How to deal with stress?
We all deal with many stressors on a daily basis. Whether from work, home or even just walking down a busy street. Our emotions are intimately associated with what's going on with the world around us. The term we call STRESSED OUT often refers to too much going on around us and often things going negatively. The end result is we don t feel good. How this works is the...
Are Vegetarians Really Healthier?
This is part of our “In Medical News” series where Dr. Sara Laudani shares a study or article in recent news and offers some analysis and tips about the news, to help patients stay informed. A recent article in Medscape reviewed a large study showing that vegetarians have favorable levels of several health indicators, especially cardiovascular markers, versus meat-eaters. This was the largest study to date of its kind. The authors concluded...
Sugar Intake in Adolescence Linked to Future Risk of Tumors
This is part of our “In Medical News” series where Dr. Sara Laudani shares a study or article in recent news and offers some analysis and tips about the news, to help patients stay informed. A recent study revealed a link between high intake of simple sugars and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in adolescence and increased risk of conventional colorectal adenoma (benign glandular tumors of the colon and the rectum, which may...
The Dangers of Being Overweight for Your Liver
This is part of our “In Medical News” series where Dr. Sara Laudani shares a study or article in recent news and offers some analysis and tips about the news, to help patients stay informed. A recent article in Medscape discussed findings that show being overweight or obese significantly increases the risk for liver disease and the likelihood of dying from it compared with being of normal weight, regardless of level...
Tips to Reduce Morning Sickness and Backaches During Pregnancy
Here are some do’s and don’ts that will help you prevent backaches and morning sickness, some of the most common complaints, during pregnancy. Make sure to consult with your doctor and consider visiting a TCM practitioner and/or physiotherapist if you are having difficulty with back pain or nausea. Natural treatments, exercises, and small lifestyle modifications can help you be more comfortable during your pregnancy. Do: Eat many small meals throughout the...
What We Misunderstood about COVID-19
This is part of our “In Medical News” series where Dr. Sara Laudani shares a study or article in recent news and offers some analysis and tips about the news, to help patients stay informed. Medscape published an article in March on the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a pandemic. It looks at some of the many ways the virus was underestimated or misunderstood and what that...
How to Solve the Problem of Uneven Shoulders
Commonly, uneven shoulders (or high and low shoulders) are may be higher or lower on one side, which affects the appearance. They are also called oblique shoulders. Cause of Uneven Shoulders Congenital (inherited): Spinal dysplasia, scoliosis. Acquired: bad posture, resulting in rhomboid muscle/ trapezius muscle strength imbalance. This is basically excessive force on one side. Most people have high and low shoulders because of bad habits. Most times this is seen in office workers...
Rethinking Busyness and Embracing Harmony
It seems so common (myself included) to be overbooked, to be constantly performing and to be in an ongoing state of doing. We live in a society that praises busyness and busy people in general. When did we all get so busy? So very busy. So dreadfully, unhelpfully, exhaustingly busy. When did we all get so busy doing things, with full schedules, booked in advance and very little time to be spontaneous...
Fear Factor – Managing Anxiety
About one in 13 people globally suffer from anxiety (Psychological Medicine, May 2013). It is the most common mental health issue. The expat lifestyle - with its inherent change, uncertainty, and being away from familiar support networks - may in itself cause anxiety and can be especially difficult for those prone to anxiety. Julia Söllner is a German Psychologist and works at Body and Soul Medical Clinic. She assists clients from...
Finger Massage to Nourish the Body
There is an idiom in Chinese, Shi Zhi Lian Xin（十指连心）, that means the nerves of the fingertips are linked with the heart. Four simple words show the importance of our fingers. The fingers have many nerve endings and acupoints, which can show many things about the person’s health situation. In TCM therapy, every finger corresponds to an organ in our body, reflecting associated health problems. When you have a particularly...