Category Archives: Integrative Medicine

Patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) who were treated with certain integrative medicine (IM) therapies had lower levels of negative symptoms and reported a higher quality of life (QOL). These findings, from an online survey, were published in Cancer Medicine.

For this study, 858 patients with MPNs were recruited by researchers at the Mayo Clinic Arizona through social media and email during 2016. Patients were assessed by the MPN-Symptom Assessment Form Total Symptom Score (MPN-SAF TSS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-2, Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) Usual, and for quality of life.

More than 2 dozen IM therapies were reported, including multiple forms of exercise, massage, nutrition, meditation, and several types of physical, group, and psychological therapies.

Lower average MPN-SAF TSS scores were reported by patients who participated in aerobic exercise (33.2 vs 39.7; P <.001) and strength training (34.0 vs 37.7; P =.013).

Mean QOL was reported as higher among patients who received massage (5.0 vs 4.6; P =.04) and went to support groups (5.4 vs 4.6; P =.002).

The likelihood of experiencing symptoms of depression was lower among patients who participated in aerobic exercise (odds ratio [OR], 0.60; 95% CI, 0.42-0.86; P =.006), yoga (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39-0.94; P =.025), and strength training (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.37-0.91; P =.019).

This study may have been limited by its overwhelming gender bias, in which the ratio of women to men was 3:1.

The study authors concluded that in addition to pharmacologic therapies, IM therapies may aid in alleviating negative symptoms of MPN and increase quality of life.

Disclosure: Multiple authors declared affiliations with industry. Please refer to the original article for a full list of disclosures.

Reference

Gowin K, Langlais BT, Kosiorek HE, et al. The SIMM study: survey of integrative medicine in myeloproliferative neoplasms. Cancer Med. Published online November 3, 2020. doi:10.1002/cam4.3566

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Integrative Medicine Therapies Effectively Increase Quality of Life for Patients With Myeloproliferative Neoplasms - Oncology Nurse Advisor

When you hear the word "integrative," does it make you think of "woo-woo" pseudoscience?I'm here to tell you the reality is far from that. Integrative care simply means blending the best of modern, Western medicine with ancient and holistic practicesand I, like many experts, believe it's truly the future of health care.

It is a common misconception that integrative doctors don't believe in or follow science. I was trained in pediatrics at one of the top-rated Western pediatric residencies in America, and my partner trained in an Ivy League pediatric program.Science always guides our decisions.

Modern medicine is amazing and wonderful. We have cures for diseases that caused major suffering just a few years ago.If your child gets pneumonia, we have antibiotics that can heal them within days.If your child gets injured, there is technology like X-rays and MRIs that can show us exactly what is going on.This is nothing short of magic.

But unfortunately, in today's medical system, we focus our attention far more on treatment than on prevention or the root cause of disease. In many scenarios, we don't need to use a medication, but Western medicine is often quick to jump to a pill. That's because today's doctors (myself included) were taught all about pharmaceutical medicine, and it's often the only solution we know.

Integrative medicine doesn't reject pharmaceutical interventions but rather expands a practitioner's options to support the body.An integrative pediatrician may use supplements, tinctures, or ancient healing practices in place or alongside medications. The trick is in balancing those two worlds and recognizing when it would be unsafe to use a natural option in place of a medication.

Integrative pediatricians come in all shapes and sizes. Some are generalists who perform all regular pediatric functions with a natural spin.Others are more specialized and focus on specific conditions like autism, ADHD, cancer, behavior issues, Lyme disease, PANDAS/PANS, autoimmune conditions, gut health issues, and others.

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I'm An Integrative Pediatrician & This Is What People Get Wrong About My Job - mindbodygreen.com

If you still find your headache lingering after all your usual tricks or you want to avoid taking medication, consider trying acupressure.

Nothing stops productivity quite like a headache. It's impossible to focus with all that throbbing going on inside your head, and good luck falling asleep at night. Your response might be to grab an over-the-counter pain reliever or drink a tall glass of water. If you still find your headache lingering after all your usual tricks or you want to avoid taking medication, consider trying acupressure.

WARNING: If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant consult a doctor, as some pressure points might interfere with your pregnancy.

Acupressure is an ancient style of massage used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. According to Rogel Cancer Center, the goal of acupressure is to stimulate "the movement of qi ("life energy") through the 14 channels inside the body" to help restore the body's balance and promote healing. This is done by pressing specific spots on the body called acupressure points. We've investigated which pointsare frequentlytargeted to relieve a mild headache, so you can try them out at home the next time you're in need of some pain relief.

RELATED: Is Your Wine Causing Your Headaches?

