We don't watch a lot of TV or news--so we don't follow Oprah. It came to my attention today that she has hosted many people on the subject of hormones replacement lately. And, particularly in relation to the outrageously uncomfortable hormonal fluctuations that many women endure throughout their cycles. When I heard this I realized that I did not clarify a huge point in my blog on this subject. Just because you are having erratic hormonal fluctuations-this does not mean that you need to treat the problem with hormones! This is a big point.

I hope that from the blog that I posted last week that the ultimate point communicated was that when the body is addressed from a holistic point of view that that balance in turn changes the way in which one experiences her hormonal fluctuations. So, in other words, and estrogen deficiency does not have to be treated with estrogen. One can work with optimizing the function of digestion and assimilation of nutrients to change that. Make sense? Comments are welcomed so that I may illuminate this subject matter. So feel free to comment.

Sadly, modern medicine has been scooped up with the rest of the professions in that, doctors no longer have the time they used to to really listen to a patient's problems. Diagnoses are made with tests and have replaced the art upon which medicine initially stoop upon--listening. There are so many different aspects of a person's lack of well being. And, how can this information be ascertained without all of the details of that person's life being gathered? 

A patient came in last week and after her visit called to say thank you, thank you for LISTENING. She said she could not believe that she had been here for two hours and those two hours had passed so quickly. She said no one ever bothered to ask her about the details of her life and her feelings to the degree that had been done here. 

But, this is how an alternative medical clinic is supposed to work! The sad part is that many ofthe alternative clinics have become much like the western medical clinics where time is money and people go in an out all too quickly.

At Bomamed, we try very hard to listen and give time to each patient. Adding up the elements of everything about a person, mind, body, and spirit will create a formula for the restoration of that person's well-being. And, listening is the key! 

Dr. Jay Gordon is a highly esteemed pediatrician here in Los Angeles. He is a Western medical doctor who practices with good common sense and a big heart. This letter came in from him to me today, so I thought I would post it regarding the continued heated issue of vaccinations, please read this, it is interesting more than anything because it comes from a man who has been practicing for almost three decades.

Sometimes the vaccine or medication that we consider using on our children is worse than the problem that we are trying to prevent. We should, as parents try to educate ourselves on all of the facts of a situation before jumping into a decision because someone said it was a good idea.

I am not suggesting that that is what happened in this case, but saying that because of cases such as this we should remember to always try our best to consider all the facts from both sides.

Please read this article!: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/feb/02/chronically-ill-girl-eyes-vaccine/ 

Most women spend countless hours and days of their lives suffering with menstrual symptoms-either PRE menstrual symptoms, PERI menstrual symptoms, and sometimes POST menstrual symptoms. IT can be so bad that high doses of pain killers are required to get through, which, is completely counterproductive to good health. This can, in fact, cause a lot of damage to one's body.

It is fascinating how, like other common problems, like allergies, digestive distress, high cholesterol, arthritis, and the likes, people think common problems like menstrual difficulties is normal. Normal? Well, so many people have it, so why not? But, it is NOT normal! The only thing that it means that everyone has it, is that everyone has it! So, something must be wrong, bc that is not the way nature intended it to be.
 
Many alternative docs will prescribe all kinds of symptomatic natural pain relievers to ameliorate this problem, such as calcium magnesium  for example. But, this will calm the cramps, but, will never fully solve the problem. The bottom of these kinds of problems is that the body is not in proper balance. Providing a well rounded balance to one's system gives your body to function the way it is supposed to function-in harmony and without pain. it is not supposed to hurt or feel uncomfortable when you eat or drink or run, why should it hurt when you menstruate?
 
Good question! IT shouldn't. So, these are the kinds of things that a person should think about when they think of their health. Don't attack the symptoms by sticking on band aids. Seek help to get to the root of the problem. 

I cringe when I see kids eating flourescent "treats". Kids don't understand that food is not cobalt blue or ruby red naturally. This kind of thing needs to be explained. They don't know that food coloring has been found to be correlated with brain damage.  It is our responsibility as parents to not only educate ourselves, but to educate our children. They are depending on you!

http://www.naturalnews.com/024281.html

Many people think if it is natural, it can't hurt you. But, that is not true. HErbs are very powerful and should be used under the guidance of a licensed professional with the experience and expertise to use herbal medicine in a manner in which is appropriate for you. I thought this article was interesting bc it illustrates very nicely just how powerful one common herb used in Chinese and other forms of alternative medicine can be--in a good way, when used wisely>
 http://www.naturalnews.com/024235.html 

People often say that some of the dietary recommendations that we make may be difficult to execute in today's day and age where people drink alcohol, eat fast food and junk more often than not-that in fact, those indulgences are life's pleasures.

I would ask to stop and think one moment on the impact that changing something as simple as diet may have on not only yourself, but on the rest of your family and the years ahead for all of you. 

YOur aging process can slow down, wrinkles that would have been there may be replaced by elastic youthful skin cells, your pant size can be size 4 instead of 8, you may not get sick anymore because you were around others who are sick, your children won't have allergies and their bones will be stronger and less vulnerable to breaking while playing hard as children sometimes do! They wont be needing to go to the doctor for chronic problems like ear infections or tummy aches, and will have a better chance of not becoming really ill with some kind of chronic disease.

You will go into your years healthy without high cholesterol, high blood pressure, arthritis and other degenerative diseases! And when you are an elderly person your chances of living those years cancer free will be better than your piers. And, your side table or medicine cabinet won't be filled with prescription after prescription. Your children wont have to look after a sick debilitated old person. but get to enjoy an active healthy elder parent. Sound silly? It isn't, it is all true!

Changing your diet can impact so many different aspects of your life. Changing what you eat can change your entire life.
 

This is a tough question. I have found numerous different opinions on this subject matter. This article is an interesting one on mercury, figuring our how much one can eat safely, and the politics of information!

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026766.000 

This is from October 2008, but we felt it was important to post bc of the relevance of this issue to the rights of individuals to make their own health choices.

Raw milk for many can be much like the consumption of yoghurt or kiefer, filled with lots of organisms that may boost the immune system--more so even with raw milk bc the word "raw" means it has not been pasteurized. Sounds awful to a lot of you right? But, some people say it has been the reason for life changing quality of health. We drink it in our family!

We dont advise it for everyone. IT depends on the issues they are struggling with and where they are in that struggle. For example, lots of great things can be overstimulating to the immune system if introduced too soon, as in raw milk, yoghurt, or keifer--basically anything with microorganisms. Well, even standard supplements like vitamins may be introduced too soon and worsen a condition-so, one needs to be careful what they introduce and when.

What is most important, is that we as a nation continue to have the right to make those choices for ourselves! And, it seems that in many areas of the country those choices are being threatened. Thanks to Governor Shwartzenegger we still have raw milk in California!

RAW MILK UPDATE
> 
> SB 201 VETOED BY GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER
> Our fight for raw milk in CA continues...
> 
> Despite our hundreds of calls and letters and overwhelming bipartisan support of the Legislature, our bill was vetoed by the Governor. Politics were at play as the Governor ignored testimony from UC Davis and other scientific experts that HACCP (Hazard Analysis) plans and increased pathogen testing are a better way to regulate raw milk than coliform limits. Instead, the Governor succumbed to pressure from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and other parties who would like to regulate raw milk out of business.