|
In Memorium to Valerie Crawford
Every year brings a time of reflection and often change. Sadly, this New Year's Eve, a valued member of the Center staff, Valerie Crawford, Office Manager for the Division of Physical Medicine at the Center for Health and Healing (CCHH), passed away in her home from heart failure.
Valerie has worked along side Dr. Robert Gotlin since his first day as a practicing physician, 20 years ago. When the division moved from BI North to the CCHH Valerie made the move seamless and trouble free for all --- no small feat. Her ability to organize and manage a division was legendary.
However, it was Valerie's generosity of spirit and ability to nurture and mentor others that captured your attention most. Dr. Gotlin stated it best when reflecting on Valerie, "We all had the opportunity to experience her calming personality, even demeanor, generosity of spirit and loving presence. Her passing leaves a void that will never be filled and she will be dearly missed. In thinking of who Valerie was, we know she would want each of us to appreciate the life we have and to be thankful for the joys we share."
On January 6th her memorial service was packed to capacity. Person after person stood up to share their stories of how they were helped by Valerie--illustrating the power each of us has to positively affect others by our example.
She is survived by her husband Ted, two daughters, Rona and Olivia, and two grandchildren.
A trust fund has been set up for her surviving younger daughter Olivia Crawford. Any contributions can be sent (and checks made out) to Dr. Robert Gotlin c/o The Center for Health & Healing, 245 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016.
We thank everyone for their prayers during this time.
 What's New at the Center?
Center for Health and Healing Launches their NIH-Funded Web Site on Integrative Approaches to Chronic Disease: Heart Disease, Diabetes and Chronic Pain
This multi-media consumer-education website in English and Spanish is designed to support patients living with chronic disease. Written by experts in the field and entirely evidence-based, the site is presented in three formats to appeal to different learning styles: text, audio/slides and Flash.
Marsha J. Handel, MLS,Director of Informatics and Online Education at the Center, developed the grant and oversaw all aspects of production. She notes "We are grateful for the focus groups we ran before designing the site as we learned so much about the challenges for patients who are living with these diseases and their desire to learn about all treatment options that might improve their health. We hope this information provides new perspectives and self-care strategies that support a positive shift in how people think about and manage chronic disease."
As we say on the site "Even small changes can make big gains in the quality of your life."
The site can be accessed directly at www.healingchronicdisease.org or on the Center website at www.healthandhealingny.org.
top
Online and retail pharmacy started at the CCHH out-patient facility
For the convenience of our patients, selected supplements are now being offered for sale at the Center. A much larger offering will soon be available online at the Center's online pharmacy at www.thenaturalapothecary.org. These supplements represent the highest quality-controlled dietary supplements, botanicals and other products selected by our practitioners. This program has been several years in the making with extensive contributions within many departments at BIMC.
While many of these products are available elsewhere, they are rarely all found in one location, making their purchase complicated and time consuming. CCHH saw a need to help reduce confusion and time for all by starting this service. With this new program, consumers are able to purchase health-related products and supplements at the time of their visit and independently through the website.
Orders can also be made by calling the following telephone number : 1-800-628-0276 or Faxing : 1-888-661-4965.
"The Super Nanny" training program - a holistic education program for parents or your childcare attendant
Whether you are a nanny (or a parent), join us in this four-part workshop on building children' health the natural way. Develop the practical skills and knowledge that create confidence and expertise in caring for the daily and larger needs of children - all from an integrative perspective - our specialty!
Learn about the most important aspects of child care from experts in the field
- How to optimize child development and care for their emotional, social, and cognitive growth
- How to promote healthy eating that kids will love
- How to recognize and safely treat common ailments the natural way
- How to save a life with CPR certification
A certificate of attendance will be given at the end of program completion.
Location:
The Continuum Center for Health and Healing
245 Fifth Avenue at 28th Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10016
Dates:
Tuesdays, March 2 through March 20, 2010
March 2, 9 and 16: 6-8 PM; March 20: 9 AM -12 PM
Price:
$350.00 for 4 session program. Classes are not offered individually. Pre-registration required.
Registration:
Please contact Bonnie Everhart at 646 935-2248
For more information, please contact Dr. Nathalie Stern: 646 240-2478 or nathaliestern@verizon.net
Topic of the Month
Seasonal Nutritional Cold and Flu Tips by Mary Gocke, RD
They say that cold and flu season is upon us. Time to take action! The most important step you can take is to support your immune system before you get sick. This means having a toolbox of healthy habits to draw from daily. Hopefully this tool box includes an enjoyable exercise program that makes you sweat, a balanced food plan that makes you feel clear headed and alive, plenty of good clean water, the appropriate nutritional supplements and herbal medicines, a daily breathing and relaxation practice, and quality time each day to play and relax with friends and family.
