Blog

Some young black followers of Jesus have posted a remarkable 11-minute video on YouTube that I think is really well done and thought provoking. I highly recommend it and hope you will find it as convicting and inspiring as I. You can find it here.

I’ve told you in past letters about my next book, coming this October, about my early practice days in Kissimmee, Florida. It’s called “The Best Medicine: Tales of Humor and Hope from a Small-Town Doctor.” I’ve received more nice endorsements, and I’m so happy to share these with you: PREORDER HERE Dr. Walt Larimore has written a delightful look at the life of a small-town doctor chock-full of interesting characters and medical tales. This is the kind of book you want to sip like sweet tea but wind up drinking in a satisfying gulp. You will enjoy the journey!Chris Fabry Moody Radio host and author of A Piece of the Moon I was raised a small-town girl—one who moved from the low country of coastal Georgia to the ‘big city’ in Central…

Today many of us will gather with family and friends for barbecues and picnics to celebrate our country's 242nd Independence Day. But, at some point between the hot dogs, hamburgers, and the firecrackers, I hope each of us will take time to reflect on what Independence Day is really about – remembering the sacrifices of our American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and guardsman who have given their service (and some their lives) to protect the freedoms so many of us take for granted.  (more…)

This is from the twenty-sixth chapter from my best-selling book, Bryson City Tales. I hope that you'll enjoy going back to Bryson City with me each week, and that if you do, you'll be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. (more…)

Here are the contents of this month’s newsletter: SPECIAL: Racism and the Church - Where do we go from here?More Great Endorsements for “The Best Medicine” Want to Read “Best Medicine” before everyone else?2020 Walk for LifeToday’s Christian Living “Ask Dr. Walt” columnWhat a Blessing I Received3.5 MILLION WORDS!?!?Answers to last month’s prayersPrayer requests for this monthPast Issues 1) SPECIAL: Racism and the Church - Where do we go from here? Some young black followers of Jesus have posted a remarkable 11-minute video on YouTube that I think is really well done and thought provoking. I highly recommend it and hope you will find it as convicting and inspiring as I. You can see it here. 2) More Great Endorsements for “The Best Medicine”  I’ve told you in past letters about…

Those of you who write will understand the import of this milestone. This month my 1000th publication saw the light of day. It was a small news item I wrote with my long-time friend, Reg Finger, MD, MPH: "CDC Proposed Expanded HCV Screening." Vaccine News You Can Use. Colorado Family Physician. 2nd Quarter, 2020(Spring);63:26. My first publication was in 1977: Larimore WL. "Friedman curves in undergraduate obstetrical education (Research Paper)." Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, 1977.My second was in 1984: Larimore WL. "Encounters of a poisonous kind." Nantahala Outdoor Center Newsletter, Fall/Winter, 1984:13.2004 was my “peak year,” with 127 publications. I’ve been honored to have written or co-written thirty-three books (that have sold over 750,000 copies, including several best-sellers (with four more books in various…

This is from the twenty-fifth chapter from my best-selling book, Bryson City Tales. I hope that you'll enjoy going back to Bryson City with me each week, and that if you do, you'll be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. (more…)

I received a wonderful blessing recounting a story from long, long ago. Dear Walt,  Do not know if I ever reached out to you but will do so today because what I have to say is important.  In the early 70s, I was working for the Plains Presbyterian Church in Zachary, LA, as a summer youth "counselor." I invited you and your lovely wife to come to Zachary and speak to our Youth Group.  I was an aspiring pre-med, and you had been accepted into medical school. So of course, that made you my hero, and I hung on your every word. Your testimony that night, as a Christian physician-to-be, left a huge stamp on my heart. Your words helped reframe medicine for me: it went from being a position…

This is from the twenty-fourth chapter from my best-selling book, Bryson City Tales. I hope that you'll enjoy going back to Bryson City with me each week, and that if you do, you'll be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. (more…)

