Healthy Wealthy and Wise

Dragonfl y Wellness Center: The full package

BY JAN TODD

Dragonfl y Wellness Center off ers comprehensive wellness care for the whole family, with independent yet complementary practitioners operating within the space. From left : Erin Wallace Blake, Angella Dabbondanza, Amy Davis, Dr. Marcia Nibert, Lisa Smith, Stacy Th ompson, Kelly Jones, Yun (Ann) Teng. (Photos/Emma Anne Photography)

In March 2020 — when most of the world was closing up shop due to the coronavirus pandemic — Dragonfl y Wellness Center in Lake Wylie opened its doors for the fi rst time.

Dr. Marcia Nibert, known as “Doc Marcia” to her patients, is an acupuncturist, chiropractor and the owner of the practice. She said she didn’t know what to expect, launching a new endeavor in such uncertain times. Almost two years later, it appears the timing was just right.

“We’ve been busy since we opened,” Doc Marcia said. The pandemic increased the wellness care needs in the community, beyond the effects from the virus itself. “People are more stressed, they’re hurting, and many are in a different work environment. When working from home, people are sitting on the couch or at kitchen table with their computers, and there are different ergonomics in play,” she explained. Doc Marcia said in addition to her regular clientele, she has been treating more patients with lower back pain, plus patients with emotional and stress issues related to the pandemic.

Doc Marcia operated her practice for nine years at Lake Wylie Family Chiropractic. As her clientele grew, she found she needed more space. Her business partner, Mike Cockram, purchased a 3500 square foot suite in the Lake Wylie Business Center, next door to the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce.

At first, Doc Marcia couldn’t imagine

how they could use so much space. She said, “Mike told me not to worry; we’d grow.”

It didn’t take long. With the goal of offering comprehensive wellness care for the whole family, the two partners began looking for complimentary practitioners to operate within the wellness center. They now lease space to two massage therapists, an additional acupuncturist, and a certified clinical thermographer — all who operate as independent businesses yet work together to provide patients multi-disciplinary care. Services offered include: • Acupuncture: a traditional Chinese medicine to promote general wellness and healing. Tiny needles are placed in specific points of the body to stimulate natural healing mechanisms.

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Rehabilitation: The art of using physical manipulations and therapies to relieve pain, enhance healing, and improve movement. Companion Animal Rehabilitation Center

ANIMAL HOSPITALSteele Creek @ ION DETOX

Dragonfly Wellness Center offers IonCleanse® by AMD – a footbath detox system that cleanses and purifies the body. Biocompatible electrical frequencies are sent into the water, creating an ionic field that pulls toxins out through the bottom of the patient’s feet. The patient may feel a little tingling or may feel nothing at all. Most report feeling very relaxed during the procedure.

After a 10–30-minute session, the patients feel focused and calm.

Exposure to toxins is at an alltime high — from jet and automobile fumes in the air; pollution; chemicals in household cleaning products, cosmetics and personal care products; pesticides; plastics in bottled water and beverages; and products most people use every day.

Toxins affect immune systems, fertility, circulatory systems, blood vessels and the skeletal system. While the body has measures in place to address toxins — including the liver, kidneys, lungs, colon and lymphatic system — evidence from many scientific studies indicates human health is impacted by the toxins in the modern world. Chronic swelling and inflammation, headaches, difficulty thinking, depression, aggression and hyperactivity are some of the results.

Doc Marcia incorporated the footbath detox treatment into the offerings at Dragonfly Wellness after she experienced positive results treating her own migraine headaches with regular detox sessions.

Lisa Purvis, a relatively new patient at Dragonfly Wellness, came in initially for the foot detox, then added acupuncture to address arthritis and inflammation in her knee. “My problems started with a change in my cholesterol medication. My joints were so sore, I could hardly get out of bed,” she said. “Since I’ve been coming to Dragonfly, the swelling in my knee is gone and I can walk without pain. I am doing much better.”

MASSAGE AND TALK FOR BODY AND SOUL

Stacy Thompson, a long-time Lake Wylie resident, is a licensed massage therapist at Dragonfly Wellness Center. She offers Swedish and deep tissue massage, plus several specialty massages including neuromuscular, pre-natal, oncology, lymphatic drainage, breast cupping/massage, and talk/touch sessions.

