Marlborough's Wellness Watch Newsletter (Current/Archived)

Hot Stone Massage
To relax and rejuvenate body and mind

In this comforting and healing massage, which can last anywhere from one to one and a half hours, stones of various sizes and weights are used within the therapist’s hands to massages the client and can be combined with Swedish, deep tissue massage, injury treatment, Reiki or other forms of bodywork. The use of heated oils makes this modality a relaxing spa-like treatment. The penetrating heat of the stones begins to elicit deep relaxation almost immediately, soothing the nervous system and melting the effects of stress.
The demands for hot stone massages are increasing due to the added benefit of feeling a deeper massage from the stones without the residual soreness left over from a manual type massage.

*It is very important that you tell your therapist if the temperature of the stones is uncomfortable, as they can modify the treatment to apply warm stones, as opposed to hot ones.

For more info or to book an appointment, please contact the Marlborough Wellness Center at 508-460-3399!

This series was established for educational purposes only so that the community can learn about different complimentary medicines and treatments, and make educated decisions about their health treatment options. There are a few details that remain the same for every presentation event:
1. The events are always the second Tuesday of every month from 7:00-8:00pm, unless otherwise specified;
2. The events are always FREE to attend;
3. The events will always have FREE food;
4. The events will always be held at “60Nobscot” woodworking studio and showroom, located at 60 Nobscot Road in Sudbury, unless otherwise specified.
5. Always RSVP to the presenter(s) directly;
6. Any other information you may need can be found on our website, www.metrowestfamily.com!
Here are the upcoming scheduled events:
February 12th: Loving Communication for Couples, presented by MariePatrice Masse and John Howe.
March 11th: Landscape Feng Shui for your Garden, presented by Christine Conway.
April 15th: Western Herbal Medicine Part One: How to Plant and Cultivate Western Herbs in your Backyard, presented by Leanne Dias.
May 13th: Western Herbal Medicine Part Two: A Western Herb Identification Tour, presented by Leanne Dias.

The Marlborough Wellness Center is located at 331 Boston Post Road East, Ste. 7, and provides a place for medical wellness and education. We believe that there are two worlds: one with experts who fix people, and the other world of wellness that educates and empowers them to fix themselves. It is here where you will find professional practitioners who can meet all your health and medical needs. Jodi Eldridge and Jennifer Smith, our licensed massage therapists, are going strong and we are excited to welcome Joyce Clancy, newly licensed massage therapist to the Center! Julie Dalbec, a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, continues to focus her practice in the areas of Japanese style, non-insertive pediatric acupuncture techniques and women’s health issues. Our monthly community education series titled “Alternatively Speaking” continues to delight the masses with free food and free education on the topics of alternative medicines/treatments for the common health conditions. The next engagement is Tuesday, February 12th from 7-8pm, located at 60 Nobscot in Sudbury (www.60nobscot.com), where MariePatrice Masse and John Howe will present on Loving Communication for Couples! Just in time for Valentine’s Day! Learn how to better communicate your love with your loved ones, even if you think you already do! Come check the Center and all we offer out on the web at www.metrowestfamily.com!

Have you found yourself talking with another parent, sharing medical histories of your children’s ear infections or inability to control quick onsets of fevers? It seems like the antibiotics aren’t solving the problem, and maybe the pediatrician isn’t too sure what to do either. Now you’re getting worried. This is a great time to try pediatric acupuncture! Most parents would back away slowly from whoever suggested this but for thousands of years, Traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine successfully treated pediatric conditions. Small copper, silver, and gold non-insertive instruments are used, touched lightly on the skin of the child. All the instruments could fit in the palm of an adult’s hand and are shaped like brooms and rakes and springs! Children enjoy playing with them first, to acclimate to the idea of these tools touching their bodies. Then, once we’ve touched them and given our favorite toy/animal their own acupuncture treatment, we treat the child. From the head, to the back, to the topside of arms and then the topside of the legs is the usual map for a treatment. Depending on what the condition is, and its’ severity, one of the tools may be used at specific places on the body called acupuncture points. Finally, a home program is given to the parent and the child: to wear “stickers” for a few days on the child’s body. These stickers are placed on acupuncture points and consist of little balls or magnets to solidify the treatment’s medical message. The entire treatment averages about 15-30 minutes in length and the parent(s) is encouraged to participate. The most important point to remember is the treatment goes with the speed and desirability of the child. Conditions that respond the best are ear infections (acute and chronic), digestive issues, bowel/urinary disturbances, bedwetting, decreased attention, sleep challenges and overall wellness! Most parents are surprised by the success rendered after a few acupuncture treatments and continue to utilize this style of medicine throughout their child’s life!

