Dr. Elizama Montalvo’s Biography August 20, 2008

La Dra. Elizama Montalvo aporta una gran formación diversa y una filosofía de apoderamiento a los pacientes a su práctica en Puerto Rico y en Estados Unidos. Ella es médico de familia que ha tenido certificaciones del Board en su especialidad además de en medicina homeopática clásica y acupuntura médica. La Dra. Montalvo integra estas disciplinas y modalidades para hacer diagnósticos y tratamientos completos y, sobre todo, para educar a sus pacientes sobre sus condiciones.

La inclusión de pacientes en el proceso de recuperación y el bienestar futuro, los equipa con programas nutricionales individualizados y herramientas para hacer cambios hacia estilos de vida más saludables. Puede incluir los cambios que ella misma adoptó en su propia vida desde hace casi 2 décadas, cuando se dio cuenta de la fuerte conexión entre la salud y la buena nutrición, el manejo del estrés y la espiritualidad. La Dra Montalvo nació y fue criada en Puerto Rico, y se graduó cum laude con un bachillerato en química  de la Universidad de Puerto Rico en Mayagüez. Se convirtió en un doctor en medicina en la Universidad Central del Caribe Escuela de Medicina en Bayamón, Puerto Rico y recibió su formación post doctoral en el Programa de Residencia de Medicina de Familia  en el Departamento de Medicina Social del Hospital Montefiore y Centro Médico del Bronx, New York.

Es en el Hospital Montefiore, donde fue expuesta a “formas alternativas de curación”, las terapias de cuerpo y mente, la homeopatía, la acupuntura, así cómo los problemas sociales afectan a la salud del individuo y de las comunidades. Ella está eternamente agradecida porque el deseo de encontrar formas de ayudar a la gente continúa hasta este día .Cinco años de formación en homeopatía clásica han preparado a la Dra. Montalvo para ofrecer a sus pacientes este sistema de sanación que es realmente holistico y enfatiza la sanación de la enfermedad y la promoción de la salud. Esta misión comenzó con un programa de dos años en la Atlántic Academy, Introducción a la Medicina Homeopática, en la ciudad de Nueva York. Estudió durante dos años en la Escuela Dynamis de Estudios Avanzados Homeopáticos en Londres, y luego se trasladó a la Escuela de Estudios Homeopáticos en Massachusetts. La Dr. Montalvo ha realizado también varios seminarios avanzados desde entonces, incluyendo: “La homeopatía y Déficit de Atención” conel Dr. Paul Herscu en la ciudad de Nueva York y otro con Vassilis Ghegas, MD en Cape Cod Massachusetts. Ha realizado cursos de Guías de cáncer 1 & 2, Los alimentos como Medicina, y el Curso de Mente, Animo y Alimento bajo los auspicios del Instituto de Medicina Mente-Cuerpo en Washington DC.

La Dra. Montalvo obtuvo los Boards en la especialidad de Medicina de Familia en 1990, y fue director médico de la clínica CUMIC (Centro Universitario de Medicina Integral y Complementaria) de la Universidad Central del Caribe en Bayamón, Puerto Rico  y practicó medicina paliativa en el Hospicio La Guadalupe, en Ponce, Puerto Rico, hasta diciembre de 2011

Actualmente se centra en proyectos que incluyen su práctica privada en Ponce,  así como en otros proyectos de enseñanza a la comunidad en general con su envolvimiento con la Organización Internacional Slow Food y la campaña Slow Healing. También tiene nombramientos como Profesora Asistente en la Escuela de Medicina de Ponce, y la Universidad Central del Caribe (UCC)  La Dra Montalvo en Febrero 2015, recibio la noticia de que paso con exito el examen del Board de Medicina Integrativa, dado por vez primera y como una nueva especialidad. Tiene tabien una certificación de la Universidad de Cornell en Nutrición a Base de Plantas con el Dr. T. Collin Campbell.La Dra. Elizama Montalvo se considera una activista y defensora de la nutrición a base de alimentos íntegros, lo que integra a su práctica de Medicina

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Dr. Elizama Montalvo brings a wealth of diverse training and a philosophy of patient empowerment to her Puerto Rico based practice. A Board-Certified Family Practitioner and a Classical Homeopathic & Acupuncture Physician, Dr. Montalvo integrates various disciplines and modalities to offer thorough, informed diagnosis treatment and educate. Enrolling patients in the process of recovery and wellness, she equips them with sound nutritional programs and tools to make healthy lifestyle changes. Changes that she adopted to her own life nearly 20 years ago, when she realized the strong connection between health and whole foods,  stress management and spirituality. On February 2015, she become the first medical doctor in Puerto Rico to receive her board certification in Integrative Medicine.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Dr. Montalvo graduated cum laude with a major in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez. She became a Doctor of Medicine after four years of study at the Universidad Central del Caribe Medical School, in Bayamon Puerto Rico and did her post doctorate training in the Family Medicine Residency Program as part as Department of Social Medicine at Montefiore Hospital & Medical Center in the Bronx. It is at Montefiore, where she was exposed to “alternative ways of healing”, mind-body therapies, homeopathy, acupuncture and how social issues affects the health of an individual and communities. She is eternally   grateful, because that desire of finding ways to assist people to this day continues.

