Dr. Andrew Weil
December 2005 | Evergreen News
Weil: The Antithesis of Anti-Aging Medicine
Along with a flowing beard that gives Dr. Andrew Weil a distinct natural health look, the Tucson-based physician has always been as calm as the desert is dry. His demeanor is almost soothing, even during media interviews. He walks the wholistic talk, even on grocery store trips.
So it is balm for any yellers among us, and let’s agree somewhat alarming for all, when Weil starts getting worked up about the emergence of anti-aging medicine as a professional field.
The turning point for Weil’s newest book, Healthy Aging, which debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times bestseller list, was attending a 2003 conference sponsored by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Weil is not one of its 12,500 physician-members, but he did attend some “intriguing” sessions on inflammation as the major cause of age-related disease.
But that’s not what moved Weil to write the book. What provoked him was listening to some doctors talk about how to significantly increase revenue—“quadruple it,” one speaker urged—by specializing in anti-aging medicine
And that was just during the morning sessions of the conference. One afternoon, he toured the massive exhibit hall, increasingly dismayed by the number of products being pushed as anti-aging solutions. He accepted that brands of antioxidants, fish oils and “miracle herbs” might have some scientific grounding, but questioned the promises and guarantees of not aging.
Weil especially struggled with “pseudoscientific devices” such as one for reading and adjusting energy fields as a way to keep patients young. The exhibit hall made it hard for Weil to stay calm. After three days at the conference, he went home and started writing.
“We need to give up on the goal of stopping aging,” said Weil. “What we should be doing is delaying the onset of age-related diseases.”
Weil proposes the most effective way to slow disease is to control inflammation in the body, especially at the cellular level. Some inflammation is good and the natural way for a body to heal. Too much inflammation overloads cell and stands to be why we are experiencing epidemics of heart disease, diabetes and many forms of cancer.
Part of Weil’s solution is an anti-inflammation diet proposed in the book. One important strategy includes eating more omega-3 fats (salmon, sardines, omega-3 eggs, hemp/flax seeds and walnuts) but controlling the omega-6 fats in vegetable, corn, regular safflower and regular sunflower oils.
“People need to know the promises we will hear from practitioners of anti-aging medicine are going to become more extravagant in coming years,” said Weil, who recently appeared at Town Hall as part of his ongoing book tour.
“What I really want to help change with the book and tour is our culture,” said Weil. “I want to endorse the idea of aging gracefully. I am aiming to have people mobilize people to look at and value what can improve with aging, such as wisdom, life experience, relationship skills and being more creative.”
Weil is getting positive reviews from the critics and readers alike. One reason, the new book follows the form of his earlier bestsellers by providing practical information. Some highlights: Making sure you sleep in complete darkness to encourage the body’s production of melatonin. Learning another language (“you don’t have to master it”) to enhance your brain and memory skills. Learning and practicing breathing relaxation techniques to decrease stress—which Weil says is highly underrated as a breeder of disease and even death.
Weil continues in his role as founder of the University of Arizona’s integrative medicine program, which has now trained more than 300 physicians. Soon he will partner with the Miraval spa to create a whole new type of integrative medicine center, one which will encourage people to check in for five to seven days of exams, treatments, therapies and self-enhancement education. You can be sure anti-aging medicine won’t be among the treatment options.
–Bob Condor
Bastyr Secures Its Place in Kenmore, Medicine
While Dr. Andrew Weil certainly gets big kudos for changing America’s perceptions of natural health treatments (let’s hope he has the same effect on aging gracefully, see above item), Bastyr University in Kenmore and its clinic in Seattle are more than pulling their weight in the healing shift.
For one thing, Bastyr turns out hundreds of new naturopathic physicians every year, along with acupuncturists, herbalists, nutritionists, exercise scientists and more. Plus, its clinic treats about 40,000 patients each year.
Further proof of Bastyr Nation’s deep roots in natural healing comes with news that the university has purchased the land it has long leased from the local Catholic Archdiocese. It still welcomes all visitors, especially to the delicious vegetarian cafeteria and the garden and reflexology walk. There’s comfort in knowing the Bastyr concept is not only working but sustaining itself.
–Andrew Mulholland
Breathing Easier After the Election
OK, take a deep breath. Take another one. What you are experiencing is the fresh air that comes with a smoke-free state with lots of trees and, now, no-smoking facilities.
Last month, voters said yes to Initiative 901 and made Washington the toughest state in which to get a smoke break. Smoking will no longer be allowed in bars, restaurants or within 25 feet of doors, windows and air vents of any public place.
The law will hinge on an honor system of sorts. State public health officials have made it clear there is no funding to aggressively monitor smokers or violators. But early indications are the department will be watching businesses that allow smoking within 25 feet of its doors. It won’t necessarily be issuing citations as much as working with owners to remedy the situations. No doubt some non-smokers will press the issue.
And who can blame them?
–Andrew Mulholland
Urban, ‘Cosmo’ answer To Farmer’s almanac
Any fans of the alternative press—and natural lifestyle—will want to check out Eric Utne’s newest project. After leaving the Utne Magazine to become a junior-high Waldorf teacher (and subsequently write about it), Utne took to creating Cosmo Doogood’s Urban Almanac: Celebrating Nature and Her Rhythms in the City (Cosmo’s Urban Almanac, $12.95). Here is EM contributor Andi McDaniel’s review : Cosmo Doogood’s Urban Almanac is as eclectic, and as charming, as a childhood rock collection. But instead of quartz and skipping stones, the book contains witty proverbs, weather predictions, “survival strategies,” poems, recipes and other whimsical gems, all organized around a weekly calendar.
Created by Eric Utne, founder of Utne Magazine, the Almanac’s goal is to help us “celebrate nature and her rhythms in the city.” How to accomplish this lofty task? One method is to plan your city routine around the moon’s rotation—using Cosmo’s “Lunar Rhythm Calendar.”
The monthly chart goes so far as telling us when to trim our nails, bake sourdough bread and fall in love, based on the moon’s whereabouts.
Another way to notice nature, according to Cosmo, is to watch for the subtle signs of changing seasons. This month he reminds us that “summer in winter bodes no cheer.”
The Urban Almanac was inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s cherished compendium , Poor Richard’s Almanack, which boasted a similar array of nature-related facts, figures and calculations. Franklin’s book was a lifeline for his audience of mainly farmers. Cosmo’s version has the added challenge of simply getting us to look up from our iBooks. But what better than this smart, savvy and good-lookin’ reference to catch our attention? “Look up, look out, look in!” Cosmo reminds us. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.
(If you have stories to tell about the new smoke-free laws, whether you agree with it or not, drop us a note at [click to e-mail]).
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