[This article, frum Brie Zeltner, the Plain Dealer, on Cleveland.Com, speaks to the increase in popularity in using alternative therapists including Chiropractic, Therapeutic Massage and nutritional supplements. At Live Well Holistic Health Center, patients typically see powerful results from all three of these therapies for a wide variety of conditions. Following is the article.] Alternative therapies have hit the mainstream, if Consumer Reports readers are any indication. A recent survey, released July 21, showed that about 75 percent of the more than 45,000 people the magazine polled were currently using some form of alternative or complementary medical therapy. That included vitamins, with 71 percent of respondents taking them, or mind-body therapies like yoga and massage, which about 20 percent reported using. As a 2009 Consumer Reports survey also indicated, most people felt that hands-on therapies were the most effective alternative methods of treating their ailments, but rated prescription medication more effective than alternative remedies for most conditions. Back pain and neck pain, notoriously difficult to treat, were two conditions forwhichan alternative remedy, chiropractic, won out over prescription drugs. Of the 36 percent of people who used the technique for back pain, 65 percent said it "helped a lot" for their pain, whereas only 53 percent said the same for prescription drugs. Readers with fibromyalgia, a complex chronic-pain syndrome, said that deep-tissue massage was the most effective treatment for them, rating it just slightly higher than prescription drugs. The magazine asked about several other ailments that are often hard to diagnose or treat, and lead many to complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM,therapies for relief. While prescription medication was the most helpful therapy for these -- irritable bowel syndrome, digestive problems, depression, anxiety, headache and migraine, insomnia, cold and flu, and allergy -- alternative therapies weren't too far behind in some cases. A total of 47 percent of people used multivitamins or supplements like fish oil or vitamin B complex to treat depression. More than 40 percent of people with anxiety used deep breathing exercises, and 34 percent of them said this helped them a lot. Many of the most popular CAM therapies are also the most effective -- probiotics for irritable bowel;meditation for insomnia, anxiety and migraine; and chiropractic and massage for back pain. This is borne out by the results of the high-quality but sadly very small body of scientific research being funded by institutions like the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health. If three out of four of us are really using these therapies at any given time, let's hope that body of research continues to grow. 3 Comments We are excited to have Siddiqa here with us at Live Well on Wednesdays starting in October 2010. Siddiqa is a Master Aromatherapist, body worker, energy healer, coach, counselor, breath worker, yoga teacher, and an all around vibrant being. She comes to us at Live Well to share her gifts in a number of specialty treatment and teaching offerings. Call us at (610) 896-1554 to schedule your session with Siddiqa! About Siddiqa Siddiqa Salter is a Master Aromatherapist specializing in Medicinal Aromatherapy consultations, workshops, certification courses, and holistic wellness retreats. Her signature offering is The Total Body Bliss, a sublime experience in massage, energy work and essential oils. Siddiqa holds a Master's Degree in Spiritual Psychology from the esteemed University of Santa Monica and weaves her heart centered counseling skills into all that she does. Yoga is one her greatest joys and she holds numerous certifications in Kundalini, Prenatal and Hatha Yoga. Siddiqa currently teaches yoga at Cerca Trova Yoga Center in Havertown, PA. As a certified massage therapist, Rebirthing Breath Coach and Energy Worker Siddiqa brings a unique blend of modalities into her healing sessions. She hosts a popular weekly show called The Renegade Aromatherapist on Soulgarden.tv where each week she delves into the teachings of the Plant and Tree Kingdom sharing how one can practically apply this medicine to everyday life. She also teaches the Level 1 Wisdom of the Earth Medicinal Aromatherapy Certification Course that is a magical blend of both practical and esoteric teachings. Ask about her upcoming course dates. For over a decade Siddiqa has devoted her life to helping people listen to the innate wisdom of their bodies, make healthy choices and live life vibrantly with 100% therapeutic grade essential oils, yoga, cleansing and positive mental awareness. To learn more about Siddiqa please visit her website at: EssentiallySiddiqa.com SERVICES Medicinal Aromatherapy Consultation: Feeling tired, run down or