Elson M. Haas, MD is a medical practitioner with nearly 40 years experience in patient care, always with in an interest in natural medicine. For the past 30 years, he has been instrumental in the development and practice of Integrated Medicine at the Preventive Medical Center of Marin (PMCM), which he founded in 1984 and where he is the Medical Director. Dr Haas has been perfecting a model of healthcare that integrates sophisticated Western diagnostics and Family Medicine with time-honored natural therapies from around the world.
This educating, writing doctor is also the author of many books including Staying Healthy with Nutrition: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine, 21st Century Edition, The NEW Detox Diet: The Complete Guide for Lifelong Vitality with Recipes, Menus, & Detox Plans and more. His latest book is Staying Healthy with NEW Medicine which integrates Natural, Eastern, and Western Approaches for Optimal Health. Visit his website for more information on his work, books and to sign up for his newsletter.
I have often said that detox is the missing link in western nutrition and I have written extensively on this topic both in my books, such as The Detox Diet, and here in TotalHealth Magazine as in my January 2018 article on Seasonal Detox and my October 2017 article, Toxins Too Close for Comfort, on the hidden dangers in some of our personal care and home cleaning...
We are all hearing about the flu this season and indeed, it has been very prevalent. Many doctors, pharmacies, the media and the government are all pushing everyone to get flu shots. Some people decline this from mistrust and not wanting foreign substances injected into them. In fact, the results from this year's flu vaccine have been very disappointing to say the least, and this has been reported widely in the news. Some say it's only 10 percent effective, and this means that many...
During the last three weeks of January 2018 I will be leading the annual New Year's Detox program at my clinic—Preventive Medical Center of Marin, an integrative health center in San Rafael, California. This will mark 31 consecutive years that I have offered this 21-day course based on my book The Detox Diet. I don't just teach the class, I also participate in it myself because this is not just a concept for me but an intrinsic part of my own yearly health program. It's...
As a family physician that has practiced integrative medicine for more than 40 years, I interview and guide thousands of people in their goals for improved health. I have noticed that many of my patients not only tend to take their health for granted until they lose it, but often they haven't asked themselves exactly how they define health for themselves except as the absence of whatever unpleasant or painful symptoms may have brought them into my office.
Of course,...
AS I MENTIONED IN LAST MONTH'S ARTICLE ON AUTUMN HEALTH, an important part of my evolution as an integrative physician came from the discovery and study of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) beginning in the mid 1970s, after I received my Western Medical training. The integration of this Traditional Healing Philosophy and practice aligned with natural therapies and conventional Western medicine was the subject of my first book Staying Healthy with the Seasons, originally published...
As a doctor who practices integrative medicine, I focus on health care and not just disease care. I always attempt to understand the deeper underlying causes of any illness or condition and not simply treat superficial symptoms. So when it comes to looking at causes of disease I am working from the inside out rather than outside in.
This is such an important topic that I devoted an entire chapter to the "Causes of Disease" in my latest book Staying Healthy with NEW...
My dentist consultant suggested that "drilling" is a "scary" term and we might use others that have less of a "cringe" factor. Maybe it's "preparing the tooth, adjusting the tooth enamel, removing the decay, or smoothing...
I am a big promoter of and believer in seasonal health—adjusting our lifestyle to the year’s changes in the locale where we live. I see this as a key part of Preventive Medicine. Adapting and attuning to the Seasons was the subject of my first book, Staying Healthy with the Seasons (initially published in 1981, updated in 2003, and still a timeless health message), which integrates Natural, Eastern and Western medicinal approaches for optimal health. My recently published...
As I mentioned in my TEN Tips on Wise Sugar Use in the May 2017 issue of Total Health , the use, overuse and abuse of sugar in the typical American diet and lifestyle are increasingly known to be significant factors in creating poor health and chronic disease, especially among young people. Sugar is the number one reward system in the world. I wanted to address this important topic in more detail in this article.
