When Danny Wu was 16, he began his 6 years professional education at the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in Canton, China. He then became a medical doctor and lecturer at the University.

Wu came to Canada in 1986 and studied at McGill Uniersity's Faculty of medicine(Montreal), where he completed his Master's degree in physiology and enrolled in the PH.D program. Not only did he received full training in both Chinese and Western medicine, but he also worked at the Saint-Luc Hospital of Montreal as a medical research associate. Wu has practiced Chinese medicine and natural healing for more than 20 years and has had numerous academic papers associated with medicine and health published in many countries.

Wu specialized in senior's health concerns and stress and pain management, as well as tumor rehabilitation. He is one of the directors of the International Association of Chinese Anti-Cancer Medicine. He is now a member of the Acupuncture Association of Canada and member of the World Association of Chinese Medicine. Wu has also been invited by the Toronto School of Acupuncture as a lecturer.

Please welcome Darlene Spence, RMT, joining our team.

Darlene Spence BSc., RMT
Background:
Darlene is a professional member of the Registered Massage Therapy Association of Ontario (RMTAO) and registered with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO). Darlene also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Toronto. For 23 years, she provided behavioural consultation for individuals with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries. During her employment with York Central Hospital¡¯s Behaviour Management Services, she served as a workshop instructor where she organized and developed educational workshops and wrote multiple training manuals. In addition, she regularly facilitated behaviour based therapy sessions with her clients.

Darlene¡¯s lifelong passion for massage therapy fueled her decision to become a Registered Massage Therapist. She graduated at the top of her massage therapy class with first class honours at Trillium College in Oshawa. Darlene is currently enrolled in a post-graduate certification program for Manual Lymph Therapy and Combined Decongestive Therapy with the Dr. Vodder School (to be completed November 12, 2011). Darlene has always enjoyed learning and she continually challenges herself to have a broad knowledge base that meets the needs of her clients in order to provide compassionate, high quality client care.

Benefits of Massage Therapy:
Therapeutic massage is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Regular massage therapy treatments from a registered massage therapist can result in an increase in relaxation, a decrease in muscle tension, an increase in flexibility, relief of chronic pain, improved joint mobility and circulation, improved sleep, benefit to the immune system, and reduced emotional stress. Massage therapy benefits people of all ages whether injured, ill, stressed or healthy.

Manual Lymph Drainage:
What is it?
Manual Lymph Drainage is a systematic series of light rhythmic manipulations on the skin that stimulate the lymph flow and fluid movement in the whole body. Gentle stretching of the lymph collectors of the body moves blocked fluid through lymph vessels for drainage into the venous system. MLD was developed by two physical therapists, Emil and Estrid Vodder, in the 1930s.

What does it do?
MLD gently cleanses the body of wastes and toxins. It improves immunity and accelerates healing time. MLD is effective with rheumatic diseases, traumatic edema, post-surgical edema, and with symptoms from lipedema and lymphedema. MLD is very relaxing and has a calming effect for chronic diseases, recuperation, stress, and sleep disorders. It also has an analgesic effect for trauma, migraines, headaches, edema, chronic regional pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, and phantom pain.