March 2009 – Dr. Walt Larimore

27Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Faith-Based Health and Healing – Part 8 – Illegitimate Spiritual Practices.

Alternative medicine as a whole is not rooted in any particular religious tradition, but some therapies are. A number of healing rituals and traditions are part of the Wiccan religion (also called “white witchcraft”). Eastern religions often view healing as dependent on the movement of “life energy” through nonphysical channels that coincide with the physical body. Native-American religion uses herbs as part of its healing rituals. In a number of nature religions, shamans contact spirit beings or guides to get advice on how to treat and heal those under their care. Should Christians be concerned about these practices? More Information: (more…)

25Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Parents continue to have unwarranted fears and delusions about pediatric vaccines.

Alternative Medicine, Bioethics, Children's Health, General Health, Men's Health, Parenting, Woman's Health

Infants and children get a lot of shots (vaccinations) to prevent against many different potentially fatal diseases. For this reason, parents or caregivers sometimes ask us as healthcare professionals to space apart, separate, or even not give some vaccines. Parents are worried that their child cannot handle so many shots at the same time. This is one of many concerns that parents may have about vaccinations. This blog entry provides you and your friends the facts about vaccines, to help you make an informed and wise decision about what's best for your child. Please share this information with as many parents as you can. More Information: (more…)

25Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

How you can help protect your doctor’s freedom (You must act immediately)

Bioethics, Woman's Health

President Obama said it clearly. He wants to hear from you. But he's given you a deadline: You've got two weeks to voice your concerns – to speak out for America's pro-life medical professionals ... and their moral conscience – before it's too late. More Information: (more…)

24Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Gardening Not Only Saves Money, It’s Highly Healthy

Children's Health, General Health, Heart Health, Men's Health, Mental Health, Obesity, Woman's Health

I don’t know about your part of the world, but here in Colorado, the weather was downright balmy last week. And on Friday spring was sprung! These facts turned my and Barb’s minds toward preparing for this year’s gardening. So, I wanted to remind myself, and you, of why gardening can be highly healthy to you and those you love. More Information: (more…)

24Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Why Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is Obsolete

Bioethics, Cancer, Children's Health, Heart Health, Medical Economics, Men's Health, Woman's Health

A listener to one of my interviews on a Chicago Radio Station (WMBI) wrote, “IF adult stem cells are just as good as embryonic cells, why are we all-fired up to use embryonic cells. The simple answer is: (adult stem cells are) NOT just as good. Something you would know if you tried to find out the truth.” Unfortunately, the listener is so very, very wrong. But, instead of reading, once again, my arguments against embryonic stem cell research, let me let you read the comments of Bernadette Healy, MD, the former head of the National Institutes of Health and the Red Cross as she commented on “Why Embryonic Stem Cells Are Obsolete” before and after the President’s decision: More Information: (more…)

20Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Faith-Based Health and Healing – Part 7 – Not All Healing is From God

Alternative Medicine, Cancer, Children's Health, General Health, Heart Health, Men's Health, Mental Health, Parenting, Woman's Health

How we pursue health and healing is very important. Our concern, as Christians, is that there are wrong ways (even evil ways) people can pursue and receive healing. We wish to make the case that healing achieved by inappropriate means is healing that is not good and, in our view, is healing that is not from God. More Information: (more…)

20Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Charles Krauthammer says Obama is morally flawed about stem cells and science

Bioethics, Cancer, Children's Health, General Health, Medical Economics, Men's Health, Woman's Health

As long-time readers of this blog know, I’m strongly opposed to using embryonic stem cells for research. Primary among my complaints is that using embryonic stem cells requires the death of pre-born human life – in other words, the cells must be stolen from an embryo and this process always results in the death of the embryo. But, there are other ethical and philosophical reasons to oppose embryonic stem cell research. Here’s a well thought out example from columnist and physician Charles Krauthammer. More Information: (more…)

20Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Routine Prostate Cancer Screenings Don’t Significantly Prevent Deaths, Research Shows

Cancer, Medical Economics, Men's Health

Two large, long-awaited studies have failed to produce convincing evidence that routine prostate cancer screening significantly reduces the chances of dying from the disease without putting men at risk for potentially dangerous and unnecessary treatment. Does this information surprise you as much as it seems to be surprising the news media and some doctors? It shouldn’t. More Information: (more…)

20Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Q & A: Should men still get PSAs screenings or not?

Cancer, Medical Economics, Men's Health

Two eagerly awaited studies of a total of 250,000 men have raised new questions and concerns about the risks and benefits of the prostate-specific antigen test, or PSA. USA TODAY talked to experts about the studies, the test and why it's controversial. It thought you’d appreciate this information. More Information: (more…)

18Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

How to buy the best fish for your family

Children's Health, General Health, Heart Health, Men's Health, Nutritional Health, Parenting, Woman's Health

Fish, which is high in “good fat,” omega-3 fatty acids, confers multiple health benefits, but it can be challenging to find freshest fish as so often fresh fish has been frozen. A surprising tip can be to try whole fish: it shrinks less than fillets when cooking and gives more value. In this article, you’ll find tons of suggestions on how to buy the best fish for your family. More Information: (more…)

18Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Obesity associated with large losses in expected lifespan: Study indicates. What can you do for your family?

