An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure.

Dr. Otilia and I met through MsBusinessAssociation about three years ago and quickly discovered that not only do we share same heritage backgrounds but are also moms of teenagers, love to cook healthy meals and practice yoga. We also have similar values when it comes to our businesses with focus on prevention.

As neither of us are big fans of sitting around and small talk over coffee, we decided to meet up in one of our local forest preserves for a brisk walk one beautiful spring morning and dove right into our chat.

Anita: Otilia, thank you for joining me today.

As the owner of Wellness Oasis, you have been serving the Barrington community since 2005, so almost two decades now. I would love to hear how, and why Wellness Oasis started? And also, why did you decide to become a chiropractor?

Otilia: Thank you for having me, Anita.

Wellness Oasis started in 2005, I always knew I wanted to have my own practice. I knew that I'd want that flexibility to balance having children and having a career. and I realized that it would definitely take some Ingenuity flexibility and creativity to be able to create a satisfactory home life on a satisfactory growing career. I definitely have come to realize that it is very difficult.

My undergrad education was a bachelor's in biology from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and while I enjoyed science and learning about the body biochemistry and genetics after doing a couple of internships during school and working in labs I realized that Laboratory work was not for me. I wanted to have that personal interaction. and also, I realized I wasn't that patient, I didn't want to wait 5-10 years to see the results of my work, so then I began volunteering at two of the local hospitals and realized that I didn't love the hospital environment. It just wasn’t for me; I didn’t like the smell, I didn’t like the harsh fluorescent lighting, and lack of sunlight. Shortly thereafter, I got an assistant position at a busy chiropractic clinic with 4 doctors and a staff of 10 and everyone there seemed happy to be there. You got to work with patients over the course of their treatment plan and get to know them and it was rewarding. It was an integrative approach, and while most patients found the clinic due to a musculoskeletal problem a combination of care was introduced to them. There was a chiropractic physician who focused on nutrition and blood work. Over 25 years ago people were getting counseled on diet, probiotics, food allergies, natural hormones, most things that have taken over 20 years to become mainstream. There was a sports injury chiropractor who worked with high school athletes and weekend warriors and a chiropractor who helped with pregnancy and pediatrics. I was able to witness patients transform their life through comprehensive non-invasive care coordinated by chiropractors. The lifestyle was conducive to family life as well, with few emergencies in the middle of the night. I loved chiropractic school! I really believe that my health and the health of my family would not be where it is now if I had not received that education and was immersed in that lifestyle, surrounded by students that shared my passion for vibrant health.

And now I get to use my words and my hands, problem solving, trying to make a difference in somebody’s life. That’s quite a reward!

Anita: Wow! Sounds like you definitely made the right decision, Otilia.

Even though our respective niches within the wellness realm are very different, we both stress the importance of preventative care. What are some of the treatments that you currently offer?

Otilia: We offer non-invasive, customized care for all of your aches and pains using a customized and personalized combination of traditional chiropractic care aka the adjustment, which the doctor does using their hands or with the help of a gentle tool. We also have therapy like Ultrasound, shockwave, and electric stimulation to help with the tissue healing response. Active care is so important, so therapeutic/rehabilitative exercises that we learn and perform in the office and eventually at home are an integral part of a complete recovery.

Acupuncture and massage therapy are common modalities. In certain cases, especially chronic ones, looking at a person’s nutrition, lifestyles, even blood work results is necessary to get full healing. People come into the office with neck and shoulder pain and tightness, especially our desk/computer workers; headaches, low back pain; stiff shoulder joint, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel and other wrist/ hand conditions. Achy hips, knee issues…especially if they are interfering with exercise or activity.

Acupuncture is commonly sought out for sleep issues, anxiety, pain, and headaches. We’ve been offering cosmetic acupuncture for facial rejuvenation for 20 years now. Facial cupping and microneedling are complementary add-ons to further encourage young looking skin.

