The Surprising Secret About Salt The health industry’s stance on salt since the 1950’s was that too much salt (sodium) caused hypertension (high blood pressure) and associated heart disease. Doctors and nutritionists advised against salt consumption for hypertensives...
A human being’s genetic blueprint is housed in our 23 chromosomes which is where the name of the genetic test “23andMe” gets its name. Each of our 23 chromosomes has an average of about 1000 genes, and each gene has an average of about 100 quirky substitutions, which are sometimes referred to as mutations or polymorphisms. These millions of quirky substitutions partly explains why we are all so delightfully unique in the way we look, think, act and feel about life’s challenges. Most of these mutations or polymorphisms are not considered to be detrimental, but a handful could be important under certain circumstances and cause serious diseases and other health problems, which is why it is important to know about them.
In functional medicine, depression is not viewed as an isolated, unfortunate situation that can be fixed quickly with a pill and some talk. Functional medicine recognizes that in the human body, every cell affects other cells. As a physician, I want to know what is...
Sadly, opioid abuse and painkiller addiction are rising dramatically and are now exceeding the mortality rates of auto accidents and gunshot wounds combined. Restoring Natural Opioids to the Brain The new healthcare budget may pump 45 billion dollars into opioid abuse...
Most of us are constantly bombarded with an increasing amount of toxins from a variety of sources: We swallow toxins in food that is not organic and filled with pesticides and mercury from amalgam fillings. We drink toxins in water that is unclean, soda and alcohol...
We live in a toxic world. Through hundreds of thousands of years, our bodies have developed systems to handle these toxins. These systems have relied on the ability to eat foods that helped us eliminate toxins, drink water that helped to flush them out, and as hunter...
Why We Need a Healthy Gut Microbiome When considering what is healthy for our overall digestion, it is important to understand that the gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem. The inherent diversity of an optimal gut flora is a key component of a healthy digestive...
Our society is increasingly exposed to toxins that are a significant contributor to the rise in chronic illness and disease. Unfortunately, the rate of toxicity in our society is much higher than it was when our parents were growing up. This means that we need to be...
The right type of protein- high quality, nutritious protein- is critical to good health. For the first time in the United States, life expectancy is decreasing. (See recent article, A New Health Statistic to Worry About). Many illnesses and diseases are on the rise...
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is a wide range of developmental disorders that affect the nervous system. The most recent statistics show that 1 in 68 children in the United States have an autism spectrum disorder. An estimated 1 in 42 boys are diagnosed in the...
Some information bears repeating. It is finally summer and time to get outside and hike, bike, and garden. As more of us venture outside wearing warm weather clothing and exposing more skins, ticks see a smorgasbord. Armed with the knowledge that the Lyme Disease...
Life expectancy is one of those statistics we just knew would inch up every decade and with each generation. We were sure we would live longer than our parents and our kids will live longer than us. As health research improves, health challenges are identified and the...
The human genome was mapped only 13 years ago, and already it is changing healthcare. Genetic testing can identify common, important and modifiable quirky genes called SNPs, or single nucleotide polymorphisms, which create vulnerabilities to many kinds of allergic,...
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal issues affect both men and women of all racial and ethnic groups. For men, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer after prostate and lung cancers. For women, colorectal cancer is the third most common...
Warm Weather Brings Ticks and Allergies Adult stage deer ticks are the primary vectors for Lyme disease and become active every year after the first frost. They're not killed by freezing temperatures, and while other ticks enter a feeding diapause, or suspended...
Is it your bedroom? Maybe. The International Agency for Research on Cancer had classified shift-work “that involves circadian disruption" (disruption of the 24 hour biological clock) as probably cancer causing to humans (Straif, 2007), but a large study published in...
Just hearing the word “heart” conjures up different meanings for different people- some think of romantic love, others think of having a generous heart, and some are reminded that a healthy heart prevents disease. A heart attack is the furthest thing from most of our...
