ilumina Healing Sanctuary
7520 East Camelback Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
602.957.2602




In This Issue:

Surviving the Summer Months with Chinese Medicine

Photo by Mollie Katzen
Summer has begun and the temps in the Valley are on the rise.  According to Traditional Chinese medicine, summer correlates to the Fire element and pertains to the paired Heart and Small Intestine organ/meridian complex.  It is a time where great joy, activity, and action can effortlessly flow but also a time where we are more prone to anxiety, overexertion and overwhelm.  With these energies in play summer is a wonderful time to go on retreat and learn how to meditate or enhance your meditation practice. The stillness created is the Yin balance to all the Yang activity inherent in summer.

Eating a lighter diet with a ratio higher in fruits and vegetables and lower in grains and meats is also beneficial. Some foods to incorporate into your spectrum this summer are apricots, strawberries, beets, seaweed, kale, mustard greens and dandelion.  It is also important to cut down caffeine and increase water intake to a gallon a day.

Summer is also a fantastic time to reconnect with friends and family. Pick a night to invite some people over and cook them a fresh farm style meal- grilling fresh wild caught salmon alongside zucchini and corn with a nice fresh salad and refreshing drink. Below is one of my favorite summer salads.

Russian Beet Salad from The Enchanted Broccoli Forest by Mollie Katzen

8 healthy (2 � inch diameter) beets
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 medium clove garlic crushed
2 teaspoons honey
1/2 cup minced red onion
2 green onions minced
1 medium cucumber seeded and finely chopped
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
2 Tablespoons fresh dill, minced
2 cups yogurt
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil the beets, whole for about 20-25 minutes. Rinse under running water as you rub off the skins. Chop into 1/2 inch bits, and while they are still warm, marinate them in vinegar, garlic and honey. Let stand for 30 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well, and chill until very cold.
Summer Massage Specials
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Human touch has been proven time and again to have deep healing properties. At ilumina, we don't think of massage as a luxury; we consider it a vital aspect of complementary medicine. Accordingly, our massage therapists are highly trained specialists with a variety of experiences in profound healing modalities.

Audrey Blanchard, LMT, has over 15 years experience as a licensed massage therapist. Her training is extensive and includes: Certified Arvigo Mayan Massage Therapist, Prenatal Massage, Chinese medical massage (Tui Na), Therapeutic massage, and Neuromuscular therapy.

Enjoy this summer deal for yourself or gift them to someone special:
Three 60 minute massages for $225
or
Three Mayan massages for $255

$30 savings per bundle!

Offer Expires 08/31/14. Mention coupon to receive offer. Limit 2 bundles per person.
Patient Testimonials
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Have you had a great experience at ilumina? We would love to hear from you! 
 
We are looking for testimonials to give the community an idea of what ilumina has to offer. You can share your thoughts on any treatments you have received with any practitioner. We would sincerely appreciate any feedback. 
 
Please email responses to: office@iluminahealing.com
Expel Heat From Your Diet
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we know that there different kinds of "heat" that we can experience. There is the external, environmental heat that we are experiencing now here in the summer.  Then, we also know that the human body can have an internal climate of heat as well. This internal heat in the body can cause inflammation in the joints and muscles and cause pain. At the request of my patients, I have compiled a list of foods that can help reduce this internal heat.  In addition, I thought it best to add a list of foods that can increase this inflammatory heat.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET
These foods can help decrease inflammatory heat in your body. If you experience joint pain, muscle pain, osteo- arthritis, autoimmune pain, or other inflammatory disorders please give these foods a try.

Omega 3's: salmon, tuna, cod, halibut
Eliminate red meat. Occasional grass fed beef only. It has higher omega acids and healthier.
Fruits: raspberries, apples, pineapple, blueberries, tart cherries
Nuts: walnuts, almonds
Sunflower seeds
Fresh: turmeric, basil, parsley, oregano, garlic (for swollen joints), chili peppers, ginger
Olive oil (drizzle on steamed vegetable, salads)
Green tea
Chocolate 70% cocoa
Water -Lots! Lemon in water.

Try mixing a few of these chopped herbs with garlic in olive oil. Keep in refrigerator ready for use in cooking.

Eliminate:
Sugars, carbohydrates, natural flavorings, saturated fats, processed foods, and carbonated drinks.
Eat minimal gluten unless you have an autoimmune disorder like Celiac then need to completely eliminate.

Advice: Purchase your own foods and cook rather than pre made or packaged foods. Remember, leafy green vegetables are good for everyone. Fresh organic foods are the best. If must buy packaged, Read the ingredients list not the label! Labels are used for advertising. Just because it says it's "natural" or "gluten free" it may not be so.
Fruit Infused Water

Photo by Daniel Gilbey

We all know water is essential for good health. It makes up approximately 60% of our body weight and is needed by every system in the body to function optimally.     But how much is enough? The Institute of Medicine recommends drinking 91 oz. of water for women and 125 oz. for men. During these hot summer months here in the Valley, we may need even more water intake. About 80% of water intake should come from drinking water and other beverages, while 20% should come from food-mostly fruits and vegetables. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you feel tired.

With the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables available now, why not combine them with your water to jazz it up a bit? Here are a few ideas for fruit infused water to try out:

Strawberry, Lemon & Basil
Watermelon & Mint
Blackberry, Lemon & Ginger

Simply combine the ingredients in a pitcher or decanter of water and let steep overnight in the refrigerator.  You can strain out the fruit/herbs before drinking. Fruit infused water is a delicious, refreshing alternative to fruit juice or soda.
Mineral Sunscreen
One of our favorite sunscreen is from the organic skin care line Leaf People. Their SPF 28 has a light lavender scent and can be used for the face and body without feeling heavy and greasy. The ingredients are safe for the entire family to use making it the perfect sunscreen to enhance the skin's radiance with pure, raw botanicals and boost your skin care routine. 
The Lending Library at ilumina
One of the many services and benefits of being a patient at ilumina is the access you have to our lending library. We have collected books and resources on a variety of subjects that we feel may be helpful to our patients. We lend these out for two weeks at time as a chance for our patients to preview a book they may want to purchase or just as a way to help educate. Some topics we include are fertility, diet, pregnancy, meditation, feng shui, and essential oils.  

We only ask that the books are returned by the due date and that they are cared for. We have every borrower sign a form that they will do those things and in the case that something happens to the book or that it is not returned, we consider it purchased and charge the replacement amount.

We are currently doing an audit of our library and ask your help in returning any past due books. We will be contacting those who still might have materials out. Moving forward we will be holding borrowers accountable to the agreement so that we can continue to have this benefit and tool.
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Learn what your first visit will be like or call us at 602-957-2602 to book an appointment.
 
Receive a complimentary 30 minute  
massage when you refer a friend

To thank all patients who tell their friends and family about the health benefits of massage and acupuncture, we would like to reward them with a complimentary 30 minute massage. After your friend completes their first appointment, we will mail you a gift certificate to thank you! Call 602-957-2602 for more details.
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