| Report on the Medical Spa Conference and Expo - Mindful of the Past, Movement of the Future in Atlanta, Georgia on April 13-16, 2003 |
The
Medical Spa Professional Alliance held it’s third Medical Spa Conference
at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Georgia from April 13-16, 2003.
When the first Medical Spa Conference was held two years ago in San
Antonio, Texas, the term “medical spa” was relatively new to both the
spa and medical fields in the United States.
Now, as consumers are searching for ways to live a healthier
lifestyle, the integration of conventional medicine with holistic spa
modalities is becoming a major trend for the future.
In
MEDIcalSPAS, The Healthy-Aging
Business Review, the role of a medical spa is defined as “a
comprehensive mind/body approach to caring for the client before, during,
and after physio, medical, anti-stress and cosmetic treatments…They take
care of the client’s medical needs and at the same time create a relaxing
and soothing atmosphere for the client’s comfort and well being.
A medical spa is a medical setting combined with a healing touch
including its multitude of spa services with various medical environments… Finally, a medical spa combines ancient Oriental, Indian and
Modern medicine with spa services.”
As
is evident from this emerging definition, the possibilities for providing
services which enhance the client’s or patient’s health experience are
limitless. Much of the current
medical interest appears to be in the arena of providing a more nurturing
and healing environment for cosmetic procedures.
With our society’s current emphasis on youth and beauty, this will
inevitably be a growth market. However,
when the emphasis is placed on the total well being of the client and not
merely external beauty, the integration of the best technologies from
Eastern and Western traditions may ultimately transform healthcare as we
know it. With this in mind, I
chose to focus on those sessions and exhibitors which had a more holistic
focus.
The
following are brief highlights from just a few of the presenters:
-
Mind-Body Medicine in the Context of a New Medical Spa By Richard Foxx,
-
Modern Lifestyle Medicine By Beatrix Thunn-Hohenstein, MD
-
Natural Alternatives for Your Medical Spa By Hyla Cass, MD
-
Skin Nutrients for a Medical Spa Practice By Derrick De Silva, Jr. MD
-
Mind-Body
Medicine in the Context of a New Medical Spa
By
Richard Foxx,
Dr.
Foxx is a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist.
He practices integrative menopause and anti-aging medicine at the
WellMax Center for Preventive Medicine in La Quinta, California.
Dr.
Foxx began his presentation by sharing that in the last few weeks, “the
media have once again been filled with reports that detail the rising cost
of medicine. We spent $140
billion annually on drugs, $300 billion on doctors and $450 billion on
hospitals. We shell out a
whopping 14 percent of our gross national product on medical care, a figure
that’s grown by 8 percent in the past year.”
We
should be getting premium care, but we’re not.
So what's the problem? The
answer is simple. Doctors
aren’t having any fun any more, no one is listening to the patients, and
everyone is feeling the pinch.
Forced
by budgetary and other constraints, doctors must limit the time spent with
each patient and maximize the number of patients seen each day.
One of the major requirements of the healing process has always been
the establishment of a relationship between the patient and the healer.
With this key ingredient missing, physicians find themselves
beginning charting and writing prescriptions the moment the appointment
starts.
According
to Dr. Foxx, an article about health care in the Wall Street Journal a few weeks ago stated:
“When politicians and policy makers meet now to talk about health
care…they discuss it almost wholly as an interplay of economics, money and
insurance.” Nowhere in that
article is the health of the patient mentioned, or the mental health or job
satisfaction of the physicians even discussed.
Under
our current health care system, it is not practical to attempt to integrate
complementary or alternative therapies.
Dr. Foxx believes that this will be possible only in the unhurried
context of a medical spa. Specific
examples of treatments which might be included are Traditional Chinese
Medicine, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Herbs, Supplements,
Manipulation and Energy Healing.
An
ideal application for a medical spa would be for screening rather than for
ongoing care. Dr. Foxx’s
practice features the use of cutting edge, yet non-invasive diagnostic tests
which can be used as education tools in Longevity Medicine. Such tests include bone density measurements, cognitive
testing, memory testing, ultra sound, auditory markers, grip, pulmonary
function, reaction time, whole body scans and physical exams. Together, these tests give the patient an age marker from
which to measure future progress.
In
addition to these tests, Dr. Foxx spends an hour with each patient using
guided imagery techniques to learn about their lifestyle, their
relationships, their spiritual resources, their diet and supplements and
other factors which might affect their total well-being.
From the results of the diagnostic tests and his interview, he is
able to tailor a program for each patient.
His programs can include various forms of yoga, tai chi, herbs,
supplements, meditation, breath work, music, and diet.
