Find out today’s trending health online interviews with Stacey Chillemi that will improve your life and your overall health.

Resilience has been described as the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events. Times are not easy now. How do we develop greater resilience to withstand the challenges that keep being thrown at us? In this interview series, we are talking to mental health experts, authors, resilience experts, coaches, and business leaders who can talk about how we can develop greater resilience to improve our lives.

As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Stacey Chillemi.

Dr. Mara Karpel: What inspired you to write your book?

Stacey Chillemi:   The reason I wrote this book was to help others realize that many conditions can be healed through herbal treatments, the nutrients and vitamins we obtain through the food we consume and alternative medicine (meditation, yoga, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, etc…)

Dr. Mara Karpel: How did you come up with the title?

StaceyChillemi There are two important aspects to the title.  “The Complete Guide to Natural Healing: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body and Maintaining Optimal Health Using Herbal Supplements, Vitamins, Minerals, Fruits, Vegetables and Alternative Medicine” reflects our goal to encourage individuals to take a proactive approach to deal with the health issues they encounter in their lives.

The Complete Guide to Natural Healing: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body and Maintaining Optimal Health Using Herbal Supplements, Vitamins, Minerals, Fruits, Vegetables and Alternative Medicine provides the tools that empower people to address and resolve their health issues in a natural and healthier way rather than running to the doctor or store for prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

Secondly, the book encourages readers to consider “A Drug-Free Approach to Living a Happy, Healthy Life”; the second purpose of this book is to remind the reader that medication is never a primary intervention.

The research consistently reveals the importance of developing healthier, more natural options, coping skills, adapting this lifestyle into their life and applying it to different situations in their own life.

Dr. Mara Karpel: Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

Stacey Chillemi:   There are several messages we hope our readers acquire from reading the book.  First, everyone has health issues both mental and physical that they must endure at some point in their life.  This book teaches the reader how they can improve their health by simply using natural products from the earth.  Second, health conditions can be treated but you have to take an active role in resolving your condition.

Dr. Mara Karpel: Do you have any advice for people suffering from anxiety?

Stacey Chillemi:   Snap out of it!  Using meditation and massage therapy is an excellent way to improve anxiety.  Avoid trying to avoid worrying about the future.  Don’t worry about events that you have not yet encountered.  The past is over, focus on the present (take one day at a time) set long term and short term goals but realize that life constantly changes and so will your goals, but giving yourself expectations will help you focus on productive accomplishments that will boost your self-esteem and this mentality will help reduce your anxiety.  Rome wasn’t built in a day so don’t get anxious if you’re unable to achieve everything you have your heart set on.

Dr. Mara Karpel: What are the benefits of meditation?

Stacey Chillemi:   Meditation is recognized as providing broad-based benefit for numerous health conditions; from stress and anxiety to depression, addictions, immune system function, blood pressure, hormonal balance – and there’s much more. In the workforce, meditation is has been used to help people develop or improve efficiency, intuition, creativity, social skills, plus decreased stress-related conditions. Meditation helps one become deeply in tune with their inner life and spiritual nature. They awaken to the reality of their soul. This helps bring peace, calm, joy, love, wisdom, power into your life.

Dr. Mara Karpel: Do you feel medical marijuana can benefit many medical conditions better than the drugs they are currently offering?  Why?

Stacey Chillemi: There are many cases throughout the medical field where marijuana proves to be a helpful addition to healthcare plans that people already have in place. Marijuana is not a cure-all to replace all other medicines, but for many people with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, THC, and other cannabinoids have helped with their reliance on narcotics and chemotherapy drugs. This greatly improves their quality of life.

Dr. Mara Karpel: Medical marijuana has been helping thousands of people with cancer and epilepsy.  Have you heard some similar statements that you would like to expand on to educate the public about this topic?

Stacey Chillemi:   Some of the possible negative side effects of chemotherapy are great discomfort, nausea, and the inability to eat. Marijuana has been proven to help with these patients’ appetite and has been used to replace chemotherapy drugs. THC also has been proven to shrink tumors in brain cancer patients. Marijuana also has anticonvulsant effects, which have been used to treat epilepsy dating back to ancient Africa, Greece, and Rome. Strains high in CBD are used to treat epilepsy and many of these strains have now been bred specifically for high CBD characteristics.

Dr. Mara Karpel: What is one way you can improve your health naturally?

Stacey Chillemi:   For optimum health, aim for at least two servings of fruits and three servings of veggies per day. Fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals with low caloric content. They also contain notable amounts of dietary fiber. Fiber prolongs the feeling of fullness after meals and helps you eat less. Men need between 28 and 34 grams of dietary fiber daily and women between 22 and 28 grams. If buying fresh fruits and vegetables is too expensive, opt for frozen varieties. Frozen fruits and vegetables last longer and are typically less expensive.

Dr. Mara Karpel: How important is it to incorporate protein into your diet?

Stacey Chillemi:   Protein is a crucial part of any healthful diet; it facilitates proper muscle development and growth. Lean protein is low in fats and cholesterol, helping you to stay within your daily limits. Skinless poultry and fish or lean cuts of pork and red meat are ideal. Tenderloin is a tasty, lean cut of pork and top round is a healthful choice for lean red meat. MayoClinic.com does not recommend exceeding 3-ounce helpings of meat. Dairy products, soy products, legumes, nuts, and seeds provide sources of protein if you do not eat meat. Whole grains are another necessary element for improving your health. They are high in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. When eaten regularly, whole grains lower your blood cholesterol levels and might reduce your chance of cardiovascular disease. Brown rice, oatmeal, whole-wheat flour, bulgur, and whole cornmeal are examples of whole grains to add to your healthful diet.

Dr. Mara Karpel: What’s can a person do if they have trouble sleeping at night?

Stacey Chillemi:

Valerian root has a long history of use as a mild sedative. Taken as a supplement, valerian reduces the amount of time to slip into a deep sleep. Valerian with hops also has some clinically proven results for sleeplessness, according to a 2005 study reported in the journal Sleep.   Several clinical studies suggest that valerian alone is not effective in the long-term for insomnia. I would say that, in general, any difficulty sleeping that lasts over two weeks may require more medical assistance than any herb can provide.

