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 Spa Sydell Unveils ‘Spring into Loving Your Heart’ During American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Campaign

 Spa Sydell believes in nurturing and caring for the whole body – both inside and out – and is honored to be a sponsor of the American Heart Association’s annual Go Red For Women campaign, the organization’s largest national annual initiative. Spa Sydell and the American Heart Association have jointly launched ‘Spring into Loving Your Heart’ to help raise awareness of heart disease in women.

 Go Red For Women celebrates the energy, passion and power women possess to band together and wipe out heart disease, the number-one cause of death in women in the United States. Thanks to the participation of millions of people across the country, the ‘red dress’ and the color ‘red’ have become associated with the ability all women have to improve their heart health and live longer, stronger, healthier lives. Spreading the Go Red For Women message – love your heart – raises awareness of heart disease and empowers women to reduce their risk.

 Spa Sydell is committed to helping Go Red for Women reach their near-term goal, which is nothing less than a 25% reduction in coronary heart disease and stroke risk by the year 2010. As the organization works toward this goal with Spa Sydell and other concerned businesses in Atlanta and across the country, they are also working hard to change the perception that heart disease is a man’s disease. By teaching women how to talk to their doctors about heart disease, thousands of lives can be saved every year, and heart disease is often preventable.

 As a component to the Go Red for Women campaign, the American Heart Association is pleased to host a ‘Go Red for Women’ luncheon at the Ritz Carlton in Buckhead on May 9, 2008, and well-known actress Cicely Tyson will serve as keynote speaker. Spa Sydell will be an active participant in sending the ‘Spring into Loving Your Heart’ message to a sea of nearly 500 ‘women in red,’ on hand to hear Cicely’s plea for women to work together to help wipe out this killer disease.

 Complimentary health screenings, vendor booths and registration will begin at 11 a.m. The luncheon will be held at 12 p.m., and educational breakout sessions will be held after lunch, from 1-2pm. Spa Sydell will provide complementary massages to luncheon attendees and will offer spa products in special goody bags provided to all guests.

 Additionally, two gift package options — containing Spa Sydell’s most popular pampering services — will be available to Go Red for Women participants and sponsors, as well as spa guests who reserve services at all seven Spa Sydell locations. Spa Sydell is pleased to donate 10% of the sales from these two ‘Spring into Loving Your Heart’ packages to the American Heart Association in support of Go Red for Women.

 Founded in1982 by Sydell and Arthur Harris, and their children, Karen Harris and Richard Harris, Spa Sydell was launched as Atlanta’s first true full-service day spa with a single location in Buckhead, GA. Today, the successful family-owned day spa business has seven locations and more than 500 employees. Services offered by Spa Sydell range from a full complement of specialty athletic performance, deep tissue and prenatal massages, along with the latest in unique body treatments that include fruit medley and signature facials, manicures/pedicures; waxing and hand-sprayed organic tanning services. Spa Sydell locations include Alpharetta, Buckhead Plaza, Cumberland Mall, Forum at Peachtree Parkway, Gwinnett Place, Midtown at Brookwood Plaza and Park Place at Perimeter. For more information, call 404/255-7727.

 

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Since 2004, Go Red For Women has captured the energy, passion and intelligence of women to work collectively to wipe our heart disease—the No. 1 killer of women. Today we want millions of women across American to take heart disease personally. Using the simple platform, “Love Your Heart,” Go Red For Women engages these women—and the men who love them—to embrace the cause. Healthcare providers, celebrities and politicians also elevate the cause and spread the word about women and heart disease. For more information about Go Red For Women, please call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278)  . The movement is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and Merck & Co., Inc.

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Spa Mud May Help Treat MRSA Infections

Mud may be coming to a medicine cabinet or pharmacy near you. Scientists in Arizona report that minerals from clay could form the basis of a new generation of inexpensive, highly-effective antimicrobials for fighting MRSA infections that are moving out of health care settings and into the community. These “superbugs” are increasingly resistant to multiple antibiotics and cause thousands of deaths each year.

Unlike conventional antibiotics that are often administered by injection or pills, the so-called “healing clays” could be used as rub-on creams or ointments to keep MRSA infections from spreading, the researchers say. The clays also show promise against a wide range of other harmful bacteria, including those that cause skin infections and food poisoning, the scientists add. Their study, one of the first to explore the antimicrobial activity of natural clays in detail, was presented today at the 235th national meeting of the American Chemical Society.

Clays have been used for thousands of years as a remedy for infected wounds, indigestion, and other health problems, either by applying clay to the skin or eating it. Today, clays are commonly used at health spas in the form of mud baths and facials. Armed with new investigative tools, researchers are beginning to explore their health claims scientifically.

