How Chiropractic Saved My LIfe

I’ve been reminiscing lately and realized that after writing all these blogs I never really shared my story, my healing story.  At 12 years old I was diagnosed with asthma after landing in the hospital not able to breath after my first NYC trip.  Ironic that the air pollution of NYC gave me my first asthma attack and that where I decided to open up my practice 16 years ago.  I was a runner throughout middle school and high school and my asthma was getting worse and worse.  At 16 years old we were looking for alternatives because my asthma was so bad I had to quite cross country and track. I was sick and tired of the inhalers and emergency room visits.  I absolutely hated the prednisone medication….and i was getting worse and worse every year so we were desperate to find a solution. My mom heard of a chiropractor who may be able to help but he was 2 hours away.  Well, we were desperate enough to give it a try.  He used muscle testing also known as applied kinesiology to help me find out what toxins were in my body causing the asthma and also directed me in what supplements to take that would support my lungs.  With the right nutritional support and lifestyle changes I was asthma free in 2 years and I have not used my inhaler since!

Being so inspired I knew I wanted to do what he did and he was a chiropractor who specialized in nutrition.  So I naturally went to chiropractic school. Chiropractic medicine is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs and surgery. We go to different colleges than medical doctors.  We don’t learn about drugs but have more anatomy and physiology and learn how to help the body by working on the muscles, joints and spine.  The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health.

 

The Goal of Chiropractic Because chiropractic treatments are primarily applied to the spinal region, many individuals incorrectly assume that chiropractors treat only back and neck issues. While we do quickly and effectively eliminate back and neck pain, it’s not the only goal. The objective is to restore and optimize human health by better nerve and blood flow to all areas of the body.  We do this by correcting misalignments in the spine, opening up tight muscles strengthening weak ones.  

How can the same chiropractic treatment which effectively treats my back pain also optimize my health? The answer can be found by looking into the relationship between the spine and the nervous system.

As you may already know, the nervous system is the master controller of all living cells, tissues and organs; orchestrating and coordinating all cellular functions. The spinal column encases the nervous system (spinal cord and nerve roots) and is responsible for its protection.

Because of this intimate relationship, misalignments in the spinal column can irritate parts of the nervous system. This irritation can result from inflammatory biochemicals released during injury or may result from direct pressure during an injury. In either case, the functioning of the nervous system is negatively influenced as is the nerves themselves and the organs that they go to.

In short, because the body’s innate recuperative powers are affected by and integrated through the nervous system, correcting spinal abnormalities which irritate the nervous system can lead to a number of favorable results in patients suffering from various, seemingly non-spinal health conditions.

 

What Chiropractors Do Chiropractors are primarily concerned with locating and treating misaligned joints, especially in the spine but could be anywhere in the body.  We also want to open up and relax tight muscles not only to help patients get out of pain but also because muscles attach to joints and if they are too tight they can pull the joint out of place and our adjustments do not hold.  

At Healing Arts, we use Applied Kinesiology to check the patient’s spine for any misalignments, fixations or other abnormalities (vertebral subluxations). If subluxations or other abnormalities are detected, the chiropractor will generally apply a gentle force in a corrective manner to the affected spinal area using their hands or  an activator. Chiropractors use many specialized techniques to identify and treat these spinal abnormalities and optimize overall health. 

In addition to spinal adjustive techniques we also use soft tissue techniques, physical therapies, and lifestyle modification programs to help the patient regain health.

We also use the muscle testing or Applied Kinesiology to identify which organs are weak in the body and using these homeopathic vials identify which toxins are causing the organ to go weak and then what nutritional supplement to use to help that organ.  This is how we identify the root cause of a person’s health concern.  

Chiropractors first got into the nutrition field in the 1940s when they realized that their adjustments were not holding well.  What used to take a chiropractor 2-3 adjustments to heal was now taking 12+ adjustments and it wasn’t like they were worse adjusters. So chiropractors started looking for the source and realized that people were becoming more toxic and these toxins were interfering with the nervous system not allowing the adjustments to hold.  This time period also correlated with food companies putting more sugar into the food and the birth of  canned foods.  

Even though chiropractors understood that what you ate and lifestyle changes made a difference in your health it wasn’t until the 1960s that Dr. George Goodheart developed Applied Kinesiology, also known as muscle testing.   

