Agility Training
Agility drills can generally be classified into two categories – open and closed. Closed drills are preprogrammed drills, performed in a predictable and unchanging environment. The focus should be primarily on proper movement mechanics, proper body position, and simple changes of direction. The drills should be performed at a speed that allows proper execution of…
Aerobic Exercise & Brain Health
The benefits of physical activity and habitual aerobic exercise on cognitive function and brain health are becoming increasingly appreciated both by the scientific community and the general public. However, guidelines for establishing public health recommendations remain unclear due to a lack of knowledge regarding the exact mechanisms through which exercise benefits brain function. In…
Ads Drive Testosterone Therapy, But Is That A Good Thing?
“I have low testosterone. There, I said it. “How did I know? Well, I didn’t really. See, I figured low testosterone would decrease my sex drive. But when I started losing energy and became moody, that’s when I had an honest conversation with my doctor. We discussed all the symptoms, then he gave me some…
Devil’s Club
Oplopanax horridum popularly known as the devil’s club/devil’s walking stick, is a very big understory shrub, found from Alaska down through the westernmost Canadian provinces and into Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. It is also found in the Great Lakes area. The name Oplopanax is a compound word hailing from the Greek όπλο or oploweapon…
Acupuncture May Reduce Chronic Pain
An analysis of patient data from 29 randomized controlled trials suggests that acupuncture may be better than no acupuncture or sham acupuncture for the treatment of some chronic pain, according to a report published online first by the Archives of Internal Medicine. Acupuncture, the practice of inserting and stimulating needles at specific points on the…
Acupuncture May Aid Weight Loss
According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009-2010) two out of every three American adults are overweight or obese. So it’s no surprise that many people include losing weight on their New Year’s resolution list. As Americans gear up to watch what they eat and hit the gym, the National Certification Commission for…
Starting a Fitness Program
So you are thinking about starting a fitness program huh? This could well be something that you have thought over time and time again with nothing to show for your thoughts. If this is so, you are certainly not alone, as tens and hundreds of thousands of people seem to have these re-occurring thoughts of…
A Natural Remedy for Mild Anxiety
Background Mild or occasional anxiety is a common complaint. Herbal preparations have long been a mainstay for maintaining a healthy, adaptive response to everyday stress and promoting restful sleep. Lavandula angustifolia is the most common species of lavender utilized for health purposes. Lavender is native to the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, Russia and Africa. Throughout…
A Great Breakfast Alternative
Ingredients: 1 cup raw almonds 1 cup raw sunflower seeds 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds 1 cup steel cut oats Place ingredients in a bowl and fill with water 1 inch above seeds and grains, stir and rinse well in a colander. Return to the bowl and add water to within 1 inch above seeds…
A Good Yeast: Saccharomyces boulardii
There is no doubt that not all yeasts are your friends, but this one is! Saccharomyces boulardii is a true “biotic” which has been shown to have beneficial effects by improving intestinal microbalance. Specifically, S. boulardii functions in the modulation of both innate immunity by activating the complement system, and adaptive immunity by boosting the…