As we launch into a new year, we have quite a year ahead, both spiritually speaking, and the world at large. Those of us who live in America seem to feel divided over our current politics. The world is watching, with perhaps a similar divide, but what really matters?...
Every one of us is probably experiencing some type of pain or medical condition in our lives, and some are more difficult to treat than others. Some resolve quickly, like a cold or sore muscles after a good work out at the gym. Other issues may continue to fester for...
Here at National integrated Health Associates (NIHA) we have integrative and functional medicine doctors and health practitioners involved in Integrative Cancer Care. Integrative Cancer Care Treats the Whole Person We integrate modern medical science with integrative...
An important part of our mission at National Integrated Health Associates (NIHA) is to educate the public about an integrative approach to medicine and dentistry. Integrative health focuses on the whole person, using therapeutic approaches and therapies to achieve optimal health and healing. NIHA’S Integrative Health blog delivers quality health advice and content on interesting and timely medical issues, dental issues that may affect the whole body, nutrition, detoxification, and the underlying causes of imbalance in the body. Oh, and we have wonderful, healthy recipes too.
Most of us know that eating too much sugar is bad for us. Sugar promotes acidity in the body which provides a breeding ground for illness and disease. Rising rates of sugar consumption over decades has contributed to increasing rates of candida, obesity, insulin...
In this season of celebration in religious traditions, we hear ancient and sacred stories, each of which shares powerful lessons. As we hear these powerful stories, I invite us to reflect on the messages we are weaving through the stories of our lives. Diwali, the...
That is a great question! In my experience, the last thing people want to do is lug a big bag of supplements on holiday or vacation. (See my previous post, Am I Taking Too Many Supplements?) And there is some evidence that we respond better to supplements if we pulse...
If we search the internet and look for a wellness coach, there are a plethora of advertisements for wellness coaches, life coaches and health coaches. To some extent the terms are used interchangeably- but there are indeed differences. Health coaches work with what...
Ceramic dental implants are healthier for the mouth and immune system. Teeth are critical for overall health, not just for aesthetics. Teeth structure and alignment affect the nervous system, digestive system, immune system, structural alignment and so much more.
How to Make Friends and Keep Them Safe interpersonal connection and social interaction is the essence of any therapeutic and medical communication. More importantly, it is also the essence of all human interaction! Your business deals, your marriage, your social life,...
Culturally, we celebrate Thanksgiving a variety of ways, but the common themes remain the same: larger than usual family gatherings, our favorite foods, celebrating home and harvest, relaxing with favorite sports or shopping or other ways to de-stress, and...
The Wellness Coach is a Partner A wellness coach is a partner, and wellness coaching is client driven. The client chooses the areas that they want to work on, and the coach helps them to strategize and develop a plan that is based on their own unique values,...
Over a year ago, the Biological Dental Group at NIHA embarked on new dimension in dental services: the same day dental crown/onlay. The technology and advantages to our patients and the quality control has been nothing short of fantastic. For the first time, dentists can have total control over the quality of the lab work for the restoration process. That means precision in the design of the
As the seasons are changing, a lot of people are getting worried about its effects on their mood. Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) is real, as well as dysthymia (essentially, mild depression) and moderate to severe depression.The goal of this article is to help you gain understanding and get a nutritional jump start on your mental […]
Why Some Emotions Can Make You Sick and Others Can Make You Healthy Learn how to utilize powerful mind/body tools to be a Master of your Emotions. EMOTIONS 101 Emotions, our internal feelings, arise at the boundary between body and mind. They are here to be felt (as...
Think again before you toss out your pumpkin seeds! Dark chocolate bark is a dessert that you can make when you have no time to make dessert; it comes together quickly and looks elegant. It makes a wonderful homemade gift, too! I can’t really call this a...
Leaky gut is an often overlooked condition, especially if you have been diagnosed with another disease. This is unfortunate because it may be a root cause of many other health problems. Some 2,500 years ago, the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, said, “All...