He uses only bio-identical hormones and no chemicals in his
treatments. Many of his
services are now covered by insurance.
Modern
Lifestyle Medicine
By
Beatrix Thunn-Hohenstein, MD
Dr.
Thunn-Hohenstein is the Medical Director of the Therapy Center of the
Thermal Baths Geinberg in Upper Austria, Europe.
Since 1990, she has been intensively occupied as a doctor in natural
healing, holistic and psycho-social medicine.
In
Europe, spas have always been centers for healing rather than for beauty or
pampering. The term “spa”
means “sanitas per aquam” or health through water.
Spa mineral hot springs are considered a natural source of healing
for numerous conditions including joints and dermatitis. In 217 AD, the first Roman spa served not only as a place of
healing but as the social and leisure center of the community serving as
many as 1500 people.
Today,
as it was true for the first spa, prevention is the key.
Rather than defining health as the “absence of disease,” the
objective of lifestyle medicine is to optimize health, encourage vital aging
and increased vigor, and to generate greater mental and spiritual
independence. Pursuing optimal
health should be fun and may include the following strategies:
-
Individual plans for healthy nutrition and antioxidative therapies
-
Specific training programs for the brain
-
Special sport and fitness programs
-
Selected stress management strategies
At
Dr. Thunn-Hohenstein’s Center, she incorporates numerous healing
modalities which include Ayurveda, Five Tibetans, La Stone Hot Therapy,
Reiki, Tuina ( a 3000 year old Chinese massage technique which presses,
pulls and pushes the joints,) Shiatsu (a Japanese version of massage,)
Traditional Chinese Medicine, Colon Hydrotherapy with Nutrition Counseling,
F.X. Myer Cure (a detoxification procedure which uses tea and massage,)
Fasting, Natural Hormones, Antioxidants, and Body Contouring.
A
central feature of her Center is a magnificent thermal springs pool which
services as many as 1000 people per day.
Guests can choose to go for a day or for an extended stay in their
360 bed accommodations. She
shared an enticing video of the pools and facility with the audience.
Natural
Alternatives for Your Medical Spa
By
Hyla Cass, MD
Dr.
Cass is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, UCLA School of
Medicine, integrative Psychiatrist, and the author of several best-selling
books, including Natural
Highs (2002). She is
also President of The Healthy Foundation, providing nutritional supplements
to children and adults at risk for nutritional deficiencies.
Visit her web site at www.cassmd.com.
According
to Dr. Cass, 50% of the American population currently uses supplements.
Dr. Cass is an avid proponent of dietary supplements for good health
especially given today’s high levels of stress, environmental toxins,
sedentary lifestyles and poor nutrition.
Recently,
there have been conflicting reports concerning the efficacy of supplements
such as St. John’s Wort, Kava, Ginko and Ephedra.
Proper interpretation of these studies is essential.
For example, one recent study indicated that St. John’s Wort was
ineffective in treating severe depression, however, it did not address its
efficacy for mild depression, which has been proven in numerous other
studies.
Interestingly,
the same products which affect mood will also help someone to lose weight.
They work to influence the neurotransmitters in the brain.
Quite often, when we are feeling blue, we will use “feel good”
favorites of sugar, caffeine and nicotine to raise our serotonin levels.
These substances provide a quick fix but result in overall stress to
the body and a rebound effect due to a blood sugar imbalance later on.
To
balance the blood sugar, Dr. Cass recommends eating low glycemic index foods
(those which release sugar slowly) and good fats. The brain is made of 60% fats and needs Essential Fatty Acids
to produce adequate hormone levels, prevent brain fog and actually reduce
cholesterol levels.
Dr.
Cass reviewed an extensive list of supplements and their potential benefits
for such conditions as mood enhancement, weight reduction, cellulite,
detoxification, and circulation. Details
can be found in her latest book, Natural
High.
In
addition to supplementation, she recommends incorporating lifestyle tools in
to medical spas for increased patient well-being.
For example, exercising forty minutes per day four times a week on a
tread mill has the equivalent effect of an anti-depressant without the side
effects. Music helps to entrain
the body to create either relaxation or energy.
Touch therapy is an essential part of medical care.
Promoting a positive mental attitude, ensuring sufficient quality
sleep and drinking ample pure water without fluoride are also necessary
components of a good medical spa program.
Drugs should be a last resort.
Skin
Nutrients for a Medical Spa Practice
By
Derrick De Silva, Jr. MD
Dr.
