 |
 |
| Integrative Medicine
News |
Winter 2007 |
An
Evening With Our Co-founder
Managing Holiday Stress
New Somatic Movement Therapist
Tips for a Healthy Winter
You Said It Best
CIM Gift Certificates
CIM Spotlight: Grandmaster Nick Gracenin
Upcoming Classes
CIM Lecture Series
Myth or Fact?
An
Evening With Our Co-founder
On September 6th, 2007, The Center for Integrative Medicine was proud
to present a 10th anniversary address by Dr. David Servan-Schreiber. Dr.
Servan-Schreiber is a distinguished psychiatrist and research scientist
in his native France and in the United States, and is the author of “The
Instinct to Heal.” Dr. Servan-Schreiber presented “The Scientific
Basis of Natural Treatment Approaches in Medicine” to a captivated
audience. This lecture distilled decades of science into practical ideas
and actions that everyone can incorporate into their daily lives. The practitioners
and staff at CIM carry on this ideal each day in clinic by integrating
scientifically based medicine and the body’s innate ability to heal.
Managing
Holiday Stress
Why do so many of us feel stressed at holiday time?
As we all know, this time of year allows for more time spent with
family and friends. Unfortunately, to get there we must make it
through snow storms, traffic, and unbearable lines at department
stores, all of which contribute to added stress during the holidays.
How do we find a balance between the joy of the season and the added
pressure? If we settle down and take a moment, we may find that
stress is a result not of some outside force, but rather of our
expectations. We often expect that we should have the time and money
for all those "extras" that
are supposed to make this season wonderful for everyone. Bringing
those expectations into awareness, really acknowledging them, can
be helpful. We may discover that some or all of them are less important
than we may have thought.
What if, instead of getting caught up in
expectations, we put some energy into discovering and acknowledging
our intentions for the holidays? Maybe what is behind all of the
"extra busy-ness" is the intention to connect with others.
Or it may be the intention to express gratitude. This awareness allows
our intentions to flow into our behavior and our interactions with
others … making space for joy and appreciation during the
holidays and beyond.
Carol Greco, PhD
New
Somatic Movement Therapist
The Center for Integrative Medicine is proud to welcome Mark
Shefsiek.
Mark is a registered somatic movement therapist and has been practicing
in Pittsburgh for the last ten years. Mark’s method of somatic
movement therapy integrates Feldenkrais movement therapy, meditation,
and relaxation training, and empowering exercises grounded in energetic
martial arts. Welcome, Mark!
Tips for a Healthy Winter
We have all heard the statistic, “Pittsburgh only has 59
sunny days per year.” This is due to the fact that a large body
of water lies to our north. In the winter time, our air flow generally
comes from the north. This flow of cold air picks up moisture from the
Great Lakes and distributes it as precipitation, generally snow or
clouds, often for days at a time. During the winter months, the amount
of sunlight in Pittsburgh is insufficient for vitamin D synthesis in the
skin.
What we recommend: Take a vitamin D3 supplement, 1,000 I.U. per day
between November and March (Am J Clin Nutr. 2006; 84:18-28).
Tis the season for sharing. Unfortunately, we also share our germs and viruses.
What can be done to help avoid getting sick? Exercise! Thirty minutes
of exercise per day on most days of the week is one verified way to boost immunity.
Research also has shown that the flu virus spreads through the air more
easily when the temperature and humidity are low. Keep room temperatures
above 68 degrees Fahrenheit and keep humidity at or above 50 percent
to
help curb the spread of the flu virus.
If you catch a cold this winter season, research shows that zinc
gluconate-glycine lozenges containing 13 mg of zinc may
reduce the duration and severity (J Am Pharm Assoc. 2004; 44:594-603).
A supplement that combines echinacea, western cedar, and wild
indigo also has been shown to help (Curr Med
Res Opin. 1999; 15:214-227). Results
are better when taken within the first 24 hours of developing symptoms.
Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions on the packages.
Consult
your physician prior to taking herbal supplements since they may
have adverse effects and/or interactions with medications.
John
Laird, ND
You
Said It Best
Words of wisdom from a CIM patient:
"Chronic pain from back surgery became a way of life until my wife suggested
trying acupuncture at the UPMC Center for
Integrative Medicine. Although
skeptical,
I met with KK Teh and started treatment. Walking
to my car after the second treatment
felt strange. Then I figured it out: I was walking like I did prior to
my back operation. After my seventh treatment, I actually ran, (Yes, ran!) from
our garage to our house for the first time in 15 years. I now have more good
days than bad and hope to soon be pain free." - Bill Kavchak
CIM Gift Certificates
Still looking for that perfect gift? Give the gift of relaxation and well being
this holiday season! The Center for Integrative Medicine is offering personalized
wellness packages. Choose from
two or three of the following services at a discounted rate:
…
Or choose from our ongoing classes. A member of our staff will be happy to
help you design the perfect package. Call 412-623-3023 for more details.
CIM Spotlight: Grandmaster Nick Gracenin
Grandmaster Nick Gracenin teaches
Tai Chi and Qigong at the center. Acclaimed
for his teaching abilities, Nick has conducted seminars
in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In 1999, Nick was named as
one of the 100 people who have made the greatest impact on martial
arts in the past 100 years by Inside Kung Fu magazine.
Grandmaster Gracenin has traveled the world both as competitor
and instructor,
producing several national champions, and he enjoys sharing his
experiences and expertise with students of all levels. Whether
you are new to Tai Chi or an experienced martial artist, Nick’s
Tai Chi and Qigong instruction will help to improve your health
and well-being.
Myth or Fact?
Individuals of all ages and fitness levels can benefit from movement
therapy, such as the Feldenkrais method.
FACT. Anyone — young or old, physically challenged or physically
fit — can benefit from somatic movement therapy. The Feldenkrais
method is for anyone who wants to reconnect with their natural abilities
to move, think,
and feel. Whether you want to be more comfortable sitting at your computer,
playing with your children and grandchildren, performing a favorite pastime,
or simply want to enhance your self-image, these gentle lessons can improve
your overall well-being.
The Feldenkrais method of somatic movement therapy teaches the individual
to be an active participant in a healthy life. Individuals are under
ever increasing pressure to perform, and how they relate to that stress
forms the mental processes that become the foundation that shapes the
way they live their lives. By learning how to respond to stress and illness
with focused awareness and concentration instead of tension, the ability
to heal comes from inside and improves all aspects of life.
Somatic movement therapy helps you develop the following skills and
functions:
- ability
to relax
- freedom of movement and reduced pain
- more productive and joyful living
- a sense of strength and mental clarity
- better balance
and coordination
- increased energy
Treatment
is gentle and non-invasive. Generally, patients lie on a massage table
and are physically and verbally guided through relaxing movement
sequences. Their body and mind are gently released and relaxed and are
shown ways to incorporate the improved strength, posture, and movement
into their daily life.
|
 |