Compliments of the Cooking Light magazine~
For a smokier flavor, grill the vegetables instead of sautéing them. Pair the quesadillas with a salad for a light supper.
1 to 2 poblano chilis
1 large red bell pepper
Cooking spray (preferably olive oil)
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow squash
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup chopped oyster or portabella mushrooms
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 cup (4 oz) shredded Monterey jack cheese
1/2 cup (2 oz) crumbled goat or feta cheese
8 (8 in) fat-free flour tortillas
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
(can add chopped chicken or sautéed tofu to the preferred amount, if desired)

1. Preheat broiler.
2. Place poblano and bell pepper on a foil-lined baking sheet; broil 10 minutes or until blackened, turning occasionally. Place poblano and bell pepper in a zip-top plastic bag; seal. Let stand 15 minutes. Peel poblano and bell pepper; discard seeds and membranes. Cut peeled peppers into thin strips.
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Coat with cooking spray. Add onion, sauté 3 minutes or until onion is lightly browned. Add squash and garlic; sauté 3 minutes . Add pepper strips and mushrooms; cook 5 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and moisture evaporates, stirring frequently. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper.
4. Sprinkle 2 tbsp. Monterey jack and 1 tbsp goat or feta cheese over each of 4 tortillas; top each with 2/3cup vegetable mixture. Sprinkle 2 tbsp Monterey jack, 1 tbsp goat/feta cheese, and 1 1/2 tbsp cilantro over each vegetable topped tortilla; top each with remaining tortillas.
5. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place 1 quesadilla in pan; cook 5 minutes on each side or until tortillas are crisp. Repeat procedure with remaining tortillas. Cut each tortilla into 6 wedges. Yield: 12 servings (1 serving: 2 wedges)

What does the word “healthy” mean to you? Do you conjure an image of a slightly overweight average Joe who only catches the occasional cold, or do you see a professional athlete with six-pack abs and bulging biceps? What does the word “wellness” means to you? Is there a difference between health and wellness?
The word “well” is rooted in ancient Sanskrit, and loosely translated means “to choose”. We are moving away from being a disempowered culture that has put all responsibility for healing in to the hands of doctors to one that realizes each person creates their own state of being. Assuming responsibility for our wellness can be frightening. We are so used to believing we need a specialist to tell us what’s wrong and how to fix it, it doesn’t occur to people that they already hold the key to their own healing. You are being challenged to change the way you think and what you believe. Shift your thinking from the belief that accidents or illnesses are something that happens to you. You have the power to create your own reality, simply by making choices that will yield the result you really want. This is not so simple for those who are unfamiliar with the concept of empowerment! An energy medicine practitioner and/or intuitive counselor can help! Energy medicine is a catchall term that covers many different practices designed to restore the flow of energy in the body to a balanced state. Reiki, acupuncture, chakra balancing, massage, and therapeutic touch are all forms of energy medicine. Ideally, this energy will flow smoothly to all parts of the physical, emotional, and spiritual body to keep it running at peak levels. If a short circuit or block occurs in the energy pathway, the flow to that area will dry up and won’t reach its intended destination or overflow into somewhere else. Too little or too much energy will eventually manifest as a physical disturbance. An energy medicine practitioner will identify the areas where energy does not freely circulate and correct the imbalance. If the root of the imbalance isn’t addressed, it will return. A good energy medicine practitioner will teach you how to consciously manage your own energy so you can take care of yourself.
If what we believe is what we create, it stands to reason that our thoughts create our wellness or illness. Intuitive counseling will help you make those mind/body connections so you can sort through your beliefs, hold onto the ones that empower you, and disregard those that no longer serve you.