Lemon balm, or Melissa officinalis, has been used as a relaxant since the Middle Ages in European folk medicine. It has a clean, refreshing citrus smell so you can take it in a tea or as a supplement.  Add it to your dream pillow, while you’re at it.   The effects of lemon balm are more than wishful thinking/placebo. A 2003 study in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology found that lemon balm indirectly encourages sleep by improving mood and inducing mental calmness. Lemon balm can be called a nootropic, or a brain-enhancing supplement, as it can improve cognitive performance too.

Passionflower –  Most European herbal sleep remedies contain passionflower, or Passiflora incarnata, even though the plant comes from the tropical regions of the Americas, where it was widely used by the Aztecs, according to journals from 16th-century conquistadors.   The leaves and flowers have a mild flavor and have a reputation for reducing anxiety and sleeplessness caused by anxiety.   While few peer-reviewed studies have been funded for passionflower, it is actually listed as an herbal tranquilizer in Germany. According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, the active ingredients may be harmaline and harmine, so does not use passionflower if you take MAOI antidepressants, as sedative effects may be amplified.

Chamomile may be the most recognized sleep aid, but actually many clinical studies have shown no effects of the herb for those suffering from chronic insomnia. Is chamomile a placebo due to its yummy scent?  I don’t think so. Chamomile may indirectly promote sleep by increasing mental calmness.   A recent study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that chamomile significantly reduces the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. This double-blind study even pitted the active ingredient against a placebo pill that smelled like chamomile.

Melatonin is a natural hormone made by your body’s pineal gland. This is a pea-sized gland located just above the middle of the brain. During the day the pineal is inactive. When the sun goes down and darkness occurs, the pineal is “turned on” by the SCN and begins to actively produce melatonin, which is released into the blood. Usually, this occurs at around 9 pm. As a result, melatonin levels in the blood rise sharply and you begin to feel less alert. Sleep becomes more inviting. Melatonin levels in the blood stay elevated for about 12 hours – all through the night – before the light of a new day when they fall back to low daytime levels by about 9 am. Daytime levels of melatonin are barely detectable.   Melatonin is an excellent herbal to use.  Our body produces melatonin and this is what helps us to fall asleep at night.  However, as we age the production of melatonin decreases in our body and this is why many individuals suffer from insomnia.  You can buy melatonin in stores.

Dr. Mara Karpel: What are your current projects?

Stacey Chillemi:   I just published my new edition The Complete Guide to Natural Healing: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body and Maintaining Optimal Health Using Herbal Supplements, Vitamins, Minerals, Fruits, Vegetables, and Alternative Medicine and I also published a book for adults and children to read together called Learning to Be Kind: Over 300 Ways to Be Kind & Show Appreciation.  Kindness is a good habit that has a lasting effect that supports and reinforces the quest for the good life. Helping others bestows a sense of satisfaction that has two beneficiaries—the beneficiary, the receiver of the help, and the one who provides the help. Over time, people who do good deeds develop a friendly and joyful personality that attracts and magnetizes those they associate with and brings kindness their way.   In this book are lists of ways you, your children, loved ones, friends, and family can demonstrate an act of kindness. If you can take time, each day to demonstrate an act of kindness listed in this book and everyone did the same, just think how much better the world we live in could become.

Dr. Mara Karpel: Do you have a website people can visit?

STACEY CHILLEMI

The Complete Herbal Guidethecompleteherbalguide.com

Stacey Chillemi: Where can people find your book?   Barnes & Noble, Amazon and a bookstore near you.

You can also go to my publisher’s site at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/staceychil

About Dr. Karpel

Stacey Chillemi on Epilepsy

Dr. Mara Karpel is a licensed psychologist with over 25 years of experience working with adults of all ages who desire to reach their full potential, no matter their age or health condition. In addition, Dr. Karpel has a specialty of working with older adults and with caregivers.

  • Received doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Syracuse University – 1992.
  • Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Texas and New York.
  • Co-authored publication based on original research study: Karpel, M. E., Hoyer, W. J., & Toglia, M. P. (2001). “Accuracy and Qualities of Real and Suggested Memories: Nonspecific Age Differences,” The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences.
  • Since January 2014, host of the radio show, Dr. Mara Karpel & Your Golden Years, on BlogTalkRadio.com, Sunday’s at 5 pm CT/6 pm ET.
  • Previously, hosted a similar weekly radio show on Austin’s Talk Radio 1370 for two years.
  • Previously, wrote a weekly column that appeared in a Texas newspaper for over 2 years, as well as in Vallarta Today, a weekly newspaper for the expatriate retirement community in Puerto Vallarta, MX.
  • Has given lectures around Texas, in Florida, and in Puerto Vallarta, MX.
Learn How FOODS HEALS Your Body w/ Stacey Chillemi of The Complete Herbal Guide

Learn How FOODS HEALS Your Body w/ Stacey Chillemi of The Complete Herbal Guide

Stacey Chillemi Discusses How Herbs, Fruits and Vegetables Grown from Our Garden Can Prevent and Heal Our Medical Conditions

Mike Podlesny: Hi, Stacey! Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

Stacey Chillemi: Hi, My name is Stacey Chillemi, and I am the author of the book, The Complete Guide to Natural Healing: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body and Maintaining Optimal Health Using Herbal Supplements, Vitamins, Minerals, Fruits, Vegetables and Alternative Medicine. My passion is helping others discover the surprising secrets to healing the body and maintaining excellent health for life. I have dedicated my life to the field of health, alternative medicine, and herbal medicine. My mission is to educate others and share with them the natural remedies to stay healthy, restore health, and look and feel younger.

I am an advocate for healing the body naturally and maintaining optimal health using herbal supplements, fruits, vegetables, and alternative medicine, a way of life that does away with unnecessary medicines and over-the-counter drugs that pose a threat to our health in the long run.

Some of my books in this area include The Complete Herbal Guide, Natural Cures for Common ConditionsThe Secret To Happiness & Success: Master The Power Of Positive ThinkingEpilepsy You’re Not AloneEpilepsy and Pregnancy and Live, Learn and Be Happy with Epilepsy which is about learning about your disorder and how to cope with it.