Memorial Sloan Kettering recommends performing acupressure on the point LI4, also known as Hegu, to help ease headache pain. Thisacupressure point is found between the base of your thumb and index finger. To perform acupressure on this point, start by using your right thumb and index finger to find acupoint LI4 on your left hand. Your thumb should be on the top of your hand and your index finger will be on your palm. Press your right thumb and index finger together firmly on the acupressure point but not to the point of pain, and move your thumb in a circle as you continue applying pressure. Do this for five minutes and then repeat on your left hand.

Explore Integrative Medicine recommends the acupressure point GB20, or Feng Chi, to relieve headaches. To find this point, place afingerbehindeach ear and slowlymove them across your neck and toward your head. You are looking for the soft grooves where your neck muscles attach to your skull. To perform acupressure here, clasp your hands together and intertwine your fingers. Open your hands slightly to form a cup shape, and then place your palms on the back of your head with your thumbs resting on the acupressure point. Use your thumbs to massage in a circular motion for thirty seconds to two minutes.

U.S. News interviewed Melissa Dana, a licensed acupuncturist and East Asian medicine practitioner, to learn about acupressure in relieving headaches. One of the acupressure points Dana recommends is GB21, or Jian Jing. This pressure point is located "between your neck and the point where your arm meets your shoulder." Find the point on each side of your neck and use your fingers to massage in a circular motion. Dana suggests doing this in short intervals and using continuous motion as you don't want to be pressing on these trigger points in the neck for too long.

Our final acupressure point recommendation for headache relief is B10, or Tian Zhu, recommended by the Alaska Sleep Clinic. This point is located "on the back of the neck, one-half inch below the base of the skull." If you were able to locate GB20 earlier, B10 is found just below. Apply firm pressure and massage in a circular motion for one minute. Because GB20 and B10 are so close together, it may be helpful to view the video below to learn how to find your B10 acupressure point, or use this image from Chair Tai Chifor agreat visual of GB20, GB21, and B10 in relation to one another.

READ NEXT: How Botox Helped Ease Chrissy Teigen's Severe Headaches

Sources: rogelcancercenter.org, mskcc.org, exploreim.ucla.edu-gb20, health.usnews.com, alaskasleep.com, chairtaichi.wordpress.com

I Didn't Realize How Sad My Childhood Was Until I Had My Own Kids

Megan is a freelance writer and mom to a one-year-old daughter. She enjoys reading, a warm cup of coffee, and staying up much later than she should to binge watch Netflix.

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Acupressure Spots To Massage When You Have A Mild Headache - Moms

Lifestyle

22 Nov, 2020 09:15 PM2 minutes to read

A US man who went to see his doctor after becoming depressed over a failing marriage is suing, claiming the same doctor he saw was the one having an affair with his wife. Photo / 123RF, File

A US man who went to see his doctor after becoming depressed over a failing marriage is suing, claiming the same doctor he saw was the one having an affair with his wife.

Peirson Tone is suing doctor Ronald Rosen for $2.9 million for professional negligence.

After struggling to mend relations with his wife, Tone visited Rosen, who counselled him on ways to improve his marriage and prescribed him marijuana and CBD.

In addition to traditional medicine, Rosen offers patients a range of holistic alternatives, according to his website.

He's trained to perform acupuncture, osteopathic manipulation and biodynamic cranial osteopathy. He is also a certified laughter yoga leader.

From 2015 to 2018, Tone, his wife and two children received medical care at Rosen's clinic, Open Paths Integrative Medicine in Oregon, according to the suit.

At some point, the suit says, Rosen began a relationship with Tone's wife.

After the visit, Tone learned Rosen had been involved with his wife for an "extended" period of time, the complaint states. The couple later divorced.

"As a result of (Rosen's) conduct, the plaintiff sustained emotional distress including ... the loss of his marriage and emotional and social destruction of his family," the lawsuit alleges.

Rosen has been licensed to practice medicine in Oregon since 1991, according to the Oregon Medical Board.

He has no prior cases of medical malpractice.

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He went to the doctor for distress over marital woes. Then he uncovered a shocking secret - New Zealand Herald

As COVID-19 surges across Minnesota and state hospitals near capacity, Sahan Journal checked in with a Minneapolis community health clinic to see how immigrant populations are coping.

Roli Dwiveldi is the chief clinic officer at Community-University Health Care Center in Minneapolis Ventura Village Neighborhood. A federally qualified health center, CUHCC specializes in serving patients who dont have health insurance.

Roughly 40 percent of CUHCCs patients are Black and East African, about 23 percent Latino, and the rest are white, Asian and indigenous.