 

The Benefits of Chiropractic

Short-term and regular chiropractic care can offer a number of benefits including but not limited to:

spinal and extremity pain relief

headache relief

increased mobility and range of motion

decreased stiffness and muscular spasms

arthritic joint pain relief

increased joint health

increased performance and energy

increased sense of well being and relaxation

increased balance and coordination

reduced degeneration and risk of injury

enhanced tissue healing

decreased tissue inflammation

We also treat kids and babies and help them with

earaches

trouble sleeping

colic 

too much spitting up

constipation

Patient Spotlight

 Patient Spotlight

It was generous to have one of my patients take the time to write out her healing journey with us.  I found it so inspirational that I wanted to share it!

     .                       
Before: 213 pounds - Age 55                       After-148 pounds - Age 58

My 3 Year Transformational Story with Healing Arts & Nutrition Response Testing

Dr. Armitstead and Nutrition Response Testing has completely transformed and restored my health and my body. After years of energetic, spiritual, emotional healing, I knew it was time to heal the body that had housed so much trauma, pain, fear and grief in its cellular memory manifesting as disease and an aged body. Healing Arts has been my passage back to physical renewal and the embodiment of health - where I am finally balanced in mind, spirit and now body. 

I have been a dedicated client to this healing work for almost 3 years, abiding every appointment, every supplement, every nutritional dictate from my body’s own wisdom brought through the intuitive and skillful knowledge of Dr. Armitstead and Nova and Nutrition Response Testing. In these past three years I/we have healed (unspecified) Autoimmune Disease, Crohn's Disease, Chronic Inflammation, Chronic Migraines, Thyroid Nodules/Disease, Nervous System Disorders, Spinal Disease, Digestive Disorders, Chronic Constipation, Joint Pain, Obesity, Menopausal/Post-menopausal symptoms such as vagina dryness and thinning vaginal walls, thinning hair and sexual apathy, painful intercourse and pelvic floor dysfunction.

I have gained a body, organs, blood, heart, hormonal system, nervous system, joints, muscles, sexual organs, hair and skin that radiates the internal well being I have spent years manifesting. I have gained balance and wholeness and a belief in the wisdom of my own body’s genius. I have gained clarity, confidence, energy, wisdom, agelessness, renewed sexuality, and a love of and connection with my body that I had been dissociated with, ashamed of, and felt disdain for. I have gained a dedicated yoga practice and a love of exercising, strength training and recovery methods to care for my body because I love it, not because ‘I have to..’

When I began working with Healing Arts, It was my last hope, I had all but given up - almost buying into the belief that ‘this is just the way it is at age 50+ In post menopause...’. I had all of this light and beauty within me that I feared may be trapped forever beneath a body that had stored so much life: pain, grief, sorrow, limited beliefs, and society’s dictates of what it is to be a woman of a certain age, crying urgently to be healed. Despite having the skills to heal myself energetically/emotionally/spiritually, I didn’t know how to heal my body on my own, and the medical community only offered toxic medications and risky surgeries. I knew I needed help, and Healing Arts was the answer to my soul's calling.  

Healing Arts and Nutrition Response Testing is a journey, not a quick fix - it takes dedication, faith, consistency and an unwavering ethic to what your body is asking of you. It demands an interactive approach with self and with the practitioner to take part in and responsibility for your healing. It is so worth the investment (which may at times seem ‘expensive’ but has saved me literally thousands of dollars in medical bills and medications). It is so worth the time, the supplements and the difficult releasing of some of the most addictive foods and substances we ingest in our bodies. It’s a way of life that is so worthy. It is the best gift I have ever given myself - I have lost 65 pounds, lost a dependence on medical doctors, lost a dependence on unhealthy foods and substances, lost low self-esteem and inhibitions and a fear of death and disease and gained so much joy, well-being, fearlessness, hope and possibility, healthy sexual functioning and a love of healthy and nutritious foods and cooking, and most importantly such gratitude and love for my body, it’s wisdom and my health. 

I am so grateful for Healing Arts and Dr. Armitstead for helping lead me back to my body and it’s wholeness. 

Thank you. 

Spa Day at Healing Arts NYC Wellness Center

Spa Day

We want you to enjoy all that the new Wellness Center has to offer at Healing Arts so we put together a "Spa Day" where you will spend about 2-3 hours at the wellness center doing different therapeutic services to help detox, rejuvenate and relax. It also comes with one personalized hot tea blend and a personalized homeopathic tincture.  The tincture you will take daily for 2 weeks in order to continue the rejuvenation process after your spa day. You can pick 4 different services for $150 and save $59. We also have a la carte options to make your spa day exactly what you want it to be.  You can also choose all 5 services for an extra $20 at $170 for the day!