My new book, “Natural Remedies for Common Conditions is about How to Prevent, Heal and Maintain Optimum Health and is now available on Amazon, B&N, and other online and retail bookstores.

Mike Podlesny: How did you get into teaching alternative medicine and herbal remedies?

Stacey Chillemi:  I developed epilepsy at the age of five.  I had struggled with this illness all my life.  Many years ago, I began working for an herbalist, and I became very interested in herbs.

I began detoxifying my body, I changed my lifestyle (eating, sleeping) I incorporated meditation and yoga into my life; I began cleansing my body from all negative energies.  I went from nine seizures a month, down to 6, then 5, then 3 to 1 then to none.  I now have been seizure free for over 15 years. This is what drew my interesting in healing the body.

Mike Podlesny: What is alternative medicine?

Stacey Chillemi: Alternative medicine takes on many forms in a wide variety of guises, from remedies such as Herbs, Oils, Massage, Tai Chi, Chinese Acupuncture, and chiropractic.

Alternative medicine includes a broad range of practices from remedies such as Herbs, Oils, Massage, Chinese Acupuncture, and chiropractic. Others focus on diet changes, the practice of yoga, and emphasizing the connection of mind, body, and spirit.

This is just a short list of a very long list of alternative therapies. Many people use some form of alternative medicine when they take vitamins or herbal supplements

Mike Podlesny: What is an herbal remedy?

Stacey Chillemi: An herbal remedy is a solution for health problems that uses plants or plant extracts. The remedy may be prescribed by a physician, nutritionist, or herbalist. Herbal remedies are often considered alternative medicine, natural medicine, or known as home remedies because they do not require a physician’s prescription or traditionally manufactured medication. The most common forms of herbal remedies include teas, tinctures, creams, oils, and supplements.

3 Important Tips to Remember

Natural substances often work like drugs in the body, so remember:

  1. Don’t assume it’s safe. Herbs are not regulated by the FDA for safety or efficacy. So search the label for a seal of approval from the USP (United States Pharmacopeia) or CL (Consumer-Lab.com), which indicates it has been approved by certified academic laboratories. For a fee, you can research particular products at ConsumerLab.com.
  2. Talk with your doctor. It’s best to tell your doctor that you are considering supplements. Some herbs can interact with certain meds, including those for high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression, blood thinners and even OTC drugs.
  3. Don’t overdo it. More isn’t necessarily better—and could be dangerous. Always follow dosing instructions.

Mike Podlesny: What type of people are these practices meant for? (i.e. kids, seniors, anyone)

Stacey Chillemi: Anyone can use these practices.

Mike Podlesny: What are some “power” foods/herbs in using these methods, and why are they considered the optimal choices?

Stacey Chillemi: Here are some of my favorite fruits and vegetables that are inexpensive, and you can quickly grow in most gardens

Blueberries

Each small berry packs a punch of antioxidants. They are a top pick by doctors and nutritionists because they lower your risk of heart disease and cancer while acting as an anti-inflammatory. There is a blueberry for every garden — small, tall, semi-evergreen, deciduous, blue, or pink. One easy pick is ‘Sunshine Blue,’ with ornamental qualities and exceptional taste. This variety thrives in fall and winter. Its bluish-gray leaves transform to crimson, making it an ideal four-season plant.

Quinoa

A popular grain in the food world, quinoa is touted to be packed with protein and fiber. Although it hails from South America, you can grow it in your backyard. The grain is harvested from the dried seed pods. We like a variety called Brightest Brilliant Rainbow — the seeds can be harvested in 90–120 days, but in the meantime it creates visual interest in your garden.

Kale

Any type of green is healthy for the body, but kale is a powerhouse. It is rated as one of the best veggies for absorbing free radicals, which have been linked to diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and rheumatoid arthritis. Lacinato Kale, also known as Dinosaur or Tuscan Kale, has a sweet, mild flavor, especially when harvested at a young age. It’s a gorgeous blue-leaf Italian heirloom variety that tastes fantastic in soups.

Chia Seeds

Known for their omega-3 fatty acids that stabilize blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and boost energy, tiny Chia seeds play a big role in the superfood world. Chia seeds are cultivated from Saliva hispanica, a member of the mint family. Grow this plant like an annual herb and harvest seeds when the flower pods have dried. Chia seeds will germinate in two to three weeks, and the plant can reach up to 3 feet.

Sweet Potato

One of the oldest cultivated foods in the Americas is packed full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. LSU Agriculture Department has been working on breeding new cultivars of sweet potatoes. Try ‘Bonita,’ a newer variety with flesh truer white than older cultivars. Its texture is flaky when cooked, like a classic baking potato, with a sweet and nutty flavor.

Goji Berry

This fruit has a long history in Chinese medicine, and it’s becoming increasingly popular in the American horticulture market. Full of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and lycopene, the fruit is typically consumed dried like a raisin and has a strong sweet-sour flavor profile. If consumed fresh, it can have a very tart taste. Proven Winners has recently introduced two different goji berries to their collection: Sweet Lifeberry and Big Lifeberry. They grow like other vine crops (such as raspberries): As the canes get older, they will strengthen. Supporting with a fence or trellis would be helpful, although they can be easily grown in a container.

Microgreens

Scientists are now confirming that microgreens — greens and herbs harvested within 14 days of their growth cycle — have a greater concentration of vitamins and minerals than their fully-grown counterparts. In one study, the younger greens had four to six times more beneficial nutrients. There are several different microgreens to choose from, including Microgreens Milk Mix seeds, which are ready to harvest within five to ten days. Growing greens by seed are simple: Sprinkle the seeds over the soil and cover it with a very thin layer of potting soil. Microgreens are perfect for containers and window boxes.

Beets

Beets are coined “nature’s multivitamin” because they can ward off diseases from the common cold to cancer. This healthy vegetable has been appearing on roasted-beet salads in restaurants for years. The roots are beneficial, and the leaves are just as edible and healthy. Try varieties like ‘Golden,’ ‘Chioggia’ and ‘Bull’s Blood. The colors of golden and ruby beets look gorgeous when combined in a dish.

