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The People's Pharmacy: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Joe and Terry Graedon
Empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options. 921997
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- Yesterday1h 7m
Show 1494: When Cancer Changes Your Future, How Do You Live Today?
Most of us fear a diagnosis of cancer. If it has a serious prognosis, as lung cancer does, the diagnosis suddenly changes your life expectancy and how you imagine your life unfolding. In this episode, we talk with a physician who did research with patients who had lung cancer. Then this nonsmoker was diagnosed with lung cancer himself, at stage 4. We ask him, when cancer changes your future, how do you live today? At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up‑to‑date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment. How You Can Listen You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EST on Saturday, November 7, 2026, through your computer or smart phone (wunc.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on Nov. 9, 2026. A Diagnosis of Lung Cancer Lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. Most people imagine that this dreaded malignancy results from smoking, but nearly 20% of lung cancer patients are nonsmokers. Possibly because of the association with smoking, there still appears to be a stigma attached to lung cancer. Perhaps the example of Pope Leo, a nonsmoker recently diagnosed and treated for lung cancer will help change that. While less well known than the pope, our guest Bryant Lin, MD, is also striving to set an example for how to react when cancer changes your future. Better Screening for Lung Cancer? The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) does not recommend screening the population for lung cancer. In fact, its recommendation is that only smokers undergo screening. However, screening also makes sense for people with certain risk factors. Nonsmokers are at increased risk if there is lung cancer in their family tree. Asian women, in particular, may benefit from screening, as they have a higher likelihood of lung cancer despite not smoking. Scientists are not entirely certain why, but that is what the epidemiological data demonstrate. Screening for Lung Cancer Screening for lung cancer consists of a low-dose CT [computed tomography] scan. If a suspicious area shows up on the image, further testing is required. In many cases, this will include a biopsy in which a small bit of tissue is removed from that part of the lung for detailed microscopic examination. When Cancer Changes Your Future, Why Not Teach a Course? Dr. Lin shared the diagnosis with his wife and adolescent sons with great transparency. Then he went further, and decided that medical students at Stanford, where he teaches, should have the opportunity to learn from his experience. To make this happen, he organized a course titled “From Diagnosis to Dialog: A Doctor’s Real-Time Battle with Cancer.” Despite feeling nauseated or fatigued from chemotherapy, Dr. Lin found that the classes and the students’ positive reactions to them were uplifting. Afterwards, he expanded his syllabus into the book, “Sunshine: An Exploration of Living When You Are Dying.” Even though Dr. Lin had taken care of many patients with lung cancer, he found that the actual experience of being a patient changed his perspective significantly. It feels different to be the person with the cough or shortness of breath, the one who is trying to cope with symptoms caused by treatment. One aspect he had not anticipated was becoming the recipient of numerous well-meaning recommendations for unproven and sometimes quite dubious supplements or treatments. Despite his natural optimism, he would appreciate people refraining from such recommendations. No doubt many other cancer patients harbor similar feelings. When Cancer Changes Your Future, Your Insurance Company Shouldn’t Make Treatment More Difficult Throughout our conversation, Dr. Lin acknowledged that he has privileges as a physician at a research-oriented medical school. His oncologists know about the latest research and the most promising treatments. Plus, he has good insurance. Consequently, he was shocked when the insurance company denied authorization for a medication essential to the next step of his treatment. How did he overcome this challenge? He put up a post on LinkedIn that quickly went
- 1 weeks ago1h 3m
Show 1493: How Doctors Are Changing the Odds Against Breast & Prostate Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women, while prostate cancer is the most common for men. In 2022, the CDC found that approximately 255,000 men got a prostate cancer diagnosis. The same year, doctors diagnosed nearly 280,000 women with breast cancer. Breast & prostate cancer affect different patient populations and different parts of the body. Nonetheless, doctors have found common themes in diagnosing and treating these malignancies. We’ll learn how they are changing the odds. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up‑to‑date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment. How You Can Listen You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EST on Saturday, October 31, 2026, through your computer or smart phone (wunc.