Choose 4 for $150:

1) Foot Bath - helps to pull toxins out of the body through the feet by putting ions in the water of which your feet are soaking in. These ions have a negative charge. The negative charge attracts the positively charged toxins in your body. The ions in the foot bath water hold a charge that enables them to bind to any heavy metals and toxins in your body, similar to how a magnet works. This allows the toxins to be pulled out through the bottoms of your feet.

2) Ozone Sauna - you sit in a sauna pod that covers you from the neck down and induces sweating using steam from distilled water.  This sweating opens up pores to allow the ozone gas to be absorbed by the skin. With the ozone gas the extra oxygen that goes in has such great anti-inflammatory and immune boosting effects.  Ozone sauna therapy is believed to be a powerful treatment which may be comparable to IV ozone administrations just without the needle.  Ozone therapy breaks up lactic acid, increases cellular respiration in muscles, speeds up recovery of damaged tissue and accelerates growth of muscle for those who have tight, sore muscles. Ozone sauna is great for after surgery or an injury. Ozone therapy improves blood circulation, improves vitamin and mineral absorption, fights inflammation, and is wonderful at killing mold, parasites, candida, viruses and bacteria.

3) Salt Booth - Our unique S.A.L.T. Booth® is an enclosed dry salt therapy unit to give you privacy during your salt therapy experience. With the salt booth, unlike the salt room, the concentration of salt particles can be adjusted to offer a more individualized and targeted salt therapy session. Because the concentration of salt is higher in the booth than a salt room sessions only take 10 minutes.

4) PEMF - an acronym for Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field. PEMF therapy consists of a mat which emits pulses of energy waves. This energy courses through the body directly to inflamed or injured areas. The energy is also drawn to areas experiencing chronic pain. The energy waves of the PEMF mat passes through the organs and tissues and into the cells of your body, amplifying the cellular energy. The increase in energy promotes a natural reaction that regenerates and enhances the efficiency of the cell’s function. This natural process stimulates healing and helps to improve your overall well-being including cellular rejuvenation.

5) Chakra Light Therapy - Lay down and relax under seven Vogel-cut quartz crystals lit up by very specific light frequencies. Receive the frequencies produced by the UV laser and magnetic energy from the coil in the holder cancel each other out once they interact, this is how scalar energy is generated. It is then focused through the Vogel-cut crystals and into your chakras. Open and balanced chakras can allow you to heal faster and also give you higher levels of peace, focus, awareness and ability to relax and sleep better.

Do all 5 services for an extra $20. $170 for the day.

Included in each Spa Day:

Infoceuticals: Personalized Homeopathic Tincture to take for 4 weeks

Tea Bar: Personalized cup of tea made from 3 different herbs.  

A La Carte

add an hour Massage for $120

add 30 min. Lymphatic drainage therapy $70

add Nutrition Response Testing $80

add Initial Nutrition Response Testing $140

add Chiropractic $80

Healing Arts Special 

If the "Spa Day" seems like too much time or too many services we also have the Healing Arts Special where if you get a massage OR lymphatic therapy AND Nutrition Response Testing on the same day we will mail you a coupon for one free service of your choice: PEMF, Salt Booth or Chakra Light Therapy.

It is important to Dr. Armitstead that you truly get the health benefits of all that the new Wellness Center has to offer.   

Food Sensitivities Vs. Allergies Vs. Intolerances By Ingrid Young

I love food!  Food is delicious, nourishing, and healing. Our bodies are made to seamlessly absorb nutrients from the food we eat so that we can perform our daily activities with ease. But what happens when the food we eat no longer fuels and heals and starts to hinder our health?  There are a few reasons why this happens.  One of the simplest reasons could be a food intolerance or sensitivity.   Food intolerance, sensitivities and allergies are based off the reaction the body has when it comes in contact with food.  

Food intolerance is when our body does not have the digestive enzymes to break down foods we eat. A common example of food intolerance is lactose intolerant. This is when the body cannot fully breakdown the sugar “lactose” in milk. Symptoms of food intolerance are bloating, gas, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, heartburn, and/or irritability.  You can experience these symptoms immediately or over a course of a few days.  Food intolerances commonly run in families.    

