When you're under the weather, your body needs immune-supportive nutrients to fight off a cold or virus. While foods can't prevent, treat or magically cure your illness, what you eat can soothe your symptoms and potentially help you bounce back quicker.

Mushrooms are packed with vitamins and minerals that help your immune system function at its peak.

Image Credit: from_my_point_of_view/iStock/GettyImages

Here, nine foods that'll help and three that can hinder your recovery.

Especially when you're fighting an infection, you need to stay hydrated. Drinking fluids helps every system in your body function at its best, carries much-needed nutrients to your cells and aids in flushing bacteria, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Next to water, there's nothing better than a warm, comforting cup of tea. "Drinking tea can help restore hydration, which is important for recovery, as well as soothe digestion and a sore throat," Lisa Moskovitz, RDN, founder and CEO of The NY Nutrition Group, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

And, depending on what ails you, sipping specific kinds of teas may mitigate your symptoms. For example, peppermint tea, which contains menthol, can ease an upset stomach, while black tea, rich in flavonoids, combats inflammation and supports healthy immune function, according to Penn Medicine.

For an extra dose of immune-boosting power, squeeze some honey into your teacup. "Not only does it make tea taste a whole lot better, but it also contains natural antiviral and antibacterial properties that could help you fight off sickness a little faster," Moskovitz says.

Indeed, a review in the April-June 2017 issue of Pharmacognosy Research found that honey has antimicrobial as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

And honey can calm your cough, too. Case in point: A half teaspoon of honey before bedtime worked as well as a cough suppressant for children (over 1 year old), per research published in the December 2014 issue of Canadian Family Physician.

That said, adults may need to up their dose to get the same soothing, throat-coating effect. Just don't overdo it on the drizzle honey comes with a heap of sugar and calories.

The health benefits of garlic make it worth the bad breath.

Image Credit: Robert Daly/OJO Images/GettyImages

Not only does garlic enhance your food's flavor, it could also improve your immune system too. Yup, this pantry staple boasts natural antibacterial properties and can protect you from pathogens like bacteria that can cause infections, Moskovitz says.

If you're not a fan of raw garlic, there are alternatives: Research published in the June 2012 issue of Clinical Nutrition found that aged garlic extract may boost your immune cell function and, subsequently, reduce the severity of a cold.

When you're feeling foul, a few fungi might help you feel better. "Mushrooms, particularly shirataki mushrooms, have an array of important vitamins, minerals and enzymes that help your body function at its peak," Moskovitz says. "Additionally, research shows they can enhance the immune system for natural protection against different types of infections."

She's right. An April 2015 study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that consuming shiitake mushrooms could improve immunity, as evidenced by an increase in the production of antibodies as well as cell proliferation and activation.

"Packed with immune-boosting vitamin C, citrus fruits can help your body defend itself against certain infections," Moskovitz says.

In fact, taking daily vitamin C supplements, which have an anti-histamine effect, can ease the severity of a cold and shorten its duration by about 8 percent, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

That said, "mega-doses of vitamin C won't cure any viruses or infections you are already suffering from," Moskovitz explains. In other words, if you're already under the weather, overindulging in oranges won't be much help. Better to consume vitamin C regularly as a preventive measure.

Try adding sliced fresh ginger to tea, soup or a stir-fry.

Image Credit: 4nadia/iStock/GettyImages

"Ginger has been linked to a stronger antibody response, meaning that it can help defend the body against potential viruses," Moskovitz says.

The pungent root can destroy common bacteria and pathogens, according to a June 2017 article in the International Journal of Molecular Science.

And if you're dealing with nausea and/or vomiting, a study published March 2016 in Integrative Medicine Insights found that ginger can be an effective and safe treatment, especially for individuals whose symptoms are related to pregnancy or chemotherapy.

Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir and kombucha contain gut-healthy probiotics, which can help keep your immune system strong, Moskovitz says. But how? Well, your gut plays a major role in your immune system, and probiotics which are rich in good bacteria strengthen your gut flora.

A 2011 review published in Current Opinion in Gastroenterology found that consuming probiotics could lower a healthy individual's risk of acquiring common cold infections and reduce the duration of a cold.

If you can stomach it, shellfish should be at the top of your shopping list when you're sick. That's because they're one of the best sources of zinc, an essential immune-boosting nutrient, Moskovitz says. Your body needs zinc to produce T-lymphocytes (the white blood cells that fight infection), according to the NIH.

Hard to find in natural food sources, the healthy mineral is abundant in shellfish like oysters, which boast more zinc per serving than any other food, per the NIH.

If you abstain from shellfish for religious or health reasons, ask your doctor about zinc supplements.

Rich in the antioxidant carnosine and its derivative anserine, chicken soup and chicken breast extracts could aid in "thinning out and clearing mucus in the nasal passages," says Pauline Jose, MD, a clinical instructor at UCLA and family medicine specialist at pH Labs, a national nonprofit health information organization.

What's more, "the protein in chicken helps provide the body with energy to recover" and "the fluids in the soup aid in the body's hydration, which can help in its recuperation from illness, including the flu," says Denise Pate, MD, a board-certified internal medicine physician with Medical Offices of Manhattan.

You may want to lay off the caffeine as well as common coffee fixings when you're not feeling well.

Image Credit: MariuszBlach/iStock/GettyImages

The following everyday foods may do you more harm than good when you're fighting off an infection.

"While they may help you keep sugar and calorie intake low, if you're feeling under the weather, you might want to steer clear of artificial sweeteners," Moskowitz says.

Why? "Artificial sweeteners can cause additional gastric distress and potentially contribute to pounding headaches," she explains.

A cold scoop of ice cream may sound like the perfect solution to soothe a sore throat, but milk-based foods might make your symptoms worse, especially if you're congested.

Though "studies show dairy doesn't necessarily increase mucus production, it can thicken it," Moskovitz says. So, "If you're already dealing with a stuffy nose or sinus pressure, it might help to switch to dairy-free alternatives for the time being."

"While you might be grasping at caffeine to get you through the day when you're sick, keep in mind that excessive amounts can cause potential upset stomach and mild dehydration," Moskovitz says.

Since staying hydrated is essential to recovery, consuming caffeine is a major no-no. That means giving up or limiting coffee, chocolate, soda and other caffeinated drinks during the duration of your cold.

Not to mention, "caffeine can also suppress appetite, and if you're sick, you don't want to miss out on key immune-boosting nutrients like C, zinc and antioxidants" that your body gets through healthy foods, Moskovitz says.

Read more stories to help you navigate the novel coronavirus pandemic:

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9 Foods to Eat When You're Sick and 3 to Avoid - LIVESTRONG.COM

NORTHAMPTON, Mass., Aug. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --The first-ever Integrative Physician Market Landscape study, conducted by Pure Branding, addresses a lack of market intelligence about the rapidly growing practice of integrative medicine among Medical Doctors (MD) and Doctors of Osteopathy (DO).

"I have never seen such a rigorous and insightful study of the integrative physician community," said Leonard A. Wisneski, MD, FACP, professor of medicine at Georgetown University, George Washington University and University of Colorado. "For anyone wishing to understand and engage with the field of integrative medicine, this research study and its insights will be invaluable."

A rapidly growing number of doctors are exploring integrative approaches to clinical care as a solution to perceived inabilities to offer better healthcare options to their patients through conventional medical practices.

The study provides a consensus on the definition of integrative medicine, with respondents identifying the top five factors as:

"Anyone distressed about the state of healthcare in America need look no further than this inspiring community of integrative physicians for hope," says Yadim Medore, founder and CEO of Pure Branding. "These cutting-edge doctors are at the forefront of a paradigm shift in medicine, that will significantly impact the value chain from healthcare systems and payers to medical schools and suppliers."

Key Findings:

This research study included 1,133 integrative MDs and DOs from 49 states, the largest pool of currently practicing integrative physicians ever surveyed for a landscape report. Lists were provided by association and media partners including Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM), Academy of Integrative Pain Management (AIPM), American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM), American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA), Functional Forum and Today's Practitioner, and numerous commercial sponsors.

"The findings in this report are representative of the integrative medical community as a whole, with a confidence level of 95% and the margin of error at +/-2.9%," said Mr. Medore.

Informationabout the study can be found at: http://www.purebranding.com/integrative-physicians

About Pure BrandingPure Branding is a strategic consulting, market research and brand development agency for health and wellness companies. Since 1999, they have helped global clients build loyalty and grow market share through innovative research and actionable insights. For more information: http://www.purebranding.com

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-study-confirms-why-doctors-abandon-conventional-practices-for-integrative-medicine-300504287.html

SOURCE Pure Branding

Pure Branding | Building change-the-world supplement brands

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New Study Confirms Why Doctors Abandon Conventional Practices ... - PR Newswire (press release)

In the quiet hamlet of Bidnija, one would find a small blue door, which is the main entrance to Equilibrium Malta, an animal practice which integrates conventional veterinary medicine and complementary medical modalities.

