Hannah Wallace

Dynamic Duos: Bill Telepan & Nancy Easton

 

There are dozens if not hundreds of organizations across the U.S. working to improve the quality of cafeteria food at public schools. But one of the best, in my estimation, is New York City's Wellness in the Schools (WITS), founded by Nancy Easton and two other public school parents in 2005. Bill Telepan, chef at the noted Manhattan farm-to-table restaurant Telepan, came on board a few years later when he realized that the kitchen at his daughter's school—like most public school kitchens—relied on packaged and processed foods (the barbeque sauce was made from ketchup and grape jelly--!) Today, WITS is bringing salad bars and healthy, made-from-scratch meals to public schools in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.

WITS has 50-some volunteers—culinary students, nutritionists, or just those who are passionate about making sure kids have access to healthy food—who fan out amongst 35 public schools to help prepare healthy dishes such as homemade pesto on whole-grain pasta or flatbread pizza with homemade tomato sauce and roasted vegetables. (Full disclosure: I was a WITS volunteer several years ago, slicing veggies for a salad bar and making healthy cole slaw and "mediterranean pasta salad" for kids at Brooklyn's P.S. 157.)

Telepan has even gotten celebrity chefs involved. So far, 23 chefs—including Michael Anthony at Gramercy Tavern, David Chang at Momofuko, and Colleen Grapes at Red Cat—have adopted a public school. Over the course of a year, these chefs organize three “Wellness Café Days," using a new recipe and eating the meal alongside students. Some of the dishes that students try on Café Days are so popular that they’ve become WITS staples, such as the veggie salad wrap created by the team at Chop’t.

Still think that kids don't (or won't) eat vegetables or fruit? When it's fresh and plentiful, kids—of all ethnicities and economic backgrounds—can't get enough. I've seen it with my own eyes, and so has every WITS volunteer.

I write about Telepan and Easton in the latest issue of JW Marriott's new magazine. Download Jw marriott article

Cory Carman: how grass-fed beef saved the family ranch

When I heard Cory Carman speak at Ecotrust's food hub conference last spring, I knew I had to write about her. Her story, of taking over her family's ranch out in eastern Oregon and converting it to a 100% grass-fed operation, interested me for at least three reasons. First, ever since reading Michael Pollan's the Omnivore's Dilemma, I've been convinced of the environmental and nutritional superiority of grass-finished beef. (That is, beef that hasn't been fed corn for the last few months of its life.) So I'm always thrilled to discover ranchers and companies who are producing it. Second, Carman is part of a growing movement of educated young people who are choosing to make a living off the land. (For more evidence that this is, indeed, happening, check out the Greenhorns documentary.)

Finally, the challenges Carman spoke about that day—her struggle to find a USDA-inspected slaughterhouse that would take her business, finding an efficient way to get her beef to Portland eaters—illustrated logistical hurdles that small and medium-sized farmers and ranches face all over America. Sadly, our dominant food system is not set up for small, family-run ranches like Carman Ranch. That one plucky woman (and her other half, Dave) could tackle these challenges with creativity and perseverance, gives me hope that we can eventually change our food system.

Grass-fed beef is more popular than ever, but will it ever make up more than a tiny percent of the U.S. beef market? Americans have grown accustomed to marbled, corn-fed beef. Bringing grass-fed beef to the masses would require a major paradigm shift—not just in the eating and spending habits of the average American, but in the meat industry itself. We’d need to retrain ranchers in how to pasture cattle—how to keep them away from wild onions, bitterwheat, and forages that impart an off-flavor—and train them in the art of management intensive grazing. We’d need to give economic incentives for mobile slaughterhouses and smaller USDA-inspected facilities. We’d also need to end corn subsidies, which keeps the price of corn-fed beef artificially cheap.    

For Carman and her cow-share customers, though, all this is, in a way, irrelevant. Waving a hand to members who are lingering to divvy up their meat, she says, “They know where their meat comes from and know the cows have never left the ranch. They’re eating whole animal quantities. This is totally representative of how our food system should be.”

Read more about Carman in the November issue of Portland Monthly.

Dining à la Cart

When I travel, I often judge a city by its street food: the bratwurst in Zurich (served on a golden Bürli roll and slathered with mustard), the buttery crepes fromage in Paris, porchetta sandwiches at markets in small Italian hilltowns, and pretty much anything from a food cart in my hometown of Portland, Oregon. (My latest favorite was the spicy fried chicken breast sandwich—made from Washington state's Draper Valley Farms chicken and topped with organic coleslaw at Cackalacks Hot Chicken Shack.)
 

But after a long-ago trip to Guatemala, I've become more circumspect when eating food (and drinking "fresh" juice) in certain developing countries. (I have one word for you, my friends: giardia.) So for this month's travel health column in Endless Vacation, I quiz Pok-Pok's Andy Ricker on his tips for staying healthy without sacrificing culinary adventures. (Ricker knows whereof he speaks—he spends several months out of each year sampling the street food in Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Macau, shopping for ingredients and ideas for his renowned Portland restaurant.) I also interview Dr. Daniel Capliviski, the director of Mount Sinai's Travel Medicine Clinic.

Two tips I always follow myself: take a probiotic such as Culturelle or FloraStor—starting a week before your trip—and avoid tap water and other beverages that don't come from a sealed bottle or can. (Developing countries are the one place I break my plastic water ban—or opt for beer instead of water. Giardia is a very nasty and stubborn parasite—it can take months to get rid of it.) 

On another note, if you're gearing up for a summer camping vacation, you might want to consult my spring column on how to avoid—and treat—poison ivy, oak, and sumac.  (Treatment suggestions welcome!  I'm always looking for effective natural remedies.) 

 

 

Oregon's Pre-existing Condition

Like many Americans, I have a pre-existing condition. And as a freelancer who bought my own health insurance plan in New York City, it turns out I had it pretty good. As I reported this article for Portland Monthly, I discovered that New York is one of just a handful of states that's known as a "guaranteed issue" state: insurance companies in these states must cover residents who have pre-existing conditions, as long as they've had continuous coverage. To my dismay, in Oregon (where I recently moved) it's nearly impossible to find affordable health insurance that will cover all of me—namely the autoimmune disease I've had since college. In the story, I interview Nancy Metcalf, senior program editor at Consumer Reports Health, who told me that, if you're self-employed and searching for a good health insurance plan, which state you live in matters way more than you think it does. (Massachusetts, for example, covers everyone who is uninsured, subsidizing residents who are at 300 percent of the poverty level or less. The really poor don't pay any premium; the moderately poor can find plans that start at $39 a month.) I also spoke at length to OSPIRG's Laura Etherton, a super knowledgeable local health care advocate, and sat in on an Oregon Healthy Policy Board meeting), which gave me insight into how Oregon's plan dovetails with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (Though imperfect—for one thing, it won't require insurance companies cover adults with pre-existing conditions until 2014—Obama's legislation is worth fighting for, and I was happy to read in the Times this morning that Demoratic senators and reps are doing just that.)