Lingonberries

These little red Scandinavian berries are one of the newest superfoods. Their berries are extremely tart and often made into jam or jelly. You often see them paired with Swedish pancakes as a topping. However, that same jam could be added to milk to make a fantastic smoothie. Loaded with tons of nutrients and believed to help with many health problems, lingonberries are part of the blueberry family. They prefer acidic soil just as their relative does.

Pumpkins

Containing one of the richest supplies of carotenoids, just a half-cup serving of pumpkin gives you more than two times the recommended daily dose of alpha-carotene. Not only is the flesh good for you, but so are the seeds. There are plenty of different varieties to choose from, but it really depends on the size of your garden. For smaller gardens, try ‘Wee B Little’ pumpkin from Bonnie Plants. This variety is small, so it doesn’t need a ton of room, and the fruit is versatile

Potatoes

Potatoes are another fantastic vegetable to grow with your children because you can plant them in most parts of the country between February and May. Starting a potato seed is like a science experiment, which alone will delight your children. Start by sitting your seed potato in daylight until eyes begin forming and leaves begin to sprout. Then, transplant your potato to a bucket, clean trashcan, laundry basket, or garden to allow them to grow. I prefer growing mine in a laundry basket because my son can see the potatoes as they form and grow.

The best part – a baked potato bar instead of Friday pizza night with the kids – has a spread of fresh vegetables and condiments to top a baked potato, and your children will love growing them every season.

Tomatoes

  1. Oxidized LDL. LDL is the bad part of our cholesterol. In studies of healthy people and those with type 2 diabetes, consumption of tomatoes or tomato products decreased levels of oxidized LDL.
  2. Body Inflammation. Markers of inflammation in our body have been shown to be associated with heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and atrial fibrillation risk. Tomato consumption has been shown to reduce some of these markers of inflammation, suggesting an improvement in inflammatory status, particularly in overweight and obese people.
  3. Blood Pressure. In patients with pre-high blood pressure (prehypertension) or hypertension, tomato and tomato product consumption has a modest lowering effect on both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This can be seen as early as 8 weeks after starting frequent consumption.
  4. Improved survival in patients with heart failure. In a study of 212 patients with heart failure, higher lycopene intake from tomatoes was associated with improved survival. Patients with low lycopene intake were 3.3 times more likely to die than those with high lycopene intake.
  5. Reduced risk of stroke. In a study of 1,031 men from Finland, high lycopene consumption from tomatoes was associated with a significantly lower risk of stroke than men with low consumption. This study reduced stroke risk by 65 percent with high lycopene consumption.

Broccoli

  1. Controls Blood Pressure: Broccoli contains Potassium, a vital nutrient for the stabilization of blood pressure, maintaining a healthy nervous system, and neutralizing sodium’s harmful effects on blood pressure.
  2. Improves Digestive System: Broccoli contains both soluble and insoluble fibers, that cleanse the colon and digestive tract, expel toxins and cholesterol and keeps healthy blood sugar levels.
  3. Fights Depression. Broccoli replenishes your folic acid levels, deficiency of which can lead to depression, fatigue, poor memory, and mental problems like schizophrenia. Increasing blood circulation especially to the brain clears the melancholy and recharges you.
  4. For Healthy Bones: Broccoli contains calcium and vitamin K, both of which are essential for bone health and to prevent osteoporosis. Vitamin K is essential for the proper formation and full activation of the Gla proteins osteocalcin, which when fully carboxylated by vitamin K, allows for the binding of calcium to the bone matrix.
  5. Prevents Cancer: Broccoli has anti carcinogenic properties from phytochemicals, indoles and isothiocyanates that can remove estrogens and fight against breast, bladder, colon, and ovarian cancer.
  6. Fights Heart Disease: Vitamin B6 and folate contained in broccoli offer protection against heart disease and stroke. In addition the abundance of fibers, fatty acids and vitamins help regulate blood pressure and reduces bad LDL cholesterol. Vitamin K also reduces the risk of arterial calcification.
  7. Improves Immunity: Broccoli contains high levels of potent antioxidant vitamin C in addition to phytonutrients and phytochemicals, including sulforaphane, which helps boost the immune system, eradicates toxins and shields against various infections and viral attacks.
  8. For Healthy Vision: Broccoli contains vitamin A, zeaxanthin, and lutein, which prevent age-related degeneration macular degeneration, cataracts and boost retinal health.
  9. Prevents Skin Damage: Broccoli is rich in beta carotene, folates, vitamins B, C and E, which stimulates skin immunity and collagen production. A vital substance in Broccoli, Glucoraphanin, gets converted into sulforaphane that repairs skin damage, reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation and inflammation caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
  10. Helps Weight Loss: Presence of soluble and non-soluble fibers helps lower cholesterol levels, while increasing satiety and bulking up stools for easy expulsion.
  11. For Hair Growth: Vitamins A, B6 and C stimulate the production of sebum, an oil based secretion that acts as a natural moisturizer and conditioner for scalp and hair whereas calcium strengthens the hair follicles. Nutrients in Broccoli can inhibit dihydrotesterone or DHT which is closely related to hair loss and thinning. Also contains Erucic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid for lustrous shine and hair volume.
  12. Nutrient Powerhouse: Broccoli is a good source of nutrients like soluble/insoluble fiber, vitamin A, B-complex, C, E, beta carotene, folate, and omega 3 and 9 fatty acids, and minerals like potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese which are necessary for a healthy body.
  13. Supports Healthy Nervous System: Potassium strengthens your nervous system and assists in smooth functioning of the brain. Broccoli also increases blood circulation in the brain cells.
  14. Detoxifier: Broccoli contains glucoraphanin, gluconasturtiin and glucobrassicin which are special nutrients that help to detoxify the waste components from the body. Insoluble fiber makes its way through the digestive system relatively intact, acting as a sort of sweeping compound and making the stool softer and bulkier.
  15. Prevents Anaemia: Broccoli contains loads of iron and folic acid that help in preventing anaemia.
  16. Anti-Inflammatory: Broccoli is a particularly rich source in a flavonoid called kaempferol, which helps to battle allergies and inflammation.

Mike Podlesny: Can you tell us about some powerful herbs we should consider growing in our garden?

Stacey Chillemi: The humble herb and spice rack in your kitchen today need not be just a decorative feature, although they look quite pleasing to the eye hanging on the wall, in both modern and old fashioned styled homes. They can in fact hold a plethora of natural healing ingredients that can also add great taste to the foods you eat every day.