Equilibrium Malta is owned by Dr Zoran Jankovic, who after obtaining his degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Belgrade, moved to Malta to pursue his career as a vet. The Malta Independent visited Dr Zoran at his practice to learn about his therapeutic approach to his patients' health.

During our visit, Dr Zoran was treating Gandalf, a 13-year-old Labrador, who in the past few years suffered from chronic cough and arthritis, and after taking numerous medications and antibiotics, his owner, Charlotte saw no improvement. Once Dr Zoran began his treatment on Gandalf, he began to show signs of improvement straight away. From having very low energy levels, and only being able to walk 15 minutes; now Gandalf is capable of walking for up to two hours. In addition to regular acupuncture sessions Gandalf is also taking Chinese herbal medicine formula.

Although slightly hesitant at first during the treatment, all eyes on the newsroom's team, Gandalf finally settled down, as both Dr Zoran and Charlotte petted him. After taking care of Gandalf, Dr Zoran sat down and spoke to Giulia Magri about his practice and the use of traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine.

What led you to excel in such a profession?

From a very early age I was fascinated with zoology, biology, natural sciences and a love for animals. It is difficult to explain, but from the moment I could talk I have always wanted to be a vet. This calling grew stronger with a love and interest for science in school. Today, this love is fueled by a passion for helping others, both animals and their humans. I think the key in excelling in any profession is love and passion for what you do.

How would you describe traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine?

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), although relatively new to the Western world, is a medical system that has been used in China to treat animals for thousands of years. It is an adaptation and extension of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) used to treat humans. Speaking broadly, Chinese medicine is a complete body of thought and practice grounded in Chinese Daoist philosophy.

In Chinese medicine theory, disease is understood as an imbalance in the body, and diagnosis proceeds through identifying the underlying "pattern" of disharmony. Pattern diagnosis differs from conventional Western medical diagnosis in that it takes into account not only disease signs but how these signs relate to the individual patient. Thus, TCVM practitioners will consider the temperament, sex, age, activity and environment of an animal along with the animal's particular disease signs. This approach stems from the belief that the body is as an interconnected system of forces and functions so that disease and disharmony must be examined with respect to the whole patient. For this reason, Chinese medicine is often regarded as more holistic than conventional Western medicine.

Once a particular type of disharmony or disease pattern is identified, treatment often proceeds through a combination of treatment modalities. Though the terms Chinese medicine and acupuncture are often used interchangeably in the West, acupuncture is actually only one modality or "branch" of TCM and TCVM. There arefour branches of TCVM - Acupuncture, Herbal medicine, Food therapy and Tui-na - a wide range of therapeutic massage and body work.

What inspired you to focus on more Traditional Chinese Veterinary medicine and internal medicine?

After obtaining a formal education in veterinary medicine and practising for several years, I realized that standard veterinary treatment was not always the most effective means of curing illnesses. This prompted me to search for additional methods and complementary practices that can be used in veterinary medicine. After experimenting with many "alternative" practices, in 2016 I decided to obtain a certification in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine from the Chi Institute of Europe in Madrid.

At the beginning I was pretty sceptical as I had very little experience with Traditional Chinese medicine in general. However, as soon as I immersed myself in the study, I began witnessing results that can only be described as miraculous. I will never forget our first practice class at the Chi Institute. We were working with a horse that was fractious, almost dangerous. The tutor used a TCVM scan (by applying pressure to meridians and specific acu-points) and diagnosed the horse with severe pain due to gastric ulcers. As soon as the tutor placed acupuncture needles in the horse, his facial expression and whole demeanor started to change in front of our eyes. He transformed into a relaxed and agreeable horse in a matter of minutes, and even began showing affection to the therapist with gentle head nudges. This certainly caught my attention.

Was it difficult to integrate Traditional Chinese Veterinary medicine into your existing practice?

My first acupuncture case, as soon as I finished my TCVM training, was my long time patient, a very sweet dog named Buddy. One day after a boisterous romp on the beach, Buddy ended up paretic on his hind legs and he was in a lot of pain. I was still in Madrid when this happened and Buddy was treated with the usual Western medication protocol. However, there was no improvement and Buddy's pain was in fact getting worse. After treating Buddy and applying everything I had just learnt from Chi Institute, his owners had called me, to inform me that Buddy was relaxing in his bed with all four legs in the air; something which he hadn't done in weeks! After a couple more weekly treatments Buddy was able to run like nothing ever happened. From then on I was hooked on Chinese medicine and I never looked back.

Many have labeled you as a holistic vet; would you describe yourself as such?

I think terms such as "holistic" or "natural" are very often abused and misused these days. We can often see a range of various services and products that are labeled as "holistic" while in reality they are anything but holistic and natural and have very little to do with evidence-based medicine.

I would say I practise integrative medicine for animals. Integrative medicine incorporates all appropriate and evidence-based therapeutic approaches from both conventional and complementary medicine, that are likely to improve an individual patient's health and well being. I do believe integrative medicine is the future for both human and animal medicine.

Why do you believe moving away from conventional medicine to more alternative and 'holistic' practices benefit animals?

I never really "moved away from conventional medicine". I don't see medicine as "conventional" or "alternative", I just see different sets of tools that we may have at our disposal. I am very happy that I have more than one set of tools in my veterinary bag. For example when you compare Western veterinary medicine and traditional Chinese veterinary medicine you may see them as separated by great abyss. However, bridging this gulf is not an impossible task.

Generally, the goals of both Western or conventional medicine and traditional Chinese veterinary medicine are the same; they both promote health and prevent disease. They are merely two different ways of viewing the world and each system has its strengths and weaknesses. For example Western medicine deals efficiently with acute diseases and has advanced surgical techniques. Chinese medicine, on the other hand, can be beneficial for chronic disease, especially those that Western medicine can only control but not cure.

One of the procedures you provide is acupuncture. Could you explain the procedure and how this benefits the animal?

Acupuncture is a form of treatment that involves inserting very fine needles through the skin at specific points on the body, to various depths. The classical Chinese explanation is that channels of energy run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. These energy channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues and organs. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up in others.

By needling the acupuncture points, the needles unblock the obstruction at the dams, and reestablish the regular flow through the meridians. Acupuncture treatments can help the body's internal organs to correct imbalances in their digestion, absorption, and energy production activities.

Modern day scientific research continues to confirm classical Chinese theory. Previously, scientists used a combination of imaging techniques and CT scans to observe concentrated points of microvascular structures that clearly correspond to the map of acupuncture points created by Chinese energy practitioners in ancient times. In a study published in the Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena, researchers used contrast CT imaging with radiation on both non-acupuncture points and acupuncture points. The CT scans revealed clear distinctions between the non-acupuncture point and acupuncture point anatomical structures.

On your website you also speak in detail regarding a natural diet for pets. Could you explain how focusing on your pet's diet will benefit the pet's welfare?

In my clinical experience, a wide variety of different health conditions can be healed by simply changing the food without any other medical intervention and this is pretty much in line with the ancient Ayurvedic proverb: "If diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. If diet is correct, medicine is of no need."

Even before studying food energetics in Chinese medicine it was clear to me that the majority of health problems and degenerative conditions in our pets stem from an inadequate diet, exactly the same like in humans. For over a decade now I have been advocating for what we call biologically-appropriate diets for our pets. Therefore, I recommend nutritionally-balanced, species-appropriate diets, which means fresh food containing high-quality animal protein, moisture, healthy fats and fibre, with low to no starch content.

The new research continues to provide us with fascinating insights into the importance of gut micro biome. We now know that these tiny microorganisms, which live in both our and our pets' digestive tract, play a key role in the normal functioning of the whole body. Feeding highly-processed and biologically inappropriate food causes severe microbial imbalance in the gut and this has a domino effect on a wide variety of health parameters.

Read this article:
Improving your pet's health and wellbeing through integrative medicine - Malta Independent Online

I want to make it clear right at the outset that I have a real aversion to injectables. Each to their own, really, and one must never say never. But today, when I say needles, Im not talking about Botox or fillers but acupuncture cosmetic acupuncture to be precise.

I started this treatment in January last year to prevent my endometriosis from recurring. My gynaecologist is a big believer in this 2,000-year-old science, and encouraged me to try the alternative route. The thing with acupuncture is that youll see changes in four to five sittings. Pain reduction, in fact, is instant. The degree of pain may be lesser in the first sitting, but soon youll find complete relief. I can say this with confidence because Ive experienced it.

