Judging from how packed my gym is at all hours of the day these past couple of weeks, it's obvious that New Year's resolutions are still in full effect. And any health food store you walk into is pushing supplements and detoxes galore, hoping people looking to turn over a new leaf in the New Year are also interested in "cleansing" after a year season full of gluttony. Even Gwyneth Paltrow's jumped on the cleansing train with her new "GOOP in a box" kit that'll run ya a hefty $425.

It's these kinds of cleanses that you'll shell out big money for and that come in a box that are triggering a negative backlash from experts (usually those who make a habit of dissing alternative medicine) who say cleansing is a waste of time and money. But they're failing to tell the whole story.

After going through the trauma of breast cancer itself and having a mastectomy, women's options for breast reconstruction often don't feel like options at all. And far too many breast cancer survivors have become victims of botched reconstructions that doctors try to pass off as "amazing." That's why Suzanne Somers, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, felt compelled to pass on the options offered to her and most women -- implants (plural, meaning they would have to also remove her healthy breast) or a TRAM flap, a procedure that uses muscle, fat, and skin from the abdomen to create a new breast. Now, in the latest installment of her CafeMom Studios series, Suzanne Somers Breaking Through, the actress, author, and activist tells the story of her brave exploration of another route: stem cell breast reconstruction.

It's a controversial procedure that hasn't been given the green light in the U.S. yet -- for various reasons.

Happy winter solstice, fellow Earthlings! Today is the shortest day of the year. The days have been getting so short lately, 5 p.m. was starting to feel like the middle of the night. But that all changes after today. The light is coming back: Starting tomorrow, the days will start growing longer.

Did you know that winter solstice can also be good for your health? For most of us, New Year's is a chance to take stock of our lives and set new goals. But for me, winter solstice seems more fitting. It's a chance to slow down in the middle of the holiday madness. And I like getting in sync with the seasons. Find out how celebrating winter solstice can help you get 2012 off to a fresh, hopeful start.

Remember the Blair Witch Project? Well, star and filmmaker Heather Donahue is back with a slightly less scary stunt: A memoir about her year growing marijuana titled Grow Girl. Apparently the acting thing didn't work out -- plus that darn PMS kept turning her into a witch month after month. And that's how Heather hooked up with her medical marijuana license to treat her PMS and embarked on the grassy adventure of a lifetime.

Smoke Pot for PMS?!? At first glance that sounds like an EXCELLENT solution. Yes, we should definitely look into that. Sign me up for that medical study! But when I really think it through (while sober), I have to admit that maybe it's not for me.

In today's edition of "Never Would Have Predicted This in a Million Years," neti pots are killing people. And this news couldn't come at a worse time -- right in the middle of cold and flu season! People swear by their neti pots. The are one of the most popular methods of naturally treating and preventing a cold going, and many folks use them religiously. So the news that two people in Louisiana died this year from neti pots is probably terribly upsetting to them, and have them wondering if they should just toss the little teapot in the trash or just give it to their toddler to play genie. But as with any major health scare knee-jerk, that is exactly what you should not do. There's a lot more to this story than just a very alarming headline.

Miley, Miley, Miley, caught with another marijuana video again. Apparently Miley Cyrus was presented with a Bob Marley (patron saint of marijuana) birthday cake last week -- and everyone passed around the pot jokes. But hold on there, finger-waggers! Miley and her supporters say the cake was just a joke. She totally does not smoke the real stuff. She just smokes salvia, like she's claimed before. And so stop with the judgy stuff, okay?

Fine, fine, we'll go along with this "I just smoke salvia" claim. But I want to know one thing -- what the heck does smoking salvia do for you, anyway?

When Jared Lee Loughner shot a bullet through the left side of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Gifford's head in January, it damaged parts of her brain. She lost the ability to speak or move the right side of her body. But through intensive physical therapy, she is regaining both abilities -- and music is playing a big role in her recovery.

Who would have thought? It makes sense that music would help Gabrielle recover her speech. Her doctors have been gently helping her to sing, which is helping her re-learn how to talk. But even more surprising is the way music is helping her move and even walk! It's amazing to watch. Doctors are just beginning to explore how music can help people recover -- there's a lot they don't even know yet. I hope Gabrielle's case inspires more people to look into it, though, because it sounds like there's a lot of exciting potential.

Ever have one of those fall or winter mornings, days, or WEEKS when you just can't stop coughing your brains out? When almost no amount of cough drops under the sun are helping, and you feel like crawling under the covers? Yeah, we've all been sick as THAT dog at some point, and it's just awful.

Thankfully, there are some tricks you can pull from up your sleeve should the Worst Cough in the World strike! Here, six surprising ways to stop a nasty cough in its tracks.