Instead of contracting COVID-19 from going to the bars at night or informal gatherings, Dwiveldi said most of CUHCCs patients are contracting the virus from their living situation or workplace.

Many also dont have easy access to COVID-19 testing, which is why CUHCC has been going to their homes and neighborhoods periodically with mobile testing events.

We spoke with Dwiveldi about how the recent COVID-19 surge is affecting immigrant populations, what people can do to protect themselves, and what to expect in the coming months once a vaccine becomes available.

This conversation has been edited for clarity.

What has your COVID-19 patient volume looked like recently? Has it gone up as infections across the state have gone up?

Dr. Dwiveldi: Yes, definitely. The disparities are real, especially in our Latinx communities, our Black communities, and our indigenous and Native American populations.

The reason the disparities exist is because of the social determinants of health, which can be access to care, transportation, language barriers, and how a lot of folks are essential employees. To respond to these needs, we bring teams of folks to the communities to provide testing.

In the last couple of weeks theres been more demand for testing. Last week, in just three hours we had 40 patients show up for the testing.

Are patients who know theyre infected with the virus coming to the clinic to be treated?

We are trying to keep patients in their houses and provide the care that they need there. The main things that matter is if our patients have access to medication, to food, to supportive care. We serve a lot of patients who experience homelessness. So, having connections in the communities to provide housing so that they can quarantine themselves is key. In my mind, that is safer than getting medicine.

How many of your patients are experiencing mild and moderate symptoms versus serious symptoms?

Most of the patients are in the younger age group, up to age 35 or 40, and they are experiencing mild to moderate illness. Weve had some folks in their 70s or 80s who needed hospitalization to stabilize, and then they got discharged. The majority of folks are mild to moderate illnesses and can be managed at home.

What medications are you recommending for patients infected with COVID-19?

At CUHCC, one of our providers is very interested in integrative medicine. We have been recommending a lot of immune boosters like vitamin D, vitamin C, melatonin, black seed oil. If someone has a fever, then we recommend hydration and Tylenol. We had a patient with signs and symptoms of pneumonia. In that case, we will treat them with antibiotics and inhalers.

How long are symptoms in patients generally lasting?

It is unpredictable. There are acute symptoms and then there are chronic symptoms. Acute symptoms like a fever might resolve within two weeks; a cough might resolve in three weeks. But chronic symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, fogginessall those can take several weeks, or up to two or three months.

How are most of your patients getting infected? From the state level, were hearing the leading cause in recent weeks is people going out to restaurants and bars.

For us it is more like experiencing homelessness, living in crowded housing, being an essential employeethose are the factors which are mainly responsible for infection. Things like living in public housing, working in a crowded environment. People have a fear that if they dont go back to work they might lose their job.

There are some people who have not been able to follow recommendations like wearing a mask or keeping good hygiene because they dont have access to those things.

Because of the disparities, a lot of our patients also have uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled asthma, obesity, and heart problems. The bottom line is systemic inequities lead to comorbidities and put many of our patients at a higher risk of getting a severe COVID-19 illness.

What percentage of CUHCCs COVID-19 testing are coming back positive?

In the beginning we were around 25-26 percent. But since we launched mobile testing and started doing larger events, we are at 16 percent. I know this is way, way higher than the state or national average. (Editors note: Since the pandemic began in March, the overall number of peoples COVID-19 tests who came back positive across the state is 7 percent as of November 20. But positive rates across the state have increased sharply in recent weeks. Minnesotas most recent seven-day average was 15 percent.)

Are you advising the community to act any differently than a few months ago, given the recent surge of infections?

Religious gatherings are very common in the communities we serve. I have been asking people to not go to mosques, dont be engaged in any social or religious gatherings. Just pray at home. Also, I get a lot of questions from our patients like, Well, if I had it once, that means I had it and I cannot get it again. No, you can get it again, even if you had it once.

A lot of our community members are following masking guidance but are not using the masks correctly. So we have done a lot of education around using the masks correctly.

Come to the clinic only if it is needed. We can provide care by telehealth. Some patients dont want to come to the clinic at all because there is so much fear of, If I go to the clinic I will get the virus. While the other population, they will be coming to the clinic all the time because it is hard for them to do telehealth. Were trying to find the balance and making sure that we have adequate access for the people who need to come to the clinic to get the care, and also provide adequate care to the people at home. We have done a lot of work on telehealth education, setting up people on My Chart and engaging our interpreters to do education at mobile testing events.

Any other guidelines you want to tell people right now?

Stay home when you are sick; dont step outside at all. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, quarantine. Take a lot of immune boosters. Stay healthy by eating healthy and also taking vitamin D and vitamin C, elderberry juiceall the immune boosters that can keep you safe.