In spring, as I began to feel better, I decided to try cosmetic acupuncture. Someone told me about a Delhi designer whose chronic acne got cured under the deft hands of Dr Adil Khan, my acupuncturist in Nizamuddin West, Delhi. He began practicing as a teenager with the senior Dr Khan, his father, and the man who first brought this practice to India. It made sense really, to work on my skin. I was going three times a week in any case needles on my body and my face was an optimum usage of time. I told Dr Khan to work on tightening my skin, especially the jawline. I could work on texture with skincare and radiance with food, but skin tightening has never been possible without daily massages, injectables or petit surgery.

I got several other women at the yoga studio to try cosmetic acupuncture with me. My friend who works in fashion went to de-puff her under-eye bags. In a few sessions, they were gone. My mother, too, is visiting the kind doctor for puffiness and cervical, and yes, its working for both. After the second sitting, my mothers face looks healthier and clearer, and she didnt feel dizzy when she made kheer in the evening. My mother calls acupuncture addictive because of the results. My fellow yoga teacher nailed it when she said that with this treatment, you get the kind of glow when youre in love, but without being in love.

And what about me? Sculpted, tightened and glowing. My facial contours look more defined and lifted when I get my treatments done regularly. But it is no injectable. These are just needles releasing the lymph, detoxifying the skin, and balancing qi (energy or prana). One integrative medicine expert called facial acupuncture a Botox alternative. The only caveat is that you have to get it done weekly. And thats the thing with holistic therapies regularity is essential. The other way to keep the skin lifted and tightened is facial massage. (Please Google Tanaka Face Massage and thank me later). But that should be done every day.

The point is that this is an easy, inexpensive treatment. There is nothing injected into the skin. The results are instant: you can (and must) get facial acupuncture before a party. What I find best about this technique is that theres a clear mind-body benefit. It is impossible to imagine drifting off to sleep with needles on your face and body, but it happens very naturally. Acupuncture trance is real: as the needles work on your internal and external health, youll find yourself falling into a light, lucid sleep. There are so many times when I go for a session after a night spent twisting and turning. When that happens I just ask Dr Khan to give me a few extra points for sleep, and I get my power nap for the day.

There are many centres in Delhi where you can get acupuncture like Dr Raman Kapur at Gangaram Hospital, who has helped many people with serious health problems. In Dehradun, theres Dr Jitendra Uniyal, and in Mumbai, Dr Jasmine Modi, who comes highly recommended by IVF specialist Dr Firuza Parikh. I travel from Gurugram to Nizamuddin (an hours drive) to get my needles. Im only sad that that I didnt discover it before.

A column to remind you about all things skin deep.

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Down to the needle: what to expect from cosmetic acupuncture - The Hindu

Cold and flu season is definitely here, with high pitched sneezes, sniffly sounds and heavy-bass voices starting to crop up in your everyday surroundings. You anxiously hope, wait and wish for the season to come and go without having to experience it first hand. You pray to the gods of immunity every morning before you step out and brave the cold, to save you just this one time. But one sleepy Tuesday night, just when youre about to finish the last episode of You, the sniffling stalker youve been trying to avoid finally sneaks its way into your system and you sneeze. Catching a cold is inevitable when the weather is as schizophrenic as a serial stalker. But if youre done with popping pastel pills and relying on heavy antibiotics, we suggest going old schoollike the wellness enthusiasts we spoke to about this issue do. Here, they share their tried-and-tested flu-flighting, immunity-boosting remedies to help you combat the congestion.

Khanna, a health and wellness influencer, swears by her all-time favourite infusion of manuka honey, ginger and lemon juice. All three ingredients have anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting properties, so consuming this infusion regularly can help prevent colds, soothe sore throats, and reduce signs of tiredness, fatigue related to coughs and colds, she says.

Recipe: In a warm mug of water, add 2 tsp ginger juice, 1-2 tsp manuka honey and the juice of half a lemon. Stir well and sip the infusion. Remember, manuka honey cannot be added to very hot water as it loses its medicinal properties.

Levy-Bahl, a filmmaker, producer and major health nut, trusts two recipes that not only help cure colds and sore throats, but also help prevent them.

Recipe 1: Youll need a small bunch of fresh lemongrass, 2 inches of ginger (peeled), 10-12 tulsi leaves, 10 peppercorns,1 cinnamon stick, 1/2 tsp ajwain seeds, 1 tsp green tea and3 cups of water. Boil the elixir on a low heat for 15-20 min and serve with manuka honey.

Recipe 2: Reach for 1 tsp organic turmeric, 1 tsp cardamom,1/4 fresh black pepper, 1tsp coconut oil,1 cinnamon stalk,2 inch fresh ginger (or 1 tsp grated ginger) and1-2 cups milk of choice (almond or coconut is preferred). Simmer all the ingredients together and serve.

The founder and chef of Sequel loves a good ol broth to stay warm and strong, and also has a little golden elixir for a particularly sniffly day.

Recipe 1: Blend freshly pressed walnut milk with ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and saffron. Drink it warm with honey. Its the perfect combination of warming spices to fight the flu, she says.

Recipe 2: Cook a warm broth of seaweed, umeboshi, kaffir lime, lemongrass, galangal, garlic and heirloom tomatoes.

Wellness guru, holistic lifestyle coach and integrative medicine expert, Luke Coutinho, may have a few hundred remedies up his sleeve, but he claims the one below never fails to cure a cold.

Recipe: Set aside 1inch of ginger (peeled and mashed), 1/2 tsp organic turmeric powder (or 1/2 inch fresh turmeric root), 1 tbsp lemongrass leaves (fresh or dried),2 cloves,2 black peppercorns,1 tsp dried thyme powder and 1 tsp dried oregano powder. Add all the ingredients to 4 cups of water, and boil till it reduces to half. Cool and strain.

Mehra is a yoga instructor, and relies on multiple cups of this soothing kadha remedy, passed on by her mother, to get rid of an itchy throat and cough.

Recipe: Youll need 1 inch of ginger (crushed), 2 big black cardamoms, 2 green cardamoms, 10 tulsi leaves, 10 mint leaves, 4 black peppercorns, 4 cloves and 1/2 inch piece of cinnamon. Boil all the ingredients together in water for about 10 minutes on a medium flame. When the liquid reduces to 3/4th, turn the heat off. Sieve and add a few drops of lemon juice and honey.

5 ways to stay healthy during the flu season, according to a naturopath

Seasonal sniffles got you down? Add these immunity boosters to your diet

It's sniffle season: Here are 6 easy ways to improve your childs immunity against the flu

Link:
5 wellness enthusiasts share their favourite at-home remedies for cold and flu season - VOGUE India

The event, which this year returns to Singapores Hilton hotel from July 7-9, will feature speakers from the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, National University of Singapore and Mahidol University / The Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT),

There will also be sessions revealing the latest insights from the Malaysian Dietary Supplements Association (MADSA), Food Industry Asia and Mercer.

Delegate registration is now open, with an earlybird 20% discount offer.

The event takes place as the number of older persons in the region is expected to more than double from 600 million today to nearly 1.3 billion by 2050.

Organised by the publishers of FoodNavigator-Asia.com and NutraIngredients-Asia.com, the event brings together brands, suppliers, regulators and market experts to assess how the industry can meet the food and nutrition needs of older consumers of today and tomorrow.

Editor-in-Chief of both titles, and Regional Head of APAC at publisher William Reed, Gary Scattergood, said:Crucially, the event comes from the perspective that healthy ageing begins from conception. It assesses innovative food and nutrition solutions across all age spans, which will ultimately help people enjoy a healthy, as well as longer, older age.

Confirmed speakers include:

John Hellmann, Vice President, Government Affairs, Asia Pacific, Herbalife

Dr Yong Shan May, Principal Scientist, Bioefficacy and Bioactive Discovery, Brands Suntory

Dr Sam Henderson, Chief Scientific Officer, Cerecin

Dr Lesley Braun, Director, Blackmores Institute

Tana Limpayaraya, CEO, Amado Group (Thailand)

Dr. Mario Chin, Co-founder & CSO, Avant Meats

Associate Prof Satoshi Fukumitsu, Innovation center manager, NIPPN

Assistant Professor Anadi Nitithamyong Mahidol University / FoSTAT

Dr Jung Eun Kim, Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, National University of Singapore

Dr. Ram Vishwakarma, Director, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Jammu

EE Fern Wong, Board Member, Malaysian Dietary Supplements Association

Godelieve van Dooren, Partner, Mercer

Some of the key themes for the 2020 event will include:

Snacking for seniors:How the worlds leading FMCG brands can create options that aid Healthy Ageing

Reformulation and fortification:Expert insights on how to tackle the ticking economic and social timebomb of obesity and diabetes through reformulation strategies

Innovation for infants:How the latest research and product innovation is helping infants make the best start in life leading to tangible health outcomes in later life

Functional foods focus:The regions leading functional foods pioneers will share their healthy ageing strategies and experience in our dedicated showcase

Protein potential:The latest research around intake levels, product innovation and muscle health.

