Government Defines 'Organic' Food
The federal government's Department of Agriculture unveiled the country's first official definition of "organic," giving consumers a reliable way to buy fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products produced without using pesticides, genetic engineering, growth hormones or irradiation. The final version endorses many of the positions promoted by the organic food industry and acknowledges the growing popularity of organic foods, which are promoted as less damaging to the environment and perhaps higher quality.

Medical Privacy Rules Expected to Be Costly
President Clinton's sweeping set of medical privacy protections to give patients unprecedented control over their medical histories will likely force costly changes in how doctors and hospitals do business. The changes may result in longer patient visits, additional computer security costs and the possible financial failure of smaller physicians' practices. Still, doctors, hospitals and HMOs praised the regulations as necessary protections in the Internet Age, where medical records are routinely zipped around the country with the click of a computer mouse.

Prescription Drug Challenge Shifts Back to Congress
Congress this fall passed a bill allowing pharmacists to re-import prescription drugs manufactured domestically but sold in other countries at reduced cost. But the current administration announced that it would not implement the plan, declaring that the government cannot guarantee drug safety and that it would do little good anyway. Lawmakers and advocates for senior citizens said this decision only highlights the need for Congress to pass a comprehensive fix to Medicare to cover high prescription drug costs.

Bacteria Proving Resistant to Drugs
A sometimes-lethal type of bacteria that causes many cases of pneumonia, bloodstream infections and other illnesses is rapidly becoming resistant to antibiotics, a government study found. Experts have warned for a decade that overuse of antibiotics is helping germs become resistant to drugs, first to penicillin, then to newer antibiotics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that this matter has become even more worrisome in the last two years.

Dr. Galland's Integrated Medicine
Dr. Leo Galland, author of "Power Healing," combines his personal research and an analysis of medical research to enable you to learn how to heal yourself, and preventing or reversing chronic illness with the techniques of Integrated Medicine. In the column "What is Integrated Medicine?" Dr. Galland addresses conventional western medicine, alternative medical systems, and the importance of including dietary, environmental or social conditions.

The Healer Within
The technique described in Dr. Roger Jahnke's column "The Abdominal Lift" is a traditional yoga practice called Uddhiyana bandha. Stand with feet at about shoulder width, bend the knees slightly, bend forward, exhale completely, brace the hands above the knees. Either lift and hold the abdomen upward against the spine or rhythmically contract and release the abdomen while maintaining the exhalation. Complete by returning to erect position and inhaling before needing to gasp.

Dr. Weil Self-Healing
Hypnotherapy, or trance work, is a group of techniques that allow practitioners and patients to take advantage of the mind-body connection to foster healing. Andrew Weil, M.D.'s column "Hypnotherapy: The Power of Suggestion" offers some tips for using these techniques wisely, what to expect when working with a clinical hynotherapist, and guidelines for locating a good, trustworthy therapist.

Mind Body Health Newsletter
The decision to seek care is more determined by anxiety, worry, stress, lack of confidence, lack of information, job dissatisfaction, and unhealthy lifestyles than it is by the presence or absence of physical disease. In "Meditation Reduces Medical Costs" David S. Sobel, M.D. presents the research that supports it is reasonable to think that mind/body interventions which address the underlying distress that prompts visits to physicians, might reduce distress and medical expenses.

Keeping Fit with Dr. Wayne Westcott
Of the training variables associated with strength development, none is more important or less understood than repetitions. Perhaps the most significant factor in a personalized program of strength exercise is the number of repetitions performed per set. In the column "Keeping Fit: How Many Repetitions?" Dr. Wayne L. Wescott shows us how the reason is related to our muscle fiber type.

Care2 Ask Annie
In her latest column for environmentally conscious consumers Annie Berthold-Bond offers guidelines for how to wet clean wool, rayon and silk, recipes for homemade finger paints, explanation for the value of reading a label's signal word, and natural boot waterproofing.

"On Death and Dying" With Elizabeth Kubler-Ross M.D.
In this "On Death and Dying" interview with Dr. Daniel Redwood, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross M.D. describes her strikingly powerful experience as a young woman visiting a concentration camp just after the liberation in 1945, an experience which was to shape the future course of her life. In this context, she addresses the highly controversial idea, first raised to her by a young Jewish camp survivor, that there is an aspect of Hitler in all of us. Recognizing the unspeakable horror of the Holocaust, she raises troubling questions on the nature of human evil and the roots from which it springs. She also shares her thoughts on the fear, denial and uncertainty which characterize much of modern Western humanity's approach to death.