Have you started talking to patients about the coming COVID-19 vaccine?

We have, and it is going to be a very long journey. It will be very hard to immunize the number of people to get the effectiveness where we want to be. There is so much fear and lack of trust around the vaccine. We will have to break so many barriers. I am working on a task force with community-based researchers, physicians from different health care systems, a lot of members from the Somali community, the Latinx community and Native American communities to build messaging around the vaccine. It will require a lot of work.

Have you come up with ways to earn community trust over the vaccine yet?

I had a meeting with an imam a few weeks ago, and we started talking about it. The best way will be engaging leaders that the community already trusts. I can say a hundred things and people might not understand or trust or believe me. But if a community leaderespecially a religious leader says something that the community can understand and process, it can go a long way.

We will be transparent with what the data is showing about the vaccine. Ultimately, our job is to be as honest as we can be to put the communities we serve in the drivers seat so they have the power to make the decision to get vaccinated.

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Access to medicine, food and supportive care: A clinic serving immigrant communities focuses on keys to getting people through the COVID-19 surge. -...

NEWTOWN, PA A local family physician has opened a drive-up COVID-19 testing site in Newtown.

In response to rising COVID-19 cases in Bucks County, Dr. Lori Gerber, owner of Refresh Integrative Medicine & Aesthetics on North State Street, has opened a drive-up COVID-19 testing center in lower Bucks County.

"There are not a lot of testing options in this area right now, and I felt the need was pretty dire," Dr. Gerber in a news release. "Instead of only offering testing to my patients, I decided to work with a fast, dependable lab to better serve the entire community."

The test site opened on Tuesday at 530 Washington Crossing Road in Newtown, in the parking lot of Congregation Brothers of Israel.

A modular trailer has been set up where patients take a deep nasal swab test, which detects genetic material of the coronavirus. The sample is shipped overnight via Fed-Ex to a lab in Virginia, with an estimated turnaround time of 72 hours. Patients receive results directly from the lab via text message, and those who receive a positive test for the virus will receive a call from Dr. Gerber or a member of her team.

Testing is by appointment only and patients can schedule online. Both cash and insurance are accepted. For those without health insurance, the out-of-pocket cost for a test is $125.

Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Click here to schedule an appointment.

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine said she expects masks will be necessary "well into" 2021. "Maybe until the end of 2021."

By Kara Seymour, Patch Staff

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COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Site Opens In Newtown - Patch.com

The new year is always a good time to 'reset' your life and implement new and improved health and fitness habits.

Maintaining new routines isnt easy, but here are four wellness retreats around the world that will help put the architecture in place that you need to live better.

Following the opening of Revivo in Bali in 2018, the brand will be launching a new wellness retreat in the Tarn region of France, in summer 2021.

Revivo Chteau de Fiac will take over a renovated castle on a three-hectare estate, and will feature 16 bedrooms, as well as a salt cave, a spa offering massages and hydrotherapy, bootcamp circuits, and the chance to eat freshly grown vegetables from the on-site garden.

Revivo is a proponent of teaching mind-body connectivity so always incorporates physical activity such as yoga with art classes and meditation, for example.

Also opening in spring/summer 2021, Qatars Zulal Wellness Resort will be the Middle Easts inaugural full-immersion wellness destination and the worlds first centre for traditional Arabic Islamic medicine.

Operated by wellness pioneer Chiva-Som, Zulal will have 120 rooms in a Family Wellness enclave, and 60 suites and villas in a separate zone for adults-only.

Just one hours drive away from Doha International airport, the extravagant hideaway will prescribe healing methods based on centuries of knowledge provided by Islamic medicinal historians and herbalists.

Situated in northern Goa, India, Kings Mansion will join Revivo and Zulal in making its debut in 2021.

Bringing together science and genomics with Ayurvedic medicine, the cutting-edge retreat will offer six wellbeing programmes, including areas such as:

Stays are a minimum of one week and both the Shodhana and Kshipra Shodhana detox programmes require a DNA test before arrival. These tests are to determine genetic pre-dispositions for certain health conditions, thereby allowing for highly personalised treatments.

Located on Lake Constance in southern Germany, Buchinger Wilhelmi is a hotel-clinic specialising in therapeutic fasting and integrative medicine.

In September it launched a new Immunity+ programme that is designed to boost wellbeing (with the specific aim of reducing the risk of getting Covid-19), and is bookable as a 110 add-on to its fasting packages.

After guests have been given a quick blood test on arrival to make sure they dont have Covid, they then get to relax in luxurious surroundings while embarking on a calorie-restricted regime (ten days costs 2,340 per person), which includes nurse checks, consultations with a doctor, daily activities, and a menu of freshly-made vegetable bouillon and pressed fruit juices.