Indigenous insights:Research is booming in areas such at TCM, Ayurveda and Maori/Aboriginal botanicals and how they can be used for food and nutrition innovation. Well be hearing from an expert panel

Retail revolution:The regions leading retailers will share their views on how they can meet the needs of senior consumers, both online and offline.

Medical and clinical case studies:Well be hearing about the key advances being made in the area of foods for hospital patients as well as clinical nutrition solutions.

Markets and policy:Regulatory experts, decision makers, economists and trends analysts will be sharing the latest date into the economic, social and policy impacts of ageing.

To find out more, and view our highlights video from the 2019 event, please visit theevent website.

If you are from a major finished product brand and would like to discuss speaking opportunities, email gary.scattergood@wrbm.com

And to find out about our comprehensive partnership and sponsorship opportunities, email sueann.peh@wrbm .com and tim.evans@wrbm.com

Read the rest here:
Healthy Ageing APAC Summit 2020: Academic and industry experts from Singapore, India, Thailand and Malaysia join the bill - FoodNavigator-Asia.com

My first experience with olfactory virtual reality was truly trippy. Wearing a VR headset and holding a controller in each hand, I stood in a 3D room at OVR Technology in Burlington, gazing at a virtual table holding plates of tomato slices, garlic bulbs and basil leaves. As instructed by Jesse Stein, vice president of product and marketing, I used the controllers to pick up items with my white-gloved hands, bring them to my nose for a whiff and place them on the pizza beside me.

After I'd plunked down a few slices and bulbs, a lawn mower drove by, unattended, sounding just like a lawn mower and spewing grass in my general direction. As the four-wheeled interloper receded, I pushed a red button to slide the pizza into the oven.

The visual and auditory elements of this surreal experience were amazing. I felt like I'd been transported onto the Holodeck in a "Star Trek" show. But most remarkable were the scents provided by OVR Technology garlic, cut grass, hot Italian pie that wafted toward my nose at just the right moments.

The first time OVR Technology CEO Aaron Wisniewski tried VR, "It kind of blew my mind," he told Seven Days. "I immediately was like, 'This is the future. This is so cool. There is so much that can be done with this. But the thing that's missing, the thing that would make it feel like a real experience, is what I specialize in, which is scent.'"

Unbeknownst to many, "Our sense of smell is the only one of our senses with a direct link to the memory and emotions section of our brain, the limbic system," Wisniewski said in a TEDx Talk recorded in Stowe last May. "Every time you have an experience, it's inextricably linked to the smell of that moment and stored in the memory banks that make us who we are."

He believes that olfactory virtual reality could serve many purposes, from enjoyable to life changing. It could enhance a meditation practice, train employees in a task, teach first responders greater resilience to stress, diagnose anosmia (a loss or impairment of the sense of smell) and deepen exposure therapy for vets with posttraumatic stress disorder.

OVR Technology's mission, Wisniewski said in an interview, "is to have real-world positive impacts by enhancing the virtual world through scent. It's not just a cool thing or a gimmick. We want outcomes and impacts that are measurable."

The company aims to improve health care, education and training, and its first product is a three-component platform called Architecture of Scent. One component is the small ION device, which straps onto a VR headset, close to the wearer's nose. ION contains the second component, nine cartridges that store and emit highly realistic scents created by the company, or "scentware." The third component is software that interacts with VR software to cue delivery of scents in precisely measured doses timed to correspond to the headset wearer's behavior.

The scent of a rose should "be more intense the closer you get to it," Stein said. "Or, if there's a wind blowing" in the VR environment, the software calibrates "how the wind carries that scent."

Wisniewski cofounded OVR Technology in 2017 with his brother Sam Wisniewski, company COO and CFO; Matt Flego, CTO; and Erik Cooper, head of design. The four met at Generator maker space in Burlington. There, the Wisniewski brothers founded Alice & the Magician Cocktail Apothecary, which sells edible elixirs and aromatic mists; and Flego and Cooper founded M//E Design, an industrial design and prototyping company.

The Wisniewskis still own Alice & the Magician, now located on Pine Street, but spend most of their time at OVR Technology. "A really talented operations manager takes care of the day-to-day" at Alice & the Magician, Aaron Wisniewski said.

Last June, Flego and Cooper closed M//E Design, which had designed such products as the popular Core 360 active seating chair, to focus exclusively on the new business.

In 2015, the four founders learned about VR from Kip Steele, technical leader at Asure Software. Steele, who worked in information technology at the University of Vermont at the time, brought a headset to Generator.

About a year later, Champlain College started an experimental project to combine scents with VR. Faculty members invited Wisniewski to serve as a scent expert, and soon he and the other founders had created software, scentware and a prototype of the ION device.

"It looks like an elaborate mousetrap," Flego said of the prototype. At the proof of concept a successful demonstration of the olfactory virtual reality technology "we impressed some people, got a little bit of traction and a little bit of money," he recalled. Wisniewski was convinced that the product had huge potential, and soon his brother, Flego and Cooper joined him in creating OVR Technology.

A key collaborator who has helped guide development of the Architecture of Scent is Albert "Skip" Rizzo, a research professor at the University of Southern California and director for medical virtual reality at USC's Institute for Creative Technologies. He researches the use of VR to assess, treat, rehabilitate and increase resilience in psychology patients. Rizzo received the American Psychological Association's 2010 Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Treatment of Trauma for his work using virtual reality-based exposure therapy to treat PTSD.

Rizzo "has a deep understanding of how scents are an integral piece of the puzzle of PTSD," Wisniewski said. "We've been working closely with him and getting feedback from him on what types of scents to develop and how our technology can be effective with exposure therapy."

Rizzo is currently perfecting his Bravemind VR program for vets with PTSD and plans to distribute it to more than 100 VA hospitals around the country. OVR Technology is developing combat-related scents to enhance Bravemind.

Closer to home, OVR Technology is collaborating with David Lg Tomasi, who teaches and conducts research in the UVM Integrative Health program and Larner College of Medicine. He's also a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist at the UVM Medical Center.

"There is a lot of neuroscientific evidence of the role that sensory activation plays in our brain for general well-being," Tomasi said, "and by that I mean either in the stimulation of the olfactory bulb or the virtual-reality type of strategy."

Just as people can trick their brains into stimulating salivation by thinking about sucking on a lemon, he explained, VR can trick the brain into releasing neurotransmitters that are specifically focused on well-being.

"What is brand new is this combination" of olfactory stimulation and virtual reality, Tomasi emphasized.

"We've been doing integrative medicine for years on the patient psychiatry unit, mostly focusing on dietary examples, exercise, meditation, art therapy," he continued. But some patients can't participate due to medical issues, and Tomasi believes OVR Technology's product could help reduce their pain, stress and anxiety.

Not all olfactory virtual reality scenarios are as wacky or surreal as the pizza-with-lawn-mower demo I experienced. Tomasi found OVR Technology's woods-like demo so realistic that it was "really peaceful and nurturing. You could walk around, see the trees, see the landscape, the leaves and stones and rocks. You could pick up a marshmallow to roast, and you could have some water."

Sometimes, users forget that they're not in the real world. "Early on, we had a demo with a picnic table in it," Wisniewski recalled. "People would become so immersed in the environment that, within a minute or two, they would try to lean on the picnic table and fall over." After seeing a couple of people "hit the deck," the company adjusted the demo to keep people safe.

Within the next month or so, Tomasi and OVR Technology will launch a pilot study to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 12 volunteer UVM Medical Center inpatient subjects on the therapeutic value of olfactory virtual reality. A lot of research went into the study, which the team is confident is the first of its kind worldwide in a psychiatric setting. "It is groundbreaking research," Tomasi enthused.

A few other companies are also developing olfactory virtual reality, but OVR Technology's current challenges stem from more immediate concerns than competition. Because the VR industry is evolving quickly toward faster and smaller headsets, the company is already designing a smaller version of the ION device. It's also creating a "volume knob" to allow users to control the strength of scents delivered by the device.

Truth be told, I had a hard time smelling the tomato, basil and grass clippings in the demonstration. Though my brother's nose made him a successful New York City sommelier, my sniffer thinks Bayley Hazen Blue is a lot like Brie left in the fridge too long. I'd have welcomed a way to control the scent intensity, as would others who've experienced OVR Technology demos, Flego said.

"It's a lot like hearing: Different people hear different frequencies, and there are tons of factors that degrade over time," Stein noted.

But the company is determined to make its technology seamless. In the long term, "we envision that the relationship between smell and virtual reality will become as ubiquitous as sound and television," Wisniewski said.

His commitment to this goal stems in part from a cautionary concern. Culturally, we have deprioritized our sense of smell and sanitized our environment to include fewer scents, Wisniewski noted. He cited research showing that anosmia can lead to depression, anxiety and physical harm.

