Glastonbury Naturopathic Center is Proud to Welcome
Dr. Teresa Spano, ND
to Our Team of Naturopathic Medicine Experts!
About the Glastonbury Naturopathic Health Center
Dr. Helene Pulnik
RPh, MS, ND, LAc. Dipl. NCCAOM
Medical Director
Dr. Pulnik has been a healthcare provider for more than 25 years. She is a licensed acupuncturist and board-certified naturopathic physician trained in one of the five accredited schools for naturopathic medicine in North America.
Dr. Pulnik’s accreditations include:
Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine — College of Naturopathic Medicine at the University of Bridgeport
Master’s degree in Human Nutrition — Nutrition Institute at the University of Bridgeport
Bachelor's degree in pharmacy — University of Connecticut
Registered pharmacist
Licensed Acupuncturist, Dipl. NCCAOM
Member — Connecticut Naturopathic Physicians Association (CNPA)
In addition, Dr. Pulnik has been on the teaching faculty at the College of Naturopathic Medicine and Acupuncture Institute at the University of Bridgeport, and has given many presentations on natural medicine.
Dr. Pulnik’s Treatment Philosophy
Naturopathic physicians are trained as primary care providers, and Dr. Pulnik has experience with conventional medicines and treatments. However, unlike conventional physicians, who listen to patients for an average of less than 30 seconds, Dr. Pulnik works with each patient to design an effective, personalized treatment plan — which is only possible after careful listening, review of your medical history, and interpretation of your symptoms.
In addition to drawing on the principles of naturopathic medicine, Dr. Pulnik utilizes Advanced Allergy Therapeutics, acupuncture, vitamin therapy, herbal medicine, homeopathic remedies, stress reduction, laboratory testing, and other natural, holistic techniques to provide patients with non-invasive modes of healing. Trained in several different areas of holistic medicine, Dr. Pulnik is able to work with patients to achieve powerful results — no matter what your affliction.
As a Naturopathic Physician and Clinical Nutritionist, Dr. Pulnik expertly prescribes dietary therapy and nutritional supplementation along with clinical and laboratory diagnosis to return you to a healthier balance.
Glastonbury Naturopathic Center and Wholistic Spa™, offering naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and Wholistic Spa™ treatments all under one roof, is currently accepting new patients. Please contact us with any questions, to schedule an appointment, or to learn more about any of our services.
To help cover the cost of naturopathic medicine, Dr. Pulnik accepts Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna and Connecticare Insurances.
Dr. Teresa Spano, ND
Teresa Spano, ND is a graduate of the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine in Bridgeport, Connecticut where she received her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. Her four years of training included naturopathic philosophy, and the prevention and treatment of illnesses though natural remedies including homeopathy, nutrition, botanicals, mind-body medicine, among others.
Dr. Spano has completed over 1200 hours of clinical shifts in areas such as general medicine, integrative oncology, physical medicine, classical homeopathy, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and First Line Therapy, a personalized, science-based nutritional program. She has expanded her studies through continuing education focusing on Functional Medicine, Detoxification, and UNDA Biodrainage Therapy.
Her passion and extertise as a Naturopathic Physician is finding the underlying cause of disease and treating each patient through nutrition, and personalized Naturopathic medicine
Prior to her doctoral training, Dr. Spano grew up in the state of New York, and earned her bachelors degree in Biology with a Chemistry minor, pre-medicine concentration at SUNY Oneonta, in central New York. She spent hours volunteering at different medical venues until ultimately finding her passion in naturopathic medicine, being initially attracted by nutrition and finding the underlying cause of disease.
In her spare time Dr. Spano enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog. She enjoys staying healthy and active through numerous outdoor activities, sports, fitness classes, and cooking.
Dr. Spano accepts most insurances, and is now accepting new patients.
Dr. Charles Lerner
Chiropractor and Acupuncturist
Dr. Charles Lerner is a very accomplished Acupuncturist, who offers expert Acupuncture care for acute and chronic problems, both internal medical concerns and pain management.
His acupuncture techniques include painless needle insertion and he is familiar with a large variety of Oriental medical approaches, enabling him to choose the exact acupuncture technique that is most effective for each patient. He gentle, compassionate and treats his patients as whole beings, not symptoms or diseases.
