Real Men Get Waxed

Spring is finally here, and summer will be here just before you know it. Spa Tir Na Nog offers all types of waxing services for men. This includes eyebrows, ears, chest, back and arms. All the places that will have your skin looking young and smooth when you take your shirt off at the beach. We use natural bee's wax, this wax has been around since the beginning of cosmetic waxing. it is not sticky and abrasive on the skin, and it does not leave a sticky residue or red irritation to the skin. In other words for all you concerned men out there who may have been afraid to get waxed it is not at bad as it has been portrayed on television and the movies, we do it right. Call to make an appointment today at 401-454-7546.

How Do Essential Oils Work?

Essential oils work on 5 different levels.

• Physical - Essential oils are the most potent form of herbal energy. they have antiseptic and immune stimulating effects.
• Emotional - Essential oils stimulate memory, basic, drive, and hormones. They aid in the treatment of depression, stress, and emotions of the grieving process.
• Energy - Essential oils are used in acupuncture meridians, chakras, and subtle energy points.
• Cellular - Essential oils are great for healing foe healing wounds and help the cell regenerative process for skin tissue. They also help to lock in moisture and protect from infection.
• Spiritual - Essential oils have been used by many cultures for thousands of years for the purposes of prayer, meditation, ritual magic, purification, and celebration. Many believe they they bring focus and deeper meaning to our existence.

Essential oils are commonly called aroma therapy oils due to their fragrance. The smell alone can evoke a profound psychological and emotional response.       

Weekly Renewals

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away"
"Renew your skin once a week and you will always look sleek"
It is important to use a masque or exfoliating products weekly. Tir Na Nog Spa offers a wide range of these individualized weekly renewals to ultimately refine the texture of your skin.

The Integrative Therapy Program at Women and Infants Hospital

In April 1994, I founded the integrative therapy program at the Women and Infants Hospital. It was the first integrative program of its kind in the country.  I used essential oils and massage reflexology to help relax and calm the chemotherapy patients before and after their treatments and after their seaweed body wrap or Moor Mud treatment to help with detoxification.  For several years after I started the program, I was constantly insulted by the doctors, nurses, and staff members about the smell of the essential oils and seaweed.  I was told so many times to go back to Jamaica because I was working "voodoo."  I managed to persist through this discrimination because the patients loved and appreciated what I was doing and how it helped them.

At the time, I was forbidden to explain to the patients what treatment I was giving them because others claimed that there was no such thing as reflexology, so I had to call it a foot massage.  A year after I started the integrative program, I carried out a survey to get a better idea of what other types of therapies patients would like; I added pet therapy.  This type of therapy consisted of volunteers bringing their dogs to the program so that patients would be able to pet them while they were undergoing their chemotherapy treatments.  It proved to be a very effective of keeping the patients calm and relaxed.  Six months later, I conducted another survey to find that patients were interested in yoga, hypnosis therapy and reiki healing; they were all added to the program.  I also started a poetry project where patients would write poetry while they were undergoing chemotherapy sessions.  I would display their works in an album for patients and staff to read and review.

By this time, I was already three years into the program and still experiencing resistance from the doctors and staff who continually insulted me.  I had a business at this time and was able to invest into the program and did not receive any help from the hospital because they still believed I was conducting "voodoo."  I still persisted and paid out of pocket for three massage therapists to do massages and I would do the body and reflexology treatments.  Then, after people started to find out about this wonderful integrative therapy program, yoga instructors, reiki workers and hypnosis therapists began to offer their services for a great cause.

In 1998, I added a Lymphedema treatment service to further help the patients.  Again, I faced another challenge because of claims form the doctors that such a treatment did not exist.  To help combat the Lymphedema that the patients suffered from, doctors would give them water pills, but these pills would not work with cancer patients who had Lymphedema.  I paid, with my own money, to send two of my massage therapists to school to become trained and certified in Lymphedema therapy treatment.  Then, in 1999, one of my friends who worked in the billing department at the hospital came to me because the department had just received a new billing code book and she had noticed that there was a code for Lymphedema treatment.  She asked if this was the same treatment that I did and I said yes.  She then decided to help me set up a billing system for the treatments; this took almost two years, but we managed, and the oncology department at Women and Infants started billing for these treatments and this is how the Lymphedema therapy really took off. It became so successful because the hospital was now getting paid for the treatments, unlike before when I did it for free.

