Welcome back to Active Life Health Clinic's November newsletter.
If you would like to have your name removed from our emailing list, please let us know by emailing office@activetcm.com
Exciting recent changes at Active Life Health Clinic!
COME MEET EVERYONE NEW AT THE CLINIC!
Open House December 11th, 3-7 p.m.
Pay what you want! Try a reflexology treatment, have a mini consultation for facial rejuvination, test out some aromatherapy TCM-style, get your TCM tongue and pulse diagnosis, and try out a mini session of our infrared sauna. Also, for each gift certificate for any of our services
that you buy for family, friends, co-workers, (yourself? you deserve
it!), or anyone else that you like, you will recieve a free 30-minute sauna session!
And as always, we will donate the proceeds so everyone wins! This time your donations will go to the Laura Louie Hope Foundation,
a Canadian charitable organization that provides cost-effective
health-care, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, to low income
individuals (adults and children) suffering from HIV/AIDS in developing countries through
community-based grassroots projects.
I'd like to introduce the 3 new Registered Acupuncturists
who will recently started at my clinic. Each of them has a
wonderful area of focus to best serve your health needs. If you
are interested in Constitutional Facial® and Facial Rejuvination
acupuncture, you need to see Erin Flynn. Interested in
incorporating some reflexology into your acupuncture treatment?
Ask for Karyn Smith. For Acutonics® Sound Healing and TCM
essential oils, Sonia Tan Redwood is the person you want to
visit. Check us all out at www.activetcm.com/about.htm
I'd also like to introduce you to Sean Wilkinson, the clinic's new resident counsellor
. Sean has a Masters degree in counselling, is a registered
practitioner of clinical counselling, and is a Master Practitioner of
Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP). Sean has been counselling since
2002, but after spending two years teaching, has decided to spend more
time on his true passion, helping people through counselling. For more
info on him, please visit www.activetcm.com/counselling.htm
If you've visited the clinic in the past month or
so, then you've probably met Stella Meeya, our fantastic office
manager. She's usually our first line of contact, so I'm
happy to have her smiling face greet everyone and help to keep things
in order in this time of many changes. Perhaps you've already
heard, but our past receptionist, Sophie Stevenson, had a healthy baby
boy in August, and he is truly adorable!
I'm so happy to have a great team to work with!
My colleague who was renting space from me for a
year, Dr. Luis Flores, homeopath, has decided to expand his practice
and has moved to a new location, so I wish him the best of luck!
Also new at the clinic...our very own infrared sauna!
The Soleil Sauna solo system allows you to lie down comfortably while
it does its work. What does an infrared sauna do? In short:
relieve pain, detoxify the body, boost the immune system, increase
circulation, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and burn fat and
calories, to start. Read on...
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Infrared Sauna--The power of the sun for your health ..
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Ready to be inspired by a true story? Check out my patient Jordan's book "Epidemic: A Survivor's Story" |
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Response from one of my patients who used to work in the food testing
industry.......
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Helping you help yourself!
My goal:
To work in partnership with you to bring you to your optimal health.
My focus:
Ongoing health, not just temporary relief.
This is active health.
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The Power of the Sun
What is an infrared sauna?
Infrared light is part of the sun's invisible spectrum. The far
infrared light used in infrared saunas can penetrate human tissue up to
three inches deep to bring several health benefits. Infrared
saunas are safe because they do not require as high a temperature as
hot rock and steam saunas. In fact, all humans send and receive
far infrared waves with a wavelength of 6 to 20 microns and an optimal
range of 7 to 14 microns. Water molecules resonate within this
range at 9.4 microns, which makes sense as we are almost 70%
water. The 7-14 micron wavelength appears to have special
regenerative effects on the body, allowing for a release of cellular
toxins including mercury, aluminum, cholesterol, and other toxic gases.
For more info: www.soleilsaunas.com/frequency.htm
What are the health benefits?
The benefits of an infrared sauna are many. www.soleilsaunas.com/health.htm
DETOXIFICATION
One of the most well-recognized benefits is its ability to assist the
body in detoxification. We encounter thousands of toxins daily
and when they cannot be expelled immediately, our bodies store them,
surrounding them by water molecules and fat in an effort to protect
us. When these toxins accumulate, blood circulation and cellular
energy are impaired. The 7 to 14 micron far infrared waves make
these water molecules vibrate and break the bonds that hold them
together, allowing encapsulated gases and other toxic materials to be
released. Your body can then sweat them out. Up to 20% of
sweat from an infrared sauna session consists of toxins, versus only
about 3% from a regular hot rock or steam sauna.