Anita: Over the years, I probably sought out chiropractic care for most of the above that you mentioned, and I personally turn to chiropractic care first if I have any aches and pains before reaching for any pain medication. In my opinion, irrespective whether it is allopathic, holistic, integrative, or functional medicine, there is certainly the technical side but then there is also a certain degree of art to any discipline. Over the years, I have had a chance to visit several chiropractors and just like with any other professions, each chiropractic practitioner has their area of expertise and focus. What’s yours?

Otilia: Our focus is integrating passive and active care. Counseling on a healthy lifestyle is crucial.

Anita: Let’s pivot a bit now. I remember when I met you for the first time, I kept thinking, “Her skin looks amazing!”. As far as the state of our skin, genetics plays a certain role but we as individuals, including our lifestyle, eating habits, skincare routine etc., play a very critical role in the overall wellness of our body, including skin on our face. Can you share your skincare secret with us?

Otilia: Sorry if I disappoint, but there is no “one” secret to amazing looking skin. As with most things, it is the consistent application of many small steps over and over….kinda boring.

Preparing your own high quality, high nutrition meals using nontoxic cookware, drinking filtered water, filling your home with air purifying plants, avoiding toxins in personal care products; say no to fragrances, minimizing unnecessary chemicals in your life. Having good consistent routines…minimizing toxic face and body care. Also, being proactive. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Start now. Cultivate a solid skincare routine, take small consistent steps to improve your lifestyle; schedule regular skin care treatments into your yearly routine …just like you have (hopefully) fit in 3-4 workouts into your week, can you fit in some monthly or seasonal skin tone ups into your year…a facial? Cosmetic acupuncture series? Microneedling session? All of those!

I believe that circulation and cell turnover is crucial for our overall health and that will show up in your aches and pains, rate of injury, overall energy and even the cells that make up the skin on your face.

I am all about decreasing toxic load on our bodies and doing what we can to improve circulation to the cells of our body ...bringing nutrients in, and flushing toxins and waste products out as efficiently as possible.

Being conscious of the foundation of a healthy lifestyle will directly affect how we look, and how we age.
—Otilia B. Naranjo DC, Cert. MDT

Lots of filtered water….your fridge filter is probably not enough…try to get an undercounter filter if you can.

Just say no to plastics….pyrex glass containers or stainless steel for food storage; and avoid plastic water bottles whenever possible.

Avoid toxins, an example would be all these synthetic fragrances in cosmetic and body care products, as much as you can, but don’t stress, just do the best you can, improving little by little.

Protect your face from strong full sun…you will never see me out mid-day without my visor and big sunglasses (to avoid long periods of squinting or scowling), and long sleeve shirts. However, I love feeling the sun on my skin in the morning, and for briefer periods of time outside that 10 a.m-4 p.m. time frame when the sun is the strongest.

Exfoliation is helpful for me: alternating between dry brushing before a shower and exfoliating gloves in the shower a couple times a week, dermaplaning the face to get rid of buildup and allow the natural oils of your face to hydrate your skin, currently stacking Vitamin C serums, hyaluronic acid, and a natural, non-toxic facial oil has been working great for me.

And of course, cosmetic acupuncture, facial cupping, and microneedling to get the glow from the inside!

Anita: These are all great points! Thank you for sharing.

There are a number of different natural skincare treatment alternatives to the more conventional ways such Botox. I had a chance to try a couple of those at Wellness Oasis, one of them being facial cupping. I have to admit that until you told me about it and I tried it, I was not familiar with it. Can you tell us what it is, what are the benefits and how often does one need to do facial cupping before any recognizable benefits can be seen? How long do these benefits last?

Otilia: Facial cupping came into my radar because of its potential to increase circulation to the layers of muscle and skin in the face. Facial cupping is a technique where a silicone or glass cup is used to glide over the face creating negative pressure to promote increased blood circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage. It helps clear away toxins, reduce puffiness to create a brighter, smoother complexion that feels as refreshed as it looks. It’s a perfect enhancement to your acupuncture sessions, giving the skin that extra boost of vitality. It is best done initially as part of a cosmetic acupuncture series.