Dr. Lerner graduated from Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon, and went on to earn his Master's Degree in Acupuncture from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine In New York City. He donates his time and acupuncture skills each year to helping the poor and needy at the Hospital De La Familia, a missionary hospital in northwestern Guatemala.
Dr. Lerner is now accepting new Acupuncture patients at Glastonbury Naturopathic Center.
Cyndi Goode
Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Master
Cyndi began her healing arts journey back in the late 90’s with some meditation courses and Reiki classes. She followed her Reiki education from Master Usui Reiki, to Master Karuna Reiki to Crystal Star Healing. Reiki had such a positive impact on her life that she felt compelled to be able to “touch” more people with Reiki.
A second buyout in the corporate world opened up an opportunity to embark on some education while her children were still young at home. Cyndi studied Massage Therapy at Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy and graduated with high honors in April of 2010.
Her first job was at a Chiropractic Office. She is a long-time believer in Chiropractic and to be able to combine Chiropractic with her passion for Massage and Reiki seemed like a dream come true. Her sessions were often very clinical, working on specific joints to lessen pain and increase motion. She has experience working with a variety of different pathologies.
With such a passion for energy work CranioSacral therapy was of high interest so Cyndi took a workshop in September of 2010 and enjoys incorporating this modality in her therapeutic sessions as well. Cyndi has always been a big believer in the healing power of the body and the body/mind connection.
Cyndi then went on to work at a Naturopathic Center/Spa. The serene environment of a spa allowed her to combine her clinical knowledge into a nurturing relaxing massage, creating a luxurious experience for the client. She also enjoys incorporating Reiki and Aromatherapy into Massage, Bodywrap and Bodyscrub sessions creating an incredibly pampered experience for each client.
Cyndi combines the client’s health goals, her clinical knowledge and intuition to craft a specialized session for each client. Each client is different and each session for that client is different. Everything is always changing and evolving. “The healer is always healing.”
Marianne McAllister
Licensed Massage Therapist
After building a creative design career in the arts and corporate environment, Marianne chose to pursue a career in the health and fitness field. Her interest in massage peaked after a week-long bike ride with 2000 riders, during which she took advantage of a tent dedicated solely to massage and found pain relief and healing as well as improved performance for the next day’s ride.
Marianne is a graduate of Connecticut Center of Massage Therapy, Newington, CT, and a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. She provides a personalized massage guided by your individual needs and preferences and through any of a suite of modalities, including Swedish,Therapeutic, deep tissue, hot stone therapy, Thai on the table, acupressure, sports massage, as well as spa body wraps. Her training and intuition will help you relax, slow down, and reduce pain and everyday stresses — a comprehensive healing experience that goes beyond the relief of physical symptoms.
Location
18 School Street
Glastonbury, CT 06033
(860) 657-4105
Our Hours
Acupuncture & Naturopathic Medicine
Monday-Friday, 10-5 pm, call for Saturday hours
Colon Hydrotherapy
Monday-Saturday
Spa Services at Wholistic Spa™
Tuesday 10-6
Wednesday 10-6
Thursday 10-6
Friday 10-6
Saturday 10-5
Need Directions?
Follow the link to this map for our exact location and driving directions.
Please park in the BACK of 18 School Street and use the main entrance to the office at the front of the building. The reception room is directly through the entryway.
Please do not park in the parking area to the left of 18 School Street because it is the parking area for 24 School Street.
Social Media Policy
This document outlines Glastonbury Naturopathic Center LLC, Dr. Helene Pulnik and its healthcare providers’ Policy related to use of Social Media. Please read it to understand how I conduct myself on the Internet as a Naturopathic Physician and Acupuncturist and how you can expect me to respond to various interactions that may occur between us on the Internet. If you have any questions about anything within this document, I encourage you to bring them up when we meet. As new technology develops and the Internet changes, there may be times when I need to update this policy. If I do so, I will notify you in writing of any policy changes and make sure you have a copy of the updated policy.
FRIENDING
I do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former patients or clients on any social networking site (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc). I believe that adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our doctor/patient relationship. If you have questions about this, please bring them up when we meet and we can talk more about it. I keep a Facebook Page for my professional practice to allow people to share my blog posts and practice updates with other Facebook users. All of the information shared on this page is available on my website. Note that you are able to subscribe to the page via RSS without liking the page and without creating a visible, public link to my Page.