Food sensitivities activate an immune reaction. White blood cells react to food and chemicals and release pro-inflammatory "mediators" into the bloodstream. This immune reaction is non-threatening, and symptoms are similar to food intolerances.  Symptoms include bloating, diarrhea, nausea, migraines, acne, eczema, joint pain, runny nose, brain fog, mood swings and can be felt between 3-72 hours. Most commonly, food sensitivity reactions are often delayed, and most people go on without realizing their symptoms are due to what they ate. 

Food allergies elicit an immune response that is histamine-driven and is mediated by IgE. Reactions are immediate, within 15-30 minutes after exposure. Symptoms can be asthma, wheezing, hives, rashes, dizziness, swelling of lips, face, or in the body.  Unlike food sensitivities, food allergies can be life-threatening and in severe cases result in anaphylactic shock.  Common food allergies are nuts/ seeds, shellfish, wheat, soy, and certain fruits and vegetables. So the next question is how do you know if you’re experiencing a food intolerance or sensitivity?  Elimination diets such as the Whole30 can help identify food intolerances and sensitivities reactions.  In the office we use muscle testing to identify specific food that can be hindering your health.  I like muscle testing because it is quick and noninvasive.  I also like doing the Coca pulse test because it can be done at the comfort of your own home.  

Coca Pulse Test 

Before taking the test, make sure you’re in a relaxed and calm state. An agitated state, in which your pulse is abnormally raised, will make it difficult to perform this test with accuracy.  The test is best done on an empty stomach, at least 2 hours after eating or drinking anything, or preferably, first thing in the morning before breakfast. 1.   Get your base heart rate. I like to do this first thing in the morning.  Take your pulse before you get out of bed for one full minute.  Record that number. 2.   When you’re ready to test the food, take a bite of food. Chew it if you like, but don’t swallow it. Let it rest in your mouth so that you can taste it for thirty seconds. 3.   With the food still in your mouth, take and record your pulse for a full minute again. 4.   Spit out the food and rinse out your mouth with water. Make sure to spit the water out. Wait 1-2 minutes before trying another food, or until your pulse has returned to its base rate. If your pulse increases or decreases by 6 points over a minute with a particular food in your food, this is your body indicating a stressful reaction to the food.  If your pulse remains steady, this indication no reaction to the food and its safe.  

To learn more about functional nutrition, come join my Navigating Nutrition a 5-week online nutrition course and support group. We’ll discuss topics such as how to improve digestion, emotional eating, how to regulate blood sugar levels, and the importance of staying hydrated. Together we will create personal and practical ways to improve your health through nutrition.  

Classes start online October 6th at 6pm-7pm.  To learn more: https://healingartsnyc.com/new-events 

What people are saying… 

"Loved the class! It was intimate so you could ask all of your questions. It was informative with additional links, book recommendations and insightful learnings. It was practical with valuable tips on how to eat better (Ingrid gave us feedback after reading our food journal). It was doable since only 5 online classes of approximately an hour, hour and a half each, in the comfort of your home, after work. Ingrid is sweet, cheery, knowledgeable, patient and receptive. I can’t wait to hear about her next class!"  - D.R. 

To reserve your spot email us at info@healingartsnyc.com 

Class Schedule: 

October 6th - Week 1 - Blood sugar / Emotional eating  

October 13th - Week 2 - How to Grocery Shop/ Reading labels/ Meal Plans  

October 20th - Week 3 -  Macronutrients/Portion/ Explanation of different diets 

October 27th - Week 4 -  Hydration / Sleep + Stress + Exercise   

November 3 - Week 5 - Digestion / What's going on and how to improve it ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

$60 a class or $215 for all 5 weeks 

Won’t be able to make all 5 classes? Don’t worry, we can give you the recording of it. 

Option for extra 1-1 sessions with Ingrid Young to further personalize your nutrition, supplements, exercise, sleep and lifestyle plan.

Golden Sweetener of the Incas
by guest blogger & Healing Arts Practitioner, Addison Landry

Heralded as the ‘Gold of the Incas,’ and acting as a symbol of fertility and creation, Lucama’s creamy citrus and caramel flavors give us sweetness without the guilt, and introduce us to a fascinating superfood.

The lucuma fruit, native to Peru and its surrounding islands, is a cross between mango, nashi pear and avocado. With its distinct sweetness being described as creamy with a hint of maple and sweet potato,(not to mention its extensive health benefits) what's not to love? With sugar flowing from the super market aisle and that afternoon sweet spot to feed, lucuma has come to the rescue.

