Can Nature Help Heal Pain? Good Question and the Science Says Yes, But…

In our tech-heavy, fast-paced lives, the idea that nature could reduce pain might sound a bit like wishful thinking. But science is beginning to validate what many instinctively feel: time in nature can actually help relieve pain — both physically and emotionally.

Nature and Pain Relief: What the Research Says

A recent Discover Magazine article summarized a study by Austrian researchers showing that viewing natural landscapes (even virtually) led to measurable reductions in pain sensitivity. The study went beyond simple self-reports and tracked physiological responses — offering harder evidence that nature might ease pain at a biological level.

There are other studies looking at Forest Bathing that back this up:

• Forest bathing (Shinrin-Yoku) is what it sounds like. You go into a forest for a period of time. It’s been shown to reduce stress hormones, lower blood pressure, and ease chronic pain symptoms.

• People with chronic pain conditions report feeling less pain and anxiety after these nature therapy sessions.

• Even using virtual nature (VR or imagery) can reduce discomfort, especially in hospital or clinical settings.

Here’s the But Part…

Not all the data is glowing. Some studies show inconsistent effects — especially on physical measures like blood pressure or long-term pain outcomes. The quality of research varies, and benefits often fade quickly once people return to everyday environments.

Plus, not everyone has access to safe green spaces, and people with allergies, limited mobility, or PTSD may find natural environments triggering rather than healing.

So…How to Get the Benefits of Nature for Pain Relief

It’s simple since nature is a low-risk and a free option to support healing for most people. Here's how to start:

• Take a short walk in a park or green space — even 15 minutes can help.

• Use nature sounds or videos if you’re indoors or mobility limited.

• Engage your senses: smell the air, listen to birds, feel the breeze.

• Try mindfulness or light stretching while outdoors.

Final Thoughts

So…whether it’s better to walk in nature or not (a variation from Shakespear)? Nature won’t replace medication or therapy, but it’s a powerful supplement — one that’s accessible, affordable, and backed by growing evidence. Whether you’re managing chronic pain or just trying to lower daily stress, a little green energy (and not from dollar bills) might go a long way to heal you.

The Growing Concern About Light Pollution. It’s Impacts on Health and What You Can Do About It

Light pollution is simply the excessive or misdirected artificial light that disrupts the natural night environment. It also is a problem that tends to get overlooked. However, with over 80% of the world’s population living under light-polluted skies, I think it’s time to address its impact on health and the environment.

What is Light Pollution, anyway?

Light pollution can actually be from a number of sources. Let me give you some examples.

• Skyglow – This is brightening of the night sky that’s happened over cities. You might be lucky if you can even see a few stars. Most people living in cities have never seen in real life the Milky Way Galaxy.

• Glare:-  This is when you are under intense light that even causes discomfort.

• Light Trespass – An example of this is when the light from streetlights or advertising signs spills into the spaces in your home, such as, a bedroom.

• Clutter: This occurs in cities with lots of bright billboards, illuminated signs, streetlamps, and floodlights all shining at once, the result can be a blinding, disorienting glow. The problem with this is as cities grow, this issue worsens. 

According to the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), over 99% of people in developed countries are affected by light pollution.

Health Impacts of Light Pollution – 

Light pollution is not a passive event that you don’t have to be concerned about. It can also have health effects such as:

1. Disrupted Sleep Patterns: Exposure to artificial light at night suppresses melatonin, a hormone that is essential for sleep. A Current Biology (2017) study found that disrupted sleep can lead to long-term health issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

2. Increased Chronic Disease Risk: Studies, such as one in Environmental Health Perspectives (2013), have linked artificial light at night to an increased risk of certain cancers, including breast and prostate cancer, due to this disruption of melatonin production.

3. Mental Health Issues: A study in The Lancet (2020) found that prolonged exposure to light pollution contributes to anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. This study really  demonstrates how poor sleep can harm a person’s mental well-being.

4. Wildlife Disruption: Light pollution doesn’t only affect humans. It also disrupts nocturnal animals, including birds and sea turtles by affecting migration and nesting. 

What Can Be Done?

You’re not helpless or hopeless when it comes to making a lighting difference in your environment. Here are a number of things you can start doing.

Better Lighting Design: This would have to be up to companies and governments to require changes, such as installing downward facing which shields lights so that unnecessary light spill is reduced. These groups both may respond to citizen pressure.

Several cities have already made strides in this direction. For example, the city of Los Angeles recently replaced over 100,000 streetlights with energy-efficient LED lights that are shielded and emit warmer tones, helping to reduce both energy consumption and light pollution. Pretty good…2 outcomes for the price of one!

