"Mindful Living NJ's community events have really made an impact on my life. I've learned so much about holistic health and can be more empowered when it comes to my family's health.” – Amy G., Millburn>> more testimonials
The question I get asked most often as founder of Mindful Living NJ is:
“Do you know a holistic…
MD? OB? Dermatologist? Dentist? Pediatrician?”
The follow up question to that is: Do they take insurance?
We know many holistic health and wellness practitioners in this great state, and we’re happy to refer you to them. (We also love www.wellnesspossibilities.com a web site directory populated with a lot of NJ wellness practitioners.)
And while we do know a handful of conventional physicians (MDs or DOs) who take a holistic-approach to practicing medicine, we’re sad to report that the list is too short for our liking. How do we build that list? With your help.
Mindful Living NJ wants to hear about your doctor. The seemingly conventional MD who takes a holistic approach to your health. Whether he or she allows alternative vaccination schedules, or is extraordinarily supportive of VBAC, or encourages you to wait out a cold rather than medicate it. Does your doctor use alternative forms of diagnostic tools? Unconventional blood tests or saliva testing? Is your doctor specialized in caring for chronic illness from a holistic approach, such as approaching ADHD and autism through diet or environmental causes?
If you are currently working with an MD who takes a holistic approach to your wellness, please let us know.
Springtime pollens should not be toxic to our bodies, says Michael Magwood, D.C. of the Chiropractic Wellness Center of Clifton. So why do we and our allergic children suffer so? Below hear the perspective from a chiropractic point of view. (This is part 1 of a two-part series.)
Dr. Magwood sees pediatric patients and their parents in his center in Clifton with the hopes of both caring for and educating the entire family. Each Tuesday at 6:30 pm, he offers free educational workshops in his center ranging from nutrition to asthma to digestive wellness. For more info, visit www.drmagwood.com
Mindful Girl welcomes Caroline Howell to the blog who will share real and inspiring stories marking her transition from the girl whose ultimate pleasure was Cold Stone Creamery, to a health food store groupie navigating a a diet overhaul with the hopes of reversing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
By Caroline Howell
Pequannock, NJ
“Sometimes food is medicine,” one of my friends asserted recently. Little did I know that it would become my medicine once I was diagnosed with Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) or since my first attack of multiple sclerosis in December 2008.
Disturbed by the side effects for treatments being offered for both the sensory symptoms I was having and those used to modify the disease itself, I turned to my therapist. She referred me to a former colleague of hers, a nutritionist named John Reynolds from the Schachter Center for Complementary Medicine in Suffern, NY.
John’s recommendation, in addition to vitamins and supplements, was for me to modify my diet to gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free. “Fun-free”, as my boyfriend often jokes to me.
And that’s definitely the way it sounded. I was raised on pasta (or “macaroni and gravy” as my mother always refers to it.) We must have eaten it several nights per week! No cheese? I couldn’t imagine such a life! I absolutely adored pizza! No sugar? I had often said—jokingly of course—that if I were hit by a car after eating Cold Stone Creamery ice cream, it wouldn’t matter because my life would have been complete. And what was gluten exactly?
Worst of all, I had barely used my stove in the nine years I had lived in my apartment. Dinners prior to my diagnosis consisted mainly of cereal, frozen entrees, pre-made meals or sandwiches, and pizza.
Shortly after my first visit to the Schachter Center, I started getting rid of most items in my freezer. During those early, difficult days, I made almost daily trips to the local health store and called John constantly. It was all so overwhelming, but I really felt in my gut that it was worth a try. John initially said to give the plan 90 days. That sounded like an eternity. I was still processing the diagnosis of a highly unpredictable disease, reading, and collecting second and third opinions. I felt extreme guilt and pressure (and sometimes still do) from all of the neurologists who wanted me on one of the four self-injectable medications immediately and hardly ever discussed diet or vitamins.
Healing Multiple Sclerosis by Ann Boroch, a Certified Nutritional Consultant/Naturopath and MS patient herself, includes a list of allowable and restricted foods on this regimen, as well as recipes, which has helped me immensely.
A sampling of my current diet: lean protein (chicken and turkey–as free range, antibiotic-free, and organic as possible); omelettes (with cage-free, organic eggs as much as possible); brown rice pasta with olive oil, oregano, and veggies; Egg White Protein shakes; Irish Oatmeal; and Wild Pacific Salmon (a minor miracle since the only “fish” I ate growing up was fish sticks and hated the mere thought of ingesting fish up until 18 months ago). Side dishes may include brown rice or quinoa. I have fresh or frozen vegetables with lunch or dinner and some fruit. I drink mostly water and green tea. I’m even enjoying stevia, a natural sweetener.
It’s definitely challenging, but I try to limit “cheat days” to either special events or eating out. But that will often come with my own personal guilt, as well as headaches or stomachaches from wheat or sugar.
As silly as it might sound, I can hardly believe that I’m making stir fry now or homemade salad dressing with apple cider vinegar and olive oil. I’ve even found a recipe for dairy-free, sugar-free chocolate ice cream (surprisingly tasty, though I still miss Cold Stone Creamery!)
