Ask the Doctor: Xanax Vs. Natural Alternatives

Q: I’ve been thinking about Xanax for anxiety, are there natural options?

A: Anxiety is a global issue in the cancer community. Not just for patients but for caregivers as well. And understandably so.

As natural medicine doctors, we look at problems holistically. This means we are looking at the root not the symptoms.

Anxiety is a SYMPTOM. And it works on two levels: the mind and the body.

On the mental end, anxiety is the product of thinking about the Past or the Future.

Mindfulness techniques are to keep our minds from ruminating about the past or projecting into the future. In other words, techniques to train our minds to stay present in the moment we are in, and then as that moment passes, to stay present in the next moment we are in, and so on.

It gets easier with practice.

There are spiritual disciplines that focus ONLY on mindfulness, every moment of every day for that disciple’s entire life!

It’s not worth taking drugs or supplements for anxiety without looking at mindfulness first. Respond to us with your favorite resources. Here are some of ours:

—Mindfulness Meditations; websites: SimpleHabit.com; Mindful.org; Headspace.org
—Create a place for meditation, reflection, and prayer, perhaps using an altar, a shawl, a blanket, a mat, incense, crystals, a tasbih or rosary
—Use musical tracks that help you to create this level of presence: Album: Mother Divine; Youtube: Biaural beats; Healthjourneys.com
—Exercise for 30 minutes daily and try to do it (safely), to the point of being breathless
—Yoga: Hatha, Heated, Yin

On the body level, we have 12 big cranial nerves that run from the brain through the body and manage all executive function.

The 10th is called the vagus nerve. It manages the heart, lungs, stomach, small and large intestine, and rectum. It also manages anxiety. This is why anxiety causes an upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation, breathlessness, hiccups, and chest pain.

It’s also why stomach issues, heart problems, and respiratory issues cause anxiety.

It’s important to work on bowel, heart, and lung function, AND we can redirect nerve stimuli from the anxiety pathway by doing things like focusing on Breathing.

In fact, a review of all the clinical data conclusively shows that a twice-daily, 10-minute practice of mindfulness meditation, breath work, and yoga reduces anxiety.

Breathwork can be something as simple as square breathing.
1. Inhale through the nose for a count of 6
2. Hold for a count of 6
3. Exhale through the mouth for a count of 6
4. Hold for a count of 6

After trying these approaches, if we aren’t seeing anxiety completely remit, it’s a good idea to add in natural therapies. Natural medicine doctors follow a therapeutic order with prescription from least invasive/impactful towards most, so often, unless anxiety is acute, we will start here.

The great thing about natural therapies for anxiety is that they are gentle, rarely interact with any other medications and supplements, and have little to no side effects. All of the therapies listed below are available through BewellwithAIM.com. Please remember, natural therapies are not necessarily safe over the counter. They can be contaminated, have source issues, can be contraindicated with a lot of medications, or can even contain carcinogens. If they are safe to get over the counter, or from alternative brands, then I will place a little “s” next to them for “safe to purchase” over the counter.

—Lavender (as an essential oil, capsule, or tea)
—Theanine (as a gummy, capsule, or tablet) (s)
—GABA (as a capsule)
—Passionflower (as a tea) (s)
—Hops (as a tea) (s)
—CBD (as a capsule, tincture, capsule)
—Chamomile (tea) (s)
—Skullcap (capsule)
—Ashwagandha (capsule, tea)
—Magnolia (capsule)
—Magnesium Glycinate (as a powder, capsule, liquid) (s)
—Melatonin (LOW DOSE only, capsule, gummy) (s)
—Lemon Balm (tea, tincture)

It’s not always so simple as just taking one of these things over the counter. We use combinations based on a holistic, individualized approach. As examples:

—If a patient is tired and wired, we may use a formula like Calm Restore from Gaia for 6 months to correct adrenal issues
—If the anxiety is manifests as difficulty sleeping, a lack of energy, cognitive fog and weepiness, we may use a combination called R.E.M. from Priority One.
—If a patient is waking up between 2 and 4 am, crashes in the afternoon, and is feeling burnt out or exhausted, we may try Cortisol Manager from Integrative Therapeutics.
—For sleep initiation, we may combine a formula with 100-400 mg of L-theanine and Lavender essential oil or Chamomile Tea.

Xanax, starting with a 0.25 mg dose, can be quick and effective for anxiety that comes on suddenly and based on a new situation. As in, “I’m having surgery the next day and can’t stop my mind from running.” It’s also a good conversation to begin with a psychiatrist or internist.

But Xanax is not a great drug to take for chronic anxiety (feelings that persist for more than 2 weeks), because we can become dependent, what looks like anxiety may be something else, and most IMPORTANTLY, if we START with Xanax, we don’t learn what mindfulness has the opportunity to teach us:

We only really have this moment.

It may be a surprising thing to realize, but this simple statement is perhaps, the only absolute truth that exists. 

If we can get current with this moment, and experience it, fully, we can face life in a far more meaningful way than we can imagine. 

Regretting the past and obsessing about the future, means we don’t live at all.

Go to BewellwithAIM to purchase supplements for anxiety but make sure to talk to Jessica (covered by your insurance) about mindfulness training and talk to Dr. Roy or Dr. March for personalized, individual strategies to manage anxiety.

Have a question for the doctor? Email us at Dr.Roy@aimnatural.com. We will publish the answer on Facebook, and our website.

Chadwick Boseman

I know sometimes for our patients, hearing about a high profile person like, Chadwick Boseman, pass from cancer, can be both painful and scary. It reminds us of how perilous the road is ahead.

I want to both acknowledge and reassure. It’s okay to be scared and also EVERY individual has a unique and distinct set of circumstances. His circumstances are NOT yours.

I know for many, Mr. Boseman was a hero and an earthly king, and it seems this was a fight he "should" have won. But in many ways he did. And regardless of how things appear, cancer behaves very differently in one individual than it does in another.

I ask that our patients acknowledge their personal fear and also their sadness. Let yourself feel it. Close your eyes and find where it shows up in your body and then breathe peace and intention to that spot, roll your shoulders, open your mouth, and stick out your tongue. Breathe again.

Remember, regardless of how many days God gives us, we only have this moment right now. If there is any lesson here, it is live. The road only SEEMS perilous because we don’t know what lies ahead. So. Live! Live! In this moment. Never for tomorrow.

With love,
Dr. Roy

Ask the Doctor: Curcumin Vs. Turmeric

In our inaugural newsletter, we are including a section called: Ask the Doctor. Send us emails with your questions at dr.roy@aimnatural.com. We will try to answer one or two in each bulletin. We will post the section on FB and on our website, so look for your answer there as well! 

Question:  “What is the difference between turmeric vs. curcumin?”. 

Answer: “Turmeric” refers to the root of the Curcuma longa plant. That whole root can be powdered, or crushed and used as a food.

“Curcumin” is one of many natural compounds found IN the turmeric root. 

Both turmeric as a whole root, and curcumin as an extract from that root, and have historical uses including well aging and anti inflammation, but CURCUMIN, extracted and in high doses is what we see used in a clinic setting as a therapeutic.

Here at AIM, we recommend, Curcumin from one of two companies: Thorne or Pure Encapsulations. The reason why is when turmeric is sourced into this country, it’s processed with solvents that can cause cancer! Only these two companies third party test for those solvents and others. We trust their process and we trust the cleanliness of the product. We cannot, and do not, recommend Curcumin over the counter. For our patients, it can be purchased safely, only at BeWELLwithAIM.com

Studies show that the doses for Curcumin to work well are rather high. This is a problem because they are large pills, you need to take a lot, you must take it with a fat and it’s most easily absorbed if attached to an extract of black pepper.

While CURCUMIN, not turmeric, in high doses in the right patient, can be a powerful cancer adjunct, it uses the same pathway in the liver as many immunotherapies, hormone blockers and chemotherapeutics, so it can make other drugs more or less effective. AND if you don’t have a well functioning digestive system, it can be hard to absorb. 

