Integrative Health Blog

Please join us in Washington, D.C. for an educational class on Essential Oils:

Title: “Prepare for a Healthy, Stress-Free Season with Essential Oils”

Date: Wednesday, NOVEMBER 20, 2019

Time: 6:00- 7:30 pm

Location: National Integrated Health Associates

                 5225 Wisconsin Ave. NW, # 402, Washington, DC

Presenter: Janette Coffee, CHC, Essential Oil Advocate

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Learn how to take care of your health and the health of your loved ones using natural solutions!

Cinnamon Bark Oil

At this time of year, I just can’t get enough of the delicious aroma of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil. 

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS, dizziness upon standing, is often called “the invisible illness” – and nearly every symptom is subjective.  It’s important to remember that although dizziness is the trademark symptom, POTS does a lot more than just make someone dizzy.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is largely misunderstood by nearly everyone, including many doctors. So far,  only a small number of Functional Medicine physicians are probably aware and educated about POTS.  

What Is POTS Syndrome?

POTS is a form of Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)  dysregulation or malfunction that affects the flow of blood throughout the body, thereby causing orthostatic hypotension mostly manifesting as dizziness when standing up. Technically, someone has POTS if their heart rate increases by 30 beats per minute or their heart rate is greater than 120 beats per minute within 10 minutes of standing up.  Needless to say, this can be an alarming reaction for someone for something as simple as getting out of a chair.

A quote from the Gene Environment Interaction Fact Sheet [1] from the Centers for Disease Control states that virtually all human…

“…diseases result from the interaction of genetic susceptibility factors and modifiable environmental factors, broadly defined to include infectious, chemical, physical, nutritional, and behavioral factors. This is perhaps the most important fact in understanding the role of genetics and environment in the development of disease. Many people tend to classify the cause of disease as either genetic or environmental. Indeed, some rare diseases, such as Huntington or Tay Sachs disease, may be the result of a deficiency of a single gene product, but these diseases represent a very small proportion of all human disease. Common diseases, such as diabetes or cancer, are a result of the complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors.”

As a functional medicine  physician, for years I have incorporated genetic testing to help me diagnose the root causes of health problems. I would often find that the CDC  was spot on about the environmental and genetic factors in the development of disease. Once identified, physicians can work to correctly reverse environmental factors such as chronic infections, gastrointestinal disorders and toxicities as well as altering genetic expression which underlie many diseases, disorders and rapid aging.

It is important to remember that genetics may be turned “on” or “off” depending on the environmental factors- genes are modifiable.

The Dominoes of Healthcare

Please join us for a fun and informative class and learn how to use essential oils to stay healthy and stress-free this winter!

Title: “Winter is Coming! Prepare for a Healthy, Stress-Free Season with Essential Oils”

Date:  Wednesday, OCTOBER 23, 2019

Time:  6:00- 7:30 pm

Place: National Integrated Health Associates

           Washington, D.C.

Presenters:  Janette Coffee, CHC, and Denia Tapscott, MD

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As the weather is starting to cool and leaves are starting to change, we are heading into one of my favorite seasons.  Fall always reminds me of my childhood and the excitement of getting back to school, sweaters, boots and the start of the holiday season. 

However, as we head into fall and winter, we also enter the dreaded cold and flu season.  Plus, the added busyness of getting back to into a routine after the summer, and all the extra responsibilities as we prepare for the holiday season can increase our stress levels.   When we are stressed our immune system can be compromised, and we might be more susceptible to those unwanted “bugs.”

Using essential oils as part of a daily self-care routine may help support the immune system and promote relaxation and better sleep.  Essential oils are known to have powerful cleansing and purifying properties, which may help boost immunity and reduce feelings of stress. 

Wouldn’t it be great to truly thrive and experience abundant health and energy as we head into this season? 

Using Essential Oils

Please join us for the Mind/Body Connection Series Talk:

Title: "Meditation, Calming the Brain for Optimal Health"

Date: Tuesday, October 22 

Time: 6:30 – 7:45 pm

Place: National Integrated Health Associates (NIHA)

           5225 Wisconsin Ave. NW, #402

           Washington, D.C. 20015

Speaker: Kuno Bachbauer, LMFT

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I invite you to come enjoy an evening of meditation!

Learn how meditation works as a powerful tool to balance the emotional brain and how you can develop the "Meditation Lifestyle."

I learned about meditation over 40 years ago. It has changed my life from the first day that I tried it. In fact, the principles of meditation have become my lifestyle. It has become my preferred way of life. A way of being fully present in the world - as often and as deeply as possible.