Coming this October: A book about my early practice days in Kissimmee, Florida. It’s called “The Best Medicine: Tales of Humor and Hope from a Small-Town Doctor.” PREORDER HERE I’ve received another nice endorsement, and I’m so happy to share it with you: After reading The Best Medicine, I could settle for calling author Walt Larimore an engaging storyteller. But he’s more than that. Dr. Larimore connects with people through their stories and truly cares about their life experiences. In The Best Medicine, he shares a delightful assortment of stories with us in such a way that I felt as if I was sitting across the table from him, not reading a book. I laughed. I cried. And I found myself caring about people I’ve never met. Beth K. VogtChristy Award-winning author…

This is from the twenty-third chapter from my best-selling book, Bryson City Tales. I hope that you'll enjoy going back to Bryson City with me each week, and that if you do, you'll be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. (more…)

In the past I’ve told you about my 15-years of labor to research stories about my dad’s World War II exploits, get them into a manuscript, and hopefully have it published. The book is tentatively titled: “War Horses: A World War II Hero’s Stories of Savagery, Stallions, and Saving the Lipizzaners.” Right now, my agent, Greg Johnson, is shopping the book, but with no takers just yet. In fact, an editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt wrote: Many thanks again for sharing WAR HORSES with me. What an incredible story—but I have to confess that the writing itself felt a little flat to me, which seems likely to make this a tough sell here at HMH. I’m sorry not to have a different take, but thank you again for sending this…

This is from the twenty-second chapter from my best-selling book, Bryson City Tales. I hope that you'll enjoy going back to Bryson City with me each week, and that if you do, you'll be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. (more…)

Here are the contents of this month’s newsletter: Some Good News About My Dad’s Book: “War Horses”Second Great Endorsement for “The Best Medicine”2020 Walk for LifeWhat a Blessing I ReceivedA Publishing Milestone – my 1000th PublicationWant to Read “Best Medicine” before everyone else?Answers to last month’s prayersPrayer requests for this monthPast Issues 1) Some Good News About My Dad’s Book: “War Horses” In the past I’ve told you about my 15-years of labor to research stories about my dad’s World War II exploits, get them into a manuscript, and hopefully have it published. Its tentative title is, “War Horses: A World War II Hero’s Stories of Savagery, Stallions, and Saving the Lipizzaners.” Right now, my agent, Greg Johnson, is shopping the book, but with no takers just yet. In fact,…

This is from the twenty-second chapter from my best-selling book, Bryson City Tales. I hope that you'll enjoy going back to Bryson City with me each week, and that if you do, you'll be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. (more…)

Today is Memorial Day, a national observance first known as Decoration Day, which was first observed on May 30, 1868, on the orders of General John Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.  Flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery to remember those who fell during the bloody battles of our brutal Civil War.  The holiday's significance has been extended to honor all those who paid the ultimate price for our nation.  These thoughts from my friend, Gary Bauer, seem appropriate for our time: Of all the dangers facing our country, perhaps the greatest is the one that doesn't make many headlines -- our collective national amnesia.   Our history textbooks are sanitized to be politically correct and give our children little…

Today marks Memorial Day, a national observance first known as Decoration Day. The first Memorial Day was observed on May 30, 1868. Flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.  Initially meant as a time to remember those who fell during the bloody battles of our brutal Civil War, the holiday's significance has been extended to honor all those who paid the ultimate price for our nation. As they have done every year since 1948, soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment will place flags at more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They will remain at Arlington National Cemetery throughout the holiday weekend making sure that the flags remain upright. Gary Bauer's comment on Memorial Day is, to me, particularly poignant, and…

Today many of us will gather with family and friends for barbecues and picnics to celebrate Memorial Day, the unofficial kickoff to summer. But, at some point between the hot dogs, hamburgers, and volleyball, I hope each of us will take time to reflect on what Memorial Day is really about – remembering the American soldiers who have lost their lives in battle to protect the freedoms so many of us take for granted. (more…)

This is from the twenty-first chapter from my best-selling book, Bryson City Tales. I hope that you'll enjoy going back to Bryson City with me each week, and that if you do, you'll be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. (more…)

This is from the twenty-first chapter from my best-selling book, Bryson City Tales. I hope that you'll enjoy going back to Bryson City with me each week, and that if you do, you'll be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. (more…)