In our practice, each patient is approached HOLISTICALLY and INDIVIDUALLY. For a nourished woman trying to stay well in survivorship from ovarian, who is working on metabolic health and may have a well functioning gut, we may start with 2 grams of Curcumin from Thorne or Pure Encapsulations and slowly increase until we get her to 6 gms daily. For someone who has significant levels of inflammation and has just completed a course of chemotherapy for colorectal, we might try 500 mg of Curcumin daily and combine it with gut support. For someone who is trying to prevent heart disease with no history of cancer, we may try a moderate dose along with both pharmaceutical and natural options to optimize vascular flow and stress management. 

With natural medicine there is NO one sized fit all approach. It is a mistake to think of natural therapies as benign or safe across the board for all. This is a mistake that many patients, and doctors alike make. A one sized fit all approach, rather than PERSONALIZED care is still a feature of the culture of medicine.

Call us at 248 798 2942 to make an appointment with  Dr. Roy or March to learn whether you can add this powerful and ancient herb. Until then, enjoy the root, turmeric, as a food and check out our post on how to make it into a comforting nighttime drink.

PMID: 26537958

Golden Milk Recipe

Happy Saturday everyone!

I recently made Golden Milk for the first time. Golden Milk is a traditional Indian drink that has some health benefits and has been gaining popularity in Western culture.

The magic ingredient in Golden Milk is turmeric, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Turmeric is a root that is sourced out of southeast Asia and has been used historically for anti-aging and cancer care. Turmeric pairs well with ginger, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiemetic properties, meaning these two spices are known to naturally reduce inflammation in the gut, protect cells from damage, and calm upset stomachs.

Here is our recipe:

Boil a cup of non-dairy milk* (I used almond milk, but you can also use coconut, oat, hemp, or cashew) mixed with ½-1 tsp organic turmeric powder, ½ tsp ginger, a pinch of cinnamon, and a pinch of black pepper. Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for a couple of minutes. Pour into a mug, add manuka or raw honey and cardamom to taste.

*Note: You can use dairy milk if you prefer, make sure it is organic and hormone-free. It is best to use manuka or raw honey from a glass jar for maximum health benefits.

Enjoy!

Be Well,

Sydney — Admin Lead, Associates of Integrative Medicine

A Letter from Raveena

To Our Patients:

For those of you who I have had the privilege to meet, it has truly been a pleasure. For those of you who I have not met yet, I am Raveena, AIM’s newest medical intern. I joined the team in June, and as we all know, these are strange times. It has been incredible to see how much this team does behind the scenes to make sure we are doing the best we can for all of you—our patients. 

When life seems to be at a standstill, we find ourselves deeply woven into the fabric of humanity. We sit in our separate, socially isolated homes, yet we are increasingly aware of our potential to impact one another. 

During my time here, I have seen that impact firsthand. Many of you have known the AIM team for much longer than I have. You have shared with me the difference they have each made in your lives, being there for you in ways that others could not. You have also shared with me how integrative medicine has touched your life. 

Getting to work with both you and our clinicians is a privilege. I have found myself resonating with the lasting human connection that is fostered in this practice. Whether you are seen in-person or through telemedicine, there is a deep commitment to serving you through both enjoyable and challenging times. 

In the future, I hope to be able to cultivate the same types of relationships with my patients. Like the team of clinicians at AIM, I strive to practice medicine that integrates nutrition, wellbeing, mental, and physical health to care for the whole person. If you have seen any of their public talks, you know they are committed to not only caring for individuals, but caring for their entire community as well. It is this desire to honor the complex humanity around me that fuels my pursuit of medicine--my pursuit to serve as a catalyst for hope and healing.

Not only am I grateful to our AIM team for the opportunity to gain exposure to this wonderful field of integrative medicine, but I am deeply grateful to all of you for trusting me enough to share your experiences and reflections with me. Despite the strange circumstances we are living under, I cannot wait to see what the year ahead holds. If you or one of your loved ones would like to see us, or just catch up, please do not hesitate to reach out. It is our honor to serve you. 

Thank you for the privilege to serve you, to learn from you, and to walk with you on your journey. 

Until we speak, be well, 

Raveena, Medical Intern In Training

Stress Management

Tips on Managing Stress

by Jessica Blodgett, LLPC, Oncology Mental Health

Hello Everyone,

Whether it’s from COVID-19 updates, racial tension and police brutality on the news, fears surrounding treatment, or the many tasks of daily life, we are feeling immersed in stress and uncertainty like never before. 

Stress looks different for everyone, but regardless of how it shows up for you, it impacts us all in a mental, emotional, physical, and perhaps even spiritual way. It can keep you awake at night, cause tension and pain in your muscles, make your heart race or your thoughts swirl, and even contribute to cancer recurrence and growth. 

Knowing this, and how absolutely VITAL it is to manage stress, I wanted to take a moment to talk to you all about the importance of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the ability to create space between what you experience and your reaction. When we are traumatized and stressed, the space between the two narrows. 

By practicing mindfulness through things like breathwork, yoga, and meditation, we can bring our focus to the PRESENT moment, expand that space, and ultimately choose how we respond to the world around us. 

Mindfulness is an essential practice in stress management. I hope this list of tips, strategies, and resources can help make mindfulness a part of your daily life.

TIP #1: Try a news fast…pick a period of time that you will NOT get on your phone, TV, or radio, to listen to or read the news. 

The “news” is often NOT new and it may not be relevant to YOU. Remember: the media is a BUSINESS that is designed to talk about ANYTHING that will keep viewers engaged and make money, even if that means perpetuating FEAR. 

TIP #2: If you are new to meditation, try guided meditations or visualizations on Simple Habit, HealthJourneys.com, or Calm Masterclass. You can find more resources by simply Googling “guided meditation” to find videos, websites, or downloadable apps for your phone that contain meditations.

“Blissful Deep Relaxation” from TheHonestGuys on YouTube is a lovely introductory video to guided meditation that can make meditation easier for those of us new to meditating.

I also recommend a meditation from HealthJourneys.com called “Fight Cancer” which can be found here. Listen to it daily. 

TIP #3: Try a body scan. Close your eyes, lie down, and inhale through your nose for a count of 4. Hold that breath for a count of 4, and exhale through your mouth for a count of 4.  Repeat FOUR times. 

Then scan your body from your toes up to your head. Look for where you are holding stress and focus on intentionally releasing that stress. 

For some this looks like visualizing a set of “healing hands” working out the tension, or a warm ball of light heating up the stress and melting it away; whatever you choose, it’s important to begin to recognize areas where stress lives in your body so you can gain control of releasing that stress. 

Try “Ten Minute Guided Body Scan” by The Meditation Coach on YouTube. Again, for those of us new to body scans or meditation, this video walks you through visualizing stress in your body and helping you to release it.

TIP #4: On Amazon or iTunes, buy or download “Soul of Healing Meditations” from Deepak Chopra and listen to the first four tracks. These powerful guided meditations help release resentment, cultivate acceptance, and teach you more about body scanning. 

TIP #5: Seek professional counseling. Counseling is an amazing way to develop self-awareness, coping skills tailored to your specific needs, gain emotional support, process trauma, or talk through your experiences in a safe, confidential environment. 

I see almost exclusively cancer patients and their families, and run a support group on Saturdays for bereaved spouses. To contact me, call (248) 798-2942 OR (269) 808-6422; or email me at jessica@aimnatural.com.

I am a Master’s level oncology mental health counselor, and one of only a few specialists in the state who sees cancer patients, their caregivers, and their families for the stress, anxiety, depression, and fear associated with a cancer diagnosis. I’m covered by insurance, and I do offer a sliding scale for those that don’t have insurance. 

TIP #6: Object Meditation is another way to ease into meditation. It’s important to cultivate a relationship with an object: a rosary, a crystal, a rock, a piece of fabric, etc. Try to choose something special or interesting and carry it with you. 