FOLLOWING
I publish a blog on my website and I post health and wellness news on Facebook and Twitter. I have no expectation that you as a client will want to follow my blog or Twitter stream. My primary concern is your privacy. Use your own discretion in choosing whether to follow me. Note that I will not follow you back. I only follow other health professionals on Facebook and Twitter and I do not follow current or former clients on blogs, Facebook or Twitter. My reasoning is that I believe casual viewing of clients’ online content outside of our doctor/patient relationship can create confusion. In addition, viewing your online activities without your consent and without our explicit arrangement towards a specific purpose could potentially have a negative influence on our working relationship. If there are things from your online life that you wish to share with me, please bring them into your sessions where we can view and explore them appropriately, during the office visit.
INTERACTING
Please do not use SMS (mobile phone text messaging) or messaging on Social Networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to contact me. These sites are not secure and I may not read these messages in a timely fashion. Do not use Wall postings, @replies, or other means of engaging with me in public online if we have an already established doctor/patient relationship. Engaging with me this way could compromise your confidentiality. It may also create the possibility that these exchanges become a part of your legal medical record and will need to be documented and archived in your chart. If you need to contact Dr. Pulnik or any of our health care practitioners between office visits or sessions, the best way to do so is by phone. Please contact the main office at 860-657-4105 during normal office hours, which are Monday Thru Saturday from 10am-5pm.. If you have a true medical emergency after office hours, please go directly to your nearest Emergency Room or call 911.
SCHEDULING
To schedule or change appointments with Dr. Pulnik or any of our health care practitioners, the best way to do so is by phone. Please contact the main office at 860-657-4105 during regular business hours, Monday - Saturday 10am-5pm.
CONCLUSION
Thank you for taking the time to review my Social Media Policy. If you have questions or concerns about any of these policies and procedures or regarding our potential interactions on the Internet, do bring them to my attention so that we can discuss them.
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Turmeric is one the most thoroughly researched plants in existence today. Its medicinal properties and components (primarily curcumin) have been the subject of over 5600 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies. In fact, our five-year long research project on this sacred plant has revealed over 600 potential preventive and therapeutic applications, as well as 175 distinct beneficial physiological effects. This entire database of 1,585 ncbi-hyperlinked turmeric abstracts can be downloaded as a PDF at our Downloadable Turmeric Document page, and acquired either as a retail item or with 200 GMI-tokens, for those of you who are already are members and receive them automatically each month. Given the sheer density of research performed on this remarkable spice, it is no wonder that a growing number of studies have concluded that it compares favorably to a variety of conventional medications, including medications for: cholesterol, inflammation, depression, diabetes, and more. Read the entire article here.... http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/science-confirms-turmeric-effective-14-drugs
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For more than 2,500 years, acupuncture has been one of the world's most popular forms of health care to treat all types of chronic pain. The ancient technique of acupuncture helps relieve chronic back pain better than standard care such as medications or physical therapy. According to recent studies, acupuncture outperformed sham treatments and standard care when used by people suffering from osteoarthritis, migraines, and chronic back, neck and shoulder pain. Acupuncture, which involves inserting needles at specific “acupoints” on the body, is among the most widely practiced forms of alternative medicine in the country and is offered by many hospitals. Most commonly the treatment is sought by adults looking for relief from chronic pain, although it is also used with growing frequency in children. According to government estimates, about 150,000 children in the United States underwent acupuncture in 2007. In clinical practice, the most common types of pain that patients turn to acupuncture for are neck pain, upper/mid back and low back pain, arthritis pain, knee pain, shoulder pain migraine pain, tendonitis, carpel tunnel syndrome, menstrual pain, and even cancer pain. So exactly how does inserting acupuncture work to relieve pain? Acupoints are tiny areas on the skin that contain relatively concentrated levels of nerve endings, lymphatics, and blood vessels. Acupoints can be readily identified by their lower electrical resistance, and are usually located in small palpable depressions detectable by trained acupuncturists. Stimulation from placing acupuncture needles in acupoints initiates pain relief, relaxation, and healing. There are several theories as to how acupuncture relieves pain. It is