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Suite D
Rockaway, NJ 07866973-453-6400 - Sign up to receive news and updates and get my free report:“The Top 10 Reasons to Try Acupuncture”
- Testimonials
I have suffered from seasonal allergies for almost 20 years. Each year they would progressively get worse- causing severe congestion, sneezing, puffy eyes, headaches, and often a rash. This would continue throughout the spring allergy season, and no pill or home remedy I tried ever really provided relief.
I started seeing David for acupuncture to treat my migraine headaches, and since that had been so successful, I decided to try it for treating my allergy symptoms as well. I was
... Read more »After injuring my left shoulder, I had several months of physical therapy. I regained *almost* full usage of my shoulder and continued with physical therapy exercises on my own, but had to stop. Then the shoulder pain got much worse. I saw an orthopedic surgeon and was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder. Before trying a cortisone shot, I wanted to better understand the alternatives. I recalled how a friend had been helped by David and decided to give acupuncture a
... Read more »After years of suffering with severe pain in the neck, back and down my entire right arm, I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis and disc degeneration of my cervical spine. I had tried chiropractic, massage and had even undergone spinal injections to try to remedy the condition just to get some relief. Nothing had positive results. As an athlete and body builder, this constant nagging pain not only made being active very difficult, but day to day activities were also a
... Read more »I suffered with tinnitus and anxiety about it for a couple of years. I tried all the magic pills and sound machines (to mask the ringing) to no avail. My doctor told me nothing could be done and that I had to learn to live with it. When I got that bad news my anxiety levels went through the roof. The online forums on tinnitus didn’t help matters with their less than rosy outlook on the condition.
Then
... Read more »After playing a lot of golf in Florida this past winter, I suffered from “tennis elbow” of my left arm, which, unfortunately, has “cramped my style” and also has prevented me from playing golf this spring and summer. Apparently, “tennis elbow” isn’t just an overuse injury caused by playing tennis; it’s common to golfers, and it involves strained inflamed outer elbow tendons. Upon my return to NJ, basic arm movements such as being able to wring out a towel or
... Read more » Hours – By Appointment Only
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Latest Articles:
- • Three Steps to Keep Winter Allergies at Bay •
- • Healthy and Hearty Winter Recipes •
- • Three Tips for Maintaining Your Mental Health in Winter •
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Recent Posts
Health WellNews
Tips to Manage Fall Allergy Season
After such a scorching summer in much of the country, Fall is a welcome season bringing cooler temperatures, comforting food, and a gentle lead into winter. However, for many people, Fall also brings with it some severe allergies.
While most people may associate severe allergies with the Spring and Summer months when everything is in bloom, there are those who only suffer during the autumn. The main cause of Fall hay fever is typically weed pollen but, depending on where you are located, common fall allergens can include ragweed, sagebrush, burning bush, tumbleweed, and Russian thistle just to name a few.
If you suffer from these types of allergies, you are more than likely aware of days when pollen counts are especially high (windy and warm days). Rainy days are a welcome relief until the grasses dry and pollen counts soar once again.
A common Fall occurrence in many parts of the country is burning leaves after they fall from the trees. This is when mold can become a problem for those suffering from Fall allergies. When those piles of damp leaves are left alone to rot, mold can form and cause allergy sufferers all kinds of issues.
In some areas of the country, ragweed can cause problems from late August to mid-November. Ragweed thrives on warm days and cool nights and is found in every part of the country. As with most grasses, pollen counts are highest early in the morning.
Now that you know some of the more common Fall allergies, what can you do to make this season as painless as possible? It’s not realistic to lock yourself inside with nose spray and tissues but you can be strategic in your plan of attack to deal with the dreaded Fall allergy season. Here are a few tips to ease the burden:
- Make sure you are aware of pollen counts so you can limit your time outside during peak hours if possible.
- Use a HEPA filter and humidifier to keep airborne pollen levels manageable.
- Keep doors and windows closed, especially on days when pollen counts are high.
- Vacuum and dust regularly.
- Change clothes and take a shower after outdoor activities.
In addition to over-the-counter nasal sprays and antihistamines, check with your health care provider to discuss treatment options including acupuncture (which has a history of effectively treating allergies) and herbal remedies, as these are more natural options to dealing with Fall allergies.
