Ask Dr. Ben Kim

This blog post was originally published in December, 2005.

This is a question that I receive on a regular basis from readers.

I lived and worked in a small town called Barrow from 1997 to 1999.

Barrow is the northernmost town in Alaska, located approximately 340 miles above the arctic circle.

In March of 2006, I received the following letter from someone who consulted with me for a skin condition:

Dear Dr. Kim,

I wondered if you would have any advice because I'm having a very hard time emotionally. I'm having a problem with low self esteem and self confidence, mainly because of my (health condition).

I don't have any friends or acquaintances (in my local area), and I've had a huge problem with loneliness over the past year.

I feel too embarrassed to meet other young people because of the (health condition), and I feel my emotional state has taken a large toll on me. It seems like a catch 22 situation.

From Our Mailbag:

Our doctor is recommending that our teenage daughter be put on birth control medication to remedy anaemia and pain with periods. Can you tell us about the health implications of putting young girls on birth control pills?

- A reader from New Zealand

From Our Mailbag:

Dear Dr. Kim,

I have been receiving your weekly newsletter for several months now and would like to ask you for some advice on choosing a career in the natural health field. I can't decide between chiropractic, naturopathy, traditional medicine, and oriental medicine.

I know you are busy, but if possible, could you share your thoughts on what you would choose if you were to do it all over again?

Dear Dr. Kim,

I am an avid reader of your newsletter and like the greens also very much. Thank you for your wonderful work.

A question for you. I have a good friend and client (I do some home health care for her) who was recently placed in the hospital for severe leg cramping. Since she has congestive heart failure, it was thought that perhaps her heart had thrown off a clot which blocked the circulation.....however, no signs were found of a clot. After several days in the hospital and many, many tests, she was sent home without much additional knowledge. Then, upon entering the house, we got a phone call from the lab saying that her potassium was dangerously low. She has consistently been on the equivalent of 4,500 mg. of potassium per day to counteract the potassium loss from the diuretics she is on for her heart. That has now been changed to 6,000 mg.

Hello,

I feel compelled to write this e-mail because of your comments about chiropractors which I linked to off your article regarding x-rays. Funny, because I just started seeing a chiropractor and I signed up for his treatment package based on the results of the x-rays he did. I guess I regarded chiropractic care as 'alternative' medicine and thought that this approach might be healthier and better for me than seeing my traditional family doctor. I understand that some and maybe most chiropractors might be motivated by the same monetary 'needs' as traditional doctors. But are you also saying that spinal adjustments aren't effective as treatments for certain conditions? Or that they are not useful for helping promote general good health?