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on Nov. 2, 2026. Changing the Odds Against Breast & Prostate Cancer Over the course of a lifetime, one in eight American women will get a breast cancer diagnosis. The odds for prostate cancer in men are similar. So are the chances of dying from these conditions: one in 43 women die of breast cancer. One in 44 men die of prostate cancer. How are oncologists changing the odds to improve survival from breast & prostate cancer? Better Screening The first step in controlling a condition is diagnosis. Screening techniques for breast & prostate cancer differ because breasts are easier to image. That’s why doctors prescribe mammograms to detect early signs of breast cancer. Screening for prostate cancer starts with a blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Although it is imperfect, middle-aged men should find it a fairly easy first step. If the PSA turns up something alarming, doctors will probably proceed to order imaging, in this case an MRI of the prostate. An MRI reveals prostate tumors with greater accuracy than the old-fashioned unguided prostate biopsy could. A biopsy may still be needed as part of the diagnosis, but it is more likely to be guided by imaging, either MRI or ultrasound, than in previous decades. Screening Controversies Over the past few decades, public health experts have scrutinized screening in an effort to limit overdiagnosis. For several years, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) advised doctors against ordering PSA tests for men without symptoms. However, that approach led to more men being diagnosed at advanced stages of prostate cancer. These are more difficult to treat effectively. Now, men diagnosed with an early stage of cancer that does not require urgent treatment may be offered active surveillance. They are screened on a regular basis, and if the cancer starts to progress, the doctor offers surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or other treatment. Mammography has also seen some controversy. Sometimes doctors disagree about when women should have their baseline mammogram and how often these should be done. Dr. Anders treats breast cancer patients. She recommends women start at age 40 and undergo mammograms every year. Causes of Breast & Prostate Cancer When we asked our guest experts about the causes of these cancers, they suggested that diet and lifestyle contribute. They also emphasized the importance of genetics. BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are well known for their role in elevating the risk for breast cancer. In addition, about 12% of men diagnosed with stage IV metastatic prostate cancer have a BRCA mutation. These genes also raise a person’s chance for ovarian or pancreatic cancer as well as melanoma. Treating Breast & Prostate Cancer by Blocking Hormones Both cancers are fueled by sex hormones. Many breast cancers (though not all) respond to therapies that block estrogen and/or sometimes progestogen. One example of such a medication is tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator. Hormonal therapy for breast cancer might include a multiyear regimen of aromatase inhibitors such as letrozole, which block cells from manufacturing estrogen. Other treatment options include PARP inhibitors, which block DNA repair in actively dividing cells found in tumors. Doctors frequently treat prostate ca
- 2 weeks ago1h 0m
Show 1492: What Really Works Against Winter Infections
We are only about a month into fall, but flu season is already underway. Today we are considering the best actions to take against winter infections. First, however, we asked our guest expert about measles. There have been large outbreaks in so many places this year. Why is measles such a big deal? One reason is that measles induces “immune amnesia,” so that our bodies forget how to fight off infections they have previously overcome. The MMR vaccine for measles, which prevents infection extremely well, does not have the same deleterious effect on the immune system. Consequently, vaccinated people maintain their protection not only against measles but also against polio or diphtheria if they have gotten those immunizations. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up‑to‑date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment. How You Can Listen You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EST on Saturday, October 24, 2026, through your computer or smart phone (wunc.