Wisdom Health and Wellbeing

08/20/2026

What are forever chemicals, and what are their health harms?

PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment. PFAS are widely used in thousands of products, such as nonstick cookware, water- and stain-resistant clothing and carpets, sunscreen, and cosmetics. Over the years, they have accumulated in water, soil, air, and wildlife all over the world. PFAS are detected in nearly half of U.S. tap water.

Harmful health effects of PFAS include reduced fetal and infant growth, high cholesterol levels, thyroid, immune, and liver dysfunction, ulcerative colitis, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and cancer. Several research studies have found an association between PFAS exposure and higher blood sugar levels and risk of type 2 diabetes.

Contaminated drinking water is a significant source of PFAS exposure. Reverse osmosis systems are effective in removing PFAS from drinking water.

Diet is another major source of PFAS exposure. Foods of animal origin are the main dietary sources of PFAS exposure. Fish and seafood are associated with the highest level of exposure. Plant-based foods generally contain lower PFAS levels.

A good integrative medicine and functional medicine approach to health and disease prevention includes a mindful assessment of the potential exposures to environmental toxicants such as PFAS.

Click the link below to read our full blog on this topic. If you are looking for an integrative medicine / functional medicine doctor in NJ, visit our website to learn more about our holistic medicine practice.

What are forever chemicals, and how do they affect health? Learn about research on forever chemicals and type 2 diabetes, and learn how to reduce your exposure to forever chemicals.

08/13/2026

In acupuncture treatments, what are meridians and points and how do they effect healing?

According to classical Chinese medicine, there are 14 primary meridians throughout the body, closely connected with organ systems in a sophisticated and remarkable network, through which Qi (the vital, guiding force in the body) travels. These meridians traverse both the more superficial areas of the body as well as its deeper parts where organs reside. Acupuncture points, which are located along the meridians as they traverse the body’s superficial areas, enable therapeutic access not only to the extremities and the body’s superficial parts, but also to the internal organs and inner areas via needling.

In acupuncture treatments, stimulation at acupuncture points activates local networks and accesses interconnected meridians, body parts, and organ systems throughout the body. Acupuncture works by correcting disharmonized Qi energetics, engaging broader physiologic networks while enabling targeted adjustments of the affected body parts or organ systems, and ultimately restoring the balance and harmony among them to produce whole-person therapeutic effects. In this way, chronic conditions, symptoms, or pain syndromes that do not have a “cure” in conventional Western medicine often can be healed through acupuncture treatment.

If you are looking for acupuncture treatment or a physician acupuncturist in NJ, visit our acupuncture page to learn more about our acupuncture therapy.
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08/06/2026

Pesticides and herbicides have been linked to health harms, including cancer, autism, ADHD, preterm birth, Alzheimer’s disease, and autoimmune disease (such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis). The ways in which pesticides can cause health harms include oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and leaky gut.

Diet is a primary source of exposure to many pesticides and herbicides. Studies have shown that switching to an organic diet results in rapid and substantial reductions in urine levels of glyphosate (the most commonly used herbicide) and other pesticides. An article published in the New England Journal of Medicine recommended, “Eat fresh (and if accessible and feasible, organic) produce whenever possible,” and “always wash raw produce to decrease exposure to pesticides.”

Green landscaping practices can help minimize herbicide use, such as using pesticide-free fertilizers, mulching, and planting diverse species. The same New England Journal of Medicine article also advised, “Minimize use of toxic insect control methods; prioritize alternate control methods (e.g., eliminate standing water, which provides an insect breeding ground; use screens on doors and windows; protect skin with clothing as much as possible).”

A mindful functional medicine and integrative medicine approach to health takes these considerations into account in the prevention of disease and recovery of health. Visit our website to learn more about our holistic medicine practice.
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07/30/2026

Acupuncture treatments are done by seeing the inner workings of the body through a different lens. Acupuncture is based on classical Chinese medicine, a holistic system of understanding how the human body works. It views the body as intimately connected with the greater environment, since the same universal guiding force and energy (called Qi, pronounced “chee”) that governs the universe also governs our body and its organ systems. Yin-yang is the balanced and complementary duality of this vital force and energy, Qi, which in the human body guides and supports the molecules, cells, blood, tissues, and organs in their proper functions and collaborations with one another, keeping the body healthy and vibrant.

