5 Tips for Safe Detoxification

Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald examines the celebrity fad of detoxification and separates fact from fiction. She gives five tips for approaching detoxification that combine science with basic common sense. .

I just finished reading the latest about how celebrities "detox,"--pretty much by starving themselves. I cringe when I see these articles. What other group of people could make deprivation seem attractive?

Seriously, what really concerns me is that these extreme programs are misleading. You simply cannot "detox your body" in seven days--or even seventy --no matter what you do. Read more

Instant Stress Blockers

Self.com says these activities can stop hormones that cause health problems and increase weight gain.

When I feel a tightening in my back or neck coming on, I cope by doing things I love, like going for a long, slow run in the park with my dog. Try a few of these instant soothers, and watch your own stress go from ARGH! to Ahhh.

Turn up the tunes. Listening to music that has a steady (not frenetic) beat may cause brain waves to keep time and relax you, research from a music symposium at Stanford University in California reports. Load your iPod with a playlist of the songs that make you happiest. Read more

American Medicine Ignores Ginkgo Biloba

American medicine ignores ginko biloba though European doctors prescribe this leading remedy for circulatory problems, says Bill Sardi.

Imagine that ginkgo biloba, a widely sold herbal supplement, were an FDA-approved drug in the U.S.A.

Brian Williams, NBC’s evening news anchor, would likely lead off by saying: "Good evening, I’m Brian Williams with NBC’s Nightly News, brought to you by Tebonin® ginkgo leaf extract, the world’s leading remedy for circulatory problems in small arteries and veins."

Ginkgo biloba leaf extract is a drug in Europe. The approved ginkgo drug in Germany is Tebonin®, made by Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co KG. It contains 120mg per tablet of EGb761® (ginkgo leaf extract).

Throughout the world, Tebonin is widely sold for relief of ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and dizziness (vertigo) and these very health claims are printed on the front label of a box of Tebonin. In the U.S., such advertising claims are not permitted. Read more

How to Find Your Healthiest Weight

You know you need to lose weight, but how much? How do you find your "feel great" weight? Health tells you how to calculate your healthiest weight.

Follow the steps below to determine a healthy goal weight for your body and lifestyle—and then check out the rest of our Feel Great Weight diet and exercise plan for ways to make that number a reality.

1. What’s your BMI? How tall you are, obviously, has a lot to do with whether your weight is healthy—and that’s always frustrating for the vertically challenged. Read more

The Science of Distant Healing

Can your good intentions really reach out to someone who is not present? Srinivasan Pillay discusses the science of distant healing.

There is much written about how our good intentions help others. But can your good intentions really reach someone who is not physically present, and how do we know this? In this column, I will present the current evidence that discusses this phenomenon and provide some explanations as to why distant healing has a place in modern scientific thinking. Read more

10 Steps to Bring New Life to Your Liver

Giving special attention to liver health and detoxification was a springtime ritual in many cultures, says Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald. She gives ten steps to bring new life to your liver.

Here are 10 ways to increase your vitality and give your liver a little more TLC:

1. Drink plenty of water. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, M.D. is one of the world's foremost experts on the therapeutic value of water. He suggests that half of your body's weight is the number of ounces of water to aim for each day. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds, 60 ounces of water is your goal. I have seen the beneficial effects of this formula in the clinic with many patients over the years. Also, drinking a glass of warm water with lemon first thing in the morning will support your liver's natural detoxification processes. By the way, dehydrating beverages such as coffee and alcohol don't count towards your total water intake. Read more

Blueberries Lower High Cholesterol and Protect Cardiovascular Health

Blueberries provide an effective way to lower cholesterol without the dangers of statin drugs. They taste better, too.

How good are blueberries at lowering high cholesterol and protecting cardiovascular health? This article compiles a collection of quotes and statements about blueberries from doctors, authors and health experts. Read more