To make the powder, lucuma is dried at a low temperature to ensure the retention of all its vital nutrients. It is then milled into a superfine powder. As a sugar replacement, lucuma powder is quite low on the glycemic scale, and is a great substitution for diabetics. The best part? It wont give us that sugar crash that makes us crave more sugar. This powder is wonderful to use in baked goods, smoothies, and nuts butters, as it doesn't overpower the flavors, but rather enhances them.

Lucuma is usually grown sustainability in regions without pesticides, however it is important to make sure the product you're buying is organic, as pesticides are toxic to our bodies and will cause harm over long periods of time.

This vibrant yellow tropical fruit packs a punch! Here are 8 reasons why its beneficial to our diet:
1. RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS - Lucuma’s rich antioxidant levels allow it to help fight and prevent disease, and slow the aging process.
2. ANTI-FUNGAL AND MICROBIAL- Used in South America as a healing medicine, it aids with protecting the body against infection.
3. NATURAL LOW GI SWEETENER- It is low GI in nature, and supports basic cell function. It also assists in stabilizing blood sugar levels when consumed. unlike other sweeteners that offer empty calories. This makes it a great sweetener not just for diabetics, but for the rest of us too. It can be substituted for other sweeteners in a 2:1 ratio, two tablespoons of lucuma for every one tablespoon of sugar.
4. HIGH IN VITAMINS AND MINERALS- Lucuma is packed full of calcium, plentiful amounts of beta carotene ( which helps protect the body from carcinogenic substances), high in zinc, iron, vitamin C and cottons 14 trace minerals.
5. SUPPORTS HEART HEALTH- It has been used for centuries to help support hypertension with is ACE inhibitory activities.
6. SKIN HEALTH- from ancient records, we know that lucuma was know for supporting health and digestion. In recent studies, it's shown that lucuma oil may be helpful in healing superficial wounds, as it encourages activation of healing factors in the skin. It significantly increases the speed of wound closure, and promotes tissue regeneration.
7. IMMUNITY- Lucuma is high in iron and is known to stimulate the immune system.

With such positive benefits for our bodies and a great taste, it's a well-rounded superfood worth trying. Lucuma is great in ice cream (number one flavor in Peru). You can also add it to your morning porridge,use it in a cookie recipe, add it to nut butters, and make your own caramel sauce. Here at Healing Arts, we love trying various healthy sweeteners, and this is one we love. Give it a try and let us know what you think- we are happy to test it with your programs if you would like to bring it in!

Enjoy all the wonderful benefits of this tropical fruit - now you can eat your cake too!

Below is a recipe you can try creating with lucama:


LUCUMA CARAMEL SAUCE
Serves: 4-5
Total time: 25 min not including soaking time

1 tablespoon lucuma powder
1 tablespoon mestique powder
3 tablespoon of coconut nectar
1/2 cup Cashews ( soaked overnight, or for at least 6 hrs, drained before use)
1/4 cup filtered water
1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract or 1/2 a vanilla been seeps scraped out

Place all Ingredients in a blender or food processor. I find that the best option is to use a Vita Mix- it creates the smoothest, creamiest sauce. Blend until all ingredients are combined and smooth, then taste for seasoning as it may need a touch more salt.Serve with ice cream, over fruit, or even on pancakes. Enjoy!

How Scar Therapy Can Make You Healthier

In the office we check for different stressors on the body.  These stressors can interfere with health and scar tissue is considered to be one of the five major stressors.  The reason scar tissue can be a stressor is because it is shown that 80% of nerve fibers go to the surface of the skin.  This abundance of fibers is so dense under the surface of the skin that if one were able to remove the skin from the body without upsetting the network of sympathetic nerve fibers underneath, the individual would still be recognizable.  When a scar occurs and the body heals it, the skin and nerves heal in a mish-mash way creating scar tissue.  It is in the scar tissue that electronic impulses get lost and cannot flow through properly causing stress on the body. The end result can often be a concentration of electrical energy in the area of the healing scar.  Dr. Ulan (the founder of Nutrition Response Testing) refers to this effect as acting like a condenser which collects electrical energy.  As electrical energy is collected in this area it can randomly discharge amounts of this energy.  This random discharge of energy can most certainly upset the control and balance of nervous system. When the nervous system is under stress and the brain is not communicating well with the body healing will be slow.  This is why treating scars is so important.