From a broad and simplified view, when external or internal pathogenic factors cause a disruption in the proper function and flow of Qi and hinder the balanced harmony among the organ systems and body parts, eventually stagnation, deficiency, or disharmony of Qi results. What follows are body or organ dysfunction and dysregulation in the mutual organ-to-organ support and governance, which manifest as physical and/or mental symptoms and, eventually, diseases. The pathogenic or influential factors include seasonal and environmental factors, dietary and lifestyle factors, and psycho-emotional factors.

If you are looking for acupuncture treatments or an MD acupuncturist in NJ, visit our website to learn more about our holistic medicine practice.
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07/23/2026

What do we know about the association between environmental toxicants and Parkinson disease?

External or environmental factors are primarily responsible for causing Parkinson disease. Experts in the field now believe that Parkinson disease could be largely preventable.

There are 3 categories of environmental toxicants that are most strongly implicated in causing Parkinson disease: pesticides, dry-cleaning and degreasing chemicals, and air pollution.

Pesticides, such as paraquat, rotenone, and organochlorine pesticides, are associated with Parkinson disease across lines of epidemiological and laboratory evidence.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) are solvents used in dry cleaning and metal degreasing. In a large study, military service members stationed at Camp Lejeune, where the drinking water was contaminated with TCE, had a 70% higher risk of developing Parkinson disease.

Overall, exposure to pesticides or industrial solvents is associated with a 40% or greater risk of Parkinson disease in most studies, and the higher the exposure to these chemicals, the higher the risk of Parkinson disease.

High dairy intake has been associated with a higher risk of Parkinson disease. People with the highest consumption of dairy products had a 60% higher risk of Parkinson disease.

If you are looking for an integrative medicine / functional medicine approach to health and disease prevention, visit our website to learn more about our holistic medicine practice:
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07/15/2026

What is longevity medicine?

Longevity medicine is an emerging field focused on the early detection, prevention, and personalized management of aging-related processes to optimize healthy lifespan and promote healthy aging. Its integration of advanced diagnostics, lifestyle interventions, and targeted therapies are part of the core principles and practice of functional medicine. Longevity medicine takes advantage of the knowledge gained from molecular biology, geroscience, and translational research to address the underlying mechanisms of aging, with the goal of maximizing years lived in good health.

Lifestyle interventions have the strongest evidence for extending health span and reducing multimorbidity (the presence of two or more chronic diseases or conditions). Combining healthy diet with other lifestyle factors (such as physical activity, weight management, smoking cessation, and low alcohol consumption) can extend disease-free life expectancy by 8 to 10 years. Reducing inflammation, improving insulin sensitivity, supporting mitochondrial function, and optimizing the gut microbiome are some of the integrative medicine and functional medicine strategies that are linked to delayed onset of age-related diseases.

If you are looking for a functional medicine and integrative medicine doctor in NJ for a truly holistic approach to health and wellbeing, visit our website to learn more:
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07/07/2026

What is the role of environmental toxicants and triggers in inflammatory bowel disease?

The emergence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in developing countries, concurrent with the westernization of lifestyle and industrialization over the last few decades, suggest that environmental triggers may play a role in the development of IBD. For example, in Japan the incidence of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis increased by more than ten times since the 1970s, and similar data can be observed in China, India, and South Korea.

Research has begun to shed some light on how environmental pollutants, including the chemicals and synthetic materials in daily life (some of which we ingest in our diet), may be connected to IBD.

Environmental toxicants and triggers that have been studied for their potential association with IBD include “forever chemicals” PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are a large group of synthetic chemicals used extensively in industries and consumer products), pesticides and herbicides, heavy metals, airborne particulate matter, food additives, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and cigarette smoking.

