Saw Palmetto: Popular In Prostate Cases
With the dearth of studies demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of herbal remedies, many physicians remain reluctant to recommend so-called botanical treatments. But saw palmetto appears to be one herbal exception to the rule. Derived from a spiky plant that grows wild in the tropics, saw palmetto is increasingly being offered by physicians as an effective treatment for men concerned about their prostate health, experts say.

Migraines Are Unique Brain Disorder
The pain of a migraine can be so intense it's disabling. Your head pulses, usually on one side, for hours or even days. Moving worsens the throbbing. You're nauseated, sensitive to light and sound. Some 28 million Americans suffer this pain, yet half don't realize that migraines - and not some other headache - are to blame, and millions go without treatment.

Senate Defeats 'Patients' Bill Of Rights
The Senate on Thursday (6/8/00) narrowly defeated the "patients' Bill of Rights," legislation that would have given patients new powers, including greater access to emergency rooms, easier access to specialists and the right to sue HMOs.

Nutrition: Plant-Based Diets Can Help Control Weight
A recent study at Cornell University found that plant-based diets may cause changes in metabolism that add up to preventing about 10 pounds of weight gain per year. A plant-based diet centers on vegetables, fruits and grains. Low-fat, balanced eating combined with regular exercise is recommended.

Dr. Galland's Integrated Medicine
Scientists have known for years that major and minor life stresses interfere with immune function and contribute to disease. Stressful life events increase your susceptibility to several types of infections, from the common cold to tuberculosis, and to auto-immune disorders in which your body's immune system attacks its own cells. Although you may not be able to control all the stressors in your life, there are many steps you can take to build your immune resistance in the face of stress. In this column, "Stress and Immunity" Leo Galland, M.D. explains how clear thinking, supportive social relationships, moderate exercise, adequate sleep, and immune-boosting nutrients can keep you from becoming a victim of stress.

Dr. Weil Self-Healing
Depression is a widespread problem in our society that causes a great deal o suffering. In the case of mild to moderate depression, natural approaches can be very successful in keeping symptoms at bay. In the column "Natural Help for Depression" Andrew Weil, M.D. explains how depression is an illness and offers a number of treatment options other then drugs.

The Healer Within
In the Chinese tradition where energy pathways and points are accepted aspects of the body, attention is drawn to specific energy areas as the rhythm of the breath continues. In "Progressive Relaxation, Option II" Dr. Roger Jahnke presents a procedure that includes 16 stations or points of awareness and is very simple and brief. It can be done with many more awareness points and may include focusing on each finger and toe, segments of the arms and legs, joints, individual organs, etc.

Mind Over Matter
Are you about to face a challenge that seems overwhelming? In the column "A New Day: for wisdom of choice" Barry Bittman, M.D. points out that we get to choose how we respond. We can either make a decision based upon what we bring to the picture from the past or we try another approach utilizing a new vantage point.

Natural Medicine Research
The relationship between eating different types of meals and fatigue has been evaluated for a long time and finally some answers are becoming available. Several studies have shown that eating a pure carbohydrate meal can induce fatigue. The mechanism for this involves the neurotransmitter systems, particularly serotonin. As you already know, raising tryptophan converts into 5-hydroxytryptophan, and then on to serotonin. In his column, "Food and Fatigue" Ray Sahelian, M.D. fills us in on research on the type of meals which will temporarily raise brain levels of tryptophan, and hence serotonin.

Understanding Homeopathy
Allergies can be imprisoning. They can make it impossible to go for a walk in the country, and even make it difficult to go outside. Some allergy sufferers can't visit their friends who have pets, and many others can't eat their favorite foods. In the column "Allergies Are Nothing To Sneeze At... With Homeopathic Medicine" Dana Ullman, M.P.H. explains a number of options using homeopathic remedies. Although they will not "cure" your allergy, you can use homeopathic remedies to treat the acute phase of your allergy - without side effects. For a cure, a professional homeopath prescribes a "constitutional medicine," a remedy that is individually chosen to the totality of symptoms that the person is experiencing, not just the allergy symptoms.

"New Developments In Autism, Aids And Alternative Paradigm Medicine" With Candace Pert, Ph.D.
In this interview with Dr. Daniel Redwood, Dr. Pert discusses the two areas of research about which she is now most passionate: the possible role of vaccines in causing autism, and her work on Peptide T, which she believes may herald a major breakthrough in AIDS treatment. Fascinating reading.

Healthy Recipes
Marinated ginger deserves to be used with other foods than sushi. Danish chef Oscar Umahro Cadogan brings us a recipe for "Marinated Ginger" with a heavenly taste and lovely appearance. This version produces strong tasting marinated ginger, as it contains no sweetening, great for salads, as a last minute addition to stirfries and soups, and with grilled, baked, or broiled fish. You can even try it - in very small amounts that is - with desserts.