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on Oct. 26, 2026. What Really Works Against Winter Infections? Our guest, Dr. Roger Seheult, is certified in pulmonary and critical care medicine, as well as internal medicine and sleep medicine. So he is eminently qualified to tell us how to prevent and treat respiratory infections that are so common in the wintertime. We asked him why these problems are so prevalent in winter. He suggested that lower levels of humidity, temperature and sunlight might all play a role. When we asked whether the phenomenon of people gathering from across the country for Thanksgiving and Christmas might be important, he pointed out that Australians also gather for Christmas and New Year’s. Yet their flu season does not coincide with those holidays, but rather with their wintertime in June and July. Limited sunlight might be far more relevant than most of us imagine. The immune system is more active when exposed to sunlight. As with measles, where the immune amnesia is a serious lingering problem, the consequences of many winter infections can go far beyond coughing and sneezing. More people die from heart attacks during flu season than at other times of the year. In fact, there are more cardiac deaths than deaths from influenza. Other infections also have deleterious impacts on the rest of the body systems. As we learned during the pandemic, COVID-19 can trigger diabetes. Consequently, we ought not dismiss these infections lightly. Testing for Winter Infections In the hospital, when Dr. Seheult and his colleagues admit a patient, they test to see what type of infection has made the person so sick. Most of the usual infections produce similar symptoms: cough, congestion, runny nose, fever, wheezing and body aches. Body aches are more common with influenza than with colds, but there is a significant overlap in symptoms that makes it hard or impossible to diagnose based on clinical appearance alone. To treat inpatients, doctors first test them. The test will reveal quickly which of 13 different viruses have made the patient ill. Sometimes, more than infection is contributing to the misery. While we do not have access to such sophisticated tests at home, we can purchase tests that will identify COVID-19, influenza A and influenza B. Knowing what infection is causing trouble can help a doctor prescribe a treatment, if there is one. Treating Respiratory Infections Once the physicians have identified the cause of the infection, they can determine if there is a treatment. There are a few for influenza A. Perhaps the best known is oseltamivir (Tamiflu). However, while Tamiflu have been shown to shorten the duration of the flu, Dr. Seheult cautioned us not to expect too much. Taking Tamiflu can shorten the duration of the flu from about a week to roughly six days, on average. For many other infections, we do not have effective treatments. Influenza B, for example, does not respond well to Tamiflu. There are no treatments for infections like human metapneumovirus either. Tapping the Power of Fever What people often do in such cases may be counterproductive. Very often parents give t
- 3 weeks ago1h 1m
Show 1491: Would Eating Better Reduce Brain Fog?
Do you run out of go-power in the middle of the morning? Maybe you find it hard to focus and your ability to call on your memory is strained. Or perhaps you suffer from an after-lunch slump. Some people find that their brain fog is troublesome most of the time. While there are some medical conditions that produce brain fog, you just might find that changing what you eat could help your mental clarity and reduce brain fog. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up‑to‑date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment. How You Can Listen You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EST on Saturday, October 17, 2026, through your computer or smart phone (wvtf.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on Oct. 19, 2026. How Could Eating Better Reduce Brain Fog? Our guest, Dr. Uma Naidoo, is a leader in nutritional psychiatry. She found in her practice that what people eat can make a big difference for their mood and even their cognition. Breakfasting on coffee and donuts is often a preamble to needing (not just wanting) a coffee break mid-morning. Evidence has been growing that people may perform differently depending on the type of breakfast that they had. This could well vary from one person to the next. Some thrive on a bowl of steel cut oats with yogurt and berries, while others notice that it doesn’t carry them through the morning. Dr. Naidoo suggests that in most cases a low-carb breakfast with plenty of protein will serve us better than the typical Danish and coffee. The Impact of Sugar on Cognitive Health A fascinating study published earlier this year demonstrated the surprisingly persistent effects of consuming sugar. The investigators took advantage of a natural experiment occasioned by the rationing of sugar during and after World War II (NPJ Aging, July 22, 2026). They compared people born between 1951 and 1956. Some of these were exposed to sugar rationing only while in utero, some were exposed to it in utero and up to age two, while the third group was conceived and born after sugar rationing had stopped. Those babies are now in their 70s. Those with their first thousand days under sugar rationing have dramatically lower risk for developing dementia–a 27% lower risk for any type of dementia and a 46% lower risk for Alzheimer disease. We don’t have any studies showing that limiting sugar in adulthood can benefit the brain in the same way, but the evidence we do have suggests eating less sugar might reduce brain fog. Is Your Medicine Causing Brain Fog? When psychiatrists prescribe pills to treat depression, anxiety or other mental illnesses, they are aware that one of the effects might be confusion or lack of mental clarity. These are not the only types of medication that can cause trouble, though. Many people rely on over-the-counter sleep aids night after night. Nearly all of