Green Doctors

August 25, 2008

The usual lies - when will they speak the truth

"

" I want to make it very clear that I am in

favor of vaccination, " he said. He will work with

families to discuss their concerns, he said. Some

have pointed to childhood vaccines as a potential

cause of the rising rates of autism, although the

national Institute of Medicine said there was no

evidence to support that claim. "

Sheri

http://www.mercurynews.com/homeandgarden/ci_10203538?nclick_check=1

Green Doctors

By Lindy Washburn The Record (Hackensack N.J.)

Article Launched: 08/14/2008 12:00:24 PM PDT

By Lindy Washburn

The Record (Hackensack N.J.)

HACKENSACK, N.J. Pediatricians are used to

considering the health effects of the environment

on children. Every day they test kids for lead

poisoning, treat young patients with asthma and

allergies, and question how frequently they

diagnose autism and neurological disorders.

Now an Oradell, N.J., pediatrician is considering

what impact his own medical practice has on the environment.

Dr. Lawrence Rosen, medical adviser to the

Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric

Oncology, has opened what could be the first

" green " pediatric office in northern New Jersey.

The office is built and furnished with non-toxic

materials, from examination tables to ceiling

tiles and paint. Examination rooms are suffused

with natural light. Medical records are

electronic. Paper, plastic and glass are

recycled, and a disposal program for patients'

unused medications is in the works.

Rosen, rocking in a chair he says is 97 percent

made from recycled material, said his office is

" safe for the environment and safe for humans. "

His practice is called the Whole Child Center.

" With all the issues we have today with chronic

illnesses and our children, he serves as a real

example of modern-day medicine, " said Deirdre

Imus, who quotes Rosen throughout her book,

" Growing Up Green! Baby and Child Care. "

" He has really made it a priority to practice

what he teaches " by emphasizing prevention and a

holistic approach to children's health, Imus said.

Rosen spent part of last summer at the

Imus Ranch in New Mexico working with kids with

cancer. While there, he set up homeopathic

treatment instructions for such common problems

as bug bites, sunburn, headache and colds, she said.

The new office rides the cultural current

of environmental consciousness and marketing, as

architects, schools, stores and religious congregations " go green. "

Environmentally friendly practices in

internal medicine, dentistry, chiropractic and

other specialties have opened around the country

in recent years, according to the Teleosis

Institute in Berkeley, which offers a " green

health care " course. Rosen, a graduate, is on the advisory board.

" It's a new model of medicine, " said

Niyati Desai, the institute's associate director.

This philosophy considers " not only how the

environment is affecting our health, but how

humans the medical industry affect the

environment. " Teleosis focuses on small health-care practices.

Doctors are considering such matters as

whether to use disposable, single-use paper gowns

for every patient or washable cotton. Rosen is

planning to use organic cotton gowns that will be

washed in biodegradable laundry detergent.

To be truly green, Rosen said, medicine

should also follow an " integrative " approach, one

combining " safe and effective complementary and

alternative medical therapies " with conventional medicine.

That doesn't mean he avoids vaccinating

children for standard communicable diseases.

" I want to make it very clear that I am in

favor of vaccination, " he said. He will work with

families to discuss their concerns, he said. Some

have pointed to childhood vaccines as a potential

cause of the rising rates of autism, although the

national Institute of Medicine said there was no

evidence to support that claim.

Classes in infant massage and yoga are

among the extras at the Whole Child Center,

taught by its clinical coordinator,

Overgaard, a certified holistic nurse and health counselor.

Integrative pediatrics also views the

child as more than a physical being, Rosen said.

It considers children's emotional and spiritual

makeup and the context of their lives within the family.

Lori Ruschman, whose two children are

Rosen's patients, said she came to the practice

because of " his approach to be open-minded

about alternative therapies. He doesn't jump the

gun in suggesting medication right off the bat.

He listens to the parent, to my concerns. "

--------------------------------------------------------

Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

Vaccines - http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm

Vaccine Dangers & Homeopathy Online/email courses - next classes Sept 08

August 25, 2008

Thanks, Sheri for the article...I've realized that there is no point to seeing

physicians that fundamentally oppose what we know, believe and feel as the

truth. Otherwise, our authority over our health and our bodies will be

constantly undermined.

If we need to (forms for school, return-to-work etc), every new dr, appt etc

we need to make, we try to call ahead and ask what's the the dr's

position/philosophy on vax, breastfeeding etc are and if I am not satisfied with

their answers or I get a lukewarm answer, I move on till I get a doc that " hears

me " and does not undercut my beliefs. At one time, I thought it was ok for our

family to see our docs so long as they don't pester me about vax, extended

breastfeeding, co-sleeping etc and just get our annual evaluations or " treat "

the occasional illness. In hindsight, this was very damaging for our family to

go to a physician that had a different foundation than ours b/c no matter how

much the doc would say he/she " respected " our position, their training,

practices and perspective are deeply rooted in how they treat, diagnose and even

how they communicate overall - There were always those subtle and sometimes

not-so-subtle comments and remarks that what you are doing

or choosing to do are fundamentally wrong.

mabel

August 25, 2008

WELCOME TO THE GROWING MINORITY.

Jim

Re:Green Doctors

Thanks, Sheri for the article...I' ve realized that there is no point to seeing

physicians that fundamentally oppose what we know, believe and feel as the

truth. Otherwise, our authority over our health and our bodies will be

constantly undermined.

If we need to (forms for school, return-to-work etc), every new dr, appt etc we

need to make, we try to call ahead and ask what's the the dr's