widely accepted that acupuncture stimulates the secretion of endorphins in the body (specifically enkephalins). Endorphins are our bodies’ natural painkillers. They are 1000 times stronger than morphine. Also, certain neurotransmitter levels (such as serotonin and noradrenaline) are affected by acupuncture. This is why acupuncture is so successful with depression, mood disorders, and weight loss, and often why many people feel so amazing after an acupuncture treatment. The pain-gate theory explains that pain signals must pass through a number of high traffic gates as they move from the area of injury upward through the spinal cord into the brain. Like a road or a highway, these nerves can only handle a limited number of nerve signals at one time. Acupuncture generates competing stimulus and effectively interrupts the neurotransmitters of the pain signals from reaching the brain. This results in the patient never getting the pain signal and therefore never getting the pain. This is the most popular theory among Western scientists. In summary, it seems that there are several systems in the body involved in carrying the effects of acupuncture and that there are messages being delivered to both the brain and body that promote health and pain relief. Acupuncture is truly an amazing drug-free medicine, with no side effects. The cost of treating chronic pain with surgery, narcotic pain killers, NSAIDS, injections of cortisone, and other short-acting analgesics is extremely high when compared to the cost of an acupuncture treatment, which can cost only $85.00. It is important for medical physicians and patients with pain to recognize that acupuncture is extremely effective in regard to pain relief. So many people with pain, whether from low back pain, headache or a chronic, unexplained condition, rely on prescription NSAIDS and narcotic pain killer medications, which can become addicting and cause serious side effects. Acupuncture has no side effects, and studies have shown the pain relief it provides can last for months, not to mention the improved quality of life for individuals suffering from chronic pain. References: Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(19):1444-1453. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.3654 Pediatrics. 2000 Apr;105(4 Pt 2):941-7. Pain 1999;83:235-241. Kleinhenz J, et al. Randomised clinical trial comparing the effects of acupuncture and a newly designed placebo needle n rotator cuff tendonitis. Susman E. Bran scans show acupuncture dulls pain. Excite News, December 1, 1999 Dr. Helene Pulnik is a board-certified, licensed Acupuncturist and Naturopathic Physician with a private practice in Glastonbury, CT for over 13 years. She has helped many patients become pain free; often eliminating the need for drugs and surgery for chronic pain. She is now accepting new acupuncture patients.
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The fertility rate in the United States has been declining for the past few decades. The fertility rate is the number of children an average woman bears over the course of her life. The replacement rate is 2.1. If the average woman has more children than that, population grows. Today, America's total fertility rate is 1.93, according to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; it hasn't been above the replacement rate in a sustained way since the early 1970s. Infertility is defined as the inability to become pregnant after a year or more of sperm insemination or well-timed, unprotected vaginal intercourse. Infertility may be a temporary or a permanent condition; this depends on the available treatments, the cause, and the fertility of the partner at any particular point in time. Infertility is often incorrectly considered "the woman's problem". To improve the couple's chances of conception a child together, both the man and the woman should be evaluated, and treated, if necessary, Because conception is a complicated process, it depends upon several factors. There are many potential causes for infertility or reproductive problems. Chronic illnesses, as well as their treatments, can lead to fertility problems. Illnesses like diabetes and hypothyroidism can cause fertility problems. Insulin, antidepressants, and thyroid hormones may lead to irregular menstrual cycles, for example. Premature ovarian failure has become a common cause of infertility in younger women, often diagnosed as “unexplained infertility”. Environmental toxins and xenoestrogens in foods are known to cause hormone disruption, and free radical damage to both ovaries in women and sperm production in men. Certain toxins such as phthalates may be linked to genital abnormalities in boys. Products that contain phthalates include food packaging, cosmetics, make-up, soaps, fragrances, shampoos, hairspray, nail polish, pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, building materials, vinyl flooring, paints, adhesives, detergents, solvents, lubricating oils, plastic bags, garden hoses, automobiles, children’s toys, modeling clay, glow sticks, cleaning products, and as inert ingredients in insecticides. In many instances phthalates are not identified on product labels. 