The Kombucha Craze

Last summer, while visiting friends in Portland, Oregon, I had my first sip of kombucha. After a morning hike up the trails of hilly Forest Park, we stopped at a food co-op near Northwest 23rd.

Renee was keen on having some kombucha.

"What's kombucha?" I asked. Somehow, I hadn't yet noticed the fermented tea creeping into the aisles of Brooklyn bodegas and grocery stores.

"You know that jar of liquid on the sink with a blob fermenting in it?" she said. I had to admit, I'd been afraid to ask what that was. It looked like some sort of liquid compost. 

At first, I thought it was nasty. Sour with a slight carbonation and little wisps of what I would later learn is a SCOBY ("Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast"), kombucha tasted more like fizzy cider vinegar than tea. But over the course of a few days, kombucha started to grow on me. I learned that it's a traditional fermented tea with a long history in China, Russia, and the Middle East, and that it's packed with B vitamins, probiotics, folic acid, and organic acids of various sorts (though which ones is a matter of some dispute). I experimented with several flavors of GT's, a popular brand that I found in ready supply at Portland's New Seasons Market. On my return to Brooklyn, I began seeking out local brews such as Kombucha Brooklyn. Thus began my fascination with this tart, fizzy beverage.

As I write in the March issue of Body + Soul (Download Hannah Wallace- Strange Brew) kombucha is the latest health craze, with indie companies and giants alike jumping on the kombucha bandwagon. (Red Bull has its very own label called Carpe Diem, and Celestial Seasonings is about to launch their own line of bottled kombucha, too.) Purportedly, the drink has all kinds of health benefits—devotees say it boosts the immune system, promotes energy, and improves everything from acne and digestion to arthritis pain and tendinitis. (Others swear by it as a hangover remedy.) But in the course of reporting this story, I found it very difficult to find even one M.D. who would champion the beverage. One, a well-known integrative physician, wrote simply, "As far as I can tell, the buzz is mostly hype—not much research behind it. For that reason, I’ve been reluctant to recommend it to my patients, although I don’t actively discourage it either."

 As with many healthy foods and supplements, kombucha hasn't had a groundswell of research dollars to help prove or disprove the health claims. For now, we only have a few in vitro and animal studies that show kombucha has potent antioxidant and immuno-stimulating effects. (It also improves sleep and reduces pain in rats, apparently, though don't ask me how the scientists know the rats sleep better once they've imbibed kombucha.)

But many holistic doctors and nutritionists spoke to me of seeing their patients improve once they introduced kombucha (and other fermented foods) into their diets. Brooke Moen, a San Francisco-based acupuncturist, told me that B vitamins, live enzymes, and organic acids are all crucial for good digestive health. "B vitamins are one of the things that get wiped out when the gut is imbalanced," she says. "And enzymes catalyze processes. They move things along, break things down."

Though Moen is skeptical of many of the health claims made about kombucha, she says it's not uncommon for many conditions to improve when a person's digestive tract is working properly. "Digestion is the foundation of health. Anytime you improve assimilation and elimination, the rest of your symptoms resolve," she says. From a chinese medicine perspective, sour and bitter flavors can "move liver congestion and qi stagnation"—meaning they assist the liver and gallbladder in breaking down and removing toxins. "A fundamental treatment principle for much illness is to help move that which is stuck," Moen told me. 

See here for my guide to making your own batch at home.

 

Solutions for Dry Hair, Chapped Skin and other Winter Blahs

 

As the snow continues to fall here in New York City, it seems an appropriate time to mention my last column for Endless Vacation travel magazine, a round-up of the best products for lackluster skin, static-prone hair and chapped hands. Unfortunately, it's not available online, but here are a few of my favorites: Kiehl's Imperial Body Balm, an ultra-rich cream that contains sea-buckthorn berry, a beta-carotene-rich fruit, and shea butter; Andrew Weil's Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Face Cream (a splurge at $61 for a small jar, but a little goes a long way); and the Body Shop's Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo. (Actually, my favorite product for staticky hair is the Body Shop's banana conditioner, which has just been re-released after a hiatus of 15 years.) I also include some drugstore finds such as A+D ointment (good for chapped skin and as a nighttime eye cream) and jojoba oil (for splashing on after a shower or bath).

My most recent E.V. column, on how to avoid heat-related maladies, seems entirely inappropriate for the current weather conditions. But it'll serve you well should you be headed to a tropical locale. (And if you are, I'm envious!)

The Globalization of Healthcare

As we continue to debate (and debate and debate) health-care reform in this country, many Americans who are either uninsured or under-insured are traveling abroad for health care. And not just for plastic surgery or dental work, as I found out while writing this article for Endless Vacation (RCI's travel magazine).

The savings are enormous, even, unbelievably, when you factor in international airfare and luxury hotels. In India, which has an array of top-end facilities including Wockhard and Apollo Hospitals, the average price for medical care is 80% less than it is here in the U.S., according to Devon Herrick, senior fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis in Washington D.C.

Adventurous travelers are heading to Costa Rica for dental work, India for high-tech heart and orthopedic surgeries (including hip resurfacing, which is not widely practiced in the U.S.), and Turkey for oncology care. And the total number of "health tourists" is only expected to rise in coming years, according to health economists. 

If you're intrigued, check out these 7 tips which I gleaned from Josef Woodman, author of Patients Beyond Borders: Everybody's Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical Travel.

Coffee: is it Good or Bad for your Health?

A latte at Portland's 3rd St. Stumptown, August 2009

The news about coffee couldn't get much better: drinking it lessens one’s risk of type 2 diabetes, liver cirrhosis and gallstones—not to mention heart disease and cancer. It's a legal performance-enhancer. And according to a recent Finnish study, drinking 3-5 cups a day can even stave off dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Yet, as I write in the latest issue of Body + Soul (pg. 127), coffee does have some downsides—and some people can tolerate the beverage better than others.

