Health and Wellness

Try alternative health care
Here at Hudson Valley Parent, we care if our readers look and feel their best. We know that you trust us, and come to our Me Time section to get tips that will amp up your beauty regimen, ease your aches and pains, spark new ideas that will turn your home into an oasis and help push you in the right direction so you can reach your personal development goals.

This month we rounded up some health and wellness treatments that may not be at the top of moms' minds...but should be!

Maybe the change in weather has your bones feeling stiff and your muscles achy. Maybe you have a nasty habit that you have been trying to kick, but just can't seem to quit for good. Maybe you have looked everywhere for the right treatment for you and just are not sure where to turn. Well, look no further. Hudson Valley Parent has you covered.

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Benefits of Bowen therapy
Bowen is a hands on therapy that stimulates the body to change. Though you may not have heard of it, this holistic "homeopathy of bodywork" has been in practice for almost 70 years. By activating the nervous system through a soft-tissue technique, the body is able to "reset" and return to its healing state.

Danielle Molella, owner of Blue Dragonfly Bodywork in Poughkeepsie and Bowen Therapy practitioner for years, has seen Bowen treat and heal emotional and physical ailments within patients. She says, "I see people that are trying to unlock their body's greatest potential and they come to me because they want to feel their best. I really enjoy helping them achieve optimal health."

Bowen is different from traditional forms of wellness, though it is recognized and practiced by doctors around the world. Molella describes the differences between Bowen and a normal massage. She says, "Bowen moves can be applied through clothing and in any position or situation without lotions or oils. There are wait times in between moves and sets of moves, as well."

The treatment is subtle but the effects are powerful and work within the body for around five days after the treatment, detoxifying the body. As a form of follow up care, Molella suggests drinking lots of water and walking for 20 minutes a day. She also warns against using other therapies in conjunction with Bowen, saying, "Its effects are powerful but can be dampened, stopped or altered by other therapies like massage, chiropractic and ice packs."

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Heal with hypnosis
Michael Salerno, owner of Mid-Hudson Valley Hypnosis and hypnotist seeing clients in Ulster and Dutchess county locations, talks about hypnosis and a client's mind in terms of computers. He says, "Think of the subconscious mind as a computer. Just like any computer, the subconscious mind can be programmed, reprogrammed or even updated with new "software" through hypnotic suggestions."

Hypnosis has been around for hundreds of years, yet there are still many misconceptions surrounding it. Salerno wishes to debunk some of these myths and says, "It's from movies where hypnosis is often thought of or portrayed as a loss of awareness or control. The opposite is true. It's a heightening of awareness and it's really a process that helps you take back control.

The ways in which hypnosis can enhance and improve someone's life are almost limitless, according to Salerno. He regularly sees clients for things such as smoking cessation, weight and stress management, overcoming fears, apprehensions and other bad habits as well as improvements in academic and athletic performance.

Though some clients have experienced results after just one session, Salerno insists that "hypnosis is not a one-size fits all process." Typically, he sends clients home with an audio program to listen to for a specific number of days. He says, "When the client comes back for their next session, I ask them to take me through their week and tell me what's different. Then I work in subsequent sessions based on what has transpired since our previous session."

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Cold laser for chronic pain
If you are looking for a painless, drug-free, non-invasive treatment for your pain or neurological condition, cold laser could be the right choice for you. Dr. John Hannigan, chiropractor and head of the private practice Hannigan Chiropractic, P.C. since 1983, explains that cold laser is a low-level, infrared laser that can penetrate the skin to about 5 centimeters. This is the deepest possible penetration.

The list of ailments that can be treated with cold laser may seem "too good to be true."

Dr. Hannigan lists back pain, carpal tunnel, arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines and tendonitis as just a few of the things that have been successfully treated with cold laser.

Despite the name, cold lasers aren't actually cool in temperature. Dr. Hannigan says, "Cold laser gets its name from the fact that the laser light is in the infrared or cool end of the light spectrum as opposed to ultraviolet which is at the warm end of the light spectrum and often used for surgery."

While anyone can benefit from cold laser, its pain and drug-free nature make it especially beneficial for certain patients. "Some people who have been injured, perhaps a whiplash injury, cannot tolerate, due to pain levels, chiropractic or physical therapy treatments. Laser therapy is ideally suited for them," says Dr. Hannigan. "It is also very useful in situations where the patient cannot take pain medication or there are narcotic addiction concerns."

Each patient is different, but Dr. Hannigan predicts that most conditions will require between 5 and 10, 5 to 12 minute treatments. "Many people report pain reduction and feeling better following even the first treatment," Dr. Hannigan assures.