When one asks people why they receive massages, the common answers are “it feels good” or “it helps me relax”. These are good reasons to see a massage therapist on a monthly basis but WHAT exactly is massage therapy? Massage therapy improves overall physical and mental well being via different techniques applied by a licensed massage therapist. Swedish style massage is the most popular with its’ long flowing strokes, slower rhythm, and scaled pressure to the clients preference. Therapeutic massage is similar to the Swedish style but with more stretching in localized areas of the body (i.e.: shoulder/neck pain from an injury). Deep tissue massage focuses on maintained pressure on trigger points that are located all over the body and can be done at a faster rhythm. This style is best for clients who overexert their muscles on a regular basis. Sports massage consists of stretching and compressions to move lactic-acid build-up (congestion) from overworked muscles. This technique is done with a much deeper pressure and range-of-motion exercises. This can be applied to localized areas (i.e.: legs) and is best for athletes like runners and swimmers. WHY should people get massage on a regular basis, you ask? Massage can alleviate problem conditions resulting from stress/anxiety and muscular tension that may be limiting everyday life functioning. It re-energizes energy flow, improves circulation of blood and lymph, increases immune system function, supports sports programs, and combats the negative effects of aging. So WHO is the ideal client for massage? EVERYONE!! But caregivers (parents, teachers, nurses) and physical workers (construction workers, truck drivers, painters, plumbers, musicians, electricians, and men/women in our Armed Forces) can benefit greatly from a massage. Gift certificates are available and make great thank you gifts to the people in your life who matter the most!

The season full of “fun and sun” are upon us but so are the unfortunate sunburns and bug bites! Have you wondered what natural remedies are in your home to cure the complaints? Here are a few for Sunburns:
1. Apply undiluted apple cider vinegar to sunburn by cottenball..
2. Apply mayonnaise as a skin cream to sunburn.
3. Apply peanut oil to sunburned area(s).
4. Apply thin slices of cold cucumbers, apples, or potato directly to the skin.
5 Apply cold, plain yogurt then rinse with cool water.
Our contemporary contribution for bug repellent is DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), a powerful insecticide found in over 400 repellents. DEET can peel paint, damage rayonand spandex, and melt plastic. Up to 56 percent of DEET applied to the skin enters the bloodstream, and reactions to it include skin rashes, lethargy, muscle spasms, nausea, and irritability. It’s hardly worth using DEET to deter insects unless you’re someplace with high rates of insect-borne disease or you experience severe allergic reactions to bites and stings. (www.naturodoc.com)
There are natural alternatives to DEET, made primarily from plant essential oils, which can protect you in less threatening circumstances. Look for products containing any of the following: lavender, eucalyptus citriodera, litsea cubeba, geranium, rosemary, peppermint, cedar, and/or tea tree oil. For more information on properties of essential oils, go to www.crescentmooncreations.biz and click on “Learn About-Plant Oils” button.

The Marlborough Wellness Center is located at 331 Boston Post Road East, Ste. 7, and provides a place for medical wellness and education. We believe that there are two worlds: one with experts who fix people, and the other world of wellness that educates and empowers them to fix themselves. It is here where you will find professional practitioners who can meet all your health and medical needs. Jodi Eldridge and Jennifer Smith, licensed massage therapists, joined the Center after being at Metrowest Massage Therapy for many years. Julie Dalbec, a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, specializes in Japanese style, non-insertive pediatric acupuncture techniques and women’s health issues. Leanne Dias, a Registered Nurse with experience in medical/surgical, hospice, and school nursing, specializes in energy medicine and intuitive counseling to assist people in balancing the physical, emotional, and spiritual components of health.. We will also have a monthly community education series titled “Alternatively Speaking” that will highlight different areas of alternative medicine for the common health conditions. We’ll be starting our series on September 18th, at 7:00p, located at 60 Nobscot in Sudbury (www.60nobscot.com), where Julie Dalbec and Dr. Paula Cerasuolo will discuss menopause and alternative medical approaches available to treat the common complaints! More information will be posted at www.MetroWestFamily.com in the future! Come check us out soon!