1. Raising Awareness: Public education about light pollution can encourage individuals and cities to adopt practices that minimize light use.

2. Creating Dark Sky Areas: These protected spaces reduce artificial lighting to preserve natural darkness, benefiting both humans and wildlife. The International Dark-Sky Association has designated over 100 dark sky places. These places have become tourist destinations as this lets people see the real night sky!

3. Technology Solutions: Smart lighting systems that adjust to human activity and natural light can reduce nighttime energy consumption and light pollution. As an example, motion-sensing lights in public spaces and residential areas can ensure that lights are only on when needed.

4. Personal Adjustments: On an individual level, using blackout curtains, reducing screen time, taking melatonin (3 to 5 mgs) about an hour before bedtime, and opting for dim lighting at night can help you maintain a healthy sleep cycle.

Conclusion

Light pollution is more than just an eyesore; As you can see (or maybe I should use the word tell?), it can have serious health and environmental impacts. By improving lighting design, raising awareness, and making small lifestyle changes, we can all contribute to minimizing its harmful effects. 

So…you know what you can say…Turn the Damn light off!

Sip & Purify plus Health Benefits, too: How Drinking Tea Might Be Filtering Heavy Metals and Benefiting Your Health

Most of us think of tea as a comforting ritual or a source of antioxidants—but emerging research shows it may serve another surprising function: acting as a mild, natural filter to reduce heavy metals like lead, chromium, cooper, and cadmium in water.

The Science Behind the Brew

A study published in ACS Food Science & Technology in February 2025 from Northwestern University (it’s where I went to Law School) systematically examined how different teas and brewing methods affect the removal—or adsorption—of heavy metals from water.

Key findings include:

• Heavy metal ions like lead, cadmium, chromium, and copper adhere (adsorb) to tea leaves, effectively removing some of those contaminants from the water.
• Under typical conditions—one mug of water and one tea bag steeped for 3–5 minutes—the brew removed about 15% of the lead, even when starting concentrations were as high as 10 parts per million.
• The longer the steeping time, the more effective the metal removal—extended or overnight steeping (like when you’re preparing iced tea) could aid in the recovery of most or  all the metal from the water.
• Finer surface area boosts adsorption: finely ground black tea performed slightly better than whole leaves, due to increased area for heavy metal ions to latch onto.
• Material matters: even empty cellulose tea bags, which are made from wood pulp, can absorb significant amounts of metals, while cotton and nylon bags perform poorly plus, they may release microplastics and nanoparticles.

As Dr. Benjamin Shindel, lead author of the study, wrote: “Any tea that steeps for longer or has higher surface area will effectively remediate more heavy metals.”

While drinking tea is not a replacement for certified water filters, you can look at the filtering that goes on as a plus to the health benefits which are below.

Health Benefits of Green and Black Tea

Let’s plus the filtering benefits by looking at the health benefits from drinking green and black teas.

First of all, both green and black teas come from the same plant—Camellia sinensis—but they are processed differently. Green tea leaves are steamed or pan-fired (preserving more antioxidants), while black tea is fully oxidized, giving it a bolder flavor and different bioactive compounds.

Let’s look at how each tea can boost your health:

Green Tea Benefits

• Rich in Catechins: Especially EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), known for anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and fat-burning properties.
• Heart Health: Regular consumption linked to reduced LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and lower blood pressure.
• Brain Boost: Improves alertness (from moderate caffeine) and protects brain cells via polyphenols.
• Weight Management: May increase metabolism and assist with fat oxidation during exercise.
• Cancer Prevention: Some studies suggest reduced risk of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers.
• Anti-aging & Skin Health: Antioxidants fight free radicals, promoting healthier skin and slowing signs of aging.

Black Tea Benefits

• High in Theaflavins and Thearubigins (good luck pronouncing this word!): These polyphenols give black tea its color and may support heart and gut health.
• Cardiovascular Protection: Regularly drinking black tea is associated with lower risk of stroke and heart disease.
• Improved Gut Microbiome: Polyphenols support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
• Energy and Focus: Higher caffeine than green tea (but less than coffee), provides a mild energy lift.
• Blood Sugar Control: May help regulate glucose levels after a-meal, potentially lowering diabetes risk.

What Does This Mean for You?

Drinking tea may:

• Offer a natural, while partial solution, for heavy metals in water.
• Provide antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds to support your health.
• Be a safe, comforting daily ritual - with science-backed benefits.

Whether you sip green tea for clarity or black tea for boldness, you're giving your body more than just warmth - you're giving it a little detox and health defense with every cup. So…sip away.

