Environomics

Air Pollution Exacerbates Symptoms of Depression

By Janet Gulland, Contributing Writer

Exposure to polluted air is associated with increased depression symptoms in people with bipolar disorder (BPD), according to a new study by psychiatrist Joseph Hayes, MD, PhD, and Aaron Kandola, at the University College London. In the first project of its kind, Hayes and Kandola tracked symptoms of depression and mania against real time changes […]

The Meat Industry’s “Cultural” Revolution

By Madiha Saeed, MD & Erik Goldman

The meat industry is about to undergo a “cultural” revolution…..a tissue culture revolution, to be precise. The soaring global demand for meat has opened doors to alternative ways of producing consumable animal tissue, ushering in the first major challenge to industrial-scale animal agriculture in history. Numerous companies worldwide, some backed by major investors, are now […]

Confronting the Challenge Of Pharmaceutical Pollution

By Erik Goldman

The world has a drug problem. A drug pollution problem, that is. Infiltration of potentially bioactive drug metabolites into waterways and groundwater is a widespread and growing phenomenon affecting nearly every region of the planet. According to a recent worldwide study, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) have been detected in streams and rivers on every continent, […]

Nearly 15% of All Healthcare Dollars Wasted on Useless Admin

By Erik Goldman

Administrative waste—defined as unnecessary non-clinical expenses that have no beneficial impact on patient care—accounts for roughly 15% of all US healthcare spending, according to a new analysis by the policy journal, Health Affairs. Up to one-third of all money spent on healthcare in the US goes toward non-medical administrative costs. That’s nearly twice the level […]

Microplastics & the Microbiome: A Complex Interaction

By Erik Goldman

If you’ve seen the classic 1967 film, The Graduate, you’ll surely remember the infamous graduation party scene when family friend Mr. McGuire offers bewildered young Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) a bit of advice: “I just want to say one word to you…..just one word,” says McGuire. “Are you listening? Plastics! There’s a great future in […]

The Phytochemical Equivalency Controversy

By Elan Sudberg, Contributing Writer

Is it truly equivalent? It’s a question currently being applied to chemical compounds, formally known as phytochemicals, that have historically been made exclusively by plants, but are now–through recent advancements in genetic engineering—being manufactured by genetically modified yeasts, or protozoans like euglena. A host of widely used vitamins, amino acids, sweeteners, essential oils, and bioactive […]

Environmental Medicine 101: Practical Guidance for Leveraging Environmental Medicine in Your Practice

By Erik Goldman

Environmental toxins are ubiquitous, and a rapidly growing body of evidence confirms that they are adversely affecting our health and longevity in myriad ways. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bisphenol A (BPA), arsenic, lead and mercury are just a few from among the thousands of environmental toxins to which we are routinely exposed. These exposures are direct […]

How Financial Stress Impacts the Immune System

By Kristen Schepker

A recent study of a group of hedge fund traders suggests that the immune system responds to financial stress as if it were a disease. The findings suggest a striking correlation between the human immune system and the volatility of entire financial systems, including the stock market.

Climate Change Takes Toll on Herbal Medicine

By Kristen Schepker, Assistant Editor

As global temperatures continue to rise, scientists predict that environmental shifts will impact the ability of medicinal plants to grow and thrive in affected regions. Botanists across the world are shining light on the ways that climate change could fundamentally alter the practice of holistic medicine.