The 6 Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine | the Prince-Cole Protocol™
Chronic illness affects more than your symptoms, it touches every part of your life: how you sleep, move, eat, connect, and cope. That’s why healing at Connective Wellness isn’t just about treatment. It’s about support for your entire lifestyle.
The Prince-Cole Protocol™ is built around six key pillars of lifestyle medicine, which are evidence-based foundations that promote long-term well-being and sustainable healing. Whether you’re living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTS, chronic fatigue, or nervous system dysregulation, these pillars help guide your care plan and empower you as a whole person.
The 6 Pillars of the Prince-Cole Protocol™
1. Nutrition
Your cells need nourishment, not just calories. For individuals with neuroimmune conditions, mast cell activation, gut issues, or energy dysregulation, personalized nutrition support can make a meaningful difference.
At Connective Wellness, we focus on:
Identifying food triggers and intolerances gently
Supporting blood sugar, mitochondrial health, and inflammation
Helping you build a relationship with food that is safe, sustainable, and accessible
Addressing feeding fatigue and sensory overwhelm common in EDS and neurodivergence
2. Physical Activity
Movement should support healing, not cause setbacks.
We tailor physical activity recommendations based on:
Joint stability and hypermobility
Autonomic tolerance (e.g., upright exercise for POTS)
Fatigue and post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE)
Nervous system regulation and energy pacing
Whether it’s therapeutic movement, gentle PT, or somatic work, we believe in meeting your body where it is.
3. Restorative Sleep
Sleep isn’t a luxury, it’s essential for tissue repair, immune regulation, and nervous system reset. And yet, many patients struggle to get truly restorative rest due to pain, dysautonomia, anxiety, or circadian disruption.
We support sleep through:
Sleep hygiene education adapted for neurodivergence
Nervous system calming tools (vagus nerve stimulation, red light, etc.)
Supplement and lifestyle strategies
Addressing pain or environmental barriers to quality rest
4. Stress Management
Chronic illness is inherently stressful, and ongoing dysregulation can worsen symptoms. We focus not on “eliminating stress,” but helping your body respond to it more safely and flexibly.
Our approach includes:
Somatic tools for down-regulation
Trauma-informed coaching and health psychology
Vagus nerve and limbic system support
Sensory-friendly care environments
We respect the role of trauma, burnout, and nervous system overdrive in complex chronic illness — and we work with it, not against it.
5. Avoidance of Risky Substances
Many of our patients are sensitive to medications, chemicals, fragrances, alcohol, or inflammatory foods. Our goal isn’t restriction for restriction’s sake, it’s helping you understand what your body can safely tolerate.
This includes:
Reviewing med and supplement reactions
Environmental toxin awareness
Supporting gentle detoxification pathways
Reducing histamine, alcohol, or other flaring agents if needed
6. Positive Social Connections
Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. We believe deeply in the power of community, co-regulation, and relational safety, especially for those with a history of medical trauma or invalidation.
We encourage:
Working with providers who truly see you
Building social resilience through neurodivergent-affirming strategies
Engaging in peer support, if/when it feels safe
Finding connection in ways that honor your energy and needs
Final Thoughts
The Prince-Cole Protocol™ is more than a checklist, it’s a roadmap to healing the whole person. By focusing on these six pillars with flexibility, compassion, and lived understanding, we’re helping people reclaim their lives, one step at a time.
Ready to Start Your Healing Journey?
Let’s explore your symptoms, your goals, and your story.
👉🏻 Book a consultation
🛍️ Explore the Wellness Shop
📍 Amherst, NH | In-person & virtual options available
