Chronic Disease

European Ash Tree Holds New Key for Better Glucose Control

By Erik Goldman | Editor in Chief - Vol. 15, No. 2. , 2014

The fruits and seeds of the European Ash tree, long used in traditional botanical medicine for their digestive, urinary and hepatic benefits, could be a valuable new herbal ally in the effort to stem the tide of diabetes.

Dr. Dog & Dr. Jenny Join the Diabetes Care Team

By August West, Contributing Writer

Specially trained Diabetes Alert Dogs and the commercial weight loss programs marketed by Jenny Craig are proving to be highly effective elements in comprehensive self care for people living with diabetes.

Blue Mamma, Big Baby

By Marijke Vroomen Durning, Contributing Writer

New research suggests that maternal mental health is a significant influence on childhood obesity. In particular, maternal depression seems to correlate with overweight in young children.

The Obesity Epidemic: It’s a Guy Thing

By Erik Goldman

The current obesity epidemic is really an epidemic among men, said John La Puma, MD, at Holistic Primary Care’s fifth annual Heal Thy Practice conference in Long Beach earlier this month.Though the attention is most often focused on women, overweight is more common in men and has devastating long-term consequences.

Weight Loss Improves Health, But Not CVD Risk in Diabetics

By Erik Goldman

Lifestyle interventions that help diabetic people lose weigh confer many health benefits—including marked reductions in depression, retinopathy, renal disease, hospitalization, healthcare costs. But they may not reduce cardiovascular events, according to a massive new study.

Environmental Toxins: A Hidden Factor in the Obesity Epidemic

By Linda Clark, MA, CNC | Contributing Writer - Vol. 15, No. 2. , 2013

It is no secret that as a nation, the United States is getting fatter.

Over the past 50 years, the prevalence of obesity in adults has nearly tripled, from 13.4% in 1962 to 35.7% in 20101-3. The economic, social, and medical burden this places on our society cannot be overstated.  It is a healthcare crisis of immense proportions.  

Chlorinated Water Increases Risk of Asthma, Respiratory Distress

By John Otrompke, Contributing Writer

Swimming in chlorinated water increases risk of asthma and respiratory problems in children, says Alfred Bernard, PhD, research director at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. In a study of nearly 2,000 children, those who spent 30 or more hours in chlorinated pools before age 3 had triple the risk of respiratory problems.

The Delusion of “Pre-Diabetes”

By Janet Gulland, Contributing Writer - Vol. 13, No. 3. , 2012

The idea of “pre-diabetes” is a comforting delusion, says functional medicine pioneer, Mark Hyman, MD. In metabolic reality, the condition so described is not “pre” anything; it is dysregulated glucose metabolism that will eventually cause serious problems. Doctors and patients alike would do well to rid themselves of this naive notion.

Massive Study Finds Link Between Allergies & Hematologic Cancers

By John Otrompke, Contributing Writer - Vol. 13, No. 3. 2012,

A cohort study of over 64,000 people found that those with allergies to grass, plants and trees were more likely to develop hematologic malignancies compared with people who don’t have allergies. The surprising observation runs contrary to studies, and has investigators and clinicians scratching their heads.