PAIN RELIEF
Studies have also found a great reduction in pain from infrared sauna
use. While heat has been used for centuries to treat pain,
research has confirmed its benefits. A six-month study involving
371 patients were given either the maximum recommended dosage of
ibuprofen (e.g. Advil) and acetominophen (Tylenol) or low level heat
therapy for two days to treat low back pain. The low level heat
was found to be more effective at relieving pain during the first day
of treatment and to continue to relieve pain for more than 48 hours
after the completion of treatment than the oral analgesics.
Medical research has found success in using infrared saunas for the
following pain conditions:
- TMJ arthritis
- disc protrusion-related neuralgia
- brain contusion
- tight shoulders
- spinal cord shock
- muscle tension
- shoulder pain
- bursitis
- muscle spasms
- low back pain
- compression fracture
- post-exercise muscle pain
- arthritis: gouty, rheumatoid, traumatic
- adhesions
- joint stiffness
INCREASED ENERGY AND ENHANCED ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
As your body becomes less toxic, you will find higher levels of energy
throughout your day. Athletes find faster post-workout recovery
as lactic acid buildup is released by using the infrared sauna after
workouts. Pre- and post-workout use of the sauna can warm the
muscles and allow for better flexibility and reduced risk of injury.
WEIGHT LOSS
You can burn about 600 calories in a 30 minutes session of
infrared sauna! The weight loss is more than just water, and
because your heartrate, cardiac output, and metabolic rate also
increase, your cardiovascular fitness will also improve. Studies
by NASA have found that the "passive exercise" of infrared saunas can
help keep astronauts fit during space flight.
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
Infrared saunas have been found to improve circulation, lower blood
pressure, and reduce blood cholesterol.
http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/abstract/38/4/1083
ENHANCED IMMUNE FUNCTION
An increase in core body temperature can assist the body in fighting
off colds and flus, by enhancing the body's natural action of
increasing temperature to kill bacteria and viruses.
HEALTHIER SKIN
Sweating allows toxins, dead skin cells, and impurities to be released from the skin, leaving it fresher-looking and healthier.
CELLULITE REDUCTION
Cellulite consists of an accumulation of fat, water, and toxins trapped
in a hardened network of collagen and elastin in the deeper levels of
your skin. About 95% of women say that they have some
cellulite. European beauty specialist routinely use daily saunas
to reduce cellulite as the infrared sauna warms three times deeper than
convenional saunas and allows the body to sweat out the toxins and
break up the water molecules that hold the toxins.
RELAXATION
Lying down in the infrared sauna dome, your muscles will relax and stress will melt away.
Is it safe?
Because the temperature of an infrared sauna is only 110 to 130 degrees
Farenheit versus 180 to 235 in a conventional sauna, the infrared sauna
is much more comfortable. You can be exposed to far infrared heat for
hours without risk of burning. In fact, far infrared heat is so
safe that it is even used in hospitals to warm newborn infants.
While the panels inside the infrared sauna dome does get very warm, it
will not burn you if you touch it. Do make sure that you properly
hydrate (ideally a proper electrolyte replacement beverage) both before
and after sauna use as you will be sweating.
Are there contraindications?
- Do not use during pregnancy
- Alcohol or drug use
- Inquire about use if you are using prescription medications
- Diseases associated with a reduced ability to sweat: Parkinson's,
Multiple Sclerosis, central nervous system tumours, lupus, diabetes
with neuropathy
- Hemophiliacs or anyone who is predisposed to bleeding
- Fever
- Insensitivity to heat
- Acute joint injury: within 48 hours of an injury or when the joint is hot and swollen
Other cautions:
- Heating of the low back area of women during the menstrual period may
temporarily increase menstrual flow. Some women endure this
process to gain the pain relief commonly associated with their cycle,
whereas others simply choose to avoid sauna use during that time of the
month
- Those with cardiovascular conditions or problems should be monitored
during infrared sauna use. The Solo System sauna that we use
allows the head to be outside of the heating unit, allowing for greater
comfort, and the heat of the infrared sauna does not heat as high as a
conventional sauna, but heartrate does increase with heat, so shorter
periods of time are used to start.
- Metal pins, rods, artificial joints or any other surgical implants
generally reflect far infrared waves and thus are not heated by this
system, nevertheless you should consult your surgeon prior to using an
infrared sauna. The usage of an infrared sauna must be discontinued if
you experience pain near any such implants. Silicone does absorb far
infrared energy. Implanted silicone or silicone prostheses for nose or
ear replacement may be warmed by the far infrared waves. Since silicone
melts at over 200°C (392°F), it should not be adversely
affected by the usage of an infrared sauna. It is still advised that
you check with your surgeon and possibly a representative from the
implant manufacturer to be certain.
