Hypothyroidism is very common, and it has serious health consequences, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, menorrhagia, infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, depression, psoriasis, and urticaria. But you’ll often miss it if you rely solely on conventional diagnostic criteria.
High-dose vitamin A, an inflammation-lowering diet, stress reduction and a healthy dose of kindness can go a long way toward reducing the physical and psychosocial impact of acne.
Psoriasis is thought to be the result of T-cell activation initiated by unidentified antigens. These activated T-cells release cytokines like tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) that lead to keratinocyte proliferation. This hyper-proliferative response decreases epidermal transit time from the normal 28 days to 2–4 days, ultimately leading to the erythematous scaly plaques that characterize the disease.
One of the hottest debates in cardiology for the past few years centers on the question of whether C-reactive protein is a meaningful risk indicator for heart disease. It clearly correlates with a tendency toward inflammation, but is it truly causative? Dr. Traub contends that even if there’s no direct causal relationship, an elevated CRP is telling you that something’s wrong—something that warrants attention.
The issue of whether or not to eat fish has had a lot of people floundering in recent years. Many are concerned about mercury and other environmental toxins found in some fish. Two major reports, one from the Institute of Medicine, and another from researchers at Harvard insist that the health benefits of a fish-rich diet far outweigh the minimal risks. Enviro-groups contend that the reports are downplaying the pollution problem.
Health policy experts are concerned that health care reform efforts could be stymied by a severe lack of primary care doctors. The problem could be attenuated if those presiding over reform would allow the thousands of licensed or license-eligible naturopaths and other holistic non-MD practitioners help to shape and then participate in a reformed health care system.
As we’ve learned more about the importance of vitamin D in preventing heart disease, colon cancer, diabetes and depression, some people have begun to challenge skin cancer reduction efforts focused on sun avoidance. But careful review of the science shows that oral vitamin D supplements can more than compensate for any vitamin D lost through sun-avoidance. For light skinned people, sun protection makes most sense—just make sure to use eco-friendly products.
How someone envisions his or her health problems can give clues to deeper issues that keep them from optimal health. Martin Rossman, MD, an expert in guided imagery, explains how to use imagery to improve health outcomes.
American Medical Association is formalizing a position statement that directly opposes state licensure for graduates of the nation’s four-year naturopathic medical schools. The resolution, drafted by AMA delegates in Florida, where NDs have come close to winning a licensure bill, is one of several recent moves by the AMA aimed at curtailing the growth of the naturopathic and nursing professions.
There are many misconceptions about the relative safety, risk, and efficacy of herbs and nutritional supplements for patients requiring surgery. Drs. Traub and Scheel set the record straight on Ginkgo, Vitamin E, Bromelain, Zinc and others.
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