Healthy Recipes
You have heard the expression, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." The January "There's a Yogi in the Kitchen" column by Siri-Ved Kaur Khalsa offers a new one to remember: "An onion a day keeps disease away!" Onions' job is to keep the blood pure, improve digestion, and promote liver detoxification. This column includes several "yogic remedies" that employ onion.

Healthy Bookstore
"The Herbal Handbook" is a compendium of medical herbalism by David Hoffmann, one of the most eminent herbalists practicing today. Both comprehensive and practical this book answers basic as well as complicated questions about herbal medicine. It provides both the novice and the experienced practitioner with a reliable framework in which to develop their herbal skills.

A discussion of the history and modern practice of herbalism is followed by a practical reference section that lists the various actions herbs have on the body. Herbal prescriptions for various illnesses are also organized under the main systems of the body for easy reference. A final section covers the fundamentals of growing, drying, storing and cooking with herbs, as well as the making of infusions, decoctions, oils, and ointments.

Healthy Travel
February 8-13, 2001 "Kauai: A 'Way Of The Traveler' Journey" - A spiritually enriching six-day retreat tour on Kaua'i, The Garden Isle. Spirituality expert, Joseph Dispenza, and renowned psychologist, Dr. Beverly Nelson, lead this truly unique program that includes many of Hawaii's most respected elders, teachers, storytellers, dancers, chanters, drummers and musicians.

Healthy Child Update
Hyperactivity, medically termed Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), can affect children, adolescents, and even some adults. Although the hyperactive child is often of normal or above-average intelligence, the condition is characterized by learning and behavioral problems. Teachers and parents of a hyperactive child must cope with the child's short attention span, impulsiveness, emotional instability, and uncontrollable overactivity. In the column "Hyperactivity" Janet Zand, O.M.D. addresses conventional treatment, dietary guidelines, nutritional supplements, herbal treatment, homeopathy and acupressure, plus general recommendations.

Healthy Man Update
Most people take it for granted that they'll have children one day. In fact, most people are so confident they can conceive, they use birth control until they're ready for parenthood. Yet 10 to 15 percent of all couples are infertile; half the time it's due fully or partly to the man. In the column "Coping with Male Infertility" Laurie Aesoph, N.D. reviews possible causes and discusses the role of nutrients, stress, drugs and other considerations.

Find a Practitioner
The Professional Referral Network contains searchable directories for 20 leading professional associations in complementary and integrative health care, with over 16,000 professionals. Looking for a healthcare professional offering Oriental Medicine? The "Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine" section includes the Acupuncture And Oriental Medicine Alliance and American Association of Oriental Medicine member databases.

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
The Issues in Integrated Health Care Forum includes an inquiry looking for any kind of alternative therapy, diets, etc. for children with ulcerative colitis. Is it safe to use what works for adults?

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 American Holistic Health Association (AHHA) is a national clearing house to connect you with resources you can use to improve your health and well-being. Wherever you are on the path of creating wellness, AHHA assists you to become informed about the many options available in the health care arena today.

Visit American Holistic Health Association

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Global Health Calendar -- Hot Picks

The Maha Kumbha Mela World Event
Honesdale, PA USA
January 5-30, 2001
Contact: Himalayan Institute - 800-822-4547

Retreat in Tepotzlan, Mexico
Join artist Karl Barnhardt & psychologist Dr. Beverly Nelson
Tepotzlan, Mexico MEXICO
January 15-26, 2001
Contact: Outward Journeys for Inward Development - 972-733-4827

National Health Care Summit
Addressing health care issues for northern and remote communities
Prince George, British Columbia CANADA
January 18-20, 2001
Contact: City of Prince George - 250-614-6648

Victoria Health Show
Victoria, British Columbia CANADA
January 20-21, 2001
Contact: Canadian National Health Shows - 604-885-0960

Omega in Boston
The Mind/Body Connection in Health with Christiane Northrup, MD
Boston, MA USA
February 3, 2001
Contact: Omega Institute for Holistic Studies - 800-944-1001

Biofeedback Foundation of Europe Annual Meeting
Workshops on Biofeedback applications for various problems
Prien am Chiemsee, Bayern GERMANY
February 15-19, 2001
Contact: Biofeedback Foundation of Europe - 31 20 44 22 631

Nutritional Therapy in Medical Practice
With Alan Gaby, MD, Donald Brown, ND, Allan Warshowsky, MD
Brooklyn, NY USA
February 24-26, 2001
Contact: Nutrition Seminars - 253-639-5681