Holistic Vitality Educator

Everybody is different. Also, every BODY is different. We share genetic similarities with those who we are biologically related to and even those with the same disability or chronic illness. Still, we are all different and require different things to support our health and wellness goals.   I have a connective tissue disorder called, Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). There isn’t a cure for this condition but there are treatments available like, rodding surgery or the use of bisphosphonates. You can read more about these options on the OI Foundation website. While I do share many physical traits of others with OI, I have a lot of differences too. Therefore, I don’t feel that any of these traditional treatments are right for my body. Instead, I have developed a “Jane Maintenance Plan” that has been successfully supporting my health and wellness goals for several years. Herbal supplements play a vital role in my custom wellness plan. The supplement I take that has had the most significant...

Dear Readers, As we embark on the second holiday season during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important that we take care of our physical and mental health. Life is already hard for many of us and we are not obligated to take on more than we can handle for the sake of “tradition.”   For this holiday season, like the past several holiday seasons, I will wake up at my regular ‘wake up’ time (on any given holiday.) During my first cup of tea, I will text each of my family members and wish them a happy, healthy, peaceful day. Then I’ll help prepare a modest meal to share with my main squeeze and a few loved ones who live nearby. After that, I’ll sit under a fat cat on my couch, watch movies, and be thankful for the peaceful life that I have created for myself.   Remember, if you are spending a holiday by yourself either by choice or by circumstance, that does not mean you are alone. It just means that you are free to dine on Chinese food all day while you watch Tu Wong Fu in your pa...

Living a healthy lifestyle can be a challenge for some people with disabilities, specifically in regard to healthy eating. In my situation, my size and mobility impairments prevent me from being able to cook my own food. I’m very fortunate though because I have Direct Care Staff who come to my home everyday and assist me with meal preparation. Since everyone’s level of kitchen savviness varies, I’m always seeking ways to make it easier for my Direct Care Staff to prepare healthy food for me. Well, last year I was gifted an 8 quart Instant Pot and holy macaroni it has been a game-changer! It is so easy to use that anyone can help me make my favorite go-to dishes!   The three recipes listed below are all things I make at least once a week. Considering the variety of add-on options, I never feel like I’m eating the same dishes over and over. Give them a try and don’t be afraid to add your own personal twist! 1) Creamy Oatmeal This is one of my favorite breakfast dishes! It’s decaden...

The 1980’s were an exciting time to be a teenage girl. Pop culture and fashion were all about vibrant colors and wild hairstyles. I absolutely loved it! My personal fashion icons were Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, and Whitney Houston. While I aspired to emulate their sense of style, finding trendy clothes to fit my diminutive disabled stature was futile and depressing. However, I found great solace in cosmetics! Makeup was the one-size-fits-all fashion trend that didn’t exclude me. Like many teenagers my self-esteem was not stellar so, the ability to indulge in self-expression through cosmetics was huge. I started with nail polish. Then I progressed to other cosmetics, like eyeshadow and lipstick.   By the early 90’s my hair had been every color found in nature and then some!   While I have no regrets because my relationship with cosmetics was therapeutic in many ways, it also periodically took its toll on my physical well-being. Cosmetic companies have not always been as health and ...

Low-income individuals and minority populations in the US often struggle with dental issues . I happen to fit into both of these categories because I rely on Medicaid and I am a member of the largest minority group in the world – people with disabilities . This blog post isn’t about political debate, policy scrutiny, or solving the national oral healthcare crisis though. Instead, it is about using the right tools to help maintain a healthy diet despite dental and socioeconomic challenges. My teeth are very fragile because of a connective tissue disorder called, Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Several have broken beyond repair and have had to be removed. Therefore, foods that are commonly associated with a healthy diet, including granola, carrot sticks, and nuts are not viable options for me. Instead of abandoning my healthy diet goals and resigning myself to a diet of pudding and mashed potatoes, I bought a Vitamix. It took me a long time to save up for my Vitamix but it...

Natural health pioneer, Dr. John Christopher, described cayenne as one of the most beneficial yet misunderstood of all the healing herbs. While it is technically a fruit, for therapeutic purposes physicians and herbalists generally regard cayenne as an herb. Two of it its more notable attributes is the effect it has on the circulatory system and the digestive system. I have taken cayenne as a supplement every day for the past 15 years and it as proven to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. As a person with a connective tissue disorder who is also a full-time wheelchair-user, I am at risk for heart and digestive issues. However, I truly believe that regardless of any diagnosis there is always room for improvement.  Safety Tip:  Only take cayenne as a supplement on a full stomach.   Is it hot in here or is it the cayenne? Prior to incorporating cayenne into my daily health regimen, I suffered from multiple health issues. Any exertion of ...

Please excuse my excitement but as an herbalist, it makes me downright giddy when the answer to a global crisis is (insert drum roll here) PLANTS!   As you may have heard, a straw ban is sweeping the nation and causing a great deal of controversy between able-bodied people concerned about the environment and people with disabilities concerned about dying of dehydration.  This may seem like a dramatic description of the straw ban controversy but it’s exactly the way some people feel and everyone’s concerns are valid. Instead of arguing about whose needs are more important, let’s show compassion toward people with disabilities and the environment at the same time by replacing all plastic straws with a comparable, compostable alternative. There is no debate about the importance of finding eco-friendly alternatives to single use plastic products that will spend more time in the oceans or landfills instead of actually serving a purpose. There is also no debate ab...