Creatine: The Unsung Hero for Health Across the Ages

When you hear the word “creatine,” what’s your first thought? How about…what’s that? Well, for many people heavily into certain sports, it's the go-to supplement for powerlifters and sprinters. It turns out this definition is way too narrow since creatine is emerging as a potent ally for healthy aging and vitality. Let’s take a closer look at all the benefits (and there are a lot!)  

1. Powering Muscles Beyond Youth

Creatine helps regenerate ATP which supplies the body with rapid energy, especially during short, intense efforts like lifting or sprinting. While this makes it a trusted staple for athletes, what’s it doing for older folks?

Meta-analyses have demonstrated that combining creatine supplementation with resistance training in older adults leads to meaningful gains in lean tissue mass (about 1.3–1.4 kg) and both upper- and lower-body strength compared to doing resistance training alone. Another review confirms these effects by showing enhanced lean mass and strength when creatine is added to resistance training programs. The benefits are especially critical in battling sarcopenia which is an age-related decline in muscle and function.

2. Stronger Bones & Lower Fall Risk

Age often brings a decrease in bone density and an elevation of the risk of falls and fractures. In steps, creatine and when combined with resistance training, has shown potential in positively influencing bone remodeling and even reducing the fall risk in older individuals.

3. Brain Benefits: Sharper Mind with Time

Now, let me see…what was I going to cover next? Oh, yeah… (a joke)…there’s emerging evidence that has linked higher dietary creatine intake to better cognitive performance in older adults. In aging or even sleep-deprived individuals, creatine supplementation improved memory and mental processing. So, it’s not just physical energy that creatine impacts - it may help power your mind too.

4. Energy, Recovery, and Metabolic Health

Fatigue is common among older adults, especially during and after physical activity. Creatine helps replenish ATP more efficiently, reducing muscle and mental fatigue and supporting better recovery. This means it’s helpful for sustaining daily activity and exercise routines. Some studies also suggest benefits for glucose control and metabolic health in older or diabetic adults, though these findings call for further study.

5. A Boost Against Inflammation, Frailty, and Oxidative Stress

Creatine may go beyond affecting just muscle and bone by acting as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent. It reduces markers of inflammation, promotes muscle and bone anabolism, and protect against oxidative damage which are factors deeply intertwined with frailty and aging. Though clinical trials looking at frail older adults are still limited, early evidence is promising on this impact.

6. Safe, Affordable, and Simple

The bottom line is creatine monohydrate is well-researched, affordable, and generally safe for healthy individuals which includes older adults. On the plus side, long-term use hasn’t been linked to kidney or liver damage in healthy populations.

Typical dosage: 3–5 g daily for the younger folks and 5 g per day older adults when they’re doing resistance training.

Final Thoughts

Creatine is more than a gym staple. It's a versatile, evidence-backed supplement that offers physical, cognitive, and metabolic support—not only for athletes but, importantly, for older adults striving to age with strength and mental clarity.

So…you want to consider taking 3–5 g daily when you’re doing resistance training This is the key to unlocking most of its benefits.

One warning: anyone with health concerns, especially kidney issues, should consult a healthcare provider before starting to take Creatine.

The bottom line…creatine is a way to increase longevity, vitality, and a sharper mind…what’s not to LOVE about that!

Destruction of Environmental Protections is Putting All of US at Risk

You may not be aware of it, but my first job after I passed the Bar Exam was being hired as an attorney by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. I worked in the Division of Air Pollution Control and was involved in suing companies for air pollution violations.

We were so effective that industry hated us. This caused the State Attorney General Bill Scott to take our trial power back and forced us to have to go through his Assistant AGs to file cases against polluters. Guess what? They started holding up filing cases. It got to the point that I’d have nothing to do all day. 

That’s when I left and started to move into what I do now – helping people! So, at one level, thank you Bill Scott for my speaking career.

However, the same type of thing is happening now with the Environmental Protection Agency, but it’s much, much worse.

I don’t usually write about politics; however, this situation is going to have a direct effect on everyone’s health and well-being if it’s not stopped. So…I hope you’ll indulge me and read on.

Since his confirmation as EPA Administrator on January 29, 2025, Lee Zeldin has swiftly moved to dismantle what many see as critical environmental safeguards - moves that have been sharply criticized by numerous environmental groups. 

It’s Deregulation on a Grand Scale

In March, Zeldin unveiled plans to roll back 31 major environmental regulations, in what he called the “largest deregulatory announcement in U.S. history.” These include roll backs to limits on air toxins, carbon emissions, climate pollution from vehicles and power plants, and protections for water bodies under the Clean Water Act.