For ten years I devoted myself to building this program and paid other people to run my business.  I had no support from any of the doctors and staff at the hospital.  Instead, they constantly and continually insulted as I dedicated myself to the patients.  Imagine going to a medical institution, where doctors do not believe in many of these therapies, and starting an integrative therapy program of this caliber largely by yourself.

After it was really evident that my program was becoming a huge success, colleagues and doctors started to become interested.  Suddenly, everyone wanted to know how the program was started and how it became such a success.  At this point, when everyone became more interested, the oncology department began taking all of the credit for the integrative therapy and Lymphedema program, which I started with my own money, time and products.

Then one Friday morning in April 2004, ten years after starting the program, I went to work as usual when, as I was walking down the hallway of the oncology department, the head of the department called out to me.  I turned around and walked into the office where she cold heartedly informed me that I was no longer the director of the integrative therapy program - the program that I started with my own money and time.  How could they possibly take it away from me?  I never received an explanation.  They showed no sympathy or emotion.  My program was gone just like that.  I tried desperately to have them me why they took my program from me, but I still got no response.

It has been a decade now, and I still have not recovered from this loss.  I started that program without a college degree or any medical background; it truly was my miracle.  Now, the oncology program is very successful from the Lymphedema treatment therapy because insurance started to pay for it.  To add to my misfortune, I had lost my own business and do not even have medical insurance.  One would think that after 10 years of suffering, I would be over this, but the pain and hurt worsens after each year, because I do not have closure.  I do not know what happened to my program and why I was fired from it without any explanation.  Each day I think about this program and each day I am in tears because I cannot recover from the pain.  I do not know how I am going to overcome this pain and hurt - only God knows.

Caring for your skin.

The epidermis is the largest organ of the body, and it needs to be nourished to protect your inner organs such as the heart, lungs and kidneys. The epidermis is a living breathing organ and the hair and nails are the dead cells that are extended from it.

Here are some ways you can nourish and protect the epidermis.

1. Have a facial once a month or every 6 weeks. This will help to protect the skin on your face and neck as well as slow down the signs of aging.

2. Have a seaweed body wrap. The benefits of this treatment include maintaining the skin's elasticity and remove dead skin cells.

3. A moor mud wrap will help build the immune system and detoxify the body. It will hydrate the epidermis and help you look better and feel better.

My name is Cassandra Buchanan, and I have been in esthetics for 30 years. In 1984 I opened my first day spa in southeastern New England. I am a aesthetician and make-up artist with training and experience working with burn victims. I also have experience in thalassotherapy lymphatic drainage for cancer patients. With my highly advanced skill set I was able to establish the first integrative therapy program at Women and Infants hospital.   

            Today I own and operate Tir Na Nog Spa, which is located just a quarter mile from the downtown conventions centers and major hotels in Providence. The location of the spa is a perfect haven for tourists and residents alike. Our treatments and services are tailored to meet the needs of the client, because we understand that every client is unique. We pride ourselves in creating an atmosphere of tranquility and making the most relaxing and comfortable experience for our clients. We also provide a number of amenities including, lockers, robes, and showers.

            At Tir Na Nog Spa we offer a diverse variety of services which include, massage, facials, waxing, manicure, pedicure, make-up application, seaweed body wraps, as well as thalassotherapy. Our massage therapies  vary and include hot stone, aromatherapy, and lymphatic drainage treatments.  We also have a retail space where we feature all of our spa products that clients can purchase and use at home.  The products we sell represent our philosophy of natural holistic healing and preventive care. Our product  line includes, Dead Sea salts, moor black mud, seaweed, and aromatherapy oils.

            Tir Na Nog Spa offers guests a unique experience with the luxury and elegance of a resort spa right here in Providence. I truly believe that we are the best day spa in Rhode Island, because of the high quality of services that we provide. We are committed to educating ourselves in the various changes in our field and making a difference for the guests that we serve. We  aim to serve our clients with respect and integrity, with a great emphasis on quality of character from our therapists.  It is my personal goal in the next 3 years to make Tir Na Nog Spa a medical clinic focused on natural and holistic medicines.