Ruba Katrajian, D.O.

One of my mentors, and a great Osteopathic Physician, Dr. Foley talks about the DO degree.

Osteopathic physicians have been working on the vagus nerve for years to improve its function. This article was sent to me by a colleague recently. It states that a non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator has received emergency approval by the FDA for treating suspected COVID-19 patients. "Research has shown this pulse train causes airways in the lungs to open and may also have a more general anti-inflammatory effect. All of the patients that I treat using OMM (during and prior... to COVID) have experienced the benefit of this. Not only does Vagus nerve function improve lung function and inflammation, it helps with gut function (issues with nausea, reflux, colic, diarrhea, constipation), heart function, sleep, anxiety, stress, depression and headaches. This is a function of the effect of the parasympathetic nervous system. My patients during this pandemic have told me how they can breathe easier after a treatment, they can take a deep breath, they feel calmer, and overall feel better. Some who have had COVID and are recovering, have had resolution and improvement in their lingering symptoms. It's nice that we have some research on these devices to show a therapeutic benefit for vagus nerve stimulation, however this is not news to us who have been working within the Osteopathic field. And the way a trained physician can tailor treatment to each individual is more nuanced and effective then that of a machine. #wellnesswednesdays #covd19 #vagusnerve #vagusnervestimulation #osteopathic medicine #wholistic #wellness #alternativemedicine #osteopathictreatment #osteopathicmanipulation #cranialosteopathy #gutbrainconnection #gutbrainaxis #anatomyandphysiology

Stress research has shown that by decreasing our Allostatic load -the wear and tear on the body (we looked at this a few posts back, go check it out.), we can decrease our risk of dying. The good news is there are many different ways you can decrease the effects of your stress load on your body. Here are some steps you can start taking at home today that have been shown to help curb the stress response: ... - Anti-inflammatory diet - Good quality sleep - Acupuncture - Gratitude practice - Positive affect - Self-compassion - Social support system - Breathing exercises - Taking a walk in nature - Yoga - Tai chi - Exercise - Meditation - Therapy Every little bit counts! Take care of yourselves out there! #wellnesswednesdays #mindbodymedicine #preventivemedicine #eastvillagenyc #wholistichealth #osteopath #integrativemedicine #stressless #buildingresilience #nohonyc #familypractice #selfcare

Now that we understand some of the basics of how stress operates in our body we can talk about how Osteopathy can help us cope. We are going to focus on the two systems triggered in the stress response: the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. There have been several studies that have demonstrated osteopathic treatment to have an effect on decreasing sympathetic tone and improving parasympathetic activation of the nervous system.... Through OMM the study participants experienced : - faster recovery of heart rate and sympathovagal balance after a stressor - Prevention of typical cortisol increase after a stressor - Increased heart rate variability (which is known to be a function of the autonomic nervous system, in this case an increase of parasympathetic activity) - Improved depression scores There have also been studies on the way OMM can affect the immune system. They have shown : - Increased lymph flow - improved immune system strength - Changes in the profile of inflammatory cells in the blood What does this all mean ? OMM is a way to help support your stress response. Over time, allowing you to decrease your chances of having the health problems we saw in the last post that are associated with chronic stress. A trained Osteopathic Physician will know where and how to treat the body to help you improve your health in these stressful times. #osteopathicmedicine #osteopathy #osteopathyforhealth #holisticmedicine #osteopathyworks #stressreduction #stressrelease #familymedicine #wholistic #greenwichvillagenyc #sohonewyork #wellness #mindbodyconnection