Five years of training in Classical Homeopathy prepared Dr.Montalvo to offer patients this whole system of care and complimentary approaches to curing illness and promoting good health. This mission began with Introduction to Homeopathic Medicine, a two-year program at the Atlantic Academy of Homeopathic Studies in New York City. She studied for another two years with the Dynamis School of Advanced Homeopathic Studies in London, then moved on to the New England School of Homeopathic Studies in Massachusetts. Dr. Montalvo has completed several advanced seminars since that time, including; “Homeopathy and Attention Deficit Disorder” with Dr. Paul Herscu in New York City and Another with Vassilis Ghegas, M.D. in Cape Cod Massachusetts. She has completed courses in Cancer Guides, Food As Medicine  1 & 2; and Mind, Mood & Food, under auspices of The Institute for Mind Body Medicine in Washington D.C. 

A Diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice since 1990, Dr. Montalvo practiced, End of Life Care at Guadalupe Hospice, in Ponce Puerto Rico, until December 2011. In 2011, she received a certification from Cornell University in Plant Base Nutrition. Currently is focusing on several projects that includes her private practice in Ponce; and some teaching projects to the community at large using the platform of Slow Food organization and the Slow Healing campaign. Dr. Montalvo considers herself, a ” Whole Food Advocate”. Her wide-range of experience enables her to provide caring and expert treatment to patients from all walks of life facing a vast array at Leake Watts Children Services, Lincoln Medical Services and the Sidney Hillman Health Center, The Door Adolescent Health Services , all in New York City, also in Migrant health Center Western Region Inc. under the auspices of the National Health Services Corp. in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Currently, Dr. Montalvo hold appointments as an assistant professor at the Ponce School of Medicine, and Universidad central del Caribe (UCC) and was medical director of the CUMIC ( Centro Universitario de Medicina Integral y Complementaria ) clinic at the Universidad Central del Caribe in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Certification in Herbal Medicine from RoseMary Gladstar Herbal Program.

 

The benefits of growing your own organic food March 26, 2016

 

The benefits of growing your own organic food, in a small space; is tremendously rewarding for Gustavo Albarran. Gustavo created a vegetable garden in a small space (10×20) of his backyard; in Yauco, Puerto Rico. With basic gardening tools, a creative spirit, some available time and willingness to preserve a healthy lifestyle. Gustavo’s garden skills demonstrates you don’t need a large farm or vast financial backing; to enjoy simple tasty food. Here are some reasons from Food Matters, that may change how you view your backyard.

 

 

1. GET THE NUTRITION YOU NEED & ENJOY TASTIER FOOD!
Many studies have shown that organically grown food has more minerals and nutrients that we need than food grown with synthetic pesticides. There’s a good reason why many chefs use organic foods in their recipes—they taste better. Organic farming starts with the nourishment of the soil, which eventually leads to the nourishment of the plant and, ultimately our bodies.2. SAVE MONEY
Growing your own food can help cut the cost of the grocery bill. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars and month at the grocery store on foods that don’t really nourish you, spend time in the garden, outside, exercising, learning to grow your own food.

3. PROTECT FUTURE GENERATIONS
The average child receives four times more exposure than an adult to at least eight widely used cancer-causing pesticides in food. Food choices you make now will impact your child’s future health.

4. PREVENT SOIL EROSION
The Soil Conservation Service estimates more than 3 billion tons of topsoil are eroded from Puerto Rico croplands each year. That means soil erodes seven times faster than it’s built up naturally. Soil is the foundation of the food chain in organic farming. However, in conventional farming, the soil is used more as a medium for holding plants in a vertical position so they can be chemically fertilized. As a result, PR farms are suffering from the worst soil erosion in history.

5. PROTECT WATER QUALITY
Water makes up two-thirds of our body mass and covers three-fourths of the planet. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates pesticides – some cancer causing – contaminate the groundwater in 38 states, polluting the primary source of drinking water for more than half the country’s population.

6. SAVE ENERGY
Puerto Rico farms have changed drastically in the last three generations, from family-based small businesses dependent on human energy to large-scale factory farms. Modern farming uses more petroleum than any other single industry, consuming 12 percent of the country’s totally energy supply. More energy is now used to produce synthetic fertilizers than to till, cultivate and harvest all the crops in Puerto Rico. If you are growing your own food in the city, you are cutting down on transportation and pollution costs.

7. KEEP CHEMICALS OFF YOUR PLATE
Many pesticides approved for use by the EPA were registered long before extensive research linking these chemicals to cancer and other diseases had been established. Now the EPA considers 60 percent of all herbicides, 90 percent of all fungicides and 30 percent of all insecticides carcinogenic. A 1987 National Academy of Sciences report estimated that pesticides might cause an extra 4 million cancer cases among Americans. If you are growing your own food, you have control over what does, or doesn’t, go into it. The bottom line is that pesticides are poisons designed to kill living organisms and can also harm humans. In addition to cancer, pesticides are implicated in birth defects, nerve damage and genetic mutations.

