The People's Pharmacy

Millions of Americans are in pain. Arthritic joints make exercise difficult, even though moving is one of the best things we can do for joint pain. Pinched nerves can cause excruciating, long-lasting pain. The usual treatments, such as NSAIDs, may help ease the pain momentarily, but do nothing to help heal the underlying condition. What […]

This week, Joe and Terry discuss liver health with two specialists. You may not have spent much time thinking about your liver. It is, however, an absolutely essential organ. When the liver is working properly, every part of the body gets the nutrients it needs and no parts are exposed to damaging toxins. These are […]

A chance encounter with a stranger on an airplane offers lessons for all of us in how to disagree without fighting. Infectious disease expert Morgan Goheen, MD, was wary when the person in the seat next to hers struck up a conversation with questions about the origins of Lyme disease and the value of being […]

Chronic diseases make up the bulk of the problems that modern health care must address. Each condition seems to have its own drivers–cholesterol for heart disease, airway hyperreactivity for asthma, neurotransmitter imbalance for depression and other psychiatric disorders, a buildup of amyloid beta in the brain for Alzheimer disease. What if all these conditions had […]

Every five years, the Departments of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services jointly issue guidelines on what we should eat. The most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2025-2030) have been controversial. [Here is a link: https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov] Among other things, the administration decided to flip the food pyramid upside-down in illustrating its recommendations. Why did […]

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly seven million Americans currently suffer from that type of dementia. Experts expect that more will be burdened with it in the future, as baby boomers continue to reach advanced ages. Many people are eager to protect the brain from deterioration. In this episode, we discuss an unexpected approach to […]

Obesity is a big problem in the US. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says 2 out of every 5 American adults are obese. What’s more, one in three is overweight, with only about 25 percent of us at a healthy weight. It’s not just adults; children are increasingly suffering weight […]

Most medical interventions are either pharmacological–prescribe a drug–or surgical–remove or repair the offending body part. If those approaches are inappropriate, doctors long for a different technology. In this episode, we discuss the development of a relatively new noninvasive technology, focused ultrasound. Doctors use it to treat conditions such as Parkinson disease or essential tremor. It […]

Medicine has changed enormously over the last several decades. As with other parts of society, digital technology has disrupted previous practices. Clinicians can now care for patients at home, monitoring them with sophisticated sensors for oxygen saturation, heart rhythm, blood pressure and much more. Even more significant, patients now have greater access to medical knowledge […]

In this episode, we interview the doctor who first identified seasonal affective disorder (back in 1984!) and went on to develop treatments. Even when days are short (but getting longer, little by little) and skies are gray, you don’t have to suffer with a bleak outlook. Find out what you can do to counteract this […]

Inflammation is a double-edged sword. When you have a sudden injury or infection, your body responds by calling immune cells to the site of the problem. It may become red, swollen and painful, but all that is supposed to be part of the healing process. What happens with chronic inflammation is more insidious. Many serious […]

One of the most basic pillars of health is good nutrition. A range of eating patterns might all be considered balanced diets, but in general people do better when they eat less processed foods and more whole foods. Vegetables and fruits play a starring role in at least two diets that have been studied extensively, […]

Millions of people are feeling apprehensive these days. The headlines are enough to make almost anyone feel anxious. People who are distressed may have a difficult time finding a therapist, however. There are too few, and consequently many are not taking new patients. Wait lists are long, often three to six months. Therapists who are […]

Influenza usually starts in November, and cases increase throughout the winter, not fading until March or so. This year’s flu season is especially severe. An awful lot of people are suffering with fever, cough, congestion, body aches, headaches and other symptoms of influenza. Of course, flu is not the only infection out there. Other viruses […]

This week, we dig into the cooking oil controversy. For decades, we’ve heard that we should be using vegetable oils rather than butter, lard or other fats (possibly even olive oil). Oils from corn, soybeans, sunflower or safflower seeds are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Consequently, people consuming them may have lower cholesterol levels than […]

This week, our guest discusses how to prevent and treat a surprisingly common condition, chronic kidney disease. One in three Americans faces the risk factors for kidney disease; one in seven is actually living with the condition, although they may not be aware of it. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up […]