Strictly for health-conscious

Thanks to my friend Gay D. for helping me find what my friends and I have long been looking for — a place to ease aches and pains caused by work-related stress (very common among showbiz folks) and make them disappear (good riddance!).

It’s called Life Extension (Center for Health & Wellness) where, I would learn later, Ali Sotto goes (from her DZBB Dobol A sa Dobol B with Arnold Clavio on GMA) for some “rejuvenation” and so do other celebrities (including beauty guru Cory Quirino, head of the Miss World Philippines, Inc. and host of the DZMM Sunday program Ma-Beauty Po Naman).

No harm in trying, is there?

On the Saturday we went to LECHW (for a nagging upper-back pains), there were more seniors than juniors, most of them recovering from strokes and other ailments (and some were athletes suffering from muscular and joint pains). Upon the suggestion of the resident doctor, we tried the Bio-Clarity Therapy (a wooden infrared sauna and steam that combines dry and wet spa, and uses special herbs for specific health concern). You sit inside a wooden box (pictured, four of them in the room) and, for 30 minutes, you sweat like you’ve never sweated before (so cleansing!) while the attendant makes you drink glasses of water every so-many-minutes so that you won’t get dehydrated.

“The 30-minute sweat is equivalent to the amount you lose during a two-hour run,” the resident doctor told us. “The therapy clears the body of toxic waste, chemicals, excess body fluids and fats.”

The health benefits: Burns calories and controls weight; increases blood circulation and strengthens the cardio-vascular system; relieves pain; eases joint pain and stiffness; clears cellulite; removes toxins and mineral waste; improves skin and immune system; reduces stress and fatigue; and promotes better sleep.

As soon as we toweled ourselves dry, we proceeded to another room for the Cupping Therapy (Ventosa).

“In traditional Chinese medicine,” explained the resident doctor, “cupping is used to improve the energy flow throughout the body. The bruises caused by the procedure are thought to be the negative energy elements coming to the surface and exiting the body. The cups can be placed over the traditional energy collection points which are also stimulating during acupuncture and shiatsu massage. A healthy energy flow I thought to improve both the physical and mental well-being. Here, we use Thermal Cupping Therapy (Mechanical Ventosa).”

The cupping loosens the muscles and brings an influx of blood to the area and softens the underlying muscle tissues, leading to increased flexibility and a better sense of mobility.

Time constraints prevented us from trying the other treatments. (Next day, the pain on our upper back was gone.)

In one room, patients were on (four) lounging chairs attached to tubes (one of them is 96 and, yes, looking much younger) undergoing what is called Bio-Repair I.V. Laser Therapy, a low density Intravenous Laser Irradiation of Blood (ILIB).

“That’s the treatment that I get,” Ali would tell us. “I used to feel sluggish after lunch. Not anymore. I feel a new surge of energy.

“It’s a method that infuses a low power He-Ne (Helium-Neon) laser through intravenous route and directly irradiates the blood circulation to become a disease treatment. It is shown to stimulate the immune system response of the organism, anti-hypoxic activity on tissues and anti-toxic influence on organism at different pathological levels,” adding, “studies have shown that it is good for cardio-vascular conditions, hypertension, inflammatory processes, wound injuries and infections. It helps to improve blood viscosity, brings blood chemistry into balance as well as blood pressure and promotes a better immune system. Because of its ability to protect the body against the harmful effects of free radicals, this treatment also prevents premature aging, and promotes immune resistance to fatigue and other health illnesses.”

Ali called after going through another treatment.

“The anti-aging part is what I like best,” she said.

(The Life Extension [Center for Health & Wellness] is at the third floor, Unit 307 of Bell-Kenz Tower, #127 Malakas St., Central Diliman, Quezon City. Call landline 911-1314 or 225-7907; or mobile 0917-5777675.)

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)