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Psyche, Soma & Spirit

Hemp & CBD: Evidence, Evangelism & Extreme Exuberance

By Erik Goldman, Editor

If you are confused about the therapeutic value of hemp oil, cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabis-related substances, and you’re scratching your head trying to figure out what’s legal and what’s not, that’s good: It means you’re paying attention.  Yes, there is some evidence, but there’s also a lot of evangelism. Clinicians face the challenge of separating the scientific realities from the hype. 

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In “How to Change Your Mind,” Michael Pollan Explores Resurgence of Psychedelic Medicine

By Ellen Kanner, Contributing Writer

After decades on the margins of both polite society and medical research, psychotropic compounds such as psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and the like, are once again the focus of serious clinical investigation as potential therapies for a host of psychological and neurological conditions. In his newest book, How to Change Your Mind, popular author explores the resurgence of psychedelic medicine without bias, agenda, or pretense.

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War, Inflammation, and One Doctor’s Medical Path for Peace

By Erik Goldman, Editor

War is chronic inflammation writ large, says Dr. Decker Weiss reflecting on his last 4 years of work in refugee camps throughout the Middle East. Weiss believes the principles of natural medicine have much to offer not only the victims of war and strife but to the larger policy dialogs aimed at engendering peace.

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SAMe Equals Rx Drugs in Treatment of Depression

By Janet Gulland, Contributing Writer

A recent literature review of S-Adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) is shedding new light on this unique compound in the treatment of depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. In some studies, SAMe was equivalent in efficacy to Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life.

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Rhodiola: An Herbal Ally for Balancing Cortisol

By Russell Jaffe, MD, Contributing Writer

The combination of Rhodiola extract with two other adaptogenic herbs–Magnolia and Phellodendron—create a wonderful synergistic effect that addresses the cortisol/DHEA imbalance so rampant in the 21st century world.

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IM4US: Challenging Economic Disparities in Integrative Medicine

By Kristen Schepker, Assistant Editor

Integrative medicine offers immeasurable value in treating a multitude of health conditions. But the steep price of holistic services, and the fact that most are not covered by either federal  payors or private insurance, makes them inaccessible to many people, especially in poor and medically underserved communities. One health justice organization is working to change all of that.

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Tackling the “Seven Deadly Toxins”

By Kristen Schepker, Assistant Editor

A number of pervasive toxins — seven, to be exact — are wreaking daily havoc on health and wellbeing, according to detox expert Deanna Minich, PhD. “We are living in a sick, toxic world,” Minich said at the recent Clinical and Scientific Insights (CASI) conference sponsored by Designs for Health in San Francisco. She discussed […]

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STRAIN: A New Tool for Psychosocial Stress Assessment

By Kristen Schepker, Assistant Editor

Chronic stress can wreak havoc on the body, and emerging field of human social genomics is illuminating the mechanisms. A new tool called the Stress and Adversity Inventory (STRAIN) can enhance clinicians’ abilities to assess the impact of stress in patients with chronic disease and identify points of leverage for reducing the toll it takes.

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