned, and a lot of attention has been brought to it recently because of very successful people, celebrities, committing suicide. It is the second most common cause of death in younger people as well, between the ages of 10 and 30.

We need to do something about it. If you bring awareness to people, if you help them create social networks, both online and offline much in the way of Alcoholics Anonymous without the stigma then we can actually do something about the epidemic. And we need to, for the next generation.

Gatling: What are your thoughts on technology today a necessity versus a necessary evil? Smartphones for example. Good or bad?

Chopra: I actually am a big fan of technology. I also think its part of our human evolution, and by itself its neutral. Neither good nor evil. Its up to us how we use it. You can use it to hack elections. You can use it to create a better world. Its all up to us. We should schedule technology time, just like we schedule other times for exercise, sleep, relationships.

Gatling: How old are you?

Chopra: I am chronologically 73, but biologically I feel very young.

Gatling: Still a practicing physician?

Chopra: I have a group practice in California, and I maintain my license in Massachusetts and also California. But I mostly consult with other physicians who are part of our group practice. Once in a while when I am in California I will see patients that are intriguing to our group. Our group practice [Mind-Body Medical Group] in San Diego has lots of physicians internists, oncologists and others who are trained in internal medicine and in some specialties, but also have expertise in integrative medicine.

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Q&A: Deepak Chopra on Bentonville, health and well-being - talkbusiness.net

If you think daily exercise and a healthy diet were the key to a long life, think again.

Scientists say that the secret to living more than 100 years comes down to a hardy immune system, thanks to an abundance of a particular infection-fighting white blood cell.

In a study coordinated by scientists at Japans RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) and Keio University School of Medicine, researchers discovered that supercentenarians those aged over 110 years have an excess of cytotoxic CD4 T-cells.

These super immune system cells, according to the study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), are more aggressive and known to kill any damaged cell that crosses its path, such as virus-infected or cancer cells.

We believe that this type of cells, which are relatively uncommon in most individuals, even young, are useful for fighting against established tumors, and could be important for immunosurveillance, said Piero Carninci, deputy director of RIKEN, in a statement. This is exciting as it has given us new insights into how people who live very long lives are able to protect themselves from conditions such as infections and cancer.

Scientists noticed that most of Japans supercentenarians had managed to dodge illness most of their lives, leading them to believe their advanced age might have something to do with their extraordinary immune systems.

To find out, they pulled a total of 41,208 immune cell samples from seven supercentenarians, and 19,994 cells from younger individuals ages 50 to 89. They found that while both groups had about the same number of T-cells altogether, the supercentenarians had an excess of the unique cytotoxic CD4 T-cells.

This finding might help explain why so many centenarians will say that drinking booze regularly didnt stop them from reaching 100. Others, though, credit a life without the stress of marriage or children as helping them to outlast their peers.

Amparo Perez, 105, told The Post she doesnt regret never remarrying when her first husband died. No aggravation, she said, [is] the most important thing, not to have aggravation.

Caroline Binns, 101, would agree that husbands were only trouble. She told The Post last year, Id rather be left in peace, not in pieces.

Her friend, 101-year-old Lucille Watson, said dancing and cheesecake inspires her to get out of bed every morning: Lifes pleasures are meant to be enjoyed.

See more here:
110-year-olds live so long thanks to 'super' immune systems: study - New York Post