Akasha Health Blog

What is arthritis? Arthritis is defined as painful inflammation and degeneration of one or more joints. Symptoms include pain, swelling, reduced range of motion and stiffness. How common is it? One of the most common reasons why patients seek help from their doctor is for back or knee pain. In the United States, 23% of all adults, or more than 54 million people, have arthritis. It is...

By Edison de Mello, MD, PhD I am often curious about the root origin of words. Do they actually describe what we are trying to convey? Or is the word basically empty of meaning without the formation of a mental image in our minds as we say it? For me, inflammation is a perfect example of how a word accurately describes what it means: creating...

By Danél Lombard, MPT, PhDPain is a protective system. You experience pain when your brain concludes that your body or your tissues are in danger and something needs to change. This needed change could be your movement patterns, your activity level, even (and maybe most importantly) your thought patterns or attitudes. Your pain is such a powerful protective mechanism that it is always steering you...

By Edison de Mello, MD, PhD A critical step in DNA to repair cellular aging, NAD, short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a coenzyme found in every cell in the body and is involved in several diverse metabolic processes. Studies have shown NAD slows the aging process, improves mental clarity, restores neurologic function, and improves the body’s overall health. This natural coenzyme is crucial in maintaining DNA integrity and reversing cellular...

By Edison de Mello, MD, PhD Yes, we have 3 Brains! The first one is the HEAD, then the HEART, followed by the GUT brain. These 3 brains are interconnected through an extensive network of neurons, each with particular roles. Resembling a highway of information, these brains, when balanced, provide stability, grounding and the intuition (gut feelings) necessary for ultimate health.  Containing about 100 million neurons, the...

Women often wear many hats including taking care of the health of everyone who lives under their roof.  In this feat of daily multitasking, sometimes women prioritize their loved ones’ health over their own.  I would like to impart some tips on how women can support their health.  One way to show yourself self-love and respect is to make the effort to prepare healthy...

By Maggie Ney, ND Racism is finally being recognized as a public health emergency. Racism has a direct impact on public health. We know that racism affects mental health, causes psychological distress, increases stress levels, increases anger and feelings of rage, exacerbates chronic diseases, increases inflammation, increases  maternal and infant mortality rates, and reduces overall health outcomes and life expectancy.  We know that 7.6 percent...

A good night sleep is essential to clear thinking, more and deeper compassion towards yourself and others, less engaging of the mind and more heart-felt connections and hence better health. As we enter a new year, I wanted to reprint an article on insomnia I wrote a few years ago. Nothing much has changed since then, just more and more medication on the market trying...

by Gina Galvez, MS, PA-C Many people find it challenging to “meditate” on their own. Our minds are pumping thoughts out all day, making meditation difficult to concentrate on. Perhaps indigestion or knee pain  interfere with your ability to meditate. This is where mindfulness can be of great use. When you  take a moment out of your day to focus on what hurts and...

By Gina Galvez, MS, PA-C Do you have a new year’s resolution? Are you tired of being in pain all the time? Chronic pain can be debilitating, causing many people to have anxiety and depression.  Pain can affect your ability to think clearly and function well at work or school, not to forget that it also affects your ability to have fun and enjoy...

It's that time of year again – the-after-the holidays time when some of us ask ourselves: "What was I thinking? Why did it eat that much, drink that much, party that much? The holidays are one of these times when we flood our system with fatty, sugary foods that can lead to digestive issues, low immune function, and plenty of weight gain. In fact,...

Talk about setting yourself up for failure. Trying to make a decision about a behavioral change that you will stick with for 12 straight months is nonsense. What research shows is that it takes 3 weeks to form a new habit. So, this year, I encourage you to make separate monthly intentions starting with January 2019. Try it on, feel it out, see if...