frustrated with your health? Want more from your life? Ready to expand, uplevel and embrace yourself in the way Mother Nature intended? A consultation is the perfect way to get started. Siddiqa’s expert knowledge and pristine intuition enable her to create a customized essential oil protocol for your highest well-being. True Medicinal Aromatherapy addresses the entire being not just the symptoms. Anyone can sell you an essential oil but working with Siddiqa will empower you to discover your true health. Her clients have experienced freedom from pharmaceuticals, digestive issues, menopause discomfort, depression, migraines, and a myriad of other physical and emotional issues. Consultations are always about you, your life and your budget, never generic. 30 minutes $45 60 minutes $75 Medicinal Aromatherapy Session: Experience and in-depth consultation followed by a localized hands-on essential oil treatment that targets specific areas of need. Siddiqa combines honoring your questions and concerns with her strong intuition to create a powerful custom designed healing session. This treatment is perfect for those wanting assistance with colds, flu, headaches, localized pain or discomfort, digestive upset, mental clarity, and energetic and vibrational up leveling. Please wear loose comfortable clothes contusive to targeted essential oil application. Quick Fix: 30 minutes $55 Standard Session: 60 minutes $110 Total Body Bliss: signature treatment This unique and intoxicating total body treatment is a wellness experience like no other. After receiving your wellness consultation, relax on the massage table while being anointed with over 400 drops of the finest essential oils available today. Your body will be coaxed into a state of grace with the combination of essential oils, massage therapy and energy work. Anointing with the plant essences is an ancient and sacred tradition. Siddiqa is one of the only Master Aromatherapists in the world who anoints clients in this age-old way. The Total Body Bliss is the ultimate experience in relaxation, detoxification, release and pure communion with the Plant and Tree Kingdom. Be prepared to enter into the Divine! 1 hour 30 minutes $150 Private Yoga: An individualized session custom tailored for each client based on your physical level of strength, flexibility, knowledge, comfort and desired goals. Sessions are totally focused on you so that you get exactly what you need from your yoga experience. You will learn more about your body and its ability to heal itself with Siddiqa’s compassionate and loving approach to reaching your fullest potential. Siddiqa has worked with thousands of people from all walks of life and rejoices in assisting you decompress, breathe more fully and feel long and limber. Small yoga assignments will be given for you to practice between sessions. 1 hour $75 Bill's Experience: Bill had a horrible case of Poison Ivy – his face, hands, and shoulders were a mass of lumps and rashes. A friend of mine suggested Reiki to ease his discomfort and to dissipate the spread of the inflammation. Bill admitted to me of being skeptical and said he had never heard of Reiki until our mutual friend mentioned it. I explained the basics and began to work on him. As Reiki started to penetrate the irritation, Bill acknowledged a feeling of heat and tingling immediately. There are several reactions to receiving Reiki, mostly heat, cold, fluttering and tingling, however, these sensations do not need to be felt for Reiki to be affective. Bill contacted me the following day to say he could not believe the difference in his skin overnight. About two months later, Bill literally brought his friend Jake, suffering from Poison Oak to see me. It was so rewarding to see Bill become such an advocate for the Reiki modality. Gina's Experience: Gina is in her early 40’s and has been a client for years and visits regularly for monthly Reiki “tune-ups”. Gina first started receiving Reiki because she enjoyed the relaxation she felt during a session and the oomph she felt afterwards. As our work together progressed she noticed she wasn’t getting sick as often as she had in the past. She usually had three to four colds a year (!!) and was very susceptible to respiratory problems. Since receiving Reiki she rarely gets sick and feels much more relaxed in her day to day activities. Marlene's Experience: Anyone attuned to Reiki is able to work on themselves with the same effective results as when working on a client. About eight years ago I had to go through minor surgery. The procedure was performed in a doctor’s office, however it was invasive and time consuming. Before the surgery began I gave the doctor and attending nurse a “Reikied Rock.” They both looked at me, then each other, exchanging a glance between them that I could almost see in neon, “Coo-coo bird alert…let’s