In the course of my research, I discovered that coffee actually has a long history of medicinal use. In the 14th century, Arab women would drink it to alleviate menstrual discomforts; the Turks, for their part, claimed coffee was an aphrodisiac. The Indian Materia Medica prescribes coffee for everything from infant cholera to spasmodic asthma and states that coffee “assists assimilation and digestion” and even protects against malaria. In Chinese medicine, coffee would be classified as a medicinal herb that regulates liver qi and purges the gallbladder—which is to say it improves mood and promotes the production and flow of bile. (This explains coffee’s ability to prevent the formation of gallstones and alleviate constipation.) 

Despite coffee's proven health benefits, many in the holistic health world scorn the beverage, saying coffee depletes the adrenal glands (among other things). Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., the director of the Institute for Traditional Medicine in Portland, Oregon, disagrees. “The frequently repeated comment that caffeine causes adrenal exhaustion was based on one old and not repeated animal study,” he told me. Nonetheless, he acknowledges that coffee is not right for everyone and says moderation is key: one to three 6-8 ounce cups a day is a good range. (A Starbucks “Tall” is 12 ounces—so try to limit yourself to two Talls. And lay off the Frappuccinos. Such sugar-laden beverages are “just a mess” says Dharmananda.)

Coffee—which comes from a berry, let’s not forget—is a traditional beverage with a long history of being enjoyed by various cultures: it’s been cultivated since at least the 13th century, when Arabians began roasting and grinding the beans before brewing the bitter elixir. Michael Pollan's by-now well known edict “Don't eat anything your great-great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food” has become my mantra. I’m sure my great-great-grandmother, who lived in Baltimore in the first half of the 20th century, wouldn’t know what to make of a Frappuccino. But I bet she drank and savoured her coffee. And so, then, will I.

Mercury + your health

Mercury is a heavy metal that’s found naturally in the earth’s crust. But there’s nothing natural about the amount of mercury that’s released into the atmosphere these days: 104 metric tons a year, according to the EPA. Coal-fired power plants, which generate over half of the U.S.’s electricity, are the nation’s largest source of mercury emissions. But mercury is also emitted from municipal and hazardous waste combustors, medical waste incinerators, and chloralkali plants (chlorine-producing factories) and it finds its way into our water via the improper disposal of batteries and other mercury-containing products such as thermometers, thermostat switches and even compact fluorescent light bulbs. 

From these combined sources, elemental mercury accumulates in lakes, streams and oceans, where it converts into methylmercury and is absorbed by fish. Large predatory fish—those that live longest and are higher on the food chain, such as tuna, swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish—contain more mercury than small fish. 

But as I report in the June issue of Body + Soul (tear sheet here: Download Hannah Wallace- Mercury+ Health), the list of high-mercury fish is much longer than the FDA would have us believe—and it's not just pregnant women and children who need to beware. Jane Hightower M.D., author of the riveting book Diagnosis: Mercury: Money, Politics, and Poison, discovered through diligent detective-work that many of her patients—otherwise healthy adults—were suffering from mercury toxicity. The reason? Thinking that fish (packed as it is with brain-boosting omega-3's) is healthier than meat, they were eating it (sushi, fresh swordfish steaks, you name it) two to three times a day.

I wouldn't doubt it if Jeremy Piven really did have mercury poisoning. His symptoms—extreme fatigue, dizziness, and neuro-muscular dysfunction—are the very ones that Hightower has seen in her San Francisco-based patients. Once again, moderation seems to be the key to a healthy life. Meanwhile, instead of listening to the FDA, I'll be consulting the Environmental Working Group's sensible, fact-based list of fish to avoid.

Pathfinders in Public Health

I wrote this article about Mount Holyoke alumnae who are spearheading important public health projects before the swine flu epidemic hit.  But this outbreak (just like the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe, and the very real dilemma of antibiotic resistance here in the U.S.A.) shows just how vital preventive measures are—and I'm glad to see that President Obama is focusing on prevention. Since his deputy chief of staff is a Mount Holyoke alumnae, I'd like to think she read this article carefully—particularly the answers these five women gave to my question What would you ask President Obama to do for public health? 

The Truth about Lipitor

Sally Fallon's talk last week inspired me to delve into the latest research on cholesterol and statins. Though this investigative article is over a year old (it was BusinessWeek's cover story last January 17th), it's one of the most thorough I could find on the subject of statins (specifically, Pfizer's blockbuster drug Lipitor) and their inability to significantly reduce heart attacks in any but those who have already had heart disease. 

Journalist John Carey's main points, in case you don't have time to read the whole thing:

1. Pfizer has mislead the public (as most pharmaceutical companies do) by using this dramatic statistic in its ads: Lipitor reduces the risk of heart attack by 36%. Read the fine print, and you'll see that in a large clinical study, only 1 person out of 100 was spared a heart attack after taking Lipitor for 3 years. (In scientific parlance, Lipitor has a very high NNT—number needed to treat—of 100. Compare that to the standard antibiotic therapy to treat H. pylori stomach bacteria, which has an NNT of 1.1—10 out of 11 people will be cured.) 

2. 10-15% of statin users suffer side effects including muscle pain, cognitive impairments, and sexual dysfunction. Small prices to pay if you're definitely preventing a heart attack. But if after 3 years of these unhappy developments you only reduce your risk of coronary events by 1 out of 100—you have to ask yourself if Lipitor is worth taking. (Not to mention its high price tag—if not to you directly, then to insurance companies, Medicare, and ultimately back to you via taxes.)

3. Though Lipitor indisputably lowers cholesterol levels, many scientists are raising doubts that we need to drive down our cholesterol levels in the first place. (i.e. the whole cholesterol hypothesis of heart disease is under intense scrutiny.)  As Dr. Ronald M. Krauss, director of atherosclerosis research at the Oakland Research Institute says in the article, "When you look at patients with heart disease, their cholesterol levels are not that [much] higher than those without heart disease."  John Carey, the reporter, continues:

Compare countries, for example. Spaniards have LDL levels similar to Americans', but less than half the rate of heart disease. The Swiss have even higher cholesterol levels, but their rates of heart disease are also lower. Australian aborigines have low cholesterol but high rates of heart disease.

It's starting to look like Sally Fallon and Mary Enig, Gary Taubes, Uffe Ravnskov (author of the out-of-print "Cholesterol Myths"), and other "cholesterol skeptics" (as they're known) should not have been so quickly dismissed.

