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Alternative Medicine, Complementary Medicine, Holistic Medicine , Mind-Body Medicine

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The New Science of Successfully Breaking Bad Habits

By Christopher Bergland on December 06, 2017 in The Athlete's Way
The Science of Behavior Change (SOBC) coalition is on a mission to help people break bad habits and successfully make behavioral changes that will lead to longer, healthier lives.
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Which Breeds of Dogs Are Best for Your Health?

By Stanley Coren PhD., DSc, FRSC on November 23, 2017 in Canine Corner
New data not only shows that dog ownership provides substantial health benefits, but also that some breeds have a more substantial positive impact.
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New Diet Ideas From the Artificial Sweeteners Controversy

By Chris Gilbert, M.D., Ph.D. on November 17, 2017 in Heal the Mind to Heal the Body
Intriguing findings and new ideas reviewing 10 years of medical literature and research
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Medicating Women's Sexual Desire Still Highly Controversial

By Robert T Muller Ph.D. on November 02, 2017 in Talking About Trauma
Research reveals that sexual desire is influenced by non-biological factors.

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Adaptogens: Herbal Medicine to Smooth Out the Stress

By Leslie E. Korn Ph.D, MPH, LMHC, ACS, NTP on January 04, 2018 in Rhythms of Recovery
Strengthen resilience with food and herbs.

Acupuncture in Mental Health Care

By James Lake, MD on January 02, 2018 in Integrative Mental Health Care
There is emerging but still inconclusive evidence for acupuncture as a treatment of depressed mood, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health problems.
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Patient-Doctor Communication

By Richard B. Joelson DSW, LCSW on December 21, 2017 in Moments That Matter
When patients control more of the doctor-patient conversation, they often have better medical outcomes.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: An Emerging Therapy

By James Lake, MD on December 19, 2017 in Integrative Mental Health Care
Curious about the benefits of weak electrical current for your mental health? Many studies support its use for anxiety and substance abuse.
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Bidirectional Gut-Brain Axis Can Perpetuate a Vicious Cycle

By Christopher Bergland on December 11, 2017 in The Athlete's Way
A new study identifies powerful bidirectional gut-brain interactions: Gut disturbances can trigger brain inflammation and traumatic brain injury (TBI) can trigger gut dysfunction.
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Nourish Your Brain in Five Minutes a Day

By Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D. on December 09, 2017 in Your Neurochemical Self
Your quality of life depends on the circulation in your brain.

Exercise for Depression, Dementia, and Anxiety

By James Lake, MD on December 08, 2017 in Integrative Mental Health Care
Research findings show that regular exercise improves depressed mood, reduces anxiety, and reduces the risk of dementia.

DHEA Improves Depressed Mood But Not Cognitive Functioning

By James Lake, MD on November 29, 2017 in Integrative Mental Health Care
Have you read about DHEA for depressed mood or cognitive problems? There are positive findings for depression but most studies on cognitive decline and dementia are inconclusive.
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Will Stress-Busting Vagus Nerve Gadgetry Be a Game Changer?

By Christopher Bergland on November 27, 2017 in The Athlete's Way
A new state-of-the-art vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) device may offer a drug-free way to combat fight-or-flight responses. This patent-pending gizmo could be available by mid-2018.
Judy Tsafrir MD

MTHFR, Methylation and Histamine in Psychiatric Conditions

By Judy Tsafrir M.D. on November 22, 2017 in Holistic Psychiatry
The MTHFR mutation does not mean that you need to take methyl folate. This common approach can contribute to worsening psychiatric symptoms as well as increase the risk of cancer.

Huperzine: An Effective Chinese Herbal for Dementia

By James Lake, MD on November 20, 2017 in Integrative Mental Health Care
Are you looking for information about herbal treatments for dementia? Huperzine may be more effective than available anti-dementia medications.
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On the Interconnectedness of All Things

By Michael S. Fenster M.D., FACC, FSCA&I, PEMBA on November 19, 2017 in You Are What You Eat
Diet, Inflammation, and depression

Inconsistent Findings for Valerian as a Sleep Aid

By James Lake, MD on November 15, 2017 in Integrative Mental Health Care
Are you thinking about trying Valerian for insomnia? The evidence is weak and other non-pharma approaches are probably more effective.
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Aerobic Training Reduces Inflammation in Mind-Boggling Ways

