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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Dr. Minal Vazirani of Integrative Health & Wellness Associates

Our very own Somerset County gem—an integrative medicine physician extraordinaire, Dr. Minal Vazirani, MD, DABP, DABIM, DABOIM, has been busy being bestowed with statewide and national accolades, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon!

After transitioning from a position as medical director of the Siegler Center for Integrative Medicine at Barnabas Health last year, Dr. V, as she is fondly called, launched a thriving boutique integrative, ayurvedic and functional medicine private practice in Somerset County. Additionally, she continues her private practice at Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center.

Since then, Dr. V’s speaking calendar has been full of both community outreach speaking engagements as well as being a keynote lecture at the NJ Health and Wellness Expo. Most recently, Dr. V was selected as a New Jersey’s Favorite Kid’s Doc in the Functional Medicine, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics categories. Dr. V is also one of the only physicians in the entire state of New Jersey to be a Triple Board Certified Diplomate in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Integrative Medicine.

Congratulations to you, Dr. V! From all of us at Natural Awakenings, we wish you all the best at your newest location in Warren.

Location: Integrative Health and Wellness Associates, 122 Town Center Drive, Warren and 200 South Orange Avenue, Suite 107, Livingston. For more information, visit Facebook.com/DrVazirani.

Local Insights Feature
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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