Barb and I are SO grateful to each of you who have already made an online donation to support us as we "Walk for Life" on Saturday, June 6. As a result, we've upped our goal from $10K to $14K. If you've not yet donated, it's easy to do here. If you have donated already, please4 let your friends, family, and faith community know so that they can support this walk also! Donate Today As you might expect, this year's Walk will look a little different. On Saturday, June 6th, Life Network will be hosting its first-ever VIRTUAL Walk for Life! Given our current public health guidance, Barb and I will celebrate the value of human life along with walkers city-wide -- all walking in our own neighborhoods. There will…

This is from the twentieth chapter from my best-selling book, Bryson City Tales. I hope that you'll enjoy going back to Bryson City with me each week, and that if you do, you'll be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. (more…)

Here are the contents of this month’s newsletter: First Endorsement for “The Best Medicine”2020 Walk for LifeToday’s Christian Living “Ask Dr. Walt” columnWant to Read “Best Medicine” before everyone else?Answers to last month’s prayersPrayer requests for this monthPast Issues 1) My Very First Endorsement for “The Best Medicine” I’ve told you in past letters about my next book, coming this October. I write about my early family medicine practice days in Kissimmee, Florida. It’s called “The Best Medicine: Tales of Humor and Hope from a Small-Town Doctor.” Preorder Here I’ve received my very first endorsement, and I’m so excited to share it with you: I was raised a small-town girl . . . a small-town girl who moved from the low country of coastal Georgia to the "big city" in Central…

This is from the twentieth chapter from my best-selling book, Bryson City Tales. I hope that you'll enjoy going back to Bryson City with me each week, and that if you do, you'll be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. (more…)

This is from the nineteenth chapter from my best-selling book, Bryson City Tales. I hope that you'll enjoy going back to Bryson City with me each week, and that if you do, you'll be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. (more…)

This is from the nineteenth chapter from my best-selling book, Bryson City Tales. I hope that you'll enjoy going back to Bryson City with me each week, and that if you do, you'll be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. (more…)

Long-time readers know that my "go-to" sources for natural medicines (herbs, vitamins, and supplements) are ConsumerLab.com and Natural Medicines(TM). ConsumerLab has posted about coronavirus and essential oils. But before I get to the specifics, I've also blogged in the past about essential oils in the past: Are Essential Oils Really Essential?Topical or oral use of essential oils — Do they work?Aromatherapy and topical aromatherapy oils — Do they work for anything? But what about essential oils? Do they help prevent or treat COVID-19? ConsumerLab.com writes: Essential oils from plants such as eucalyptus, lavender, and tea tree have been shown in laboratory studies to have antiviral and/or other antimicrobial effects, as discussed below, but none have been shown to prevent or treat COVID-19 or other diseases caused by coronaviruses. The FDA has recently sent warnings to several companies…

This is from the eighteenth chapter from my best-selling book, Bryson City Tales. I hope that you'll enjoy going back to Bryson City with me each week, and that if you do, you'll be sure to invite your friends and family to join us. (more…)

Dear Dr. Walt, I am a 55-year old lady who will soon be traveling to a developing country, which I do often. The medications in my emergency medication kit have all expired. I have a history of recurrent kidney stones and bee sting allergy. I am otherwise well. My medication kit includes ciprofloxacin, loperamide, oxycodone, and an epinephrine auto-injector (EAI). What do you recommend? Should I just call my doctor for refills? Agnes in Ashtabula. Dear Agnes, I'd recommend a consultation with a travel health professional at a health department or private travel clinic such as Passport Health. Here's a guiding site from the CDC: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/find-clinic. It's not just an "emergency kit," you want advice on, but it's also checking up on all needed/required vaccines, health alerts, security alerts, etc. A travel…

In my and Phil Bishop’s book, Fit over 50: Make Simple Choices Today for a Healthier, Happier You, we write: A 2015 study found that people who replaced “some of their sitting time with a light-intensity activity like strolling gained a substantial benefit in terms of mortality risk.” In fact, if participants “replaced as little as two minutes of sitting each hour with gentle walking, they lowered their risk of premature death by about 33 percent, compared with people who sat almost nonstop.” A study in Circulation of adults age 45 to 64 suggested that individuals “can make up for years of sedentary behavior with two years of exercise.” In fact, participants who had worked out at least four days a week with a regimen of weight training, balance work, and yoga had healthier hearts…