40% of infertility can be due to male factors, and acupuncture also treats male partners of women trying to conceive. Medication used to treat peptic ulcers or hypertension can cause male factor infertility, including problems with sperm production or their ability to fertilize the egg. In men, average sperm concentration went from 72 million/ml in 2001 to 52 million/ml in 2011. When sperm concentration drops below 40 million/ml, conception becomes difficult. Researchers agree that diet, lifestyle, and exposure to chemicals are causing the worldwide decline. Fertility issues are environmental issues Couples experiencing difficulty conceiving may be referred to a fertility specialist for evaluation. Typically, blood testing, genetic testing, and sperm testing are done to determine if there are any medical or hormonal abnormalities that need to be treated. Currently, there are several medical treatments for infertility performed by MDs who specialize in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). These treatments are typically hormones to induce ovulation, IUI or intrauterine insemination, which is a procedure in which sperm are placed directly into the uterine cavity near the time of ovulation and IVF, or in-vitro fertilization, which is a procedure that involves retrieving eggs and sperm from the bodies of the male and female partners and placing them together in a laboratory dish to enhance fertilization. Fertilized eggs are then transferred several days later into the female partner's uterus where implantation and embryo development will hopefully occur as in a normal pregnancy. Success rates with IUI can vary from 5% to 20% for a single cycle, depending on the age and health of the couple. With several IUI cycles, the conception rate can be even higher. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the success rate of conception with IVF is 10%-35%, again depending on the age and health status of the couple. Both IUI and IVF procedures can cost several thousand dollars per cycle or treatment, and are not always covered by insurance. From the viewpoint of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture and Naturopathic Medicine, other factors contributing to infertility include imbalances in the energy meridians of the body, toxic overload, and lifestyle factors such as poor diet, stress, and lack of proper sleep. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are affordable therapies that have been used safely and effectively alongside with IUI and IVF, as well as a stand-alone treatment for infertility. Studies have shown that acupuncture can improve the success rate of IVF by 40%-60%. The typical cost for an Acupuncture session is only $85.00. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help improve fertility and the success of IVF in a number of ways: 1. Improve the function of the ovaries to produce better quality eggs 2. Restore hormonal balance and blood flow to the ovaries to produce a large number of follicles 3. Increase blood flow to the uterus to increase thickness of the uterine lining 4. Reduce stress, increase relaxation and improve sleep 5. Lessen the side effects of drugs used in IUI and IVF 6. Balances the immune system 7. Improves sperm count, motility, and morphology. Using proven Acupuncture techniques, Chinese herbal medicine, detoxification, nutritional counseling, nutritional supplementation, and stress reduction can help to restore balance and overall wellness. Restoring balance allows the body’s hormones and natural cycles to become more regular, and increases the body’s response to IUI and IVF, thus improving fertility. Traditional Acupuncture involves inserting extremely thin, sterile, stainless steel, disposable needles into specific points on the surface of the skin, restoring balance to the body, mind, and spirit along with the correction of infertility-related imbalances and deficiencies. This age-old system of medicine has stood the test of thousands of years and yet continues to rise above and improve health even in our modern western culture. This sophisticated yet subtle method of treatment is so effective because of its focus on each individual's particular needs. At the same time, acupuncture is a very relaxing and rejuvenating treatment. Dr. Helene Pulnik is a board-certified, licensed Naturopathic Physician, and Licensed Acupuncturist. She is also a Registered Pharmacist and holds a Master’s Degree in Human Nutrition. She has studied infertility treatment using acupuncture, herbs, nutrition, and stress reduction with Mike Berkley, Lac. In New York, and Dr. Randine Lewis, author of The Infertility Cure. Integrating the wisdom of proven acupuncture techniques and natural medicine, Dr. Pulnik treats couples by supporting the body’s natural cycles to enhance fertility. Dr. Pulnik provides Acupuncture, detoxification, herbal, and nutritional counseling for infertile couples. References: Acupuncture & IVF: Increase IVF Success by 40-60% by Lifang Liang The Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, Updated Tables, September 2012 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility: Handbook for Clinicians (pocket sized) by Dan I. Lebovic, John David Gordon and Robert N. Taylor The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies, by Randine Lewis, Ph.D. Declining Sperm Counts, BMJ. 1996 July 6; 313(7048): 43–45,
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This Earth Day, show you care. For our planet and all living things, especially each other. Appreciate your surroundings. Take it to heart! Please share this video message. Thank you! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze7KQIIaxHQ&feature=player_embedded
