If you think a taste of chocolate, a glass of wine, and sleeping late on weekends are harmless vices, think again. Those innocent indulgences are just a few of the most common triggers of headaches.
But don't give up hope just yet. It's possible you may be able to enjoy your favorite things ... Views: 3491
Are you more active in the summer? Do you need a boost of energy to get you through the day?
I've got just the menu additions you need. The summer superfoods below are so easy to use that once you've tried them, you just might want to keep them on your grocery list all year long. Many are ... Views: 3365
Think about the basic mechanics of your car. It has an engine that needs to run smoothly in order to keep all the other systems moving along. And most automotive hoses are designed to move fuel, air, wastes, and information in one direction only without blockages and mishaps.
Well, your body ... Views: 3179
The trees are budding, the temperature is rising (at least in the East), and--
Ahh-choo!
Seasonal allergies have arrived. But I'm here today to tell you it is entirely possible to tackle spring's irritants head-on--and feel much more comfortable this season.
You really can put severe ... Views: 2130
Dr. Oz--you know that name! The famous doctor was one of the medical experts who spoke at the recent Integrative Healthcare Symposium. I'd like to share some of his important presentation points with you--and some tips from my files for turning Dr. Oz's advice into a plan that works for you, for ... Views: 2045
Sometimes I find myself saying "Did I forget to tell you about this?" And I know it's entirely possible that I might have." But I also know I have a lot of company.
Maybe you, too, sometimes forget where you put the cell phone, whom you were going to email, or what your waiter's name is. Have ... Views: 2033
It's probably no secret to you that bad computer habits can lead to neck pain. But when it comes to the workaday world, the truth is, computer usage is not the only pain in the neck. Even people who don't spend a lot of time with computers end up with neck stiffness and strain at the end of a ... Views: 2014
There isn't a day that passes when someone doesn't come into my office seeking solutions to neck pain. As an acupuncturist, I can attest that complaints about neck pain are among the most frequent reasons people seek help.
It's not only that the pain is so sharp or persistent. The greater ... Views: 1955
When new patients come into my office, I consult with them at great length about what makes them unique, including their medical, emotional, nutritional, physical, immune, and allergic history. When the conversation turns to weight and self-image, it's as if a cloud has overtaken an otherwise ... Views: 1848
If you're a headache sufferer, you know that there are times when it's virtually impossible to look, feel, think, and live your best. Debilitating headaches can cripple your personal as well as professional life, often resulting in postponing activities, deadlines, and daily tasks for hours or ... Views: 1701
I am crazy about Dr. Mehmet Oz! A handsome heart surgeon, author, speaker, and the star of his own TV show, he has become the gold standard for accurate, trustworthy advice from the medical world.
Dr. Oz was one of the medical experts who spoke at the Integrative Health Symposium earlier this ... Views: 1696
Sticking needles in someone to relieve problems? Really?
A technique with more than 3,000 years of success behind it, acupuncture is gaining such acceptance worldwide that even Western doctors have begun to realize how powerful its application can be.
1) What exactly is acupuncture, and ... Views: 1660
By now many of spring's signature trees have shed those pretty but irritating blossoms--and the clouds of pollen that come with them. Perhaps the worst of the spring allergy season is behind us. (At least, we can hope so.)
Maybe now's a good time to give your home a thorough spring cleaning ... Views: 1660
The month of December, like any other time of year, can come with a different vibe for each of us.
- a time to be grateful and enjoy the company of friends and family
- a celebration season full of parties, laughter, and shopping for presents
- a period of anticipation, looking hopefully ... Views: 1644
When you hear "January," do you think of days cut short, clouds, and gloomy skies? Do you miss the excitement of the recent holidays and instead feel a little down, with flagging energy? Or perhaps this time of year, you kick yourself for having a hard time completing simple daily tasks. These ... Views: 1610
Ever feel sore, swollen lumps the sides of your neck at the beginning of a cold? Those are lymph nodes. Because we tend to ignore it when we're not ill, many of us don't really know what the lymph system does--or why it is so crucial to human functioning and even survival.
Imagine an ... Views: 1587
As the Chinese New Year--2012 is the Year of the Water Dragon--is upon us, I encourage you to take the celebration as a reminder of the wisdom that the principles of Chinese medicine can offer us.
The Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—form the foundation of traditional ... Views: 1557
You've heard about many of your body's systems--immune, nervous, digestive, excretory, skeletal, circulatory--before. But I wonder whether you're aware that there are other powerful systems working to keep you in healthy function every day. At least two hardworking vital systems, lymph and ... Views: 1549
Confession time: It may be silly, but the way my hair is behaving (or misbehaving) can set my day on a path of unnecessary self-consciousness or undue wasted energy.
Vanity? Obsession? Call it what you will. I'm not alone, though. For many of us, hair is part of self-identity. It can affect ... Views: 1542
Sometimes, a problem that shows up in one part of the body may indicate a challenge elsewhere in the body, mind, or spirit. This reflects the Chinese understanding of balance, that idea that everything in life is connected. Make the right tweak in one area, and see positive changes affect other ... Views: 1541
Stressed?
Feeling uneasy?
Bowel routine slightly off?
Experiencing digestive grumbling, "butterflies in your stomach," cramps, or heartburn?
Any of these common discomforts can be a sign of disturbance in your enteric nervous system (ENS). What? You've never heard of it? You're not alone. ... Views: 1490
As owner and practitioner of a fully-booked alternative wellness center in New York City, and as a weight and energy mentor for individuals across the country, I have the privilege of working with many people every week. Together with each patient, I use a combination of eastern and western ... Views: 1469
You might see that title and ask, "What on earth can such an ancient philosophy do for me today?"
It's true that Chinese medicine has been around for over 3,000 years. But it's also true that in all that time, these ancient methods and philosophies have consistently served to support a ... Views: 1416
For the vast majority of us, daylight hours are spent at our desks, either at a workplace or at a home office.
I often hear from patients at my Park Avenue Center for Wellbeing and from coaching clients that time clocked at our desks feels somehow disconnected from the rest of our lives--and ... Views: 1409
Hanging on to a negative body image can limit our chance of success in weight loss as well as health and life in general. Here are three questions that, if you answer honestly, can help you blast past old, worn out, self-sabotaging ideas about your body.
Are you over-enrolled in celebrity ... Views: 1406
There can be no question that Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and any number of other social networking sites come with benefits. With countless users worldwide, and more joining daily, it's clear social media is a force to be reckoned with.
But are you getting more than you bargained for? ... Views: 1397
In today's hectic world, heightened stress--and the physical and mental detriment it brings--is so common, some wellness experts call it epidemic. Remember the "fight or flight" response? Even after there is no longer any real threat to survival (you have outrun that bear, for example), the body ... Views: 1391
When was the last time you found a piece of clothing marked "One-size-fits-all" that truly was a comfortable, flattering fit, the right color, the right fabric, and the right level of warmth for anyone who wore it? Right, me either. One-size-fits-all doesn't often work for clothing. And it ... Views: 1384
The time-tested techniques of Chinese medicine can help us achieve our most common wellness and daily living goals: aleviating stress, correcting sleep problems, maintaining healthy skin, enjoying a trim body, keeping strong teeth and bones, and having good digestion are just a few ... Views: 1370
Neck pain is one of the most frequent reasons people give for coming in to my office. Persistent neck pain, if left unaddressed, is a problem that not only decreases productivity at work but cripples quality of life after-hours.
The causes of neck pain are many. Among my first ... Views: 1369
"You look like sisters" was a comment I heard many times last week from fellow guests at the fabulous vacation spot that I visited with my daughter. After a beautiful week of me- and us-time, I returned recharged, more toned, and ready for the summer season. I am also glowing from all those ... Views: 1337
So you know to limit your sun exposure. You protect your skin from the toxins and irritants that come with smoking and harsh personal care products. You even feed your good skin with a healthful diet. Is there anything else a person can do to keep the glowing, supple skin of ... Views: 1331
Patients tell me a lack of energy makes the day feel long, difficult, and unproductive. Does this pattern sound familiar? First, lack of energy leads to a loss of sharpness in focus and memory. Then, especially in the late afternoon when blood sugar gets low, less than optimal mindset and mood ... Views: 1330
Struggling with coffee dependence? Let's face it, old habits die hard. Many of us can trace our fondness for the aroma of coffee in the morning all the way back to childhood since our parents were hooked, too!