8. PROTECT FARM WORKERS & HELP SMALL FARMERS
A National Cancer Institute study found that farmers exposed to herbicides had six times more risk than non-farmers of contracting cancer. In California, reported pesticide poisonings among farm workers have risen an average of 14 percent a year since 1973 and doubled between 1975 and 1985. Field workers suffer the highest rates of occupational illness in the state. Farm worker health is also a serious problem in developing nations, where pesticide use can be poorly regulated. An estimated 1 million people are poisoned annually by pesticides.

Although more and more large-scale farms are making the conversion to organic practices, most organic farms are small, independently owned family farms of fewer than 100 acres. It’s estimated the United States has lost more than 650,000 family farms in the past decade. And the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted that half of this country’s farm production will come from 1 percent of farms by the year 2000, organic farming could be one of the few survival tactics left for family farms.

9. PROMOTE BIODIVERSITY
Mono-cropping is the practice of planting large plots of land with the same crop year after year. While this approach tripled farm production between 1950 and 1970, the lack of natural diversity of plant life has left the soil lacking in natural minerals and nutrients. To replace the nutrients, chemical fertilizers are used, often in increasing amounts. Single crops are also much more susceptible to pests, making farmers more reliant on pesticides. Despite a tenfold increase in the use of pesticides between 1947 and 1974, crop losses due to insects have doubled—partly because some insects have become genetically resistant to certain pesticides.

10. HELP BEAUTIFY YOUR COMMUNITY
Besides being used to grow food, community gardens are also a great way to beautify a community, and to bring pride in ownership

Herbal Graduation Cemeony February 25, 2016

On February 21, 2016; the RoseMary Gladstar’s herbal class  ( Anabis & Dorita Vera,  Elizama Montalvo, Papo Nickel, Sally Gonzalez, Shekhemet Ausart, Aida Irene Fournier, Carmen Morell, Megan Luczak, and LaLa Armstrong ) held their graduation ceremony in the mountains of Penuelas ( Sana & Papo’ s home)

 

Los Niños Mágicos 

Es un verdadero deleite compartir el arte que sana y en esta ocasión me acompañan en esta jornada teatral dos mujeres poderosas quienes hicieron arte sanador con todo el corazón. Llegamos hasta la cima de una montaña y allí en el mágico bosque de Peñuelas, dejamos salir de nuestro baúl de sorpresas espíritus del bosque, hadas, duendes, elfos, ninfas y la mariposas y libélulas nos dieron la bienvenida con su aparición repentina en medio de nuestra presentación!

Tuvimos el honor de ver nacer nuestra obra en un Dōjō. DOJO es el término empleado en Japón  para designar un espacio destinado a la práctica y enseñanza de la meditación y/o las artes marciales tradicionales modernas o gendai budo.  En japonés dōjō (道場, ‘dōjō’^?) significa literalmente

«lugar donde se práctica la Vía» o «lugar del despertar» y se refiere a la búsqueda de la perfección física, moral, mental y espiritual.

 Tradicionalmente es supervisado por un maestro de la vía/del camino, el sensei. Este fue el lugar sagrado que acogió nuestra obra para celebrar la graduación de los nuevos graduados en herbologia quienes estarán brindando sus manos a la gran misión de ser sanadores y custodios de nuestras medicinas de la madre tierra.

Les cuento que parte de nuestra presentación es elegir a una persona del publico y convertirla en un hada! En esta ocasión le toco a Elizabeth quien interpreto hermosamente y hasta bailo en su personaje EL HADA REGIDORA DE CUENTOS. Elizabeth nos contó que era para ella un sueño echo realidad volver a la niñez al ponerse las alas y jugar junto a nosotras con este viaje a la magia que cura y sana.

Esta hermosa y divertidísima historia que honra las medicinas de nuestras plantas y enseña a los niños y adultos a cuidar y proteger toda forma de vida, fue escrita por nuestra Vázquez Elisaura, quien actuó en la obra como el HADA FE.

FE una niña mágica, traviesa y curiosa que ama a los animales y conoce muy bien la comunicación de los seres mágicos con las plantas y la naturaleza.

Esta historia es pícaramente comentada y narrada por las HADAS CUSTODIAS DE LOS LIBROS SAGRADOS.

EL HADA PAZ , una astuta y graciosa abuelita que es un tanto ocurrente y juguetona. A PAZ le encanta cantar con su melodiosa voz que verdaderamente infunde la paz en todos nosotros.

EL HADA REGIDORA DE CUENTOS es siempre la sorpresa que nos revela el publico y este personaje tiene la gran misión de velar por que siempre exista la ESPERANZA en el cuento de nuestras vidas.

Por último esta el personaje de esta servidora, el HADA LIBRELULA. LibreLula es un hada libre como su nombre cuya familia son la libélulas maestras de la transformación y el cambio. Esta astuta narradora del cuento es quien nos lleva entre canciones y risas a través de esta historia

de sanación, paz y amor por nuestras plantas, animales.