Here are some of my favorite herbs that are inexpensive and you can easily grow in most gardens.

Basil – Basil can help relieve gas and soothe stomach upsets. One possible explanation for its calming effect is a compound called eugenol, which has been shown to help ease muscle spasms. Research is still preliminary, but laboratory studies also suggest that compounds found in basil may help disrupt the dangerous chain of events that can lead to the development of cancer.

Clove – Oil of clove is 60 to 90 percent eugenol. It is a potent pain deadening antimicrobial. Clove has earned the official endorsement of the FDA as an effective stopgap measure for tooth pain. Clove is also among the spices that can help the body use insulin more effectively, thus lowering blood sugar somewhat. In one lab study, clove was also found to speed healing of the dreaded cold sores.

Dill – Dill has been used to soothe the digestive tract and treat heartburn, colic and gas for thousands of years. In fact, the word dill comes from the Old Norse word dilla, meaning to lull or soothe. The herb has an antifoaming action that suggests why it might help break up gas bubbles. Like parsley, dill is rich in chlorophyll, which also makes it useful in treating bad breath.

Fennel – Rich in volatile oils, fennel is what’s known as a carminative herb, meaning that it can ease bloating, gas pains, and digestive spasms in the small and large intestines. Fennel can also reduce bad breath and body odor that originates in the intestines. Women who are breastfeeding may find that fennel, which works in a way similar to the body’s hormones, increases milk flow.

Garlic – Intact garlic cloves contain an odorless, sulphur-containing amino acid called alliin. When the garlic is crushed, alliin becomes allicin. Research shows that allicin helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure and also helps prevents blood clots. Garlic can also reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Compounds in this familiar bulb kill many organisms, including bacteria and viruses that cause earaches, flu and colds. Research indicates that garlic is also effective against digestive ailments and diarrhea. What’s more, further studies suggest that this common and familiar herb may help prevent the onset of cancers.

Ginger – When it comes to quelling the queasiness of motion sickness, ginger has no equal say herbalists. In fact, researchers have demonstrated that ginger beats dimenhydrate, the main ingredient in motion sickness drugs such as Dramamine, for controlling symptoms of seasickness and motion sickness. Ginger stimulates saliva flow and digestive activity, settles the stomach, relieves vomiting, eases pain from gas and diarrhea, and is effective as an anti-nausea remedy. This aromatic herb also helps lower cholesterol. Herbalists have also found it to be useful as a pain reliever.

Mint – Herbalists the world over use mint, as a premier stomach tonic, to counteract nausea and vomiting, promote digestion, calm stomach muscle spasms, relieve flatulence, and ease hiccups. Menthol, the aromatic oil in peppermint, also relaxes the airways and fights bacteria and viruses. Menthol interferes with the sensation from pain receptors, thus it may be useful in reducing headache pain. Scientific evidence suggests that peppermint can kill many kinds of micro-organisms, and may boost mental alertness. In one study, people who inhaled menthol said they felt as if it relieved their nasal congestion, although it didn’t increase their measurable air flow.

Oregano – Oregano contains at least four compounds that soothe coughs and 19 chemicals with antibacterial action that may help reduce body odor. The ingredients in oregano that soothe coughs may also help un-knot muscles in the digestive tract, making oregano a digestive aid. This familiar spice also contains compounds that can lower blood pressure too.

Parsley – Diuretic herbs such as parsley prevent problems such as kidney stones and bladder infections and keep our body’s plumbing running smoothly by causing it to produce more urine. They also relieve bloating during menstruation. Also there’s a reason for that parsley on the edge of the diner plate, it’s not just there for fancy decoration; it’s an effective breath freshener because it contains high levels of chlorophyll.

Rosemary – Rosemary is one of the richer herbal sources of antioxidants, which have been shown to prevent cataracts, and contains 19 chemicals with antibacterial action that help fight infection. Traditionally used to ease asthma, this common culinary ingredient has volatile oils that can reduce the airway constriction induced by histamine, that chemical culprit of asthma and other allergy symptoms. Herbalists think that rosemary may also help ease breast pain by acting as a natural drying agent to fluid filled cysts.

Sage – The oils found in sage are both antiseptic and antibiotic, so it can help fight infections. Sage is effective for symptoms of menopause, night sweats and hot flashes, because of its estrogenic action and because its tannins can dry up perspiration. There’s also compelling evidence that sage may be of value to people with diabetes for whom the hormone insulin does not work as efficiently as it should. Lab studies indicate that sage may boost insulin’s action.

Thyme – Thyme contains thymol, which increases blood-flow to the skin. The warmth is comforting, and some herbalists believe that the increased blood-flow speeds healing. Thyme relaxes respiratory muscles and is endorsed for treating bronchitis by Commission E, the expert panel that judges the safety and effectiveness of herbal medicines for the German government. Aroma therapists say that thyme’s scent is a mood lifter.

Turmeric – Many clinical studies agree that curcumin in turmeric has anti-inflammatory effects, including a significant beneficial effect in relieving rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Curcumin, which gives this spice its familiar yellow pigment, may also lower cholesterol. Turmeric is also packed with antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, which have been shown to prevent cataracts.

Passed down to us by our forefathers and countless generations throughout the world, these 15 food additives and enhancers are just a selected few that are currently known to have medicinal and beneficial properties, yet represent the more commonly used. By including these herbs and spices into your daily cooking or diet on a regular basis, you will greatly enhance your quality of life, and reduce the need for those expensive, and often damaging pharmaceutical drugs.

Mike Podlesny: What does it mean to detoxify the body?

Stacey Chillemi: Detoxification is about resting, cleaning and nourishing the body from the inside out. By removing and eliminating toxins, then feeding your body with healthy nutrients, detoxifying can help protect you from disease and renew your ability to maintain optimum health.

Mike Podlesny: What methods can someone use to detoxify the body?