Dr Francoise Wilhelmi de Toledo, scientific director at Buchinger Wilhelmi, explains, When you fast, all your digestive processes are in rest. Without needing the energy to digest, all stresses are diminished and you actually need less immunity.

"During this time, you change your microbiome. You stimulate the lungs, skin, kidneys, liver and the system itself triggers autophagy an extraordinary capacity of the body to eliminate damaged cellular structures. When you fast, you activate stem cells to rejuvenate immune cells.

Jenny Southan is editor and founder of travel trend forecasting agency Globetrender.

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Four life-changing wellness retreats from around the world - Euronews

While 2020 has been a doozy for us humans, its been pretty sweet for the canine population. Covid-19 doesn't present much of a health threat for dogson the contrary, the pandemic has brought pups a number of benefits. Shelters are emptying out, more people are interested in fostering, and pets are getting more attention and affection, points out Heidi M. Cooley, a veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital in Vancouver, Washington. All of this newfound together-time means many pet owners have become as focused on their dogs wellness as they are on their ownand are increasingly interested in non-traditional therapies to help their dogs feel as good as possible. Four in ten of us routinely use treatments like yoga, herbs, meditation, Reiki, and massage to cure what ails us, so why not treat our pets to the same?

Experts say complementary therapies may indeed help pups of all ages, sizes, and breeds who are suffering from discomfort of the body or mind. Just be sure to check with your vet before proceeding. Veterinarians understand not only the potential benefits, but also the potential harm an alternative treatment can cause, says Jerry Klein, DVM, chief veterinary officer of the American Kennel Club. Plus, they should be attuned to whats best for your particular dog. Treating a six-pound geriatric Pekingese with metabolic issues can be different from treating a mostly healthy 3-year-old Newfoundland, notes Klein.

If your vet isnt open to thinking outside the box, Klein suggests getting a second opinion or consulting the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, a group of vets who advocate for the use of integrative medicine. Here are some popular alternative therapies for four-legged friends:

You...get pricked to nix a nagging ache. (Acupuncture is effective for neck and back pain, osteoarthritis, and frequent headaches.)

Your dog...can go under the needle, too; its been recommended for musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, asthma, allergic dermatitis, traumatic nerve injury, and some G.I. and reproductive issues. It may well be worth a try: In a study following 181 dogs for up to 24 weeks, Brazilian researchers found that regular acupuncture reduced musculoskeletal pain in the vast majority of cases.

Note: Worried about keeping your pup still while hes being poked and prodded? Dogs generally become very relaxed, most likely because of endorphin release, says Ernie Ward, DVM, founder of DogGone Healthy, a nutritional and behavioral care practice in Calabash, North Carolina. Ward says licking or pawing the needles is rare.

You...drop a tincture under your tongue or rub a cream on your lower back. Trendy CBD (or cannabidiol, a nonintoxicating compound in cannabis) is a hot area of research and is used to self-treat everything from anxiety to chronic pain.

Your dog...can swallow a pet-formulated tincture or doggy treat from one of the many brands flooding the market, such as Honest Paws, Dope Dog, and Charlottes Web. Products like these are promoted to address pet ailments like pain, anxiety, and seizures, but the scientific data on CBD use is sparse, says Tina Wismer, DVM, medical director of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Preliminary findings from a small study at Colorado State University did show that 89 percent of dogs with epilepsy had less frequent seizures after receiving CBD. A larger study funded by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation is now under way.

Note: Consult your vet first, start with a low dosage, then keep a close eye on your pup. Some dogs have developed signs of toxicity after ingesting CBD products; its difficult to tell whether they might also contain THC, which can be poisonous to animals. Call your vet immediately if you notice your pet acting lethargic or disoriented, or walking or behaving strangely.

Yourun or exercise in a pool when your lower extremities cant handle the impact of less-forgiving surfaces, or soak in a tub to relieve physical aches and psychological stress.

Your dogcan trot on an underwater treadmill (or be held and assisted in the water) to recover from an orthopedic or neurological issue. This treatment, often used in pet rehabilitation centers, is a way to help pets safely heal and build muscle strength. The warm water can also ease pain and help your dog chill out.

Note: No matter how gentle this practice may seem, it could be traumatic for dogs who strongly dislike or fear water, says Cooley. Nor is hydrotherapy recommended for pets with sensitive skin, open wounds, or incisions. Your best bet is to bring your pet to a rehab facility with an underwater treadmill, but if there isn't one nearby, a vet may be able to talk you through an adapted version of the treatment that involves a pool or tub.

