Porter Ranch Gas Leak

Have you heard about the gas leak at Porter Ranch?  I hadn’t until December, almost two months after it started on October 23^rd, 2015.  It’s been called the worst environmental disaster in the U.S. since the BP gulf oil spill in 2010. 

To read more about it, you can click on this Wikipedia story or to avoid reading too much :) you can watch the video below (watch just the first 80 seconds to show you images and the gist without wasting your short attention span).

Watch my video below for a brief description of what’s going on and what you can actually do about it if you live in the Los Angeles area, and especially those of you who might live in or nearby the Porter Ranch area.

Enjoy the videos, and as always, feel free to pass it along!

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Yoshi Rahm, DO. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other health care professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

Do not use the information provided in this article for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other health care professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this article.

Information provided in this article and the use of any products or services related to this article by you DOES NOT create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Yoshi Rahm, DO or any other physician featured in this article. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Why NOT to Eat Ping Pong Balls

What do ping pong balls have to do with gluten?  

A lot if you watch my analogy :)

I’m not against gluten all the time. Some should definitely not eat it at all. Whereas some people can handle a certain amount of gluten.  My wife does not eat it at all (and for good reason).  I do eat it (in smallish quantities).  Find out from this video if my “smallish” quantities matter.  

And please do not eat ping pong balls no matter how healthy you think you are. Period.  Hopefully you at least get that from my short video.

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Yoshi Rahm, DO. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other health care professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. 

Do not use the information provided in this article for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other health care professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this article.

Information provided in this article and the use of any products or services related to this article by you DOES NOT create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Yoshi Rahm, DO or any other physician featured in this article. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

By Popular Request - Update to the Best. Blog. Ever!

Again, many keep asking me for more photos of baby Kalaya, so since Kalaya can't say "no" yet, here goes... and, yes, it is very hard for me only to post a few pictures :)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Enjoy!

Happy mat time :)

Rainbow tunnels are so cool!

This is how to model a Persian rug :)

Standing at 8 months!

9 months old :)

Our Family :)

Hemorrhoids – Toilet – Squatty Potty

Hemorrhoids, everyone has them. Or at least at some point in your life just about all of you will. For those who aren’t exactly sure what a hemorrhoid is… hemorrhoids are also known as piles which are blood vessels and masses of supporting tissue inside the anal canal. Everyone technically has anatomical hemorrhoids, but sometimes they can become inflamed, which can be both irritating and painful.

Both men and women get them equally and while only about 1 in 25 people has them at any one point in time in the U.S., over 50% of those aged over 50 has to enjoy the annoyance that hemorrhoids provide.

Why do we get inflamed hemorrhoids?

• Poor diet that is not high enough in fiber or water (constipation aggravates hemorrhoids)

• Poor form while pooping (Yes, the modern day toilet is convenient, but has one major fault)

Interestingly, the reason that some 2nd and 3rd world countries have virtually zero inflamed hemorrhoids is likely because they eat better and squat while pooping.

Other risk factors associated with hemorrhoids:

• Chronic constipation or diarrhea
• Obesity and being overweight
• Age
• Pregnancy
• Liver disease
• Prolonged sitting
• Heavy lifting

So how do we fix the pain-in-the-ass?

• Eat plenty of veggies, fruit, and water
• Poop while squatting

Other ways to avoid hemorrhoids:

• Avoid foods that cause constipation like dairy, processed grains, and too much meat
• Avoid dehydrating caffeine or alcohol
• Use natural stool softeners whenever constipated (i.e. psyllium husk fiber with lots of water)
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid sitting for too long (this includes sitting in front of TV)
• Don’t hold in bowel movements (go when nature calls!)
• Do not strain during a bowel movement
• Do not sit on the toilet for extended time periods (no reading on the throne!)
• Void – I mean avoid heavy lifting

Back to squatting… Who wants to squat while pooping? That seems like too much of a hassle.

Introducing SQUATTY POTTY. Clean, comfy, and effective.

 The way to go natural, but not too natural.

And who wouldn’t want the bag on our right each morning instead of the left???

This video is a couple minutes long butt teaches us so much about Squatty Potty (and so much more that I was never able to explain about rainbow soft serve ice cream).

The haiku mentioned in it sums it all up quite well:

“Oh squatty potty,

you fill me with endless joy,

yet leave me empty.”

If you care to purchase one, here’s the Squatty Potty website. 

Other of my favorite natural remedies include:

• Witch hazel (commonly used to clean hemorrhoids naturally and help reduce pain & itching)
• Warm showers (warm water relieves pressure; use conditioner rectally to soften – no soaps as they can further inflammation)
• Sitz bath involves a small tub (bought at local pharmacy) that fits over a regular toilet and is used to easily soak hemorrhoids in warm water (can add witch hazel to it)
• Cold compress (witch hazel sprayed on soft tissue then frozen is great) to the anus can relieve swelling, pain and itching.
• Bottoms Up Balm
• Homeopathic Avenoc suppositories

And, because I can…


Man, this blog was a pain in the butt to write. Cha-ching.



Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Yoshi Rahm, DO. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other health care professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. 

Do not use the information provided in this article for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other health care professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this article.

Information provided in this article and the use of any products or services related to this article by you DOES NOT create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Yoshi Rahm, DO or any other physician featured in this article. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Cleaner Greener Flu Shot

Short of Middle East politics and immigration reform, few issues generate as much social friction and self-righteous rancor as childhood immunization policy. 

So now, more on flu vaccines :)

On the October 22nd blog I wondered aloud if the flu shot is the best option to prevent the flu.  Needless to say, I have not been impressed by the flu shot in the past.  Long have I wondered why they don’t make vaccines without all the crappy toxins in them.

That has changed now.  Introducing Flublok.  While conventional flu shots have many toxins (mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde, antibiotics, Polysorbate 80, MSG, egg protein) Flublok has none of these additives and is made using 3 times the amount of actual antigen (flu DNA that makes you immune to the flu).  Flublok also does not require incubation in chicken eggs which greatly reduces the eco-footprint of the manufacturing process and eliminates the risk of bacterial contamination or egg allergen exposure.

The makers of Flublok state that it is completely free of heavy metals, formaldehyde, latex, antibiotics, gluten and egg residues.  And since it does not require use of actual live flu viruses, it is free of attenuated viral particles, unlike other flu shots.

This is as clean and green as a flu shot can get and is the way that I’d love to see all vaccines be made. Not gonna get into the nitty gritty of how conventional flu shots are made in this blog, but let’s just say that it involves (along with mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde, antibiotics) 3 eggs for each flu shot, bacteria, and flu-like-syndrome causing endotoxins.

Manon Cox, PhD, CEO of Protein Sciences who makes Flublok, believes her company has obviated most if not all concerns people have about vaccines - concerns that have been loudly emphasized by vaccine critics and unduly dismissed by equally vociferous vaccine advocates.

Watch a short simple 1 minute Flublok video here.  Or learn more about Flublok from their website here.

Flublok first became available late in 2014 and is approved for people aged 18 and older.

I am excited!  This kind of vaccine should have been made available to the public in the 1990’s or even 1980’s.  The technology was there, but the economic incentives were not made available by those that control such things.  Oh well.  At least it’s now finally available in the annual flu shot.

As of December 2015, Target Pharmacy is the only place you can get Flublok in the Los Angeles area.

Now, does all this mean Flublok is actually totally safe?  Frankly, it hasn’t been around long enough to know.  I wish I knew.  But, what I can say is that it certainly cleaner and greener and it seems like a much better option than all the other conventional flu shots.

Of course, lifestyle modifications are still the best way to avoid illness.  These beneficial lifestyle modifications include plenty of sleep, de-stressing, and healthy foods.  Well-balanced Vitamin D, zinc, glutathione, curcumin and Vitamin C are great to also help keep illness at bay.

If you do end up with the flu despite employing the above mentioned tactics, along with many herbal options, one can always come into the office for a Nutritional IV.

And as mentioned in my October post… If you do decide to get the Flublok vaccine, then there are some homeopathic remedies that one can take to mitigate potential side effects. (These are available in the office if you can’t find them at your local health food store.)

• Thuja 5 pellets under tongue twice daily x 7 days after EVERY vaccination.

• Influenzinum 5 pellets under tongue twice daily x 3 days for after flu vaccination.

• Gelsemium 5 pellets under tongue twice daily x 3 days for after flu vaccination.

If you decide to get any other flu vaccine besides the Flublok, then I would also recommend:

• Alumina 5 pellets under tongue three times daily x 7 days after EVERY vaccination with aluminum in them (if not sure, then take as precaution).

Once again, the decision to receive vaccinations of any kind is highly individualized. My goal, as always, is to empower you with the knowledge to make the best and most informed decision you can for yourself and your health.

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Yoshi Rahm, DO. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other health care professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. 

Do not use the information provided in this article for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other health care professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this article.

Information provided in this article and the use of any products or services related to this article by you DOES NOT create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Yoshi Rahm, DO or any other physician featured in this article. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

O2 and Breathing

Oxygen. Quite simply it’s the most important nutrient to give your body. So… what’s the most helpful piece of medical advice that I can tell you to do? Quite simply, it’s to keep breathing as long as possible :) I say that kiddingly because it’s so obvious. I say that seriously because it’s not just that you breathe, it’s that you breathe properly. This even goes just a tick above learning to think properly. We breathe every minute of every day of our lives. As important as thinking right is, you can’t think if you don’t breathe for long. Breathing right is important. A few deep breaths can calm us like a shot of valium. Oxygenating well offers a fountain of youth.

Breathing well brings more oxygen to cells. Oxygen is life. Life is oxygen. Oxygen elevates mood. Oxygenating well increases mental clarity. It detoxifies your body.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that YOU (yes, you) DO NOT BREATHE RIGHT. And for those of you who do breathe right, you only do it right some of the time.

Breathing is both a conscious and unconscious body function.

We must learn to breathe properly and do it consistently to live optimally.