Stacey Chillemi: 

  1. Eat plenty of fiber, including brown rice and organically-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, spirulina, chlorella, and seaweed are excellent detoxifying foods.
  2. Cleanse and protect the liver by taking herbs such as dandelion root, burdock and milk thistle, and drinking green tea.
  3. Take vitamin C, which helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound that drives away toxins.
  4. Drink at least two quarts of water a day.
  5. Breathe deeply to allow oxygen to circulate more completely through your system.
  6. Transform stress by emphasizing positive emotions.
  7. Practice hydrotherapy by taking a very hot shower for five minutes, allowing the water to run on your back. Follow with cold water for 30 seconds. Do this three times, and then get into bed for 30 minutes.
  8. Sweat in a sauna so your body can eliminate wastes through perspiration.
  9. Dry-brush your skin or try detox foot spas/foot baths to remove toxins through your pores. Special brushes are available at natural products stores.
  10. Exercise, yoga or jump-roping are good. One hour every day.

Mike Podlesny: Why is it important to detoxify the body?

Stacey Chillemi: The body undergoes a lot of wear and tear both inside and outside so it is important to ensure that the body is taken care of in order to compensate for this. Just like a car engine which needs to be serviced and have its oil removed and changed, the body also has to be detoxified in order for it to function properly and to promote general health and well-being. During the course of an individual’s life they ingest a variety of foods; some of which are healthy and some of which are not so healthy. The fact is that not all of this food is successfully absorbed by the body as nutrients and not all of it is discharged out of the body as waste products, there are always remnants and these remnants become toxins that are left in the bowel and colon of the body. Over a long period of time, this can have some adverse effects on the body if these toxins are not removed.

A lot of the foods which most people eat on a daily basis have a very high acidic content which can have a negative effect on the body if this acidity is allowed to accumulate in the body without being removed at some point. It is necessary for the body’s alkaline PH balance to be restored in order to aid the renewal and repair of cells and to promote general well-being and a short detox program can do this for you. It is not only important to detoxify the body, it is necessary to do so as regularly as possible in order to maximize the benefits that are obtained from doing so.

Furthermore, purifying and keeping your body clean through detoxification is the best way to avoid colon diseases, as well as maintaining a healthy bloodstream and heart. The important thing to remember about toxins is the fact that they are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to other parts of the body and can lead to a variety of health issues because the body’s immunity against disease is weakened by the presence of toxins and waste. So a detox program is highly essential in order to aid the body’s ability to fight off disease.

About

Mike Podlesny

Mike Podlesny is the author of the book Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person and the creator of the Seeds of the Month Club, where members receive non-gmo, heirloom variety seeds every month. You can listen to Mike each week on the Vegetable Gardening

Mike’s “The Gardener” blog is http://www.averagepersongardening.com/blog receive thousands of hits from aspiring vegetable gardeners daily.

Stacey Chillemi

Published in Arianna Huffington’s Website Thrive Global

Life was grand as a toddler, going on weekend trips with my parents, playing with my friends and listening to grandma as she shared one inspiring story after another about the good old days.  What more could a child ask for than the love and comfort of her family?

Surprising life quickly took a turn for the worst and that pathway I was destined to journey became rocky as traumatic obstacles crossed my life path and took me on a different journey. A journey, one no child should have to experience.

The Beginning

At the age of five, I had contracted a sore throat and an ear infection. My mother had brought me to the doctor’s office that evening and the pediatrician had put me on penicillin and told my mother to have me rest in bed. No one thought much of it at the time.

I rested in bed and I was on the penicillin for about ten days. On the tenth night when she put me to bed, my lips were more red than usual. The next morning about 8:00 A.M., my mother woke up because she heard unusual noises coming from my room that sounded like I was choking on my saliva. She walked into my bedroom to find me in my bed turning blue and having a grand mal seizure. This was the first time I ever experienced a seizure.

During the seizure, I fell to the floor, my eyes rolled to the left and my whole body began to shake. My teeth began to chatter, and I started to foam at the mouth and choke on my saliva and my skin color began to turn bluish because of the lack of oxygen I was enduring.

My mother ran to the phone to call the ambulance and had me rushed to the hospital. I was rushed to the emergency room and brought to the isolation ward. They were clueless if any type of serious or contagious illness brought on the seizure.

They administered many tests to try to diagnose the cause of the grand mal seizure. The doctors finally concluded that the grand mal seizure came from a virus. This was not an ordinary virus. It was a virus known as encephalitis.

The doctors had told my parents that the bacteria from the ear infection had traveled to my brain and that the virus was still in my brain. They were told that the viral encephalitis had to leave my brain naturally on its own.  I was in an induced coma for four days.  After the 2nd day, my parents were told that if I survive, I would probably have severe brain damage or I could become paralyzed and paraplegic.

My parents were devastated, but they never gave up hope. On the fourth day, while I was in a coma, my father lay by my bedside and began praying to a saint in Greece. As he prayed he was visualizing the statue in front of his old church.  In Greece, water would roll down this saint’s eyes.  As my father raised his head and opened his eyes, he looked directly at me to find a teardrop rolling down my face.  Immediately after I woke up. They tested me right away.  I had no brain damage, but the infection had traveled to my brain and caused scar tissue damage, which left me with epilepsy. For years, I endured endless seizures.

My seizures finally became under control after years of tests, trail groups and trying every antiseizure medication known to man. My epileptologist gave me permission to drive a car, feeling that my safety was no longer in jeopardy or likely to endanger someone’s life while driving. I was so excited.

At eighteen, I was issued a license that right of passage so important for a young person striving for independence and autonomy. Since I have epilepsy, I was even more excited to get my license since I always felt different from the other kids and that I had something to prove. Now, the gap was closing and I was just like all the other teenagers, one of the gang, the cool girl in school with a license.

stacey chillemi

Picking my friends up and driving to the mall quickly became a ritual. We shopped until we dropped and enjoyed every precious moment. We helped each other pick clothes, buying like crazy until our wallets were empty. The morning after a shopping spree would find as at one or the others house, helping each other get into our new pants that we purposely bought two sizes smaller.

One of us would get on the bed and the other two would help pull up the pants. I can still hear Marie yelling at me to stop breathing and hold in my stomach!

No new purchase was sacred; we swapped our new clothes and could make three new outfits look like ten. As our closets grew, so did our friendships. We bonded, shopping being the experience that brought us closer. No matter how different we each were in personality, we all had a love for shopping in common.

