Radio Shows
Our award-winning radio show is heard by 200,000 listeners on over 190 public radio stations nationwide. Tune in to find out about everything from home remedies to the latest breakthroughs in medicine. You can find a list of public radio stations that carry The People’s Pharmacy here.
Show 1054: The Scientific Explanation for a Weir…
For years, we've been hearing from listeners who swallow a shotglass of pickle juice or a spoonful of yellow mustard to make a muscle cramp disappear. They often report relief within a few minutes. Ho…
Show 1098: Are You Taking Too Many Prescriptions…
Consumer Reports recently had a cover story on "Too Many Meds? America's Love Affair with Prescription Medication." It turns out that half of American adults take at least one prescription drug. Actua…
Show 1097: What Can Be Done to Help When the Pro…
Although lifespans have been increasing, so has the burden of chronic disease. When a person is diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer, cirrhosis, kidney disease, heart failure or Parkinson's…
Show 1050: How to Protect Your Vision (Archive)
Being able to see is something most of us treasure, especially if we imagine being deprived of good vision. But do we know how to take care of our eyes to keep them healthy and working well? Our guest…
Show 1096: What You Need to Know About Treating …
An estimated 20 million Americans have trouble with their thyroid glands. Doctors have become accustomed to making the diagnosis of hypothyroidism based on a single blood test. Often they prescribe ju…
Show 1095: How Do You Cope with Changing Recomme…
Heart Disease and Inflammation: Is cholesterol the main problem leading to clogged arteries and heart attacks? It certainly is important, but a brand-new study suggests that inflammation may also be c…
Show 1094: Does It Matter When You Eat?
For decades, epidemiologists have noted that people who eat breakfast seem to weigh less and live longer. But it hasn't been clear if eating breakfast helps people stay healthy, or if healthy people t…
Show 1093: How to Keep Your Bones Strong
Osteoporosis, weakened bones, affects about 10 million Americans. But low bone density is even more common. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, about half of adults over 50 are at risk …
Show 961: Botanical Treatments in Dermatology (A…
Do home remedies have a role in skin care? Dan Siegel, MD, says that dermatologists can find a lot of medicinal uses for botanical products, and that helpful home remedies are great. Hemp Oil for the …
Show 1092: How Can You Overcome Alzheimer Diseas…
More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer disease and are gradually losing their abilities to think and remember. Most of the medications that are available to treat this degenerative condition are…
Show 1091: Unexpected Remedies to Soothe Your Su…
Summer is a great time to enjoy being outdoors. But vacation travel and playing in the back yard both offer potential hazards, such as sunburn, bug bites, poison ivy or blisters. How do you handle suc…
Show 1090: How Intense Exercise Benefits Parkins…
Parkinson's disease makes it difficult for people to move. In addition to tremors or twitches, people with Parkinson's often feel stiff and find it difficult to walk easily. Their handwriting shrinks,…
Show 1088: How Good Communication Makes Health C…
When your doctor speaks, do you understand what you are hearing? Do you know how to describe your health problem so your doctor will "get it"? Why Communication Is Critical: Communication between doct…
Show 1087: Change Your Perspective from Half-Emp…
If you've ever found yourself ruminating over mistakes you made during the day and wishing for a do-over, you might want to change your perspective. In traditional psychiatry, you might focus on probl…
Show 1086: Why Dogs Are Good for Babies’ H…
Dogs and Babies' Health: Most young kids love their dogs. New research shows that even babies too young to play with the pet benefit from a dog in the house. What is the story on pets as probiotics? …
Show 1085: The Statin Standoff and New Drugs for…
Cardiologists agree that we should all be getting regular exercise and eating a healthful diet with lots of vegetables and fruits. But they don't agree on which of us should be taking statins to prote…
Show 1047: How to Sync Your Body Clock to Get th…
Our daytime functioning depends in large measure on the sleep we get at night. No doubt that helps explain why we spend approximately 36 percent of our lifetimes sleeping. How can we embrace bedtime i…
Show 1084: Psilocybin, Cancer & Spiritual A…
People facing a life-threatening cancer diagnosis may struggle with more than the medical treatment. They sometimes experience an existential crisis, in which life loses its meaning. In such situation…
Show 1083: Should You Be Worried About Salt or S…
You've probably heard that lifestyle is the most important factor in keeping your heart healthy. Don't smoke, exercise, and eat right seem simple. But what does it really mean to eat right? Should you…
Show 1082: How Does Being in Nature Make You Hea…