Considering the effects of scars it is important to realize the following facts.  The size of the scar does not correlate with how much stress it can put on the body.  A small, seemingly insignificant scar may cause a great deal of harm as compared to a large scar which may have no effect on the individual.  So size has no bearing on the effects a scar may or may not cause.  Another important point of consideration is that not all scars cause the electrical stress on the body.  A scar that causes this type of stress we call active.  A scar may be active for a protracted period of time, may be active spontaneously, may be inactive for years and suddenly, for no apparent reason, become active, and vice versa.  When the possibility of scars presents itself, it is important to check and correct the active scars as often as necessary until they no longer present as active.  Periodical checking is also a good idea because of the possibility of their becoming active again later in the future.

Topical application of wheat germ oil or sesame oil, whichever the scar tests for, often will inactivate a scar.  This may occur immediately or take several weeks to accomplish.  Cold laser application is another method of inactivating a scar.  This is done for a period of four minutes, usually done in the office but the practitioner can rent out a laser or have the patient buy one for home use.  

Muscle Testing 101

My patients love the results they get in my office but sometimes it's hard to explain to others the 'arm pushing thing' that I do, also known as muscle testing or Applied Kinesiology. So I thought it would be good to blog about muscle testing.



Applied Kinesiology began with Dr. George Goodheart in the 1960s when he made the first correlation between finding a weak muscle using muscle testing and then employing chiropractic therapy to make it stronger. He then looked beyond the chiropractic profession to the fields of biomedicine, osteopathy, acupuncture, dentistry, and nutrition putting it all together in a method called Applied Kinesiology. I am certified in Applied Kinesiology and use it in my chiropractic work.

Dr. Freddie Ulan took the muscle testing from Applied Kinesiology and applied it more extensively to the nutrition of the body and developed a technique called Nutrition Response Testing.. Dr. Ulan introduced me to Nutrition Response Testing when I was 16 years old and stopped my suffering from childhood asthma. I haven't used my inhaler since. Being inspired by how it changed my life I knew this is what I wanted to do for a living.

In explaining muscle testing to my patients I say that I can use any muscle in the body, it's just easier to use an arm. As I push on the arm with light pressure, the patient is to resist by matching my pressure.

With my other hand I then apply pressure to all the other organs. What happens when I put pressure, let's say, on the stomach, and if there is a problem there, the stomach won't like the pressure. It sends a signal to the brain to protect the area that if I push on the arm AND on the stomach at the same time the arm goes weak (meaning the patient can no longer resist the pressure I am applying) because the body doesn't care about the arm, it wants to protect the stomach. That let's me know what organs go weak and what organs go strong in the body and I can suggest nutritional support accordingly.

When organs go weak it doesn't mean they are diseased but rather they aren't functioning 100%. This is functional medicine, helping the body before it get's to the diseased state. If I am concerned that an organ is diseased I would refer them to the appropriate healthcare provider. The nutrition provided by Nutrition Response Testing is beneficial to work in conjunction with other healthcare providers because the majority of what I use for nutrition supplements comes from an organic farm in Wisconsin called Standard Process. These supplements are whole food supplements. The body knows how to heal with food.

The body is amazing at knowing what it needs. Muscle testing is a tool to communicate with the body and determine what it needs to rebuild and restore health. In this way Nutrition Response Testing is a way to design a personal nutrition program specifically for you and your health.

Welcome to the Team!

I've been in practice for over 9 years and I'm so excited to see the growth of the office. Lea Parayno has been a wonderful addition 3 years ago and with her hard work and dedication the office has now grown so that I can add on two new staff members. Raquel Reis has been under my wing learning Nutrition Response Testing since last September. As my associate she not only loves the work but is getting great results with her patients!

Kenna Tuski has been a newer addition, helping me at the front desk on Saturdays and now helping the office during the weekdays as the Patient Advocate. Patient education goes a long way and she is here to help patients with dietary changes, recipe ideas, teaching about oil pulling, liver flushes, etc.

Here are their bios, for I wanted you to know a little more about them.

Raquel Reis


After shrinking fibroids, avoiding complicated surgery and clearing a myriad of health issues with Nutrition Response Testing – Raquel Reis turned to studying and practicing NRT. She tailors a customized nutritional program for each patient based on their test results, findings, and their body’s needs and personal lifestyle. Her patients experience rapid and life-changing results.

Reis is also a health and wellness coach, certified yoga instructor and passionate cook. She specializes in treating chronic inflammation, supporting digestive health, facilitating weight loss and healthy detoxification. She runs group workshops, in addition to working privately with clients, giving them a hands-on approach to how health (and life) can be easy and delicious.