I must confess, this path is not easy or natural for me. I have never been an “ideal meditator.”  Not even close! I can’t sit still. I fidget. I have a hard time with the routine. I often fall asleep, and when I am awake, my mind wanders all over the place.

So why bother with meditation? And why would I offer an evening of meditation?

The answer may be surprising, but, my experience is exactly what a lot of people experience when they begin to meditate! The struggle. The defeat. The failure at something that appears so simple.

Dental trauma is defined as injury to the teeth, periodontium (gums and the other structures that keep your teeth in place), and the accompanying oral soft tissue structures like the tongue and lips.

Dental trauma is very common, especially among the school-aged population.  Beyond the initial injury, significant problems such as chewing food can create long-term issues.  While not all dental traumas require emergency dental care, following up with your dentist is recommended to ensure proper healing will occur.  Further, prevention and understanding how to handle a dental trauma situation can greatly improve outcomes of these common and preventable incidents.

Unfortunately, one third of preschoolers, one fourth of school children and one third of adults have suffered from dental trauma in their lives (1).  The reasons for dental trauma in children are numerous and include falls from bike riding, running, general falls, sports participation at younger ages including soccer, football, baseball and swimming, ADHD, epilepsy and hearing/vision impairment.

Sports are a large contributor to dental injuries (2) and are to blame for the majority of dental trauma. Children can fall or run into each other as they tend to run enthusiastically, without fully developed coordination, or not paying attention to their surroundings.  Winning the race to the soccer ball takes priority over noticing that six other children are attempting the same thing.

Protect the Teeth from Dental Trauma

In 2018 the CDC released a report estimating that 50 million Americans have chronic pain, and that 40% of those have “high-impact chronic pain,” defined as pain that is severe enough to frequently limit life or work activities.  Add to that the emotional version of pain – mood and sleep disorders – which often complicates the physical version of pain, and now we are talking about 50% of Americans. 

Why are so many people in mind and body pain, living lives that can't seem to find long-term, sustainable solutions?

Inflammation is certainly one of the factors, caused by Lyme Disease and chronic infections, gastrointestinal or microbiome disorders and food allergies. At the very least, integrative & functional medicine provides some relief in regards to inflammation, and a whole host of nutrients, from essential fatty acids to various anti-inflammatory herbals can get results for a lot of people.

The Real Source of Pain

However, what I would like to address here is a source of pain which is usually not addressed, the brain, which aligns with the title;  the reign of pain is mainly in the brain (borrowing the quip from one of the songs in the play My Fair Lady). 

The new 5G wireless promises to make our lives better with higher internet speed, larger bandwidth and smarter technology- but is there a downside?

Will increased electromagnetic exposure (EMFs) from 5G impact our health?

National Integrated Health Associates would like to invite you to an enlightening presentation on October 1, 2019, from Theodora Scarato, MSW, Executive Director of Environmental Health Trust in Washington, D.C.

Environmental Health Trust is a scientific think tank that publishes research, develops educational resources and briefs policymakers worldwide on environmental health issues.

Title: “5G, The Wireless Revolution and Your Health”

Date: October 1, 2019

Time:  6:30-7:30 p.m.

Location: National Integrated Health Associates, 5225 Wisconsin Ave. NW, #402, Washington, D.C.

Speaker:  Theodora Scarato, MSW

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

For Americans, the word “cancer” is thrown at us all the time. Some may find a sense of negativity and fear being served to us about breast cancer every year, especially in October.

Isn’t it time we focus on breast cancer prevention rather than awareness?

Let's think of October as Breast Health Awareness Month and educate ourselves on earlier detection and looking at some preventable strategies and root causes.

What are some of the causes of breast cancer?

Human beings tend to overcomplicate a lot of things. 

Many of us are guilty of thinking that anything worth achieving requires a lot of time and effort.   For example, if we want to lose weight, we must go on a complicated diet program designed by some famous doctor or health guru on the best sellers list.  Or, if we want to gain muscle, we have to work out every day for hours.  On the other hand, we think if it's easy it’s probably too good to be true or it won’t help, yet many of us want "easy" in this complicated, busy world.  The bottom line is, whether easy or hard, the basics of a healthy life need to be adhered to.  What are the basics?

• Healthy eating habits: Eat fruits, vegetables, proteins, minimize sugars

• Rest/Sleep: Get 8 hours of sleep per night, take naps and vacations

• Low stress levels: Minimize stress by setting boundaries at work, meditate and be grateful

• Hydration: Drink enough water (64 oz./day minimum) to sustain life in your body's tissue

• Personal: Do things that make you feel fulfilled, incorporate things that are your passion and inspire you

• Work: Do something that provides for the necessities in life, but also makes you feel like you are helping others or contributing to a greater good

But, there is one more important thing you must do for health and that is-