Once you have your item, utilize your SENSES to focus on that item. What does it feel like in your hand? How heavy or light is it? Does it have a smell? What kind of texture can you feel?

Using your senses to focus on the item can help GROUND you in the present moment; allowing you to mindfully focus on the here and now. 

Unsure of what item to use? Common chemotherapy drugs like Taxanes come from the bark of the Pacific Yew Tree; platinums come from the earth’s core and are the heavy metal often used in wedding bands; or the tecans, which come from the bark of the Chinese Happy Tree. All items that you can bond with and focus on through object meditation. 

TIP #7: With businesses opening and many people starting to be less cautious about staying sanitary, it’s easy to become stressed or worried about COVID-19. If you are worried about going out, take things slowly and don’t do anything YOU are NOT comfortable with. 

Try to take things in baby steps. First go to your yard, check in with how you feel and then take another step; perhaps have a family member or someone you trust come over and visit them outside for a while (with masks and a safe distance). 

The risk is real, but with caution and attention to your safety, you can begin to determine what you feel is safe for you.

TIP #8: Reading the right things can help you understand your stress and gain insight into how you can manage it effectively. I recommend titles such as “Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers” by Robert Sapolsky; “The Body Keep the Score” by Bessel van der Klok; or “Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change” by Pema Chodron. 

TIP #9: 4-7-8 breathing or SQUARE breathing is a breathwork technique that can lower your heart rate, slow your breathing, and help you focus on your surroundings. 

It goes like this: inhale through your NOSE for a count of 4, hold for 7, and exhale through your MOUTH for 8. Remember, always inhale through your nose when trying to lower cortisol. 

Try keeping a rubber band on your finger, or fabric on your wrist, that reminds you to do this breathwork. 

TIP #10: Practicing good sleep hygiene has phenomenal benefits for lowering stress. To practice good sleep hygiene, sleep in a dark, cool room and use air filters or plants to clean the air. Having specific plants in your home to purify the air around you can help with sleep as well as stress. “TED Talks TV: How to Grow Fresh Air” can be found online, and this amazing resource walks you through which plants you NEED in your home to help with air quality.

Minimize distracting noises by using a sound machine, or anything that produces “white noise” like a fan. You can even avoid those middle-of-the-night awakenings by having a tiny, protein-rich snack, and by taking 200-400mg of L theanine (a non-narcotic, non-habit forming, anxiolytic) at bedtime. L theanine can be purchased from BeWellWithAIM.com 

TIP #11: 27% of cancer patients struggle with PTSD. PTSD is when you have experienced a previous life trauma, perhaps a divorce, abuse, or some sort of betrayal…and the current medical experience triggers THOSE feelings.

When we become a patient, we go from a name to a medical record number, we are surrounded by decision makers that hold our lives in their hands, we can feel voiceless, powerless, and invaded.

This triggers the old wound, and a lot of feelings from previous life experiences come up. It could look like sleep disturbances, addiction, tearfulness, panic…this is PTSD. 

PTSD is something that you CANNOT manage on your own. It’s important to have a coach, like myself or another trained professional, there to guide you as you identify your triggers and learn to manage when your fears are coming up so you can cope better with today. 

TIP #12: Lean into your faith or spirituality. With so much uncertainty in the air, it’s important to connect to one another; and to explore our relationship with the Divine, whatever that may mean to you. 

Through religious or spiritual practices, we can feel connected to our communities, our neighbors, and our families, regardless of what may keep us apart. 

We can step outside of ourselves and feel in touch with the infinite as we pray, or read scripture, or meditate.

Regardless of what we may face, we can be reminded to be grateful and to look for the joy in the world around us. And in doing so, we can transform our experience. 

…

I genuinely hope you find these tips helpful. Remember, if you are feeling stressed or anxious, you are NOT alone. To get the help you need and learn more strategies that work for YOU, call me at (248) 798-2942 OR (269) 808-6422; or by emailing directly at jessica@aimnatural.com. 

Until we speak, be well.

Jessica

A Love Letter

As doctors, it’s critical that we dig deep into our beliefs, desires, motivations and reflect on who we are as contributors and citizens. Personal and spiritual growth grounds us to be truly present with those who are suffering, but as importantly it prevents us from making the kinds of mistakes that come from a lack of personal clarity.

All of us make mistakes but mistakes when you hold a position of influence can have greater consequences to a wider group of people…and so the onus is on the physician, to “heal thyself”. To that end, I consider the personal work that I do to show up for each and every one of you to be as important as the medical and clinical expertise I bring to your care, and with that in mind, I share on Father’s Day.

For years I have thought of my dad as my hero. This may sound romantic, but it has its deficits. Limiting beliefs muddy the waters and impact how I show up. My father’s hurt was my hurt. His shame, mine. And as he has faced health challenges, I have been plagued by an intense fear of losing the one person on earth that I know truly loves me. I saw myself as an extension of my father. He is and therefore I am. This false belief forced me into spiritual work to unlearn and instead, draw close to my true Father, my God. 

This doesn’t mean that I abandon my dad. Learning to separate out my identity from daddy, has actually deepened my love for him as I see him more clearly now, a person in his own right, human, broken, himself a dear child of God.

My father, as many of you know, was a physician. His worldview was impacted by his work with those who were sick or in need. He was both deeply loving and an unyielding taskmaster. I was raised at a time where parents thought, “Spare the rod, spoil the child,” but I also was raised at his hip, my hand always in his. I did everything with him, and really, for him, for years. 

In some ways this was a great blessing, to me, and now, to my practice. Because he gardened and curated my character, I am disciplined, hard-working, and service-oriented. Core principles around faith and what is true and good are drivers for almost every decision I make. I am highly self-reflective as I know that there is much I do not know and this humbles me where I would be arrogant. 

I am a servant. 

But in learning to see my dad from the eyes of a woman, and leaving the child behind, I have also seen where I could continue to grow. And this gift of sight has, in turn, deepened my desire to come closer still to God. 

My father is almost 80 now and his vessel is failing. Where he once walked 10 miles a day, he now can’t walk for more than half a mile. He is bent at the waist from pain, and the mornings are excruciating. He uses a cane or a walker to toilet, and falls are his greatest challenge. He is thin, the muscle in his legs, reedy and soft. He has few real teeth. He sleeps poorly, in spurts, like a cat. He is post-stroke, blind in one eye, and needs frequent dilation for esophageal stricture. But his mind is viciously robust. He wants to move. He wants to work. Even now, he dreams to build a school for poor children and to teach. He dreams of buying tracts of land and building tiny free homes for the poor. 

When I was last in Florida, he insisted on driving to a property he was working on and working all day. The property is a rental intended to provide income for my mother in case he was unable to ambulate after his most recent surgery. So work all day he did. Cleaning, sweeping, moving bricks, weeding, cutting back brush. At some point in the day, his legs gave out, and he shuffled on his bottom and continued to work. He worked until he almost literally couldn’t move. As he got in the car so I could drive him home, lifting his leg to sit in the passenger seat was a time consuming effort, and yet lift his leg he did, using both hands, hooked around under his knee, yelling and refusing my help.

I have never seen someone work like that. As his child, I can look at my father’s failing health and be convinced he should be coddled towards his near death…but as a woman, I see that my father wills himself to live. His mind is in the driver’s seat. He will not go gently into the good night. It is painfully beautiful.

As the sun trailed an arc over the blue, blue sky, all manner of people came by. They called him “Papi”, “Baba”, “Doc”, “Man”…and they were from all walks of life. Primarily poor, and clearly people with histories of addiction, criminality or migrants; some disabled, some able; some blue collar…all salt of the earth, all with a lot of lived life behind them, these people saw him as their equal and he saw them the same. 

When my father was in practice, he wore a pressed suit with neat creases down the front of each leg, a clean white shirt and one of 100 beautiful silk ties daily. When he left medicine he took to wearing dirty sneakers, soccer shorts, and fishing hats. My sisters and I have to beg him to get dressed up and while he will sometimes concede the point, and throw on long pants, he never takes off that stupid hat.

