Apologies to all of
you!  I have been delinquent in keeping
up with my blog duties, but alas, there is much to come after this drought of
information.  OK, I know it’s only been one
week but I hope that some of you are enjoying the benefits of some of the
hidden truths of Integrative Medicine and anxiously awaiting the next thing
that could change your life.  The reason
for my absence:  I was a first-time
attendee at SIMPLE (Symposium of Integrative Medicine Professionals in the Land
of Enchantment).  This conference united pioneering
leaders of the Integrative Movement with the ever-increasing group of medical
professionals interested in providing care beyond pharmaceuticals.  As a conference geek, I attended multiple
lectures, roundtable discussions and evening programs.  Knowledge was permeating the air of the
Marriott and I needed to breathe in as much of it as possible.  So, get ready for my “exhale” over the next
several posts.  I will be showering you
with some of the most cutting-edge knowledge based on the latest and greatest
research being done in the field of Integrative Medicine.

 I’ll start with one thought that builds upon
another topic I have already started to discuss- Vitamin D.  (Please refer back to those posts if you are
new to the topic of Vitamin D.)  One
important aspect of Vitamin D is its interconnectedness with a strong immune
system.  Well, this is the time of year
when your immune system is of prime importance, right?  Sure, this is when all the flus, colds,
pneumonias, sinus infections, bronchitis’ and everything else snotty, phlegmy
and achy start to plague people with more and more momentum.  Have you ever stopped to wonder why these
infections have an affinity to the winter season?  Could it be that all the bugs that cause
these infections hide out most of the year or don’t come out of their secret
lairs until this time of year?  Or, could
it be that they are around all the time but something changes during fall and
winter that makes it much easier for them to take advantage of your weakened
immune system?

It was intelligently theorized
that during these months where sun exposure availability was lower, a person’s
Vitamin D levels would decrease.  This
would decrease the immune system’s ability to ward off infection.  So, those bugs (that are likely around all
the time in some quantities) have an easier time infecting us and causing the
snot, the phlegm, the aches and at worst, the shortness of breath, overwhelming
fatigue and high fevers.  What an
interesting hypothesis!  If this was
true, you would have another ‘natural’ option to preventing and supporting
treatment of your infections.

With flu season already
here (we’ve already diagnosed several people in the office in late September),
it is time for all you holistic health-minded, prevention-oriented patients to
get your Vitamin D level checked and treated. 
Remember to ask your doctor to order the 25OH Vitamin D level as it is the
only true measure of Vitamin D status. 
Aim to get your level up above 32 and best between 40 and 60 for immune
support.  Remember to drink plenty of
water this season and maintain your physical activity.  Buy a neti pot or sinus rinse bottle to flush
out any early signs of snottiness.  Eat
plenty of fruits and vegetables as a vital source of phytonutrients.  These will further empower your immune system
when it comes up against the next germ that tries to take hold of your system.

I would also like to
express my respect and gratitude to Dr. Arti Prasad and the University of New
Mexico for their decade long efforts to provide these educational opportunities
available to those physicians that truly strive to change the face of medicine
to one that honors and treats the patient’s mind, body and spirit as THE key
component to health care reform.