Dear Doctor Maria Teresa De Donato, it is a pleasure to be able to interview you and find out more about her as a professional and the naturopathy, homeopathy and coaching she deals with. These are fascinating and interesting topics about which little is known in Italy yet.
- You emigrated to the USA 23 years ago, was it difficult to leave your land?
Yes he was. The attachment to my family, to my home, to my work, to my friends, to my land, in short, to everything that was 'familiar' to me and to which I was used and equally affectionate was strong. What helped me was my being "intellectually curious" and always passionate about different lands, cultures and people. Studying foreign languages favored my move to the USA, when a real opportunity presented itself.
- We Italians abroad promote Italy. What did you bring of your Italian spirit to the country of the "American dream"?
My culture, my culinary, artistic traditions, my passionate, warm, affectionate nature. Continue to walk under the astonished eyes of those who already at the age of 30 suffer from obesity, diabetes and hypertension between the bed, the sofa and the seat. So I keep walking… every day… every day… practicing transcendental meditation, yoga, TaiChi and QiGong… push-ups, stretches… just like a cat… and going to the mountains and to the sea whenever I get the chance.
I will always remain an ALIEN ... I know! ☺
- What do you have left in the heart of Italy?
All my "Italianness" that I have preserved, more or less intact, over the years. Italy is an extraordinary country: we have sea, mountains, lakes, beautiful landscapes with breathtaking views, sun, an art and a cuisine that the whole world envies us! Everywhere I went I was "envied" (in an affectionate sense, of course) and complimented for the mere fact of being Italian. Our music and songs, although not fully understood by those who do not speak our language, are loved all over the world. Needless to say, when I listen to the Italian songs I love most ... I become homesick and get excited ...
- What difficulties did you have to face in immersing yourself in a completely different culture from the Italian one?
First of all that linked to the American and Texan accent.
What for us Italians may be a normal expression or behavior in the US is not at all. An example, just to give an idea, could be that of the physical distance to be maintained between people, another notable difference is that concerning the sense of humor.
- She is a practitioner specializing in naturopathy, homeopathy, herbalism and coaching
Yes, in the US I first earned a BA in Journalism from the American College of Journalism, then a Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate (PhD) degree in Holistic Health with the specializations she listed, including nutrition. As for my Coaching activity, which began more than 30 years ago as Personal and Spiritual coaching, it ended, with the understanding, once my academic studies, also Health and Wellness, covering all areas of human existence, that is Life Coaching at 360 °.
- What prompted you to devote yourself to alternative medicine and to publish, over the years, various books and brochures capable of sensitizing readers also on delicate issues such as the management of post-traumatic stress disorder?
Realizing that symptoms and disease are not enemies to fight. On the contrary, they are our body's way of trying to communicate with us. The problem to be removed is the cause that led to the symptom and the disease.
The desire to reach a wider audience led me to publish various books and brochures, both in paper and kindle versions, including, precisely, the one on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder). ), which is a mental condition that kills thousands of victims every year as a result of severe emotional trauma. The brochure on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Conquering the Invisible - Holistic Approach to PTSD it aims to educate the reader who is a victim of PTSD and to inform him about the many holistic methodologies to be combined with the psychotherapies or drug therapies he is following. The brochure is not a substitute for medical advice.
For more information:https://www.amazon.com/Maria-Teresa-De-Donato-PhD/e/B019G68L8Q my official site http://www.dedoholistic.com/and my blog http://holistic-coaching-dedonato.blogspot.com/
- Which country, in your opinion, tackles issues related to the topics you are dealing with most effectively and why?
Eating "junk food" every day or every week compromises health: it is not a question of "if", but rather of "when" the harmful effects of poor nutrition will manifest. Italy is moving, showing itself faithful to its culinary tradition, or at least trying to do so. The USA, precisely because this millennial tradition does not have it, is open to everything.
As a naturopath, I am grateful to have such a cultural background as to make me understand the validity of the Mediterranean Diet, of the moderate but beneficial use of extra virgin olive oil, of the spices that we Italians have been using for millennia that have curative, anti-inflammatory properties , antibacterial, antioxidants. Onion and garlic in the first place.
- How does your profession influence your lifestyle and vice versa?
I was lucky enough to come from a family with both healthy eating and lifestyle habits. I have always loved walking, swimming, going to the mountains. I pay particular attention to the signals my body sends me and respect them. The fact of practicing Naturopathy and Homeopathy is one of the ways to keep remembering, if needed, the importance of maintaining the balance between mind, body and spirit by having healthy habits of life.
- Living in a large Texan metropolis, how complex is it to maintain a healthy lifestyle, how much has Italian culture helped you in this?
The "complexity" in any case should be counterbalanced or at least evaluated in relation to the "willpower", "determination" and "awareness of the usefulness" in doing or not doing a certain thing. Just sitting down, eating calmly and enjoying the sight, smell and taste of food is in itself healthy as it facilitates digestion. Having a balanced diet is essential for maintaining optimal health and also for preventing diseases related to poor nutrition. An Ayurvedic proverb says: "When food is wrong, medicine is of no help; when the food is right, the medicine is useless.
- We often hear, especially in the media, about the diatribe between traditional and homeopathic medicine. What is your position on this?
There is no medical system that has all the answers to all the questions and the solution to all kinds of health problems. Traditional medicine is fundamental in terms of clinical examinations and cutting-edge therapies and above all as regards surgery.
If one goes skiing and breaks a leg or is the victim of a serious car accident there is no homeopathic remedy, herb or dietary supplement that can help immediately other than surgery and physiotherapy. Once the critical phase has been overcome, it would be appropriate to integrate holistic therapies, starting from a specific diet to detoxify from the effect of the anesthesia (s) and the drugs that have been administered, thus strengthening the immune system and helping the body to restore a state of balance.
We thank you for this interview
Thanks to you. It was a pleasure.