In the rare event, you experience pain and/or discomfort, immediately discontinue sauna use.
What do I do during an infrared sauna session?
Be prepared to sweat. You will disrobe in our private room and lie comfortably within the infrared sauna
dome (we can assist you if you need help). The temperature and
timer are set and you can relax to peaceful music for 15-30
minutes. When the timer turns off the sauna, you can ring for
assistance to have the dome removed or simply get up on your own.
Towels and a refreshing water spray bottle will be provided for you to
wipe off the sweat. You may choose to purchase your own
microfibre cloth for greater cleansing and drying action.
Optional to go home and shower (simply rinse with water first).
Want to see what it looks like? Check it out here: www.soleilsaunas.com/solo.htm
Advantages to using the Solo System
The infrared sauna that we have chosen for the clinic is called the
Solo System and it has several advantages over the full-size saunas.
- You are lying down and fully relaxed
- The Solocarbon panels are closer to the body and cover a larger surface area
- You can have your head outside of the infrared sauna, for greater comfort
Want one of your own?
Contact us with your questions and we can guide you: melissa@activetcm.com
An Inspiration
Check out this interview
of one of my patients. Jordan is an inspiration to anyone who has ever
been obese, bullied, and/or harrassed! If you know anyone who could
use some support or if you yourself would like to learn more, his book
is just one part of his mission to motivate people to make the life
changes that they need to make them happy. If you ever get a chance to
meet Jordan, you'll truly know what successes can come for a wonderful
individual when one takes that leap! www.ninkovich.com
Letter from a Patient In-The-Know
At her permission, the following is a copy of a
letter from a patient who used to be a Food Technologist. She
sent me this letter in response to my September e-newsletter
on food myths. If you have any comments or questions
regarding any of my newsletters, I'd love to hear from you at
melissa@activetcm.com
"My understanding about High Fructose
Corn Syrup (HFCS) is that the body cannot digest it because it doesn't
know what to do with it. Now, that's a scary thought! When you consider
how many foods contain HFCS it is really scary. Do you know the reason
it is so widely used? It is because it is very readily available since
there is a lot of corn grown in the US (BTW, it all comes from the US).
It is because it is very cheap. It is also because it imparts a very
smooth texture to foods, which is something that is very desirable. It
was thrusted upon us by the Food Industry years ago for convenience and
now, in my opininon, it is overly used.
As far as sugar; I
think I mentioned to you before that "raw sugar" is illegal in Canada
and rightly so. The real raw sugar is filthy: full of bird droppings
(and consequently pathogenic bacteria), twigs, dirt, etc. So, some in
the so-called "natural" foods segment are also doing false and
misleading advertising. Sugar (sucrose) is always processed to white
and then molasses can be added back in different amounts to have
yellow, brown or demerara; so basically they're all the same.
As far as fat; guess
what? When they remove fat from a product, such as a muffin, they have
to replace it with something. Guess what they replace it with? Sugar
and gums, and then the sugar turns into fat. I had to do this with some
of our formulations where I used to work during the "fat-free" craze a
few years ago. It's one of the reasons I do not want to work in the
industry anymore; I'm very disenchanted with it.
Trans fats: Wendy's can claim all they
want that they're using "trans fat-free oils" to fry their french
fries. They're not lying!; however, they're also not telling the whole
story. When they heat up that "trans fat-free oil" to the temperatures
that they need to fry their products they are creating trans fats in
that same oil; this is how trans fats happen (only a few happen
naturally)! You can have trans fats from olive oil if you heat it up
high enough. They are reducing the amounts of trans fats by starting
with these "friendlier" oils but they're still going to produce them,
especially as fast foods restaurants do not change their oil often
enough; ie. the more times you heat up and re-heat the same
oil, the more trans fats you are producing. "
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Active Life Health Clinic
Dr. Melissa Carr, B.Sc., Dr.TCM, R.Ac.
Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Activetcm.com
melissa@activetcm.com
office: 604-783-2846
Regent Medical Building
#410-2184 West Broadway
Vancouver, B.C., V6K 2E1
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Thank you!
In appreciation of each of your referrals, Dr. Melissa Carr will offer you 10% off of
your health product purchase, so don't forget to tell your friends,
family, colleagues, and acquaintances to give us your name when they
book an appointment. |
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