At nineteen, life changed, as you would expect, it should for a young woman about to become an adult. Only my change wasn’t typical.

While I was driving with my boyfriend (who is now my husband) on a winding, country road in New Jersey, I suddenly went into a seizure. My muscles tightened, my arms curved to the left and my foot went all the way down on the gas pedal.

Our future together flashed before us as the car headed straight toward a telephone pole. Fighting me for the wheel was worse than fighting a boxer or wrestler. I had no control and while in the throes of the seizure, I had the strength of a couple of bouncers.

Finally, my boyfriend got control over the car, steering it safely away from the pole and bringing it to a stop.

By then my seizure had passed and a new era in my life began. An angel was watching over us and spared our lives that day, but my license was revoked and my days at the mall became fewer and more difficult to arrange.

Surprisingly, I never expected that not being able to drive whenever I desired would have such an impact on my life, but it did. I became a prisoner in my own home, no longer able to hop into the car and go to the mall, to Dunkin’ Donuts for a cup of coffee or Blockbusters for a video. I was at the mercy of other people’s schedules.

Grieving the loss of freedom

Not one to ask for people’s help, my isolation became chronic. I felt very alone even though I was a strong, independent person and I wanted to take care of myself. I wanted to be a successful woman working in New York, shopping her heart out after work then going to the bar to have enjoyed an evening martini with friends. But that idea wasn’t realistic; my dreams didn’t seem to have a chance.

My confidence was shaken, my self-esteem at an all-time low. How was I going to be a success? I had epilepsy. Where was my life going? What was my purpose? I was depressed, hiding from the world and feeling hopeless inside. Afraid to tell others how I felt, I was trapped.

Epilepsy not going to stop me

As time passed, I was accepted to Stockton University and with all odds against me, I was determined to succeed.  I was put on this earth for a reason, and I was bound to succeed no matter how difficult the ride was going to be.

I remember like it was yesterday, I was in class and an aura came, I had a seizure and I woke up to a classroom in a dead of silence with all eyes focused on me.  Even the guy I couldn’t stand had a face of remorse and sympathy.  It was the worst feeling in the world. Then my professor, in a relaxed and friendly voice, asked me if I was OK and I said, “yes” and then my professor broke the ice by saying, “My roommate in college had epilepsy and he did just fine.”

Eventually, I graduated and then landed a job with a big corporation.  I worked there for a while until one day I fell to the floor and had a seizure.  One of the big corporate employees walked over me and kept going.  Thirty minutes later his associate released me from my position.

Was I ever going to reach the level of success I always dreamed of achieving?  Every time I took 2 steps forward I felt like my epilepsy knocked me back another three steps.

By then I was getting to marry my longtime love that I met after high school.  I got married and helped my in-laws with the business they were starting.  During this time after 3 years of writing, I finished the book I started in college, “Epilepsy You’re Not Alone.”

Letters from all over the US and Canada poured in and people thanked me for writing this book.  One person even told me that they were on the verge of suicide, but they saw my book at Barnes and Noble’s and they read it, followed my advice and guidance and they gained purpose back into their life and the will to live.

It was then that I had realized how powerful words can be and how a simple book could make a dramatic change someone’s life.

It was then that I decided I want to be a writer, an advocate, a life coach.  I wanted to help others like so many others had reached out to help me in my lowest and hardest times of life.

The Epilepsy Foundation invited me to Washington DC where I spoke in front of Congress about job discrimination.  Afterward, I met Congressman Rush Holt who shook my hand, congratulated me on my courage and perseverance and shed a tear as he told me about heartwarming moments watching his sister grow up with Epilepsy.

During my years of writing in the health field and over 15 years of behind my belt, I began writing for a herbalist.  I used many of things I learned and applied it to my own life.  Amazingly, my seizures decreased, eventually stopped and fifteen years later I was able to drive again.

I was intrigued with herbals, vitamins, food for medicine, and the natural life (alternative medicine).  For the next two years, I researched and collected valuable information and completed my book, The Complete Herbal Guide: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body and Maintaining Optimal Health Using Herbal Supplements, Vitamins, Minerals, Fruits, Vegetables and Alternative Medicine.

I started with a blog of 400, to a website of 10,000 to a redesigned website that brings 300,000 monthly visitors.

Some would be satisfied to accomplish what I’ve achieved with the struggles I have to face. Yet I am still determined to reach higher levels of success.  I want to speak in front of large groups about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.  I want to teach others about the power of positive thinking and most of all I want to help others who struggle will a disability. My mission is to make a difference.  I want to help improve the lives of millions.

I realize no matter what age you are you can transform your life and create the life you always wanted for yourself. A life filled with happiness, inner peace, good health, and positivity.

Stacey Chillemi

stacey on couch

Stacey Chillemi a mother of three is a popular and recognizable health and lifestyle reporter and expert, columnist and health host. Author of The Complete Guide to Natural Healing: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body and Maintaining Optimal Health Using Herbal Supplements, Vitamins, Minerals, Fruits, Vegetables and Alternative Medicine and Natural Remedies for Common Conditions: How to Prevent, Heal and Maintain Optimum Health Using Alternative Medicine, Herbals, Vitamins, and Food, along with 20 other published books, Stacey is the founder of The Complete Herbal Guide (thecompleteherbleguide.com). Stacey has been a guest on numerous lifestyle and health-related TV and radio programs, and is a recognized health and natural remedies expert, with over 20 years in practice as a Health Coach. Stacey has been a guest on the Dr. Oz Show, local news, and numerous radio shows.

 

 

newspaper article colts neck

By WYATT OLSON/HEALTH WRITER OF THE ASBURY PARK PRESS

After studying advertising and marketing at Richard Stockton College near Atlantic City, the then 23-year-old began work with a television station in Manhattan, hoping to break into the field.

But the stress aggravated her lifelong condition of epilepsy, she said, and on two occasions she collapsed on city streets with seizures – once amid busy traffic.

“When I woke up, there was one cop directing traffic around me and the other was kneeling over me, trying to help,” said Chillemi, 28, during an interview at her home.

“After that, I stopped working in the city,” she said. “I realized that I couldn’t deal with the stress, I guess. I didn’t want to put my life in jeopardy.”

