2000 Functional Medicine Award Linus Pauling Award Presented to Leo Galland, MD
Leo Galland, M.D. received the prestigious 2000 Functional Medicine Linus Pauling Award Saturday, May 27th at the Seventh International Symposium on Functional Medicine. This award is the highest honor conferred by The Institute for Functional Medicine. Dr. Galland was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the practice of functional medicine as a physician and author.

Hospitals Embrace Alternative Care
Hospitals, the bastions of Western medicine and high-tech gadgetry, are increasingly using procedures such as aromatherapy and Tai Chi to try to attract patients by tapping into one of the hottest trends in health care. Though the medical profession remains skeptical about the effectiveness of alternative therapies, hospital administrators say they can no longer escape the reality that millions of Americans routinely used them to complement - or even take the place of - traditional medicine.

Canada Rejects Olestra, Consumer Groups Says U.S. Should Take Note
A fat substitute used in popular snack foods was rejected by a Canadian food regulatory agency, making the United States the only country to approve olestra as a food ingredient. The Washington-based Center for Science in the Public Interest publicized a letter it received from Health Canada's food regulatory agency, which said the manufacturer did not adequately support its claim that adding vitamins to foods containing olestra counteracts the fat substitute's tendency to inhibit the body's absorption of some nutrients.

Board Grants Homeopaths Freedom
The state homeopathic board defied the medical establishment and unanimously approved regulations that give Nevada's 24 licensed homeopaths permission to engage in virtually all types of alternative medicine. The regulations allow homeopaths to offer patients herbal, vitamin and nutritional treatments, along with "trigger point," "thought field" and many other therapies.

U.S. Care Inferior, World Health Group Says
The U.S. health care system is inferior to those of most other industrialized nations because it is the most expensive and yet fails to provide adequate care to the poor, according to a survey of the world's health systems. The United States ranked 37th among 191 systems surveyed by the World Health Organization, below Japan, most western European countries, Scandinavia, Canada and several Middle Eastern nations.

Dr. Galland's Integrated Medicine
Fibre is the term that describes remnants of plant cells that are resistant to human digestion. The usual sources are vegetables, cereals, bread, nuts, seeds and fruits. Although medical researchers have been recommending high fibre diets for about twenty years, and sales of metamucil and other bulk laxatives have gone up, there has been no significant increase in fibre consumption from food and the fibre intake of Americans is far below recommended levels. This is unfortunate, because the fibre found in food is far more complex than the purified powders sold in drug stores. In this column "Understanding Dietary Fibre" Dr. Galland discusses the need for both soluble and insoluble fibre in the diet and that the best source is from foods.

Dr. Andrew Weil's Self-Healing
Flax is one of the best plant-based sources of alpha-linolenic acid, which converts in the body to the same heart-protective omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, sardines, and mackerel. In "The Facts on Flax" Andrew Weil, M.D. shares that flax is a staple in his self-healing pantry, and tells us how we can add these versatile seeds to our table as well.

The Healer Within
Because we are generally addicted to complexity and busyness, reaching a state of authentic relaxation is a challenge. Many of us are locked into worry, hurry, overwork and compulsive behaviors and the mind is very difficult to quit. The beauty of progressive relaxation processes is their simplicity and their ability to allow the mind to have an easy focus. In "Progressive Relaxation, Option III" Dr. Roger Jahnke presents advanced relaxation and meditation methods which include concentration, focus, intention and visualization that are used to regulate the body function, move the Qi or energy to specific areas of the body and even project the energy outside the body.

Keeping Fit with Dr. Wayne Westcott
Although it is possible to run and walk all year long, most people find it both difficult and dangerous to cycle during cold weather and on snowy/icy surfaces. On the other hand summer is the perfect time to enjoy the benefits of cycling, according to Dr. Wayne Westcott in his column, "Summertime is for Cycling". Cycling enables you to cover much more ground and see many more sights during a given period of time than other types of exercise. The change in scenery alone tends to make the exercise session pass more quickly. Second, because you cycle at a faster speed than you run or walk, there is a significant cooling effect from the greater air currents encountered when riding a bike. This is especially appreciated on hot and humid days when no breezes are blowing.