these contain diphenhydramine (DPH) as their active ingredient. DPH counteracts the activity of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. As a result, pharmacologists classify it as an “anticholinergic” drug. Even by itself, but certainly in combination with other anticholinergic medicines, DPH can lead to brain fog. If you are interested in exploring what those other anticholinergic drugs are, you will find a list here. The Insomniac’s Dilemma Many people who frequently have trouble sleeping feel like they’ve been put between a rock and a hard place. To function at their best, they need adequate sleep. But the sleeping meds they rely on, whether they contain DPH or a Z drug like zaleplon (Lunesta), zolpidem (Ambien) or eszopiclone (Sonata), may lead to next-day fuzziness or eventually chronic brain fog. When possible, lifestyle measures such as early-morning light exposure, vigorous exercise during the day and avoiding caffeine after midday might
- 4 weeks ago1h 20m
Show 1490: Could It Be Parkinson’s? Symptoms People Often Miss
Neurological conditions have been increasing over the past several decades, but none more quickly than Parkinson disease. What is this disorder, and what is driving the increase? We’ll discuss symptoms people often miss and find out about treatments. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up‑to‑date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment. How You Can Listen You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EST on Saturday, October 10, 2026, through your computer or smart phone (wvtf.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on Oct. 12, 2026. What Is Parkinson Disease? This movement disorder is named after the doctor who first described it in a publication in 1817. As we mentioned, it has become more common in recent years, so you may not be surprised to learn of numerous celebrities who have or have had Parkinson disease (PD). Michael J. Fox may be one of the best known because he has worked so hard to gain recognition that PD can affect people in their 30s and 40s. Of course, like most degenerative conditions, it is more common as people age. Parkinson disease is characterized by a relative lack of dopamine. The areas of the brain that would normally produce this crucial neurotransmitter stop making it, for reasons that are not completely understood. What Dopamine Does We need dopamine for proper functioning with regard to movement, mood, sleep, attention and memory. This explains why some people with PD may experience cognitive challenges or depression. The FDA approved levodopa (AKA L-dopa) in 1970. It is still a mainstay of treatment for Parkinson disease, often with carbidopa. This therapy is more helpful for movement symptoms than for the other aspects of Parkinson disease, however. Symptoms People Often Miss In the past, it wasn’t possible to tell how much dopamine the brain might be making. A person might search for years to get the appropriate diagnosis because symptoms people often miss weren’t noticed. People do think of tremor as a primary symptom of Parkinson disease, but they may confuse it with essential tremor. The tremor of PD occurs when the person is at rest. For example, the hands may shake while lying in the person’s lap. Essential tremor is completely different and occurs while the person is active, such as applying make-up or putting on earrings. Another common symptom of PD is slower motion. It may take longer to cook a meal or get dressed. That is because we need dopamine to move. However, under some circumstances, slow-moving people can move remarkably quickly. Joe has noticed this with a tennis partner, and other people have seen it in emergencies. New technology called DAT spect scan (for dopamine tags) makes it possible to tell if the brain is producing dopamine. The doctor may also order a MRI to make sure that the problem is with the dopamine area of the brain and not caused by a stroke or a tumor. After a diagnosis is established, the doctor may ask the patient to perform toe-tapping and finger-tapping exercises to assess how they are doing. How Do Doctors Treat Parkinson Disease? When we asked our guest, Dr. Nina Browner, what is at the top of her prescription pad for PD patients, she told us it is not a treatment but a conversation. Understanding the person and what is important to them is crucial in guiding the treatment. For example, one of her patients likes to run with his grown sons. This is their way of connecting. For this patient, treatment to maintain mobility is key. High-Intensity Exercise for PD Research, specifically the SPARKS 3 study, has shown that after 17 minutes of vigorous exercise, the brain produces more dopamine. Consequently, the recommendation is to exercise beyond 17 minutes and then stretch to loosen the muscles. For best results, people with PD need much more exercise than other individuals; 30 minutes three times a day provides a good baseline. For even greater efficacy, people might increase their activity up to 150 minutes a day. They can benefit from a wide range of activities, ranging from bicycling to boxing, from tai chi chuan to ping pong, Zumba or dancing. The social as
- Sep 30, 20261h 5m
Show 1489: The Baby Bust: Why Is Fertility Falling and What Can You Do About It?
