Migrants at the Border: US Citizens Head South for Cheap Medical Care

By Erik Goldman

There are a lot of anxious, needy people eager to cross the line that separates the US from Mexico. Go to the border towns of Southern California and Arizona, and you’ll see them— US citizens heading south to Mexican clinics and farmacias, seeking lower cost surgeries and cheap meds.

Medical and pharmacy “tourism” to Mexico is a large and growing phenomenon, one that has received little attention amid the bitter political rancor over immigration policy and border control. It has been going on for a long time. Lately, it has been surging.

These medical “refugees”—often desperate for procedures or treatments they cannot afford in the US—are finding what they need in Mexico. In fact, some are being sent across the border by insurance plans eager to capture massive savings on their pharma spending.

Confronting the Hidden Epidemic of Fatty Liver Disease

Written by Carrie Decker, ND, Contributing Writer

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) often goes undiagnosed because it may not be accompanied overt symptoms or by liver enzyme elevations. Clinicians who are not specifically looking for it, are not likely to detect it. But over the long term it can have devastating consequences. Fortunately, there are many botanical and nutraceutical interventions that can help.

New National Credential Signals Maturing of Health Coach Field

Written by Kristen Schepker, Assistant Editor

Health and wellness coaches are rapidly earning recognition as indispensable healthcare allies. Until recently, however, there was no clear gold standard for choosing a quality health coach with adequate training and expertise. But a new national coaching credential could set some coaches above the rest.

Joe Pizzorno - The Toxin Solution

Written by Meg Sinclair

For decades, Dr. Pizzorno has been at the forefront of a movement to build bridges between naturopathic, functional, and mainstream medicine. In recent years, his attention has been focused on the myriad ways that environmental toxins are damaging personal and public health, and on developing practical strategies to help people reduce their toxic loads.

His recent book, The Toxin Solution, presents a harrowing picture yet offers good clinical guidance on how to manage the onslaught. Consider the following:

•   94% of Americans are exposed to enough polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to double their lifetime risk of asthma.
•   60% of US women carry loads of PCB187 sufficient to double their risk of breast cancer.
•   33% of Americans have lead levels high enough to double the risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
•   25% are exposed to enough aluminum to double Alzheimer’s risk.

Holistic Primary Care had the honor of hosting Dr. Pizzorno at our 2017 Practitioner Channel Forum. He shared his research on the role of common toxins in chronic disease and his field-tested therapeutic strategies. Watch the full-length session from HPC’s video archive:

[ ...Read More ]