Originally published in mindbodygreen
According to a new study published in the American Journal of
Here are a a few tips on how to improve the quality of your sleep if losing it
Originally published in One Medical
Feeling sleepy? You’re not alone. According to the CDC, on
Originally published in mindbodygreen
I know this sounds like unchecked privilege, but the fact is, we
Originally published in mindbodygreen
In Chinese Medicine, there’s generally a recommendation away from cold food and drinks, so in certain ways, the healthiest cold drink is some warm bone broth or herbal tea. When I do want a refreshing cold drink in the summer, here’s my go-to: I like naturally carbonated spring water, with a splash of organic lemon juice, and a few functional add-ons. Sometimes I’ll add a splash of apple cider vinegar to support my digestion, my gut microbiome, and the liver’s detoxification mechanisms. Other times I’ll add a little gray Celtic sea salt to replenish minerals that get depleted in the sweaty summer months. If I have it in the fridge, a little crushed mint is the best.
Originally published in mindbodygreen
You might think the doctor who treats everybody else’s sleep problems would be a “holier than thou sleeper,” but now it’s time for a moment of truth. Anybody out there who knows me has probably seen me stay out until 4 a.m., sleep in to 11 a.m., or embark upon a house organization project at midnight. I did not come into this world as a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. picture-perfect sleeper. It’s quite the opposite: I’m the preacher who has sinned. But as a notorious sleep procrastinator and night owl dealing with racing thoughts at bedtime, I’ve had to work hard at cracking the sleep code. This struggle has forced me to understand the barriers to sleep, and now I can better understand how to help my patients. Here are a few tips that have helped me so far, plus a “night in the life.”
Originally published in mindbodygreen
I often find myself with a line out the door of patients who are struggling to get off of psychiatric medications. While you should absolutely do what’s right for you in your health journey, it’s worth noting that doctors rarely disclose how difficult it can be to taper off medications like Lexapro, Zoloft, Effexor, Klonopin, Xanax, Lithium, Abilify, Adderall, and Vyvanse.
While some people experience few if any side effects when tapering off these medications, for others it can lead to a persistent state of anxiety, low mood, dread, hopelessness, and despair for months. It can even lead to impulsivity and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The medication withdrawal state is a difficult and potentially dangerous state. With millions of people on psychiatric medications and almost nonexistent support from psychiatrists or primary care doctors, patients are left to negotiate this harrowing process by themselves. So I’m left wondering: Why aren’t we having a public conversation about this?
Originally published in one medical
Most of us who lead busy, stressful lives with demanding jobs meet criteria for one or all symptoms of ADHD at some point.
It’s human nature to occasionally procrastinate or to have difficulty staying on task when we’re doing mentally demanding work.
The problem is only exacerbated by the current state of surround-sound technological distractions. Video games and Facebook are more ‘rewarding’ to the brain than reading through a legal brief, so it’s understandable why our tired, overworked brains are weak in the face of this temptation.
Originally published in mindbodygreen
Bingeing on sugar and other addictive foods is culturally condoned, food company-induced drug addiction.
At the neurobiological level, the neural substrates of sugar and sweet reward appear to be more robust than those of cocaine.
Originally published in mindbodygreen
It’s that time of year again! I’m one of
The big buzzwords at this
I join Melissa Hartwig Urban, Whole 30 founder; Molly Maloof, M.D., personalized medicine physician; and Rich Roll, author, athlete, and plant-based pioneer in talking mind-altering drugs and their impact on consciousness and the collective community. What role should psychedelics play in wellness? How much do we actually understand about these substances? Who can benefit from them the most? These are just some of the questions we’ll tackle on the main stage.
Originally published in mindbodygreen
One recurring problem I hear over and over again from my patients is that they have difficulty falling asleep. More specifically, they can’t shut off their minds. Thoughts are racing, preventing them from relaxing or falling asleep. What inevitably follows is the vicious cycle of stressing about not falling asleep, which amps up anxiety and makes it even harder to fall asleep. Sound familiar?
I could tell you the key to slowing the mind at bedtime is to reduce stress in your life (which is true), but I know firsthand that managing stress is easier said than done. We’re not going to solve the multidimensional problem of daily stress this moment. But there’s another cause of racing thoughts at bedtime that is much more easily remedied: being overtired.