Stacy trained for and added breast massage to treat patients from fellow Dragonfly Wellness practitioner Angella Dabbondanza, owner of Advanced Thermal Imaging. Some of her patients have trapped toxins and inflammation in their breast tissue, and targeted massage therapy is an effective treatment, Angella said.

Stacy believes in the therapeutic and healing power of massage that transcends physical relief — addressing deep emotional issues. “Sometimes when I’ve seen a client for awhile, they start opening up and talking — and that makes them feel better. We hold a lot of trauma and emotions in our body, and sometimes that is where our pain comes from,” she said.

For the past two years, Stacy has been training as a Christian spiritual director, someone who helps others better understand Biblical basics and counsels them along their spiritual journey. She offers spiritual direction sessions independently or in combination with massage.

Sacy Th ompson is a licensed massage therapist at Dragonfl y Wellness Center and a trained spiritual director. In addition to therapeutic massage, she performs specialized massage and off ers talk/touch sessions. (Photo/Emma Anne Photography)

Good news! Sports & Full Memberships are still available at regular and junior levels! To schedule a tour, please contact the Membership & Marketing Director at membership@riverhillscc.org or at (803) 621-3115.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MEMBERSHIPS, PRIVILEGES, AND PRICING www.riverhillscc.org

FREE THERMAL SCANS FOR BREAST CANCER SCREENING

The United Breast Cancer Foundation provides grants for patients to receive free or discounted thermal scans for breast cancer. The program is open to women and men, regardless of age, income, or medical insurance coverage.

Patients must apply for the grant online and have the screening completed within 60 days of award notification. Patients pay their provider and submit the invoice and receipt for reimbursement. Details are available at https://www.ubcf.org/programs-services/breast-screening • Chiropractic: a natural treatment using spinal manipulation to relieve pain in joints and muscles — and maintain balance between the body’s muscular, skeletal and neurological systems. • Massage: therapeutic and specialized massage to ease pain, promote relaxation, moderate inflammation, improve blood flow and address various health conditions. • Thermal imaging: images taken of the body with a special infrared camera (the same heat-seeking technology used by the military and firefighters) to identify areas with inflammation, low blood flow, infections, arthritis or other conditions. • IonCleanse® by AMD: a footbath detox system that cleanses and purifies the body, leaving the patient calm, focused and relaxed. • Intersegmental traction table: an automated massage table used in combination with chiropractic adjustments, or independently to promote relaxation.

Angella Dabbondanza, owner of Advanced Thermal Imaging, began her practice after a personal health crisis.

“I was feeling awful. I was so tired all of the time, and I couldn’t even fold a load of laundry. I couldn’t sleep and my vision was blurring,” she said.

Dabbondanza was always interested in health and technology, and is an avid reader and researcher. She had seen some articles about thermal imaging, and thought she’d give it a try to see if she could figure out what was wrong with her.

Thermography — a non-invasive scan producing infrared images of the human body — shows patterns of heat and blood flow near the surface of the body and can indicate a variety of diseases and disorders. It has been approved by the FDA to be used in conjunction with other screening and diagnostic tests.

Dabbondanza’s scan showed her lymphatic system was congested, and her breast implants were the culprit. She made some changes — including having the implants removed — and her symptoms disappeared. She was so impressed with her own results that she invested in a high-quality thermal imaging camera and equipment,

THERMAL IMAGING

trained and became certified as a clinical thermographer, then opened her practice at Dragonfly Wellness Center.

Using a sensitive infrared camera similar to those used by the military and firefighters, Dabbondanza takes images and sends to a licensed physician for analysis. Dabbondanza is passionate about educating her patients and helping them with practical recommendations.

Laura Schaeffer, who is a patient of Doc Marcia’s, had a full body thermography scan done to confirm the source of problem areas. “I rolled my ankle maybe ten years ago, and the scan showed the inflammation is still there, confirming we were targeting my acupuncture treatment at the right spot,” she said.

Another patient had a breast scan, and results alerted her to a fast-growing cancer that had been previously undetected. “We were able to encourage her to see her medical doctor and have her condition diagnosed and treated — much earlier that she might have discovered the problem otherwise,” Dabbondanza said.

