Naturopathy
Head Lice Treatment
Head lice is insidious and is found everywhere -- especially where there are kids in close contact. If lice is not aggressively managed it will pervade our classrooms and our homes. It is easily spread amongst kids; however, it is very simple to prevent. If we diligently wash our kids hats and jackets in hot water as well as offer preventative topical head lice treatments once per week,...
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Influenza (Flu) Vaccinations
In my general health article for October, I discuss and provide important information on the seasonal flu and the options for vaccinations. Although it may still feel like summer in many parts of the country, October traditionally marks the beginning of health promotion activities for the influenza vaccination. Peak times for flu season are January and February with the season beginning in...
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Hospital-Acquired (Noscomial) Infections
My general health article for this month discusses the issue of noscomial or hospital-acquired infections, which are those illnesses that are easily spread from one person to another by a hospital worker or even a visitor. The hospital is supposed to be a place where sick people can go to get better. Ironically, though, it is the worst place to go, when you are sick because the body may al...
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Kegel Exercises Banish Mild Urinary Incontinence
This months general health article discusses a debilitating and embarrassing problem, especially among women: urinary incontinence, or an involuntary loss of urine.Most often caused by weaken pelvic floor muscles, mild incontinence can be controlled, even cured by daily frequent Kegel exercises.Kegel exercises help to strengthen the vagina, urethra and anus. Done discreetly, kegels in...
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Vitamin D Plays a Key Role in Overall Health
This month's general health article is titled, "Vitamin D is Essential to Good Health." I know you are probably wondering why another article on vitamin D? And normally I would agree—vitamin D is old news. But I found some interesting tidbits about this amazing substance that might raise a few eyebrows. For example, did you know that vitamin D is not really a vitamin at all? Nope,...
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Health of the Testicles
Ive written an article for the Health s the first of a series of articles on testicular health.The article is called Testicular Anatomy s health.While I was writing the article, it brought back memories of when I was a student in nursing school. My first patient was a man in his thirties, and I cannot remember anything about him except for the fact that I was told to give him a bed ba...
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Temporary Tattoos & Young People
My article this month—entitled “Temporary Tattoos”—explores the consumer draw to temporary tattoos and the potential health risks associated with the bad products on the market. The unsuspecting consumer has no idea if the temporary tattoo they are about to have placed on their skin is made from FDA-approved ingredients or the inferior and cheaper illegally produced ingredients. Before you get a...
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Natural Light: Exploring our Options
My general health article for November explores the disinfection abilities of UV-C light technology. During my research into this science, I thought about other related topics like full-spectrum lighting for both vision and mood balance. Therefore, my blog this month will focus on the potential benefits of natural light therapy. Let There Be Light I live in a community with a population of approx...
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How to Reduce the Spread of Germs
My blog this month follows with the back-to-school premise of how to reduce the spread of germs (at school). Spread of Germs According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), germs are commonly spread from exposure to someone who is sick or exposure to airborne droplets from a cough or sneeze. The CDC suggests frequent hand-washing as the number one way to prevent the spread of germs. Good Han...
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Calcium: Absorbability Makes All the Difference
Bone growth is a gradual process that peaks around age 30.The process of bone loss will take longer if there is a good, strong bone foundation.This is why it is important to build and maintain strong bones while we are in our youth and young adult life.One of the most important minerals necessary to achieve this goal is calcium.To Get Enough Calcium in Your BonesTh...
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Living a Healthier Life
Hi everyone. I just finished my first live broadcast and I am psyched! Your emails of congrats and well wishes mean so much to me—I feel like Sally Field when she accepted her Academy Award a number of years ago and said to the audience, “You like me, you really like me!” I think the show went very well. I had 48 minutes and did it in 47 minutes and 50 seconds. Not bad, eh! During this first sh...
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You Are Invited!
You are cordially invited to the opening night of my new Global Talk Radio show, called Living a Healthier Life. In this live broadcast, I'll be discussing how the body works so you can make the right decisions about your own health care. Listen in on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 10:00 p.m. EST / 7:00 p.m. PT Just click on the Global Talk Radio link. Then click on Schedule near the top left. ...
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Healthy Food Connection
I have always had this love/hate relationship with my bathroom scale. When the numbers reflect a weight loss, I praise its name. But when it does the opposite, I complain to my husband that the scale is off and we need to purchase a new one. I think he finally caught on when I purchased two new scales in less than a year. I thought about a gastric bypass but I am not heavy enough. I could do what ...
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Why Do Americans Eat So Poorly?
Why do Americans eat so poorly? This question is not so difficult to answer—and yet food manufacturers, universities and pharmaceutical companies spend millions of dollars in research and develop to determine the cause. I think many of us could easily offer our accurate thoughts on the subject. Below are just a few of my own; feel free to add your own.
