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It has been a lifelong conviction of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and other religions that prayer has the power to heal. In the words of Paul Parker, professor of theology and religion at Elmhurst College outside Chicago, “Some call it prayer, some call it cleansing the mind. The words or posture may vary. But in times of illness, all religions look towards their source of authority.” [read post]

Creativity plays a great role in our quality of life. Treatment approaches that address only physical health may be good for our bodies but not enough for wellness. In contrast, holistic treatment approaches that include self-regulation techniques (what individuals can do for themselves to harness the healing potential of positive emotions) promote wellness by tapping into our creativity. Examples of such approaches include meditation and visualization, aromatherapy, Ayurvedic medicine, energy-based therapies, prayerful intention, and also arts. Medical professionals are beginning to recognize the role that creative arts play in the healing process; increasingly, arts are being used in medical programs throughout the United States and worldwide. [read post]

Last weekend, People Magazine reported that Heidi Montag, 23, star of The Hills, joined by her husband, Spencer Pratt, hosted the grand opening of the Liquid (Las Vegas) pool Saturday, unveiling her bikini body in a public setting for the first time since she had ten surgeries last November. My question: How many things are wrong with this one sentence? So many, but I will focus on a 23-year-old married woman having a staggering ten plastic surgery procedures in one day. Why would anyone so naturally attractive do that to herself? “For the past three years, I’ve thought about what to have done,” the reality star tells the magazine. “I’m beyond obsessed.” And so, last November, Montag’s total transformation began. Keeping even her family in the dark, the starlet embarked on her journey to become “the best me.” [read post]

When I think of tattoos, I do not think of beautiful traditions, but instead of something that American teenagers do for fun. Yet, tattooing draws roots from an ancient body inking tradition—henna. Henna has been around for thousands of years to beautify women on a special day: their wedding. [read post]

What is the relationship between High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) in food products and the occurrence of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? What about the relationship between HFCS and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?  Where is the research? Why are we defending high-fructose corn syrup in television commercials?  What is the need for defense?  More importantly, why aren’t we, the consumer, asking more questions? [read post]

Are you in “an obsessive state” to avoid sex?  If you are, you may have Sexual Anorexia.  But, if you only lack sexual desire and would rather do without sex, you may be diagnosed with Hyposexuality.  Or, even yet, you may have Sexual Arousal Disorder (rarely or never sensing a desire to engage in sex).   The labels do not matter, as they all refer to low sexual desire as a problem, and there appears to be no consensus among researchers or practitioners as to what constitutes low sexual desire.  Regardless of what category you may belong in or how that category is defined, low sexual desire is often described the “most common sexual complaint by women.” [read post]

In the last two decades Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) research has scientifically bridged the gap between brain and body. We now know that both animals and humans exposed to physical and/or psychological stress changes the mechanisms that regulate our body’s immunity to disease and therefore leads to an increase in susceptibility to a variety of illnesses; heart disease, cancer, auto-immune disorders, depression, and others (Kendall-Tackett, 2009; Kemeny, 2009).  Read post

When was the last time you heard a psychologist tell a couple they’re giving each other cancer? Well, you might begin to hear this in the near future. Recent research has found that improved communication within couples lowers the amount of cancer causing proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). [read post]

I have loved music of all kinds as long as I can remember.  My children learned the tunes and words to blues, rock, country, and pop songs along with their nursery rhymes and Disney movie soundtracks.  Imagine my surprise when, as my children entered their teens, music became a source of conflict between us.  I had to stop and evaluate my reaction the day the clichéd parental lament passed through my lips: “Why do you insist on listening to that awful music?!?!?” [read post]