Exciting news to kick start 2007!

As a sure sign of the times, the concept of integrative health and wellness is moving forward with giant leaps and bounds as the new Woodlands Medical and Wellness Centre opens its doors on 1 February 2007 in Woodlands Boulevard.

According to Dr Arien van der Merwe, medical doctor, author and specialist in natural, complementary and body-mind energy medicine, the new centre will be an embodiment of the philosophy of natural medicine, providing lasting health and wellness solutions.

Medical services

Dr van der Merwe is the owner and medical director of the Centre for Health and Wellbeing in Menlo Park and Woodlands Medical & Wellness Centre in Woodlands Boulevard, c/o Garsfontein & De Villebois Drive (tel 012 9976203 / 012 9975492). Both centres are unique models based on the philosophy of true integration of multidisciplinary services.

In co-operation with mainstream medicine, these centres provide

full medical services
health screenings
and health risk assessments (HRA’s)

including

genetic assessment for risk reduction in

cancer
heart disease
Alzheimer’s
diabetes
and depression

natural medicine
body-mind medicine
and wellness consultations.

There are

fulltime mainstream medical doctors
medical doctors who specialise in natural medicine
dentists
a biokineticist
physiotherapist
psychologists
kinesiologist
hypnotherapist
dietician/nutritionist
chiropractor
beauty
and massage therapists on board.

Achieve optimal integrated wellness

Regular wellness, stress management and relaxation lectures and workshops are on offer every week. Monthly wellness and spiritual retreats are planned over weekends. Yoga, pilates, modern and Nia technique dance classes are facilitated by various highly skilled and qualified instructors and trainers. Free meditation sessions are held every week. The biokineticist will offer personal fitness tests and individualised programs. The revolutionary Powerplate vibrational exercise machine will also be available for intensive fitness sessions (15 minutes are equal to 90 minutes of regular exercise at the gym) with remarkable results. The dietician focuses on the low GI healthy eating programs. Anti-ageing food supplements and skin care products will be available, as well as a health shop. Other workshop topics include healthy cooking and creativity, natural menopause, heart health, music, art and dance. Healing group sessions and wellness courses will be available for those with chronic illness or health challenges. The emphasis of the Woodlands Centre will very much be on the management of the chronic lifestyle diseases, anti-ageing and weight management in a truly integrative way.

Chronic Diseases of Lifestyle – some examples (known as Chronic Health Challenges in wellness language)
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke
Diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, low blood sugar
Lung disease, incl. asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis
HIV and Aids
Cancer
Arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome, duodenal and peptic ulcers, gastro oesophageal reflux
Menopause, premenstrual tension
Depression, anxiety, tension, insomnia