Your kitchen cabinets and refrigerator should also be a toolbox of remedies because food is our medicine. Deep colored vegetables that contain plenty of carotenes and other antioxidants, like dark greens, sweet potatoes, carrots, yams, butternut squash, tomatoes, acorn squash, pink grapefruit, dried prunes, and oranges are great. Also foods from the cabbage family (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbages, radishes and turnips) boost your immune system (and may help prevent cancers). These fruits and vegetables, most of which happen to be in season right now, support the immune system by protecting the thymus gland, which is susceptible to oxidative damage. Your thymus gland lives behind the second rib down from your throat and you might to take a second to tap on it to stimulate the T cells that are housed within it.
GINGER - CAYENNE FLU TEA
This recipe came from my brother years ago...
2 inches of fresh ginger, roughly chopped (or 1 tsp powder ginger)
2 cloves of garlic roughly chopped
1 tablespoon honey
Pinch or 2 of cayenne powder*
Juice 2 lemons
* optional spice
Add ginger, garlic and 2 cups of water to a saucepan and bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the lemon juice, cayenne and honey. Stir and strain. Climb under the covers and sweat - the heat is fighting the virus!
POT OF VEGETABLES
½ head of broccoli
½ head of cauliflower
3 carrots
1 large onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
½ cup of olive oil
Sea salt and pepper
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 springs of oregano
Cut up vegetables and place in a large ovenproof pot with lid on. Cook at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Test for the desired firmness of vegetables. You may cook them longer if you want them to be tender, especially if you are using them in the soup below.
POT OF VEGETABLES SOUP
Place desired amount of broth (chicken, vegetable, immune support, or water) and the above cooked vegetables into the Vita-mix (high powered blender) and blend at a high speed. The desired amount of broth depends on how thick you like your soups. Start with a small amount of liquid and you can add more.
Mary Gocke is a registered dietitian and nutritional counselor. Her
emphasis is on plant-based food plans that incorporate functional and
medicinal foods, vitamins and mineral supplementation, detoxification
and elimination programs, and nutritional therapy in managing
gastrointestinal disorders and other chronic diseases. She is part of
the faculty at the Center for Health and Healing. Mary received a
bachelor's degree in human nutrition and food science at the University
of Florida and completed her internship in nutrition at New York Hospital. She practices yoga daily and has taught yoga and meditation throughout the country for years.
top
New Research
In the New York City Community:
Acupuncture and Chronic Pain at Community Health Centers in the Bronx This trial known as ADDOPT (Acupuncture to Decrease Disparities of Pain Treatment) is a joint study with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM), Department of Family and Social Medicine Division (DFSM) of Research, and the Department of Integrative Medicine at Beth Israel. It is funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health. This project will evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of an acupuncture intervention in an underserved community normally without access to this type of therapy.
Chronic Pain and Integrative Management
This is an observational study in patients who see their physicians at CCHH for chronic pain. We are one of eight leading integrative clinical centers from around the country participating in this study. It is funded by the Bravewell Collaborative with the intention of forming what is known as a Practice-Based Research Network for integrative medicine. The objective of the study is to better understand the effectiveness of a variety of indigenous or integrative interventions in patients with chronic pain.
top
Holistic Nurse's Corner by Wanda Diaz, RN
Colds and flu challenge many in the winter season. First and foremost we emphasize prevention by encouraging all to wash their hands frequently and avoid direct contact with those who are ill. We also recommend the use of hand germacidals when needed:
· Just Naturals & Co. - All Natural Hand Sanitizer- blasts bugs with antibacterial witch hazel and lime and tea tree oil.
· CleanWell All - Natural Hand Sanitizer - Thyme, oregano, orange, and litsea (an evergreen tree) oils kill 99.99% of germs, according to lab tests.
· Clean George Hand Purifier- Manuka and tea tree oils mixed with essential oils in three scent combos.
Adequate sleep and hydration are also good prevention strategies to reduce your risk of getting a cold or the flu. Below are recommendations we regularly share with children and adults at the Center who are suffering from a viral illness:
1. For chest or sinus congestion try steam inhalation treatment with essential oils
(preferably eucalyptus/lavender /tea tree oil) by adding one or two drops of one or two of these oils to a humidifier for children or bowl of warm water and using a towel as a tent for adults/older children. You can also add a couple of drops of these oils to a hot shower and inhale.