just go along with her.” They each stuck the rock into their pockets; I was prepped and the surgery proceeded. Two weeks later I went back to the doctor’s office for a post surgical visit and to have stitches removed. After the examination the doctor looked at me intently and said that if another physician examined me he would never know I had undergone such a procedure – he was really amazed. The doctor then asked me several questions about Reiki, which I was happy to answer. The next time I saw the doctor he told me he had been carrying the Reikied rock with him and even transferred it to his back pack when he went hiking. Of course, I was just one huge smile. When receiving a Reiki session you remain fully clothed but it’s suggested that you wear very comfy clothes. Reiki is a completely relaxing encounter besides being a means to boost your immune system with regular monthly sessions. You don't need to be ailing from any physical problem to be enriched by its affects. To schedule a Reiki session with me and experience its power for yourself, call Live Well Holistic Health Center at 610.896.1554. ‘Lu Rong’ is velvet antler or immature deer antler. It is a remarkable whole food product that has been used in oriental medicine for over 2,000 years. It is harvested from deer without harm to the animal, before the antler turns to bone, in its fast growing cartilaginous state. Scientifically it is very high in superior forms of chondroitin and glucosamine, with all their co-factors present. It has significant amounts of IGF-1 (insulin growth factor) which encourages absorption of the glucosamine and chondroitin and also stimulates cell growth and multiplication. It has ‘gangliosides’ which facilitate cell-cell communications and anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. It has ‘pantocrin’ which increases athletic performance and speeds recovery from injuries. It is anabolic and rejuvenating, helping to burn fat and build muscle. It is testosterone and libido enhancing. It is immune stimulating and free radical scavenging. Dr. Martin Orimenko highly recommends Lu Rong for any type of injury, for anyone wanting to increase endurance and athletic performance, for arthritis, osteoporosis and inflammatory conditions, for nerve degeneration, sexual dysfunction and to slow the aging process. It has helped women with delivery and helped babies and children with delayed walking and growth. Lu Rong is a remarkable product. We have found an excellent source which comes in 830 mg capsules with no fillers of any kind and at a very good price and of the highest quality. We always keep Lu Rong, in addition to a wide range of other natural supplements, in stock at Live Well Holistic Health Center. In his signature Holistic Health Visits, Dr. Martin uses Kinesiologic Analysis, a form of muscle response testing, to determine which nutritional supplements and dietary changes would correct your imbalances and best vitalize you. Dr. Martin Orimenko works with you to develop a customized program to help you reach your health goals. Call us at 610.896.1554 to learn more or to schedule an initial Holistic Health Visit. An initial Holistic Health Visit includes both a full consultation and a full treatment with Dr. Martin. We look forward to helping you on your journey to feeling fantastic from head to toe! Since people seek Reiki for numerous reasons I thought it would be helpful for those of you who never experienced this beautiful energy to hear about some of my clients’ stories. Names in blogs will be changed to honor privacy. My first blog is about Dave’s session. Over the years I’ve noticed that woman seem much more open to trying modalities such as Reiki, while men seem initially more reluctant. This was the case with Dave. Dave had chronic back problems over the years and just couldn’t seem to find relief. After seeking help from medical doctors and using prescription drugs for intense lower back pain he was no better off and felt hopeless. His wife, Kim had taken a Reiki I class with me and convinced Dave to try Reiki. She practically dragged him (gently) through the door. Even though he was a willing participant, he didn’t quite know what to expect. It’s very important to me that the atmosphere for receiving Reiki is calm and peaceful so clients have a place of solace during their session. I keep the room dimly lit with Reiki music playing and a candle burning to invite complete relaxation. Dave took this all in and looked at Kim as if he were 9 years old going to overnight camp for the first time. As the session started I could feel his body relax into the energy. Personally, I think it was pure relief that I wasn’t swinging a chicken over his head chanting Kumbaya. By the end of the session he said his back felt much looser and made an appointment for the following week. When he