The Oiling of America—why saturated fats deserve a second chance

Last night, I attended a riveting talk by Sally Fallon, president and founder of the Weston A. Price Foundation and author of Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats. The sanctuary of the Community Church of New York was packed—a sign to me that even New Yorkers have an increased interest in the traditional diets that Price encountered on his travels around the world in the 1930's.

Tall and regal, with a mane of white hair, Fallon stepped up to the podium and began detailing the history of the lipid hypothesis, which is, of course, still accepted as the gospel Truth in the U.S.  Americans ate a diet high in saturated fats in the early 20th century (to illustrate, Fallon read a list of buttery, creamy, lard-filled recipes from an 1895 cookbook published by the Baptist society of Illinois), yet the first recorded heart attack wasn't until 1921. By the time Americans had shifted their diets to include more vegetable oils and processed foods in the 1960s, 500,000 were dying of heart attack.

Two theories emerged as to why so many Americans were suddenly dying of heart disease. One was that vegetable oils, which had recently been introduced into the diet, were to blame; the other was the diet-heart theory (aka the lipid hypothesis)—that Americans were eating too much saturated fat and had high serum cholesterol levels. Despite the fact that there was little evidence for the latter (in fact, a study by Harvard pathologists Lande and Sperry of 1936 showed that there was no correlation between cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis), the lipid hypothesis was the theory that was promoted "with great vigor," according to Fallon. An organization was even founded to promote it and something called the "prudent diet": the American Heart Association.

I won't reiterate the entire sordid saga—which is full of industry pressure (Proctor & Gamble, et all), doctored study results, and plenty of medical professionals who were skeptical of the lipid hypothesis, including the American Medical Association—but I did have two "A-ha" moments. One was when Fallon told us how Mary Enig, who did her PhD thesis on trans fats at the University of Maryland, realized that most foods that contained trans fats (margarine, vegetable shortening, cookies, chips, etc.) were not labeled as such—food companies actually listed trans fats as saturated fats until the 1980's. So researchers using government databases (in particular, one called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey or NHANES II) came to the erroneous conclusion that saturated fats were causing disease—when in fact trans fats were to blame.  Every epidemiological study done before 1980 (that had to do with saturated fat intake and heart disease), Fallon says, is extremely suspect.

The other was that the Framingham Heart study (one of the three studies most often cited by our government to bolster the lipid hypothesis) was presented in a misleading way. (See slide #13 on Fallon's PPT presentation.) The intervals on the bar graph start out evenly spaced (with 30 points between each cholesterol number), but the final interval is a whopping 830 points—making the increase in heart disease at the upper-end of the cholesterol spectrum appear drastic. Fallon showed us what the heart disease line would look like if the intervals were evenly spaced, with 30 points between cholesterol numbers: it's almost horizontal. The upshot: if your cholesterol level is 1000 (a very rare condition) you have a slightly increased risk of heart disease.

I'm going to stop there, because I hope to write more about this controversial subject in the future. But for those who are interested, here's a link to "The Oiling of America" talk on DVD and an article version is on the Weston A. Price site.

Minimizing Jet Lag

In my humble opinion, there's nothing new to say about how to minimize the effects of Jet Lag—sleep on the plane (if you're one of the lucky few who can), take melatonin at your new bedtime, and start eating & sleeping on the new time zone ASAP.  (And frankly, the only thing that works for me is a First Class lie-flat seat and time—one day for each hour I'm crossing.) But while reporting this month's column for Endless Vacation, I did learn that melatonin is not available over-the-counter in countries such as Germany. Also, my doubts about the controlled-release version of Ambien (Ambien CR) were confirmed by Dr. Teitelbaum, who says many of his patients have found it to be mildly addictive. (It's a much higher dose than regular ambien—12.5 mg. versus 5 or 10 mg.) 

Travel health Insurance

Let's be honest. When was the last time you clicked that little box "I want trip insurance" when you bought a plane ticket online?

But you should. Most private health insurance plans don't cover medical expenses incurred outside of the U.S. —and rarely do they cover evacuation to the nearest hospital, which may be a problem if you're in rural China or hiking a mountain in Peru. And don't think that you're impervious to accident or illness just because you're traveling to a western city such as London or Paris. 

After reporting this story, I decided to check that box. For only $80 or so extra per trip, I'm covered for up to $10,000 in medical expenses and $20,000 in emergency medical transportation but also $500 in case of flight delay and 125% of my trip's cost if my trip is interrupted. 

Herbal remedies on-the-go

Valerian or melatonin?  Airborne or Emergen-C? Natural "alternative" remedies are all the rage—but do they really work? And which of the many out there work best for specific complaints? 

I interviewed Naturopathic Doctor Joseph Pizzorno, a leading authority on science-based natural medicine and President Emeritus of Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington for this E.V. column to find out which therapies are best for five common travel maladies and why.  

Preventing Migraines/ Vogue

Check out my one page story (Download Vogue) in the April issue of Vogue ("Sweet Relief," pg. 253) on how to prevent migraine headaches with "alternative" treatments such as acupuncture and feverfew. I came up with the idea after reading Judith Warner's nytimes.com  blog about her struggle with chronic migraines and how amitriptyline (her regular medication) wasn't working well anymore (and caused nasty side effects).  That blog received an outpouring of letters from other  migraineurs—572 of them at last count—many of which advised Warner to try acupuncture, magnesium supplements, biofeedback or other complementary treatments.  I did some research and realized that, while more studies are needed, many alternative treatments have a great deal of scientific research behind them.

Why I Love Europe, reason #223

If you aren't a member of RCI, you've probably never heard of Endless Vacation, the travel magazine that I write a health column for.  But that's O.K., I'm giving you the unexpurgated version of the story I wrote for the March/April issue on a subject dear to my heart: European thermal baths. (The published version had to be drastically cut for space—something I don't have to worry about on this here blog.) Feel free to leave your comments, especially if you've been to any of these and want to weigh in with your own experiences.

But here's the "On Location" I wrote about our recent visit to the Engadin Bad Scuol in Switzerland. 

THE WATER CURE
by hannah wallace

In America, spas are typically high-end affairs. You go for one or two (expensive) treatments, and only then do you gain access to the sauna, steam room, and whirlpool (there’s usually only one of each). Europe’s classic thermal spas are a breed unto themselves. Enormous complexes that you can get lost in, they have mazes of indoor mineral pools—hot and cold, with fountains and jets—circuits of steam rooms, saunas (of varying temperatures and styles), foot baths, and cold plunge pools that you cycle through until your body is flushed and wrinkled. There are even "relaxation chairs" where you can nap after the exhausting activity of taking the waters.

