An Integrative Approach to Epilepsy

A seizure is an episode of change in neurologic function caused by dysfunctioning electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy is an umbrella term for sudden, recurrent, and episodic seizures which are grouped into several categories based on associated symptoms. Approximately 10% of the population will have a seizure in their lifetime and a little over 50% of patients diagnosed with a new seizure will enter remission with conventional treatment. 

Frequently Asked Questions for Dr. Ronald Stram & Dr. Korey DiRoma:  How does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and IV Therapy Support Your Health?

We sat down with our medical founder, Dr. Ronald Stram, and our Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Korey DiRoma, to discuss the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and IV therapy at the center. Dr. Stram and Dr. DiRoma have over 15 years of experience with working together to support hundreds of patients struggling with chronic illnesses all across the globe. 

We first asked, "can you explain how HBOT can help patients who are living with post-COVID-19, or long haulers syndrome?”

The Benefits of Teletherapy

As difficult and chaotic the past year has been, one silver lining has been the increase in accessibility to mental health services. Psychologists all around the world report an increase in demand for treating trauma, anxiety, and PTSD since 2020.  Mental health care should be convenient for individuals, and teletherapy has the potential to improve the comfort level in clients, as they have the ability to engage in one of the most challenging and rewarding relationships from the comfort of their own home.

What is the Craze with Cupping Therapy? And How Does it Work?

Many people think that acupuncturists only provide acupuncture.  But in fact, the practice of Chinese medicine includes 5 modalities which are acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, body work (including tuina and shiatsu massage,) nutrition, and Qigong meditation.  In some states acupuncturists are considered primary care physicians.  In addition to these practices, acupuncturists also use moxibustion which is heat therapy consisting of safely burning the plant mugwort in different dried forms on or above the skin, gua sha which is a smooth scraping technique for pain, and cupping.  I’ll share more about cupping here and if you’d like to try it, it can be added on to your treatment....

A Tool to Rejuvenation: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

In our older years, staying healthy includes engaging in meaningful activities that allow us to age without a sense of regret.  They have to be worthwhile, balanced between innate capabilities and direct challenges, have appropriate external support, and produce a positive, purposeful outcome. By reframing aging in terms of your behaviors and attitudes, rather than systemic and consistent health declines, you can encourage the growth of your spirit. In combination with your meaningful efforts to improve your life purpose,  using food as medicine, movement to maintain strength and balance, and mental health counseling and social engagement to improve your psychosocial wellbeing, you can age gracefully by living life to its fullest

Confronting Ageism

As an individual naturally progresses through life, resilience is tested as acts of discrimination and prejudice against a person on the bases of age increases. Much research has concluded that negative stereotypes about older people are a direct threat to cognitive abilities in later life. Through the world of separating people into groups of high and low risk solely on the bases of age, there is further divide. Promoting healthy aging for older adults during the world of COVID-19 can include minimal contact with loved ones, and the overwhelming sense of anxiety that your life path could abruptly end without the proper goodbyes to those you love. We are aging in a new world now, and it is important to be mindful of the challenges you could experience...

Good Mood Food

While mental health is a combination of many things, food has a huge influence on our brain chemistry. This is partly due to the mighty gut-brain connection, also called the “gut-brain axis” or GBA. This bidirectional communication flows between the central nervous system (or CNS, our brains) and the enteric nervous system (or ENS, our nervous system). The gut is now referred to as the “second brain” because of its role in everything from digestion to mood, even the way we think.

The Role of the Kidneys in Aging

According to TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) each organ has an anatomical role in the body and a functional aspect related to one’s mental health. When we consider natural aging in TCM theory the kidneys are the organs that are most closely related to the aging process. The kidneys are related to the emotion fear, the bones, bone marrow, ears (hearing aspect), the winter season, the water element and the flavor salty. The kidneys are the storehouse of prenatal and post natal Jing (essence). Jing corresponds to genetics, such as traits passed down through generations, our DNA; while postnatal Jing relates to our lifestyle: diet, sleep, exercise, environment factors and mindset. Postnatal Jing includes the characteristics of our kidney essence that we have the ability to change and influence.

COVID-19 Long haulers Syndrome: Treatment, Symptoms and the Relation to Chronic Lyme Disease.

 Researchers estimate about 10% of COVID-19 patients become long haulers (long COVID), according to a recent article from The Journal of the American Medical Association, and research presented by scientists based in the United Kingdom. Whether you are older or younger, healthy or battling other health conditions, or if you had mild or severe COVID-19 symptoms, these conditions could affect anyone. The term “long hauler” is broadly used to characterize individuals whose symptoms persist or develop outside the initial viral infection; the duration and pathogenesis are still unknown, however there are theories. King’s College researchers reviewed their data from the COVID Symptom Study and identified patterns that suggested long-term COVID symptoms were twice as common in women than in men and the median age was 45. 

Alzheimer’s Disease and Sugar—Is There a Connection?

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million people in the US are living with Alzheimer’s Disease. This number is expected to reach 13 million by 2050. 33% of seniors die from Alzheimer’s or dementia which is more than deaths from breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. There is no exact known cause for Alzheimer’s, but genetics do increase risk as well as other environmental and lifestyle factors.