They are also rollbacking back the mercury and Air Toxics Standards, tailpipe pollution rules, methane limits, and national soot standards which are rules that were created to save lives and reduce illness. 

Getting An Exemption to Pollute by Sending an Email

He’s enabled petrochemical and coal operations to apply for a presidential exemption from pollution safeguards. All they needed to do is send an email request – No Proof Necessary!

So far, almost 70 coal fired power plants have gotten this two-year free pass to ignore federal standards so they can pollute the environment. After 2 years, they can just email to renew the waivers.

Industry groups representing some of the country’s largest polluters – the American Chemistry Council and the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers - have even asked Zeldin for a blanket exemption for more than 200 facilities.

The EPA is also refusing to announce who is applying and who is receiving these exemptions.

If you’re old enough, remember when many cities were totally covered in a layer of smog. Well, guess what’s coming back!

Undermining Climate Science

Let’s go one step further in this horror story – just a couple of day ago, Zeldin announced his intention to repeal what’s called the Agency’s 2009 “Endangerment Finding”, which declared greenhouse gases harmful to human health. This Finding underpins nearly every federal climate regulation since then, including tailpipe emission standards for vehicles.

The rollback is expected to trigger legal objections and has drawn strong criticism for defying decades of scientific consensus, while undermining federal authority to regulate carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases.

Attacks on Environmental Justice and Science

Zeldin has also slashed the EPA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and moved to eliminate offices focused on environmental justice, dismantling the agency’s decades-long efforts to address pollution in historically marginalized areas. A quick example - how would you like to live next to a coal fired power station and a petrochemical refinery? You’d probably say no thanks. Well, there are lots of people who can’t say – no thanks – and they need to be protected from these harms.

The budget for that DEI department was slashed by around 65%, and internal dissent was met with administrative leave for 139 employees who signed internal declarations opposing agency policy - actions the EPA justified as not disciplinary but illustrative of its unwillingness to tolerate dissent.

What’s to Come

No doubt we are going to have more toxic chemicals, cancer, asthma attacks, and other severe health harms—especially impacting children, pregnant women, and low-income communities. 

Former EPA administrators—including Republicans—have echoed the alarm. They have called Zeldin’s rollbacks “catastrophic” and warn they endanger current and future generations by abandoning core EPA values in favor of deregulation. 

Hopefully, legal challenges by the states and environmental groups suing to stop this outrage will succeed, and, doubly hopefully, that the Supreme Court will agree to stop this in its tracks.

If not, we may need to change the name of the EPA from Environmental Protection Agency to EDA - Environmental Destruction Agency!

So…now’s the time to call your Congress Person and US Senators to complain about these changes. You can also donate to groups like the Environmental Defense Fund and NDRC that have been in this fight for decades.

That’s the end of my rant. If you finished reading this, thanks!

Kicking Your Immune System into High Gear

Before I start this weeks Blurb, I wanted to share this with you: I recently had CHATGPT take a look at the blurbs that I’ve been posting and analyze what it thinks of me as the writer. Here’s what it had to say: You’re a sharp-minded explorer of natural wellness with a lawyer’s precision and an environmentalist’s conscience. With a knack for cutting through the smog—literally and figuratively—you blend legal know how with a passion for clean air and clean living. You write with purpose, crafting newsletters that empower readers to seek out holistic, evidence-based alternatives. Basically: you’re part advocate, part alchemist, and all clarity.

So…my view is I think it’s pretty accurate (and that’s my lawyer mind talking!). It did leave out that I like to toss some humor in as well.

Now for this week’s information.

Kicking Your Immune System into High Gear

We don’t usually look at changing your diet as having an almost immediate impact on your health. Well, it turns out the foods you eat can do more than fuel you - it can also help your immune system become stronger and it can do it in two weeks!

New research conducted by the National Institute of Health (before all the cutbacks) shows that both the keto and vegan diets can quickly change how your body fights off illness. They just do it in different ways.

Let’s Look at How Keto Supports Immunity

In case you’re not aware of it, the keto diet is high in fats and very low in carbs. This puts your body into a state known as ketosis. This means your body makes ketones which help power your immune cells and especially T cells. T cells are the ones that remember when you’ve had a past infection which then then mobilizes your body fight off a virus faster.

The NIH study found that people on the keto diet showed a boost in key immune cells after just 2 weeks. Animal studies have also shown that the keto diet can help fight off viruses like the flu and reduce inflammation from autoimmune diseases.

The bottom line on the Keto diet is that it may help your body build stronger long-term immune defenses.