“Clays are little chemical drug-stores in a packet,” said study co-leader Lynda Williams, Ph.D., a geochemist at Arizona State University in Tempe. “They contain literally hundreds of elements. Some of these compounds are beneficial but others aren’t. Our goal is to find out what nature is doing and see if we can find a better way to kill harmful bacteria.”

In the new study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, Willams and her colleagues collected more than 20 different clay samples from around the world to investigate their antibacterial activities. In collaboration with study co-leader Shelley Haydel, Ph.D., a microbiologist with Arizona State, the researchers tested each of the clays against several different bacteria known to cause human diseases. These bacteria include MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), Mycobacterium ulcerans (a microbe related to the tuberculosis bacterium that causes a flesh-eating disease known as Buruli ulcer), as well as E. coli and Salmonella (which cause food poisoning). The researchers identified at least three clays that killed or significantly reduced the growth of these bacteria.

The researchers are working to identify the specific compounds in the clays that may be responsible for its antibacterial activity. Using electron and ion microscopy, the researchers are also exploring how these antibacterial clays interact with the cell membranes of the bacteria in order to find out how they kill.

Williams and Haydel are continuing to test new clay samples from around the world to determine their germ-fighting potential. They hope that the more promising clays will be developed into a skin ointment or pill to fight a variety of bacterial infections or possibly as an agricultural wash to prevent food poisoning. Several companies have expressed interest in forming partnerships to develop the clays as antimicrobial agents, the scientists say.

But ordinary mud can contain dangerous bacteria as well as toxic minerals like arsenic and mercury, the researchers point out. Until healing clays are developed that are scientifically proven, which could take several years, handwashing and other proper hygiene techniques may be your best bet for keeping MRSA and other harmful bacteria at bay, they say.

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ADVENTURE SPA | Arizona dietitian wants guests to maintain healthy lifestyle

Lots of spa retreats do a great job getting guests to eat right and exercise while they’re there. But as soon as they get home and unpack, it’s back to nightly dates with Ben & Jerry and other bad habits.

Devon Metz watched this pattern play out repeatedly during her years working at some of the most high-end destination spas in the country.

Ellen McGann (left) and her hiking group take a snack break. There were hikes for beginners as well as advanced trekkers.

PRICE: Devon Hiking Spa vacations cost $2,900 per person, based on double occupancy. Solo travelers tack on $500 for their own room. The price includes five nights at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, all meals, two spa services, airport departure shuttle, backpack, pedometer and other little extras.

DATES: Eight trips are scheduled this year. They are: May 23-28; June 25-30; July 11-16; July 25-30; Nov. 16-21; Nov. 30-Dec. 5; Dec. 7-12; Dec. 14-19

FOR MORE INFO: Call (888) 823-2303

The 31-year-old dietitian and fitness instructor figured there had to be a better way to help guests keep a healthy lifestyle going long after checkout. Late last year, Metz began offering six-day getaways aimed at just that. Held in the sunny, Southwest city of Tucson, Ariz., Devon Hiking Spa vacations focus on nutrition and fitness in a “real world” way, Metz said.

“Most places just put a plate in front of you and you’re not really learning how to eat out and make the right choices,” she said. “We take people out to real restaurants each night and have them navigate the menu. We do a supermarket tour and learn how to really read the ingredient list.

“We try to do the same thing with exercise,” Metz added. “We’ll use a resistance band instead of heavy equipment and give them the band to take home with a list of exercises to do.”

The idea of a week away from the office hiking past saguaro cacti in the Arizona mountains, learning how to have a better diet and enjoying some relaxing massages sounded like the perfect escape to Ellen McGann. This Hinsdale banking executive deserved an escape. The 48-year-old mother had recently wrapped up eight rounds of chemotherapy and 28 radiation treatments after having surgery for breast cancer.

“I viewed it as the ultimate detox,” McGann said. “I’d wanted to do a health spa thing my entire life. I thought, ‘Why not just take a week off work and focus on myself, focus on diet, exercise and healthy living?’ “

McGann was one of 12 who signed up for the inaugural Devon Hiking Spa vacation in December. Most of the guests were women, ranging in age from their late 20s to 50s. And most were like McGann, traveling on their own. Base camp was the swanky Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

A typical day started around 7 a.m. with a half-hour of stretching followed by breakfast in the hotel. Then it was time for an hour-long class that usually revolved around nutrition. After that, everyone laced up their hiking boots and hit the trail, where people had the option of choosing between guided hikes for beginners or advanced trekkers.