He is unfussy, unfiltered, and uncouth, and so are his people. When he spoke about them, Jodi, Harry, Gabe…he spoke of them in glowing terms. “Jodi is the hardest worker I have ever seen, never complains, always smiles, such a very good girl, oh I feel so bad inside that I can’t give her more.” When I met Jodi, I was surprised to meet a young lady, who looked older than her years, clearly recovered from methamphetamine and alcohol, with several teeth missing, a sheen of sweat on every visible surface. My dad doesn’t see race, color, creed, history, he sees the spirit within. He is present with people on a level I have never witnessed. My father is a humanitarian, not in intellect, but in practice. He is non-judgmental, he is not separate, he doesn’t use clothes or class or education to de-identify with his brothers and sisters. And still and yet, he knows he is privileged. Both are equally true for him. At the end of the day, he gave all the food in his fridge to a mentally disabled boy who he had paid to keep him company. Two large hefty bags of food, unopened jugs of milk, Costco sized bags of frozen patties, silver bags of chips…

As I got him home and he curled up in his bed, his dog jumped in and laid beside him. Patches is a pit bull and a sweetheart. I am afraid of dogs and this was the first dog I had ever met that I felt nothing but peace around. As I rubbed pain medication into my dad’s hands and feet, he said, “I wanted a dog so I went to shelter. All the dogs were barking and shouting and this guy was sitting completely still and quiet. He looked straight at me and I looked at him and I knew, he was my dog.”

The next morning, I walked on the beach with my dad and Patches, but he wouldn’t let me take the leash. As other dogs neared, my dad knelt, crowned the dog with his whole body, the way you would cradle a small child and spoke softly to him. Other owners seemed cautious but open and would let their dogs trot up. My dad would coach his dog, keeping a firm hand on his shoulders, his voice dulcet and low, singing, “It’s alright, you are okay, good dog.” Daddy never seemed worried or tense. 

Later I asked him, “Why did you do that with Patches?” And he said, “He doesn’t like other dogs. One day I was on the beach and a big, big dog came by and Patches attacked him, and the other guy had to go to the hospital. I paid all the bills.” Stunned, I said, “Why did he do that?” My father answered, “It is his nature. He cannot help what life he has lived, so I just love him through it.” 

Daddy has an unusual capacity to tolerate pain, an equanimity of spirit, a gift of egalitarianism, a generous heart and a wild will. I am learning from these now. But I would not have seen these things if I had not had the spirit to see my father, as not my leader, my divine mind, or my hero, rather as my brother, himself a unique creation of God. 

As we celebrate Father’s Day, I encourage us to see our fathers as men. Men who make mistakes, who love and fail, who have fragile places and joys all their own. I encourage those of us whose fathers may be absent, abusive or distant to still honor this day. I encourage those of us whose fathers are ill or who have passed, to remember them as much as men…more than who they were to us as children and less than who we make them to be in our minds. 

We came through them, but we are not of them, and they, not of us. Our fathers, are perhaps more so, our brothers…and ultimately our friends, in this thing we call life. 

In this way, for many of us, we may be able to offer our dads on this day, the true gift of forgiveness, admiration, and respect they deserve. It is no small thing for a man to have to model our Heavenly Father on Earth...for them to fail is human and for their children to love them not despite, but for it, is truly divine.

UPDATE: What’s Changed and What is Our Greatest Weapon

It may feel as the weather warms up, and time passes, like we can relax the guidelines around social isolation. We cannot.

Please continue to wash your hands, don’t touch your face, avoid contact with others and stay home except to exercise outdoors.

I know that the extension of the quarantine through May 15th and possibly through the end of May, is challenging for many, and not in the least, financially.

If you know someone who is struggling financially, I encourage you, as we move through this time, to share resources, blankets, food, medicine, toiletries, encouragement. To share gifts of time: tutoring, mentorship, prayer and neighborly acts like yardwork or food shopping for others.

It may feel with social isolation, like you want to lean back.

Lean in. There is so much you can do to share what you have without being in contact, and for many, we can’t get through without gifts from others.

We, at Associates of Integrative Medicine, are modifying our protocols to the following. If you have any symptoms that are unfamiliar to you, not just respiratory symptoms, please call Dr. Roy on her cell phone immediately. (248) 260-8866.

Perhaps some of you have seen new information about the virus that it can precipitate stroke in younger individuals (30s and 40s), who are CoVID 19 positive. We do not know yet if this represents an emerging feature of how the virus behaves, but a stroke needs to be addressed in the first six hours of symptoms.

Symptoms include slurred speech, blurry vision, inability to use one side of your body, drooping in the face. They happen immediately. If this happens, to you or a loved one, you must call 911 and/or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

Do NOT take aspirin. Aspirin is helpful if the stroke is due to a blockage that is caused by a clot in the blood vessel. It is not helpful if the stroke is due to a ruptured blood vessel in the brain. Without an image we cannot tell the difference.

If you are currently on aspirin therapy as part of your supportive care, you must call the office at (248) 798-2942 or contact us at aimnatural.org, to make a 10-15 min appointment to restructure your plan.

As a doctor, it’s tough to balance between giving you the right kind of information and keeping you calm, grounded and without fear. It’s forcing me to continue to share philosophically as much as I am sharing clinically.

Because that’s where I want you, calm and grounded. If I can’t keep you fearless, at the very least, let us consider that Fear is the rich fertile soil for Faith.

If we cannot avoid it, we can at the very least, lean into it, and rely on our faith. Faith doesn’t have to mean a belief in God, but faith in something…the universe, a greater consciousness, absolute good, is necessary to keep you well. And choosing to have faith may represent a radical step forward in your own healing.

It’s important to remember that faith is actually a practice. It requires looking without our eyes, hearing without our ears, attuning ourselves to how the world around us is gifting us with answers all the time.

When the material world is giving us information all the time that IT is the reality, faith requires us to consider that the material world is “A” reality, NOT the reality.

Did you know every single thing on earth, from the coffee maker on your countertop, to your beating heart, is made up of different combinations of 118 elements?

Did you know that the human body is made up of mostly a combination of only six of these elements? Yup. Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. Put them in one combination, they make a nose. Order them differently, they make a hand.

Let’s consider my hand.

If I look at my inelegant hand, what do I see?
Stubby fingers, wrinkled knuckles, plain wedding band, skin and nails.

If look closer, let’s say with a magnifying glass, what would I see?
Ridges, oil glands, hair.

How about under a microscope?
Cells and nuclei, and all the machinery in a cell, mitochondria, golgi apparatus…

What if I used a really, really, powerful microscope, perhaps one not invented yet, that could freeze a moment in time?
I would see atoms with electrons circulating around it.

That means, friends, my hand is, at its most basic level, just energy.

This may be mind bending for you, but it’s a quantum principle and leading edge in scientific discovery. If we look at matter at its deepest level, we find we are just energetic beings in an energetic world. It’s pretty extraordinary. And it begs the question, is radical healing possible without radical thought?

I’d like you to turn off your tv. Turn off the radio. Turn off your feed. Tune out social media on the virus. What we read, listen to, watch, has an impact on our ability to hear, see, experience what is outside of our known world. It makes us believe that only what we can see is real. But this
is not ever true. Certainly not scientifically. We can’t see a virus, can we?

In faith, thinking of ourselves as energetic beings, studies have shown, people achieve radical results in healing. Isn’t it possible, that faith is not the province of the uneducated or the foolish, rather is a frontier of truly understanding the human body on a level that can result in radical healing?

Our ancestral cultures held no separation between healing and a connection to the sacred. It is only today, within in this “American” culture that we draw a line between what is rational and what a deep engagement with the mystery of what we cannot see.

If faith seems hard, begin your practice with meditation or guided visualization. These can teach you to be still enough to experience something outside of your knowing.

For many Healing Trauma from Healthjourneys.com is a great place to start.

