Grant aids those living with Parkinson's Disease

Medical treatment and healthy habits are crucial to long-term management of chronic disease. But the emotional toll should also be taken into account.  

The Center for Integrative Medicine, previously the Center for Health and Healing, received a $24,000 grant to aid those in the community facing the chronic stress of living with Parkinson's disease, as well as their caregivers. The Spartanburg County Foundation funded the grant and it will be implemented within the next twelve months.

The Center for Integrative Medicine is a program provided by Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System and Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute.

Ten individuals living with Parkinson's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder, will benefit from Brainwave Optimization™, which is designed and programmed to aid with physical and mental relaxation.

Since 2014, the Center for Integrative Medicine has served clients with Brainwave Optimization™, a non-invasive process used to achieve greater balance in your brain. Going through emotional or physical trauma or ongoing stress can overwhelm your brain, moving it out of balance and causing it to get “stuck.”  Brainwave Optimization harnesses your brain's natural ability to reset, shift its balance and find deep relaxation.

“The center's integrative approach includes Brainwave Optimization™ to deeply relax the brain, and is followed by ballet master Alex Tressor's Parkinson's on the Move© Program,” said Hunter Mahon, manager of the Center for Integrative Medicine and certified in Mind Body Medicine.

The 10 participants with Parkinson's disease  will also take part in three, one-hour Parkinson's on the Move© sessions with Alex Tressor,  focusing on movement and flexibility. Mahon will lead a two-hour ReMind session on relaxation techniques.

“Caregivers will participate in a separate six-week ReMind support group to increase their coping skills and resilience,” Mahon said.

The ReMind Group Program at the Center for Integrative Medicine teaches a combination of research-based healing techniques to deal with life's changes, stresses and illnesses. The six- to eight-week workshop is taught in a calm, intimate group setting. Clinical studies have proven that these mind-body-skills group practices can relieve stress, improve outlook, lower blood pressure and relieve pain.

“Through the grant, we strive to increase awareness of Parkinson's disease and the power of self-care techniques for strengthening our community,” Mahon said.

For more information on services provided by the Center for Integrative Medicine, please visit SpartanburgRegional.com/IntegrativeMedicine.