Fall’s Best Comfort Food
One of the best things about the approach of Fall is the cooler temperatures that bring family recipes filled with warm comfort food. It’s no wonder Fall is often described as soup season. Hearty and warm soups filled with fall produce and rich broth bring warmth and comfort to family tables no matter where you live.
One of the most recognizable Fall vegetables must be pumpkin. But pumpkins aren’t just cute Halloween decorations. A quick search of the Internet will deliver dozens of pumpkin soup recipes right to your inbox. Here’s a favorite you may not have tried before: Pumpkin Soup with Coconut Milk. You can vary this soup recipe by choosing butternut squash as well and the addition of the coconut milk instead of heavy cream won’t be noticeable to most. Finishing it off with a healthy spoonful of plain Greek yogurt, chopped parsley and a drizzle of high-quality olive oil will have you going back for seconds and thirds! Making a double batch also leaves you extra to freeze and warm up later when time is short.
The prep time for this soup is approximately 30 minutes and the cook time is one hour and 35 minutes. This recipe will serve 8. And the roasting of the vegetables gives this soup a rich flavor you won’t forget.
Ingredient List:
- 1 large sweet potato
- 1 small pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes (shortcut: you can buy already cubed butternut squash in the freezer section of most grocery stores but fresh is best!)
- 3 large carrots, peeled and cut in half
- 2 large red onions, halved
- ¼ cup high-quality extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of flakey sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 pinch of white pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- 4 cups checking stock
- 2 (13.5 ounce) cans coconut milk
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wrap sweet potato in foil and bake until soft, about 45 minutes
- While the sweet potato is roasting, place pumpkin, carrots and onions on a baking sheet. Brush with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, allspice and white pepper. Bake for 30-40 minutes until soft.
- Peel sweet potato and squash when cool enough to handle. Transfer to a large saucepan and add carrots, onions, nutmeg, cumin, coriander, ginger, salt and pepper. Stir in chicken stock and coconut milk. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and summer 20 minutes.
- Puree soup using an immersion blender or regular blender until smooth.
Serve warm with crusty bread and enjoy the tastes of Fall!
3 Tips to Keep Mentally Healthy in Fall
While many people embrace the approach of Fall, with its vibrant colors, cooler temperatures, and shorter days, others notice a dangerous shift in their mental health. For some, the decrease in temperature means more time indoors and that can have a negative impact on our physical and mental health. Here are three tips to maintain your mental health during the Fall.
Keep Your Vitamin D Levels in Check
It’s easy to get lots of Vitamin D during the warm summer months, but with shorter days comes fewer hours of sunshine which can translate to less time spent outside. This can make it increasingly difficult to get the Vitamin D you need.
Low levels of Vitamin D can cause a host of health issues so keeping your levels in check is important during the colder and sometimes darker fall and winter months. While you can increase your intake through diet changes, a Vitamin D supplement might be the most effective way to maintain your intake. The daily Vitamin D recommendation is 400-800 IU but some people need between 1000-4000 IU per day to keep levels in the right range. Make sure you talk to your health professional to see what is right for you.
The Importance of Sleep
The cooler temperatures of Fall can often bring the urge to hibernate or spend a little more time under those cozy blankets. But keep in mind that this could be disrupting your sleep patterns which can also bring about a host of health issues. The fewer hours of sunlight can also give the urge to stay in bed longer. Sleep experts recommend keeping the same bedtime and waking time throughout the week. Don’t let yourself sleep the weekends away! Use the cooler temperatures to your advantage as the body sleeps best in a cool environment.
Stay Hydrated
Believe it or not, we’re more likely to be dehydrated in the winter months. It makes sense if you think about it. It’s not as warm out so we’re less thirsty. Dry skin and a lack of energy might just be the keys to recognizing you’re dehydrated.
There are lots of ways to track your hydration including apps and fancy water bottles. You can also maintain your hydration through drinking herbal tea for a warm beverage during those cooler mornings and evenings. And you can incorporate foods with high moisture contents including apples, pears, celery, lettuces, cucumbers, butternut squash, and pomegranate among other options.
As you embrace sweater weather, embrace your mental health and make sure you are getting enough sleep, staying hydrated and keeping up with your Vitamin D. This can make all the difference in whether or not you enjoy a healthy Fall.