For others, the 21-day beginners meditation with the Chopra Center is an option.
https://chopracentermeditation.com

Meditation has been found to:
—Lower blood pressure
—Lower heart rate
—Alter levels of melatonin and serotonin
—Suppress cortisol
—Decrease inflammation
—Reduce pain
—Reduce anxiety

But perhaps most importantly, it’s been shown to IMPROVE our IMMUNE response.

Interestingly, spiritual meditation has been found to be superior to secular meditation and relaxation in terms of decrease in anxiety and improvement in positive mood, spiritual health, spiritual experiences and tolerance to pain. And a recent study published in the British Journal of Psychology looked at 35 studies that examined whether the intention of one person, prayer or positive thought, can interact with and influence the health of another person. They found a statistically significant positive difference across all 35 studies.

If you are struggling financially and you need to see one of us, choose Dr. March. She is a less expensive and just as skilled a responder as Dr. Roy. And every one of us should be using the nutrition and counseling benefits offered by insurance at this time. Make an appointment with
Jessica to start to work through grief, anxiety, depression, marital stress, stress eating, boredom, and let your insurance pick up the cost. We are waiving co pays for May so it is NO COST to you.

I want you calm, grounded and fearless. But if I can’t get you fearless, I will accept that fear, at this moment in human history, is necessary, especially if faith is its flowering fruit.

Faith that gives us the eyes to see that we are not our bodies. We are our souls.

Faith that gives us ears to hear the voice of all consciousness.

Faith that gives us hands, not to touch our face, but to touch others with no contact at all.

To your radical healing,

Dr. Roy

UPDATE on the Resistance to the Stay at Home Order

Dedicated to Miss Aquilla and Miss Belinda

I know many of us are over it.

NOT staying at home is a gamble. Every time you leave your home and risk exposures to others, you are taking a risk. The risk is to you, but more importantly, the risk is also to others.

It’s hard to trust decision makers, especially when we hear conflicting advice about whether we need to shelter at home. It’s hard to worry about paying the mortgage, putting food on the table. It’s hard to be cooped up with a spouse and kids. It’s hard to not see people we love.

It’s hard to fight an invisible enemy.

And

It’s hard to fight for others.

But most of you have battled cancer or walked with someone who has. You are used to hard.

Here’s what we know, almost 90% of the people who are infected are between 30 and 80 years old. But the older you are, the greater the risk of passing. There is a growing sense that this is not the worst thing in the world as “we all have to pass of something.” But today’s 65 is YOUNG. But just not to this virus. 80% of deaths are happening in those 65 and older.

As people are dying, we are learning more about how the virus works and the high-risk criteria has expanded to include hypertension and obesity.

1 out of every 3 American adults have high blood pressure. 10.5% have diabetes, 40% are obese.

Most people will do well. Even cancer patients can survive the virus. But many don’t. And that is tragic for those they leave behind.

As importantly, the health care system is “blinded.” So whether you present in the emergency room at 30 or 80, you will be treated. The result is our health care workers are at serious risk, they have multiple exposures, little rest, poor self care and are getting sicker at a fast rate than any other population.

WHY does this matter?

The result is we don’t have enough staff to care for patients in the hospital. And it’s not just the man power, even where we do, we do not have enough personal protective equipment to protect the workers we do have.

So where we once had 10 workers, we now have 2.

Emergency rooms nationwide, on an average year, see 139.0 million patients a year. 14 million of these patients are admitted to the hospital for further treatment. Let’s say a significant percentage of those are for scheduled for emergency surgery.

For one surgery, we need schedulers, nurses, surgeons, anesthesiologists, operating and surgical technicians, a surgical services assistant, janitorial, a sterile reprocessing specialist, an instrument technician, surgical supplies stocker and so on.

Before this crisis, a surgical center with more than four operating rooms performed 25 cases per day, now we simply don’t have the staff to man these surgeries. If we have limited the number to 4 surgeries a day, we have to pick and choose which surgeries we do.

Why does this matter? It may not for you. But it does matter to many of our patients. Delivering cancer care during this crisis is challenging given that our population is immunocompromised.
—Hospitals are delaying surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation.
—There is a push to have patients who are healthy and have curable cancers, delay treatment.
—Surveillance requiring stents, catheters, imaging and physical exams is suspended

These decisions can have serious consequences to many individuals. In our practice we are SEEING these patients. We are beefing up and modifying anti neoplastic protocols and nutrition. We are helping those who have delays in treatment choose when to push and when to hold back. We are doing increased surveillance on patients who can’t get in for standard of care.

Dr. Roy is a guest on Facebook Live of Molly Macdonald and The Pink Fund at 5:30 pm on Thursday, April 23rd.

We will be talking about what steps all cancer survivors can be taking during survivorship to lower their risk of recurrence EVEN under the shelter at home order.

On Monday, April 20th at 6 pm, Dr. March will be speaking virtually at the Gilda’s & Lakehouse about Nutrition Strategies during the CoVID Crisis to Fight Cancer.

Visit aimnatural.org or email us at dr.roy@aimnatural.com to learn more.

But we need your help. For our population alone, your decision to stay at home, while inconvenient, expensive and boring, IS life saving.

It’s an invisible enemy and it may even be one that doesn’t have you in it’s sights, but doing the “right” thing is what takes your measure. There are many forms of resistance. As Dr. King famously said, “the measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

80% of deaths are happening in those 65 and older. And with so many of us facing hypertension, obesity and high sugars, let’s try to transform our perspective on this time off of work….with nothing to do. This is a PERFECT time to REVERSE these outcomes.

Those risk factors are wholly the result of our LIFESTYLE choices and now we have an opportunity to do something about it. And obesity is the number ONE contributor to risk of cancer behind age and cigarette smoke exposure.

Like you, I am struggling to find my way, and I am OVER it. But I have made a plan for the next five weeks to make a commitment to weight loss and model for you. I have never had a patient with Dr. March who is trying to lose weight not be successful. So sign me up. It’s what I should have done years ago.

If you are well and ambulatory, tie a bandanna over your nose and mouth, get your butt outside and walk “with” me.

That’s ALL you have to do to be someone’s invisible hero against an invisible enemy that’s creeping on us for the very thing we never had enough of…enough time to do nothing but play outside.

Drs. Roy and March

A Message to Parents

Dear Patients,

Our children bring so much joy to our lives. Their goofy antics; their sticky kisses; their relentless questions; they keep us on our toes and ground us in what is truly important. We love them with all that we are and cherish the time we spend with them.

…but being cooped up in the house with them 24/7 with no breaks? That’s enough to drive even the best parent a little bit crazy (myself included!).

I know you may be thinking there’s no way to get through this with your sanity intact. I want to reassure you that you and your family can not only “get through this” but grow closer and stronger in the process.

Take a look at these essential strategies for helping your family through this stressful time that you can start using today regardless of what age your kids may be.

1. Develop a routine. Kids of all ages need structure. The sudden shift from a planned-out school day to the freedom of home can be a real challenge. By creating a routine, your children can feel a sense of security and know what to anticipate, and you will feel more in control.

2. Plan ahead. Spend a few hours scouring the internet for kid- or teen-friendly at home activities. So many items we all have just lying around can be turned into games, toys, crafts, or learning opportunities for us and our kids to share. By planning ahead, you will always have something in your toolbox to pull out when boredom strikes.

3. Talk to your kids about what’s going on. Think of this as an opportunity to show your kids how to handle stress with grace. By sharing your feelings and keeping them informed (age appropriately) they will learn how to better communicate their emotions and feel empowered.

4. Finally, don’t forget about yourself. Being a caregiver of any kind can be overwhelming. It’s easy to prioritize our children’s needs over our own. Even if it’s just in the evening after the kids are asleep, make sure you allow time for self-care. Read a book, write a letter, have a pretend “date night” with your spouse, go for a walk, or do whatever it is that helps you feel a sense of calm.