The microbiome refers to the full set of micro-organisms that inhabit a given site, most often (when discussing humans) the gut, but one might study the skin, oral, nasal/ lung or vaginal microbiomes. Each area has its own cluster of bacteria, or microbiota. Gut microbes make up the largest population within the human microbiome. When studying the microbiome, often the genetics of the microorganisms that live on us and in us, are the focus.
If you’ve ever walked through a beauty, perfume or lotion store, you may have felt a sudden wave of nausea or a throbbing headache as you inhaled and your entire system is assaulted by an overwhelming concentration of chemicals. The synthetic fragrance and other...
How DO I reduce the stress in my life? This is a popular question and can be approached from many directions. I believe the approach must be developed by you and your integrative medicine practitioner as a collaborative effort. Too often, treatment is based on a...
Most of us do not eat enough vegetables each day. One of the best ways to consume more vegetables is to drink them! Freshly made raw, green juice is full of vitamins, minerals and enzymes which can be readily absorbed by your body because they do not need to be broken...
updated Aug. 31, 2025 A How-To for Creating More Balance in Your Life Living a more balanced life may look different for everyone because balance is in the eye of the beholder. The integrative medicine approach to health and wellness coaching that I practice and...
Many people love yoga and find the benefits to their health – both mental and physical – are tremendous. How in the world a few simple poses and some deep breaths can bring up and release so much buried emotional baggage for me continues to baffle me. There is no...
Fall Allergies: Ragweed, and the Ragweed Family Fall allergies appear in August as people start sneezing from ragweed and other weeds. A ragweed allergy is also known as hay fever. The drier the weather, the worse the pollen count. Ragweed allergies usually peak in...
Listening to the Language of the Body as a Path to Healing "Recent rapid advances in the brain sciences and dramatically expanded understanding of the physiology of our emotions have led to a renewed interest in the various modalities of energy work and...
Sleep is essential to health and healing. Learn 6 ways to better sleep that are easy to do and help you wake up rested and refreshed. 1. Food is Fuel What you eat and drink during the day has a lot to do with how well your body can rest at night. Start the day with a...
Do you need to detoxify? This is a very good question and there are several schools of thought on this subject. The truth is that there is no easy answer. Some argue that we are living in an increasingly toxic world, a world where the body’s ability to stay ahead of...
Am I taking too many supplements? Many clients come in and ask about reviewing their supplements. As health coaches we follow advice from the integrative physicians and are obviously a proponent of supplementation. There are, however, reasons as to why sometimes over...
Many people throughout the world use herbal teas as a method of treating various issues from a common cold to insomnia, but what if they are doing more harm systemically than good? Do you have a ragweed allergy? Many plants that are in the same family can often...
The Let’s Talk About Vaccines event held at National Integrated Health Associates was educational, engaging and enlightening. I had the privilege of sharing my experience at this event with students, trainees and colleagues in the Department of Pediatrics and Child...
Dr. Lorelle Bradley, MD, is Board Certified in Pediatrics and Holistic and Integrative Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She has over seventeen years experience as a pediatrician, and has made an ongoing commitment to lifelong learning...
At National Integrated Health Associates, the MDs practice functional medicine, an emerging field of medicine which specializes in diagnosing the precise metabolic, allergic, immune, infectious, nutritional, toxicological and genetic uniqueness of each patient. The...
African Wisdom on Healing - Life Lessons East African wisdom on healing comes from the intrinsic link between life, community and healing. For the last 6 years I’ve lived in various countries throughout East Africa and learned a lot about the connections that...
Scientists have repeatedly found that stress and trauma affects our physical well-being. More recently, however, scientists have also found that stress and trauma can cause epigenetic changes, or switching on and off of genes that regulate body functions such as...
Cultured Vegetables and Fermented Foods Cultured and fermented foods have been around for a long time, initially as a means of preserving food, but it turns out there is a wonderful healing benefit to this process. Foods were put in a jar and stored in a cellar for a...