Birth rates have been dropping for years. This is happening in many parts of the world, not just the US. Demographers estimate that women need to have 2.1 children, on average, to replace the population. (The US is currently at about 1.7 or 1.8 children per woman.) Where the average number of babies falls below replacement, the country may end up with more elderly people than children. Eventually, this can have economic and social consequences. In this episode, we explore the baby bust. Why is fertility falling? At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment. How You Can Listen You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EST on Saturday, October 3, 2026, through your computer or smart phone (wunc.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on Oct. 5, 2026. Why Is Fertility Falling? Fertility in the US is at a historical low, according to our guest, Dr. Linnea Zimmerman. Whether or not this baby bust constitutes a crisis depends upon your perspective, however. Those who see young people primarily as eager working hands could perceive the economic effects of falling fertility as a future crisis. Others who worry that we are straining the ecological limits of the planet might view a decline in fertility more positively. We asked Dr. Zimmerman about the sources of this baby bust, and she explained that the factors are complex. Although there will almost certainly be some economic consequences of a steep drop in fertility, economic considerations are also important for people considering parenthood. Housing is expensive, and so is childcare. Do they feel confident about their healthcare coverage? It is not clear that the lifetime fertility rate of American women has declined as steeply as the statistics suggest. One good aspect of the current situation is fewer teenage pregnancies. In addition, many women in their 20s, when past generations would have been bearing babies, may be waiting until they feel more settled in their lives, or until they find a suitable partner to raise children with. This can take time. Has Environmental Contamination Affected Fertility? We asked Dr. Zimmerman if we could attribute fertility falling to exposure to environmental factors such as forever chemicals. While PFAS compounds are certainly not good for humans and should be avoided as much as possible, we don’t yet have evidence that they are contributing to a baby bust. What Can You Do About Fertility Challenges? We turned to Dr. Genevieve Neal-Perry to learn about what options people might have if they discover they need help conceiving. According to Dr. Neal-Perry, the available technology has improved greatly over the years, and fertility specialists are frequently able to help a woman conceive and carry the pregnancy to term. Moreover, many more people now have fertility benefits as part of their health insurance. In past years, this was much less common. The source of a fertility challenge is not always obvious. Dr. Neal-Perry suggests that a third of the time, the difficulty lies with the female, a third of the time with the male and a third of the time with the combination. If a woman has endometriosis and is not ovulating, that would need to be addressed first. Men’s fertility begins to drop when they are in their 40s or 50s. Men who take testosterone may have lower sperm counts. In addition, people with very high BMI (40 or above) often have reduced fertility. How Long Should You Wait for Nature to Take its Course? Dr. Neal-Perry suggests that healthy women 35 and under could try for a year before seeking out assistance. Beyond that age, six months is a more realistic time frame. Women who plan to freeze their eggs for future pregnancy should also consider doing this while they are in their mid30s, as they have the best chance of retrieving viable eggs for future use at that age. How Do Medications Affect Conception and Pregnancy? Obstetricians do not recommend that people undertake major weight loss while they are trying to become pregnant. Although there has been some media attention to the phenomenon of “O
- Sep 25, 20261h 5m
Show 1488: What Can Near-Death Experiences Teach Us About Consciousness?