The Romans were bathing fanatics—recognizing the healing properties of mineral water, they built their towns around springs and founded elaborate bathing complexes. “Taking the cure” became fashionable again in the 19th and early 20th centuries when soaking in thermal waters was prescribed for everything from arthritis and rheumatism to sterility and gastrointestinal ailments, but fell out of favor after the second World War, with advances in medicine. But now that the link between stress and disease has been established, wellness is a priority again and thermal baths are no longer the domain of elderly pensioners who’ve come to convalesce. These days, Europe’s classic baths attract a mix of fit young couples, athletes, and even families who come to lose themselves in a timeless ritual and relax with a range of treatments, from aromatherapy massages and mud packs to colonics and drinking cures (imbibing mineral water).

Traditions vary from country to country, but generally, you should allow two to three hours for steaming, soaking, and plunging.  The circuit goes something like this: 20 minutes in a steam room or sauna followed by a cold plunge, followed by another steaming session or soak in a thermal pool, followed by another cold plunge.  At any point you can sit and rest or read a book in the “relaxing room” (a concept American spas should make note of), where you drink copious amounts of mineral water to replenish your fluids. Showering before entering the baths is compulsory. Rules about nudity vary—in the German and Swiss traditions, nudity is strictly enforced in the sauna areas (though not in the baths themselves), whereas in England and Turkey, you must wear bathing suits (or in the case of Turkey, tea towels) at all times. (See “etiquette” for specific customs, below.)

Austria
Therme Rogner Bad Blumau, Styria(43/0) 3383-5100-0; www.blumau.com; Day rate $54 [37€])  (Double room at the hotel are $366 [250€] and include unlimited spa access and two meals.)

This colorful spa hotel, designed by the Austrian artist/ecologist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, looks like something out of a fairy-tale orchestrated by Gustav Klimt. There are no right angles—Hundertwasser was famous for his rejection of the straight line—and the curvy, multi-hued buildings sprout grass from their roofs. The thermal baths are magical, too: indoor and outdoor pools, heated to a lukewarm 97 degrees, are connected by a swimmable tunnel and encircled by whimsical bridges and terraces. Even hotter and more healing is Vulkania lake, which draws from volcanic springs 9,000 feet below the earth’s surface. Soaking in this piping hot 230-degree water, which is high in salt and mineral content, speeds up metabolism, promotes blood circulation, and firms and smoothes the skin. Though you can order a medical consultation, the focus here is on wellness through stress management: in addition to flower essence massages, acupuncture, and sound therapy, you can take Tai Chi and yoga classes as well as aerobics and Masai MBT walking. (Guests at the 312-room hotel get unlimited access to the hot springs as breakfast and dinner at one of 9 on-site restaurants.)

Etiquette: Swim suits are required everywhere except for the sauna area, which is a nude zone.

Czech Republic
Marienbad (Mariánské Lazné) (www.marienbad.cz; Day spa packages start at $113 [77€], but any single treatment at the spa includes entrance to the baths; A classical spa stay, with room at Nove Lazne (the best hotel in town) is $183 [125 €] and includes two medical exams, full board, unlimited access to the baths, and a customized cure plan that includes 3-4 spa treatment a day.

In its heyday in the 1850's, this spa town attracted 20,000 visitors a year—including Goethe, Frédéric Chopin, Thomas Edison, and King Edward VII. Treatments range from the spa-like (dry brush massage, peat wraps) to the medical (acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, gas therapy)—you can even get an EKG ($22 [15€]) or a urine analysis ($3 [2€]). Yet the focus here is on the “drinking cure”: imbibing large quanitities of mineral water each day to stimulate the kidneys, improve digestion and increase absorption of minerals from food. (Marienbad has six different springs, each with its own mineral composition, each targeting a different ailment.) Though the on-site doctors will treat any condition, the focus here is on kidney and urinary tract disorders as well as infertility and sexual dysfunction. (Gas therapy, in case you were wondering, helps men who have recently had prostate surgery “improve their manhood.”)

Etiquette: the Czech bathing culture takes its cue from the German tradition: swim suits are verboten in the steam rooms and saunas. Though they are optional in the mineral pools, suits are required in the swimming pool.

England
Thermae Bath Spa, Bath (44-01225-33-1234; www.thermaebathspa.com; Day rate $108 [£52])
Health tourists have flocked to Bath since at least AD 70, when the Romans built Aquae Sulis here, a sophisticated bathing complex dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva. Fed by mineral-rich springs, the roman baths were said to cure everything from rheumatic and muscular disorders to skin ailments and respiratory problems. These days, after a $48 million [£23] upgrade, Thermae Bath Spa attracts a new breed of wellness-seeker: those for whom a caviar facial is just as healing as “taking the waters” in a 114.8-degree springs. The New Royal Bath, Sir Nicholas Grimshaw’s strikingly modern glass box, contains two thermal baths—one an open-air rooftop pool with views of the city—and four steam rooms, each infused with a different aromatherapy oil: lavender, mountain pine, eucalyptus mint, or jasmine. For an extra charge, you can also soak in two historic baths, the intimate Cross Bath ($27 [£13] for 90 minutes) and the Hot Bath (reserved for Watsu massage treatments). Though there are no week-long programs here, you can sign up for individual spa treatments or a day-long package such as the “Thermae Top to Toe”: a 4-hour spa session, followed by a 2-course meal, use of the Kraxen Stove (a steam room with alpine hay), a full-body massage, and a facial. (Cost: $261 [£125])

Etiquette: Swimming costumes (as the Brits put it) are required in all baths, steam rooms, and pools.

Germany
Baden-Baden  (www.carasana.de) Day rate (4 hours) $23 [16 €] for Caracalla Spa and $43 [29 € 3.5 hours, including brush massage] for Friedrichsbad)
“I fully believe I left my rheumatism in Baden-Baden,” Mark Twain wrote in A Tramp Abroad. The pure waters here, which spurt from a depth of 6,500 feet, haven’t changed much since Twain’s visit in the 1880’s: they’re still touted for healing rheumatism and other chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. (German doctors also prescribe visits for patients with spinal and locomotive disorders, degenerative spine disease, and broken bones.) There are two equally seductive complexes: the grande, marble-columned, 32,000 square-foot Caracalla Spa, with its multitude of pools and grottos and recently renovated sauna area (which includes the space-age “blue space” relaxation room and two log cabin saunas); or the neo-classical Roman-Irish Friedrichsbad, with its momentous Beaux Arts dome, where bathers follow a traditional 17-step ritual that includes steaming, soaking, and an invigorating scrub-brush massage (it’s good for the circulation). For an extra charge, you can work out at the ArenaVita fitness center or get a Lomi-lomi massage or anti-aging facial at the CaraVitalis spa.