You...go for a monthly session to relax your muscles and nerves.

Your dog...is always up for a good rubdown. A vet specializing in rehab might recommend massage to help reduce pain and improve range of motion and circulation.

Note: If the therapist is too rough, the bodywork could wind up worsening an injury, warns Klein. Sensitive dogs may also react by biting the hand that kneads them. Klein suggests seeking a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner or a vet who is certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. Theyre trained to get pets back on their paws.

with additional reporting by Corrie Pikul

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4 Alternative Medicines for Pets and Their Benefits - Oprah Mag

Teresa Anne Palmer, Registered Nurse and Certified Nurse Practitioner, Holistic Healing and Integrative Stress Management Consultant, Certified Yoga and Meditation Therapist, Educator and Public Speaker for Wellness and Integrative Health Medicine was recently selected by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for the Top Holistic Health Practitioner of the Year Award for 2021. Her exemplary role as a business professional displays influence, capability, and proficiency in her industry.

While inclusion with the International Association of Top Professionals is an honor in itself, only a few members in each discipline are chosen for this distinction. These special honorees are distinguished based on their professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, longevity in the field, other affiliations, and contributions to their communities. All honorees are invited to attend the IAOTPs annual award gala at the end of this year for a night to honor their achievements. http://www.iaotp.com/award-gala

The President of IAOTP, Stephanie Cirami stated Choosing Teresa for this award was an easy decision for our panel to make. She is brilliant at what she does and her practices are unparalleled. She is humble, gracious and we are looking forward to honoring her at the gala this year. We know we will be seeing more amazing things from this incredible woman.

As an empowering force, Teresa is being recognized for having over 20 years of professional experience in the healthcare industry. Utilizing Meditation and Yoga, her main focus is on Stress Management. Teresa is highly skilled in the art of Integrative Health and Functional Medicine, meanwhile, she has demonstrated success and compassion as a Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in Cardiology for many years. Teresa believes in using Integrative Health Medicine to get to the root cause of a disease rather than just treating the symptoms.

Before focusing on a career in Integrative Health and the benefits of incorporating Meditation and Yoga, Teresa traveled to other countries, volunteering her time. While in Romania, she witnessed a monk fully recuperate from a heart attack because mentally he was determined to recover. His power of intention and positive mental attitude played a significant role in his ability to fully recover.

Completing her studies, Teresa is a Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Yoga Therapist with a special interest in medical conditions and expertise in stress recognition and reduction. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing from Seton Hall University. Teresa is certified in Yoga Therapy through the American Yoga Academy and is certified in Functional Medicine and Complementary Care- Meditation. She also stands certified in Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Throughout her illustrious career, Teresa has received awards, accolades and has been recognized worldwide for her outstanding leadership and commitment to the profession. In 2021 she will be featured in TIP (Top Industry Professionals) Magazine. For 2020, she was chosen for the Empowered Woman of the Year Award. In 2019 she was selected as Top Nurse Practitioner of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) and was honored at their Annual Awards Gala in Las Vegas. Teresa has been featured in several editions of Whos Who in America, Whos Who in American Nursing, Whos Who of American Women, and Whos Who Among Human Services Professionals.

Aside from her successful career in healthcare, Teresa has been invited to speak on topics of stress, functional medicine, and the importance of yoga and meditation. Teresa is also an accomplished Author, her book Finding Sanctuary in the Pandemic Age, was released in September of 2020, focusing on achieving and maintaining health and wellbeing during challenging times.She has contributed numerous articles to peer-reviewed journals and other professional sources in her area of expertise, and has also been interviewed on CUTV News Radio.

Looking back, Teresa attributes her success to her perseverance, mentors she has had the honor of working alongside and remaining passionate by empowering individuals to heal themselves with their body, mind, and spirit. When not working, she enjoys writing, playing tennis, practicing yoga, and meditation. Teresa says she has been blessed, absolutely loves her work, and feels it is just the beginning. For the future, she hopes to continue to inspire and empower other individuals to live their healthiest and happiest lives.

Watch her video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_e_4V4XkYc

For more information on Teresa please visit: wellbeinggal.com

About IAOTP

The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an international boutique networking organization that handpicks the worlds finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries. These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers, and to help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join. You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview.

IAOTPs experts have given thousands of top prestigious professionals around the world, the recognition and credibility that they deserve andhave helped in building their branding empires.IAOTP prides itself to bea one of a kind boutique networking organization that hand picks only the best of the best and creates a networking platform that connects and brings these top professionals to one place.

For More information on IAOTP please visit: http://www.iaotp.com

About IAOTP

The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an international boutique networking organization that handpicks the worlds finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries. These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers, and to help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join. You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview.