"If we continue down the path of being glued to screens and virtual reality, while ignoring this extremely important primal sense that has been refined over millions of years, the implications are kind of alarming," he said. "We don't have that many senses. You take away one, and I don't see it going well."

Original post:
OVR Technology Is Creating Olfactory Virtual Reality for Health Care, Education and Training - Seven Days

You may associate essential oils with aromatherapy products and fancy day spas. But did you know certain varieties of these fairly inexpensive oils may have legit benefits when it comes to relieving anxiety and stress?

According to Yufang Lin, MD, an integrative medicine specialist at the Cleveland Clinics Center for Integrative Medicine, essential oils work through inhalation or through topical application and have mind-body benefits. For inhalation, essential oils can be easily used as a room spray or via diffuser. A few drops on a pendant worn close to skin also allows for a slow release over time.

Topically, essential oils can be added to a carrier oil and used as perfume, massage oil, cream, or salves. Last but not least, adding an essential oil to your bath is a wonderful way to relax at the end of a busy day, says Dr. Lin.

The quickest way to change ones mood is through smell, thus essential oil is an excellent way to reduce anxiety and support relaxation, says Dr. Lin. However, it takes a lot of herbs to make a small amount of essential oil, which makes it a strong medicine that should be used judiciously.

While research on essential oils for mental health benefits is still expanding, there is some info to suggest that certain oils may work for things like stress relief, better sleep, and more. The thing is, though, even if one study shows that a particular scent is great for, say, reducing anxious feelings, it may not work for every single person. If you don't enjoy a scent, you probably won't feel much better after sniffing it, for instance.

The essential oils below have been shown to reduce anxiety in human studies, says Dr. Lin. Other scents are also commonly used to reduce anxiety and support relaxation, but research beyond animal studies is needed to know if they have real benefits for people.

The essential oils ahead have been shown to help people feel calmer and more relaxed, says Dr. Lin. One potential caveat is that most people have scent memory. So, for instance, if a person has a negative memory associated with a particular scent, they may not feel relaxed when they smell that scent, she explains.

Its important to keep potential side effects in mind, as they can be mild to severe. For one thing, certain essential oils (citrus in particular) can cause photosensitivitymeaning you can get a sunburn more easily after using orange essential oil on the skin, says Dr. Lin. (This is why it's a common recommendation to dilute oils before applying them topically, just to be extra cautious.)

Additionally, some essential oils are safe in small amounts but can dangerous in higher doses. Tea tree and eucalyptus essential oils are commonly used for their antimicrobial benefits, but in excess, can cause nerve and liver damage, says Dr. Lin. Some essential oils are toxic in general and should not be usedarnica, parsley, rue, and tansy are a few that fall into this category.

Finally, do not ingest essential oil without supervision from a trained herbalist, and be extra cautious using essential oils around young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and small pets because they are most at risk for toxicity and side effects, she says.

The bottom line: Research on using essential oils to ease anxiety or for stress reduction is growing, but remains limited. But if you're a healthy adult and are using essential oils safely and at the guidance of your doctor, there is little harm in testing some oils out to see which ones help you feel mentally better.

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Majestic Pure Lavender Oil

$21.50

According to a 2012 study, lavender essential oil has been shown to help treat symptoms of anxiety and depression. This might be due to how it impacts the limbic system of the brain, which controls your emotions.

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Bergamot Essential Oil

Bergamot oil, which comes from bergamot oranges and thus has an energizing citrusy scent, has been shown to improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety, according to 2015 research.

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Now Essential Orange Oil

$8.37

If youre pregnant and hoping for a Zen birth experience, a 2015 study suggested that orange essential oil may help to lower feelings of anxiety during labor.

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Plant Therapy Peppermint Organic Essential Oil

$7.95

The menthol content in peppermint oil has been shown to help relieve tension and discomfort, which can in turn help you feel more calm and relaxed.

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Frankincense Essential Oil

$8.99

Frankincense comes from the resin of the Boswellia tree. Within 2008 research, massaging a blend of this oil in combination with bergamot and lavender oils helped to relieve anxiety, depression, and pain in terminal cancer patients.

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Pure Gold Myrrh Essential Oil

Similar to lavender, myrrh essential oil (which has a woodsy scent) may help you to feel relaxed and less stressed in general.

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Majestic Pure Rose Oil

$24.50

Rose essential oil, which has similar effects to those of orange oil, has been shown to reduce anxiety during labor in pregnant women when used in a foot bath, according to 2014 research.

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Plant Therapy Marjoram Sweet Essential Oil

$9.95

Although more research is needed, sweet marjoram (also known as oregano) is believed to help relieve headaches and anxiety, as well as promote calmness.

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Eucalyptus Essential Oil

$5.79

Similar to peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil contains menthol, which has a cooling effect that may help to relieve aches and tension, which can in turn promote relaxation and reduce feelings of anxiety.

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Handcraft TeaTree Essential Oil

$14.95

Although there isnt substantial research on it, tea tree oil is believed to reduce stress and even boost immunity and ward off sickness.

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Roman Chamomile Essential Oil

Chamomile isnt just a relaxing tea that can help you sleep. The oil can also have the same calming effect if added to an aromatherapy diffuser or hot bath.

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Jasmine Essential Oil Aromatherapy

$8.22

You may already love jasmine for its uplifting floral scent, but 2013 research showed that it can also promote feelings of well-being as well as reduce sleepiness and symptoms of anxiety.

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Valerian Essential Oil

If you tend to have trouble falling asleep, valerian oil can help you feel more relaxed and calm your nerves at bedtime.

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Patchouli Essential Oil

$7.49

Although there isnt sufficient research available, patchouli oil is believed to promote calmness and relaxation if youre suffering from anxiety, depression, or stress in general. It can be added to a warm bath or diffuser in combination with lavender oil.

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NOW Foods 100% Pure Clary Sage Essential Oil

According to 2015 research, clary sage can relieve tension and help to maintain optimal levels of the stress hormone cortisol in women. This is beneficial because high cortisol levels have been shown to increase the occurrence of anxiety and depression.

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Pure Gold Holy Basil Essential Oil

Rest assured: This isnt the same basil you put in your pasta sauce. Holy basil (also known as tulsi) has a minty scent and, according to 2014 research, it may help to alleviate mental stress.

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Best Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

$13.01

If youve ever gotten a professional massage, youre likely familiar with ylang ylang and the fact that it promotes relaxation. Additionally, per 2013 research, ylang ylang can help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and promote better sleep.

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Geranium Essential Oil

Similar to rose and orange essential oils, geranium oil has been shown to reduce anxiety for pregnant women in labor, in addition to decreasing blood pressure, according to a 2015 study.

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Cliganic Organic Rosemary Essential Oil

$9.95

Another one that isnt just for cooking, rosemary essential oil has been shown to reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels, which can then, in turn, relieve anxiety, according to 2007 research.

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Art Naturals Lemongrass Essential Oil

$11.95

While research on lemongrass oil is fairly limited, a 2015 study showed that it can possibly provide a rapid response when used by people who experience anxiety and tension.

More:
The 20 Best Essential Oils For Anxiety And Stress, Per Research - Women's Health

If you think daily exercise and a healthy diet were the key to a long life, think again.

Scientists say that the secret to living more than 100 years comes down to a hardy immune system, thanks to an abundance of a particular infection-fighting white blood cell.

In a study coordinated by scientists at Japans RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) and Keio University School of Medicine, researchers discovered that supercentenarians those aged over 110 years have an excess of cytotoxic CD4 T-cells.

These super immune system cells, according to the study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), are more aggressive and known to kill any damaged cell that crosses its path, such as virus-infected or cancer cells.

We believe that this type of cells, which are relatively uncommon in most individuals, even young, are useful for fighting against established tumors, and could be important for immunosurveillance, said Piero Carninci, deputy director of RIKEN, in a statement. This is exciting as it has given us new insights into how people who live very long lives are able to protect themselves from conditions such as infections and cancer.

Scientists noticed that most of Japans supercentenarians had managed to dodge illness most of their lives, leading them to believe their advanced age might have something to do with their extraordinary immune systems.

To find out, they pulled a total of 41,208 immune cell samples from seven supercentenarians, and 19,994 cells from younger individuals ages 50 to 89. They found that while both groups had about the same number of T-cells altogether, the supercentenarians had an excess of the unique cytotoxic CD4 T-cells.

This finding might help explain why so many centenarians will say that drinking booze regularly didnt stop them from reaching 100. Others, though, credit a life without the stress of marriage or children as helping them to outlast their peers.

Amparo Perez, 105, told The Post she doesnt regret never remarrying when her first husband died. No aggravation, she said, [is] the most important thing, not to have aggravation.