Kenna Tuski



Kenna Tuski is originally from Olivet, Michigan. She attended Interlochen Arts Academy through high school and then graduated from SUNY Purchase with a BFA in Dance in 2013. She has resided in New York CIty for two years as a professional dancer and performer. She currently performs in Punch Drunk's Sleep No More. Kenna is pilates certified. Kenna is using her knowledge of dance, pilates, yoga, and exercise to create a chakra energy class. She began working for Dr. Armitstead in March 2015 after being a patient for two years and is thrilled to be focusing on a new found passion. She is currently enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to further her nutrition studies as Dr. Armitstead’s Patient Advocate.

Shopping Guide to the Highest Quality Foods Available

I just started using the "Find Real Food" app and am in love! Yes, that's right, in LOVE! For those of you who are conscious of where your food comes from and whether or not it's hormone-free, pesticide-free, wild-caught, etc. this is the app for you! I drive myself crazy sometimes reading all the labels and trying to find the safest, most healthiest food and now I can breath a little easier knowing that this company has already done the research. It costs $5 for the year and is priceless. The app comes from Westonaprice.org which is an amazing website for the foundation is dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense foods (like what our ancestors ate) to the human diet through education, research and activism.

It supports a number of movements that contribute to this objective including accurate nutrition instruction, organic and biodynamic farming, pasture-feeding of livestock, community-supported farms, honest and informative labeling, prepared parenting and nurturing therapies.

The app has over 13,000 thoroughly researched foods and brands highest in nutrition without additives or processing. So no matter what food restrictions I give you "Real Food" is what you should be eating. Save time and money with this easy-to-use grocery guide. For example, "Best" rated foods are in their whole form, have no additives, artificial flavors, MSG, or trans-fats. Dairy and beef must come from grass-fed or free-range cows. Eggs must come from pastured hens that are preferably not fed soy. Veggies and fruit must be organic or biodynamic, preferably local and in season.

Once a user of this app, you become part of the community and can rank and review products so you can share your experience with others and learn from theirs. You can also suggest new foods or brands to be reviewed by the Weston A. Price Foundation.

Are Parasites Causing you Harm?

Dr. Oz says that 90% of Americans will have a parasite problem at some point in their lifetime. We, at Healing Arts NYC, tend to agree.

One of the most undiagnosed condition in America is parasites. The various statistics I have seen show that anywhere from 30% to 90% of Americans have parasites. Parasites can cause seemingly random symptoms in various organs of the body, with various degrees of severity. Some symptoms of parasites are the source of great agony, and some are barely noticeable. The most common symptoms are clenching or grinding of the teeth or jaw, bowel discomfort and anal itching. Read through this article to get more of an idea if you might be affected by parasites.

Parasites can be big, like tapeworms: fifteen feet long. They can also be single-celled; only visible with a microscope. They can live anywhere in the body; in the sinuses, around the ears, in the heart and, of course, the intestines. But don't worry, for in my experience, all parasites are treatable and once gone give patients a lot of symptomatic relief.

One of my colleagues grew up in a family of butchers. He could see which cows were sick just by cutting the jaw muscles. Upon slicing the jaw muscles of the sick cows, parasite eggs could be seen. This is a common reason why people grind their teeth at night--because parasites inhabit the jaw muscles. Jaw grinding happens primarily at night when parasites are more active.
Not all parasites lay eggs but some do. The eggs hatch around the time of the full moon, give or take four days. When they hatch, it makes people act crazy. This is why police, teachers and emergency room doctors dread full moons--they will be busier.

In our office, we have seen parasites cause psoriasis, heart problems, constipation, diarrhea, muscle weakness, floaters in the eyes, junk food cravings, excessive appetite, allergies and depression. Many people who complete a parasite program report not only symptomatic relief but also that they are happier and enjoy the company of others more.

To get rid of parasites, Mother Nature has provided us with certain plants. In Japan, people use wasabi (with sushi) and in Mexico, it's hot peppers. In India, people use curry and turmeric to stay free of parasites. Many cultures throughout the world do a parasite cleanse every six months or once a year. The World Health organization recognizes Wormwood as an effective herb to kill parasites. When worms die, they can cause intestinal cramping, pain, diarrhea or constipation. In the toilet, the worms often look like angel hair pasta with a frayed end. They could be a few millimeters long to six inches long. One of my clinician friends had a patient who excreted a two foot roundworm.