Por las plantas y los animales HACEMOS TEATRO!
A todos los graduados de herbologia y a todos los invitados les damos gracias por ser parte de ese mundo nuevo que creamos con pensamientos, palabras y actos.

Los Niños Mágicos 

Escrita por Elisaura Vázquez

Adaptación y dirección teatral por Carmen Sánchez.

Con las actuaciones de Elisaura Vazquez, Mary Luz Vega y Carmen Sánchez.

Asistentes de producción y apoyos del alma – Miguel Duprey, Angel Rodriguez y Wilmet Martínez, sin nuestros sagrados masculinos nuestro trabajo de volar seria un tanto cuesta arriba, agradecidas con el alma y en amor puro. GRACIAS!

Pueden ver fotos y videos aquí –

https://www.facebook.com/RubalCarmen/media_set?set=a.10153906760627770&type=3&pnref=story

Medicina De Familia Integrative: Dra. Elizama Montalvo February 1, 2016

ELIZAMA MONTALVO M.D. : Espiritu, Mente Y Cuerpo En Harmonia

UN POCO DE MI FORMACION

La Dra.Elizama Montalvo aporta una gran formación diversa y una filosofía de apoderamiento a los pacientes a su práctica en Puerto Rico. Ella es médico de familia que ha tenido certificaciones del Board en su especialidad de medicina de familia, y medicina integrativa.además tiene certificaciones en medicina homeopática clásica y acupuntura médica., y medicina mente-cuerpo La Dra. Montalvo integra estas disciplinas y modalidades para hacer diagnósticos y tratamientos completos

 

QUE ES MEDICINA INTEGRATIVA?

La Medicina Integrativa, reafirma la importancia, de la relación de l proveedor de salud con el paciente.

Se enfoca, en la persona como un todo, sus aspectos espirituales, mentales y físicos.  Se incorporan modalidades de sanación  que tienen evidencia científica, y que promueven estilos de vida saludables, y a la vez ayudan a manejar condiciones de salud crónicas, y a la prevención de enfermedades

 

QUE TE PUEDO OFRECER

En medicina integrativa yo utilizo modalidades como, la medicina homeopática clásica, medicina de mente cuerpo que incorpora, técnicas de relajación, utilizando la respiración, visualización, movimientos corporales con música y sonido.  Estas modalidades, ayudan a las habilidades innatas del cuerpo de sanarse y logran un estado de relajación que promueve la sanación.

También te apoyo, y guio para asistirte en hacer esos cambios de estilo de vida, que se han probado que ayudan a controlar enfermedades crónicas como la diabetes, hipertensión. Obesidad y otras.

 

QUIEN SE BENEFICIA DE MIS SERVICIOS

Los servicios de medicina integrativa, se han popularizado, con mas de 70 porciento de la población en Estados Unidos, lo han utilizado. Se  benefician de estos servicios toda persona que tenga una enfermedad de salud crónica, y aquellos, que quieran incorporar técnicas que le ayuden a disfrutar una mejor calidad de vida.

Beneficios probados de la medicina integrativa

·       Disminución del dolor

·       Mejoría en tu sueño

·       Balance en tu sistema inmunológico

·       Disminución en tu presión arterial, colesterol y niveles de glucosa.

·       Menos ansiedad y depresión.

SERVICIOS A TODA LA FAMILIA.

SERICIOS PERSONALIZADOS E INDIVIDUALIZADOS.

LLAME PARA HACER UNA CITA, AL 787-840-2575, Ext. 2274/2141

TODOS LOS VIENRES DE 8:30 AM A 1:30 PM.

PONCE HEALTH SCIENCE UNIVERSITY

Zona Industrial Reparada 2 , Ponce  Puerto Rico
www.greeniszen.wordpress.com

787-840-2575, ext 2274/2141

 787-672-0041

DRA ELIZAMA MONTALVO EN EL PERIODICO PRIMERA HORA 2015 June 2, 2015

puertorriquena se destaca en la medicina integrativa

Click to view video:

http://www.primerahora.com/videos/estilosdevida/salud/boricuasedestacaenlamedicinaintegrativa-166698/

Click to view article:

http://www.primerahora.com/estilos-de-vida/salud/nota/puertorriquenasedestacaenlammedicinaintegrativa-1084439/

DR ELIZAMA MONTALVO SHARES HER EXPERIENCE IN PUERTO RICO, ON PROFILES IN GLOBAL HEALING WITH DR. KAMAU KOKAYI

More Health Advocates…please!!! January 14, 2015

Health advocate is a designated clinical consultant, who organizes a wide variety of health care-related support and educational services to maintain, improve, and manage health of a patient or a client. Clinical health advocates are generally nurses, doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners that have had some experience in the healthcare field or a specialty. There are health advocates who are social workers with an experience in the health care setting. Although most health advocates are clinicians, health advocates can also be non medical professionals who may have had a personal lengthy experience with a condition or may have helped a love one suffering from a certain health condition.