IAOTPs experts have given thousands of top prestigious professionals around the world, the recognition and credibility that they deserve andhave helped in building their branding empires.IAOTP prides itself to bea one of a kind boutique networking organization that hand picks only the best of the best and creates a networking platform that connects and brings these top professionals to one place.

For More information on IAOTP please visit: http://www.iaotp.com

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Teresa Palmer selected as Top Holistic Health Practitioner of the Year by IAOTP - PRUnderground

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Months after the coronavirus (COVID-19) first ravaged Staten Island, health care workers on the borough are once again staring down a flood of infections that is slowly filling the boroughs hospital beds only this time, the mental stresses wrought by the first wave are an equally-daunting problem.

Interviews with three nurses, a hospital executive and a social-work expert have shed a light on the damaging mental effects the coronavirus outbreak has had on health-care workers as the city moves toward a new stage of the pandemic.

Those effects, coupled with the culture of the nursing profession viewed by experts as not being conducive to discussing mental health have raised questions on the effectiveness of services available to those who are suffering and concerns about a seemingly-inevitable fallout of issues exacerbated by the virus.

I think every nurse is a different person and a different kind of nurse now, said an ICU nurse at Staten Island University Hospitals (SIUH) Princes Bay campus who requested anonymity.

I dont know if its more being numb, or being more prepared, she said. I feel like theres definitely some sort of PTSD involved.

Approaching the height of the pandemic in March, nurses who spoke to the Advance/SILive.com detailed a coronavirus nightmare that saw a startling number of hospitalizations and deaths in quick succession within the Islands two health care systems.

You would just get hit with all these patients dying at the same time, and there was no time to process any of it, said the ICU nurse. You just had to keep going. Put your feelings aside and just work.

Now, as nurses are beginning to process the grief they endured during the first wave of the outbreak, a new wave is emerging as hospitalizations have now reached levels not seen since the beginning of June.

A doctor walks into Richmond University Medical Center on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/ Alexandra Salmieri) Alexandra SalmieriAlexandra Salmieri

TOLL ON PATIENTS BECOMING CLEARER

The mental health effects of the coronavirus on patients are becoming clearer as the pandemic progresses, and the outbreak has worsened addiction issues on the Island that experts feel are being largely ignored.

A nurse in Richmond University Medical Centers (RUMC) Psychiatric Emergency Room said she has seen an increase in drug-induced patients since the onset of the pandemic and has witnessed the disastrous effects of the coronavirus on the mental health of her patients.

You have your patients who are trying to use drugs to kill themselves, to forget things to kind of like forget whats going on, the nurse said, because they have nothing to do.

That increase of patients has also placed an undue burden on the nurses on the hospital floor, she added, explaining that it has become more important than ever to communicate with her colleagues about mental health.

We learn how to not internalize it, kind of work through our problems, she said. PTSD is a big thing for nurses in psych.

Her specific field psychiatry makes speaking about mental struggles more accepted than other nursing departments, she said, which has allowed her to leave her stress at work.

We work in such population that talking about mental health is not an embarrassment for us," she said.

That is not the case, however, across the nursing profession.

Dawn Cardello, an SIUH nurse of over 33 years and member of the New York State Nurses Associations executive committee, said she witnessed the stresses her nurses experienced first-hand.

Nurses, were traditionally flexible. We deal with a lot of things we bounce back and move forward, said Cardello, But we all know this was very different. It definitely has affected most nurses.

The onslaught of concerns over personal protective equipment that plagued staff early in the pandemic, coupled with the unfathomable number of deaths in quick succession, left even veteran nurses struggling.

I truly felt it, I felt the anxiety of my co-workers, an emotional Cardello said. A lot of nurses cry alone.

The emergency room at SIUH North in Ocean Breeze on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/ Alexandra Salmieri) Alexandra SalmieriAlexandra Salmieri

ADDRESSING CONCERNS

Dr. Timothy Sullivan, the chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at SIUH, called the stresses nurses faced during the spring extremely difficult and said Northwell Health which operates SIUH has established multiple efforts to address growing concerns surrounding the mental-health effects of the virus on staff.

They were on the front lines, they were in rooms with patients with active COVID, Sullivan said. Theyre having to talk to families about health care decisions, and so on, and all in an environment which we had not a lot of information.

Nurses were often given a difficult burden during the height of the pandemic on the borough, when over 500 residents were hospitalized between the Islands two health care systems, said Sullivan. Since then, a web of support was created by Northwell Health that includes an employee hotline and a program that specifically addresses stress and resilience.