After years of dementia, many people have reduced their communication to minimal levels. Sometimes, they don’t say anything at all, and family members may be tempted to assume that memories have disappeared along with cognitive function. Occasionally, such a person will become surprisingly coherent and able to discuss aspects of their lives for a few minutes or even hours. Because they often die within days of such an episode, researchers have termed the phenomenon “terminal lucidity.” Our guest, Dr. Marjorie Woollacott, suggests that the more inclusive term “paradoxical lucidity” might be more appropriate. What do these unexpected events have in common with near-death experiences? Can they teach us about consciousness? At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up to date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment. How You Can Listen You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EST on Saturday, September 26, 2026, through your computer or smart phone (wunc.org). Here is a link [] so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on Sept. 28, 2026. What Is Terminal Lucidity? An article by Billy Brennan in the New York Times Magazine (July 15, 2026) was titled, “Why Do Some Dementia Patients ‘Return’ Just Before They Die?” The subtitle explained, “As they near death, some dementia patients recover mental faculties assumed to be long lost. Researchers want to know why.” We were fascinated by the story Mr. Brennan shares about a conversation with a grandmother a few days before her death. It reminded us of an experience a friend of ours had shared about his own mother. She had dementia and had not communicated much with anyone for a long time. When the nursing home called him and told him she had broken her hip, he expected she would be even more incoherent because of the opioids she would be administered for the pain. So when he arrived at the hospital to find her oriented to time and place and aware of the situation, he was astonished. In this instance, her unexplained clarity continued for a few weeks. We can’t call it “terminal” lucidity, though, as she survived several more years. Such tales suggest that even a disordered brain is not completely lacking in consciousness. But what do we mean by consciousness? A Stroke of Insight to Teach Us About Consciousness Neuroscientists usually assume that the brain creates consciousness, although they haven’t explained exactly how it does so. Some philosophers postulate that consciousness is a fundamental property of the universe. In this view, our brains act as filters so that we don’t become entirely overwhelmed and unable to function. Many years ago, we interviewed Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroanatomist, about her brilliant book, My Stroke of Insight. In it, she recounts her own experience and perceptions as she suffered a massive hemorrhagic stroke that affected the left side of her brain. She observed as her brain circuits went offline, one by one. In particular, she was struck by a sense of joy and unity with the entire universe. Our guest for this episode, Dr. Marjorie Woollacott, suggests that during this time, Dr. Bolte Taylor’s stroke removed the usual filters that our brain puts on our consciousness. How Else Might People Have a Different Access to Consciousness? Dr. Woollacott is a meditator as well as a neuroscientist, and she describes her initiation into meditation. To her, it felt as though she were participating in a larger consciousness. Meditation might facilitate a lowering of the filters that usually limit our awareness of a broader consciousness. Dr. Woollacott describes this as a spiritual awakening. Sometimes people describe an experience under the influence of psilocybin in similar terms. Many people who have died and then been revived have described their feelings about such a near-death experience. Dr. Sam Parnia and <a href="https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/show-1
- Sep 18, 20261h 12m
Show 1487: Hair Loss and Nail Problems: A Dermatologist’s Guide to What Actually Works
Do you worry that your hair is thinning? You may wonder what treatments could make a real difference. After all, you wouldn’t want to spend money on something that has no chance of helping. Many people also have concerns about their nails. Perhaps they are ridged, or loose, or too thick. Could that be due to nail fungus, or might it have another cause? Most importantly, what could you do about it? In this episode, you’ll get a dermatologist’s guide to what actually works. At The People’s Pharmacy, we strive to bring you up‑to‑date, rigorously researched insights and conversations about health, medicine, wellness and health policies and health systems. While these conversations intend to offer insight and perspective, the content is provided solely for informational and educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical care or treatment. How You Can Listen You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EST on Saturday, September 19, 2026, through your computer or smart phone (wunc.