2. For general immune support Black Elderberry elixir (Sambucol or Sambcus by Nature's way) is great for adults and children. Vitamin C will also help support the immune system.
3. Try Oscillococcinum, a commonly used homeopathic remedy, as soon as you begin to feel sick. One vial of pellets under the tongue three times a day for several days may also be a good strategy to avoid a worsening viral illness.
4. Drink large quantities of warm fluids and avoid dairy since it contributes to
the production of mucous.
Have a safe and healthy Winter Season!
Speaking of Healing
In this issue CenterPoint interviews Dr. Arya Nielsen, PhD.
|
Arya Nielsen, PhD
Arya Nielsen has a Doctorate in Philosophies of Medicine with specialization in Integrative Clinical Science and Health Care. She is Board Certified in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine and is a past chair of the New York State Board for Acupuncture. She has been in private practice for over 30 years and is on faculty at Beth Israel Medical Center's Department of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Nielsen teaches traditional East Asian medicine in the US and Europe. Her focus is classical Chinese practice, Gua sha, and the interactive potential of the clinical encounter to create healing possibilities in the lives of those seeking care, including adults and children.
Since its opening in 2000, Arya has worked with the team of professionals at the Continuum Center for Health and Healing who are dedicated to the mission of integrative healthcare. It is with that team that she has been able to develop and direct the Acupuncture Fellowship program for inpatient care at Beth Israel Medical Center.
Dr. Nielsen is the author of Gua Sha, A Traditional Technique for Modern Practice, Churchill Livingstone, 1995; (translated to German and French) and Gua Sha: Step-by-Step a teaching video. Arya can be contacted by email at anielsen@chpnet.org or at her website www.guasha.com
|
CP: You have written a book on Gua Sha. Can you tell us what Gua Sha is?
Dr Nielsen: Gua sha is a traditional East Asian medical technique. Gua literally means to "press-stroke." Sha is a term that describes the blood congestion in surface tissue that accumulates in areas where the patient may experience stiffness and pain; sha is also the term for the little red dots that are raised from applying Gua sha.
Gua sha is done with a smooth-edged instrument and consists of repeated even press-stroking until 'sha' petechiae or red dots appear. Pain is immediately relieved and the petechiael dots begin to fade into blended reddish areas, and disappear completely in two to three days. But even when that increase returns to baseline, the pain relief persists. Research has confirmed this effect of Gua Sha by showing it causes a 4-fold increase in microcirculation of the blood in surface tissue (2007).
CP: What are the benefits of Gua sha?
Dr. Nielsen: There are many benefits to Gua sha. For example, we use it to resolve pain and stiffness, to relieve cough and asthma, to reduce a fever, and to stop nausea and vomiting. A randomized trial done at a German hospital has shown neck pain is responsive to Gua sha.
CP: How do patients feel about the red petechiae that result from Gua sha?
Dr. Nielsen: Yes, one might expect patients to have an aversion to the appearance of what looks like a rash, even if it is short term. But the pain relief is so noticeable that patients feel elated, invigorated, yet also relaxed. If they have been cold they warm up, if they are too hot, they cool down. Gua sha brings people into balance. People who start out skeptical often come back specifically asking for Gua sha treatment.
CP: What are some of the specific things you tell patients after receiving Gua sha?
Dr. Nielsen: The recommendations are to be moderate in eating and activity. The patient is advised to keep the area protected from wind, cold and direct sun until the sha fades. They are also encouraged to drink plenty of water and eat balanced meals, not too much starch or salt.
CP: Who is a good candidate to receive Gua sha?
Dr. Nielsen: I always check a patient for 'sha' stasis and do Gua sha if it is indicated because the technique advances the healing process - whether someone is sick or has recently been sick with a cold, flu, injury or trauma. Sha is often implicated in a person's fatigue as well.
CP: How can people learn more about Gua sha or see what it looks like after you have treated someone?
Dr. Nielsen: One can log onto the website www.guasha.com where there are images and further information. Or consult the textbook on Gua sha noted below.
References:
Nielsen A. Gua Sha. A Traditional Technique for Modern Practice. Edinburgh:
Churchill Livingstone; 1995.
Nielsen A, Knoblauch NTM, Dobos GJ, Michalsen A, Kaptchuk TJ. The Effect of
Gua Sha Treatment the Microcirculation of Surface Tissue: A Pilot Study in
Healthy Subjects. Explore (NY). 2007;3:456-466.
top
| 