Caroline Binns, 101, would agree that husbands were only trouble. She told The Post last year, Id rather be left in peace, not in pieces.

Her friend, 101-year-old Lucille Watson, said dancing and cheesecake inspires her to get out of bed every morning: Lifes pleasures are meant to be enjoyed.

More here:
110-year-olds live so long thanks to 'super' immune systems: study - New York Post

Chicago, IL, Nov. 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Keith Nemec the clinic director ofTotal Health Institute in Chicago has received yet another fellowship in his advanced research. Most recently Dr. Nemec received his fellowship in Stem Cell Therapy to add to his other fellowships in Regenerative Medicine and Integrative Cancer Therapies.

Dr. Nemec has overseen patient care for the last thirty-five years at Total Health Institute which is an alternative and integrative medical facility. Total Health Institute has seen over 10,000 patients who have traveled from around the world to seek Dr. Nemecs guidance in their healing journey.

Total Health Institute uses unique approach developed by Dr. Nemec called theSystems Sequence Approach to balance cellular communication between the cells, tissues, organs, glands and systems of the body. Dr. Nemec explains It is like knowing the combination to open the lock to complete healing. To open this lock, you must not only know the right systems to balance but also in the right sequence.

Dr. Keith Nemec is very excited about the research in stem cells and stem cell therapy that is why he focused his concentration in this area. According to Dr. Nemec All health and healing starts at the stem cell level. Whether a person has cancer, autoimmune disease or chronic diseases of aging they are all involving stem cells. In cancer, an inflammatory environment has mutated a normal stem cell into a cancer stem cell which is not killed with either chemotherapy nor radiation. This is why many times with conventional cancer treatment alone one tends to see improvements for a season but then return the cancer stem cell retaliates with a vengeance. Dr. Nemec also states Since all cells come from a base stem cell then the answer to all chronic disease can be found in activating the stem cells to produce an anti-inflammatory niche and continual healthy cell renewal.

Dr. Nemec is a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine which is the largest and most prestigious group of Regenerative and Anti-Aging Medicine doctors in the world. He received his masters degree in Nutritional Medicine from Morsani College of Medicine. He has also published 5 books including: The Perfect Diet, The Environment of Health and Disease, Seven Basic Steps to Total Health and Total Health = Wholeness. Dr. Nemec has also published numerous health articles including: The Single Unifying Cause of All Disease and The answer to cancer is found in the stem cell and for 18 years he hosted the radio show Your Total Health in Chicago AM1160.

Total Health Institute boasts all 5 starreviews on RateMDs, an A+ rating onBBBand is top rated on Manta.

Original post:
Leading Alternative Healing Director of Total Health Institute Reviews and Receives 3rd Fellowship in Stem Cell Therapy - GlobeNewswire

The Veterans Administration has traditionally been an incubator for innovations that improve quality of life not only for veterans but also for civilian populations around the worldideas like bar-coding machines, or the discovery that daily aspirin cuts the rate of heart attacks for certain patient populations. For many years and in a range of capacities, Penns School of Nursing has been a close VA collaborator.

In 2011,for example, in addition to her role at Penn, palliative care professor Mary Ersek became director of the Veteran Experience Center, a national quality-improvement initiative housed at Philadelphias Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center. Rosemary Polomano, Penn Nursings associate dean for practice and a professor of pain practice, helped change the standard pain scale employed by the VA.

There are many examples of this partnership, with innovative solutions aimed at the largest integrated health system in the U.S. and the top employer of nurse practitioners, according to the Veterans Health Administration. Along the way, the VA has also built systems for tracking outcomes, leading to a treasure trove of data.

Its a great time for evidence-based research and training, saysCoy Smith, associate director of patient care services and nurse executive at the Philadelphia VA, as well as assistant dean for clinical practice at Penn Nursing. A lot of this work is transferrable to non-VA patients.

Here, a look at the work made possible because of the Veterans Health Administration-Penn Nursing collaboration.

Evidence-based health care practices are interventions based on the best, latest scientific findings. Penn sleep and health behavior researcher Amy Sawyer is currently leading 15 evidence-based quality improvement projects at the Philadelphia VA, on subjects like preventing injury in surgical patients and secondary traumatic stress in health care providers.

Change, no matter how you look at it, is hard, Sawyer says. Its hard to accept, and its hard to convey to others that change needs to happen. But implementing it can have real results, like with a recent occupational health project that involved switching the type of tuberculosis testing the VA used for incoming employees.

Unlike the standard test, called purified protein derivative or PPD, a newer test called T-SPOT.TB does not require a follow-up visit after 48 to 72 hours. During a PPD shortage two years ago, VA clinicians put in place the T-SPOT.TB procedure and followed it for a year. The program has since rolled out across the entire VA system, leading to a 29% increase in employee compliance, a 40% drop in costs, and a 50% reduction in time to clear new hires.

We used to think of quality improvement and research as separate, Ersek says. But over the years weve gotten more sophisticated. We use research methods. We sort of mimic, statistically, a randomized control trial.

To that end, Ersek and her team use the Bereaved Family Survey (BFS) in their VA work. The BFS, developed through a VA-funded research project and now used throughout the system, asks respondents to evaluate quality of care at the end of life. Its mailed to the next of kin of every veteran who dies at a VA facility or in one of several VA home-based primary care programs. Facility-level scores are calculated quarterly and sent to each facility. The Veteran Experience Center also works directly with care teams to help them interpret their scores and develop strategies to improve care and outcomes.

For example, we might identify chronically low scores on an overall item, as well as those related to communication for a specific facility, Ersek says. Training in family conferences might then follow. We continue to monitor their BFS scores during and following the training to see whether it had an impact on outcomes, she adds.

The survey is a unique way to keep a pulse on the quality of care at the VA for veterans and families, saysAnn Kutney-Lee, an adjunct associate professor of nursing who studies the effects of nursing care organizations on patient outcomes. We ask about communication with providers, whether their preferences were met for treatment, she says. We ask about emotional and spiritual support. Did they get the amount of support they wanted? Did they see a chaplain if they wanted one?

Veteran demographics are shifting from those who served in World War II and the Korean War to those who served in Vietnam. This has implications for end-of-life care, as veterans from the Vietnam era are more likely to have been exposed to dangerous combat situations, says Kutney-Lee. Many veterans were fighting in jungles and mountains; there were hidden explosives planted, all with a near-constant threat of being ambushed, she says. The nature of the direct combat situations was very different.

The way society welcomed them home was different, too. World War II vets were hailed as heroes, enjoying national support. Vietnam vets experienced the opposite, says Kutney-Lee. Things were thrown at them when they got off the planes. Today, they are less willing to talk about their experiences, something that can resurface, emotionally, at the end of life.

Its something Kutney-Lee and colleagues are trying to understand to better prepare health care providers to treat these vets. They are seeing higher rates of anxiety and post-traumatic stress, as well as more chronic illnesses that correlate with chemicals such as 2,4,5-T, an ingredient in the herbicide Agent Orange, to which many soldiers in Vietnam were exposed. In an effort to be proactive, the VAs Hospice and Palliative Care Program Office and the Veteran Experience Center are using the BFS and other data to create educational programs aimed at helping providers meet this groups unique end-of-life needs. We want the vets and their families experience to be as peaceful as possible, Kutney-Lee says.

She is involved in another project with Ersek andMargo Brooks Carthon, another Penn Nursing researcher, to study racial and ethnic disparities in quality end-of-life care for vets. Some of their work has found that the next of kin of African American vets were 50% less likely than other groups to report that their loved ones received excellent care at the end of life. The researchers want to know why.

One clue: Members of racial and ethnic minorities tend to be more sensitive to changes in nurse-staffing levels. The researchers hypothesize that in facilities where staffing is better, nurses are better positioned to meet the complex care needs of patients, which may also apply at the end of life. They have the resources they need and the time to spend with their patients, says Kutney-Lee.

Pain management entails a complex matrix of mind and body, which makes having a standard scale on which to measure pain crucial.

Penn Nursings Rosemary Polomano specializes in managing acute pain following combat-related injuries. After learning that clinicians in 28 facilities who used the standard numeric pain rating scale (0-10) found it inadequate to help patients and health care providers communicate about pain-intensity levels, Polomano collaborated with leaders from the Defense and Veterans Center for Integrative Pain Management and others to develop the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS).

The scale integrates word anchors (from no pain to as bad as it could be, nothing else matters) with color-coding and facial expressions to help patients rate their pain.

According to Polomano, DVPRS is now the official military pain scale, with the goal of being used in all Department of Defense health care facilities. Other health systems are free to use it too, Polomano says. It is in the public domain.

Polomano also teachesPain Science and Practice, a class open to students from Penn Nursing, Penn Dental, and Penns Perelman School of Medicine. This year, in partnership with the Uniformed Services University Graduate School of Nursing in Bethesda, Maryland, 30 active-duty military personnel from their nurse anesthesia program attended the class.