Clearly, the high consumption of refined sugar and refined...
1. Become Current in your Life in this inspiring Spring season. Embrace yourself honestly as you look at all of your habits and areas of your own life. Even with all the worldly concerns, care for yourself and your loved ones. Assess the various aspects of your lifestyle to see where stresses or weaknesses exist with special attention to what I call The Five Keys to Staying Healthy—your Nutrition, Exercise, Stress, Sleep and Attitude. Focus on those areas...
Caring for our selves and finding ways to handle our stresses are clearly important practices for assuring our long-term health. They are definitely key aspects of Preventive Medicine, Along With the right nutrition and exercise programs for our body, getting proper sleep, and maintaining a positive attitude toward our self, others, and the world. Learning the individual lifestyle path that generates health rather than disease is really the finest art of medicine and personal...
Hello Everyone and Happy New Year
This past year has been quite the challenge with worldwide events, US politics, and in my work-life at Preventive Medical Center in San Rafael, CA (www.pmcmarin.com). I pray that 2017 opens up and becomes a healing and positive year for us all. I especially wish that for you and your family.
It's always good to start the year with a positive attitude and new energies to expand...
Let's continue last month's exploration of this philosophy of politics, war and peace and how it permeates many parts of our life where an “attack and conquer” mentality may prevail, which includes our relationship with others and most importantly with our one and only self. I believe we can each improve in this area and practice kindness, acceptance and understanding for all people and life on Earth, especially when they appear very different from us.
I might...
1. Alcohol has been used as a special and sacred celebratory beverage over many centuries. Most native cultures have had fermented drinks for their rituals and ceremonies. This custom continues with traditions and celebrations of all kinds.for weddings, anniversaries, dates, ballgames, flying, and harvest fairs. Alcohol does help to relax the body and mind and calm the inhibitions. However, many people feel the need to celebrate daily (might be called partying or escaping)....
The simplest way to understand symptoms and disease integrates Western linear thinking, Chinese medicine and its philosophy of yin and yang, and the naturopathic approach to health and illness. In fact this integration I refer to as NEW Medicine with the N-E-W standing for Natural, Eastern, and Western healing approaches and applies to many health conditions; all of this is reviewed in my new book, Staying Healthy with NEW...
1. Drink water—Hydration is the key to healthy travel! It sounds simple, yet is often overlooked. Plane trips are dehydrating, and water keeps you healthy by cleansing toxins and hydrating tissues. Carry plenty of good (bottled spring or purified) water with you for air or car travel, and drink it. Most people need at least two to three quarts of liquid per day, especially in hot weather or with sweating and exercise. If you drink more than this, add some...
1. To begin with, Healthy Aging starts NOW! Everything we do, how we live our lives and the choices we make every day influence how healthy or ill we will be as we age. Of course, we have some genetic predispositions, yet our lifestyle trumps our genetics. The field of Epigenetics is one of the hottest areas of study these days wherein it has been proven that our food habits/choices and stresses influence whether certain genes are expressed or not. Check out this topic online to learn...
(Adapted from Dr. Haas’ upcoming book, Staying Healthy with NEW Medicine)
We are designed to move, lift, swing and stretch. Exercise, in its varied forms, stimulates metabolism, circulation, oxygenation, lymphatic activity, and neurological function; strengthens our immune system; reduces stress; lessens inflammation, and with endorphin enhancement, exercise improves our overall attitude. A consistent program of balanced exercise supports the body and helps prevent...
What is Sleep?
For humans and most animals, sleep is a period of rest and
recharging from the activities and stresses of our daily lives.
Sleep is a time for the brain and nervous system to replenish
its reserves and to rest our digestive tract, our spine and our
muscles. We each have our own sleep patterns and needs.
Sleep is a time when we restore our vital functioning and allow
our conscious mind to rest and release our subconscious mind
to be active. Sleep...
