Oct 16, 23,30 and Nov 6,13,20. Six consecutive Saturday mornings from 10:30-12:30. There will be two classes, each 50 minutes.

For more details go to the Educational Programs page.

Location: Pacific Grove, California. Cost $80.00 for MORE]]> Please join us this fall for six weeks of Tai Chi Classes:

Oct 16, 23,30 and Nov 6,13,20.
Six consecutive Saturday mornings from 10:30-12:30.
There will be two classes, each 50 minutes.

For more details go to the Educational Programs page.

Location: Pacific Grove, California. Cost $80.00 for 6 week series of weekly classes. This includes a Tai Chi DVD for personal practice. Call 831-622-1994 for recorded updates or to leave a message. If you would like to talk to a real person, call Jane at 622-1995.

Should I still get a yearly mammogram and Pap smear? This question is frequently asked during the office day. In the past, it would be assumed the answer would be yes, but some new recommendations have created some confusion.

We will take the Pap smear question MORE]]>

Should I still get a yearly mammogram and Pap smear? This question is frequently asked during the office day. In the past, it would be assumed the answer would be yes, but some new recommendations have created some confusion.

We will take the Pap smear question first. Several groups make recommendations on the best interval for Pap smear screening. The opinions from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) are probably the most influential. There is also another important group called the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP).  Both organizations have looked at the best intervals for screening. The short version is that a low risk woman can get a pap smear every three years. Low Risk means that she is in a mutually monogamous relationship, has no recent history of abnormal paps and is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) negative. The virus, HPV, is thought to be the cause of cervical cancer and may be more accurate in predicting progression to cervical abnormalities than the Pap smear itself.  I agree with a 3 year interval screening for the Pap smear in truly low risk women. What women are hearing, however, is that they only need to come into the office every 3 years. This is a serious misunderstanding. The annual gynecological exam screens for many other disorders in addition to the Pap smear for cervical cancer. The annual exam screens for breast cancer, vulvar, vaginal and ovarian cancer. I also routinely detect other cancers of the colon and thyroid. It is important to be screened annually for these disorders. You still need your annual gyn exam, you just may not need a bill from the lab for a pap smear.

The mammogram question is still unsettled. The US Preventive Services Task Force created quite a stir when they released recommendations around the time of the healthcare debate. This went to the media when normally it would not be that newsworthy. Basically, they looked at the effectiveness of annual screening starting at age 50 instead of age 40. They also looked at annual screening versus every other year screening. This is common practice in other countries. The unanswered question is whether less frequent screening will still give acceptable detection of early cancers. They based their recommendations on the past 20+ years of breast cancer detection data. The problem is that technology for detection has changed a lot in those twenty years and I believe breast cancer itself is changing. We may not be able to predict future best practice based on data from a different time. Right now the recommendation is for annual mammography in all women starting at age 40. In low risk women, every other year screening in the 40-50 year old age group is an option.

Since good health care is based on relationship, you need to see your provider at least once a year, and more often if you are following a problem. Overall, I believe you will get fewer unnecessary tests if you have a good relationship with your provider. The guidelines are just that-guidelines. The best application of guidelines occurs in the context of a good relationship with a healthcare provider. You want your care custom tailored for you.

The history of the martial arts in China is shrouded in mythical stories and tales. In that tradition, Tai Chi is the supreme art, and a skilled MORE]]> What is Tai Chi? Tai Chi is a martial art from China. Strictly translated, it is “The Supreme Ultimate”.

The history of the martial arts in China is shrouded in mythical stories and tales. In that tradition, Tai Chi is the supreme art, and a skilled practitioner will prevail over any other type of fighter. In today’s times we do not need fighting skills, but we do need the inner centering, focus and strength that comes from martial arts training. In today’s world we often need to prevail over difficult and complex circumstances.