Read more...Proper Use of Antibiotics
Click here for my recent Global Talk Radio show on how to use antibiotics properly for safe results. In health and wellness,Dr. Linda Mundorff
Read more...Exercise and the Elderly
The aging process has a system-wide affect on the body, from decreases in mental processes to muscle weakness and fatigue. Implementing a daily exercise regime is the best way to combat the effects of aging. It is possible that some exercises might be contraindicated when combined with certain health conditions and some types of medication; therefore, a physician should be consulted. Prevent Injur...
Read more...What's in a Cough?
It is important to know what is causing a cough so you can treat it correctly. Different types of coughs are treated differently. Consider these scenarios: Yesterday my golden retriever, Buster, started coughing and the family started laughing hysterically. It was so funny! But after the hysterics, I got on my knees and looked at him—he wasn’t happy. When I looked inside of his mouth I noticed ...
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What Is Chinese Herbalism?
Chinese medicine—which goes back thousands of years—is all about balance. In nature, there are two major forces: yin and yang. Yin conditions are cold and damp, and yang conditions are hot and dry. Yin and yang forces are measured in energy levels referred to as qi (often spelled as chi in English). Qi travels throughout the body via channels called meridians. Health issues occur when this energy...
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Environmentally Friendly Laundry Detergent
I was in the laundry aisle the other day and noticed a huge selection in green detergents. No, I am not referring to the actual color green, but the classification of green. Green detergent contains ingredients that are free from: • dyes• perfumes• chlorine• petroleum-based surfactants Instead you will find natural ingredients such as baking soda, plant or soybean oil (instead of animal fat), and ...
Read more...Holiday Depression
I don’t understand why we have to make such a big deal about the holidays, specifically Thanksgiving through New Year's (and even Halloween for some). Statistically the rate of depression and depression-related suicide increases dramatically during this period and is not seen during any other holiday. The common denominator in all of these holidays is family. Individuals at risk of emotional ...
Read more...Focus on Hope
According to The Encarta World Dictionary, hope is defined as: 1) To have a wish to get or do something or for something to happen or be true, especially something that seems possible or likely; 2) A wish or desire: something that somebody wants to have or do or wants to happen or be true; 3) Source of success or relief: somebody or something that seems likely to bring success or relief. No matter...
Read more...Holiday Feasts the Healthy Way
The period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve is a time of family, fun, and food. I place an emphasize on food because it is also the time when most of us gain five to ten pounds (or more). Turkey is not the issue, as it is a healthy, low-fat protein source. The problem is in the choice of accompaniments such as stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato pie—all of which are usually made with a ...
Read more...Alternative Practitioners: Consumers Beware
We all know that the healthcare system in the U.S. is in serious trouble. Millions of families are without adequate health coverage and are turning to other forms of care, often enticing consumers by offering free consultations and/or products. The most abused and misrepresented category is dietary supplementation (vitamins, minerals, enzymes, etc). I have read so many articles (and ads) that clai...
Read more...Honey Is Not Child’s Play
I just love honey; it is a natural sweetener and tastes great. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals and because the body quickly absorbs it, it can be used when a burst of energy is needed. Honey also has many medicinal benefits from relief of sore throats to upset stomachs, burns, and ulcers. Because honey has been found to contain antibacterial properties, it just might help prevent certain s...
Read more...Candles: They Are Not All Alike
Everyone at one time or another has burned a candle—from complementing a romantic dinner, to adding to the ambiance of a warm bath, to an alternate source of lightening during an electrical outage or while camping. Candles provide a soothing emotional comfort after a long stressful day. The variety of scents that smell like fresh flowers, ripened fruit, or earthy scents like pine evoke fond memori...
Read more...Bones: It’s All About Structure
How many bones does it take to form the human skeleton? Upon inspection, the skeleton looks to be rather a large puzzle with each bone meticulously and precisely fitting into the next. There can’t be more than, say, 100, right? You might be surprised to know that from the tiniest bone in the ear canal to the largest bone in the thigh, the body is comprised of approximately 206 bones. The skeleton...
Read more...Foot Health—The Natural Way
The human foot has approximately 26 bones, plus muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons. The feet bear the weight of the body. A person will generally walk an average of 70,000 miles per lifetime—not an easy task, especially if you are overweight or have muscular-skeleton issues. Good fitting socks and footwear are essential if you want to prevent years of pain, discomfort, and expense. Socks The ...
Read more...Liver Health and Medication
The liver is an amazing organ that participates in a variety of functions throughout the body. Some of its major activities are: • Produces bile to break down fats.• Stores glycogen. When blood glucose levels are below normal the liver will convert glycogen to glucose and release it into the blood stream to normalize blood sugar.• Stores iron and some vitamins.• Breaks down and recycles old blood ...