To kill egg-laying parasites, it is necessary to take the herbs for ten days, then stop them for five days. This is because for ten days you are killing the "mother" parasite. It releases a chemical that prevents the eggs from hatching. When the mother is dead, the eggs start to hatch. Let them hatch for five days, then start back on the herbs. If you don't, the baby parasites will fight each other to become the next dominant worm. Cycle the program like this for 2 to 3 months. I have had many clients do a parasite program that they picked up at the health food store. I have never seen one of these work, primarily because there is no cycling of the herbs. The herbs may also be ineffective even when cycled properly because they may not be the correct herbs to target the specific parasite a person has. Certain herbs are more effective for certain parasites, and we can discern which herbs are appropriate via muscle testing. Parasites that do not lay eggs do not require cycling of the herbs.

Parasites are largely ignored by the medical profession. I have heard a lot of M.D.'s dismiss the topic by saying, "We don't have parasites in this country." Truthfully, the University of Michigan Parasitology Department identifies 100 parasites a day! I am amazed at the number of people who have health problems from parasites.

The sneaky thing about parasites is that out of more than 1,000 different kinds of parasites that can infect us, we can only detect about 50 of them through regular medical testing. The other 950+ can be found only through alternative methods of testing like Nutrition Response Testing. To be sure that you are free of parasites, call the office and asked to be checked. Bring your family as well, because we often share parasites with each other and our pets.

Best Water When No Alternative

A lot of my patients get muscle tested for plastic toxicity in my office. As they are making the transition out of plastic water bottles they ask me when they are out for the day and stuck having to buy water in plastic, for many stores don't carry it in glass, what water is best to buy? After thoroughly muscle testing and finding what bottled water test best, here are the results in order, #1 being the best:

1) Mountain Valley

2) Volvic

3) Evian

Aluminum Toxicity

A normal, healthy body naturally heals from most types of conditions, whether from illness or injury. If you have a health condition that is not healing, there must be a barrier to your health that has to be identified and addressed. In this way your body can overcome that barrier and your ability to reach optimal health is possible.

Typical barriers to healing include stressed emotions, a weak immune system, food allergies and the effects of toxic chemicals and metals in the body. In the office, we identify what toxins are stuck in your body and give you supplements to help open the body's detox pathways so the body can detox it.  Helping the body by opening your natural detox pathways is important so the body can detox on it's own.   Patients are usually amazed at how fast healing starts with just a few key changes in their life.

Aluminum often comes up as a heavy metal that needs to be detoxed. So after testing patients for the supplement they need to help open up the body's own detox pathways, it's also important that they stop putting aluminum in their body. Metal toxicity can cause many different symptoms in the body including headaches, digestive issues, insomnia, depression, anxiety and much more.  Aluminum toxicity is known for causing Alzheimer's.

Where does aluminum toxicity come from and how to avoid it?

1. Aluminum cans

2. Aluminum foil

3. Aluminum take-out containers

4. Deodorant
Many aluminum-free deodorants are available including Raw 4 Beauty, Tom's, JASON, Native, and Every Man Jack. Here's also a great recipe for making your own!

5. Anti-acids
Maalox and Mylanta contain aluminum. Rolaids and Tums are alternatives that don't contain aluminum.

6. Aluminum pots, pans, baking sheets, scratched teflon
Cook with stainless steel, ceramic, glass and cast iron

7. Antidiarrheal Products
Watch labels carefully for any mention of aluminum salts.
Products containing loperamide such as Imodium AD usually do not contain aluminum salts.

8. Buffered Aspirin
Buffered aspirin can contain up to 14.4 to 88 milligrams of aluminum hydroxide or aluminum glycinate. Ordinary aspirin is aluminum free as are many other pain killers.

9. Douches
Many popular douche products contain aluminum salts. A homemade version of vinegar and water can be substituted.

10. Food Additives
Cake mixes, frozen doughs, self-rising flour, and sliced process cheese food all contain from 5 to 50 milligrams of sodium aluminum phosphate per average serving. Baking powder has 5 to 70 milligrams of sodium aluminum sulfate per teaspoon. Starch modifiers and anti caking agents also contain varying levels of aluminum compounds. The processed cheeses used on cheese burgers at fast food restaurants also contain aluminum, which is added to make the cheese melt better.

11. Shampoos
A number of anti-dandruff preparations contain magnesium aluminum silicate. Watch labels carefully for aluminum lauryl sulfate, which is a common ingredient in many popular shampoo products.