Tai Chi is a graceful martial art that originated in Chen Village in China. Chen style Tai Chi is more vigorous and is well suited to young persons. I must say that contemporary history was made at our Tai Chi Workshop several years ago with the introduction of “Elder Chen” Style by Master Dan Jones. Most of the Tai Chi you see practiced world wide today is Yang Style. Yang learned Chen style and then adapted it for the Imperial Court. This is a more gentle and flowing style. More recently, Sun style was developed as a fusion between Tai Chi and two other internal Chinese martial arts. Sun style is designed specifically for health improvement.

Tai Chi can be practiced alone and needs essentially no equipment. Once you have invested the time and money to learn a form, it is yours forever. Tai Chi can be safely practiced at any age, making it an ideal life long health practice. The scientific research on Tai Chi is growing with hundreds of articles published annually. These are well designed studies and authoritative consensus statements that show Tai Chi improves balance and flexibility, prevents falls, and improves activities of daily living. What is difficult to measure, but equally important, is the improved quality of life and lifting of mood from regular Tai Chi practice. Because Tai Chi is so immediately rewarding, it easily becomes a life long practice.

The best way to learn Tai Chi is from an instructor, although it is possible to get some basic knowledge from a DVD. We have a variety of excellent teaching videos covering basic beginners to very advanced styles. If you would like to browse the selection, you can link to www.taichiproductions.com and select the “DVD” button on the left panel. You can call a USA number: 901-388-3253 to order.  Tai Chi for Health also sponsors a week long workshop in the United States every June and Dr. Lam offers a week long workshop in Sydney, Australia. This year our workshop sold out despite the poor economy. That is a real testament to the benefits of Tai Chi practice. If you would like to learn from a teacher, I offer classes weekly on Saturday mornings. I hold classes at Chautauqua Hall in Pacific Grove. Preregistration is required and you can call 831-622-1995 and talk to Jane about the classes. We will start a new series August 14th, 2010. We would love to see you make 2010 your year to become a Tai Chi enthusiast!

There are two classes; both are suitable for beginners: At 10:30 AM will be Tai Chi for Beginners Yang Style At 11:30 AM will be Tai Chi for Beginners Sun Style This MORE]]> Please join us for six weeks Tai Chi Classes:
Aug 14, 21, 28
Sept 18, 25 Oct 2

There are two classes; both are suitable for beginners:
At 10:30 AM will be Tai Chi for Beginners Yang Style
At 11:30 AM will be Tai Chi for Beginners Sun Style This is also called Tai Chi for Arthritis-but you do not need to have arthritis to take the class.
For more details go to the Educational Programs page under Tai Chi Classes.
If there is enough interest, I also offer the full Yang Style 24 form and the Sun Style 73 Form. These forms will take six months to complete and would be the next step for those who have completed the beginner classes and are eager for more.

Location: Pacific Grove, California. Cost $80.00 for 6 week series of weekly classes. This includes a Tai Chi DVD for personal practice. Call 831-622-1994 for recorded updates or to leave a message. If you would like to talk to a real person, call Jane at 622-1995.

The Third Mini Medical School will be held May 8th, at 12:30 at Chautauqua Hall, Pacific Grove, California. The topic will be “Supplements for Healthy Aging”

Our series will resume in the Fall. Call 831-622-1994 for recorded updates.

There are two main reasons this has become a critical issue both for MORE]]> The longer I practice medicine the more I understand that many of the common diseases are caused by poor nutrition. Since eating good food is delightful, why would this ever be a problem?

There are two main reasons this has become a critical issue both for your own health and for the future security of our nation. The first is that we do not have the time to find cook and prepare a variety of healthful foods. You need 5-8 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. The more colorful, the better. If you have cereal, a sandwich and a meat and potato dinner, you are barely getting one serving each day! The second reason is the difficulty in finding good quality fruits and vegetables. The sad fact is that much of our produce is transported more than 1500 miles before it arrives at the produce section of our supermarket. Every day out of the field and every processing procedure deprives it of vital nutrients. If you have ever travelled to Asia, you will appreciate the lively taste and freshness of the local foods. They shop daily for fresh produce that was in the ground just yesterday, and avoid refrigeration and eating leftovers. They feel that storage and processing deprive food of its essential vitality and nutritional value.