Guests who wanted more of a fitness fix could take a post-hike class in pilates, yoga or strength-building resistance bands and then treat their sore muscles to a massage; two spa treatments came with the package.

In the evening, everyone got together for dinner at a local restaurant to practice what was preached.

“Every night before dinner we went over what to order, what questions to ask,” McGann said. “You do things like mindful eating exercises, where you put your fork down between every bite.

“A lot of the stuff I learned I came home and taught my husband,” she added. “We tend to go out to dinner a lot. I’m not afraid anymore to ask the restaurant for something special, like putting the sauce on the side or skipping the breading. My husband’s lost about 15 pounds since I got back.”

During her stint in Tucson, McGann tried Pilates for the first time. She liked it so much, she now does it once a week. She’s also making a weekly visit to a personal trainer.

“I’m still working on the exercise thing,” McGann said. “It’s my worst category.”

About once every three weeks, McGann gets an e-mail from Metz asking how she’s doing and whether she’s meeting her goals.

“I love the follow-up,” said McGann, who plans to show Metz her progress in person when she takes another Devon Hiking Spa vacation later this year.

McGann finished her cancer treatments a year ago this month.

She said that when you’re in the midst of battling something as formidable as cancer, “you don’t feel like you’re ever going to get on the other side . . . focusing on myself and my health during that week helped push me to the other side.”

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Spa Treatments with Health benefits

A trip to the spa usually feels relaxing, and new research shows that getting rid of all that stress can also help fight some diseases.

Integrative medical specialist Dr. Mimi Guarneri said lowering your stress level has real medical benefits.

Spas now offer treatments that target medical problems. One type of facial is said help get rid of toxins in the lymph nodes.

Susan Furioli, a grandmother, said she skips the antacid when her stomach hurts. Instead, she opts for reflexology foot massage, which is said to help digestive problems.

Similar to ancient acupressure, there’s new evidence that pressure-point massage works.

Guarneri warned about treatments that promise a quick fix. Some therapists say a heated body wrap not only increases the metabolism to help you burn calories but also is good for arthritis, fibromalgia and sore muscles, but Guarneri said she hasn’t seen research that shows the wrap can help arthritis.

Read more about disease and what spa treatments are right for you.

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Newly published research shows that Botox moves beyond its injection site and can weaken nearby muscles.

The study, conducted at the University of Calgary in Canada, adds to mounting evidence about unintended consequences of injections of Botox’s weakened version of botulinum toxin, at least in doses higher than those used to eliminate wrinkles.

Botox-maker Allergan of Irvine, meanwhile, notes that Botox has been used safely by millions of patients over the past two decades. Local doctors also report no problems.

Lead researcher Walter Herzog, co-director of Calgary University’s Human Performance Lab, told the Daily Mail newspaper in Britain, “What we found was that the toxin passed easily into the surrounding muscles and weakened all the muscles in the area. The results support other research that has already shown that botulinum can pass through muscle fascia (the packing tissue around muscles).”

“Our research showed that the toxin can also affect the working of the neighboring muscles,” he said.

In addition to its well-known uses as a wrinkle-fighter, Botox in stronger concentrations is used for an increasing number of muscle-related problems, including cerebral palsy, muscle rigidity after strokes, and muscle tightness that can cause incontinence or migraines.

“While I see the benefits of it as a therapeutic tool, its applications in humans are increasing and it is important we understand more about this product, which is a toxin,” Herzog said.

His study, which was published in the Journal of Biomechanics, involved Botox injections into cats.

Allergan spokesman Dr. Antony Fulford-Smith told the Daily Mail that evidence drawn from animal studies has limited application to humans.

“Dr. Herzog’s research was on cats and therefore it is inappropriate to make any conclusions at all about the safety of Botox in relation to humans,” he said. “It was a laboratory experiment using doses that would not normally be used in a therapeutic situation.”

“Botox has been used worldwide to treat millions of people for many conditions for nearly 20 years, providing huge relief in many cases. We closely monitor any adverse reactions and if used as indicated and injected in the right dose it is very rare for there to be any serious side-effects in relation to the spread of the toxin.”

Last month the Food and Drug Administration announced that 16 deaths occurred after patients were injected with Botox and a similar drug, Myobloc, which is not used as a cosmetic treatment. The FDA said it is reviewing safety warnings on those medications.

Only one of those deaths involved a patient who was injected with Allergan’s Botox Cosmetic. Her physician said the treatment did not cause the fatality, which occurred seven weeks afterwards.

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