Anita: The other natural skincare treatment that you offer to your clients is cosmetic acupuncture. Even though I am not new to acupuncture, I was not aware of this until you did the facial acupuncture on my face. Again, what are its benefits and how often and how many treatments before one can see visible results? How long do they last?

Otilia: Cosmetic acupuncture, a holistic approach rooted in the principles of Chinese Medicine, is a safe and effective treatment to help unlock your natural beauty…in a natural way! Sometimes referred to as facial acupuncture, this method not only revitalizes your skin but seeks to balance your entire system, harmonizing internal health with external radiance. By targeting specific points on the face alongside carefully selected body points, cosmetic acupuncture enhances your overall well-being, reflecting a vibrant and youthful complexion.

Each session involves the precise placement of tiny needles into the facial tissues to stimulate collagen production, lift and tone muscles, and improve skin elasticity—effectively reducing wrinkles and signs of aging. Additionally, every facial rejuvenation visit includes full-body relaxation acupuncture, with optional add-ons like facial cupping to further enhance your experience.

Ideal for individuals over 18, this treatment is perfect for prevention, reversal, and ongoing maintenance. To achieve the best results, some patients may begin with two sessions per week, with a typical recommendation of 10-12 visits. Visible improvements are often noted after just 4-5 sessions, but the most significant results are achieved when treatments start three months before a major event. The benefits of a full series can last up to two years, with optional monthly or bi-monthly.

Anita: Do you usually recommend that these two facial treatments are done in conjunction?

Otilia: Facial cuppings is an add-on that works wonders alongside cosmetic acupuncture. Best results come when combining a couple different techniques of cosmetic acupuncture, facial cupping, a solid skincare routine, good nutrition and supplements.

Anita: As a chiropractor, what are some of your top hacks that we can do in our 40s, 50s to help us lead an active life filled with physical independence and mobility into our 80s and 90s; sort of what is your version of “one apple a day keeps the doctor away” hacks?

Otilia: Learn to breathe…use your diaphragm, not just your chest and neck muscles. Most women in their 40s and 50s have to unlearn decades of sucking in their tummy and breathing with their upper chest. This leads to a whole lot of neck and upper back pain and tension and even headaches, and feeds into the cycle of anxiety and stress.

Take care of those nagging aches, pains, and accumulated injuries and don’t let them become rooted into your body and fester into a bigger, chronic problem…if its been a few months and its not getting better, or if you’ve been popping ibuprofen or tylenol regularly, it’s time to get some safe, effective, care to help jump start your body’s own healing response. As we age, we need to maintain our muscle mass and bone density, and we want to eliminate any roadblocks to an active lifestyle. My monthly wellness care includes adjustments, acupuncture, and massage therapy…keeps my energy high and injuries to a minimum.

Consistent small steps that make you feel more alive, healthy and that you know are good for you….

Eat 1 or 2 veggies with every meal or snack, eat the colors of the rainbow over a week’s time.

Get your nutrition habits into order if you haven’t already .... most importantly, make the majority of your own food as you can…so throw on that apron and spend some time in the kitchen. Every minute you spend on preparing your family’s meals, with simple high-quality ingredients is potentially a minute less you spend dealing with a chronic health condition.

In mid-life it is crucial to establish and/or solidify healthy lifestyle habits; you want to line up your ducks before you get into your 60s to prepare yourself for older age.

Nutrition: Eat 2 vegetables with every meal. Add green and other brightly colored foods to every meal. E.g. add sliced tomatoes or leftover broccoli to your eggs in the morning. To up the nutritional value to a meal I'm always adding green to it. Add chopped spinach, kale, or Swiss chard to your favorite soup or chili recipe, and/ or garnish with cilantro, parsley, or your favorite herb.

Toxins: Reduce bringing toxic chemicals into the home. Avoid household products and body care with synthetic fragrances that automatically filter out the bad stuff. Opt for scents derived from essential oils only, that automatically filters out 90+% of conventional body care products and home cleaning products.