Northwells Center for Traumatic Stress Resilience and Recovery, which previously focused primarily on working with veterans, began providing trainings to staff that would equip them with techniques such as psychological and stress first aid that are currently used by the military.

Sullivan said that transition was an integral one, as commonalities exist within the cultures of nurses and members of the armed forces.

Nurses often treat their co-workers like a team ... kind of like troops going into a battle, he said. While he recognized that approach as important, he also admitted that it makes it hard for people to acknowledge stress.

The program, implemented by Northwell and piloted at SIUH, is centered on both addressing the current mental state of staff while also cultivating an environment that makes mental health more accessible to speak about.

Stress first aid, for example, was developed in the military as a kind of prophylactic or preventative strategy that would help teams in military to be able to help one another to do self checks, said Sullivan, and to create a culture and a language that would make awareness of and comfort speaking about stress more normal.

There are roadblocks, however, to initiating programs like this. Buy-in among staff is necessary, and toppling decades-old expectations of avoiding mental health struggles within the profession is a tall task.

Staff members saw young people dying quickly, people dying alone, their families not able to be with them, and thats not stuff were used to. Sullivan said. So, that notion that it has affected people in a lasting way ... is understandable.

Weve got to find a way for people to talk about that with one another, he said.

The hospitals coronavirus hotline for staff, according to Sullivan, has quieted down since the height of the pandemic on Staten Island, and the unknown of the mental health struggles lying just under the surface is a considerable concern.

The difficult part is not knowing exactly whats out there, he said.

To overcome this, Sullivan said the health system is training leadership on the floors of the hospital to become coaches of the program in the effort to work within the already-established team mentality. Some members of SIUH were slated to complete the training by mid-November and were expected to enact the approach shortly afterward.

By integrating these techniques within the culture of the hospital, Sullivan said the health care system hopes it will help create constructive conversation.

So far, he said theres good buy in, but acknowledged, its really the iceberg under the water that we are unsure about.

And so thats why were pressing ahead with these efforts, Sullivan said.

Scenes from SIUH North in Ocean Breeze on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/ Alexandra Salmieri) Alexandra SalmieriAlexandra Salmieri

EMOTIONAL FALLOUT STILL TO COME

Dr. Paul Archibald, assistant professor within the School of Social Work at the College of Staten Island, said the fallout of the first wave of the coronavirus is expected to leave an aftermath of a lot of mental health issues once the PTSD kicks in.

Archibald said the timing of the second wave of coronavirus hospitalizations is especially concerning, as It takes about six to eight months for the symptoms of PTSD to start showing itself.

Its like me watching somebody get murdered and six months later Im going through treatment and working through it, symptoms start to show up, and then I see another person get murdered, Archibald said. Thats whats happening.

Nurses experience a range of traumas in their everyday routine, according to Archibald, and the effects of those mental wounds can start to alter an individuals world view causing a nurse to undergo a series of drastic changes, including becoming potentially cynical or fearful.

Even those not fully traumatized by the COVID-19 pandemic can suffer vicarious trauma, which is the result of working in the vicinity of others who have suffered immensely. That, said Archibald, could lead health-care workers to experience secondary traumatic stress or compassion fatigue.

Im really concerned for the nurses and first responders and people who are working this COVID-19 pandemic, Archibald said. We have to make sure that mental health is a major part of this.

When contacted by the Advance/SILive.com, Alex Lutz, a RUMC spokesman, said the hospital does not specifically have a program for nursing staff to address mental health; however, the hospital has created a hotline that can refer anyone who is need of ongoing treatment.

Services are provided through RUMCs Center for Integrative Behavioral Medicine at South Avenue, said Lutz, adding that the hospital has offered services to employees, their families and friends.

We have dedicated experienced Behavioral Health clinicians who are available to staff needs at all times and we also make sure staff members get immediate appointments in our clinics once the contact is made, said Dr. Joel A. Idowu, chairman of RUMCs Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. We do the same for referrals coming from our employee health department for our services.

Commenting on the hospitals hotline, the RUMC nurse said that staff within her department are unlikely to utilize the service.

She said that collaboration between nursing departments or specific programs crafted with nurses in mind would be more effective in addressing underlying issues that are facing staff as the Island enters a period of heightened hospitalizations.

And as the second wave is coming up, the nurse said the staff are working through the same difficulties they pushed through mentally about eight months ago. Yes, were more prepared, but at the same time whos working through it?

Archibald stressed that having programs in place was an important first step, but acknowledged that just having the resources does not mean people are going to buy in to it.

You cant just have these services ..., he said. If I wasnt calling all along, Im not going to start now.

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A lot of nurses cry alone Whos watching out for mental health of medical workers in pandemic? - SILive.com