De Silva’s extensive list of credentials include President of the American
Nutraceutical Association, the Advisory Board for the Physician Desk
reference, the teaching staff of JFK Medical Center, practicing Internist
and part of the Attending Staff at the Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth
Amboy, NJ. He is also a
published author, host of the nationally syndicated radio show “Ask the
Doctor,” and has appeared on CNN and ABC Night Line.
According
to Dr. De Silva, the skin is the largest organ in the human body as well as
the largest organ of elimination. It
is, by far, one of the most used and abused.
For many years we have only focused on healing the skin from the
outside, but true healing of the vital organ must focus on healing from the
inside. The key building blocks
of healthy skin are water, exercise, sleep, nutrients and prayer.
In
400 BC, when Hippocrates said “Let your food be your medicine and your
medicine be your food,” he was not faced with the same conditions that we
are today. He did not have
nutrient depletion of the soil. He
did not have a microwave which breaks down protein bonds needed to help with
good digestion. There was no
pollution. There were no
antibiotics and prescription drugs which are a major cause of nutrient
depletion. He probably had certain levels of stress but there was no TV
to bring world stress directly in to his living room.
To
combat the ingredients of modern life, it is necessary to supplement even a
nutrient-rich diet with probiotics, a multi-vitamin, a multi-mineral,
antioxidants, energy nutrients (preferably Co-enzyme Q10) and a liver
cleanser.
The
human intestine is home to 100 trillion living bacteria.
If food is not properly digested, it putrefies and produces poisons.
Sixty percent of our immune system lies within our gut. All healers of ancient traditions insist on detoxifying prior
to any healing treatment. One
method used personally by Dr. De Silva is a three day fresh juice and water
fast at the change of each season. He
even eliminates his supplements during those days.
Once the system has been cleansed, Dr. De Silva recommends
replenishing the body with good bacteria called probiotics.
He
also believes that the leading cause of disease today is nutrient depletion
resulting from medications, especially antibiotics. Other sources of nutrient depletion are oral contraceptives,
antacids (deplete vitamin B6), chlorinated water, high sugar diets,
chemotherapy and radiation. Over
60% of Americans do not eat the recommended 5 to 8 servings of fruits and
vegetables a day. Thus, proper
supplementation can be a vital method for obtaining adequate nutrients for a
healthy body and healthy skin. Vitamins
B6, C, and E, Selenium, Calcium and Magnesium, Essential Fatty Acids, CoQ10,
Alpha Lipoic Acid and Milk Thistle (liver cleanser) are some examples of
these necessary nutrients.
Dr.
De Silva also highlighted the importance of patients and health care
providers working together especially where surgery or special health
concerns are involved. He
recommends suspending most supplements a week to ten days prior to and after
any surgery. This is due
primarily to not knowing the specific interactions with anesthesia.
The
Role Energy Plays in Health,
“Chi”
- The Missing Link to Good Health
By Yury Kronn, PhD
Dr.
Kronn is a leading researcher and theoretician heading up research on high
frequency electromagnetic vibrations, laser physics and nonlinear optics.
He received his doctorate from Gorki University, one of the world’s
premier centers for the study of the physics of nonlinear vibrations.
According
to Dr. Kronn, the existence of the subtle energetic structure of the human
body is still ignored by Western Medicine, despite five thousand years of
experience with traditional Chinese medicine, including scientific proof
from rigorous studies by progressive modern scientists.
Excerpts
from Dr. Kronn’s material describe the human body’s energy system as the
“software” of the body. “In
other words, it is the operating program which provides the energetic
instructions for all the biological, chemical and psychological processes of
the body. The energy system
regulates the functions of the body through the autonomic nervous system.”
He
challenged the audience to think about the current scientific theory that
only 5-10% of the universe is ordinary matter and the rest is known as
“dark matter,” with properties yet to be totally defined by the
scientific community. How does
“dark matter” function? How
can subtle energy be used to create health?
Can we actually imbue substances with healing properties using
energetic patterns?
Most
of Dr. Kronn’s presentation was devoted to scientific explanations about
the nature and properties of subtle energy or “chi.”. Without the benefit of his extensive slide presentation, a
simple summary can not do justice to the significance of his subject matter.
For details of his research, I would encourage you to visit his
website at www.energytoolsint.com.
****
The
Medical Spa Conference was funded by educational grants from Physiodermie,
Lane Labs, Institute Dermed, Oismueller & Partner’s Dr. Spiller and
Golden Spoons and Fiji Water. It
was jointly sponsored by the Medical Media Communications and the Medical
Spa Professional Alliance and featured over forty exhibitors.
For more information about this conference and upcoming events, visit
their web site at www.medspaconference.com.
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