As a mother to a two-year-old boy, I’ve had my share of struggles with being cooped up at home. Dr. March shared a wonderful quote with me that brought me a great deal of comfort, and I want to end by sharing it with all of you:

“Parents: What we are being asked to do is not humanly possible. There is a reason we are either a working parent, a stay-at-home parent, or a part-time working parent.

Working, parenting, and teaching are three different jobs that cannot be done at the same time.

It’s not hard because you are doing it wrong. It’s hard because it’s too much.
Do the best you can.

When you have to pick, because at some point you will, choose connection. Pick playing a game over arguing about an academic assignment. Pick teaching your child to do laundry rather than feeling frustrated that they aren’t helping. Pick laughing, and snuffling, and reminding them that they are safe.

If you are stressed, lower your expectations where you can and virtually reach out for social connection. We are in this together to stay well. That means mentally well, too.”

-Emily W. King Ph.D.

I’m here to support you through this. Call me or email me (269-808-6422; jessica@aimnatural) so we can set up a time to talk through what you’re going through.

Until we speak, be well.

Jessica

Mental Health and a Relaxing Breath

Hello everyone,

Struggling with anxiety during these uncertain times? Who isn’t? :)

Give me a call or send me an email (269-808-6422; jessica@aimnatural.com). Even if it’s just a few minutes to vent your feelings, or an hour to strategizing how to manage marital stress in close quarters, we can talk over your concerns and bill your insurance.

We are waiving copays at this time as a gesture from Dr. Roy, so there is NO cost to you to get help.

Over the coming weeks, I plan to share techniques and strategies for managing your emotions to help you achieve wellness.

I’m sure you’ve heard the term “breathing exercises” thrown around in conversation, but what exactly does that mean? Just as it sounds, breathing exercises are activities involving your breathing that can strengthen your ability to find a state of calm amidst the chaos of the world today. Here is a quick breathing exercise that can improve your mood in a matter of moments:

The Relaxing Breath
—Exhale completely through your mouth making a “whooshing” sound
—Close your mouth and inhale through your nose for a count of four
—Hold that breath for a count of seven
—Exhale completely through your mouth for a count of eight
—Repeat four or five times

Practice this daily to become more in touch with yourself, your emotions, and areas of tension in your body. Write it out on a notecard and carry it with you to pull out whenever you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed. Integrate relaxing breaths into rituals you already have in place, such as yoga or meditation. Whatever way you do it, it will help you feel more grounded and less anxious.

Reach out to me directly and set up a time for us to talk. I am here for you to support you through whatever you may be facing.

Be well.

Jessica Blodgett

Email:jessica@aimnatural.com
Cell: (269) 808-6422
Office tel: (248) 798-2942

Caring for Your Mental Health

Hello everyone,

With so much information flooding us at every turn, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or confused or even yelled at.

Many media sources urge you to take care of yourself by not touching your face or washing your hands (which are excellent suggestions) but what about your mental health? How do we care for that when we face a real threat?

The answer isn’t always so straight forward.

My name is Jessica, and I’m one of the mental health counselors at Associates of Integrative Medicine. I specialize in crisis, anxiety, stress, trauma, grief and loss associated with a cancer diagnosis.

As we all settle in and shelter at home, my hope is to share strategies for managing your emotions.

To get the support you need, call me or send me an email (269-808-6422; jessica@aimnatural.com).

Even if it’s for a few minutes, I am here for you to discuss any concerns you may have or help you find the right strategies to improve your mood.

Dr. Roy is waiving copays for the time being as a gesture to you all, so there is NO cost to you to pick up the phone and get the help you need.

So, how do we begin to care for ourselves mentally/emotionally? The first step to caring for your mental health is identifying what you are feeling. Much like any health issue, how can you fix it if you don’t know what’s wrong? As many of us are experiencing more stress than usual in today’s climate, I want to share some tips for identifying stress in yourself.

Here are some common signs of stress you may be experiencing:
1. You’re easily irritated or quick to snap on those you love.
2. You’re struggling to find the motivation to keep up with everyday tasks.
3. You’re experiencing headaches, stomach aches, or body aches.
4. You feel tightness or tension in your muscles.
5. You feel exhausted all the time.
6. You feel like you are working hard all the time, but not making any progress.
7. There is so much to do, but you’re having a hard time deciding what to do first.
8. You are having trouble sleeping.
9. You aren’t putting effort into your physical appearance or taking care of yourself.
10. You have worrisome, racing thoughts.

If any of these sound like you, remember you are not alone. Take a moment to breathe, pause, reflect, and get in touch with yourself and the emotions you are feeling. Call a friend, read that book you’ve had on your shelf for months, clean out your junk drawer, go for a walk, or reach out to a professional like myself to talk it out.

Call or email me directly to set up a time for us to talk. I am here to support you no matter where you are at emotionally.

Until we speak, be well.

Jessica Blodgett

Email: jessica@aimnatural.com
Cell: (269) 808-6422
Office tel: (248) 798-2942

Updated Recommendations and Battling the Blues

Update: It was brought to our attention by our Jewish friends that our original message did not include Passover. Regretable, not intentional, our deepest apologies. And Chag Pesach Sameach!

As we see the data shifting, we are updating our recommendations for our patients:

1. Wear a cloth covering like a bandana over your nose and mouth and wear glasses when you are going places where you cannot maintain a 10-15 foot distance from others like the grocery store. Do NOT use medical masks

2. Choose a person in your family or friend circle to “buddy” with. That person should be someone you check on by phone, facetime or skype regularly to help them not feel so isolated.

3. Get a three month supply of medications that you take regularly

4. Get a three month supply of supplements that you take regularly

5. Our patients, who are ambulatory MUST walk 40-50 minutes daily outdoors. If you are on well travelled paths, wear a cloth covering over your face.

6. Wash your hands frequently.

7. Do not touch your face

8. Avoid congregating at all, especially in public venues that have seating, like the lobby of your apartment building.

9. Our lung patients (COPD and Cancer), MUST make a 15 minute appointment with us to get a preventive protocol in place right away.

10. Avoid people who are sick. If you have a family member who is coughing or ill, you must isolate them in their own room, preferably with their own bathroom. Text Dr. Roy at 248 260 8866 with the words: 911: Name: symptoms and we will issue you CDC guidelines modified to your situation.

Finding the joy during the quarantine has been challenging. Here’s where it is for me: it has been a beautiful thing to telemed and see patients in their homes. I have had the opportunity to talk to an artist in her studio, to see rare pieces of china passed down from grandmothers, to see babies I have never met, and photographs of ancestors. It has been an honor.

What I have noticed is we are all anxious and vulnerable, our marriages are strained, our kids are stir crazy, home schooling doesn’t work for many of us, and many of us are “over” the “trauma/drama” of the news. People are starting to experience anxiety and depression in ways we haven’t seen before and it’s all of us.

The common driver seems to be grief and all of its stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance as people struggle with adapting to social distancing. We have lost a lot that we take for granted: our jobs, our routines, our favorite swim class, our yoga studios, our body work
people, our social connections.

Some resist the precautions, frustrated that spring has rolled around without the usual burst of socializing and activity. And with Spring comes birthdays, graduations, Palm Sunday, Easter, Ramadan, Passover….we are lost without the joy of gatherings, hugs, handshakes, and eating together. For
some of us it’s been weeks since we experienced a friendly touch.

For those of us with elderly relatives or far away loved ones, the challenge is more patent. I myself worry about my father in Florida. I cannot fly to see him without putting him and my patients at risk. I have made the difficult choice of watching him from a far, knowing that if he has another fall, a stroke, another event, he may not get swift care. He struggles with excruciating pain for which he was in physical therapy and water aerobics. My chest hurts as I think of how vulnerable he is to this crisis. And as a health care worker, not on the front line, but working nonetheless, Dr. March and I are devastated by unnecessary losses as our patients cannot receive the care we once took for granted.

And for many of us, isolation brings to the surface other triggers. I know many of you would give your kids away if you could now, and in fact, many of my colleagues have had to send their kids to live with relatives while they manage the very ill. My husband and I have not seen our nine year old son in 6 weeks as we both have risk of exposure and two of our son’s family members are front line health care.

