Date: Fri 18-Dec-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Community-Health-Associates

Full Text:

Community Health Associates Adds Nutritionist, Massage Therapist

(with photos)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

Community Health Associates announced this week that it has added nutritionist

Judith Dreyer and massage therapist Virginia Weisgerber to its staff of health

care professionals.

A registered nurse, Judith Dreyer earned a bachelor's degree in nursing at the

University of Connecticut and a master's degree in biochemistry and physiology

from the University of Bridgeport. She also is a graduate of Rosemary

Gladestar's herbal apprenticeship program in Vermont.

"It's exciting to be in a practice that wants to integrate health services --

that treats the entire person not just a disease or a symptom," Ms Dreyer

said. "My job is to look at the person, the lifestyle and attitude. It's

really a mind, body, spirit connection that makes up your health and well

being."

Ms Dreyer also has a practice in Danbury, teaches nutrition and herbal classes

in the tri-state area, works as a consultant with the Orinda Mind Body

Center's Cancer Recovery Program, and is a supplement, herb and homeopathic

buyer for a local health food store. She also is experienced in yoga,

meditation, dream work and Native American studies.

In her practice, Ms Dreyer incorporates conventional medical training with an

understanding of the complex relationship between nutrition and health.

Nutritional counseling can focus on specific health concerns such as high

cholesterol, high blood pressure, weight problems, menstrual or menopause, or

it can be used as a tool to enhance overall health and vitality, she said.

She will have office hours in Newtown on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday;

Wednesday evenings and one Saturday each month.

A licensed massage therapist since 1995, Virginia Weisgerber earned a

bachelor's degree at Mercy College. She received her massage certification

from the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy. She is trained in Swedish

massage, athletic massage, acupressure, hydrotherapy massage and stretching

techniques.

Besides its well-known benefit of reducing muscle spasm, massage therapy has

been demonstrated to lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate, increase

circulation and reduce stress, she said.

"It's great for relaxation, for people in stressful situations, for back

strains and sore muscles, Parkinson's disease and arthritis, after surgery --

particularly those surgeries which involve the formation of scar tissue," she

said. "It's also excellent in pregnancy because it helps with swelling feet

and hands and for back problems."

Like nutritional counselling, massage therapy may be therapeutic for a

specific clinical problem or it may be of significant value in helping achieve

optimal health and well being, she said.

Dr Richard Coopersmith, a chiropractor who has joined with Jeffrey Friedman,

MD, and Theresa Piotrowski, MD, in establishing Community Health Associates,

said the expansion of the staff is another step in the plan to integrate

conventional medical treatment and complementary health care to promote

optimal health.