Cancer, Children's Health, General Health, Heart Health, Men's Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity, Parenting, Woman's Health

USA Today reports, "Weighing too much may take as much as a decade off your life, according a new analysis of studies that involved 900,000 people." What are the details? And, what can you do to protect your family and your children? More Information: (more…)

18Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Ironically, the most devout are the most likely to utilize death-to-the-end treatment

Alternative Medicine, Bioethics, Cancer, General Health, Men's Health, Mental Health, Woman's Health

The New York Times reports, "Terminally ill cancer patients who drew comfort from religion were far more likely to seek aggressive, life-prolonging care in the week before they died than were less religious patients." What does this story mean? More Information: (more…)

16Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Is Prince Charles Endorsing Quackery? His Herbal Detox Products Stir Controversy

Alternative Medicine, Men's Health, Nutritional Health, Woman's Health

In an unusual turn of events, a prominent scientist in the United Kingdom is accusing Prince Charles of contributing to the "ill health of the nation" by backing with his name an herbal detox product that sells for about $13.75 per bottle and that he says is "outright quackery." More Information: (more…)

13Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Faith-Based Health and Healing – Part 6 – Why God’s Response to Prayer Isn’t Always to Heal

Alternative Medicine, Children's Health, General Health, Heart Health, Marriage and Family Health, Men's Health, Mental Health, Parenting, Woman's Health

Despite what many television preachers tell us, the Bible does not teach that God’s response to a prayer to cure illness is an immediate physical healing. The overall teaching of the Bible is that sickness can have different origins. Therefore, claims that all illnesses can always be cured by “believing prayer” or “casting out demons” are simply not biblical. Let me explain why. More Information: (more…)

13Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Research suggests wine neither increases nor reduces breast cancer risk

Cancer, Heart Health, Nutritional Health, Woman's Health

In a recent blog I told you about a study of more than 1.2 million women in the UK that concluded that alcohol consumption may account for nearly 13% of all breast, liver, rectal, and upper digestive tract cancers in women. The study found that even relatively small amounts of alcohol appear to raise cancer risk. But, what about wine? Does it carry the same risk? More Information: (more…)

11Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

For Kids’ Sake, Make Family Meals a Habit

Children's Health, Marriage and Family Health, Nutritional Health, Parenting

Listen up, kids. Sitting down to eat with your parents night after night might seem like a drag, but over the long run, it’ll be good for you, a new study says. Regular family meals improve diet quality during the transition from early to middle adolescence, researchers report. And a good diet could be habit forming and carry over into adulthood. More Information: (more…)

11Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Making Family Meals a Priority Worth the Effort in Every Measurable Way

Children's Health, General Health, Marriage and Family Health, Nutritional Health, Parenting

Most of us think more about what our children are eating than where they’re eating it. Yet, where makes a huge difference. Making family meals a priority is more than worth the effort. Here's why ... More Information: (more…)

09Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

What if healthcare reform in America led to the banning of life-prolonging cancer drugs? Don’t think it could happen? Then read this.

Bioethics, Cancer, Men's Health, Woman's Health

My friend, Gary Bauer, wrote in his daily email blast, “During the debate on the so-called 'stimulus' bill, many conservatives warned against a provision snuck into the bill that would lead us toward government control over our health care." Of particular concern is the planned Federal Coordinating Council of Comparative Effectiveness Research. A very similar group exists in Great Britain and is called the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. It’s often referred to by the misnomer NICE. But, a recent decision is not so nice at all. More Information: (more…)

09Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Obama to reverse life-saving stem cell research policies

Bioethics, Cancer, Children's Health, Heart Health, Men's Health, Woman's Health

USA Today reports, "Obama will sign an executive order ... lifting limits on human embryonic stem cell research and will direct federal agencies to 'restore scientific integrity' to decision-making, White House aides said Sunday." ABC and NBC reported the story last night, while CBS ran a very brief newscast due to sports coverage. Some will say this is in essence an order to murder embryos. Why would they say this? Where’s the bad news in this story? More Information: (more…)

04Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Sen. Brownback supports partial-birth abortion advocate, Governor Sebelius — pro-Lifers stunned

Bioethics, Woman's Health

According to LifeSiteNews.com, “Kansas' U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, who has long identified with the pro-life movement, has shocked pro-life leaders by supporting the nomination of extreme pro-abortion Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services.” Brownback issued a joint statement with fellow senator from Kansas, Pat Roberts, congratulating the Governor. More Information: (more…)

04Mar 2009 by Walt Larimore

Study suggests heartburn drugs may reduce Plavix effectiveness

Heart Health, Men's Health, Woman's Health

A CBS Evening News story had patients calling my office today. Katie Couric reported, "A warning tonight for heart patients who combine Plavix [clopidogrel bisulfate] with heartburn drugs. Plavix is commonly prescribed to help keep arteries open, but it can also cause ulcers and internal bleeding. To prevent these complications, doctors use a drug like Prilosec (omeprazole). But according to a new study, taking the drugs together raises the risk of heart attack or death by 25 percent." The study appears in the March 4 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association. More Information: (more…)

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