By Christopher Bergland on November 13, 2017 in The Athlete's Way
A pioneering new study reports that regular aerobic exercise (3 hours per week) can dramatically reduce muscular inflammation via specific microRNAs that regulate gene expression.
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Aromatherapy Alleviates Anxiety Via Your Vagus Nerve

By Christopher Bergland on November 09, 2017 in The Athlete's Way
There is growing empirical evidence that aromatherapy has a profound ability to relieve anxiety by calming your nervous system.
By Chaval Brasil from Campinas, SP, Brasil (Flickr) via Wikimedia Commons (aspirin

Effective Non-Toxic Alternatives for Pain and Depression

By Leslie E. Korn Ph.D, MPH, LMHC, ACS, NTP on November 07, 2017 in Rhythms of Recovery
Effective treatment of inflammation, pain, and depression without NSAIDS.
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Harvard Epidemiologists' Rx: Moderate-to-Vigorous Exercise

By Christopher Bergland on November 07, 2017 in The Athlete's Way
A new Harvard study on the long-term benefits of aerobic exercise reports that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity may reduce mortality by up to 70 percent.
Jennifer Bleyer

Virtual Reality Graded Exposure Therapy (VRGET)

By James Lake, MD on November 06, 2017 in Integrative Mental Health Care
Are you looking for non-medication treatments of PTSD, fear of flying, fear of heights or another phobia? Virtual reality graded exposure is a promising new approach.
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Sham Surgery

By Steve Taylor Ph.D. on November 01, 2017 in Out of the Darkness
How can pretending to perform an operation have the same effect as actually performing one? How can healing take place without any treatment?
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Decreasing Pesticide Intake Can Improve Fertility in Women

By Chris Gilbert, M.D., Ph.D. on November 01, 2017 in Heal the Mind to Heal the Body
A new study just published in JAMA shows the benefits of eating low-pesticide residue fruits and vegetables for women who are undergoing infertility treatment.
By Wing-Chi Poon [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Bright Lights, Big City, and Fibromyalgia

By Mark Borigini M.D. on October 31, 2017 in Overcoming Pain
It is always interesting to find ways to improve sleep, which is known to have a positive impact on fibromyalgia symptoms, but also many other aspects of one’s life.

High Density Negative Ions for Seasonal Affective Disorder

By James Lake, MD on October 31, 2017 in Integrative Mental Health Care
High density negative ions may be as beneficial for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as bright light exposure therapy.
Flowering of Expressive Arts Therapy courtesy of C. Malchiodi PhD

Expressive Arts Therapy and the Arts in Health

By Cathy Malchiodi PhD, LPCC, LPAT, ATR-BC, REAT on October 30, 2017 in Arts and Health
Expressive arts therapy is part of the continuum of care in medical settings, says a new white paper on the subject of arts in health and wellness.

Urgent Need for Transforming Mental Health Care

By James Lake, MD on October 27, 2017 in Integrative Mental Health Care
The current model of care and available conventional treatments fail to address serious mental health problems. Evidence-based CAM therapies can help.
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Is Gut Microbiome a New Biomarker for PTSD Susceptibility?

By Christopher Bergland on October 27, 2017 in The Athlete's Way
A new international study involving both military and civilian institutions has identified a possible new biomarker for PTSD susceptibility based on gut bacteria composition.

The Health Benefits of Light

By James Lake, MD on October 26, 2017 in Integrative Mental Health Care
Wondering about bright light or dim blue or red light for depressed mood? Research studies show benefits for depressed mood, seasonal affective disorder and some sleep problems.
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Brain Wellness Takes a Quantum Leap

By Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on October 24, 2017 in Digital Altruism
Soon, consciousness-hacking gyms may become mainstream.

Ginkgo Biloba for Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

By James Lake, MD on October 23, 2017 in Integrative Mental Health Care
Are you curious about the evidence for Ginkgo biloba as a treatment of dementia? Many studies have been done but findings remain inconsistent.
Saori Miyazaki

My Journey: Finding Mindfulness in Japanese Psychology

By Stephen Murphy-Shigematsu Ed.D. on October 23, 2017 in Finding Meaning in Life’s Struggles
“I found out that it is okay just to be me."

St. John's Wort for Depressed Mood?

By James Lake, MD on October 18, 2017 in Integrative Mental Health Care
Considering trying St. John's wort for your problem with depressed mood? Some people respond well, however, research findings are mixed and there are outstanding safety problems.