Healthy Bookstore
It's a medical fact: not all weight is really fat. Much of being overweight is caused by allergy-like food reactions. This "false fat" is easy to put on, but it can be hard to take off. Now you can do it--this week. The exciting new book "The False Fat Diet: The Revolutionary 21-Day Program for Losing the Weight You Think is Fat" by Elson Haas, M.D. explains that all foods have chemical reactions within your body, and some foods just "don't agree with you." These foods cause body swelling and facial puffiness that look like fat. They can also make you feel listless and ill. With the revolutionary False Fat Diet, you cut out these foods and substitute others, following a no-hunger eating strategy. As your false fat melts away, you can lose 5-10 pounds in just a few days--and 10-20 pounds within two or three weeks. Then your metabolism will finally be able to burn true fat--efficiently and steadily--and keep it off.

Healthy Travel
This September 14 to October 1 "A Spiritual Journey Through Nepal and Tibet" offers you the opportunity to heal yourself and experience enlightenment. Along with the history, culture and wisdom of Tibet, this personally escorted Journey of a Lifetime will provide unique experiences of meeting with shamans, spiritual leaders and holy men and women as you travel to these most sacred places.

Healthy Child Update
Hiccups are usually harmless, but not always. In the column "Hiccups" prepared by the American Institute of Preventive Medicine parents are provided concrete guidelines for determining the severity of the situation, and self-help options for when appropriate.

Healthy Woman Update
Women who are anemic or have a problem with heavy menstrual bleeding tend to be very tired, so they completely stop their regular exercise program. In the column "Exercises for Heavy Menstrual Flow Anemia" Susan M. Lark, M.D. explains why this only makes the problem worse. Dr. Lark recommends gentle exercises, such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, range-of-motion exercises to keep the joints mobile, and slow relaxed walking. These promote good oxygenation and circulation and can even help to increase energy.

Professional Referral Network
The Professional Referral Network contains searchable directories from 20 leading professional associations in complementary and integrative health care, with over 10,000 professionals. Looking for a healthcare professional practicing with a holistic philosophy? The Holistic Health Care Section of this Referral Network includes the member databases for the American Holistic Health Association (AHHA) and American Holistic Medical Association (AHMA).

Medical Cybrarian Research Service
Medical librarians were formerly only available through a hospital or university medical library. Now referred to on HealthWorld Online as a "Cybrarian," this librarian in cyberspace can help you locate the really hard-to-find material on diseases and their treatments.

The Cybrarian offers you personalized research service, searching the Internet, books, MEDLINE and other databases, to find EXACTLY the information you require. The Cybrarian can custom design research for individual patients or healthcare professionals, as well as healthcare industry business people, including information on diseases, treatments, products, market research or statistics for alternative, complementary and conventional medicine. For reasonable fees, the Cybrarian carefully gathers and selects the information or points you to useful web sites and other sources, with the speed and searching techniques acquired from many years of professional research.

Participate in our Online Community--Join our Discussion Forums
People with rare and unusual health challenges can help each other. Join the "Issues in Integrated Health Care" Forum by posting your situation or sharing your successes with those who have not yet discovered a solution.

Join in the ongoing discussion in our "Health Freedom," "The Vaccination Question," "Genetically Modified Foods," "Issues in Integrated Health Care," "Mind-Body-Spirit Health," and "Qigong and Taiji" forums.

Association Network -- Hot Pick
Ensuring Your Medical Freedom: The American Preventive Medical Association (APMA) is the political voice for health care practitioners who use nutritional and other complementary therapies in patient care. Our focus is on federal legislation/regulation that increases patient access to alternative therapies, and protects the rights of practitioners to offer those therapies. Members approach health from a comprehensive perspective, utilizing preventive medical techniques and less-invasive, more natural methods of patient management.

Visit American Preventive Medical Association

Global Health Calendar -- Hot Picks

Journey to Machu Picchu, Apukuna, Andes & Amazon Incan Odyssey
Machu Picchu, Cusco PERU
July 12-26, 2000
Contact: HealthyTravel.net - 888-888-0717

25th Anniversary National Wellness Conference
Pathways To Wellness: Experience the Journey!
Stevens Point, WI USA
July 15-21, 2000
Contact: National Wellness institute, Inc. - 715-342-2969

Nutracon 2000
The Event for Nuraceuticals
Las Vegas, NV USA
July 17-19, 2000
Nutracon - 800-868-7188

Healing Waters Conference and Exhibition
Spa and Health Tourism in the New Millennium
Rotorua, Waikato NEW ZEALAND
July 18-21, 2000
Contact: Waiariki Institute of Technology - 647-346-8656

Marketplace 2000
imagine...
Las Vegas, NV USA
July 26-29, 2000
Contact: National Nutritional Foods Association - 949-622-6272

Treating Depression with Interactive Guided Imagery
Bellevue, WA USA
July 30, 2000
Contact: Academy for Guided Imagery - 415-389-9325

Northwest Vision Therapists' Summer Symposium
Yachats, OR USA
August 4-5, 2000
Contact: Optometric Extension Program Foundation - 949-250-8070

Transformational Retreat - Swim with the Dolphins
with Sheoli Makara, Erik Berglund and the dolphins
Kona, HI USA
August 11-18, 2000
Contact: HealthyTravel.net - 888-888-0717

Rising to the Call - with Jacquelyn Small
Eupsychia Institute's Annual Training in Spiritual Psychology and Integrative Breathwork
Dahlongea, GA USA
August 12-18, 2000
Contact: Eupsychia Institute - 800-546-2795