Etiquette: Nudity strictly enforced at Friedrichsbad (though linen towels are provided for stages 1-5); bathing suits are worn in the bathing area of Caracalla, but not in the saunas and steam rooms, where they are verboten.  (Friedrichsbad has single-sex days; however, men and women still meet up for several stages of the circuit.) 

Hungary
Saint Gellért Medicinal Bath and Pools, Budapest (36-1-452-4500;
www.gellertfurdo.hu; Day rate $18 [3,100 florin])

Though Budapest didn’t earn the nickname “City of Spas” until the 1930’s, it has been known for its thermal springs since the Romans colonized the area west of the River Danube, calling it Aquincum (abundant in water). Today, of the fifteen baths still in use, the most famous is the Art Nouveau Saint Gellért Baths, with nine medicinal pools, five saunas, a solarium, an indoor effervescent pool (with underwater jets), and an open-air wave pool. The opulent facilities (currently undergoing an extensive renovation) evoke the early 20th century when the spa was built: there are domed ceilings, marble pillars, bronze statues, and colorful mosaic floors. The mineral waters—rich in calcium, magnesium, sodium, and fluoride ions—are used to treat everything from migraines and sports-related injuries to arthritis and osteoporosis. In addition to massages, pedicures, and mud packs, you can order up medicinal treatments such as an underwater beam massage, inhalation therapy (for those who suffer from asthma or chronic bronchitis), and even dental surgery (there is an on-site dental clinic). Top the whole experience off by sunbathing on the roof terrace.

Etiquette: bathing suits required in baths and saunas. (This may change after the renovation in late 2008.)

Italy
Adler Thermae, Tuscany (39 0577 889 001; www.adler-thermae.com; Doubles from $315 [215€], includes unlimited use of the baths and sauna area. Day rate $161 [110€], includes access to pools, sauna park and 1 massage; Weekly stays start at 1,862 [1270€])

The ancient Etruscans and then the Romans venerated the healing thermal waters of Bagno Vignoni. The Adler, a classic terme (Italian for mineral spring) at a lavish hotel, draws on these same springs today, providing guests with a mix of sulphate, bicarbonate, calcium and magnesium that’s good for the bones, joints, and skin. In addition to soaking in the enormous, curving outdoor pool (heated to 96.8 degrees), you can make the rounds from an herbal-infused steam room to a Finnish sauna (made of olive tree wood, which emits oils that are good for the skin), to a seductive salt water grotto, and the “Grotta del Filosofa” (a steambath in a candle-lit cave). Resident doctor Thomas Platzer can give you a medical check-up, test you for food allergies, and treat you with herbs and bach flower remedies.

Etiquette: No suits in the sauna park or steam rooms (though towels can be worn); suits are worn in the thermal pools, but not the the salt water grotto.

Switzerland
Bon Engadina Scuol, Scuol, (41-81-861-20-00;
www.scuol.ch/de/navpage-BognEngiadinaSCUOL.html; 3 hours from $22 [25SF]; entrance to the Roman-Irish bath (includes use of regular bath + sauna area) is $59 [66SF]

The highlight of this complex, located in Switzerland’s Lower Engadine Valley, is the Roman-Irish bath. Like the Friedrichsbad at Baden-baden, it’s an ordered circuit of steaming, relaxing, bathing, and scrubbing where you lose track of time; however, here, you can reserve it for two to four people, meaning you get complete privacy. The regular bathing area isn’t bad either: the steamy outdoor pool, with jets and waterfalls to pummel your sore muscles, has views of the Dolomite mountains. The indoor pool, surrounded by jacuzzis of varying temperatures, a steam room, and relaxation chairs, is ideal for families. Utterly peaceful is the adults-only sauna area, which has an outdoor Finnish sauna (203 degrees F [95 C]), a cold plunge pool, foot baths, and a quiet relaxation room. You’re also encouraged to drink the water here, which is rich in calcium, magnesium, and carbon dioxide and is good for the stomach and digestive system. Spa treatments—everything from underwater massages to Fango treatments—and medical examinations are also available for an extra charge.

Etiquette: Bathing suits required in the thermal pools; you must shed them for the sauna area and the Roman-Irish bath.

The Revolution Will Not be Pasteurized!

There aren't that many reporters who cover the raw milk beat, but I was happy to see an 8-page story on the subject by Nathanael Johnson in the current issue (April) of Harper's magazine. Those of you who read my story in Salon.com (click here for a refresher), should take a look. 

While it covers some of the same material that I did in my article, Johnson talks at length to Michael Schmidt, the Canadian farmer who went on a hunger strike after his farm was raided by national health inspectors, and  also visits Mark McAfee at Organic Pastures.   It's a great read and further evidence that there is a growing need in this country for unprocessed, whole, REAL foods that are made on a small scale by farmers who care more about the quality of their food (in this case, milk and other dairy products) than the bottom line.   

Vegie Dogs? I think not.

I laughed when an editor at Vegetarian Times asked me to write a story answering the question, "Should my dog (or cat) go Vegetarian?"  My unequivocal answer was "NO!"  How could I write a 1300-word story saying, in effect, um, no?  But once I began researching the issue, I realized that there are actually a whole lot of vegies and vegans out there—not to mention companies who cater to them—who try to get their naturally carnivorous pets to eat garbanzo beans and quinoa. There's even an organization called the Vegan Dog Nutrition Association. 

As I say in the article (Download 0308_VegPets), if you want your pet to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle, you should stick with a "companion animal" that's naturally vegan such as a rabbit or a guinea pig.  My cats (this is Iris, above) love fruit and vegies, but I would never think of depriving them of the food that gives them the most sustenance (and pleasure): meat. And yes, they prefer it raw. (Current favorite brand is Primal from San Francisco.) 

Toxic Mattresses?

If you're like me, you probably never gave much thought to your mattress—other than making sure it's firm and comfortable. Well, if you're chemically sensitive or at all concerned about your health, you should read my article, "Nocturnal Emissions," in the current (March/April) issue of Mother Jones.   

