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Welcome back to
Active Life Health Clinic's
May newsletter.

acupunctureusually talk about health from the inside out—looking good because you feel good. Health, however, is not a one-way street. The exciting news is that you can cheat your way to health with a natural facelift
To find out more, learn whether to come in for your free 15-minute consultation, and decide if you want to take advantage of my limited-time offer, read on below.

If you'd like to work from the inside out, I'm once again offering my spring cleanse special. Spring ends soon though, so get on it now! Details below.

What’s news in health?

  • Of course the swine flu continues to garner attention. For my take on that, click here
  • The FDA Issues New Warnings for Painkillers. Click here
  • Honey Up the Nose Treats Sinusitis Better Than Drugs. Yes, you read that right! And, yes, I stock manuka honey. Click here to find out more. 

And, highlighting something really interesting (and wonderful!) that I tried recently-- Under the Piano--you actually crawl under the piano, make yourself comfortable amongst blankets and pillows, and relax while Craig improvises some beautiful music. Read more below.

To subscribe, please click here. To unsubscribe, please click here.

   

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.

   

Health from the Outside In

Bonsai Facial Rejuvenation

acupunctureAfter several patient requests to offer facial rejuvenation acupuncture, I decided to look into the training. When I came across microcurrent facial rejuvenation treatments, I realized that this was what I was looking for. The course was taught by a physiotherapist, I can also use the machine to treat pain (body and face), there is scientific evidence to support its claims, and for my needlephobe patients it’s needle-free.

Time and gravity cause drooping of various areas of the face as muscles lose their tone. It also causes a loss of collagen, a protein responsible for the elasticity and strength of healthy youthful skin. Finally, it slows the renewal of new skin cells. Microcurrent stimulation uses a very small electrical current to trigger:

  • a tightening of loose muscles
  • relaxation of tight muscles
  • production of collagen (to fill wrinkles)
  • and faster turnover of new skin cells

Instead of paralyzing your facial muscles with a toxin, as Botox does, microcurrent stimulation works with your muscles to reshape parts of your face.

Want proof?
Microcurrent research and clinical studies show the following positive effects after microcurrent treatments(*):

  • Cellular regeneration and increased protein synthesis for enhanced soft-tissue healing
  • A 500 percent increase in ATP, which provides energy for cell metabolism and injury repair
  • A 40 percent increase in cellular membrane transport and the reduction of soft-tissue swelling and inflammation
  • Improved DNA synthesis for soft-tissue cell regeneration
  • Activation of T-lymphocytes that strengthen the immune system      

*Cell Regeneration and ATP production: The effects of electric currents on ATP generation, protein synthesis and membrane transport. Cheng et. al. , Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, Nov/Dec 1982, 171

One funny story is that a patient of mine who I hadn't seen in a few years asked me if I was pregnant. Taken aback I joked that my belly was not round...was it? She laughed and said it was because I had a glow. I was flattered, but didn't know where that came from. It wasn't until later, when I told a friend the story and she reminded me that I had been getting some facial rejuvenation myself that I realized that that might have been what my patient had seen! The same happened to my husband. Without telling anyone that he had received a microccurent facial rejuvenation treatment, one of his coworkers told him that his skin looked really good!

What happens during treatment?
Treatments last one hour and include three parts to the microcurrent stimulation—lymphatic drainage, lengthening or shortening of facial muscles, and filling in of fine lines. Treatments also include aromatherapy and facial massage. You may notice a difference after just one treatment, but just as you cannot expect to train a bicep in one set of bicep curls, so too does it take a series of treatments to expect change in the facial muscles and skin.

If you love the idea of putting your best face forward, call or email us for your free 15-minute consultation. 

We offer single treatment sessions for $135 or packages of 10 treatments for $1300. Packages include $133 of health products important to healthy skin and body. 

Because I need to get the word out, I will offer just 20 people the 10-session package a further $200 discount

And, because my passion is about health, if you would like to incorporate acupuncture into treatments, you may be covered by your extended health insurance.

Some call it “health by vanity”.
I call it eating your cake and getting your veggies too.