A mindful functional medicine and integrative medicine approach to the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease incorporates strategies to mitigate these exposures, as well as many more considerations including the use of food as medicine and optimization of the gut microbiome, as part of an effort to restore a dysregulated immune system.

If you are looking for an integrative medicine and functional medicine doctor in New Jersey, visit our website to learn more about our holistic medicine practice:
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06/29/2026

A functional medicine treatment for infertility includes considerations of several crucial factors fundamental to reproductive health that may have been previously overlooked in a couple’s attempts to conceive.

Male infertility has been referred to as “a complex lifestyle-related disorder.” A good functional medicine evaluation comprehensively looks into the potential sources of risks, including environmental factors, dietary choices, and lifestyle choices, that may contribute to male infertility.

An important factor affecting male fertility and s***m quality is oxidative stress, which can lead to damages in molecules, cells, and tissues. There is abundant evidence to suggest that oxidative damages to the s***m is a major contributor to the pathology of infertility in 30-80% of men with impaired fertility.

Sources of oxidative stress abound in our lives: processed foods, fried foods, sugary foods, saturated fats, alcohol, cigarette smoke, environmental toxins, including pesticides and herbicides, heavy metals, and air and water pollution, among many others.

Because oxidative stress results in defective s***ms, interventions targeting oxidative stress is important not only to improve fertility, but also to decrease the risk of recurrent miscarriages, childhood mortality, genetic disorders, autism, and childhood cancers in children fathered by men with defective s***ms.

If you are looking for an integrative medicine / functional medicine doctor or a physician acupuncturist in NJ, visit our website to learn more about our holistic medicine practice:
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06/16/2026

To build a healthy gut microbiome, both prebiotics and probiotics are needed.

The gut microbiome refers to the community of the trillions of microbes that live in our digestive tract. A healthy gut microbiome contains a rich diversity of microorganisms and can tolerate different sorts of challenges. On the other hand, an imbalanced microbiome, termed dysbiosis, can be associated with immune-mediated diseases, among other things.

“Prebiotics” refers to any substance that is utilized by health-conferring microbes, in contrast to “probiotics,” which refers to the microbes themselves. “Prebiotic-rich foods” are generally fiber-rich foods that our gut microbes break down and ferment to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are important for maintaining gut health because they are the main energy source of the cells that line our large intestine. Our digestive tract does not have a built-in ability to digest the plant fibers that we eat, and so we rely on the gut bacteria to “digest” these fibers for us into simple sugars. The bacteria then ferment these sugars to produce short-chain fatty acids that not only benefit the cells of our large intestine but also feed the gut bacteria. The amount of short-chain fatty acids in the large intestine and blood is critically important for the regulation of the immune system. The production of short-chain fatty acids can change quickly when people switch to a different diet.

To reclaim your health through an integrative medicine and functional medicine approach, visit our website to learn more about our holistic medicine practice: https://www.wisdomheal.com/

06/08/2026

What is the best exercise for lowering blood pressure?

While pharmacologic therapy is an effective way to lower blood pressure (BP), medication usage is associated with potential side effects and higher long-term financial expenses. Lifestyle interventions are crucial strategies to slow BP increase and delay or prevent hypertension onset. Once hypertension is diagnosed, lifestyle strategies can reduce BP, reduce medication requirements, slow progression, and prevent cardiovascular events and mortality.

In the most comprehensive study to-date that examined how different exercise modes affect BP, researchers found that all types of exercise were effective in lowering BP, but some were more effective than others. When the various exercise modes were compared with each other and ranked by their effectiveness in lowering systolic BP, isometric exercise training was the most effective, followed in order by combined training (aerobic and resistance), resistance training, aerobic exercise, and high-intensity interval training.

However, for any individual, the best exercise for lowering BP is the one that you would enjoy doing and be able to do on a daily or regular basis, in order to reap the benefit of BP reduction.

If you are looking for a functional medicine and integrative medicine doctor in NJ for the treatment of hypertension, click the link below to read our full blog on this topic, and visit our website to learn more about our holistic medicine practice.

https://www.wisdomheal.com/post/best-exercise-for-lowering-blood-pressure