While researching this piece, I was surprised to learn that most mattresses are made of polyurethane foam, which in turn is made from petroleum. Polyurethane foam is highly flammable—in the insurance industry, it’s referred to as “solid gasoline.” (Once lit, mattresses release intense heat, large quantities of dense smoke, and toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen cyanide.) In 1972, in an attempt to reduce the number of deaths caused by fires started in the bedroom, the U.S. Department of Commerce adopted the first federal mattress flammability regulation, which required that all mattresses made or sold in this country be resistant to a lit cigarette.    Today, however, mattress companies must comply with both the "cigarette smoldering" test and a new open-flame standard. To pass these tests, overseen by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, companies are treating mattress fabrics with fire-resistant chemicals. (We don't even know which ones since most conventional mattress companies are being very tight-lipped, calling their flame-retardant blends "proprietary.")

A note about PBDEs, the flame retardant chemicals that cause liver, thyroid, and nervous system toxicity.

In 2004, the European Union banned penta- and octaBDE (used in personal computers and small appliances), a step the EPA has so far refused to take—largely because U.S. government and regulatory agencies require proof that a product is dangerous before pulling it, whereas in Europe, manufacturers bear the burden of proving that a product is safe. (The EPA does require manufacturers to notify it if they plan to use either penta- or octaBDE, and the sole U.S. manufacturer of these chemicals phased out production in 2004.) However, two states have followed the EU’s lead, banning the sale of products containing these two PBDEs—Maine (in 2005) and California (in June 2006).

From the 1980's until the end of 2004, though, pentaBDE was the main flame retardant chemical used on polyurethane foam.   

Here's some background that was cut from my story for space:

Whether or not PBDEs were used in mattresses is a controversial issue. While anti-PBDE activists and green mattress advocates contend that mattresses made in this country before 2004 likely contain PBDEs, Luedecka of the Polyurethane Foam Association says that untreated polyurethane foam itself is resistant to smoldering ignition—so mattress companies would not have had any reason to treat their foam with fire resistant chemicals. “Polyurethane foam itself is an efficient thermoplastic—meaning without fire retardants it shrinks and retreats from a radiant heat source,” says Luedecka. In other words, mattresses made of polyurethane foam would’ve passed the federal smoldering test with flying colors. However, Luedecka admits that there were requests from mattress companies that insisted their foam be fire resistant in order to meet California’s open flame regulation for furniture, TB 117. (Passed in 1975, this standard required that all furniture sold in California pass an open flame test; though mattresses weren’t included in this proviso until 2005, some companies, according to Luedecka, still asked that their mattresses comply.) Ironically, then, California—known for its environmental leadership—unwittingly encouraged the use of PBDEs when it adopted this stringent legislation.

Bottom line?  While the chances that your pre-2004 mattress contains PBDEs is small, there are other chemicals in conventional mattresses that you may not want to sleep next to every night, particularly if you are chemically sensitive or have a weak immune system.   (Note that while "green" mattresses are expensive--in the story, I quote Savvy Rest's queen-sized model selling for $1,599, that's not THAT much more than a queen-sized mattress from Simmons, which is $1,000.) 

I'll leave you with this quote, from Michael Penny, owner of the Virginia-based organic mattress company Savvy Rest. 

“Thirty to forty years ago, tobacco companies would’ve said that there was no conclusive proof that cigarettes were bad for your health,” says Penny. “But back then, someone who was mindful of her health would’ve said, ‘I’m not sure it’s bad for me—but I’m sure it’s not good for me, either.’”

Happiness @ Work?

A few years ago, when I was an editor at Travel + Leisure, I was diagnosed with two herniated disks. Though far from incapacitated, I quickly realized that sitting made the pain much worse—unfortunate, since much of my job required me to plant myself at a desk or sit through frequent (and lengthy) editorial meetings. I tried taking periodic water cooler breaks and sitting with crossed legs (better), but the pressure was still intense and the sciatica eventually became unbearable. The only positions that gave me true relief were headstands, lying flat on my back, and standing. Since the former two were out of the question at the office, I focused on standing. Driven by pain, I knocked on my managing editor’s door. Could I possibly get a new desk?  One that’s 60 inches off the floor so that I can stand while editing? After hearing me out, he promised to put in a request for one. A month or two later, I had a chic black custom-made desk that was the envy of the office. Even the fashion-forward art director coveted my new setup, but more importantly, my action inspired another colleague who had been struggling with severe pain from her own herniated disks, to request a similar desk in her cubicle.

Sometimes, achieving a measure of happiness at work is as easy as the old adage, “ask and you shall receive.”

A former colleague of mine, now an editor at Body + Soul, asked me to write about what innovative U.S. companies are doing to keep their employees happy—and six things that you can do to take charge of your situation (be it office environment, setting boundaries, or initiating perks that no one else has thought of) if you're not lucky enough to work for one of these progressive companies.   Check out the March issue of Body + Soul, or click here to read an abbreviated version of the print edition.  (The online version is shorter and it's also broken down into two components, with the second part here.)    

Wet those eyes

Luckily, I don't have chronic dry eyes. But my mom and 9 million other Americans (according to the Schepens Eye Research Inst. at Harvard) do.   Check out my What's the Alternative? on Dry Eye Syndrome in the current issue of Prevention for 3 remedies that'll help.

Healing Secrets from Around the World

As the winter approaches, maybe you can pick up a new health habit from this feature I did for the Nov. issue of Prevention on "the World's Best Natural Cures."

I'll add one that was cut for space:

Patrick Borgen M.D., breast cancer surgeon
STAY-HEALTHY SECRET: “I hit the road on my Harley motorcycle to clear my mind.”
Easy Rider Borgen says riding both keeps his brain focused and gives him a workout—it takes a lot of strength to control an 800-pound bike. But most of all, it gives his mind a break. “The biggest part of my job as a cancer surgeon is breaking bad news,” says Borgen. “On a bike, I’m able to push that to a back corner. When I get off, I feel that I’ve pressed the clear button on my calculator.”
TRY IT: You don’t have to ride a Harley to clear the mental cobwebs out. Any type of regular physical activity— be it riding a (ten-speed) bike or horseback riding—should do the trick. The key, says Borgen, is having a passion outside of work, “something that you can really look forward to.”
INSIDE INFO: An estimated 10 percent of the 6 million active motorcyclists in the U.S. are women, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.
Borgen, an expert on breast cancer in younger women,  is co-director of the Maimonides Cancer Center in Brooklyn and Chief of Breast Surgery.

Once you have HPV...