Today, I believe I’m truly reaping the benefits of totally restructuring my eating habits. My past two brain MRIs (July 2009 and February 2010) have shown no disease progression or new activity and I live virtually symptom free except for some periodic minor sensory symptoms (mostly tingling in my feet which is more annoying than anything). Can I really scientifically prove that my diet overhaul has helped me remain this way? No, it could just be the disease’s natural course. But neither I nor anyone else can disprove it either.
This is what works for me—right now. Since this highly individualistic disease is so unpredictable, I’m trying to keep an open mind to all treatment paths. All I also know is how I feel . . . and that’s better than I ever did before my diagnosis. And I find that truly amazing.
When she’s not roaming local health stores, Caroline, a catalog coordinator/copywriter, loves spending time with her boyfriend, friends, and family; staying fit; and being outdoors. She is a pop culture enthusiast who has a strong affinity for 80s music and collecting all things Hello Kitty.
I’m so delighted to see one of my favorite integrative physicians featured on Fox News this month sharing tips on how to find a “green” pediatrician. Dr. Lawrence Rosen is a board-certified general pediatrician committed to family-centered, holistic child health care. He practices primary care at the Whole Child Center in Oradell, NJ and consults at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, serving as Chief of Pediatric Integrative Medicine and as medical advisor to the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology.
Hopefully as the demand increases for “green” or “holistic” pediatricians, we’ll see a greater supply. In the meantime, I’m thankful there are peds like Dr. Rosen for me to take my kids to.
Are you interested in learning more about integrative pediatrics and The Whole Child Center? Dr. Rosen and his staff will be leading a meet & greet/Q & A in Montclair later this spring. E-mail Me to be a part of this special event.
Background: My husband and I have this crazy wedding story. After a whirlwind romance, we got engaged fairly quickly and married about a year later. I had already had it up to my eyeballs with living in Manhattan. For as much as I loved the energy and the convenience of living in The City, I also was very aware that living in this atmosphere was contributing to my mounting anxiety. Nutballs were pushing people onto subway tracks or whacking them over the head with bricks; Mean, dirty people would hock mucus onto my feet; More often than not, I felt overcome by fear. I knew I needed to get out.
So I convinced my husband to move with me. We settled on Tucson mostly because it offered us peace of mind, freedom of spirit, and a general atmosphere of compassion that Manhattan lacked. (Plus, it’s where “Can’t Buy Me Love” was filmed. Another big selling point.)
We got married on September 9, 2001. We were scheduled to leave for Tucson on September 11 by way of a roadtrip honeymoon across the country.
We didn’t leave that day. But we did head out, despite some reservations, on September 12. And, thus spent one of the most tumultous times in modern American history on the road, travelling cross country through strange cities (many in the Bible Belt), as we and everyone around us tried to cope with the aftermath of 9/11.
But that’s a story for another time.
We settled in Tucson and from the get-go, the city lived up to our expectations and then some. There was definitely an adjustment for us as we got used to people being “nice.” Neighbors went out of their way to make us feel at home and welcome. Our new co-workers quickly treated us like family. And before long, we learned to expect the enthusiastic greetings from strangers, the slow pace at the bagel store, and the buzz of happy energy around us.
In addition to becoming a home away from home for me, Tucson also was the land of discovery. A metamorphosis of sorts took place for me.
There, I first learned about midwifery; about integrative pediatrics; about chiropractic and NAET. Tucson was where I first figured out the difference between Organic and Conventional; where I really started to understand the value of conservation, particularly as it related to water. For me, Tucson was my University of Conscious Living. And living there opened up a whole new world for me.
Leaving this mecca for holistic lifestyle (and our friends) was not easy. But we decided to move back East to be near our extended family, as our little family began to grow. I was worried that moving back would be moving backwards. That our return to the fast-paced life that comes with settling down in the NYC suburbs would turn us toxic and cold, and not just from a temperature perspective.
But I was wrong. And what a pleasant surprise.
On the whole, it’s true, people are not as friendly or as warm here in NJ (sorry!) as they are in Tucson. To be specific, NJ folks tend to want/need/expect more from me faster/now/yesterday and are not as nice/compassionate/kind in how they express this. But, a community of conscious living is actually strong and vibrant and loud here.
There are, of course, towns in which this community is more vocal and apparent.
West Milford, which has their own “sustainable” web site and annual Green Day Fair
There is still a lot of work to be done in terms of making NJ residents aware that these options for holistic living exist here, and engaging holistic businesses in the practice of making themselves more accessible to the average person. But I do believe this is part of the task at hand for us at Mindful Living NJ.
And, perhaps, if you are the type of person who believes in fate or synchronicity or purpose (which I am), then perhaps you might consider my move back to Jersey a subconscious, conscious decision. Peraps I was drawn back to NJ to share the wealth. Tucson opened up so much for me and for that I am forever grateful. I’d love to think that through Mindful Living NJ, I’m able to pay that forward.