Nurses work at the heart of the changes in veterans care and, therefore, help to shape the future of American health care. Much of the VAs innovative models of care delivery are due to the leadership and contributions of VA nurses, says David Shulkin, a Distinguished Health Policy Fellow at Penns Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics and a former secretary of veterans affairs. Its often their affiliation with leading academic centers like Penn that help to ensure the VA remains at the forefront of these innovations.

Ive often felt that the VA is the best place for advanced practice nurses, saysPatricia DAntonio, the Carol E. Ware Professor in Mental Health Nursing and director of the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing. One of the best jobs she says she ever had was working with VA nurses to identify and help patients with compelling emotional or psychological needs. One patient, an outgoing, lovable former boxer, would sometimes lash out and punch someone when he got upset. The VA nurses developed a plan to appoint him an unofficial nursing assistant. He followed a nurse around, carried water, etc. He had a job to do, says DAntonio. With a new sense of purpose, he could control his anger. No more punching.

Ersek was similarly drawn to the VAs work. Being involved in the military, thats a big honor. Our mission as care providers is not about prestige, she says. We get to use rigorous research methods, but I like that we stop and say its not just an academic exercise; its about using these advanced analytic methods to improve care for veterans.

That sense of purpose goes a long way. I havent practiced clinically at the VA since 1992, says DAntonio, but I still describe myself as a VA nurse. Its part of my identity. Thats true for many among the ranks of Penn Nursing faculty, who work hand in hand with the nations largest integrated care system treating a unique patient population thats changing every day.

A longer version of this feature, by Louis Greenstein, originally ran in the Spring 2019 issue of the Penn Nursing Magazine.

See the original post:
Working hand in hand with the nation's largest integrated care system - Penn: Office of University Communications

Integrative Medicine Research (IMR) is the official journal of the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. The journal is a quarterly, peer-reviewed, subsidized open access journal focused on evidence-based scientific research in integrative medicine, and traditional and complementary medicine, consisting...

Integrative Medicine Research (IMR) is the official journal of the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. The journal is a quarterly, peer-reviewed, subsidized open access journal focused on evidence-based scientific research in integrative medicine, and traditional and complementary medicine, consisting of nonpharmacological interventions and practices as well as herbal medicines. The journal aims to provide new research perspectives on holistic integrative health, innovative health preservation approaches and convergence for clinical practice and biomedical sciences.

IMR aims to publish high-quality papers that are of interest to an international readership including researchers, clinical practitioners, administrators and others concerned with clinical best practice, research methodology, and education and policy development in integrative medicine. The current focus of the journal is globally diversified and IMR welcomes papers of international research collaborations and papers from all over the world.

IMR publishes articles of applied research and clinical research, including randomized controlled trials, intervention studies, cohort studies, observational studies, diagnostic test accuracy and reliability studies, qualitative and mixed method studies, animal studies, systematic reviews and narrative reviews. The types of publications considered are editorials, review articles, original research articles, case reports, letters to the editor, commentaries, study protocols, and short communications relating to integrative medicine.

More:
Integrative Medicine Research - Journal - Elsevier

This chart is a list of the most common health insurance plans we accept. This list is subject to change. Please check your individual plan to confirm their participation and the coverage allowed.

Due to the different physician groups and hospitals within the Wake Forest Baptist system, physician services and hospital services are billed separately. Please remember that health insurance coverage varies, so some services may not be covered.

If you dont see your plan or you have questions, please call our Customer Service Center at 877-938-7497. We will do our best to work with you and your plan.

WFUHS - Wake Forest University Health Sciences (physician services)NCBH - North Carolina Baptist HospitalDavie - Davie Medical CenterLMC - Lexington Medical CenterCHC - Cornerstone HealthcareWilkes - Wilkes Regional Medical CenterN/A - Not applicable to services provided at facilityand/pr CHCNC - Not contracted, very low to no volume for facility and/or CHC

CIGNA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (limited providers)

Read the original:
Integrative Medicine - Highland Oaks | Wake Forest Baptist ...

Welcome to the online presence of Healing Path Integrative Medicine -- the medical practice of Anne Walch, MHS, PA-C.

Healing Path Integrative Medicine (HPIM) is here to partner with you in optimizing your health, whether your needs are anti-aging and health optimization, or unraveling a chronic mystery illness.

Whatever your health concerns are, we will use the same approach and principles that we call integrative medicine:

Prospective patients find their way to me when they are ready for change and want to find answers. Some of you have been on your own healing paths for many years, and are very self-directed in your health-care but are looking for additional input by a medical professional.

Others may have run into dead ends with traditional medicine and know that something important has been missed so are stepping out of the conventional medical model, perhaps for the first time.

However you have arrived here, I consider it a privilege and an honor to walk some steps of your healing path with you in your search for health solutions.

Anne Walch, MHS, PA-C

Here is the original post:
Welcome | Healing Path Integrative Medicine, PLLC

The University of Michigan is committed to the thoughtful and compassionate integrationof complementary therapies and conventional medicine through the activities of research, education, clinical services and community partnerships.

We offer our patients the following services:

We provide primary care services for the whole family with a focus on integratingcomplementary and alternative therapies into medical care.,. An integrative medicine plan is created that suits each individual's unique needs, offering specific recommendations for mind, body, spirit and emotion that optimize health. Integrative therapies such as holistic nutrition, relaxation techniques, acupuncture, massage, herbs and supplements are blended with the best of medical science and technology.

Integrative medicine is the art and science that addresses the whole person and uses both conventional and complementary therapies to prevent and treat disease, but most importantly to promote optimal health. Integrative physicians work together to transform health care to integrate all aspects of well-being, including physical, environmental, mental, emotional, spiritual and social health, thereby contributing to the healing of ourselves and of our planet.

For more information about other aspects of our program including research and educational offerings please see our website .

Integrative Family Medicine accepts all insurance plans that participate with the University of Michigan Health System.

To find out if your insurance plan participates, call UMHS at 1-855-855-0863

To make an appointment, please call 734-647-5640

If you an appointment for a consultation please download and complete a copy of our intake form here: Integrative Medicine First Visit Consultation Form

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Integrative Family Medicine | Michigan Medicine

SAVE THE DATE!

Section of Integrative Medicine and Health is pleased to announce Updates in Integrative Medicine and Health2019 planning is underway! Please select 'Sign up for alerts" on the right side to be notified when registration opens.

COURSE DESCRIPTON

The explosive growth of Integrative Medicine has brought both opportunities and challenges to patients and consumers. Patients are confronted with a bewildering and growing array of promises and claims. This presents a unique challenge to physicians and other health care professionals tasked with helping their patients make informed health care decisions. Researchers and clinicians from Mayo Clinic offer this course to provide learners with a general working knowledge of Integrative Medicine; familiarity with some of the most common therapies; and most importantly, practical application of these therapies to patients with relevant diseases and conditions.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

This course is designed for practicing physicians, residents, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and other members of the health care team who work with patients using or interested in using integrative medicine therapies.

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Updates in Integrative Medicine and Health 2019 | Integrative ...

Welcome to the practice of Dr. Stephen Cruikshank, MD. Dr. Cruikshank is a trusted provider of alternative medicine, integrative medicine, integrative cancer therapies and natural medicine to the Charlotte, NC and Mooresville, NC area.

Our holistic methods are designed to improve your quality of life, starting with the four cornerstones of health: supplements, hormone optimization, nutrition and lifestyle, and skin care.

Our Process & Treatments

We empower you to achieve optimal health as you experience the natural process of aging. Using well established therapeutic methods and rock-solid science, we evaluate you, individually, and provide appropriate interventions in order to help you become your healthiest self.

Living at Your Optimal Health

You can experience increased energy, less body fat, more muscle mass, a stronger immune system, an improved libido, sharper thinking, improved cholesterol scores, and lower stress levels.

You get answers to your ongoing health concerns, comprehensive evaluations, and analyses that reveal your entire health situation so you can make the best decisions for yourself.

Customized Health Programs

We provide a program that is based on your evaluations, your progress, and your goals. This proactive program can include hormone optimization, nutraceuticals, exercise, and low-glycemic nutrition.

Ongoing Care

After your initial evaluation and design of a personal healthcare program, we continue to support you with consultations to keep your health at an ongoing optimal level.

Our Four Cornerstones

Our process starts with the Advanced Interactive Evaluation (AIE). Much more than a conventional medical screening, the AIE is an evaluation that provides information about which of the 4 Cornerstones of our program are needed to help you reach optimal health.

Nutraceuticals & Supplements

These pharmaceutical-grade nutraceuticals help even the healthiest of diets. They are physician designed for increased potency and bioavailability and lack allergens or fillers. Examples include intravenous nutrition and chelation therapy.