Chillemi‘s experiences led her to study the lives of others who have shared her disorder. She has completed a book manuscript with dozens of letters from people with epilepsy sharing stories of coping with the isolation, depression, and low self-esteem that commonly accompany the disorder.

The key to overcoming that, she said, is acknowledging limitations on the one hand, then discovering new avenues of personal and professional growth.

An estimated 125,000 New Jersey residents have epilepsy, said Eric Joice, executive director of the Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey.

Chillemi moved on with her life after her Manhattan experience to a computer programming job in Monmouth County. Eventually, she married her college sweetheart, Michael, and they had a son, Michael III in 1998.  She also began a quest to come to terms with her epilepsy.

In 1995, Chillemi submitted a letter to the magazine Epilepsy USA, published by the Epilepsy Foundation of America, soliciting stories about how others coped.

“I was surprised when I got hundreds of letters back from people all over America and Canada,” she said. “A lot brought tears to my eyes.

“That’s when my life really took a turnaround because I realized there are so many individuals out there feeling the way I did. … I realized that I’m not the only one who feels alone, rejected, limited, and angry at times.”

One man wrote that he had a seizure and fell beneath a bus at its stop. The driver didn’t notice the man and drove away, catching the man’s jacket and dragging him down the street.

A 25-year-old mother of two wrote about the first time her toddler son had a seizure. She noticed that the boy’s eyes had rolled back in his head, and when she picked him up he was limp and not breathing – typical symptoms of a seizure but terrifying for the uninitiated. The mother eventually got the boy’s seizures under control through a special diet.

Other letter writers said they had 60 to 120 small seizures a day some had experienced mild brain damage as a result because of the continual oxygen deprivation.

Feeling different

Epilepsy actually is not a disease, but a term describing recurring seizures. They can be caused by many different neurological disorders brought on by trauma, disease, or genetic defects. During a seizure, part or all of the brain is consumed by abnormal electrical discharges, like a sudden electrical storm. About 2.3 million Americans have been diagnosed with epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.

In about half the cases of epilepsy, the cause of seizures cannot be identified, said Dr. David Mandelbaum, director of the division of child neurology at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He estimates that genetic defects are responsible for a sizable portion of these cases.

Researchers are working to identify them. The task is huge, given that about half of all human genes are involved to some degree with brain development.

Chillemi, who grew up on Long Island, was 5 years old when she contracted encephalitis, a viral infection that caused her brain to swell. Though she overcame the virus, the infection left scar tissue in her brain that manifested itself in seizures.

She said her mother heard gurgling noises from Chillemi‘s room and found her in the midst of a major seizure. The frequency of seizures increased when she reached puberty.

“As a child, I was restrained from doing a lot of things,” she said. “I didn’t want to be different from anybody else, and I didn’t see why I had to be different.

“When I was a child, I wouldn’t be allowed to play certain things in the gym, like basketball or any contact sport with a ball where you could get hurt. I was very angry, and as I got older I started feeling ashamed that I had epilepsy.”

When she reached high school, Chillemi said she was determined to keep her epilepsy a secret. The seizures she had then were often less intense, leaving her dazed and looking as though she were having a daydream.

During more serious seizures, her eyes would roll back, her teeth chattered and she would lose consciousness briefly. When she revived, she was confused and would remain fatigued through part of the day.

“At times, I felt alone,” she said. “After seizures, I would cry. It’s something you have no control over and that makes you very angry. Your body tells you when you’re going to have a seizure and you can’t do anything about it.”

Chillemi said her seizures begin with a tingle in the foot, then a feeling of electrical power moving up her body, which is called an aura. An aura is the earliest stage of brain irritation from the seizure’s electrical discharge. Some people feel a change in body temperature or anxiety. For others, the aura might be a musical sound, unfamiliar taste, or a strong odor.

Many people with epilepsy control their seizures fully or partially with drugs. Two years ago, Chillemi said she discovered an anticonvulsant medication that controls her seizures. Now, she has them only during sleep, although they are accompanied by a recurring dream of suffocation.

Questions about state law

Chillemi said she is content with her life as a stay-at-home mom and fledgling book author. She is negotiating with several publishers who have expressed interest in the book, whose working title is “Epilepsy: You’re Not Alone.”

Like most people with epilepsy, she does not drive – a restriction that adds to a sense of isolation for her and others.

“In a state like New Jersey, if you can’t drive, you’ve got a big problem,” said Joice of the Epilepsy Foundation.  Joice said New Jerseyans with epilepsy is hampered by an “onerous” state driving law, Driving restrictions are one of the reasons that national studies have found people with epilepsy are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed than the general population, he said.

A New Jersey statute dating to the 1920s requires doctors to report patients who have seizures to the Department of Motor Vehicles. A review board then decides whether a driver’s license should be suspended, Joice said. If it’s suspended, the person must be free of seizures for 12 months to qualify for reinstatement, a process that can take months, he said.

New Jersey is one of six states that require mandatory reporting by doctors, said Joice, who calls the law “regressive.” He said that mandatory reporting chills the relationship between doctor and patient. To skirt that law, many patients seek care in Pennsylvania or New York, where reporting is not required, Joice said.

The Epilepsy Foundation of America advocates driving laws similar to the approach taken by Wisconsin, which works on a case-by-case basis. Wisconsin licenses people who have been seizure-free for three months provided a doctor has submitted a statement in regard to the condition. Additional reports must be filed every six months for people who have been seizure-free for less than two years. Maryland has a similar system.

John Dourgarian, a spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, said the department consults with an epilepsy self-help group associated with the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick.

“I think we try to be as sensitive as we can to this matter,” he said. “We don’t want to have anyone who’s subject to a seizure driving a vehicle. At the same time, if a person has, through medication or in some way gotten past the seizure problem, then they can be authorized to drive again. That’s something we work on with their doctor.”

Joice said that statistics in Wisconsin and Maryland show no increase in accidents due to drivers’ seizures since changes were implemented in the early 1990s. He advocates that New Jersey follow suit.

“We would be the last organization that would want to put people at risk,” Joice said. He expects legislation will be introduced in Trenton this year to alter the existing driving provisions.

Dourgarian, however, said he was not aware of any proposed legislation.