Health advocate will assist client/patient navigate the healthcare system to address any health care needs.  Health Advocate can help patient/client with learning about their health benefits, programs, and resources. Advocate can prevent illness or adverse outcome for a patient/client by identifying health risks early. Experienced medical health advocates can effectively help a patient/client manage his/her healthcare by removing obstacles, providing timely access to care, delivering personalized care and promoting safe/quality outcomes.

Health Advocate provides health advocacy to a patient/client in all stages of their health continuum.

Co-Manage

• Acute health care issues

• Co-Morbid Issues

• Chronic Conditions

• Complex Catastrophic Issues

Identify

• Healthcare Quality Issues

• Healthcare Resources

• Special benefits/programs

Assist

• Insurance Issues

• Prescription plan

• Referrals

• Denials

• Appeals

Coordinate

• Doctors or Specialist

• Hospital or Facility

• Ancillary Provider

• Second Opinions

• Discharge from Facility

• Family or Loved Ones

Collaborate

• Doctor or Specialist

• Ancillary Providers

• Family or Loved Ones Negotiate

• Out of Network Charges

• Level of Care

Educate

• Insurance terms

• Procedure/Surgery

• Disease process

• Preventive Health

• Test, Treatment, & Drugs Review

• Plan Benefits

• Community resource

• Employer resources

Provide

• Communication tools

• Research on condition/diagnosis

• Center of Excellence

• Doctors and Hospitals

• Facilities

• Ancillary Services

A separate and identifiable field of health advocacy grew out of the patient rights movement of the 1970s. This was clearly a period in which a “rights-based” approach provided the foundation of much social action. The initial “inspiration” for a “patient bill of rights” came from an advocacy organization, the National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRO).[3] In 1970, the NWRO list of patients’ rights was incorporated into the Joint Commission’s accreditation standards for hospitals,[4] and, interestingly, reprinted and distributed by the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective—authors of Our Bodies, Ourselves[5]—as part of their women’s health education program. The preamble to the NWRO document became the basis for the Patient Bill of Rights adopted by the American Hospital Association in 1972.[6]

Patient advocacy, as a hospital-based practice, grew out of this patient rights movement: patient advocates (often called patient representatives) were needed to protect and enhance the rights of patients at a time when hospital stays were long and acute conditions—heart disease, stroke and cancer—contributed to the boom in hospital growth. Health care reformers at the time critiqued this growth by quoting Roemer’s Law: a built hospital bed is a bed likely to be filled.[7] And more radical health analysts coined the term “health empires”[8] to refer to the increasing power of these large teaching institutions that linked hospital care with medical education, putting one in the service of the other, arguably losing the patient-centered focus in the process. It was not surprising, then, that patient advocacy, like patient care, focused on the hospital stay, while health advocacy took a more critical perspective of a health care system in which power was concentrated on the top in large medical teaching centers and a dominance of the medical profession.[9][10]

The field of health advocacy also has deeper roots in the voluntary organization sector of society, where the early health advocates were more typically advocating for a cause, not for an individual. These health advocates preceded hospital-based patient advocates and are part of a long history of American involvement in social organizations.[11] They were activists in social movements and voluntary associations including civic organizations, women’s associations and labor organizations, and in the early disease-specific non-profits like the American Cancer Society (founded as the American Society for the Control of Cancer in 1913) or the March of Dimes (founded as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis in 1938). In the early part of the 20th century these advocates came to their work through other professional routes, often as social workers, attorneys, public health nurses or doctors. They were the Progressive era “new women” of Hull House and the Children’s Bureau,[12] the American Association for Labor Legislation[13] leaders of the movement in 1919 for national health insurance, the nurses who worked with Lillian Wald to advocate for indigent health care through Visiting Nurse Services[14] (1893), or with theMaternity Center Association[15] (1918) to advocate for maternal and infant care for poor immigrants. They obtained their professional education in other disciplines and then applied it to health.

Health advocacy also has 20th century roots in community organizing around health hazards in the environment and in the workplace. The Love Canal Homeowners Association, for example, was founded in 1978 by Lois Gibbs and others concerned about the high rate of cancer and birth defects in the community. These grass roots advocates often begin with a concern about perceived “clusters” of disease. The Newtown Florist Club on the south side of Gainesville, Georgia was founded by women who pooled their money to buy wreaths for funerals in their community; in the 1980s they began to recognize that there were “far too many deaths due to cancer and lupus in the neighborhood. ‘That put us on a wonder,'” said one resident, and now their advocacy includes toxic tours of the community.[16] Health disparities and issues of environmental justice are often the focus of advocacy for low income and minority urban residents, and like West Harlem Environmental Action (WE ACT), their advocacy for environmental justice encompasses health concerns.

In developing nations, groups such as Blue Veins may face additional difficulties getting their messages out.

Recently disease specific advocacy and environmental health advocacy have come together, most noticeably in the adoption by advocates of the “precautionary principle”. Somebreast cancer advocacy groups in particular, argue that “prevention is the cure”, when it comes to untested exposures that could be carcinogenic. Rachel’s News[17] is one example of such combined environmental and health advocacy information.

