As anyone with seasonal allergies to tree pollen knows, allergy season has begun. Aside from the sneezing, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, and general sense of being ill, is there anything good about this springtime immune system dysfunction? I came across some evidence that might slightly relieve that annual sense of “suffering” – having allergies of […]

There was an article in the New York Times recently about the importance of cultivating a family narrative to instill a sense of identity, control, and resilience in children. The more children know about their family story, the better equipped they are to handle stresses that would shake their foundation. Is it possible that, in […]

You’ve probably watched the Super Bowl as I have many times, faithfully, elevating the occasion to some kind of macabre family tradition. It is a spectacle of athletic agility, drama, and struggle; the pinnacle of American sporting contests. Despite the heavy onslaught of commercialism, faux halftime culture, and evident violence on the field, we suspend […]

I’ve been feeling a bit more skeptical of the supposed benefits of “organic” foods lately. It’s hard to imagine any greater purity as I watch this fruit in a bowl on my kitchen counter top – a sad modern still life, festooned with brand name stickers. The high grocery bills I’ve been racking up combined […]

Dr. Andrew Weil delivered the keynote address at the 2012 American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly.  I admit that I don’t know much about him or his wellness empire, but apparently Time Magazine has anointed him one of the top 25 visionaries in the world.  Here is the gist of his keynote address, as […]

While picking up some diapers at the pharmacy I noticed the adjacent, ironic placement of condoms in the same aisle. I suppose as a medical professional who does his fair share of counseling about safe sex I should appreciate the not-so-subtle juxtaposition of products rimmed for pleasure and fitted for maximum absorption. Yet I couldn’t […]