PhoebeMD: Medicine + Poetry

Cold & Flu Medicine Guide

By HEALTH + INSPIRATION on December 21, 2022 • ( 41 Comments )

If you have ever browsed the cold medicine aisle of your local drug store, you know that it can sometimes feel overwhelming. With so many products available and each containing different combinations of active ingredients, how do you know which one is right for you? Perhaps you mainly have a stuffed-up nose and cough and would like to select the most appropriate product so you don’t end up taking unnecessary medications. Which one should you choose?

If you have ever wondered this, this fundamental guide to cold medications is for you. Read on, and shop like a pro the next time you need one.

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How To Stay Healthy During the Holidays

By HEALTH + INSPIRATION on December 13, 2022 • ( 45 Comments )

Regardless of age, it’s important to know how to stay healthy during the holidays. While fun, these special days can seem like the perfect time to ‘let go’ of your healthy living habits in order to indulge in food and alcohol. But did you know that doing this can be harmful to your health…and possibly even life-threatening?

In this article, I will discuss why and provide an overview on what you can do during these times to maintain your best health and prevent holiday illness…so that you can spend your days focusing on enjoying the occasion.

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Vitamin D: A Guide to Foods and Supplements

By HEALTH + INSPIRATION on December 9, 2022 • ( 18 Comments )

Vitamin D. Do you ever wonder if you are getting enough of it, whether you should be taking a supplement, or why vitamin D is even important?

In this article, I will discuss everything you need to know about this essential nutrient and hormone—how to get it, what foods have it, and how to choose and take a vitamin D supplement if you need it.

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A Bitter Thanksgiving [a poem]

By HEALTH + INSPIRATION on November 23, 2022 • ( 83 Comments )

Many of you may recall having read these lines from past Thanksgivings; it is a retelling of a visit I had with one of my patients during this time of year—a woman whose life and struggles were unlike mine in many ways, but who nevertheless taught me many things about courage and integrity.

I hope you enjoy these words, and have a blessed Thanksgiving week.

***

Allow me to spin upon the spindle
a tale of an encounter true.
A patient once, a homeless mum,
her words now recounted for you:

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Woman in a sunset photo for poem on PhoebeMD.com

The Persona [a poem]

By HEALTH + INSPIRATION on August 22, 2022 • ( 5 Comments )

By Aditi Anvita | Featured Contributor

Amazing buildup of affection,
She is an iconic vigor,
Competes with bitter world,
To affirm her existence.

Owns the wings of courage,
Aspires to touch horizon,
Smashes stereotypes,
Eludes the cage of society.

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Happy Pill [a poem]

By HEALTH + INSPIRATION on July 19, 2022 • ( 4 Comments )

By Birdie Fudge | Featured Contributor

A while back, I went on medication for the first time for my major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety. I wrote poems every day, starting from the first day I took the pill. I used my poetry to track my mood and the timeline of the medicine taking effect. When I look at the poetry written during the beginning of that journey and compare it to now, it’s as if two different people are speaking. This poem reflects me in the beginning of my journey. My other poem, “I am Grateful,” reflects how I feel today.

***

It’s like suddenly
I took this magic pill
and I was given the gift of reason
and all my fears seemed to disappear
my anxieties subsided
or at least they were dulled out
beneath the surface
the layer of fog
on top of all my other emotions
became lifted

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Prayer to the elements Cara Amy Goldthorpe

Prayer to the Elements [a poem]

By HEALTH + INSPIRATION on July 10, 2022 • ( 7 Comments )

By Cara Amy Goldthorpe | Featured Contributor

Protect the soils:
soils from which
new life grows
life to sustain us
with its nourishing blooms
till we return to the earth
to begin
another cycle