In the early 1990s Healthcare Advocates, Inc. determined that lobbyists (advocates) were helping the masses, but there were no organizations helping patients, one patient at a time. They developed a new model of advocacy that allowed patients to access the services directly thereby resolving the issues associated with access to care and reimbursement through their employers.

By 2007, it was recognized that outreach to most patients who would need personal assistance from health advocates would have to come from the private sector. Individuals, some with backgrounds such as nursing or case management, and others who had experience helping loved ones or friend navigate the healthcare system, began establishing private practices to provide those services to client-patients. A new organization, The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates,[18] was founded to support those new private advocates, plus those considering such a career, with legal, insurance, marketing and other business advice.

The Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) is also a nonprofit association which is a health advocate for its nonprofit visiting nurse agencies and homehealth providers. The VNAA related to DC from Boston in 2008 to be able to be a strong health advocate for its members.

Health advocacy encompasses direct service to the individual or family as well as activities that promote health and access to health care in communities and the larger public. Advocates support and promote the rights of the patient in the health care arena, help build capacity to improve community health and enhance health policy initiatives focused on available, safe and quality care. Health Advocates are suited best to address challenge of patient-centered care in our complex healthcare system. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) defines patient-centered care as: Health care that establishes a partnership among practitioners, patients, and their families (when appropriate) to ensure that decisions respect patients’ wants, needs, and preferences and that patients have the education and support they need to make decisions and participate in their own care.[1] Patient-centered care is also one of the overreaching goals of health advocacy, in addition to safer medical systems, and greater patient involvement in healthcare delivery and design.[2]

Patient representatives, ombudsmen, educators, care managers, patient navigators and health advisers are health advocates who work in direct patient care environments, including hospitals, community health centers, long term care facilities or patient services programs of non-profit organizations. They collaborate with other health care providers to mediate conflict and facilitate positive change, and as educators and health information specialists, advocates work to empower others.

In the policy arenas health advocates work for positive change in the health care system, improved access to quality care, protection and enhancement of patient’s rights from positions in government agencies, disease-specific voluntary associations, grassroots and national health policy organizations and the media.

There may be a distinction between patient advocates, who work specifically with or on behalf of individual patients and families, or in disease-specific voluntary associations, and health advocates, whose work is more focused on communities, policies or the system as a whole. Often, however, the terms “patient advocate” and “health advocate” are used interchangeably or depending on immediate context.

Rapidly growing areas of health advocacy include advocates in clinical research settings, particularly those focused on protecting the human subjects of medical research, advocates in the many disease-specific associations, particularly those centered on genetic disorders or widespread chronic conditions, and advocates who serve clients in private practice, alone or in larger companies.

What is Food as Medicine!!!! December 24, 2014

Food is medicine – that’s the mantra of culinary medicine, it’s the best way to prevent, treat and even reverse illness. Develop a healthy diet to fight obesity, diabetes, arthritis, metabolic syndrome, heart disease and depression. Even your cancer risk could be reduced – over 80% of cancers are caused by controllable lifestyle factors, which include diet.

Links for Cancer Prevention, Nutrition & Food March 12, 2013

WEBSITES                                        

1. rebeccakatz.com

2. lifeovercancer.com

3. cancerdecisions.com

4. helpguide.com   (Anticancer Diet )

5. http://www.pcrm.org   (cancer project)

6. http://ornishspectrum.com/

BOOKS

1. Healing Spices   by: Dr. Bharat B. Aggarwal

2. The Cancer Fighting Kitchen  by: Rebecca Katz

3. Life over Cancer  by: Keith Block

4. AntiCancer: A new way of Life  by: Dr. David Servan- Schreiber, MD

An Evening with the Five Elements and Films November 5, 2012

An Evening with the 5 Elements and Films

The category of films selected, were assemble together to help illustrate, how all movies can provoke a deep understanding of the Five Element theory. This isn’t a forum to critic movies, only share one person’s perspective on appreciating the magical interwoven connection of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Films. We embody all the five elements ( Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water), but throughout our life time; we experience illness, extremely stressful situations, love and loss, difficult financial and career choices… the list goes on!! Along this road we travel, the human spirit has developed tools to protect our vulnerable inner core. We all walk around with a mask of protection or expectation ( depending on your preference ). I once had a client who projected a clear example of the Fire element, always giggling, excited and joyful, and sensitive. After several months, she began to display a clear example of the Water element, philosophical, withdrawn at times, with penetrating eyes. I ask, if she was feeling well; she calmly stated… “at home I’m like this all the time”. She also stated, she ‘s a caring and nurturing mother, and would do absolutely anything for her children and family members( Earth element type). She finally felt comfortable in my presence, and didn’t feel the need to showcase the Fiery cheerleader image.

 Film makers help navigate the audience in gripping stories. And we all have stories!! Watching a movie, is like being a fly on the wall of fictional characters. This form of entertainment helps me to reflect and analyze my own life. These movies were selected to examine the main character’s development, the director’s tone of the movie, theme or plot of the film, and what emotions were invoked after watching the film.