Read more...Better Air in Your Home Is Right Under Your Nose
Do you wake up every morning with a stuffy nose? Watery eyes? That dragged out feeling? Relief might be right under your nose. Many of our average household plants are natural air purifiers. If placed strategically around your home, they can rid the air of harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and chemicals found in spot removers and furniture polish. Have you noticed that people rarely...
Read more...You Are What You Eat: Bowel Health (Part 3 of 3)
I want to discuss bowel health in this last part of the series. It doesn’t matter how well you take care of your body: even if you eat right and exercise, you will (at one point or another) experience problems with your bowels. The elimination system is sensitive and easily upset. However, a few tips will help ensure better balance and comfort in knowing that you can go about your day worrying les...
Read more...You Are What You Eat: Ingestion Problems
In Part 1, we looked at the importance of water. In Part 2 of this series, we’ll explore the mechanical and chemical components of eating. I think most of us know that the food we eat must be broken down into their chemical components before the body can utilize it. This process, called digestion, starts in the mouth with the production of saliva, which contains enzymes to begin the process of br...
Read more...You Are What You Eat: Water
Growing up, I never gave much thought to the phrase “You are what you eat.” It just didn’t make much sense to me. How could you be a grilled cheese sandwich, or a gooey cheeseburger, or a large vanilla malt? What do you think that phrase means? For me, it means that when I have trouble with my digestive system it is because of something very specific. I caused the problem; I can’t blame stress, in...
Read more...What’s in a Naturopathic Doctor’s Medicine Chest?
As a Naturopathic Doctor, I am often asked questions by my patients about my personal habits and preferences. What do I eat? Where do I shop? What do I give my kids when they get sick? I have run into patients at the grocery store, and they sneak a peek into my shopping cart. I've caught friends rummaging through my medicine cabinet. And I always get asked what we did about vaccinating our ch...
Read more...A Natural Approach to Allergies
Seasonal allergies result from pollen and allergens making contact with mucous membranes of the nose and respiratory passage. Over-the-counter and prescription medications are far from a perfect solution to allergies.For a sneeze-free spring, follow this simple and natural three-tier approach to allergies:1) Use an air filter and daily sinus rinse 2) Fish oil: minimum of 2 grams EPA...
Read more...Calcium Supplementation During Menopause
Years ago, it was common practice when a woman needed to supplement with calcium, her doctor would recommend popping a couple of antacid tablets. We have certainly learned a great deal since the 1980s about calcium supplementation! Today there is a variety of calcium preparations—from coral calcium, calcium citrate, to calcium carbonate. Some calcium supplements are buffered, while others are more...
Read more...Omega-3 Fats and Pregnancy: Fish vs. Fish Oil
Here is a quick tid-bit of nutritional info to help you plan a healthy pregnancy.It is an absolute and undeniable fact that omega-3 fatty acids are required nutrients for a healthy pregnancy and baby. It is also a fact that the human body does not make enough omega-3 fats to meet our nutritional needs during pregnancy and therefore must be obtained from the diet. The omega-3 fat DHA is particularl...
Read more...Lose Weight by Eating Fat?
Did you know that eating fat can help you lose weight?It is true. Getting enough omega-3 fats from the diet has been shown to help overweight individuals lose weight. Before committing to a low-fat diet, make sure it is providing enough of the important omega-3 fats found in fish and fish oil.Weight loss diets often recommend a low-fat diet. Nutrition researchers have determined that not all fat i...
Read more...Is Your Makeup Safe?
What do diazolidinyl urea, formaldehyde, acetate stearic acid, methylparaben, lead, mercury, and micronized titanium dioxide all have in common? Give up? Ok I will tell you, but you are not going to like it: They are ingredients found in many cosmetics, facial creams, and shampoos. Most of us rarely think about what we are putting on our faces. After all, it must be safe; the government monitors t...
Read more...Naturopathic Medical Doctor? Naturopathic Doctor?
Every year the same House Bill is introduced into the State of Colorado—one that endangers the future of naturopathy. The bill seeks to regulate the field by licensing Naturopathic Medical Doctors (NMD) who obtained their degrees from a handful of colleges. The problem is that the degree of NMD goes against the very core of naturopathic philosophy. Graduates of Naturopathic Medical Doctor programs...
Read more...Let’s Talk About Fat
Fat is a mega-nutrient that is critical to maintaining a healthy body and brain. In the body fat is broken down into the micronutrient fatty acid where it is able to be utilized by the body. Fat, also called adipose tissue, is found in the subcutaneous layer of the skin and surrounding our vital organs. Fat assists in the absorption of many nutrients, provides protection and insulation, is a back-...
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