Cold and comforting, the rainy days might be inviting one to hit the bed for a shut-eye.
But for many people, sleep could be elusive. Aging, for example, affects sleep patterns like increased awakenings during the night, said the National Institute of Aging; while for frequent flyers, jet lag makes the circadian rhythm out of sync and cause sleep problems.
Enough sleep offers many benefits, including better cognitive function, memory, learning and problem-solving, according to the US Centers for Diseases and Control (CDC). So if one is not having an adequate doze-off, it could snowball into a myriad issues, including impaired brain function, lower pain tolerance and a weakened immune system, said the CDC.
For better slumber, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends having a consistent sleep schedule; observing a relaxing bedtime routine like using aromatherapy and wearing socks and/or eye cover while sleeping; and avoiding nicotine, caffeine and alcohol and physical activity near bedtime.
Recognizing that proper sleep is essential not only for beauty but also for longevity, health, wellness and aesthetic clinic chain, Luminisce recently unraveled its new treatment, ExoMind.
The chain’s owner, Dr. Kaycee Reyes, a preventive medicine and dermatology specialist, has been described in the clinic’s website as someone who “understands the profound connection between mental and physical health.”
The doctor, according to the site, is “particularly enthusiastic about ExoMind,” describing it as “a groundbreaking non-invasive technology utilizing magnetic stimulation to enhance mental wellness, offering a drug-free ‘brain workout’.”
Doctor Star Casa, in an exclusive interview with DAILY TRIBUNE, explained that the treatment utilizes targeted magnetic pulses or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive procedure that stimulates nerve cells in the brain using magnetic fields.
Originally used in hospitals to treat patients with depression in the ‘80s, the treatment has been modified with lower frequency pulses to improve mental wellness, explained Dr. Casa.
“We used to use it in hospitals for depression and other psychiatric conditions and usually we do it for every day for at least 30 sessions and it used to be painful,” she said. “But with the new technology, it’s painless now, and you just have to do it once a week for at least four to six sessions.”
The 24.5-minute treatment is conducted by making the client rest in a bed, on a special pillow, fully clothed. A machine is then directed toward the head where the prefrontal cortex is. This part of the brain, said doctor CJ Madrigal, is responsible for telling the brain what you see, what to eat and also what to binge, as well as to sleep. The treatment is then used to stimulate the brain’s prefrontal cortex to help the body have a better sleep and to curb cravings, thereby also aiding in weight loss.
Dr. Madrigal, in fact, said she used to suffer from sleep deprivation and stress-eating. But after trying the treatment, she attested to have curbed her appetite and she now automatically gets sleepy at 11 p.m.; whereas before, she used to go to bed even as late as 1 a.m.
“For us, we won’t recommend it for patients below 12 years old because… those are still in their formative years, so it might have an effect if ever on their a growth… according to studies,” Dr. Casa explained.
“And with the contraindications, usually we ask the patients if they have pacemakers or if they have a history of seizures because… it might trigger again the previous seizure episode if ever and also for patients with metal implants from the waist up except for the dental. The dental is OK, for example, so arms, we prevented just to be sure. Even for breastfeeding and for pregnant moms (it is not suitable)… But postpartum depression is okay if you’re concerned about sleep.”
Apart from those experiencing jet lag, the doctor believes the treatment could also be a silver lining for those with insomnia and depression.