The People's Pharmacy

In this episode, our guest, award-winning science journalist Carl Zimmer, describes the hidden dangers in the air we breathe. He begins with the concept of the aerobiome–the collection of living things from ground level to the stratosphere. While that includes eagles and dragonflies, the most insidious inhabitants are those we can’t see. Often, we are […]

Transcribed - Published: 5 June 2025

This week, the topic is lead. A hundred years ago, chemists discovered that adding lead to gasoline decreased engine knock and gave the cars of the day more power. It remained a popular additive for decades. At the same time, companies were adding lead to house paint to help it last longer. We know now […]

Transcribed - Published: 29 May 2025

This week, two scientists discuss the evidence on using vitamin C to treat colds and as part of the treatment for cancer. For years, the medical establishment has maintained that such claims could not be considered seriously. But new studies vindicate Linus Pauling, the Nobel Prize winner who postulated that vitamin C would help. You […]

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2025

In this week’s episode, find out what everyone gets wrong about weight loss. Why don’t diet and exercise work very well? Do official guidelines and weight loss drugs offer a clearer path to success? Health Consequences of Excess Weight: With nearly three-fourths of American adults either overweight or obese, we can’t ignore the problem any […]

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2025

In this episode, investigative journalist Gardiner Harris delves into the dark secrets of one of the country’s most admired pharmaceutical firms. Johnson & Johnson sold talcum powder–Johnson’s Baby Powder–for decades even though it contained asbestos, an acknowledged carcinogen. How did the company maintain its superb reputation for so long? You could listen through your local […]

Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2025

This week, Joe and Terry discuss liver health with two specialists. You may not have spent much time thinking about your liver. It is, however, an absolutely essential organ. When the liver is working properly, every part of the body gets the nutrients it needs and no parts are exposed to damaging toxins. These are […]

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2025

This week, a renowned neurosurgeon shares what he has learned in decades of working to restore ailing brains. His new book covers a vast range of neuroscience. Our dilemma was what to pay attention to in all those options. In a sense, that is always the human situation. We are capable of conscious processing of […]

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

In this week’s episode, a functional medicine expert will describe how to adjust your lifestyle to achieve the longest healthiest life possible. Is your biological age greater or less than your chronological age—the one you celebrate with birthday cake? How can you increase your chance of enjoying vibrant good health as you grow older? You […]

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2025

In this week’s episode, a functional medicine expert will describe how to adjust your lifestyle to achieve the longest healthiest life possible. Is your biological age greater or less than your chronological age—the one you celebrate with birthday cake? How can you increase your chance of enjoying vibrant good health as you grow older? You […]

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2025

Many indigenous peoples around the world have developed traditional uses for psychedelic compounds. In Western medicine, these were mostly unknown until Albert Hoffmann synthesized LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) in 1938. He later tried to figure out how it might be used after having an extraordinary personal experience. By the mid to late 1960s, psychedelic drugs […]

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2025

This week, neuro-otologist David Kaylie of Duke Health will help us understand how balance disorders disrupt patients’ lives and what doctors can do to help. If you have felt lightheaded or been bothered with vertigo, call in your questions between 7 and 8 am EDT on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 888-472-3366. Or you can […]

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2025

This week, two pharmacists describe why you should check with a pharmacist about possible problems when you combine supplements, herbs and medicines. In some cases, a supplement might interfere with your prescription drug. In other situations, an herb might slow metabolism of the medicine and increase the possibility of side effects. It’s better to know […]

Transcribed - Published: 3 April 2025

This week, we talk with a pulmonologist–a doctor who takes care of people with lung problems. Our topics range from common respiratory infections to the hazards of breathing smoke from forest fires. We also discuss asthma and COPD. Listen to find out how you could be breathing better. You could listen through your local public […]

Transcribed - Published: 27 March 2025

This week, Dr. Jane Andersen joins Joe and Terry in the studio to answer listeners’ questions about foot problems. Do you have bunions or plantar fasciitis? Dr. Andersen has tips on how to fix your foot pain. We invite you to call and tell us about it. You can call 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 […]

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2025

This week, our guests take two different approaches to the sense of smell. We talk with a surgeon who treats people having difficulties with that sense. In addition, a nurse describes utilizing the sense of smell for aromatherapy in integrative healing. Learn about the fascinating science of smell. You could listen through your local public […]

Transcribed - Published: 14 March 2025

This week, our guests take two different approaches to the sense of smell. We talk with a surgeon who treats people having difficulties with that sense. In addition, a nurse describes utilizing the sense of smell for aromatherapy in integrative healing. Learn about the fascinating science of smell. You could listen through your local public […]