Stress appears to be endemic in our lives, perhaps even more so in urban areas. (Yes, I rode the metro this morning, and it took three times longer than the usual commute!) Stress negatively impacts our health because it constantly activates the adrenal glands and...
Why is a healthy gut essential? Gut health is crucial to optimal health but is often overlooked in health circles. Unhealthy gut can be a significant contributor to inflammatory conditions such as chronic pain and immune issues. It can slow down energy and hamper...
The official definition of aromatherapy is the inhalation or bodily application of fragrant essential oils for therapeutic purposes. In layman’s terms, aromatherapy is the study of scent. Essential oils are volatile aromatic compounds, extracted using a specialized...
Dementia is a broad category of brain diseases associated with long term, irreversible, gradual decrease in the ability to think and remember which is great enough to affect a person’s daily functioning and which is worse than would be expected with normal aging. For decades, scientists have studied brain tissue samples of Alzheimer’s Disease victims, the largest dementia subcategory, (>50%), and have found distinctive pathological changes in the brain such as “plaque” and “neurofibrillary tangles” that are thought to somehow be causative of the disease. The new sciences of Omics sheds new light on Dementia and is challenging long held views about its causes and treatments.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit Washington, D.C. group whose mission is, as stated on their website: “to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.” Every year they publish a list called the Dirty...
Sadly, colorectal cancer, or cancer of the colon or rectum, is now the third most commonly diagnosed cancer. The month of March is dedicated to National Colorectal Cancer Awareness. According to the CDC, among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer...
Dry mouth (also called xerostomia) is what happens when saliva flow is reduced or absent. It may be a symptom of your medical condition or medications. It is not a disease and is quite common. While it may seem like a minor condition, moist saliva is critical to the health of the mouth and has protective benefits for oral tissues and to prevent tooth decay. Extreme dry mouth may contribute to permanent mouth or throat disorders. First, let’s talk about why saliva is important. Saliva aids in killing harmful bacteria, and keeps your mouth moist, which in turn helps to prevent cavities and strengthens your teeth by restoring important minerals. Dry mouth is a common condition. Some of the most frequent causes are from certain prescription medications such as antihistamines, diuretics, antihypertensives and sedatives. Malfunctions in the salivary glands, certain autoimmune disorders (such as Sjogren’s syndrome), fear, anxiety, and radiation or chemotherapy can contribute to dry mouth. Diabetes, dehydration, chewing tobacco, hormonal imbalances, mouth breathing and sleep apnea can cause dry mouth.
What Does Opioid-Induced Constipation (OIC) Have to do with the Super Bowl? Not much, I would have imagined, but thinking broadly, after the 112 million people who tuned in1 finished laughing, maybe a few hundred thousand viewers might connect the dots. That’s...
The American Cancer Society states that aside from tobacco use, the most important risk factors that can be changed for cancer prevention are: body weight, diet and physical activity. For disease prevention, an anti-inflammatory diet is second to none! A nourishing,...
Can the Environment Impact Health? It depends. If you use tap water, you can find out relatively easily by perusing the website of your local water utility. Local water utility websites (District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, and Washington Suburban...
Whether you are an engaged couple, married couple, or partners who have been committed to one another for a long time, there is often more that you can do to enhance your relationship. Would you like your marriage to become just as perfect as your wedding, or even...
As a physician, I’m gravely concerned about antibiotic resistance and the role that agriculture plays in this growing problem. The word is out in the medical community: Physicians increasingly recognize infections that can’t be treated with antibiotics and reserve...
I was recently honored to have been selected to be interviewed by the Holistic Oral Health Summit 2015. The interviews were taken from leading edge medical, dental and other health practitioners. The theme we addressed was why patients may have difficulty getting the treatment they need and how dental issues and oral health may relate to sleep issues and overall health. Even with the best of intentions some dental patients are still getting bit-by-bit treatment instead of integrated treatment.