Dabbondanza said some of her clients come in when Xrays, CT-scans and MRI’s don’t provide answers for their issues. Others come in for second opinions prior to surgery, or to gain early awareness of problem spots for preventative care.

Angella Dabbondanza, certifi ed clinical thermographer and owner of Advanced Th ermal Imaging located within Dragonfl y Wellness Center, holds a thermal scan of a patient’s breasts, showing hot spots which may become problematic, even cancerous, if left untreated. Th e images are evaluated by a licensed physician, and Dabbondanza reviews with her patients and recommends treatments such as specialized massage, dry brushing, dietary changes or further medical evaluation. (Photo/Jan Todd)

• Multi-dimensional, personalized treatment plans including dietary consultations, injury and pain management and recovery, stress management and more.

A holistic approach

Doc Marcia provides a holistic approach to the health of her patients, integrating treatments that lead to a strong structural system, nutrient-rich dietary habits and a balanced emotional state. She educates her patients on the cause and prevention of their ailments, recommending lifestyle modifications and dietary changes to improve overall health and wellness.

To treat the whole body, Doc Marcia appreciates the need for interdisciplinary methods — including traditional Western medicine as well as Chinese medicine, natural alternatives, spiritual and emotional therapies.

She has evolved her own interdisciplinary skills, beginning with a degree from the Sherman College of Chiropractic in 1993, then a Fellowship in Acupuncture Dr. Marcia Nibert (called “Doc from New York Chi- Marcia” by her patients) has ropractic College a practiced acupuncture and chirofew years later, then practic in Lake Wylie for 10 years. a Registered Nurse She holds a registered nurse de(RN) degree from gree and is pursuing certifi cation the Mercy School in functional medicine. (Photo/ of Nursing in Char- Emma Anne Photography) lotte in 2009.

Doc Marcia is now pursuing a certification in functional medicine, what she describes as a hybrid between western medicine and natural health.

“Western medicine doctors are so overwhelmed right now, treating really sick patients. Then there are patients who aren’t so sick they need Western medicine — but they’re not healthy, either. That’s where functional medicine comes in. We provide the patients with information, detoxing, supplements or emotional support to improve their health,” said Doc Marcia.

Doc Marcia’s journey

Marcia grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania, one of four children. For wellness care, the whole family regularly received chiropractic adjustments

ACUPUNCTURIST YUN TENG (ANN)

Yun Teng — whose first name means “clouds” in Chinese — was born in Bejing and lived there until her late 30s. In China, Yun said acupuncture is “very popular,” with a practitioner in “almost every neighborhood.” Yet Yun never experienced acupuncture for herself until she was in her 30s.

“I was under a lot of stress at work and my neck really bothered me. I went to the hospital, went to Chinese bone correction, tried mas- Yun Teng (Ann), who joined Dragonfl y sage, but those didn’t really Wellness Center in 2021, is a licensed acuhelp. I finally tried acupunc- puncturist and earned her certifi cation ture. Afterwards, I felt like I from the Beijing University of Chinese Medhad a new neck,” Yun said. icine and holds a Master in Acupuncture

Yun was so impressed, she degree from the Jung Tao School of Classical enrolled in the Beijing Uni- Chinese Medicine in North Carolina. (Phoversity of Chinese Medicine to/Emma Anne Photography) to study acupuncture. There, she learned about meridians — “highways” for energy flow in the body — and about anatomy, herbal remedies and the Chinese style of massage and acupuncture.

In 2015, Yun and her family moved to the U.S. Her husband, who is American, had family ties to York County. They settled in Clover to take advantage of a cleaner environment, the strong school system, and much lower population and stress levels than they’d experienced in Beijing.

Yun obtained her license to perform acupuncture in the U.S. while working with a practitioner in Charlotte who specialized in pregnancy and infertility. She obtained her Masters Diploma in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, then joined Dragonfly Wellness Center in 2021.

