www.DesertHealthNews.com January/February 2026 Integrative Medicine The Valley's Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 13 www.dryanilu.com Looking for a more natural weight loss option? Individualized medically-directed program using: Acupoint Embedding • Cupping Acupuncture • Lifestyle Medicine Herbal Remedies Introducing an effective holistic program that helps regulate metabolism, improve digestion and enhance skin elasticity while supporting weight loss and body tightening. 760.674.7178 41750 Rancho Las Palmas Drive, Suite P1• Rancho Mirage www.dryanilu.com Family Medicine | Medical Acupuncture | Functional Medicine YANI LU, MD, PHD Medical Director Before Lost 20 lbs. and 6 inches in 3 months After www.circecares.com Holistic pproach to Patient-Centered Care t Circe Healthcare Solutions, our compassionate team takes the time to understand each patient, empo ering them to take control of their health journey through education and disease prevention. Integrative Primary Care Health Coaching Mindfulness Practices No accepting ne primary care patients ith most major insurances accepted. Edith Jones-Poland, M.D. Founder/Family and Integrative Care Physician Patricia Van Santen, D.A.O.M. Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Patricia 760-773-4948 Palm Desert 73345 Hwy. 111, Ste. 101 Yucca Valley 57463 Twentynine Palms Hwy, Ste. 202 circecares.com Think of Firefighters as comforters and soothers. Firefighters are very reactive and uninhibited. They will go to great lengths to distract, so that an exiled part does not surface, and are not concerned about collateral damage. Examples include parts that go on shopping sprees, gamble, use drugs or alcohol, or inflict self-harm. The goal of a Firefighter is to distract and subdue at any cost. It is important to understand that none of these parts are bad. They are doing their best to protect our internal systems. They do not want the jobs they have but feel forced into working to protect us. Typically, these protective parts operate at a younger developmental age and stage––regardless of our actual age. The fourth part is theSelf which has natural healing capability. The challenge is that many of these protective parts, the Managers and Firefighters, do not know the Self. When we are young and experience a traumatic event, Managers and Firefighters step in to protect us based on the tools in their arsenals. This reactivity may overshadow the Self, much like clouds covering the sun. However, the Self has been and is always present. The goal of IFS is to build a “Self to Part” relationship, opening communication between the Self and the Managers and Firefighters. Once this happens and permission is received to communicate directly with an exiled part, the wound that the Exile has been carrying can be unburdened. Then Managers and Firefighters are no longer forced into the protective jobs they previously held and are now free to do the jobs they were intended to do, like inspiring creativity, or simply resting. When our system is unburdened and there is Self-energy present, we navigate through the world in a more present way. This has a positive impact on our relationships, how we respond during stressful situations, and how we navigate through the world. The goal is not to get rid of our parts; they are all parts of our personality, and they are all very wise. However, we function more effectively when our parts act as consultants, rather than leading the charge. We want to learn to speak for our parts, rather than from them. Gwen Harville-Washington is a licensed clinical social worker, specializing in Internal Family Systems. To learn more and register for Gwen’s groups for women and therapists, call (909) 210.5895 or gwen.alpa@gmail.com. Every Part of Me Continued from page 7 As we all sit down to draft our New Year’s resolutions, let us be mindful that our health is our greatest asset. As you dream of a prosperous 2026, full of adventure and personal growth, remember that these will be made possible on the foundation of good health. Too often, we take our health for granted and can easily forget there are simple steps we can take to protect and preserve our health for decades. I recommend you approach your health in a similar manner to wealth management and retirement planning. It’s important to know your goals, assets and any potential liabilities or stumbling blocks at the beginning of your journey. Like a trusted financial advisor, your primary care provider is there to help guide you on this path. The first step in developing your strategic wellness plan is to consider your starting points: your age and health history. Many screening tests such as mammograms, bone density and colonoscopy, are recommended based on age and personal and family history; when to screen and how often are based on an individual’s unique risk profile. Thankfully, we have strong evidence and clear guidance on these screening tests as recommended by the U.S. Preventive Task Force. For the vast majority of people, cervical cancer screening begins at age 21 years and breast cancer screening with a mammogram begins at 40 years. We add colon cancer screening at the age of 45 for both men and women,¬ and most screening tests continue until the age of 75. This is a very simplified list, and I recommend you speak with your health care provider to better understand how the guidelines apply to your unique clinical profile. I also encourage you to educate yourself on the essential preventive measures that impact you and your loved ones. A comprehensive list can be found at www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf. I would like to draw special attention to colon cancer screening which is a preventable and treatable cancer when detected early. A 2024 report from American Cancer Society, states that colon cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in men under the age of 50 and second deadliest cancer for women in the same age group.® Thankfully, based on your personal and family history, there are several options available to screen for this type of cancer. A great way to develop a wellness plan is to meet with your trusted health advisor early in 2026 to determine which lab work and/or screening tests will be beneficial to you. Using this information, you may make a list and then a plan to accomplish these in the new year. Many insurance carriers, including Medicare, encourage their members to see their primary care provider for an Annual Wellness Visit, so you can work collaboratively with your provider to develop a plan.¯ Edith Jones-Poland, MD, is an integrative primary care physician and lifestyle coach with Circe Healthcare Solutions. She can be reached at (760) 773.4948. www.circecares.com. References: 1) https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation-topics/uspstf-a-and-b-recommendations; 2) https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21820; 3) https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/yearly-wellness-visits Wellness and Prevention Planning in the New Year By Edith Jones-Poland, MD Now what? If you recognize yourself in any of these signs, don’t panic, but don’t go on autopilot either. This might be your body’s way of asking for something more lifegiving. You don’t need to leap before you’re ready, but you do need to listen. Try this: • Journal about what’s draining you and what’s giving you energy. • Reflect on your proudest moments last year. What made them special? • Take a walk (literally) to move the question from your head into your body. • Talk about it with a trusted friend, a coach or a mentor. You might just be stuck and need some help getting back on the right track. Remember, you don’t have to wait for everything to fall apart before you make a change. Small changes to your awareness, intentionality and actions can make a big difference towards finding your next great role. I love and share this quote with my coaching clients often. It is by James Clear, author of Atomic Habits: "Move toward the next thing, not away from the last thing. Same direction. Completely different energy." Remember, a career reboot isn’t about throwing everything away. It’s about finding your way to work that energizes and inspires you to be the best version of yourself in this new chapter. Christine Carter is a career consultant with LHH Career Transition & Mobility and has her own private career coaching practice. She is the author of Restart Strong – A Career Transition Guide and can be reached at chris@startstronglife.com. For a free Career Clarity Worksheet or to learn more, visit www.startstronglife.com. Is It Time for a Career Reboot? Continued from page 5
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