To try Bonsai Facial Rejuvenation contact us at office@activetcm.com or 604-783-2846.

acupuncture




Spring Cleanse Special

Spring is the time when flowers bloom, leaves grow back, and birds return from the south.  Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis and principles are based on observations of nature.  Spring is a time of renewal for our bodies as much as it is a renewal for nature.  What can you do to help in this revitalization?

According to TCM, the key organ of springtime is the liver, a major organ of detoxification.  It filters our blood of toxins that are inhaled, ingested, and absorbed through the skin. 
Even if you are careful to eat healthy; avoid smoking, drinking, and drugs; and use natural bodycare products and household cleansers, in our modern world, the liver still has an enormous task!  We still breathe polluted air and it is a daunting challenge to avoid all chemicals, so our livers could definitely use a healing hand.acupuncture

Why Cleanse?
A stressed liver may result in headaches, allergies and sensitivities, tearing or inflammation of tendons, ligaments, and muscles, stiff neck and shoulders, anger, irritability, frustration, depression, high blood pressure, eye problems, fatigue, and skin problems, amongst other things.

Detoxification Program*

The duration of our cleansing program is 2 weeks and includes the following:

  • Initial consultation – 1 hour (value $90)
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) food cures and personalized nutrition advice with optional menu plan
  • Customized supportive TCM herbs to last 2 weeks (value $50)
  • Cleansing supplement kit (value $37)
  • Two 1 hour acupuncture sessions (value $140)

Value priced at  $275 (total value $317)

*Limited offering


Under the Piano

“A Sound Spa for Body, Mind, and Soul”

What is Under the Piano?
acupunctureIt is indeed being under a grand piano, but also much more.

When you crawl under my grand piano and nestle amongst opulent quilts and cushions you are treated to about 40 minutes of piano improvisations. You are surrounded by the music and enveloped by the sound. Your entire body is bathed by sound vibrations. You get to enjoy your very own personal concert and a remarkably relaxing and healing experience.

Each person’s session is unique, but there are some experiences that are frequently mentioned by clients. These include the sneaky, childlike, playfulness clients experience just by crawling under the piano. The experience is also often described as calming, relaxing, magical and meditative. The vibrations of the piano and the music I create for you give you access to becoming present to both the moment and your body. The experience is ‘healing’ on a cellular level.
About Craig Addy

Pianist and composer Craig Addy was born in 1962 and has been improvising at the piano since he was a child. He has two music degrees: A B.Mus from the University of British Columbia and an ARCT Performer’s Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. As a young teenager, he used to lie under the piano while his mother played beautiful classical music. A recent visit to Showcase Pianos gave Craig an opportunity to get under a piano again. It had been over 30 years. The power of his teen experience came flooding back, but this time with a conscious awareness of the effects the vibrations were having on his entire body. Craig combined his unique improvisational artistry with the experience of lying under his grand piano and began sharing this with people in his life. “Under the Piano” was born.

Tel: 604-662-3053 • #604-1350 Broughton Street, Vancouver, BC, V6G 2X3
Craig@UnderThePiano.ca

Lentil Quinoa Stew

acupunctureI'm not much of a cook. I love food. I love to eat. I love finding recipes. I'm lucky my husband cooks!

This past week though I did cook one dinner and this was it:

2 3/4 cups (675 ml) organic green lentils 
1/4 cup (60 ml) whole grain quinoa (I used Gogo Quinoa black organic quinoa royal)
4 cups (1L) organic sodium-reduced veggie or chicken broth
1 - 28 oz can diced organic tomatoes
2 cups carrots, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 cup celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp cracked pepper

Rinse lentils and quinoa, drain and place in slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients and stir well. Cover with lid and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. The larger lentils take longer to cook and have a more solid texture. The author of this recipe prefers the larger lentils. I tried and like the smaller ones. Cook until the lentils are tender. 

Serves 8. Or, in my case, served 2 for one dinner and two lunches!

Recipe from Alive magazine article by Mairlyn Smith, page 124 of the January 2009 issue. 
 


 

 

Active Life Health Clinic
Dr. Melissa Carr, B.Sc., Dr.TCM, R.Ac.
Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Activetcm.com
drcarr@activetcm.com
 604-783-2846

Regent Medical Building
#410-2184 West Broadway
Vancouver, B.C., V6K 2E1

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.


And finally, let us know your birthday

so we can email you a birthday card at the right time!