Mind Body Health Newsletter
Can one or two drinks a day actually be beneficial? In "Here's to Your Heart" David S. Sobel, M.D. outlines the apparent correlation of moderate drinking and a reduction of mortality from heart disease by about a third. Though even moderate alcohol consumption can have a downside, such as an increased risk of breast cancer in women, it appears that the beneficial effects on total mortality outweigh the harmful effects.

"Ordinary Grace" With Dr. Kathleen Brehony
Dr. Kathleen Brehony, clinical psychologist and author of "Ordinary Grace: An Examination of the Roots of Compassion, Altruism, and Empathy, and the Ordinary Individuals Who Help Others in Extraordinary Ways" is interviewed by Dr. Daniel Redwood. The theme of topics discussed is "What can each of us individually, and all of us collectively, do to help each other to become more conscious, awake, aware, and alive?" Dr. Brehony describes the motivation behind extraordinary acts of compassion, discusses the role of challenge and pain in times of transition, and addresses the need to be both creative and secure.

Healthy Recipes
Danish chef Oscar Umahro Cadogan brings us a recipe for "Avocado-Apple Yogurt With Flaxseed," an excellent dairy-free fruit yogurt using only apples, avocados, extra virgin olive oil and unfiltered cider vinegar. It is every bit as thick and creamy as real fruit yogurt, but contains no saturated animal fats, milk protein or chemical residues.

Healthy Bookstore
Over the past few years, dozens of new natural supplements have been introduced that promise to enhance mental function. In "Mind Boosters: A Guide to Natural Supplements that Enhance Your Mind, Memory, and Mood" Ray Sahelian, MD reports breakthrough research showing how diet, nutrients, herbs, and supplements can help you not only improve your intelligence, memory, vision, creativity, sexual enjoyment, energy, mood, productivity, and overall mental achievement, but also how to prevent and reverse age-related mental decline. This book will help you determine which supplements are appropriate for you, how you decide how much to take, in what combinations, how often, and for how long - and ends with a glossary and full set of scientific references. "Mind Boosters" is one of the most comprehensive and practical books ever written on natural supplements that improve mental function.

Healthy Travel
Every season of the year, every hour of the day, brings a different look to the crimson-hued sandstone formations surrounding Sedona, Arizona. Join the "Mystical Sedona Tour" October 5-9 and enjoy five sensational days of exploring the Sedona and Grand Canyon areas in a physical and spiritual way.

Healthy Child Update
Asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic otitis media and sinusitis are increasing at frightening rates among children in the United States. There are several measures that parents can take to effectively reverse this trend, according to Leo Galland, M.D. in "Immune Power for Kids." These measures are supported by scientific research and have been very effective in his own clinical practice, including a nutritious diet, provision of a hygienic home environment, and regularity of rest and exercise.

Healthy Man Update
Not limited to sports enthusiasts, athlete's foot is a fungus infection of the toes and foot, characterized by an itchy, scaly, odorous rash between the toes. Most susceptible are people who have previously had the infection, adult men, those whose feet perspire. In "Athlete's Foot" David L. Hoffmann B.Sc. (Hons), M.N.I.M.H. points out that internal treatments do little, and suggests fungicide essential oils as the most effective topical treatment.

Professional Referral Network
The Professional Referral Network contains searchable directories from over 20 leading professional associations in complementary and integrative health care, with over 10,000 professionals. Looking for a healthcare professional practicing integrative medicine? The Complementary Medicine Section of this Referral Network includes the member databases for the American College for the Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) and American Preventive Medical Association (APMA).

Medical Cybrarian Research Service
Frustrated as you wade through all of the data you bring up with your Internet searches? You can hire a professional who can do this fast and efficiently, save you all of the hassle, and most likely find important information you overlooked. The HealthWorld Online Medical Cybrarian has thousands of the best web sites already bookmarked.

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
Curious about Spirituality and QiGong and how viewed by different cultural traditions? Join the "Qigong and Taiji" Forum to see what others have to say, and add your opinions.

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
The Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians (HANP) supports two major goals: to create a professional society for naturopathic physicians who specialize in classical homeopathy. And second, HANP offers standards by which the community can assess the experience and expertise of these practitioners. In this way they support the public's access to professional homeopathic care.

Visit Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians

Global Health Calendar -- Hot Picks

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