Part of Olive Leaf’s destiny was to be a factor in the solution for the health tragedy that followed that event and is still with us – the illness and suffering of several thousand and deaths of hundreds of uniformed service personnel; construction workers, cleaning crews, and residents who lived near Ground Zero. As early as May 2002, thanks to support from the NY Times Company Foundation and the Ettinger Foundation, we were able to develop and pilot a screening and treatment program for 25 NYPD Emergency Service Unit officers.

With some very positive initial responses, we obtained a larger grant from the American Red Cross in 2005 and treated 100 uniformed service personnel and area residents. Finding that 85% of those tested had high levels of mercury and lead, we introduced a detox protocol that proved very effective in alleviating many of the symptoms these individuals exhibited. The results of that phase of our work are reported in a paper “Treating Toxicity…” published in the October 2006 issue of Explore: A Journal of Science and Healing which is attached. (you can download a copy by clicking here.)

A final grant from the 9/11 Fund enabled us to treat another 50 individuals. We know that our integrative approach, developed by our Medical Director Dr. Kamau Kokayi, has helped these individuals. We believe it has significant potential to reduce the effects of the toxic exposure experienced by those at Ground Zero. Unfortunately, without continuing support, this program cannot continue.

Olive Leaf has struggled over these six years to recover from the impacts of 9/11, and it is clear that a model of integrative medicine which places consumer health first requires more significant financial resources than we have been able to assemble. We will continue the Olive Leaf Wholeness Center website to update the community about our 9/11 work as well as other important integrative health information. We look forward to staying in touch with you and hearing from you about how integrative health care has benefited you and your family. If you have any questions you can contact us via the contact form (click Contact US on left menu) or email Olive Leaf at info@olwcnyc.com

Thanks to everyone for their support over these six years.

In health, Claire H. Altman, President