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The Misuse of Placebos
Attending a conference entitled The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, a number of physicians noted that the placebo effect was a very powerful force and motivator with respect to the success of alternative medicine practices such as therapeutic touch, chiropractic, herbal remedies and the like.
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Premenstrual Syndrome
Every month it came. The anticipation of its coming slowly turned light into dark. A shroud of darkness gradually enveloping her. Each month she lost a part of herself. It was a demoralizing and humiliating experience. But she was told that this was just the way life is; you can’t change who you are. Live…
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Common Infant Problems
Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen August 14, 2001 It is 2 AM and your two week old infant’s breathing sounds raspy and congested. You also notice a strange rash on their body. First-time parents face a multitude of these anxiety provoking events. What can you do to assess if this is normal or not?
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Obstetric complications
Some women can sail through pregnancy with nary a problem while others can have a difficult time. The basis for treating these conditions rests entirely upon individual circumstances. If these problems interfere with ones ability to function consult with your doctor. Ask about the available treatment options. It is important to have options and to…
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Assuming the worst
In June of 2000 my Dad was hospitalized for some surgery. He related the following story to me that made me stop and think about how we treat our patients and where, perhaps, some of our interpersonal skills come from.
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Like, do you know where your teen is?
You are in a line for a movie and you pass gas or do some other embarrassing activity. Your first reaction usually is “Oh my god, they all know I did it!” This is a remnant of your teen years. Teens are naturally self- centered and experience that reaction you had about ten times more…
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Buyer Beware
Nothing is too wonderful to be true. Michael Faraday (1791 – 1867) Insight, untested and unsupported, is an insufficient guarantee of truth. Bertrand Russell, Mysticism and Logic (1929) Everyday we are bombarded with health claims and gadgets to “improve” our already healthy lifestyles. Statistics and facts are used to convince us to buy into the…
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The Truth About Vaccinations
Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen July 4, 2001 We know all too well the pain and suffering the victim, their families and friends endure from the scourge of AIDs. Imagine it’s the year 2051 and there is a vaccine for AIDs. AIDs has been virtually eliminated. Small outbreaks continue to occur but for the…