When we look at the history of herbal medicine, we see a set of healing tools passed down from generation to generation, through observations and stories. Now, in our modern world, we elevate science above all other ways of knowing and the double-blind, placebo...

This last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a seminar by Dr. Michael Gaeta, titled All Disease Becomes Autoimmune. While I learned a lot, Dr. Gaeta made a statement that moved me. He said, “If you’re not weird, you’re screwed.” I’m going to tell you why....

While watching the gymnastics and swimming portions of the summer Olympics, I’ve been reflecting on our relationship to our bodies and exercise. Obviously, some people are literally born to be high performance athletes (check out this video by David Epstein to learn...

Cigarettes, alcohol and sugar have something in common: they all make us feel more alive. I knew that I was deep into my healing process when I started to develop compassion for my so-called bad habits. I actually started to thank sugar for the role it played in my...

Dear Char: How can I make sense of my cravings for certain foods? I feel so confused! Great question. I have certainly struggled with this over the years, and I hope that these seven guidelines can help. Consider the possibility that all cravings come from a dietary...

Last night, my husband and I enjoyed a much-needed date night, which was also the first night of the democratic convention. At one point in our conversation, he turned to me and said, “You know something? I am shocked at the number of women who hate Hillary Clinton.”...

When I ask most people where digestion starts, many say confidently, “The stomach.” But a number of things happen before food reaches the stomach. You can just THINK about food and have a visceral response. Exposure to food in your environment starts the digestive...

My husband and I have an inside joke: he married me AND my nervous system. Why would I talk about my nervous system as a separate entity? Well, because it dominates my experience here on this earth as a human being. I am what Elaine Aron calls a Highly Sensitive...

A few months ago, my husband and I were watching an episode of House of Cards, and these monks were making this amazing piece of art with sand. It was part of a peace keeping ritual, I think. There were four monks blowing colored sand in these intricate shapes. It was...