Let’s Look at How the Vegan Diet Helps in the Fight

The vegan diet operates on a different concept. This diet is full of fiber, plants, and antioxidants. What this does is it helps the good bacteria in your gut microbiome play a big role in your body’s immune health. The same NIH study also showed that after just 2 weeks on a vegan diet, people had stronger level of innate immunity. Innate immunity is actually the body’s first line of defense.

Vegan diets are also linked to lower inflammation due to all the phytonutrients it contains and because it has less saturated fat.

The bottom line is that a vegan diet supports your gut and reduces inflammation, helping your immune system stay balanced and more effective.

So…which Approach is Better?

It turns out that they both have strengths. Let me give you some examples

Diet                      Boosts…                                Best For…

Keto         T-cell immunity        Fighting viruses, building memory

Vegan    Gut and first response      Reducing inflammation, daily wellness

The interesting thing is both diets can shift your immune system in just a couple of weeks. 

So…you might even blend the best of both approaches by thinking of doing plant-heavy, low-carb meals while adding healthy fats like avocado and olive oil.

I’ve now been a Lacto-Vegetarian (Lacto means I eat dairy products) for 54 years. In the last several years, I’ve moved into doing Intermittent Fasting which is my having 2 meals a day. I’ve made the first meal my Keto Meal and my Second Meal is more my Vegetarian meal.

So…you now have two ways to defend yourself!
Reported WDDTY, April 2024

Understanding the Power of Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a system of natural medicine developed over 200 years ago by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. Homeopathy is actually guaranteed in the Constitution of India. It’s even in the FDAs’ founding documents. The EU, Australia, Japan and many other countries allow the practice of Homeopathy. Six US Presidents have used homeopathy.

The basic idea of homeopathy is: “like cures like.” This means that a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person may help cure similar symptoms in a sick person.

Preparing these preparations involves repeated dilution and shaking (called “potentization”) of the substance. This has been where the critics argue that by the time a remedy is diluted to its final form, none of the original substance remains in the liquid - just water or sugar. Supporters argue that the process transfers the healing “information” or energy of the original substance.

Until recently, there was no solid scientific explanation for how these ultra-diluted remedies could work. But that is changing because of a White Paper published on Scientific Advancements in Homeopathy.

There were a number of the major findings in this White Paper that I’d like to share with you.

As I mentioned, the old belief has been that the extreme dilutions that take place leave nothing of the original substance in the end product. Now, researchers have discovered nanoparticles from the starting materials were still present in the final dilution.

The researchers used techniques like electron microscopy and spectroscopy and observed tiny cores (from the original materials) coated in a silicon compound that stabilized and preserved them through the repeated dilutions and vigorous shaking that occurred.

This evidence now gives us a physical basis for how such remedies might have biological effects - something that was considered impossible.

Biological Effects Even Occur at Low Doses

In lab tests, these nanoscale particles have shown measurable effects on living cells even when administered at low doses, Two examples of the impact of these low does are:

• Anti-cancer traits: Certain remedies disrupted cancer cell activity, like melanoma cell migration.
• Immune and inflammatory response: Remedies like Arnica Montana and Belladonna affected cytokine levels, impacting inflammation control.

AI is Reshaping How Homeopathy is Practiced

The white paper highlights how digital tools and AI are reshaping homeopathy:

• AI-supported case analysis: Software can now comb through patient data and suggest remedy options faster and more accurately.
• Symptom-tracking apps & telehealth: Patients can now log symptoms via apps, enabling remote monitoring and real-time treatment adjustments.

Collaborations & Quality Control

Global support is growing:

• Major funding bodies like India’s AYUSH and European institutes are investing in robust research to further validate the benefits of using Homeopathy.
• Labs are also adopting advanced techniques, such as, high-precision dilution, spectroscopy, and nanocarrier delivery systems to standardize remedy quality and document consistency.

Charting an Evidence-Based Course

Recent meta-analyses and trial reviews suggest individualized homeopathic treatments might perform better than placebo. The white paper calls for:

• More double-blind, placebo-controlled trials
• Greater adherence to strict reporting standards
• Exploration of underlying mechanisms, not just clinical outcomes

If these happen, homeopathy could evolve from what people in this country consider an alternative into an integrated, science-aware supplement to mainstream healthcare assuming Big Pharma doesn’t try to squelch the progress being made.

I’ve personally gotten to see and experience the benefits of Homeopathy since my wife, Elizabeth, is a practicing Homeopathist. I’ve seen how family and friends, including myself, have been beneficially impacted by taking homeopathic remedies.

So…this white paper goes a long way to legitimize Homeopathy in this country.

 For further information on homeopathy research, you can contact info@hri-research.org or visit www.HRI-Research.org.