The controversies surrounding Gardasil, Merck’s new cervical cancer vaccine, have distracted the public from one simple fact: the vaccine is only FDA- approved for girls and women ages 9-25 who haven’t yet been exposed to the human papillomavirus (HPV).  So what are those of us who already have HPV—25 million women in the U.S., according to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control—supposed to do?  (HPV can lead to cervical cancer...and you may still carry HPV even after you've had the warts removed.) There's actually a lot you can do to stave off cervical cancer— from an alternative perspective. In my article in the current issue of Natural Health, I lay out the best-studied botanical remedies—from green tea to DIM—that are effective at reversing and preventing cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer. 

Motion Sickness

If you ever get seasick or carsick, check out my E. V. column on motion sickness for some useful tips.  

What's the alternative to antibiotics?

I had a bladder infection once in college, and I thought I was going to die from the pain.  So I fully understand the need for a quick fix—antibiotics.  However...if you're prone to UTIs, as some women are, repeated use of antibiotics can be rough on your body. (Not only that, they'll stop working eventually, as the e.coli bacteria learn resistance to them.)   A good friend recently had an extremely scary allergic reaction to Cipro, which she'd been prescribed repeatedly (over several years) to treat a chronic UTI. Anyway, as a result, I pitched this "What's the Alternative?" to Prevention.   

CLA: an omega-6 that's good for you

My story on conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)—a healthy fatty acid that's being extensively studied as a cancer fighter, metabolism booster, and anti-inflammatory compound (good for asthma and allergies)—is in the July/August issue of Natural Health. 

Let the Sun Shine!

After weeks of cold and rain, these last two days of near-80-degree weather have been a welcome gift. (Despite the fact that such erratic patterns are a sure sign of global warming.) To get a dose of Vitamin D, I went to the rooftop of our Brooklyn building and lay in the sun for 30 minutes before applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen. (More on the subject of Vitamin D and autoimmune diseases in a later article.)

Meanwhile, here's my latest travel/health article for Endless Vacation:
http://endlessvacation.com/TravelTactics/Article.aspx?id=35

Yoga Around the World

How do you find a good yoga or pilates studio when you travel? Check out this short item I wrote for the April issue of Travel + Leisure:
http://travelandleisure.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=C731B871-94C3-491C-A125CA2CF2831738.ASIDEBARS[2]

And if you're traveling to one of these 25 cities, here's a round-up of top yoga studios I tracked down for T+L.com: http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/25-top-yoga-studios-around-the-world

Volunteering for your health

Studies show that volunteering not only improves your mental health—but your physical health as well. Read my article on the subject in Natural Health.

Eating well on the go

Getting a wholesome meal at any domestic airport used to be a joke. Greasy pizza. Stale white bread sandwiches. And so on. As nutrition professor Marion Nestle said when I interviewed her for this article, "Oh Heaven help us. Airports!" 

But these days, many airports (and even some airlines) have begun offering healthier choices—whether it be sushi or snacks such as unsalted nuts, yogurt, and fresh fruit (that actually looks worth eating). Here are a few tips on how to eat better while traveling, for my Endless Vacation column. 

Antibiotic Resistance & You

Bacteria are smarter than we are, and are learning resistance to antibiotic drugs at a rapid pace. This is why certain bacterial infections return and return with increasing virulence, even though you're slamming your body with ever stronger, broader spectrum antibiotics.

My article on antibiotic resistance in the current (March 07) issue of Natural Health magazine explores these subjects.

The Udder Truth, Salon.com

Here's a link to my story on raw milk, published on Salon.com today.
salon.com/mwt/feature/2007/01/19/raw_milk/

Hung over?

For some tips on how to survive your hangover(s) this holiday season, take a look at this chart I wrote for Body + Soul's Jan/Feb. issue. Download Hangover I also recommend drinking one tall glass of water for each glass of wine, beer or liquor. (Note: the darker the beverage, the worse your hangover. So drink gin and tonics or white wine, not scotch or red wine.)

Real Food/ L.A. Times

Read my L.A. Times review of Nina Planck's important book, Real Food: What to Eat and Why

Heal Thyself—RX-Herniated Disc

Courtesy of Alternative Medicine
http://www.alternativemedicine.com

By Hannah Wallace

Oh, your aching back, you say? You’re not alone. At least 30 percent of otherwise healthy people over 40 have a herniated (also called slipped) disc, making this one of the most common causes of back pain in the US.

The cartilage discs in your back sit between each vertebra, cushioning them. Composed of 80 percent water, they have a jelly-like nucleus surrounded by a tough, fibrous membrane. Although strenuous activity or an accident can cause a herniated disc, often it results simply from aging: The nucleus becomes drier and more brittle with age, making the outer layer more prone to tears. A disc has “herniated” when the nucleus extrudes through one of these holes. It becomes painful if this gelatinous portion hits a nearby nerve.

Before you resort to commonly prescribed cortisone shots or spinal fusion surgery, however, here are two noninvasive options to aid your back and mitigate the pain.

• Hang upside-down
Sure, it’s a fun pastime for Batman, but what can it do for the rest of us? Actually, using an inversion table can help muscles relax, increase the space between the vertebrae, and ease lower back pain, according to Carol Davis, EdD, a physical therapist at the University of Miami. Inverting, says Davis, takes the pressure off the herniated disc, reduces swelling, and allows the surrounding inflamed nerves and tissues to heal.

Davis recommends three five-minute sessions a day on an inversion table. While you can buy a table and invert in your own home, it’s best to check with your doctor and try it first under the watchful eye of a licensed physical therapist.

• The Sacro Wedgy
Another solution to your lower back pain could involve a $30 pink plastic device that you place under your sacrum (the lowest portion of your spine) for 20 minutes each day. The Sacro Wedgy was invented by a football and track coach with a background in kinesiology, who found that balancing an athlete’s sacrum with his hand would decrease both lower back pain and piriformis syndrome (a spasming of the deep rotator muscle, often a result of a herniated disc).

Like inversion tables, the Sacro Wedgy uses gravity to give the body “natural” traction. Only, in this case, the Wedgy isolates the sacrum—holding it in a neutral position—so that the hips can drop, relax, and release.

Mya Breman, a craniosacral therapist at the Upledger Institute in Palm Beach, Florida, is a devoted Wedgy fan. “It’s brilliant,” she says. “It holds the sacrum like an anchor, so your hips can spread out on either side of you. It releases all the nerves and then all the muscles that affect the pain. Everything else can just let go.” Learn more: www.sacrowedgy.com

Beyond the Pill

Health Thyself: Yeast Infection

(Click to enlarge images.)