For me, not having children has never felt like more of a failure than it does now, and where my relationships with my sisters or cousins may have already been weak, I feel a peculiar loss as I realize how petty our grievances may have been.

First off, stay the course. Many of you have heard that if the government instituted a mandatory nationwide complete shut down of everything including grocery stores and kept us in a stay at home order with enforcement for THREE weeks only, we would halt the virus in its tracks. Know that avoiding others is doing your part. And when you give up and give in, you give the virus ground to keep us out of work and out of touch.

Secondly, while we are in the midst of this viral pandemic, we have a massive mental health pandemic brewing in the shadows, and none of us are immune to it at this point. I talk to all of my patients about the fact that we are waiving co pays for April and May of 2020 and you have insurance coverage for mental health. This is a boon at a time where we have little resources.

Even if you have never spoken to a mental health therapist before NOW is the time. And it is NO COST to you. We have two excellent resources:

Michael Morris
o Masters level, in practice for over 45 years, has an existential approach that looks at “reframing your experience”

Jessica Blodgett
o Masters level, acute listener, very focused on gentle guidance to journey through your inner life.

Both are specialists in crisis, anxiety and depression.

Email us at dr.roy@aimnatural.com TODAY and we will set you up for a casual chat to check in and see if you feel comfortable talking further. If you don’t like either Jessica or Michael, we will find you someone you do.

Call at (248) 798-2942 for an appointment.

And try this meditation on gratitude in the mornings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSM6hVkYhIs

We are all grieving, and it’s okay to not be okay. Now is the time to support each other, let each other cry, and lean on each other emotionally. Through our collective acceptance of our need to seek help, we will emerge as more grateful, grounded, and whole.

Drs. Roy and March, Jessica and Michael

Being a Survivor

This post is dedicated to Nettie and her children

When I was a very young person, pre med at Harvard, I started watching the television show Survivor. I remember being thrilled by the ability of humans to survive, and even thrive, under the worst of conditions. 

I had had a hard run as a kid and was inspired by others who made something of this life with little to start with.

Those that do thrive, find places inside of themselves to journey. When we relinquish the right to physical comfort, and accept that the answers are always inside of us, we transcend discomfort.

Survivor, as a show, illustrates this process. The players who do make it, transcend their bodies, grow their souls and elevate their capacity to tolerate physical pain, social isolation, fear, lack of sleep, lack of food.

I never owned a television but I watched the show faithfully for 12 years, on late night study breaks, my laptop perched on my knee, a CBS pop up, a fuzzy five inches by five inches, enough that I could track the triumphs and the losses of a group of humans, stranded in the wilderness, learning to fend for themselves and still build real and sustainable bonds. People challenged physically and psychologically, to not just survive. To thrive. 

To some extent, I saw my academic career the same way….by the time I reached fellowship, I was competing with the nations’ graduates for only 6 positions nationwide in integrative oncology, and only one in Philadelphia. 

I had to not give up, not ever, not for nothing. 

There were times where I slept in my car or in the library, there were times where I relied on others for meals, there were times where I was sick and there were times I failed. There were a lot of successes in my academic life but to make it, I made significant personal sacrifices. Throughout, there was a deep sense of loneliness in my ambition to be the best at what I do.

I haven’t watched the show in quite some time, but I had an accident last week and had to stay home. It was powerful for me to see how the show has continued to evolve and yet focus on the same message….there is, at all times, the possibility of transcending discomfort, sometimes it’s through the power of your will, and sometimes it’s because of those who walk with you.

If you can, go to CBS, Survivor, Season 40, and watch the first couple of episodes. They have brought back the season’s greatest players to battle each other. In Episode 4 of this season, they highlight Ethan, a boy that won Survivor when I was just a girl. Since then, he has battled cancer. It is a miraculous testament to the human spirit to see him play this episode. 

I cried as I watched this episode and I thought of all of you. Especially now, where although many of us are at home together, many more of us are isolated, and feeling very alone.

I thought…there will be times in all of our lives wherever we are on this journey where we think, “I can’t take one more step. I give up.” 

And part of our mission as a team to do is to have the conviction to look straight in your face and say, “Don’t give up. Not ever. Not for nothing.” 

Even if you are moving towards your last breath, it is your will to survive that those you leave behind remember, and it is your fight that is the enduring testimony of your love. And for many of us, for most of us, miracles will and do happen. 

And we will not just survive, we will thrive. 

Dr. Roy

Update on Safety Protocols and Health

Folks,

We know many of you are frightened. We want to make sure we continue to update you with the intent of educating and preparing you.

Fear, when it is indulged, distracts us from life itself, from being in this moment, from loving each other, from living out our purpose on this earth.

This is a moment in time. It will not last forever. As uncomfortable as it may be, it does present us with opportunities for growth…look for these.

IF YOU READ NO FURTHER, READ THIS:
Your Number One job if you are in treatment or two years out from treatment; have diabetes, heart disease or lung disease (which includes asthma and emphysema), is to AVOID getting sick.

There is only one sure fire way to do this.
—DO NOT touch your face
—AVOID people who may unpredictably cough in your direction.

WHEN DO I CALL?
If you are trying to reach Dr. Roy or Dr. March and you do not have access to a computer, you call (248) 798-2942

WHEN DO I TEXT?
If you have a CLINICAL emergency, you text (248) 260-8866
Use the words “911: your name: symptoms”

WHEN DO I EMAIL?
If you have ANY issue or question that is not a clinical emergency,
you email dr.roy@aimnatural.com

PREVENTION:
—It’s important to wash your hands. Why? Because you can’t help touching your face

—You MUST wash your hands if you have walked outside of your home

—You can use hand sanitizer but it needs to be 60 percent alcohol

—If you are coughing or sneezing, you MUST cover your face with your armpit and wear a mask around others

—You MUST avoid crowds, this includes the grocery store. It’s been observed that people do not always avoid close contact in the stores, and it’s impossible to predict if someone will cough near you. You cannot know if the person who coughed is a carrier. So when you do have to go to the store, the gas station, or places like that, you MUST wear a mask. If you do not have one, it’s okay to tie a scarf around your face, and it’s helpful to wear glasses, if you have a pair

—This is NOT a time to travel by train, plane, bus or use share rides. IF you MUST, email dr.roy@aimnatural.com so Dr. Roy can prepare or supply you

—This virus lives on surfaces for 6 days or more.
So if on Sunday, someone coughs and covers their mouth with their hand, then picks up a box of mac and cheese and puts it back on the shelf; and then on Thursday you go to the same store and pick up that mac and cheese and take the box home, you are taking the virus with you. If you put in the cabinet and your loved one grabs it to make the mac and cheese, and rubs their eyes, without washing their hands, they have delivered the virus.

—In our clinic, our current recommendation is to disinfect any object or surface you bring home. Bleach, Ammonia or Soap and Water is fine.

—It’s helpful to wear gloves in public so you can be cued in to avoid touching your face

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO IF I HAVE OR HAD CANCER, DIABETES, HEART DISEASE OR AN AUTOIMMUNE ILLNESS?
Please note, part of the reason why we are encouraging our patients to contact us for a 15 min phone call to protect and preserve their health is access to medications, supplements, surgery, surgical procedures and surveillance is and will continue to NARROW.

Email us at dr.roy@aimnatural.com
Go to aimnatural.com and click on “Contact Us”

We can reliably predict at this time that we will see a peak in the impact on the health care system in mid to late May…and it may take months after that to recover services. Do not expect things to return to our new “normal” until early Fall 2020.