arrived without Kim for his second session I knew two things; he was physically comfortable enough to drive, and comfortable and confident with the Reiki modality. This session was verrrrrry interesting. As an empath I’m used to feeling the energy path or pain of the client within my body. I’ve experienced the beauty of Kundalini, warm and cool flows of energy and various vibratory sensations, but this was a first…While working on Dave mid-point, I started to experience an electrical feeling in my hand and within seconds of this sensation my hand involuntarily flipped palm side up, I’m thinking WOW, this is too cool, but immediately asked Dave what he was feeling. He said he felt an intense surge of heat run through his back, but he was very comfortable and relaxed and we continued with the session. Afterwards, Dave commented that he felt much better. Reiki works through the body long after the session ends, many times it’s not until the next day that true results are realized. This was the case with Dave when he called to tell me how great he felt. The following week we had another session, and then appointments became routine monthly visits to maintenance well being visits. It doesn’t take a fast ball volt of energy to accelerate the healing process, but in Dave’s case, it hit a home run, as Reiki always does. Anyone receiving a Reiki session remains fully clothed but it’s suggested that you wear very comfy clothes. Reiki is a completely relaxing encounter besides being a means to boost your immune system with regular monthly sessions. You don't need to be ailing from any physical problem to be enriched by its affects. To schedule a Reiki session with me, call Live Well at 610.896.1554. Traci at the front desk will take good care of you and answer any questions you may have! Statins, which are a class of drugs used to lower your cholesterol, are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the world, and I believe, one of the most unnecessary drugs there are. While the FDA has deemed statins to be safe to use for their intended purpose, no drug is totally without side effects in susceptible individuals. As the use of statin drugs continues to increase and people have now been taking statins for prolonged periods that are significantly longer than the time required for testing drugs, the side effects of statins are appearing to affect more people than ever before. Since the drug companies that manufacture statins have become aware of the incidences of serious side effects, they added a warning to statin advertising that was not present in the earliest advertising. This warning states, “Unexplained muscle pain and weakness could be a sign of a rare but serious side effect and should be reported to your doctor right away.” People who take statin drugs need to heed this warning immediately because in extreme cases the side effects of statins can be fatal. Muscle Pain and Rhabdomyolysis Muscle symptoms are a common side effect of statins; many people experience aching in the shoulders, pain in the jaw, or muscle pain in the legs. The muscle pain is a symptom of muscle breakdown that is occurring in the body due to the statin drug. When tissues break down, the body must eliminate the excess waste products. The waste products then overload the kidneys, causing more serious problems. Rhabdomyolysis (often called rhabdo for short) is the medical term for the breakdown of muscle fibers that results in the release of muscle fiber contents into the bloodstream. Besides muscle pain, the other major symptom of rhabdomyolysis is dark red or cola colored urine. Severe rhabdomyolysis can result in death from acute kidney failure due to overload of the kidneys with deteriorated muscle tissue. If fact, the cholesterol lowering drug Baycol was removed from the market after being implicated in over 60 deaths due to rhabdomyolysis. However, rhabdomyolysis remains a dangerous side effect of statins in general. Muscle Weakness and Neuropathy Neuropathy, short for peripheral neuropathy, simply means a malfunction of the peripheral nervous system. . There are many causes of neuropathy, including injury to the nerves caused for example by an accident or various diseases like diabetes and kidney problems. The occurrence of toxic or poisonous substances in the body can also cause neuropathy. For certain individuals, the use of statin drugs can interfere with proper functioning of the peripheral nerves. Researchers assume that the build-up of statins in the body causes neuropathy. Muscle weakness is frequently a symptom of neuropathy and the muscle weakness may develop in a matter of days or may slowly progress over weeks or months. Individuals may simply not recognize the progressive muscle weakness and excuse the symptoms away as the result of being tired, overdoing or just getting older. For those