Integrative Medicine Reading List 8

Welcome to the eighth edition of the Integrative Medicine Reading List! 

Disclaimer: While I’m sharing these on my blog, it doesn’t mean I always agree with everything they say. I think it’s important to hear many view points and gather lots of information so we can come to our own conclusions about things. And as always, none of this is medical advice. Talk to your doctor before making any changes. Views are my own and not representative of my institution. 

How Rocks and Crystals Can Be More Nourishing Than We Know

A few weeks ago, a colleague of mine brought a piece of natural green quartz to work…At first, I was surprised that a fellow health care provider I respected so much would attribute such significance to a rock. As we go through training, we are taught (if not explicitly at least implicitly) that there is little, if any, value in forms of complementary and alternative medicine such as crystal healing.

Effect of Sunscreen Application under Maximal Use Conditions on Plasma Concentration of Sunscreen Active Ingredients

In this preliminary study involving healthy volunteers, application of 4 commercially available sunscreens under maximal use conditions resulted in plasma concentrations that exceeded the threshold established by the FDA for potentially waiving some nonclinical toxicology studies for sunscreens. The systemic absorption of sunscreen ingredients supports the need for further studies to determine the clinical significance of these findings. These results do not indicate that individuals should refrain from the use of sunscreen.

Yoga Class While Waiting For Refills? CVS Tests New “Health Hubs”

In many ways, HealthHub just adds medical availability and access in the local market, explains Lotvin. CVS Health found that 50% of clients who visited a MinuteClinic don’t have a primary care doctor. And of those, half don’t want one. “This is a way for those people to begin to get really good solid primary care.”

We’re Calling It: Magnesium is Officially the New Melatonin

“Magnesium is a mineral that is part of many metabolic processes in the body,” says neuroscientist Tara Swart, MD. “We need it just as much as we need all the essential vitamins and minerals.” Some of its benefits include supporting higher brain function and helping produce melatonin for a better night’s rest.

High Fiber Diet Might Protect Against A Range of Conditions

Observational data suggested a 15% to 30% decrease in all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality and incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer in people who consumed the most dietary fiber relative to those who consumed the least, the authors found. In addition, clinical trials showed that compared with low intake, high dietary fiber intake lowers body weight, systolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol.

New Doctor’s’ DNA Ages 6 Times Faster Than Normal In First Year

It will be important to study how telomere changes play out in larger groups of medical trainees and in other groups of people subjected to specific prolonged stresses, such as military training, graduate studies in the sciences and law, working for startup companies, or pregnancy and the first months of parenting.

Can Nutrition Be Part Of The Treatment For Antenatal Anxiety and Depression?

Although a number of studies have focused on the prevention of postnatal depression using nutritional supplements, very few have investigated their use for the treatment of anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Omega 3 fatty acids have shown promise for reducing depression scores during the antenatal period (37) and a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement taken during the preconception period has improved symptoms of depression for women with evidence of mood disruption (38). Indeed, evidence has accumulated over the last ten years showing that multi-vitamin and mineral interventions have been beneficial for a variety of psychological conditions including low mood and anxiety (39).

How To Minimize Exposure to Hormone Disruptors

We tend to think hormone disrupters are a mom and baby issue,” said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, the chief of the division of environmental pediatrics at N.Y.U. School of Medicine. “But it literally can be a life and death matter for folks who are not even trying to have a family.”