Examples of patients who are being seen by Drs. Roy and March at this time:
1. Patients who cannot see their primary care doctor and need support with primary care
issues.
2. Patients who are not as closely surveilled in survivorship and may be taking or have taken
drugs that are hard on the kidneys and heart.
3. Patients who are newly diagnosed and are not able to get surgery at this time because they are not emergent cases and need “alternatives” to standard of care.
4. ALL patients who are IN treatment, 2 years into survivorship or post-surgical, to evaluate and tailor risk precautions.
5. Patients who are being seen to lower risk of recurrence and need lab evaluation. We have access to safe labs for our patients only.
6. Patients with diabetes, heart disease and autoimmune illnesses NO EXCEPTIONS.
7. Patients with symptoms of CoVid or cold or flu that need home management.
8. Triage for families in crisis.

Please do NOT cancel your appointment with Dr. Roy or Dr. March without talking to us first.
There is the impression among our population that for those of you in long term survivorship, you can wait. That may be the case, it may not be. We may want you to move a surgical procedure up, or ask you to stockpile a certain medication.

We will let you know if you can defer labs or care, how to get care safely, how long you can wait and what to anticipate.

Another major issue is access to supplements. We have permanent shortages now in immunomodulators like mushrooms and in antioxidants like elderberry.

Some of our patients are seeing delays of 2 weeks out of manufacture and distribution, even when they placed an order in early March. This may get worse. Even more importantly, some of the supplements we RELY on for keeping our patients in survivorship, well are no longer available.

We cannot stress this more urgently, we need to guard against shortages for our patients, and at this point, come up with alternatives. These have to be an individual consults. For these, do NOT text Dr. Roy, email us instead at dr.roy@aimnatural.com.

HOW DO I KEEP MY HOME SAFE?
1. Do not allow visitors. This includes family, friends, neighbors, grown children who are checking on you, etc.
2. Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas (e.g. tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, phones, tablets, touch screens, remote controls, keyboards, handles, desks, toilets, sinks)
3. You can use 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol wipes, ammonia or soap and water.

WHAT DO I DO IF A PERSON IN MY HOME IS SICK?
1. FIRST OFF, the person who is sick should be isolated from the rest of the household immediately. If possible, they should have their own room and their own bathroom with doors that close.
2. Assume that it IS CoVid if they have a dry cough, fever and shortness of breath.
3. If they have tummy stuff and their mucus is green or brown or bloody, or they have a wet cough, it could be something else.
a. Either way, if a person in your home has symptoms, you must TEXT Dr. Roy at (248)260-8866: “911: your name: your symptoms.”
b. Do NOT go to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care unless your loved one is having shortness of breath that cannot be controlled with at home care like inhalers. Be prepared that once you take them to the hospital, you will not be able to stay with them.
c. Do NOT try to get tested, it’s not appropriate as there is no cure.
d. Please try to have access to a thermometer, a pulse oximeter, Tylenol and sugar and salt water like Gatorade or popsicles. That’s all we should need for many of you.
e. First contact Dr. Roy and we will start with managing you at home and have a nurse evaluate your symptoms.
f. You can also contact Emcura.com and create a patient profile. A nurse will call you to evaluate you over the phone.
g. Another option is to try to reach your primary care doctor for advice.
4. When you contact Dr. Roy, we will send you detailed instructions on the procedure to manage your family member or friend and protect the rest of the household.

FOR OPTIMAL LUNG HEALTH FOR OUR PATIENTS WITH COPD OVER THE SUMMER 2020*

In addition to the guidance given by the CDC for prevention of CoVID-19:

1. Take 500 mg of Vitamin C three times a day
2. Take 10,000 IU of Vitamin D with food daily (if you have symptoms, stop this)
3. Take your steroid inhaler every morning and night.
4. Take your Singulair, if prescribed, every night.
5. Take Claritin twice daily.
6. Run an air filter in your home while you are sleeping
7. Keep the windows open only if you have access to clean, fresh, air.
8. Wash your sheets and pillowcases with organic, dye and fragrance free detergent
9. If you have a nebulizer, do a breathing treatment as needed and make sure the parts are well cleaned and sterile
10. Do a neti pot every morning with saline
11. Steam over a cup of hot water with eucalyptus essential oil, 5 drops, then add a tea bag of cold and flu tea to the water like Traditional Medicinal “Breathe Easy”, let it steep for 10 minutes and drink the tea with the eucalyptus. Any mint tea will do.
12. Get in the habit of doing breathing exercises daily. There are many techniques, but one that is wonderful is called 4 square. Spend 4 minutes in the morning and at night doing the following:
a. Inhale through your nose for a count of 4
b. Hold for a count of 4
c. Exhale through your mouth for a count of 4
d. Hold for a count of 4
13. Take 1000-2000 mg of Quercetin daily
14. Take 1000 mg of fish oil with food, daily. It should only be from Pure Encaps, Nordic Naturals or Carlsens
15. Eat dark colored berries or dark leafy greens, four handfuls a day
16. Take something for anxiety like Theanine at bedtime, 200-400 mg is fine
This is a respiratory illness, so GUARD your LUNGS.

WHY ARE THE NUMBERS RISING IN MICHIGAN?
They are not rising all over Michigan. The hospitals in Grand Rapids, for example have room still.

They are rising in urban areas where we have a larger population of people who may be under or not appropriately educated about the virus and not practicing social distancing.

To some, who have never had time off of work or a “vacation”, this can present opportunities for joy, and social gathering that is unprecedented. For others, losing their job and valuable income has forced them to live in groups or rely more closely on others, which puts them into proximity to others.

Also, in places like Sterling Heights, Canton, Dearborn and Detroit, many homes host large numbers of family members who depend on community contact to get by. Childcare is often the job of aunties, neighbors, grandmothers, and people go to each other for food, comfort and news. Visitation with children who don’t live with the visiting parent is still happening and this puts elders and vulnerable populations at risk. If one person doesn’t have dinner, their neighbor will have it for them. Social distancing presents a significant cultural challenge as it is antithetical to survival for many.

There are large assisted living and to some extent, unregulated, home care businesses and home care workers throughout the state, and high numbers of Michiganders with obesity and smoking related illnesses like COPD, cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Please remember, just because it’s our birthday or it’s another historic event in our personal lives, just because you miss your kid, just because someone has news, does NOT mean we can have people come by, even to pick up food or have a piece of cake. Hold tight. This will pass.
For now, any contact right now, with people outside of your home, is dangerous.

HOW DO I PROTECT MY MENTAL HEALTH AT THIS TIME?
—Turn off the television, radio and social media and STOP checking in on this virus. It’s not checking for you. The news is unfortunately, a terrible source of information right now.

—For actual information, go to the CDC and the CDC alone.

—Call Jessica 269 808 6422 at or Michael at 248-390-3864

o They are both trained in crisis and will speak with you for as little or as long as you would like, to help you talk through your anxiety, sleep issues, coping mechanisms or family issues that are coming up with coping.

o We are waiving co pays for April and May and all consults will be covered under insurance so there is NO cost to talk to a counselor.

—GO OUTDOORS and EXERCISE. Exercise is fundamental to your mental health and will help you from feeling cooped up and caged in. Keep a 6-8 foot distance from others.

—Eat healthier. It may be counterintuitive, but maintaining a healthy weight and eating nutritious food is one of your most powerful weapons in managing your mental health.

—Get creative: paint, take photos, collect botanical specimens, draw, sew, write, read, do yoga, dance, make crafts, do puzzles, play games. This time will really challenge you, especially those of you with kids at home. Doing these kinds of things will keep you out of your head and in your heart.

—Journal, punch a pillow, shadow box, put on headphones and dance like an idiot. Put on headphones and ignore your family.

—Take baths, use lavender essential oil, Epsom salts, eucalyptus.

—Try to watch or engage with things that make you laugh.

—Those of you on mental wellness medications like antidepressants, sleep aids and anxiolytics, MUST take supplements to partner with those drugs and make them work better while lowering the side effects.

And when in doubt, go to bed. There is almost nothing that a good long sleep won’t help.

Dr. Roy and Dr. March

*This is not a substitute for social distancing, shelter at home, hand washing and personal protection equipment, nor does it prevent CoVID-19. It is a robust foundation for prevention of pulmonary events.