Red Cross needs donors of all blood types to help maintain diverse blood supply

From a press release:   The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to help ensure a sufficient and diverse blood supply by giving blood this February. Since the beginning of the year, widespread flu and inclement winter weather in some parts of the country have prevented many regular donors from making or keeping their blood […]

Buddhist nun leads discussion group Thursdays at Dobra Tea, Black Mountain

From a press release:   American born Buddhist nun Drolje Kelsang of the Kadampa Tradition will lead a discussion group and guided meditation every Thursday night in Feb., 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Dobra Tea, 120 Broadway St., Black Mountain. A positive and uplifting speaker, Drolje will discuss ways to enhance happiness in everyday life based on […]

Asheville resident directs Jungian play, Feb. 6

From a press release: From playwright and Jungian analyst Elizabeth Clark-Stern, Out of the Shadows is a two-woman reader’s theater production directed by Asheville resident Carol Kessler and featuring Carol B. Cole & Alexandra McPherson. The play will be held Friday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Parish Hall, Cathedral of All Souls, Biltmore Village, […]

Mission Children’s Hospital moves back home

From a press release: After spending more than eight months caring for pediatric patients on the fifth floor of Mission Hospital, Mission Children’s Hospital has returned home to the newly renovated unit of the third floor. This renovation provides many improvements to Mission Children’s Hospital including family-requested amenities, such as laundry facilities, lobby area and […]

Training teaches Western NC officers how to handle mental illness

 From a press release:   Between 25 and 40 percent of Americans with mental illness will pass through the criminal justice system at some point, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Officers face special challenges when interacting with people with a mental illness, substance use disorder or developmental disability. In North Carolina […]

Mission Health’s Heart Center receives heart failure award

From a press release:   Mission Health’s Heart Center has received the Get With The Guidelines®-Heart Failure GOLD Achievement Award from the American Heart Association. This recognition signifies that Mission Health has reached an exceptional goal of treating heart failure patients. “At Mission Health, we are committed to providing our patients with quality care and […]

Survey shows local support for integrativ­e care

  In order to assess the state of integrative and mind-body medicine in the Asheville area, Xpress invited health care professionals in the Asheville area to participate in a survey about their approaches to treatment. Of fifty-one respondents, half were individual health care providers. Other respondents listed themselves as clinics or health centers, hospitals, or educational […]

Treating the whole person: integrativ­e medicine in the Asheville area

Holistic medicine aims to treat the whole person, not just diseases and their symptoms. There is a growing awareness among practitioners — both traditional and alternative — that healing can be brought about or accelerated by involving all aspects of a person — physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. In back-to-back Wellness issues, Xpress looks at two different aspects of […]

Mission Health Lifts Visitor Restriction Policy

From a press release: Influenza (flu) activity throughout North Carolina has decreased; however, Mission Health asks that family and friends continue to limit their visits to patients in the hospital. Mission Health has lifted the Visitor Restriction Policy and reinstituted the Visitor Limitation Policy, which suggests children under age 12 and people who do not […]

Western Carolina Medical Society recognizes Current Medical Services as preferred vendor

  From a press release: Kelly T. Custer, J.D., founder and CEO of Current Medical Services, announced today that they have been recognized by the Western Carolina Medical Society (WCMS) as a Preferred Vendor. The WCMS Preferred Vendor Program is dedicated to offering competitive prices and discounts to WCMS members on various products and services […]

Asheville City Council passes resolution opposing fracking

From a press release: On January 13th, Asheville City Council passed a resolution opposing fracking, joining a growing list of western North Carolina towns and counties, including Sylva, Weaverville, Marshall, Swain County, Jackson County and Haywood County.  With the passing of this resolution, Asheville has joined the statewide effort to keep NC frack-free, to protect […]

North Carolina spends small amount on tobacco prevention efforts in North Carolina

From a press release: RALEIGH, N.C. – According to a recent report from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, North Carolina will only spend about $1.2 million of the $422 million it will receive from the 1998 Big Tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes this fiscal year on efforts to prevent kids from smoking and helping others […]

Inspire Personal Fitness has grand re-opening, Jan. 22

From a press release: “O3 Health & Fitness” Becomes “Inspire Personal Fitness” Inspire Personal Fitness will open its doors to the public for a grand re-opening event Thursday, Jan. 22, 4-8 pm. This event is to announce and celebrate the official re-branding of “O3 Health & Fitness” as “Inspire Personal Fitness.” The name and brand change […]

Byron Ballard keeps Appalachia­n folk magic practices alive

Known as Asheville’s village witch, Byron Ballard practices what she calls “hillfolk hoodoo,” a form of Appalachian folk magic. Ballard came by hoodoo naturally, growing up in a poor community in the mountains of Western North Carolina where hoodoo was practiced. She laments that the practice is disappearing: “Local hillfolk are no longer practicing hoodoo, […]