It’s definitely the middle of winter season already, and my clinic’s waiting room is filled with sniffly, sneezing patients. Since there’s no magic bullet to cure the common cold, what natural methods help? I’ve mentioned a lot of preventive medicines on my blog, especially my new favorite, vitamin D.… Read the rest
Category Archives: Illness
Healthy Tips to Prevent Colds & Flu
We are now deep into winter, and most likely you and your family have already been through a couple rounds of the common colds and flu. What simple tasks can we do to cut down on these inevitable illnesses? There are a lot of home remedies and folklore about preventing the common cold, but let’s review the best, evidence-based preventive tips.… Read the rest
Do You Need The Flu Vaccine? Maybe Not…
It’s definitely the middle of flu season already, and so far it isn’t so bad where I practice. I’m still having daily conversations with my patients about the flu vaccine — but who really needs the annual flu shot? There’s actually a very comprehensive new study which should help shed some light on this issue.… Read the rest
Pregnancy and Food Poisoning: What’s Safe To Treat?
Gastroenteritis — diarrhea caused by bacteria from our foods — peaks in the summer but can occur all year. Pregnant women should be especially choosy about where and what they eat, since a bad bout of “gastro”, while usually not serious for mom, can sometimes cause serious problems for her baby.… Read the rest
Bad Acne and Diet: Is There Good Evidence of a Connection?
I recently wrote about acne and discussed how there wasn’t much evidence linking diet choices with acne. Now I’ve discovered a recent literature review published last year, which does show some linking with acne flares and cow’s milk, as well as high glycemic-index foods.… Read the rest
Muscle Aches: Ice or Heat — Which is Better?
What works better for acute muscle injury like neck or back strain — ice or heat? Most doctors say that the initial ~48 hours of an injury, with the swelling and achiness, are best treated with ice. But actual research has been fairly scanty.… Read the rest