Do you or a loved one suffer from arthritis pains? Arthritis is common for many people, especially as we get older and add wear and tear to our joints. Elderly people are also at higher risk of falls. So anything to help decrease pain and fall risk, as well as help your quality of life, is more than welcome.… Read the rest
Category Archives: Illness
Plants Can Improve Indoor Air
I’ve talked a lot about indoor air quality, and I’m happy to report that Beijing Kids has an excellent post this week about indoor plants. They discuss a short video from the TED Conference series; this presentation discusses three common house plants and details how efficiently they can remove CO2, create oxygen, and also absorb toxins.… Read the rest
Coffee: Does it Harm or Help?
There’s been a lot of debate over the years over the health benefits of coffee. Now, the trend is towards the positive site, as some well-designed studies show benefit in some diseases.… Read the rest
What Works For The Common Cold?
It’s definitely common cold season. So, it’s a good time to review what treatments actually work for the common cold. The New York Times has a nice review today (Patient Money – Tips to Treat a Cold or Flu, With Your Wallet in Mind) of treatments for the common cold.… Read the rest
Chinese Medicine & Flu: A Q&A With TCM Doctor
Last week, I discussed Chinese herbs and the flu, and the difficulties I had in finding excellent studies either for or against their effectiveness. After that post, I was introduced to Dr Greg Livingston, an American doctor trained in Chinese Medicine and practicing in Hangzhou.… Read the rest
How Good are N95 Masks For Pollution?
I get a lot of questions from expats in Beijing, especially bikers and people walking to work, who wonder whether any type of mask is helpful. I also bike to work so I was curious as well. We’ve talked a lot about N95 masks for the flu, but how well do they work for pollution?… Read the rest