There are over 500 species of microorganisms in your mouth! Most of them are harmless, but some can cause gum disease and tooth decay, and also increase your potential for systemic infections by entering your bloodstream. At Holistic Family Dentistry we use a microscope because it is a simple, inexpensive, non-invasive, but extremely effective tool to evaluate the health of your mouth and to educate you in good preventive techniques.
Although we may eat and drink our way through the days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, almost to a person, we wake up on January 1st with every intention of doing things differently for throughout the coming year. But what about just trying to clear the...
The flu season is upon us. To stop flu and guard you and your family it is important to understand the dynamics behind the flu virus and ultimately, catching the flu. Most important to understand is that the medical industry encourages everyone to get the flu vaccine...
This holiday brittle recipe is the perfect combination of a healthy and delicious treat. I am always looking for treats like this to make and share for the holidays. This recipe from Rebecca Katz's The Healthy MInd Cookbook is one of my favorites, and I thought I...
According to National Cancer Institute: 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will develop cancer in their lifetime. It is not surprising that cancer rates are rising to over 40% of the population given: The exploding levels of environmental toxicity Steadily increasing...
What’s the real reason that we love the holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah so much? Why do we love holidays and holy days in general so much? How do we keep that sense of peace and joy in everyday life? What does truly make us happy in a lasting sense in life? Often times in life, especially when we are children, we think that we love the holidays because we get to receive gifts and eat good food. Yet, even as children, the winter holidays evoke so much hope and love and joy and positive expectation about life. I would suggest that the real reason we love the holidays is that we do experience (so many of us do, anyways) at least hope, usually along with a good dose of love and peace, and maybe even some joy.
Fall brings harvest time, the beauty of the changing leaves, and less daylight. In Chinese medicine, fall is associated with the element of metal and the lungs. It is a time to slow down, go to bed early, regroup and begin to move and think inward in preparation for...
Feeling overwhelmed? Low on energy? Many of us could benefit from supporting our adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are two glands that sit on top of the kidneys. They are made up of the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. The cortex is the outer part of the gland...
High DHT levels, more than likely. Believe it or not, what is believed to cause Male Pattern Baldness is often a cause for hirsutism, or facial hair growth, in women. DHT is a sex steroid and an androgen hormone that is formed from the conversion of testosterone into a more potent form instead of converting […]
Fall is beautiful with the crisp, fall mornings and the gorgeous colors of the changing leaves. As the leaves change, it is also often the time that those sensitive to mold will experience allergy symptoms. Symptoms of Mold Allergies The symptoms of mold...
October is breast health awareness month. It’s estimated that 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. I believe that it is my responsibility to do everything I possibly can for my breast health. For me, that includes breast thermography which is a non-invasive screening tool used to determine a woman’s risk of future breast cancer.
When we sleep, we heal. We know that getting enough sleep is important for good health, but many times it is the first thing we let slide when our “to do” list gets too long. Optimal sleep allows us to be at our best both physically and mentally. Our performance can...
You are already an expert in subtle energy, but you probably do not know it. Have you ever attended a ball game or sporting event and “felt the excitement in the air?” Most people have felt that feeling of excitement in the air somewhere. Interestingly, no one had to...
The Brain Detoxes at Night New research has recently revealed that the brain is protected via nightly cleansing. During deep sleep the brain shrinks about 40-50% to flush out toxins which would otherwise accumulate in the brain. Altering this brain shrinkage results...
This article is full of many effective and easy ways to detox your body, both external and internal detoxification. We can’t always see and smell them, but our bodies are effected by the thousands of chemicals we are exposed to in our homes. Why You Need Easy Ways to Detoxify Your Body Maybe you have […]
If you’re like most women, you have cellulite. But massage may help cellulite as it increases circulation and skin elasticity. Believe it or not, over 90% of women have cellulite at some point in their life. Every year you make a vow to eliminate it once and for all....
