The People's Pharmacy

If you need surgery, medication or some other medical intervention, you count on your health insurance company to pay the bill. When the treatment is unusual or the expected cost is especially high, it seems reasonable to ask for prior approval. Increasingly, though, insurance companies are denying those requests and not paying the claims. How do insurance company rejections impact medical care? W...

Would you be surprised to learn that hypnosis is a powerful tool for healing? If your primary exposure to this practice has been in books and movies, you may have a few misconceptions about how it works and what it can do. Some people imagine that when you are hypnotized, you lose control. Instead, it allows you great control of both your body and your mind. How could hypnosis help your health? Th...

This week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your questions and stories about difficulties in stopping medicines, whether prescription or OTC. Dr. Richard Friedman, an expert on drugs to treat anxiety and mood disorders, describes the symptoms of discontinuing such an agent too suddenly. Have you had trouble getting off the medication treadmill? You can ask your questions about how to stop a medicine...

Our culture tends to avoid thinking about death. Even though we know it is inevitable, we tend to act as though it doesn’t actually pertain to us. As a result, most of us have spent little time learning how people find hope and meaning at life’s end. The intense dreams and visions that dying people report may seem strange. In this interview, hospice doctor Christopher Kerr shares his research on t...

For years, the reigning paradigm in health care has been “Doctor knows best.” Providers rarely sought input from patients about their needs or experience. That picture has been changing, though, as more people have been using online tools to band together and find solutions for themselves and their loved ones. Susannah Fox describes the patient-led revolution in health care. You may want to listen...

The term “homeostasis” was coined about a hundred years ago. What does it mean? Essentially, it is a way of describing how various systems in the body work together to maintain internal equilibrium even in the face of a changing environment. This concept is crucial to good health, as healers have known intuitively for millennia. You may want to listen through your local public radio station or get...

This week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your questions and stories about the dangers of overdosing on OTC meds. Dr. Lisa Sanders, an acknowledged expert on medical diagnosis, starts us off with a story about a patient’s mysterious illness. How was it linked to the medicine he was taking? You can ask your questions about OTC drug safety and share your experience at 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 am...

This week on our nationally syndicated radio show, we examine the consequences of prescriptions for anxiety or grief. All of us, at some point in our lives, will experience some of these emotions. If we discuss them with a healthcare provider, there’s a chance we’ll end up with a prescription. When are medications helpful and when do they cause more harm than good? Are there risks in medicating no...

. Decades ago, people trusted their doctors and assumed that physicians always had the patient’s best interests in mind. That belief has faded and trust in medicine seems to be in tatters following the divisive battles of the pandemic. In this episode, we consider how doctors might rebuild faith in medicine. You may want to listen through your local public radio station. You could also get the liv...

Plenty of issues in the public eye could well make anyone anxious. Some people suffer more than others, however. What we feed our gut microbes–and ourselves–can make a big difference. In this episode, a nutritional psychiatrist and professional chef explains how to calm your mind with smart food choices. You may want to listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am...

Everyone is weary of the coronavirus pandemic and ready to be done with it. So the news that a new pandemic is already slowly unfolding is unwelcome. But unless we pay attention and do what we can to reverse the growing trend of antimicrobial resistant infections, they could end up causing even more death and disability than COVID-19. Antimicrobial Resistant Infections: Ever since the middle of th...

What do you want to know about prostate cancer? This week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your questions about the latest screening tools and treatments for prostate cancer. Almost 300,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, but stigma keeps many from discussing it. As a result, they may not learn about the latest treatments, which can be very effective. Our expert guests will tell yo...

Chemists use compounds such as bisphenols and phthalates to help make plastic packaging strong and durable. In this episode, two experts describe how these chemicals get into our food and how we can minimize our exposure. They share their advice on how to eat less plastic. You may want to listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EDT on your computer or smart ph...

If you tell your healthcare provider that you’re feeling anxious or depressed, chances are they will prescribe you a medication. Millions of people take anti-anxiety pills or antidepressants, and many find that the medicine makes life more bearable. But can you understand what makes your life meaningful? For that, you might need to tell your story to a compassionate listener who can reflect it bac...

This week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your stories and questions about living with animals. Does a cat purring on your lap help you calm down after a hectic day? Has walking the dog become a part of your exercise routine? Tell us about your pets at 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 am EST. Or send us your stories ahead of time: radio@peoplespharmacy.com. Veterinarian Chuck Miller and veterinary tech...

This week, two guests describe their work with the healing power of medicinal herbs. They draw upon family histories of herbalism along with their own studies of how to use botanical medicines. You may want to listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EDT on your computer or smart phone ( wunc.org ). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadc...

This week, we talk with Dr. Paul Offit, author of the new book, Tell Me When It’s Over . Most of us are more than ready to move on from the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ll discuss how public health officials could regain our trust. In addition, we consider what lessons we should take away from this experience. You may want to listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am E...

This week, our guests examine the quality of medications. Does importing a majority of our medicines from plants in places like India or China compromise our national security? Just how well does the FDA monitor drug quality? You may want to listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EDT on your computer or smart phone ( wunc.org ). Here is a link so you can find...

This week, Joe and Terry Graedon entertain your questions and stories about home remedies. What do you do for leg cramps or heartburn? Call in your favorites at 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 am EST, or send us an email beforehand: radio@peoplespharmacy.com. We’ll explore whether there is science supporting home remedies. You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live...

This week, our guest is one of the country’s leading experts on schizophrenia, Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman. He teaches at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, part of Columbia University, where he studies the treatment of mental illness. His research led to the therapeutic strategy of early detection and intervention for a malady of the mind, schizophrenia. You may want to listen through your...

This week, we talk with America’s Pharmacist, Suzy Cohen, about the effectiveness of medications and natural healing. Suzy has a multimedia presence in newspapers and on television. Millions of people trust her advice on over-the-counter and prescription medicines. She is also a strong advocate for natural approaches. You may want to listen through your local public radio station or get the live s...

This week, dermatologist Chris Adigun joins us live in the studio to answer your questions about how to treat your skin and hair when the weather gets cold. Cold wind, low humidity and forced hot air indoors can all conspire to dry out your skin. Call in your questions about winterizing your skin at 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 am EST. You could listen through your local public radio station or ge...

Too many of us assume that aging automatically brings debility and cognitive decline. So it is a pleasure to talk with a centenarian who is ready to share the secrets to living a long healthy life. Secrets to Living a Long Healthy Life: Dr. Gladys McGarey is 102 years old. She spent her childhood in India because her parents were doctors caring for people in extremely remote, poor villages. An enc...

This week on our nationally syndicated radio show, you’ll hear an internationally recognized expert on overcoming eating disorders. There are several different types of eating disorders, and they are far more common than most people realize. With so much emotion surrounding food and body image, you might have a hard time understanding how to help someone suffering from this hidden epidemic....

In this week’s interview, Dr. Aaron Carroll of Indiana University discusses what we should take into account when we evaluate prescription drugs. How can we tell if the benefits would outweigh the risks for us? You may want to listen to it through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EDT on your computer or smart phone ( wunc.org ). Here is a link so you can find which st...