When you get past the nostalgia, there's a bigger picture to consider. Coffee has ... Views: 1322
When it comes to memory, congnitive function, and overall brain health, age is relative. Believe it or not, it is never too late to start to incorporate changes that can make long-standing differences in our cognitive functioning.
While we may not yet have a cure or even understand all the ... Views: 1302
Ah, spring is here.
While April brings an official welcome to a fresh, new season, experts predict this spring will be one of the most uncomfortable of all time when it comes to allergies.
The reason? We didn't have much of a winter. The mild conditions most of us experienced have brought ... Views: 1288
The gift of what, you ask? It's plasticity, and it's a characteristic whose discovery revolutionized the way we think about the brain.
Neural plasticity is the brain's ability to adapt to changing conditions. Years ago, we thought that after the earliest years of life were past, the human ... Views: 1288
What am I hearing most often these days from patients at my wellness center and coaching clients across the country? Food confusion!
Real information about what's nutritious and healthful gets lost in all the advertisements, false claims, and myths swirling in the media. Food fads come and ... Views: 1285
There's no denying, the road to seizing a goal can be rough. And when the prize is something you've reached for before (perhaps even more than once) but not yet grasped, it can feel even harder. Past obstacles and underlying fears can sabotage our efforts, making the effort seem futile.
But ... Views: 1279
If you're ready to start on a journey to renewed mental and physical wellness, these questions are a great road map. Curious where this leads? Grab a paper and pen, and let's begin.
Question 1: What do you hate most about your body?
a) List the body part(s) that you wish you could ... Views: 1270
Sleep is a key component to health. Getting under 8 hours of sleep can lead to illness, obesity, and poor overall daytime performance.
Feeling trapped in a cycle of daily fatigue and nighttime wakefulness? Applying the 3Rs will give you some solutions from the integrative, holistic ... Views: 1269
"Oh, my back is killing me!" Sound familiar?
While top nutrition and being careful to avoid further strain and injury are excellent starting points for treating back pain, serious or persistent discomfort may need more attention. If you are one of the numerous souls suffering from back ... Views: 1266
So you've read my previous article about which foods are most likely to cause or aggravate your symptoms of acid reflux and IBS. You know the mechanics of your body's engine, your digestive system. And you know there are things you can do to take an active role in how your engine works. But ... Views: 1246
Your skin is like every other part of the human body: It needs the right conditions to perform at its peak. To maintain youthful skin as we age, it's imperative to stay healthy and provide those cells with the nutrients they need to be strong and defend itself again changes and damage that come ... Views: 1244
My washing machine always gets a chuckle out of me (good thing when you're doing lots of laundry, right?). Take a look at the dial. There's a setting for "normal." Apparently the manufacturer assumes that we, as intelligent consumers, identify, understand, and collectively agree that a certain ... Views: 1241
As a college student, I fell prey to a cigarette addiction. Many years later, I'm still not certain how the habit took hold, though it probably involved stress, friends who smoked, and lack of information about the dangers. Regardless, I soon realized this behavior's power over me. My efforts to ... Views: 1237
We've heard often that fear of failure is why many plans--business, lifestyle, wellness, personal relationships--fall through. Fear of failure is a significant problem. But fear of failure is not always what lies at the heart of disappointment and lack of results. The more deeply hidden hurdle ... Views: 1224
The most well-adjusted, happiest, healthiest individuals are those who carry good habits through their work and personal lives alike--and the habit of self-care is among the most important.
Guess what? Those same individuals are also more likely to be comfortable financially.
It wasn't ... Views: 1224
I can remember the first time, in my 30s, I looked in the mirror and saw a few creases near my eyes. "Could those be signs of aging already?" I wondered. Some years later, I was dismayed to notice that those creases were turning into wrinkles. How did that happen?
Some may say these little ... Views: 1216
As a licensed, nationally board-certified acupuncturist, I love that 5000-year-old healing practices have an important role in so many modern lives. Another valuable nugget based in ancient Chinese medicine? The idea that everything important begins with one force: qi.
Qi (pronounced "chee"), ... Views: 1214