I thought I’d talk a bit about mummies and vampires—and the actual science behind them, of course. The science behind the cultural and historical concepts of mummies and vampires actually once [...]
Category: Daily Dispatch
“Haunted people” potentially explained
In another dispatch I shared a passage from my book with Michael Jawer, The Spiritual Anatomy of Emotion. It detailed some “haunted” stories from the White House—both past and [...]
The spirits that move (some of) us
It’s that time of year…when everyone’s attention turns to spirits, haunts, apparitions, and manifestations. So this week I thought I’d get into the “spirit” myself and share some of [...]
The sun never sets on medical silliness
Ah, Sweden. The Land of the Midnight Sun. Sweden has been famous for its images of bronzed, blonde Scandinavian beauties–but not anymore. Among its many modern amenities Sweden has a [...]
What some doctors know (and do) about dietary supplements
Much of the academic-government-medical-research establishment remains mealy-mouthed about the benefits of dietary supplementation. Meanwhile tens of thousands of doctors have been taking dietary [...]
Waiting for the “Big One”
Although humans die in large numbers every day, every hour, from heart disease and automobile crashes, deaths from exotic viruses seem to command far more urgent attention in the media. Whenever [...]
Playing bureaucratic games without a helmet
Bicycle riding can be a very healthful activity for its benefits in providing exercise, access to nature, and stress reduction. (Except on days off, when “weekend warriors” on bikes try to claim [...]
In appreciation of Senator Arlen Specter
This week, the nation lost a great legislator. And Congress sadly lost a great legal mind and expert on the U.S. Constitution. Not to mention a much-needed, often independent voice. I had the [...]
The law and unintended consequences
In keeping with one of this week’s themes on cost-effective health care…I can’t help but point out recent reports on the Affordable Care Act. Just like anything else, sometimes these government [...]
Back to basics–while NIH parties like it’s still 1998
I showed you how the National Institutes of Health’s Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has turned its back on one of the core tenants of its original mission. To research [...]