Hormone Optimization

We evaluate which of your hormone levels have declined and bring those back to optimal levels. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) and Pellet Therapy are available.

Nutrition & Lifestyle

Throughout our program, we monitor you to help you to achieve better eating and exercise habits that increase your metabolism, lower your cholesterol, improve your sugar levels, etc.

Aesthetic Regimens

These treatments consist of various injections for healthy skin care: Botox, fillers, and other age management modalities and creams.

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About Us - Integrative and Functional Medicine

Integrative medicine is beneficial for people who want to maintain good health, as well as those who are looking to improve their current health. Evidence-based studies have shown that integrative medicine therapies reduce pain and anxiety, enhance healing, speed recovery, and promote feelings of peace and relaxation.

The Chambers Center for Well Being offers more than 20 different healing treatments, including holistic health assessments, nutritional assessments and counseling, lifestyle coaching, acupuncture and massage. Our experts can help you address current health concerns or work with you to prevent health issues such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, weight issues, stress and more.

Our outpatient services are available at two New Jersey locations, including Summit and Morristown, and one physician practice in Morristown.

See all videos about our outpatient services >

Atlantic Health System Integrative Medicine offers free bedside services throughout our hospitals, including therapeutic massage for new moms, acupressure, reflexology, aromatherapy, relaxation techniques and guided imagery. These services are for maternity, cardiac, orthopedic, pediatric, ICU, emergency room and all other patients throughout our hospitals.

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Integrative Medicine & Wellness Center - Morristown NJ

All SpecialtiesAddiction MedicineAdolescent MedicineAllergy & ImmunologyAnatomic PathologyAnesthesiologyAnesthesiology / PediatricBariatric SurgeryBreast SpecialistCardiac / Robotic SurgeryCardio-OncologyCardiologyCardiology / ElectrophysiologyCardiology / InterventionalCardiology / NuclearColorectal / Robotic SurgeryCritical Care MedicineCyberKnifeDentistry-GeneralDermatologyEar, Nose & Throat/OtolaryngologyElectrodiagnostic MedicineEmergency MedicineEmergency Medicine / PediatricEndocrinology / DiabetesEndodonticsExecutive HealthFamily DentistryFamily MedicineGastroenterologyGeneticsGeriatric MedicineGyn-OncologyGynecologyGynecology / Robotic SurgeryGynecology-Oncology / Robotic SurgeryHead and Neck / Robotic SurgeryHematologyHepatologyHomeopathic MedicineHospitalistHyperbaric MedicineHypertrophic CardiomyopathyInfectious DiseaseInfertilityIntegrative MedicineInternal MedicineInternal Medicine / Sports MedicineInterventional RadiologyMaternal-Fetal MedicineMedical AcupunctureMidwivesMovement DisordersMusculoskeletal RadiologyNeonatologyNephrologyNeuro / Endovascular SurgeryNeuro / SpineNeuro-OncologyNeuro-RadiologyNeurologyNeuropathologyNeuropsychologyNuclear MedicineNutritionOB / GYNOculoplastic SurgeryOncologyOncology / UrologicOphthalmologyOral & MaxillofacialOrthodonticsOrthopedics / Foot, Ankle, and Lower ExtremityOrthopedics / GeneralOrthopedics / Hand and Upper ExtremityOrthopedics / PediatricOrthopedics / SpineOrthopedics / Sports MedicineOrthopedics / Total Joint ReplacementOrthopedics / Trauma and Fracture CarePain ManagementPalliative CarePathologyPediatric / Allergy & ImmunologyPediatric / CardiologyPediatric / Critical CarePediatric / DentistryPediatric / Development & BehaviorPediatric / Emergency MedicinePediatric / EndocrinologyPediatric / GastroenterologyPediatric / Hematology & OncologyPediatric / HospitalistPediatric / Infectious DiseasePediatric / NephrologyPediatric / Neurodevelopmental DisordersPediatric / NeurologyPediatric / NeurosurgeryPediatric / OphthalmologyPediatric / OrthopedicsPediatric / Palliative CarePediatric / PsychiatryPediatric / PulmonaryPediatric / RheumatologyPediatric / Sleep MedicinePediatric / SurgeryPediatric / UrologyPediatricsPeriodonticsPhysical Medicine and RehabilitationPodiatryProctologyProsthodonticsPsychiatryPsychiatry / AddictionsPsychiatry / Child and AdolescentPsychiatry / ForensicsPsychiatry / Psychosomatic MedicinePsychologyPsychopharmacologyPulmonary MedicineRadiation OncologyRadiologyRadiology / MusculoskeletalReproductive EndocrinologyRetina-VitreousRheumatologySleep MedicineSports MedicineSurgery / BreastSurgery / CardiacSurgery / CardiothoracicSurgery / Colon & RectalSurgery / DermatologicSurgery / FacialSurgery / GeneralSurgery / HandSurgery / LaparoscopicSurgery / Liver / LaparoscopicSurgery / LungSurgery / NeckSurgery / NeurologicalSurgery / OncologySurgery / PlasticSurgery / PodiatricSurgery / ReconstructiveSurgery / Reconstructive PelvicSurgery / Robotic (General)Surgery / SpineSurgery / ThoracicSurgery / VascularTrauma / Surgical Critical CareUrgent Care MedicineUrogynecologyUrogynecology / Robotic SurgeryUrologyUrology / Robotic SurgeryVascular MedicineWound Care

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Integrative Medicine - Atlantic Health

She wielded a kitchen knife, not a scalpel, but Serena Silberman was doing her part Saturday to heal the human body, one chop of parsley, peach and pomegranate at a time.

Food can be medicine, said Silberman, an instructor at the University of California San Diego Integrative Medicine Natural Healing Cooking Program, as she prepped a meal for more than 200 people at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine in La Jolla.

Her feast was to commemorate the debut of UC San Diegos Centers for Integrative Health, an initiative throughout the university and health network to unify current research, education and clinical programs ranging from nutrition and acupuncture to meditation and yoga.

Saturdays all-day conference rang in the new collaborative health effort at UC San Diego by discussing how western science can be better wedded to traditional folk cures and alternative medicine to offer better outcomes for patients.

Charlie Neuman/U-T

At the Sanford Consortium, UC San Diego on Saturday launched the new Centers for Integrative Health. At the beginning of the event attendees participate in meditation.

At the Sanford Consortium, UC San Diego on Saturday launched the new Centers for Integrative Health. At the beginning of the event attendees participate in meditation. (Charlie Neuman/U-T)

To Silberman, that means parsley. Rich in antioxidants, the green leaves naturally contain the anti-inflammatory luteolin; Vitamin A to boost the white blood cells that attack infection; and folate, which can help protect patients from heart attack, stroke and hardened arteries.

And then theres her generous dusting of turmeric, the orange-colored herb from the ginger family that doubles as a curry spice and dye. Researchers are studying whether it might heal heart disease and diabetes with very few side effects.

Indian cooks have only been doing it for 5,000 years, so they might know something, said Silberman, punctuating her point with the chop-chop-chop of peaches.

None of this is new to UC San Diego. The Center for Integrative Medicine, for example, was established seven years ago and now treats more than 10,000 patients annually, but organizers hope future consultations will seamlessly involve the Centers for Mindfulness, Integrative Research, Integrative Nutrition and Integrative Education into a one-stop experience.

That means 26 practitioners in 10 clinics within eight departments throughout the health system will be integrated.

Dr. Dan Slater, a physician and UC San Diego professor of family medicine and public health, presented to a packed Sanford Consortium audience a case study he thinks might guide future patient care.

Charlie Neuman/U-T

Attendees to the launch of UC San Diego's Centers for Integrative Health get acupuncture and massages while listening to therapeutic harp music by Carolyn Worster.

Attendees to the launch of UC San Diego's Centers for Integrative Health get acupuncture and massages while listening to therapeutic harp music by Carolyn Worster. (Charlie Neuman/U-T)

A 61-year-old woman was suffering from symptoms suggesting ulcerative colitis, a painful inflammatory bowel disease. The wait had grown to six months in her small town for a colonoscopy that peeked at the lining of her intestine and took a sample of the tissue, a procedure Slater noted was not cheap and was not necessarily convenient.

So he and his team of integrative health specialists prescribed a diet high in fiber, fruits and vegetables and low in fats and sweets. A little more turmeric and a few dollops of probiotics good bacteria to boost the digestive system and within three months she was feeling better. By the time her colonoscopy rolled around, her condition was either in remission or cured.

To Slater, that highlights what the Centers for Integrative Health might do best researching many pathways to a cure but letting the body do most of the work by exploring everything from aromatherapy to zen.

cprine@sduniontribune.com

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Top UCSD researchers pitch yoga, massage and integrative ... - The San Diego Union-Tribune