Clearly, we all want the best food and the best health. Sourcing more of your food fresh and local is a big step forward. There are more farmers markets every day. This gives you the freshest produce as well as the chance to meet and befriend your local farmer. Take a look at the Links section for markets in our area. When you support your local farmer, you create a local and resilient community. You are not dependent on distant supply lines for your daily sustenance. You are sustained and cared for by local producers who know their land and who also know you. Food is a commodity in our culture, but buying fresh and local gives this commodity a warmth and grace that it really does deserve.

“True wellness and deep healing is more than the application of a pill to a diagnosis. I have pioneered a new approach to healthcare that is based on personal and community wellness. Here is MORE]]>

A Wellspring for Our Community Renewing Mind, Body and Spirit From Stephanie Taylor, M.D., Ph.D.

“True wellness and deep healing is more than the application of a pill to a diagnosis. I have pioneered a new approach to healthcare that is based on personal and community wellness. Here is what this means:

The first community is you. Each person is a composite of their own life experiences and their own circle of support. Every factor needs to be evaluated to develop a picture of the whole person. Each element can then be recruited into the healing process.

The second community is where you live. The majority of public health research shows that the health of individuals is not separate from the health of the community. We have an obligation to ourselves to care for our community. This means taking the ecological initiative and also supporting the small businesses that are based in our community, especially our local farmers. Over time the community that you care for will also care for you.

The center of the program is the office visit. We offer 30 and 60 minute patient visits. This gives us enough time to really get to know you. The relationship does not end at the office visit. You will enter a supportive community linked by regular newsletters and educational programs. You will have the opportunity to re-discover yourself and the joys of living on the Monterey Peninsula. Visit Medical Program and Educational Program and see how this unique holistic program can benefit you and assist you in achieving your life’s purpose.”

For 2010, I am offering quarterly lectures on MORE]]> Do you ever wonder what the best supplement is for you? The choices are overwhelming. There are so many claims and counter claims. Even when a supplement sounds good, how can you tell the quality of the manufacturer?

For 2010, I am offering quarterly lectures on vitamin and supplements. For one hour you can hear a summary of key nutrients and get your questions answered. The schedule is posted just to the right.

In the first lecture, we discussed the vitamins that make up the basic multivitamin pill. Vitamins are small molecules that are necessary to make your metabolism go. You can live without them, but are at risk of developing debilitating vitamin deficiency diseases. We do not see these in the developed world, but they are making a comeback. This is due to the impoverished food supply, and that will be addressed in another lecture.

The fat soluble vitamins are Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Vitamin E. These vitamins are classed together because they are toxic in high doses. Vitamin A is necessary for vision and you need only a small amount. You can easily make Vitamin A from its precursor, carotene, and you will often find them mixed together in supplements. Vitamin D has much been in the news. It was only recently appreciated that adults need more than the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). Most experts now recommend 2,000 IU per day and not the old 400 IU you may recall from your last review of the multivitamin label. Vitamin E is best taken as “natural” Vitamin E or mixed tocopherols. The B Vitamin family and Vitamin C are water soluble. The B vitamins work a a family and you need a minimum of each one for best effect. Vitamin C is relatively easy to obtain from citrus and as a supplement.

There are other nutrients that should also be part of your daily supplement. These are the essential fatty acids and minerals. If you have two servings of a high fat fish weekly you have the fatty acids covered. Otherwise, you should take a supplement. Here, it is important to choose a quality supplement. The high fat fishes, because, they are top predators, are at greatest risk of containing environmental contaminants, such as PCBs.

Finally, you probably need more calcium than you get in your daily diet. Calcium supplements are bulky and usually are not a part of your multivitamin. You can decide how much calcium you are getting in your average daily diet and add a supplement up to 1,200-1,500 mg total daily intake.

The basic daily essential is a multivitamin, adequate Vitamin D/calcium and essential fatty acids/Omega 3s. The is the base upon which you will build additional nutrients to meet your special needs.

These lectures will be offered quarterly. To find out the next lecture offering call 831-622-1994 to hear a recorded message. There is no charge for these lectures, but do bring your questions!