How to Get the Most from the Goji Berry One of the reasons Goji is so super is that it has a special type of molecule known as polysaccharides. In my previous article, Superfoods Hacks: How to Get the Most Out of Your Superfoods, I talked about how the...
Chia is a nutritious seed that packs one powerhouse punch. It is a great source of soluble fiber, minerals such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorous, antioxidants, and omega-3s. Chia seeds can easily be sprinkled into oatmeal or baked into muffins,...
Are you aware of the many anti-inflammatory properties found in turmeric? I listed the properties in a previous article in a recipe for turmeric milk. There are over 7,800 studies done on the benefits of turmeric! Reviewing these studies, ethnobotanist James Duke concluded that turmeric appears to outperform many pharmaceuticals in its effects against several chronic, […]
Water is essential to health. It hydrates, cleans, purifies, refreshes, and quenches thirst. It splashes, rains, runs and makes everything grow…water is a unique substance that seems to contain the essence of life itself. Water, like food, is a study into itself....
Whole Foods Market has unveiled its new rating system called Responsibly Grown for fruits, vegetables and flowers. This system rates produce as “Good” “Better” or “Best”. You would think that fruits and vegetables with the “best” rating would mean just that…..the...
I’m about to change your life. Ready? A Raw brownies recipe that is simple, wholesome and delicious. Who knew brownies could be packed with protein, omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants? These raw brownies are made with wholesome ingredients. Best of all,...
Hormones play an important role in your life every day. They are your body’s chemical messengers, traveling in your bloodstream to tissues and organs. They play a role in your growth, metabolism, sexual function, reproduction and mood. If you doubt the power of...
Calories in, calories out. A calorie is a calorie is a calorie…. But, are calories important and are they all equal? As long as you expend the same amount of calories that you take in then you can be healthy, not gain weight and feel good, right? This has been taught – and still is being taught – by health professionals around the country and the world. But is it sound advice? Let’s take a look at caloric
Is it really possible to grow a 6 pack of abs and still eat butter? I had to find out. November 2013: I sat in my NYC hotel room looking into the mirror. I felt swollen in my jeans as my muffin-top was puffing out of them. It was actually difficult to zip them but I...
Guest Author: Allan Balliett, Founder of Fresh and Local CSA My Passion for Whole Foods I’m the founder and farmer of Fresh and Local CSA, located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. I am a passionate advocate for properly grown, fresh, local produce. Over 20 years ago, after many conventional doctors had failed to help me, I […]
Trying to slim down naturally? Sometimes bathing suit season approaching is motivation, many people search for painless ways to shed a few pounds quickly. Adding any or a combination of the ideas listed below may help to get your body feeling healthier and slimmer in...
Gastrointestinal symptoms occur frequently in children Unexplained abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea and gassiness all commonly prompt a visit to the doctor’s office. More and more research is showing the importance of gut health for a child's healthy immune...
April is Autism Awareness Month. A holistic approach to autism, treating the whole person, may help improve symptoms of the disorder. It is estimated that 1 in 68 children in the United States has autism, a complex disorder which impairs social and communication...
Myths about Sleep apnea are numerous and this condition may be misunderstood. It affects many people and can be a serious condition as it affects your breathing while you sleep, and thus can affect your mood and health status. Learn what is true about this condition...
What do you eat for breakfast?
Most of us have grown up thinking that cereal and orange juice is a good way to start the day- but nothing could be further from the truth! Cereal may start out with real food from nature like wheat or corn or rice (probably all genetically modified) but by the time it’s refined and added to and heated some more, it becomes a processed food with all that that implies.
If you’ve experienced any of the following gluten sensitivity symptoms, the answer is YES. Disproportionate fatigue Migraines/headaches Excessive weight gain or loss Emotional issues involving chronic irritability and sudden, irrational mood shifts often moving into...
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. More than 43,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. Symptoms of oral cancer include sores in the mouth that will not heal, patches, chronic sore throat, voice or hearing changes, and more. See the complete list of Oral Cancer Symptoms below.