A typical week should have a variety of physical activity: strength training/lifting weights at least twice per week, one higher intensity or cardio workout if you enjoy that, a yoga or Pilates session, and walks or bike rides, a bonus would be participation in a fun sport like golf, ping pong, pickleball or tennis with friends. My favorite hack is inviting friends on a walk in a local forest preserve instead of meeting for coffee/sitting in a cafe. There’s nothing wrong with it but with my busy schedule of 4 teenagers and running practice to run, it's hard to fit it all in.

For women, I highly recommend focusing on nutrition and exercise routine on preventing loss of muscle mass and bone mass. To stay mobile, independent and to reduce likelihood of injuries you need to be strong and have a good joint range of motion. Chiropractic and acupuncture as part of my wellness routine is a must!

Anita: I absolutely agree. A good nutrition, exercise routine and avoiding toxins all the way! And of course, everything starts with our breath!

Even though we just talked about good healthy nutrition, I cannot resist asking this question. Most of us have a guilty pleasure as far as food goes. Mine are organic, rich dark chocolate and a glass of really delish red wine. What is yours?

Otilia: My dad’s home baked crusty sourdough bread, with an obscene slab of butter, topped with sliced homegrown tomatoes sprinkled with flaky sea salt…. (my childhood comfort food:)

Anita: Yes, the ultimate childhood comfort food for me as well! My dad used to pick up a fresh loaf every Saturday morning from a local bakery. Oh, that brings back some great memories!

Before we part, my rapid-fire questions are next! What book(s) are on your nightstand right now? And currently, what is your favorite one?

Otilia: I usually have non-fiction (almost always health related) and fiction books on my nightstand. Currently, for nonfiction I have Fast Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz about fasting for women.

I do love history, so historical fiction is my fave… A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra was wonderfully chewy and wordy. I try to read nightly, from a real paper book; I notice I get better quality sleep when reading is part of my wind down bedtime ritual.

Anita: Oh, yes! Fast Like A Girl by Dr Mindy Pelz. I really enjoyed reading it. This book was a total eye opener for me as it helped me realize that women and men need to fast differently. Dr. Pelz has also helpful regimes for people with various autoimmune conditions.

What is the best life advice you have ever received?

Otilia: Believe you can.

Anita: Love it! Simple but very inspirational.

We at Rodina Botanicals are about overall wellness, and especially organic, plant-based, natural skincare. In your daily skincare routine, are you camp facial oil or camp moisturizer and which do you prefer, liquid lotions, lotion bars, or whipped body butters?

**No Yucky Toxic “Fragrances”!**
Otilia: I am always striving to have most products in my life be as close to Mother Nature as possible so I’m ‘naturally’ a big fan of Rodina Botanicals. My skin has taught me over the years to cycle between Camp Facial oil in the winter, dryer months and then to Camp moisturizer in the summer months.
Rodina’s Botanical Glow Facial oil is a permanent fixture in my morning “skincare stack” for my neck and chest…. And you can always find the Wild Meadow Cuticle Oil on my nightstand and in my makeup bag, keeps my nails strong and the little tube lasts forever! I was just gifted the Unscented Too Double Whipped Body Butter and have started prepping my elbows, knees, and ankles for summertime.
Love that the entire line has no yucky toxic “fragrances!”.

Anita: Oh, love hearing this, Otilia! I just got all verklempt! Thank you.

As it is almost time to wrap our chat, what’s next for Wellness Oasis and where can folks find you?

Otilia: At Wellness Oasis, earlier this month we just launched our comprehensive Facial Rejuvenation Program, a meticulously designed 90-day holistic journey that combines the ancient wisdom of acupuncture with modern holistic practices. This program targets the signs of aging from within. Through a series of precise acupuncture treatments, we aim to enhance your skin's natural elasticity, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and improve overall skin tone and texture. Our holistic approach not only revitalizes your facial appearance but also promotes a sense of well-being and relaxation. Experience a profound transformation with our comprehensive plan that tailors treatments to your unique skin needs, setting the foundation for lasting beauty and health.

Anita: Thank you for joining me on our walk and our little chat, Otilia. Good luck with your new Facial Rejuvenation Program!

You can learn about Dr. Otilia and her Wellness Oasis on line at https://wellnessoasi3488.clinicsites.co/.

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