 I knew someone who read about the Metal element, but couldn’t fully comprehend that element. I told him to watch, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. After viewing the movie, my friend had a better idea, how to embrace the Metal in himself. At times, this film seems like a silent movie and praise the value of letting go, not to mention Brad Pitt’s character speaks in a simple inquisitive fashion. Like people, this film brilliantly represent all the 5 elements, but Water and Metal element, echoed in my spirit.

 I once knew someone with complicated mother issues, they wanted to understand the complexity of the Earth element. I told this person to watch, The Silence of the Lambs. Yes, it’s a violent and scary movie, but Anthony Hopkins character loves to consume human flesh, and he talks about the stomach wants to transform…The Earth elements is about transforming food into energy. The pivotal symbol of the moth and Jodie Foster character’s struggles with her father’s death and the two father-like figures in her adult life.This is Earth element in need of major repair.

 I have a client in her late 60’s; with a very hard and edgy personality. Her two brothers had just passed away and she began to distance herself from friends and family. Because of her hard protective shell, she was unable to experience any compassion or warmth from anyone. I recommended a lovely Fire element movie, called Across the Universe. This movie is based on the music of the Beatles…Love, Love, Love. She grew up during this time of Cultural, Racial, Peaceful and Sexual Revolution. A time of youthful energy shaping the minds of future generations.She commented, after watching the movie; she was less burden and sings all the time now.

  I have a friend who is always dreaming of projects, but never developed one single idea. This was creating frustration and bitterness in his life. I told him to watch the film, The Matrix. This Wood element film clearly demonstrate the power of unleashing your sense of hope, personal decisions, fate,  flexibility, and vision.Unchain your spirit and mind from conditions which don’t benefit your growth. He began to partner with engineers and business minded individuals, who could assist with his vision.

 After 2 years, my friend was unable to enter another romantic relationship, in fear of another break up. She was indeed stuck in the Water element. I ask her to watch the film, The Sixth Sense. Here’s a world, in which a young boy lives in the land of the living; but is visited by ghost….all the time. He learns that the dead, only want to communicate and he shouldn’t fear them. After the film, we both talked and she realized she needed to express herself and communicate her needs to future love interest.

  I hope this post helps you see the  5 elements and films in a whole new dimension. An Evening with the 5 Elements and Films, is always being  updated, so keep posted!! Have fun and Thanks.

WATER  ( What is the Water Element…   http://www.5elements.com/docs/elements/water.html )

Bound – 1996                                      Mo’ Better Blues – 1992

Copycat – 1995                                    In the Realm of the Senses – 1976

Unbreakable – 2002                         Memento – 2000

Bad Santa – 2002                               The Game – 1997

Black Snake Moan – 2007               Donnie Darko – 2001

The Bourne ( Trilogy )                      Shadows & Fog – 1992

The Dark Knight ( Trilogy)             Monty Pyton’s The Meaning of Life – 1983

Watchmen – 2009                              The Brother from Another Planet – 1984

Sleepy Hollow – 2000                        The Shining – 1980

Magnolia – 1999                                  Glory – 1989

The Book of Eli – 2009                       Marathon Man – 1976

Avatar – 2009                                        The Hospital – 1971

Diabolique – 1996                                 Barton Fink – 1991

M – 1931                                                   The American – 2011

WOOD  ( What is the Wood Element ….  http://www.5elements.com/docs/elements/wood.html  )

The Shawshank Redemption – 1994                  Reservoir Dogs – 1992

Blades of Glory – 2007                                           Rushmore – 1998

X-Men ( Trilogy)                                                     Network – 1976

High Fidelity – 2001                                               The Bad News Bears – 1976

Pan’s Labyrinth – 2006                                          The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai – 1984

Office Space – 2002                                                  Amadeus – 1984

Hustle & Flow – 2005                                              Tower Heist – 2011

V for Vendetta – 2006

The Good Thief – 2003

Malcolm X – 1992

Fight Club – 1999

Kill Bill Vol.I – 2003

Kung Fu Hustle – 2004

300 – 2007

School of Rock – 2003

The Good Girl – 2002

FIRE ( What is the Fire Element …  http://www.5elements.com/docs/elements/fire.html  )

Grease –  1977                                                           Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – 2004

High Fidelity – 2001                                               What Women Want – 2000

Hairspray – 2008                                                      Alice – 1990

Spider-Man ( Trilogy )                                             This is Spinal Tap – 1984

Basic Instinct – 1992                                                 Broadway Danny Rose – 1984

House of the Flying Daggers – 2005                    Duck Soup – 1933

The Lord of the Rings ( Trilogy)                           Harold & Maude – 1971

Superbad – 2007                                                        Velvet Goldmine – 1998

The Matador – 2006                                                  Purple Rain – 1984

Me and Orson Welles – 2008                                 The Flowers of War – 2011

Y Tu Mama Tambien – 2001                                    Cinema Paradiso – 1988

Love Actually – 2004                                                  Tie Me Up Tie Me Down – 1990

