It’s undeniable that Western medicine has produced countless marvels. In recent years, however, a growing number of detractors have begun to point out some of the flaws inherent in the strictly science-based approach to medicine that is dominant in the West. Most troubling, these critics claim, is the tendency of Western doctors to focus solely on physical symptoms of illness. In sharp contrast to this approach, traditional Chinese medicine is based on a holistic view of health. Practitioners of Chinese medicine focus on alleviating physical ailments, but they also take into consideration the mental, emotional, and spiritual components of well-being.
June 2007
Enhance Your Well-Being With Traditional Chinese Medicine
by Sheila McCormick on June 23rd, 2007Don’t Let The Grinch Spoil Your Summer Fun
by Sheila McCormick on June 20th, 2007Remember the Grinch? He usually rears his ugly head around Christmas time but sometimes he gets bored when the weather is warm and he tries to ruin summer fun by putting summer hazards in our paths. Fortunately for us, those summer hazards can be easily avoided by taking a few simple steps. Extreme heat is one of the major hazards associated with summer. Heat strokes kill thousands of people every year. The risk of heat stroke goes up during heavy exertion and is more prevalent in people with health conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. People over the
Don’t Let Your Child’s Health Go Up In Smoke
by Sheila McCormick on June 13th, 2007Very few parents would intentionally inflict harm on their young children, yet millions of Americans are exposing their infants and toddlers to toxic poisons and carcinogens every time they light up at home. According to the American Lung Association, there are an estimated 150,000 to 300,000 cases every year of bronchitis and pneumonia in infants and children under 18 years of age who breathe secondhand smoke. These result in between 7,500 and 15,000 hospitalizations. Among children under the age of 18, an estimated 22 percent are exposed to second hand smoke in their homes. The National Cancer Institute has conducted
Vacations Are Good Medicine For The Body And Soul
by Sheila McCormick on June 9th, 2007Many Americans who wouldn’t dream of missing their yearly health physical routinely put their health at risk by skipping annual vacations. The lack of downtime puts them at higher risk for a variety of ailments, including heart disease. As one cardiologist put it: “When my patients tell me they can’t afford to take a vacation, I tell them they can’t afford not to.” Medical researchers and large corporations are beginning to understand the importance of employees striking the right balance between work and their home life. Often referred to as “work /life balance,” corporations are encouraging high-performing employees to take
Infected Passenger Puts Global Spotlight On Tuberculosis
by Sheila McCormick on June 7th, 2007Bioterrorist? Probably not. Victim? Maybe. Irresponsible? Definitely. However you couch the situation one thing is for sure: Andrew Speaker, a personal injury lawyer from Georgia, has managed to shine a global spotlight on tuberculosis. Hopefully none of the 292 passengers who traveled with Speaker will suffer negative consequences from his decidedly irresponsible behavior. The passengers who have been tested so far are okay and his fiancé shows no sign of developing the respiratory infection. He has publicly apologized for his actions even though he is adamant that health officials had given him the green light to fly overseas in a
Got Milk? Got Lactose?
by Sheila McCormick on June 2nd, 2007For many people, a warm glass of milk at bedtime induces sweet dreams and a good night’s sleep. But for the 40 million Americans who are lactose intolerant, even a tiny sip of milk at any time of the day or night creates a gastric nightmare. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) lactose intolerance is the inability to digest significant amounts of lactose, the major sugar found in milk. Lactose intolerance is caused by a shortage of the enzyme lactose, which is produced by the cells that line the small intestine. Lactose breaks down milk sugar into