Whole Life Times: Weil You Were Aging

January 2006 | Whole Life Review

Weil You Were Aging

By Bob Condor

In keeping with the flowing beard that gives Dr. Andrew Weil a distinct natural-health look, the Tucson-based physician has always been as calm as the desert is dry, his demeanor almost soothing, even during media interviews. So it is somewhat surprising when the founder of the University of Arizona’s integrative medicine program gets agitated about the emergence of anti-aging medicine as a professional field.

The genesis of Weil’s newest book, Healthy Aging(Knopf), which recently debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times bestseller list, was a 2003 conference sponsored by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Weil is not one of its 12,500 physician-members, and although he did sit in on some “intriguing” sessions on inflammation as the major cause of age-related disease, that’s not what moved the good doc to take pen in hand. What provoked him was listening to some doctors talk about how to significantly increase revenue—“quadruple it,” one speaker urged—by specializing in anti-aging medicine.

And that was just a morning session. The massive exhibit hall dismayed him with its multitude of products being pushed as “anti-aging solutions.” He accepted that brands of antioxidants, fish oils and “miracle herbs” might have some scientific grounding, but questioned the ethical implications of promising consumers that they can delay or reverse the aging process.

Weil especially struggled to maintain his trademark calm amidst the “pseudoscientific devices,” such as one for reading and adjusting energy fields as a way to keep patients young. After three days at the conference, he went home and started writing.

“We need to give up on the goal of stopping aging,” said Weil. “What we should be doing is delaying the onset of age-related diseases.”

The most effective way to slow disease, he proposes, is to control inflammation in the body, especially at the cellular level. Some inflammation is good and naturally incites a body to heal. Too much overloads cells, and may be why we are experiencing epidemics of heart disease, diabetes and many forms of cancer

Part of Weil’s solution is the book’s anti-inflammation diet, including more omega-3 fats (salmon, sardines, omega-3 eggs, hemp/flax seeds and walnuts) but controlling the omega-6 fats in vegetable, corn, and regular safflower and sunflower oils.

“People need to know the promises we will hear from practitioners of anti-aging medicine are going to become more extravagant in coming years,” said Weil. “What I really want to help change is our culture. I want to endorse the idea of aging gracefully. I am aiming to have [practitioners] mobilize people to look at and value what can improve with aging, such as wisdom, life experience, relationship skills and being more creative.”

Weil is getting positive reviews from critics and readers, who undoubtedly appreciate the inclusion of practical information. Some highlights: Sleep in complete darkness to encourage the body’s production of melatonin. Learn another language (“you don’t have to master it”) to enhance brain and memory skills. Learn and practice breathing relaxation techniques to decrease stress—which Weil says is highly underrated as a breeder of disease and even death.

Weil soon will partner with Miraval spa to create a new type of integrative medicine center, which will encourage people to check in for five to seven days of exams, therapies and self-enhancement education. You can be sure anti-aging medicine won’t be among the treatment options.

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