When you listen to bird song, smell pine needles or watch tree branches swaying in the wind, what is happening in your brain? For that matter, what is happening in your body? Does your level of stres…
Show 1081: What Do You Need to Know About Lyme D…
There's been a big increase in mouse populations in many places over the past year. As a result, the number of ticks is booming, and you have a greater chance of being bitten when you go outside. Coul…
Show 1033: How to Stay Healthy with Principles o…
Most Americans are not familiar with the principles of Ayurvedic medicine. Despite its thousands of years of tradition, it seems exotic and possibly irrelevant for today. How Ayurvedic Medicine Princi…
Show 1080: What Works for Pain Relief and Why
Pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. But physicians often face a dilemma when they treat joint pain, back pain or muscle spasms with prescription pills. Drugs that relieve…
Show 1079: What Is the Science Behind Fabulous F…
Which fabulous foods can make a difference for our health? There might be too many to count. For this show, we are focusing on the science supporting the health benefits of just three power-packed f…
Show 1078: How to Have Good Digestion Without He…
Millions of people take medicines like Prevacid, Prilosec or Nexium every day. But while such proton pump inhibitors may ease symptoms of heartburn, they can also lead to serious side effects. Dr. Phi…
Show 1077: Dr. Andrew Weil on Drug-free Alternat…
Americans are taking more pills than ever before. Last year we shelled out more than $400 billion for prescription drugs alone. Over-the-counter medicines are also extremely popular. But all those dru…
Show 1076: Finding New Ways to Ease Joint Pain
Stiff painful joints can interfere with activities like gardening, cooking, playing tennis, climbing stairs or walking the dog. While we think of osteoarthritis as a condition that primarily affects…
Show 1020: How to Lose Weight Without Feeling Hu…
Many of us are aware we could be at a healthier weight. Perhaps we've even tried to drop some pounds but found that we were always feeling hungry and grumpy on a diet. Perhaps counting calories could …
Show 1075: Are Drugs for Mental Illness Safe and…
The FDA is charged with making sure that prescription drugs are both safe and effective. But questions have been raised about antidepressants and other drugs for mental illness. Exactly how effective …
Show 1074: Surviving Medical Errors and Seeking …
Medical errors and misadventures account for surprisingly high mortality in the U.S. Some experts estimate that they should be considered the third leading cause of death in this country. Many such mi…
Show 1072: How to Improve Your Motivation-Ask Da…
Dan Ariely is a behavioral economist with a genius for figuring out why we do the things we do. His popular column in The Wall Street Journal is called "Ask Dan." Listeners have the chance to do just …
Show 1070: How You Can Keep Your Feet Happy …
We rely on our feet to carry us throughout life, every day. What should we do to keep them from complaining? Taking Care of Your Feet: Podiatrist Georgeanne Botek explains how to manage warts, bunions…
Show 1069: What Is the Clubhouse Model for Peopl…
The treatment of mental illness has a discouraging history in this country. Even in the 21st century, psychiatrists rely principally on antipsychotic medications without much else in the way of suppor…
Show 980: Brain, Mind and Body in Healing from T…
We often associate the term "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" with military veterans. Indeed, war creates many traumatic experiences, but it is not the only source of reactions that may cause people to…
Show 1068: What Do You Know about the Secret Lif…
If you were to list the organs of the body, would it occur to you to include fat? Most people think of fat as a nuisance, an intruder or even an enemy to be overcome. But fat is crucial for normal phy…
Show 1067: Should You Worry about OTC Sleeping P…
In this show, we explore the stories behind some health headlines: the drawbacks of OTC sleeping pills and the best way to use them; whether arthritis drugs cause heart attacks; and how to afford a d…
Show 1066: How to Fight Overmedication with Depr…
Have you ever started taking a medication and discovered that it produced an unpleasant side effect? That's not uncommon. Sometimes the doctor responds by prescribing an additional drug to manage a s…
Show 1065: How Can Yoga Benefit Everyone, Fit an…
The idea of yoga classes usually brings to mind images of young, fit people twisting their bodies into difficult poses while breathing deeply. But does yoga benefit people who don't fit that stereotyp…
Show 1064: How Can You Avoid Hazardous Drug Inte…
Medications are often crucial for maintaining our health, but every drug you take has potential side effects and may interact with other medicines. What do you know about these hazards? Understanding …
Show 1063: How to Apply Emotional First Aid
Life is never completely smooth and easy. Along with bruised shins and skinned knees, we all experience hurt feelings from time to time. Perhaps we got left out of the game, or our best friend decide…