Transcribed - Published: 14 March 2025

This week, we get in-depth information on Lp(a), the heart risk no one talks about. You have heard of cholesterol, and you may even know what your cholesterol level is. The compound lipoprotein a may be equally dangerous when it is elevated, but you have probably heard very little about it. You could listen through […]

Transcribed - Published: 7 March 2025

This week, we dig into the cooking oil controversy. For decades, we’ve heard that we should be using vegetable oils rather than butter, lard or other fats (possibly even olive oil). Oils from corn, soybeans, sunflower or safflower seeds are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Consequently, people consuming them may have lower cholesterol levels than […]

Transcribed - Published: 26 February 2025

This week, Terry and Joe welcome Dr. Andrew Spector to the studio to share his expertise with listeners. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a relatively common problem that can really wreak havoc on a good night’s sleep. Have you experienced this problem? How do you manage it? We invite you to call and tell us […]

Transcribed - Published: 20 February 2025

This week, we offer the second of a two-part series on the pros and cons of water fluoridation. Last week we discussed the practice of adding fluoride to drinking water to prevent tooth decay. This week we hear from a researcher who has found that early exposure to fluoridated water may affect youngsters’ IQ. You […]

Transcribed - Published: 13 February 2025

This week, we offer the first of a two-part series on water fluoridation. The practice of adding fluoride to drinking water to prevent tooth decay has been controversial for some time. Why? What should we know about it? You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am […]

Transcribed - Published: 7 February 2025

This week, we offer the first of a two-part series on water fluoridation. The practice of adding fluoride to drinking water to prevent tooth decay has been controversial for some time. Why? What should we know about it? You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am […]

Transcribed - Published: 7 February 2025

This week, we explore the evidence that some respected researchers in the field of Alzheimer’s disease took shortcut or even manipulated their data to get the results they wanted. How did our guests detect fraud and arrogance in this research? You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at […]

Transcribed - Published: 30 January 2025

This week, Joe & Terry invite listeners to share their favorite home remedies for colds. No one expects a remedy to shorten the duration of a cold–although perhaps one or two could! But many may help people feel better for a few hours if they alleviate symptoms. You can call in your suggestions to 888-472-3366 […]

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2025

This week, two distinguished exercise physiologists tell us why we each need an exercise prescription for life. Dr. Benjamin Levine has worked with the Dallas Bed Rest and Training Study to discover that three weeks of bed rest hurt fitness more than 30 years of normal life. Dr. Claudio Battaglini provides exercise prescriptions for cancer […]

Transcribed - Published: 16 January 2025

This week, we hear a first-hand account of what a stroke feels like, from neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. Then we learn from a neurologist, Dr. Matthew Schrag, about the risk factors for such a brain attack. What treatments could be helpful? You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live […]

Transcribed - Published: 10 January 2025

This week, we hear from pulmonologist Roger Seheult, MD, about ways we can strengthen our immune responses to respiratory infections. Seasonal influenza activity is high and still rising in most parts of the country. In addition, wastewater surveillance shows that COVID-19 cases are widespread and surging. Cold viruses are also circulating. Find out what strategies […]

Transcribed - Published: 2 January 2025

This week on our nationally syndicated radio show, we discuss the importance of fiber and phytonutrients in our food for keeping our intestinal microbes healthy. We’ll also find out why encouraging a varied and thriving microbiome in the soil is critical for producing healthy food crops. Fiber and Phytonutrients: Do you know what is the […]

Transcribed - Published: 26 December 2024

This week, we look at the new pharmaceuticals that the FDA has approved for treating Alzheimer disease. Although they are effective at removing amyloid plaques from the brain, they don’t seem to help patients function better. Is it time to turn away from an exclusive focus on amyloid to consider other factors that might affect […]

Transcribed - Published: 20 December 2024

This week, our guest discusses how to prevent and treat a surprisingly common condition, chronic kidney disease. One in three Americans faces the risk factors for kidney disease; one in seven is actually living with the condition, although they may not be aware of it. You could listen through your local public radio station or […]

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2024

This week, we talk with an expert on cancer epidemiology. Surprisingly, though, our discussion centers on the health aspects of practicing kindness and compassion. In our polarized world, anger and hostility are rampant. But kindness is not only good for the person who receives a kind gesture. It also has a biological impact on the […]

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2024

In this week’s interview, Dr. Robert Waldinger of Harvard University explains why overcoming loneliness is essential for our health. His research, summarized in The Good Life, shows that close relationships are crucial for a satisfying life. In addition, the Surgeon General has issued a comprehensive report on the epidemic of loneliness and its effects on […]

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2024

This Saturday morning, November 23, 2024, an expert from Australia helps us examine the hidden risks of healthcare. Healthcare providers have the best of intentions, but they simply cannot truly uphold the (apocryphal) part of the Hippocratic oath that urges “First, do no harm.” How can patients and their families become more familiar with the […]

Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2024

This week, we discuss how making your own herbal medicine at home can provide you with safe, inexpensive and effective ways to ease symptoms of common problems like colds, cuts and scrapes or heartburn. Our guest is a long-time People’s Pharmacy favorite, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog. Learn about leaves and roots in remedies you can […]

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2024

This week, we consider whether viruses might be able to overcome bacterial infections that resist all antibiotics. We start with a thrilling story from a few years ago in which a scientist saved her husband’s life with bacteriophages. Then we turn to a journalist who grew up in Russia where bacteriophages are common remedies. She […]

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2024

This week, a nationally-renowned expert on hypnotherapy describes how this tool can be used to help people heal from stress or pain. Have you tried it? You could 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 […]

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2024

This week, we’ll dive into the research on how emotions affect your heart health. Specifically, we talk with two scientists who have studied the impact of anger on blood vessels. How might that shape your risk of a heart attack? Can you change your impulse to react with anger when somebody else is thoughtless or […]

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2024

This week, an eminent toxicologist, now retired, describes the concerns about PFAS compounds, also known as forever chemicals. Although scientists have known for decades that they get into our bodies readily, the apparent benefits led to their widespread use. These are compounds that do a wonderful job keeping your boots and rain gear dry, keeping […]

Transcribed - Published: 17 October 2024

This week, our guests share their expertise on how to deal with sniffles and congestion, whether you are reacting to seasonal triggers or suffer from year-round allergies. Can you reduce the amount of allergen you are exposed to? Which medications could help, and what are the downsides? We’ll also discuss some herbs that can help […]

Transcribed - Published: 10 October 2024

This week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your calls about how you can protect your precious eyesight. Have you been struggling with dry eyes or diagnosed with glaucoma? You can share your experience or ask your questions at 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 am EDT on Saturday, October 5, 2024. We also invite you to […]

Transcribed - Published: 3 October 2024

This week, we talk with a physician who was struck with a catastrophic illness as a medical student. He nearly died from it; in fact, a priest administered last rites. But David Fajgenbaum wouldn’t give up. He helped find the treatment–an existing drug for a different health condition–that has kept him alive for more than […]

Transcribed - Published: 26 September 2024

This week, our guest calls attention to beliefs and practices in medicine that are based on dogma rather than data. Why don’t doctors or researchers question these blind spots? You’ll hear about some of the most striking myths, and maybe you’ll be surprised. You could listen through your local public radio station or get the […]

Transcribed - Published: 19 September 2024

This week, we talk with a sociologist and a neurologist about the extremely painful condition known as cluster headaches. The sociologist has studied how patients have sought out relief that the medical profession could not provide. They found it in magic mushrooms and shared the details among patient groups termed ClusterBusters. The neurologist has studied […]

Transcribed - Published: 13 September 2024

This week, we talk with the People’s Pharmacy Pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, about the incredible proliferation of plastic particles in our environment and our bodies. Children are especially vulnerable, as their bodies and brains are still developing. Find out about protecting children from plastic microparticles. You could listen through your local public radio station or […]

Transcribed - Published: 5 September 2024

This week, our guest is renowned addiction psychiatrist Jud Brewer. He teaches at Brown University in both the School of Public Health and the Medical School, and he has developed programs that utilize mindfulness to help us figure out why we overeat, get hooked on social media or drink too much. His approach has helped […]

Transcribed - Published: 28 August 2024

This week, our guest is a dermatologist who wants us to consider sunlight’s health benefits. That is a minority opinion among dermatologists. Dr. Richard Weller tells us why vitamin D is overrated and not the most important aspect of sun exposure. You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream […]

Transcribed - Published: 22 August 2024

This week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your calls about your favorite home remedies. Which ones really work to solve common health problems? You can share your experience at 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 am EDT. We also invite you to send your comments in beforehand to [email protected]. You could listen through your local public […]

Transcribed - Published: 15 August 2024

This week, we talk with integrative gastroenterologist Robynne Chutkan about why our digestive health is so important. Of course, our digestion provides us with the nutrients that power our bodies, including our muscles, hearts and brains. There is also crucial two-way communication between the gut and the brain. You could listen through your local public […]

Transcribed - Published: 8 August 2024

This week, we explore the role viruses may play in the development of dementia. That certainly sounds like a downer, but here is the brighter side: vaccines can significantly lower the risk! Joe and Terry talk to two leading researchers about their findings and the implications of antivirals or vaccines and Alzheimer Disease. You could […]

Transcribed - Published: 1 August 2024

This week, Joe and Terry talk with sleep expert and medical communicator par excellence, Dr. Roger Seheult. With his certification in sleep medicine, he will tell you why you need to get enough sleep along with how much is enough. If you find you have trouble sleeping, what can you do about it? Dr. Seheult […]

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2024