Larchmont Chronicle Story Archive

Larchmont Chronicle Neighborhood newspaper representing Hancock Park, Larchmont Village
Miracle Mile, Park La Brea Fremont Place in the Wilshire center area of Los Angeles. Local News and
stories about the local Los Angeles Scene. Historical informattion regarding the Larchmont Chronicle and
Hancock Park area. Founded in 1963 on Larchmont Bouelvard, Los Angeles, CA, California

December 30, 2005

Chinese Medicine

Suzan Filipek

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT is what started Clydesdale on the road of Chinese medicine.

Face-lift facials to weight loss at Oriental Med Spa

Turns out my dry skin is the result of having a “metal” constitution.

Of course, living in the desert of Los Angeles doesn’t help. But, according to Chinese medicine, our constitutions and our faces relate to the five elements—wood, fire, earth, water and metal—acupuncturist Debra Clydesdale told me at her Oriental Med Spa.

I learned more about the art of face reading and ancient Chinese philosophy during her signature RenewEssence face-lift. But mostly I relaxed, as Debra cleansed my skin and massaged it incorporating a gentle “cupping” technique.

The result? My skin felt plump and lifted after more than an hour of pampering ending with an aloe vera-based mask.

“This is why I love my job,” she says, as she peeled the dried mask off my face, revealing a noticeably smoother complexion than the one I walked in with.

She’s the first in the state, she says, to incorporate the ages-old cupping method in her skin care, gliding the plastic cup in upward strokes.

Besides toning the muscles, the process drains toxins, erases puffiness and bags around the eyes, lessens lines and increases blood flow and collagen as well as provides lymph drainage, she says.

Nutritional counseling, herbs and acupuncture are also used to treat acne and other skin conditions. But dry skin is the major complaint.

“In L.A. I see a lot of dry skin and wrinkles as well as dark spots on the face,” Debra notes.

Because the treatment “rebalances the internal system,” positive side effects include relieving menstrual, hormonal and menopausal symptoms. The beauty of Chinese medicine is balance, adds Clydesdale, who holds a master’s degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine.

But it was weight management that started Clydesdale on the road of Chinese medicine. She graduated from Penn State in electrical engineering and worked for GTE management training and with data communications for stock brokers and other clients.

A classically trained vocalist, she also performed Off Broadway and internationally in musical theater. She ran a yoga center, and became a Hellerworker. A type of bodywork using deep tissue massage, Hellerwork was created by a former NASA aerospace engineer, which is what drew her to the field, she says.

When working 12-hour days at her clinic in New Jersey, one of her clients gave her some Chinese herbs, and said, “Take these. You look like crap.”

The results were startling. A chronic, yo-yo dieter, her appetite was satiated, just like that, she smiles, with a twinkle in her eye (a fire characteristic). Without dieting, she dropped 20 pounds. Intrigued with the potency of the herbs, she began her studies of Chinese medicine.

In her practice she incorporates Western tactics as needed, such as a “far infrared” body wrap. “It helps burn calories and with cravings."

A host of aches and pains, from high blood pressure to headaches, are also addressed at her office. Clydesdale works with western doctors, to help cure fibromyalgia to developing an ear device to combat anxiety and depression for patients at the Veterans’ Hospital.

She lectures at colleges and hospitals, and teaches fellow acupuncturists her anti-aging methods. A youthful complexion is not the only result, she smiles. It’s a more vibrant, healthier self. If Debra is any testament to her services, they must work.

Oriental Med Spa, 6404 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 601, Miracle Mile; 323-655-9800.

Larchmont Chronicle
542½ North Larchmont Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90004

Editor & Publisher: Jane Gilman
Associate Publisher: Irwin Gilman

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Information about the Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, Miracle Mile, Park LaBrea areas of Los Angeles, california. The larchmont Chronicle provides information, news stories, local events, advertising, real estate information, real estate listing advertisings, Los Angeles area demographics and other neighborhood news.