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on Sept. 21, 2026. What Actually Works for Hair and Nail Problems Dr. Chris Adigun practices both general and cosmetic dermatology. We wanted to ask her about nail problems in particular because they are very common and she maintains a specialty in treating them. We asked her about the most common nail problems she sees, and she named simple onycholysis (pronounced Oh-nick-oh-LYE-sis). In this condition, the nail begins to lift away from the nail bed. You can identify it because the white area at the fingertip becomes much more extensive than usual. Usually, this is due to exposure to acids such as citrus juices or cleaning solutions. Having your hands in and out of irritants or even water (with or without soap) could lead to onycholysis. An overactive thyroid gland could also lead to onycholysis. To prevent it, try to avoid putting your hands into that sort of liquid. If you must do so, use gloves. And of course, a good hand cream to bolster the skin barrier is a very good idea. If these approaches don’t do the trick, especially if there are other symptoms, the doctor may want to test for thyroid function. Another common problem is allergic contact dermatitis. This could be caused by some of the same irritating substances responsible for onycholysis, but cosmetics are common culprits here. Nail polish and remover, especially nail polish remover, can cause nail problems for some people. If you are one of them, what actually works best might mean finding a less irritating product or, even better, leaving the nails unadorned. White Spots on Nails Many people have noticed white spots on their nails. We asked Dr. Adigun what causes these, and she replied that usually they are not worrisome. If you bang your fingertip, as you might if you slammed it in a door or a drawer, the trauma may show up several weeks later as a white spot. (More serious trauma could show up as a dark spot due to blood pooling under the nail; we discussed that with podiatrist Jane Anderson here, but not with Dr. Adigun.) What About Ridges on the Nails? Nail ridges are very common, and the ones that run lengthwise along the same axis as the finger are due to aging. Just as our skin develops wrinkles, so do our nails. Consequently, there are no effective treatments. Nail ridges in children are a different story. They might show up as nails having the texture of sandpaper, or they could be horizontal ridges. Such nails should be seen by a physician, as they could signal an inflammatory condition called lichen planus or even an early sign of psoriasis. While we don’t have cures for these conditions, there are effective medications to manage them. Hangnails and Cuticle Problems Are you surprised that dermatologists have a fancy term to describe cuticle problems and other trouble affecting the skin around the nail? They call it paronychia (PEAR-oh-nick-ee-ya). If it is caused by an infection, it might be treated with an antimicrobial compound. The best preventative is not to pull, bite or clip off hangnails or rough spots in the cuticles, the skin near the nails. Instead, moisturize and possibly cover the spot with a bandage to remove the temptation while it softens and heals. Instant glue is another simple remedy t
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Thrive Through and Beyond Cancer
Season Johnson
Red Pill Your Healthcast
Two healthcare providers discuss overlooked health issues and empower listeners to make informed decisions for their families.
DR. GUNDRY PODCAST: GUT HEALTH, WEIGHT LOSS, AND NUTRITION
Explores gut health, nutrition, and chronic illness through the lens of plant-based diets, lectin avoidance, and microbiome science.
The Dr. Josh Axe Show
Explores natural health, nutrition, emotional resilience, and personal growth through expert insights and practical strategies.
The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee
Experts reveal how plant-based diets and nutrition science can prevent disease and extend lifespan.
Made for Health | Peptides | Lyme | Chronic Infections | Long Covid | Insulin Resistance | Hypermobility
A physician explores science-based approaches to treating chronic conditions and restoring health.
The Peter Attia Drive
Conversations with experts on health, longevity, performance, and critical thinking led by physician Peter Attia.
About The People's Pharmacy
Empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options. 921997
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's The People's Pharmacy daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of The People's Pharmacy as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
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When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official The People's Pharmacy product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Joe and Terry Graedon.
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How often does The People's Pharmacy release new episodes?
The People's Pharmacy publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does The People's Pharmacy cover?
The People's Pharmacy covers topics including Medicine, Fitness, Health & Fitness, Kids & Family, Alternative, Family. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
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