Lansoprazole for Asthma: Little Help, Lotta Side-Effects

Lansoprazole, a proton-pump inhibitor promoted for controlling asthma-inducing GERD, caused more harm than good in a new placebo-controlled study of over 300 asthmatic children. [ ...Read More]

CT Scans Raise Risk of Thyroid Dysfunction

Exposure to iodinated contrast media during CT scans or cardiac catheterization procedures raises the risk of incident hyper- and hypothyroidism, according to a new study from Harvard researchers. [ ...Read More]

Blood Viscosity: The Unifying Parameter In Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Increased blood viscosity is the only biological parameter that has been linked with all of the other major heart disease risk factors, including high blood pressure, elevated LDL cholesterol, low HDL, type-II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, smoking, age, and male gender. Until recently, technological limitations made it impractical for doctors to measure this key risk factor. Fortunately, that's changing. [ ...Read More]

Depression? Think Zinc!

Zinc deficiency is a surprisingly common but often overlooked factor contributing to depression. When corrected through supplementation, it can have profound positive effects. In some cases, zinc repletion may obviate the need for drug therapy. Ciel Patenaude finds out how zinc influences mood and behavior from integrative psychiatrist James Greenblatt, MD. [ ...Read More]

Learning to Cure Chronic Sinusitis, Asthma & Other “Issues in the Tissues”

There is no single drug that "cures" sinusitis, or a surgical procedure that eliminates it once and for all. But Dr. Rob Ivker's personal experience as a sinusitis sufferer, plus 30 years' clinical experience with thousands of patients, shows clearly that this very common condition can, indeed, be resolved. Dr. Ivker outlines his holistic strategy & unveils a new program to teach doctors how to manage sinusitis & other chronic respiratory disorders. [ ...Read More]

Lavender: An Effective Non-Drug Alternative for Anxiety & Depression

Lavender, an herb beloved for it's pleasing fragrance, is also proving to be an effective remedy for both anxiety and depression. Taken orally, it can be as effective as low-dose benzodiazepines for attenuating anxiety. [ ...Read More]

Restoring Healthy Gut Function is Key to the Chronic Fatigue Puzzle

Several publications in the last few years have supported a relatively new view that a compromised gastrointestinal mucosa plays a major role in CFS. Restoring GI health by eliminating trigger foods, probiotic therapy, stress reduction, and supportive nutrients like L-glutamine, zinc, and digestive enzymes can bring about marked improvements in CFS symptoms. [ ...Read More]

The Pneumonia-Obesity Connection

Exposure to Chlamydia pneumoniae, the most common pathogen causing human pneumonia, correlates strongly with overweight especially in women. The increased risk was independent of the other common risk factors for obesity, and may reflect the effects of long-term chronic inflammation triggered by the pathogen. [ ...Read More]

Oh, Brother! Having a Male Twin Increases a Woman's Obesity Risk

A large cohort study from Sweden indicates that women who have twin brothers are more likely to be overweight and dyslipidemic than women who have twin sisters. Intrauterine exposure to androgens may account for this small but significant risk increase. [ ...Read More]

Herbal Options for Managing Adrenal Fatigue

Think of adrenal fatigue as the "waiting room" for type-2 diabetes, hypothyroidism and heart attack. Drug therapies may be able to ameliorate the end-stage symptoms of these disorders, but they do not rectify the core problem. Herbs like Licorice, Ashwagandha, Ginseng, Rhodiola and others have much to offer people who need to restore and normalize their adrenal function. [ ...Read More]