Improper: So, take a deep breath in and hold it. If you notice that your shoulders are tense, and your chest is out with your stomach mostly sucked in, then your breathing is not right.

Proper inhalation: Breathe from your belly (when inhaling, make your belly button go as far away from the spine as possible) and pretend that your abs, glutes, and back are doing the breathing for you. Take the chest out of it to begin with. Babies breathe with their stomach, not their chest. Be more baby-like in your breathing :)

Proper breathing: Breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds (using your abs, glutes, and your back), hold for 4 seconds, exhale out through your mouth for 4 seconds, hold exhalation for 4 seconds, and then repeat that cycle.

The right way: This is not the only right way to breathe. There are many techniques and timings that one can play with, but this is a simple version to do and I encourage you to spend just 1 minute each hour of your day to do this (that’s only 4 cycles of breathing each hour). It’ll lower your stress hormones, balance your neurotransmitters and just make a healthier you.

Breathing Boost: If you want to get extravagant and live on the edge, then you may place the tip of your tongue gently against the roof of your mouth just behind the upper teeth while you do your breathing exercise.

It's interesting that a simple way to test your longevity as it currently stands is to simply hold your breath for as long as you can (without passing out please). If you cannot hold it longer than 1 minute, then breathing exercises are a must for your longevity’s sake. If you cannot hold it longer than 2 minutes, then breathing exercises are still a great idea from a longevity standpoint.

Now I’m just going to boast a little and say that a few years ago, I held my breath for 4:16. That was in the pool with my head under water, so, yes, that time is truth.

Also, interesting is the fact that as of a couple years ago, my wife literally could not exhale for more than a few seconds despite her being a phenomenal athlete her entire life. She has learned since then through doing similar calming breathing exercises how to control her inhalations and exhalations and this has helped her in life in multiple ways. Very neat.

Enjoy the video below, and as always, free to pass it along!

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Yoshi Rahm, DO. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other health care professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. 

Do not use the information provided in this article for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other health care professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this article.

Information provided in this article and the use of any products or services related to this article by you DOES NOT create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Yoshi Rahm, DO or any other physician featured in this article. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Movember

I was lazy last week and didn’t shave (not an unusual occurrence, much to my wife’s dismay), then I realized that we were a good week into November, so after confirming that I last shaved on October 31^st, I figured this would be a good first time for me to honor the Movember movement.

For those that don’t know, Movember, or “mustache November”, is a movement to raise awareness regarding men’s health issues, so I’ll specifically focus on prostate health.

Men’s prostates naturally get larger as they age.  This is called BPH (Benign Prostate Hypertrophy).  Because the prostate wraps around the urethra just below the bladder, when the prostate does get larger, it can cause common symptoms that include weaker urination stream, difficulty starting and/or stopping urination, more frequent urination, and dribbling at the end of urination.  BPH is not cancer, but it is annoying and can eventually lead to more serious conditions like recurrent kidney infections.

How about prostate cancer?  There’s a general rule of thumb that 60% of men aged 60 will have trace amounts of cancer cells in their prostates.  The vast majority of those who have prostate cancer cells do not ever even know they have prostate cancer.  However, prostate health should be taken seriously, since almost a quarter million men in the U.S. are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and around 10% of them will die from it.  According to www.cancer.org, 1 man out of every 38 will die from prostate cancer.  Not good.

I’m all about prevention, and plenty of research suggests that dietary and lifestyle changes may help maintain and influence healthy prostate cells.  Of course, more research is needed, but some simple guidelines for overall prostate wellness are below.

Strategies to Support Prostate Health

• Reduce Stress: Reducing stress balances stress hormones and equilibrates neurotransmitters ultimately causing less DNA damage and less cancer overall improving prostate health.
• Eat a Low-Glycemic Diet: Insulin may exacerbate prostatic disease. Eating a low-glycemic diet with minimal processed carbohydrates does good for your prostate health.
• Ample Veggies and Fruit: Veggies and Fruit give antioxidants and phytonutrients to your body and many phytonutrients have been implicated in prostate health.
• Cook protein at Lower Temperatures and do not eat burning/charred foods: Cooking meat and charring any food increases the presence of harmful carcinogenic compounds that may negatively affect prostate health.
• Exercise CONSISTENLY: Even if its moderate amounts each time and low-intensity, exercise still benefits prostate health.  Exercise aids the hormone balance, specifically the estrogen-testosterone relationship thereby aiding in prostate health.
• Supplements: There is a growing body of research exploring the role of supplements in prostate health.  It’s likely that some extra concentrated doses of certain phytonutrients can benefit prostate health.  There are many prostate supplement options on the open market.  Just make sure you get a good quality brand and then monitor for changes in urination.  If you notice urination changes for the better, then the supplement might be worth continuing.  If you do not notice any changes, then it’s probably not worth your money to keep taking it.

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Yoshi Rahm, DO. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other health care professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. 

Do not use the information provided in this article for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other health care professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this article.

Information provided in this article and the use of any products or services related to this article by you DOES NOT create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Yoshi Rahm, DO or any other physician featured in this article. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.