Moonrise Kingdom – 2012                                        Heartbreaker – 2010

 Austin Powers..Films                                               The Crush – 1993

 Nurse Betty – 2000                                                   Pleasantville – 1999

The Avengers – 2012

EARTH  ( What is the  Earth Element… http://www.5elements.com/docs/elements/earth.html  )

The Godfather ( Trilogy )                           Raising Arizona – 1987           Like Water for Chocolate – 2000

SoulFood – 2000                                           Sirens – 1993                              What’s Cooking – 2001

About a Boy – 2002                                      Newlyweds – 2011                     Diner – 1982

Volver – 2007                                                Chocolat – 2001                         Pieces of April – 2004

Signs – 2004                                                  Moonstruck – 1987

Sexual Chronicle of a French Family – 2012                                              Delicatessen – 1992

Kill Bill Vol.2 – 2004                                   Big Night – 1996                        Dieta Mediterranea – 2011

Nutty Professor 2 – 2000                            Eating Raoul – 1985

Pacific Heights – 1990                                Fried Green Tomatoes – 1998

The Village – 2005                                       Eat Pray Love – 2010

No Reservations – 2007                              Woman on Top – 2003

Julie & Julia – 2009                                      The Ramen Girl – 2009

Willy Wonka  – 1971                                     Soylent Green – 1973

METAL  (What is the Metal Element….. http://www.5elements.com/docs/elements/metal.html )

Groundhog Day – 1993                                              The Pianist – 2002

The 40-Year Old Virgin – 2005                               Good Dick – 2008

Dogma – 1998                                                               The Man wo fell to Earth – 1976

Departures – 2008                                                       Metropolis – 1927

Interview with the Vampire – 1994                         My Dinner with Andre – 1981

Seven – 1998                                                                  A Thousand Words – 2011

Being John Malkovich – 2000                                 The Descendants – 2011

Dracula – 1992

Terminator 2 – 1991

Sunshine – 2007

Idiocracy – 2006

Natural Remedies for fearful Pets January 2, 2012

(NaturalNews) Most dogs and cats dislike unexpected, loud noises from thunder or fireworks. What may be a festive time for humans, turns into a night of horrors for many pets, making them run for cover or cower in fear at our ankles. Calm and protect pets from feeling vulnerable and anxious during fireworks and thunderstorms with natural remedies and solutions to help them during scary times.

Fear

Pets display a variety of behaviors when they’re afraid. Learn to recognize the signs.

· Barking, howling, whimpering
· Showing aggression, biting, hissing or barring teeth
· Hiding in closets or in small spaces
· Shaking or loosing control of their bladder
· Running out of the house, yard or other familiar place

Coping Techniques

Create routines and safe places to help pets cope with loud noises.

· Give pets a safe, familiar place to go during a thunderstorm or fireworks. Create a safe room with windows covered and lights on. A closet or large crate will help animals feel more secure. Place a blanket in with the pet or cover the crate to buffer noise level.

· Provide pets with human or other animal companionship to reduce the feeling of aloneness.

· Leave pets home during fireworks celebrations. The bright, flashing lights and loud booming noises may startle and terrify a dog, who may get free from his collar and run away.

· Turn on a TV or radio with static white noise to drown out thunderclaps and fireworks. Alternatively, turn on music or TV with talking to help distract your pet.

Homeopathy

Several homeopathic remedies are especially known for their ability to relieve the fear of loud, unexpected noises. Place one pellet of the remedy in a 1-oz. glass dropper bottle. Fill half way with distilled water. Add 1/4 -1/2 oz. vodka and label. Administer to pets by allowing them to briefly sniff the top of the open bottle. This dosing method helps avoid aggravations, or side effects.

Phosphorus
Phosphorus is probably the best known remedy to help with fear of loud noises, especially during a thunderstorm. The animal may be very skittish, run for cover into a small, dark place, become afraid of being alone and want constant companionship from his person. The animal may become anxious even before a thunderstorm, sensing its imminent arrival. Pets needing Phosphorus are also afraid of the flashes from lightening.

Borax
The pet needing Borax is very easily startled by noises, even slight noises, like the sound of rain splattering on the roof or the whoosh of the wind. The animal may become extremely anxious, howl, run around, cower, and dig on the floor, all in an effort to get away from the noise. He may have a terrified expression and want to be held, crying or clinging from the downward motion of being put down on the floor.

Rhododendron
Another remedy’s action works well for pets who are terrified of loud noises, especially thunder-boomers. Like Phosphorus, the pet needing Rhododendron may sense the coming of the storm. The animals needing Rhododendron may be predisposed to joint pains in the legs and may become lame or arthritic as a storm approaches. In these cases, the remedy may be curative for those problems.

Kali-carbonicum
Older pets, who are fearful of loud noises, may need a dose of Kali-carb. This remedy works especially well for pets who become suddenly startled very easily by unexpected noises. Some pets may have edema and swellings around the eyes and upper eye lids, which is a guiding symptom for this remedy

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/034543_pet_health_remedies_fireworks.html#ixzz1iIu9clzY