At Dragonfly, Yun and Doc Marcia use acupuncture to treat many disorders, including: respiratory (asthma, allergies, emphysema); gastrointestinal (ulcers, colitis, acid reflux); circulatory (hypertension, high cholesterol); gynecological (infertility, menopausal symptoms, PMS, endometriosis); musculoskeletal (arthritis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries and pain); and psychoemotional/neurological (depression, anxiety, insomnia, migraines, addictions).

in addition to their traditional medical care. Her primary physician was a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) — an accredited doctor who has hands on training on the musculoskeletal system in addition to conventional medicine.

“Because he was a DO, our family doctor worked on our spinal health and took a holistic approach. So I grew up with that mindset,” Doc Marcia shared.

When she was a teenager, Marcia and her sister visited a friend who was in chiropractic college in Spartanburg.

“That was it. I was hooked,” she said. After graduating from high school, she pursued her chiropractic degree and began practicing in Rock Hill. One of the chiropractors in the office was also an acupuncturist, and Doc Marcia became interested in learning more.

“After practicing chiropractic for a few years, I noticed we were seeing some of the same people over and over again, with the same problems — and I realized there must be a piece missing,” she said.

Acupuncture addresses energy imbalances in the body, incorporating the emotional side of health and organ function. “It makes sense that acupuncture and chiropractic work together,” said Doc Marcia, who then studied and began practicing acupuncture.

After having two children, Doc Marcia took some time off to stay at home with her kids, then obtained her nursing degree to further her career. She worked as a critical care nurse at Caromont Regional Medical Center for two years.

Remembering her passion for educating patients and caring for them at the preventative stage, Doc Marcia returned to her work as a chiropractor and acupuncturist in 2011 by joining the team at Lake Wylie Family Chiropractic.

Moving her practice to the new location in 2020 enabled Doc Marcia to add other practitioners to expand care to existing and new patients.

Joni Harrison has been a patient of Doc Marcia for almost ten years. “With acupuncture, I have seen tremendous improvement in my anxiety, depression and nightmares. And chiropractic clears up my sinuses,” she shared. Seasonal changes affect Harrison, she said, so she schedules appointments with Doc Marcia once a quarter.

“I lean on Doc Marcia for just about everything,” Harrison continued. “She does a good job of seeing the big picture. Each time I walk in, we talk through what has been going on with me and she helps identify patterns and correlations to find the root of the problem.”

Harrison said her relationship with Doc Marcia is “like having a holistic physician in my pocket. If something doesn’t feel right, Doc Marcia is my first call.”

“I’m a believer.”

Wanda Wood, a relatively new patient of Doc Marcia’s, was reluctant to try acupuncture and chiropractic. “I just didn’t believe in it,” she admitted.

Wood suffered from kidney stones, fibromyalgia and chronic pain. “I had trouble walking up the stairs to my house,” she shared.

A friend at church convinced Wood to visit Doc Marcia. “My friend was supposed to have shoulder surgery, but after seeing Doc Marcia, her shoulder healed to the point she didn’t need surgery. So I decided to give her a try,” Wood said.

Now, Wood said because of her chiropractic care, she can “traipse down the stairs” without fear of falling, and acupuncture has helped her pass kidney stones without surgery. Her husband, who is asthmatic, has experienced improvement in his condition after treatment as well.

“The most amazing case is my fatherin-law, who is 96 years old,” Wood said. “He had neuropathy in his hands and feet, and couldn’t even turn the pages of a book. Now, after Doc Marcia has been treating him with acupuncture, he is able to walk around much better and is able to read books again, which he loves.”

“I’m a believer now, and I’m encouraging everyone in our family to come to Dragonfly Wellness,” Wood said. “It has been a real blessing to us.” LW

Erin Wallace Blake is a massage therapist and licensed esthetician at Dragonfl y Wellness Center. She off ers Swedish, deep tissue, AromaTouch and other specialized massage, plus full body waxing, lash lift ing, eyelash extensions, customizable facials and face and body sculpting. She said her passion for massage stems from her desire to help others. “My motto is: be proactive instead of reactive,” she said. (Photo/Emma Anne Photography)

“IF SOMETHING DOESN’T

FEEL RIGHT, DOC MARCIA

IS MY FIRST CALL. I’M A

BELIEVER.” — JONI HARRISON, PATIENT