who take statins, keep muscle weakness in mind as it “could be a sign of a rare but serious side effect.” Other symptoms of neuropathy include: numbness, tingling, and pricking sensations; burning pain (especially at night); and/or sensitivity to touch. If left undiagnosed, neuropathy can lead to deterioration of the muscles and paralysis. Remember that we all need throat muscles to swallow, chest muscles to breathe, and that the heart is a muscle. In the extreme, severe neuropathy as a side effect to statin use can lead to death. Some researchers estimate that 1 in 10 people who take statin drugs will experience a mild form of neuropathy where the symptoms may be a feeling of tiredness, difficulty in arising from a low chair or getting out of bed, shortness of breath or difficulty walking. A famous Danish study concluded that an individual who is a long-term user of statin drugs has anywhere from 4 to 14 times greater risk of developing peripheral neuropathy than a person who does not take statin drugs. Typically, long-term use of statins is defined as 2 years or more but neuropathy can occur even after just a few days of use in a susceptible individual. Memory Loss Some people experience memory loss, inability to concentrate and feel that they are developing Alzheimer’s disease when taking statin drugs. This memory loss may be as extreme as complete amnesia that lasts for 6 to 12 hours. These types of problems are known as cognitive defects. Other people claim to experience mood swings and other behavioral changes when taking statins. These differences in behavior are not just subjective feelings on the part of the individual but tend to be corroborated by family members. The FDA determined that approximately half of the reported memory loss problems occurred within 60 days of starting on statin therapy, although memory problems were also reported after taking a statin drug for just 5 days. Fortunately most people return to normal after discontinuing the statin drug. However, a small group may continue to suffer with cognitive problems, perhaps indefinitely. Note: Amnesia used to be a rare phenomenon, especially transient global amnesia (TGA) where individuals can forget major details of their lives for hours only to return to normal until the next episode. Yet TGA is occurring with increased frequency. In addition, a recent study raises the possibility that statins increase the risk of delerium in patients after surgery. They believe that statins may cause blood flow to the brain to reduce in favor of flow to the heart. The Alternative Approach So what to do about that high cholesterol? There are clear cut ways to lower your cholesterol naturally, with no drugs what-so-ever. A lifestyle and diet that support a healthy heart are a must. That includes regular exercise, plenty of rest and relaxation, and a diet that is heavy on vegetables and light on animal products and refined carbohydrates, particularly sugar. Many now believe that inflammation is the real cause of atherosclerosis and that statins have more to do with reducing inflammation than directly lowering cholesterol. (This new effect of statins has only recently been brought to light and helps to explain why the pharmaceutical industry is now offering this drug for organ transplant victims and patients having such inflammatory based auto-immune diseases as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosis). This diet certainly helps reduce inflammation as well. As far as supplements, my greatest successes with reducing my patients’ cholesterol have been with a combination of red yeast rice, coenzyme Q10, policosanol and omega 3 oils. And as far as genetics are concerned, it is true that regardless of your cholesterol level, if your ancestors and blood relatives experienced premature heart attacks and/or strokes, you are at risk, possibly even high risk. However, it simply a predisposition or tendency in your genes. In order for those genes to give expression to disease, you have to encourage them through bad diet, lack of exercise and extra stress. To discourage them, follow the guidelines above, including diet, exercise, stress reduction and supplements, see a Holistic Doctor like myself who can counsel and support you with nutrition, lifestyle, herbal supplements and general wellness, and kiss your statins goodbye. |  About this BlogIn our journey down the road to vibrant health, we make discoveries and we gain insight. We'll share that wisdom here in our blog. You'll see posts from Traci Orimenko, Holistic Health Counselor and Office Manager at Live Well, and Dr. Martin Orimenko, Director of the Center. If we're lucky, we'll also have some guest posts from our Reiki Master and Massage Therapist too. Enjoy, Live Well & Thrive! ArchivesApril 2012 CategoriesAll |
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